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May 2026 US Console Sales Marked The Worst May Ever for Xbox, Worst May for PlayStation Since 2000
May 2026 saw the worst US hardware sales for Xbox and the worst May since 2000 for PlayStation, attributed to significant price increases across consoles. While Xbox unit sales declined, revenue grew due to higher prices, whereas PlayStation experienced drops in both units sold and revenue. Nintendo's Switch 2 continued to sell well, though future price hikes may pose a challenge. In software, IO Interactive's 007 First Light topped the charts, followed by Forza Horizon 6 and LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
Sony Cuts 292 Bungie Jobs As Studio Head Reportedly Steps Down
Sony has reportedly laid off 292 employees at its subsidiary Bungie, with Studio Head Justin Truman also said to have stepped down. This news follows earlier rumors of impending job cuts at the studio.
Amid mass layoffs at Bungie, the official White House X account issues sociopathic Destiny 2 meme
The official White House X account posted a Destiny 2-themed meme featuring an AI-generated image of Donald Trump, which has drawn criticism for its insensitivity given Bungie's recent mass layoffs. The meme's release coincided with Bungie announcing significant job cuts affecting many employees, including those on the Destiny 2 team, leading to accusations that the government is mocking developers.
Prime Cardholders Can Get A 25% Discount On A PS5 Digital With This Prime Day Deal
Amazon Prime cardholders can receive a 25% discount on the PlayStation 5 Digital Console, reducing its price to $449 during Prime Day. This deal, ending June 27, also offers an additional 10% off DualSense controllers for eligible cardholders. The article also notes upcoming price increases for Xbox consoles and a bundle deal for Grand Theft Auto VI preorders.
'Generational talent just gone': Developers react in shock at the brutal scale of Bungie layoffs, which has reportedly seen the Destiny 2 team almost completely wiped out
Bungie has undergone a significant reduction in force, reportedly impacting most of the Destiny 2 team, along with members of the Marathon team and external contractors. Sony confirmed the layoffs, with a WARN notice indicating 292 positions affected in Washington, though the total number is likely higher. The news has drawn widespread shock and dismay from developers and the gaming community, with many former employees sharing their experiences.
As Steam Machine and Xbox are latest to fall to the RAMpocalpyse, Micron CEO says RAM shortages won't ease until…
Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra predicts that global RAM shortages, exacerbated by AI demand and economic factors, will persist until at least 2028, leading to continued price hikes for gaming hardware. This situation has already caused price increases for platforms like Steam Machine, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5, with future consoles like the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Project Helix expected to be significantly more expensive.
Bungie studio head reportedly leaves after 16 years with the company following mass layoffs and Destiny 2 death spiral
Bungie studio head Justin Truman is reportedly leaving the company after nearly 17 years, following significant layoffs and criticism regarding the state of Destiny 2. The game received its final live-service content update recently, with the company stating it could no longer operate at its previous size. This news comes after Sony's 2022 acquisition of Bungie and amid reports of a toxic work environment from former employees.
Japan: Nintendo Switch 2 surpasses sales of base PS5 disc drive model
The Nintendo Switch has surpassed the sales of the PlayStation 5 model with a disc drive in Japan, according to Famitsu's latest charts. While the Switch has not yet outsold the base PlayStation 5 console (including both models), this marks a significant milestone for Nintendo's hardware.
Fumito Ueda is Rethinking The Companion Relationship That Defined His Career
Fumito Ueda discusses his upcoming game, Gen Atlas, and how it rethinks the companion relationship that defined his previous works like Ico and The Last Guardian. While the game features guns and a sci-fi setting, Ueda emphasizes that it is not a pure shooter and that the companion's role and communication will differ from his past titles. Gen Atlas is being developed using Unreal Engine for a multiplatform release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Sony announces major layoffs at Bungie, including most of the Destiny team
Sony has announced significant layoffs at its subsidiary Bungie, impacting a substantial portion of the Destiny development team. Some employees working on the Marathon project were also affected, and studio head Justin Truman has stepped down.
Sony’s “Stricter Guidelines” On Shovelware PlayStation Games Are Reportedly Targeting More Developers
Sony is reportedly enforcing stricter guidelines on shovelware games for the PlayStation Store, leading to the termination of partnerships with developers like Afil Games. This move aims to clean up the platform, with Afil Games confirming all its titles will be removed from the PlayStation Store but will continue to be available on Xbox and Nintendo platforms.
Xbox console prices to increase this August
Microsoft will increase the prices of its Xbox consoles starting August 1, 2026, due to rising component costs and the ongoing consumer electronics crisis. The 512GB models will increase by $100 and 1TB models by $150, while the 2TB model will be discontinued. This follows similar price hikes by Sony for the PlayStation 5 and an upcoming increase for the Nintendo Switch 2.
Microsoft raises price of Xbox consoles once again, sunsets 2TB model
Microsoft is increasing the prices of its Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X consoles globally starting August 1, 2026, citing a global memory hardware shortage driven by generative AI companies. The 512GB Xbox Series S will rise by $100 to $499.99, and 1TB models of both consoles will increase by $150, with the 2TB Xbox Series X being discontinued. This follows similar price hikes from Sony and Nintendo, with Microsoft explaining that consoles are typically sold at a loss, making them particularly vulnerable to component cost increases.
Bungie confirms devastating layoffs in Destiny 2, Marathon teams as Sony casts dark shadow
Bungie has confirmed significant layoffs affecting teams working on Destiny 2 and the upcoming Marathon game. The article suggests these cuts are a consequence of Sony's influence following their acquisition of the studio.
Bungie has been hit with mass layoffs
Bungie has announced mass layoffs, citing that Destiny 2 fell short of expectations and that future projects are in early incubation. The company stated they could no longer operate at their previous size following the final content update for Destiny 2. This news comes amid criticism that mismanagement and Sony's financial priorities contributed to the workforce reduction.
Roadmaps and Plans
Sony is reportedly doubling down on its commitment to Marathon despite recent layoffs within the company. The article from Kotaku suggests that the development of Marathon is continuing amidst internal restructuring.
Morning Consolidation
A studio known for developing 'shovelware' games for the PlayStation 5 has announced that all of its titles will be removed from the platform. This decision comes in response to Sony implementing stricter content guidelines for games available on its console.
Sony and Bungie have begun laying off Destiny 2 developers following management failures
Bungie has announced layoffs affecting Destiny 2 developers, citing management failures and a need to reorganize. The company's memo, signed only as 'Bungie,' did not name specific executives responsible for the decision. This follows previous budget cuts and a perceived decline in the game's content updates.
With Destiny 2 over, Bungie lays off employees 'to align the studio’s resources with its current priorities…
Bungie has announced a significant reduction in force, citing the need to align studio resources with current priorities following the conclusion of Destiny 2's development and the early stages of new projects. Sony's Hermen Hulst confirmed the decision was made after reviewing the studio's long-term direction and resource needs, emphasizing continued support for Marathon and future incubation efforts.
Bungie confirms layoffs, now that Destiny 2 support has ended
Bungie has confirmed significant layoffs following the end of active development support for Destiny 2. The company acknowledged that the game fell short of expectations and that this failure, coupled with future projects still in early development, necessitated the reduction in force. While the exact number of affected employees is unclear, Bungie expressed gratitude and compassion for those departing.
