Consoles Hub

While we await a price and release date, PlayStation has showcased its first fight stick, the FlexStrike at EVO Japan. The controller is currently on display at the 2026 tournament, after first making an appearance at EVO 2025 in Las Vegas.

Some observers expect a relatively affordable Steam Machine price. A insider says that gamers are exaggerating the impact of the memory shortage that delayed its release date. Based on gaming PCs with comparable specs, Valve’s system could have a similar MSRP to the PS5.

Xbox mode is now live on Windows 11 via optional update KB5083631, bringing a controller-first full-screen gaming interface to desktops, laptops, and handhelds.

Reggie Fils-Aimé claims that Amazon made illegal requests to gain a competitive edge. The former Nintendo of America President says he refused the demands, which led to one of several disagreements. Later, Amazon didn’t list Switch 2 games or the console at launch due to rumored pricing disputes.

Changes to the PlayStation DRM should not negatively impact most gamers. On the other hand, an insider expects Sony to conduct more online license verifications to prevent PS5 jailbreaks. Responding to new exploits, a 30-day check could deactivate pirated games or even brick consoles.

Despite its struggles, publishing Xbox games on the PS5 has benefited Microsoft. However, multiplayer and live-service ports generated the most revenue, according to new sales data. If the company pivots back to Xbox exclusive games, it could become more strategic with its ports.

Ubisoft has been teasing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced ahead of its July 9 launch, and in a recent AMA, the developers revealed something that didn’t sit right with fans. They have made some disappointing changes to the iconic hidden blade compared to the original game.

Valve has released a new SteamOS 3.8.3 beta update, which brings several improvements and fixes, while adding "even more support" for the upcoming Steam Machine.

Preorders for Plaion Replai and SNK’s 1:1 Neo Geo AES+ reproduction have hit a snag in the U.S. and Canada, where buyers currently can’t order directly from Plaion’s site due to state-by-state tax registration requirements triggered by unexpectedly high demand. Plaion is directing customers to Amazon for the $249.99 standard and $349.99 Anniversary editions with a listed November 12, 2026 delivery, while the $1,000 REPLAI-exclusive Ultimate Edition remains unavailable until compliance is completed around late May.

Gamers who neglect a stowed-away Nintendo console risk damaging the system. The Switch 2 battery could suffer from swelling or reduced capacity when not charged for 6 months. On social media, Nintendo Support has suggested ways to ensure the forgotten consoles survive.

Valve co-founder Gabe Newell’s decade-old claim that consoles have shifted from bespoke graphics designs to PC-derived hardware has largely been validated, with modern systems relying on x86 architectures and AMD-based GPUs alongside PC-like features such as upscaling. As Valve and Microsoft move toward PC–console hybrids—via a new Steam Machine iteration and the rumored “Project Helix”—the divide between console and PC ecosystems continues to narrow, emphasizing shared hardware foundations and cross-library play.

Valve may already have stacks of the Steam Machine waiting in warehouses. An insider noticed that the company has been importing shipments of “Game Consoles.” It recently hinted that, despite concerns about a high price, an update on the mini PC's release date would come soon.

Microsoft wants to make things clearer for developers and keep them in the loop for updates to Project Helix. It has announced a new show that will detail the current state and progress on the next-generation Xbox console.

Someone has developed a DIY solution for those who want to use the advanced haptic features of the DualSense controller on PC, wirelessly. The solution does require a Raspberry Pi Pico and some tweaking.

The latest gaming handheld from Anbernic goes on sale in a few days. The innovative handheld with a rotating display will be available at prices starting at $88 and is designed to handle retro games that were developed for systems like the Game Boy Advance, the PlayStation 2 or the Nintendo Wii.

A new controller and headset lineup has been added to HyperX’s offerings. The controller is Xbox licensed and comes with swappable components, while the Cloud Stinger 3 headsets feature 50mm dynamic drivers.

The criticized 30-day DRM for digital PS4 and PS5 games may not be as severe as anticipated. A Sony representative informed Gamespot that buyers only need to perform a one-time license check. Rumors suggested that gamers had to connect to the internet every 30 days or lose access.

Game-makers have tried to implement dynamic difficulty in various ways. A Sony patent hopes to improve these efforts by leveraging the power of generative AI. Successful players would need to experiment with new strategies, but frustration could keep the challenge level reasonable.

Sony has revealed its next lineup of games that will be available to PS Plus Essential, Extra and Premium subscribers. Starting next week, subscribers will be able to add EA Sports FC 26, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and Nine Sols to their PS4 and PS5 libraries.

A Redditor shared a cautionary tale about downloading early-access games before release dates. A GTA 6 leak with a playable build turned out to be a virus, wreaking havoc with a Windows OS. It later became apparent that the gamer likely tricked posters and never possessed a pirated copy.

There has been nervous speculation about the cost of GTA 6, given its scale and budget. Reports have claimed a $100 price tag, and while that may still be true, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes it will be worth it.

The Steam Deck gets a number of new features with the latest SteamOS update, led by the ability to manage downloads to the gaming handheld from a PC or Mac. Desktop mode can now be accessed more quickly.

Housemarque's Saros hits PS5 on April 30 with a new shield mechanic, permanent progression, and eight biomes across Carcosa. It launches globally at midnight ET.

NIKKE's 3.5 Anniversary finishes with a live T.T. STAR concert at Tower Bridge on April 30, plus three new SSR characters and 130 free pulls.

Wild Rift x Porsche launches April 30 with a Prestige Kai'Sa skin inspired by the 911 GT3 and a free Gragas skin through the Neon Daredevil event.

The next-gen Xbox Project Helix is set to use the AMD Magnus APU with Zen 6 CPU cores and an RDNA 5 GPU. This RDNA 5 GPU is rumored not to contain any custom implementations specific to the Xbox Helix. Digital Foundry thinks this alleged development is a sign of changing times and is, ultimatley, a good thing for game developers.

Commodore is expanding its FPGA-based Commodore 64 revival with the new “Slimline” C64C Ultimate, a sleeker Amiga-inspired redesign that keeps the same cycle-accurate core while adding modern conveniences like HDMI, Wi‑Fi, turbo mode, extra RAM, and multiple SID options. Commodore is also using the original 1986 injection-molding tooling to recreate the C64C shell, but that fidelity comes at a premium with preorders priced from $299.99 to $499.99 depending on the edition.

Resident Evil: Requiem producer Masato Kumazawa is urging players to finish the main campaign during Japan’s Golden Week, as a May mini-game DLC will only unlock after completing the story at least once. Director Koshi Nakanishi says the mode focuses on Requiem’s combat, evoking Resident Evil 4 Remake’s Mercenaries, and confirms a separate story DLC is also in development, though details remain under wraps.

After months of testing and improvements, security engineer and modder Andy Nguyen has finally released PS5-Linux, allowing users to turn their console into a functional Linux gaming PC.

Significant Steam Machine price hikes were apparently under consideration at Valve. An insider describes how the memory shortage forced the company to reconsider its release date MSRP. There are conflicting reports on whether the mini PC will ship soon after the Steam Controller or late in 2026.

A new post on X has shared an exchange with PlayStation support, seemingly confirming the new controversial DRM. At the same time, there are support messages claiming the opposite as well, so it’s interesting that Sony chooses to be silent on this issue.

The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo previews how the game will perform on the Switch 2. While most players praise the port's graphics, frame rates occasionally fall into the 20s. Showing limitations of the handheld’s specs, frequent pop-in as well as sporadic crashes are also reported.

Insomniac Games has confirmed that it still plans to reveal more details about its new game, Marvel's Wolverine, this spring. However, while the date for the showcase has not yet been revealed, it is still set for release in September and can be wishlisted now.

Valve has made its $99 Steam Controller official with an actual release date and early reviews have started coming in. Gamers Nexus has tested various aspects of the controller and found it to be quite impressive.

Square Enix announced at Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest 2026 that the MMORPG will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in August 2026 with Early Access, offering a new portable option alongside its existing PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions. The move comes with a notable drawback: Switch 2 players must pay for the game and then maintain a separate monthly subscription on top of any existing FFXIV sub, though no Nintendo Switch Online membership is required and current owners elsewhere will get 50% off Switch 2 Entry/Standard subscription tiers.

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred launches tonight at 4:00 PM PDT / 7:00 PM EDT with the Skovos region, Paladin and Warlock classes, Horadric Cube, War Plans, and a level cap increase to 70.

Sony has officially confirmed hardware price hikes in more Asian markets. Gamers in the affected countries will pay more for the PS5 and PlayStation Portal, following increases in the US, UK, Europe, and Japan.

FIFA Heroes has slipped past its April 28 release date to May 2026. The 5v5 arcade football game remains in early access ahead of a full global rollout.

The developers behind the classic Super Nintendo emulator ZSNES just announced a new project: Super ZSNES. Super ZSNES is a new Super Nintendo emulator that relies on a system's GPU for enhanced visuals, audio, and more features.

The source claiming that a Star Fox Switch 2 game would appear in April isn’t backing down. NateTheHate believes Nintendo will soon pinpoint a June release date for a Fox McCloud comeback. However, multiplayer rather than solo rail shooting could be a priority for the spinoff.

Rockstar Games developers resist engaging the media or fans on social media. Nevertheless, an artist cautioned a Bloomberg writer against reporting further GTA 6 leaks. Jason Schreier spoiled the studio’s announcement of the first trailer before publishing other protected information.

The next expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, named Evercold, will release in January 2027. The expansion appears to take place in a world frozen over and will feature new jobs, news cities, new monsters, and an increase in the game's level cap.

Sega has launched “Sega Universe,” an initiative designed to revive its classic franchises and expand them beyond games into film, music, fashion, and other entertainment. The first phase centers on 2026 anniversary projects for nine retro titles, ranging from Fantasy Zone and Out Run to NiGHTS into Dreams and Sakura Wars, as Sega builds on its broader transmedia strategy proven by Sonic.

Atari has acquired emulation specialist Implicit Conversions, adding the studio’s proprietary Syrup engine to accelerate the revival of 32-bit-era games, starting with PlayStation support and early PlayStation 2 work, on modern platforms. The deal bolsters Atari’s retro-focused strategy alongside Digital Eclipse, expanding its in-house tooling and talent to re-release titles from its own catalog and partner IP back catalogs.

An insider believes that Valve will soon make a final decision on the Steam Machine price. That could mean an abrupt end to the release date uncertainty caused by the memory shortage. The Steam Controller MSRP also leaked, indicating that news on the other new hardware is near.

After reports that Valve had received shipments of the accessory, a Steam Controller review has appeared. Deleted ahead of a likely release date update, a YouTuber praised its responsive dual trackpads. Even so, the price may make it more difficult to discount the Steam Machine.

(Update: A source claims the issues are a bug) YouTuber Modded Warfare has spotted some new changes brought forth by the newest PlayStation 4/5 system update. Essentially, the console has to connect to the internet periodically to ‘renew’ the license for some digitally purchased games.

Genshin Impact Version 7.0 launches August 12, 2026, with Snezhnaya confirmed, new Elemental Reactions, a train network, NPC behavior overhaul, and a full visual upgrade.

Statements from Microsoft leadership have some gamers concerned about the new Xbox console. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cautioned that Steam and Epic Games Store support isn’t guaranteed. Despite a high Project Helix price anticipated, buyers may have a limited selection of games.