Consoles Hub

European gamers are anxious following a rumor about a PS5, PS5 Pro, and PS Portal price increase. While unconfirmed, the MSRP of the PlayStation consoles may rise by €100. Sony previously claimed that it could survive the memory shortage that has disrupted the gaming world.

Microsoft may already be thinking about a successor to Project Helix. A popular insider insists that another new Xbox console will follow the hybrid system. An Xbox handheld could appear on or after the Helix release date, but the company faces stiff competition from Valve and Sony.

A leaked AMD GitHub repository revealed an INT8 build of FSR 4 that appears capable of running on RDNA 2 and RDNA 3 GPUs, even as AMD positions official FSR 4 support exclusively for newer RDNA 4 hardware. Sony has effectively deployed this same INT8 technology as the PlayStation 5’s upgraded PSSR (often dubbed PSSR 2.0), prompting modders to port the leaked libraries to Radeon RX 6000 and 7000 cards while AMD remains publicly silent.

A prototype mod dubbed the Super Switch HD taps the SNES’s internal digital video bus to deliver native, lag-free 1080p output over a pure digital signal, avoiding analog RGB and external upscalers. Created by modder Stanislav Parhomovich, it adds an on-screen interface for resolution, aspect ratio, and processing tweaks, but has no announced release date or price.

If the PS6 ships by late 2027, Sony needs studios to prepare for its arrival. According to industry veteran Jeff Gerstmann, plans to support the new console may be progressing rapidly. A recommitment to exclusives could signal that PlayStation is thinking about PS6 games for its launch.

Sony’s new concept caters to console gamers who are also smartphone addicts. The patent shows a mobile phone connected to a DualSense PS5 controller, providing additional inputs. PS5 and PS6 games may support touchscreen controls or make use of a second screen.

Nintendo is responding to rising storage costs and will sell games for the Nintendo Switch 2 at a higher price if they are purchased on a cartridge instead of being bought and downloaded digitally from the Nintendo eShop. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is the first game to use this pricing model.

Danish design specialist Pedestal has teamed up with Sony to develop one of the most unusual accessories for the Sony PlayStation 5. The Pedestal Moon Legacy Edition is intended to transform a PS5 and TV into an art object inspired by the design of the PlayStation 1.

Forza Horizon 16 will release on May 19 for PC and consoles. The game is set in Japan and is said to be the biggest open world for a Forza game, and now it looks like most PC builds will be able to run the game at high fidelity.

With a potentially high PS6 price, there are concerns that the console will struggle. The Alderon Games founder thinks improvements in ray tracing won’t tempt many buyers. Sony could find more success converting PS4 owners who have been waiting for a substantial upgrade.

The Nintendo Switch 2 can finally display older Switch games with better graphics when the new "Handheld Mode Boost" is activated. The graphics experts at Digital Foundry now show in detail how drastic the graphics improvements are in some titles.

PlayStation Plus members will soon get to enjoy a new batch of free games. However, it seems that one of the titles in the lineup has already leaked.

Destiny 2 Guardian Games 2026 is now live with updated Rushdown encounters, three event weapons, Bright Dust rewards, and a new Magic: The Gathering crossover.

With Game Pass Ultimate straining budgets, Microsoft may add more lower-cost alternatives. An article from The Information builds on rumors that hinted at a free ad-supported plan. A Netflix bundle could also reduce the burden caused by the October 2025 Xbox Game Pass price increase.

Lead PlayStation hardware engineer Mark Cerny confirms in a Digital Foundry interview that Frame Generation "should be seen at some point on PlayStation platforms", pointing out how PSSR uses a "the same model" as AMD FSR Redstone upscaling since the technologies were developed in tandem via collaboration Project Amethyst, though their applications greatly differ despite final result similarity.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is said to have sold much worse than Nintendo expected in the important Christmas sales period, which is why the gaming giant is said to have cut production of the console by a third. Sales of the cheaper Japan-exclusive model suggest that the high price is the problem.

Minecraft Dungeons II has been announced for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Steam, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass, with a day-one Game Pass launch planned for fall 2026.

Xbox has announced a new Partner Preview for March 26, with updates on Stranger Than Heaven, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, and more.

With critics calling the Crimson Desert PS5 release broken, the PS Store has agreed to selective refunds. The map crash bug can make the game unplayable, meeting the marketplace’s criteria. A patch that targets bugs, poor performance, and laggy controls may lead to more satisfied buyers.

Arc System Works has added Peni Parker to Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, while also revealing the Amazing Guardians team, a new automatic team-name feature, and an updated EVO Japan demo.

Sony’s battle against shovelware continues, with another publisher eliminated. 700 additions from Nostra Games are gone, much to the dismay of some PlayStation trophy hunters. The PS Store has no clear guidelines against generative AI, but developers use the tools to create low-cost knockoffs.

Microsoft has started testing new Xbox Insider console features, including up to 10 Home groups, custom user colors, per-game Quick Resume controls, and profile badges in the Guide.

After multiple Xbox Series X price increases, some buyers are finally seeing discounts on the consoles. A new promotion entices Xbox One owners to purchase the current-gen system. Responding to criticism, Microsoft hinted it would again prioritize its gaming hardware business.

Developer Pearl Abyss has acknowledged that its latest game shipped with AI-produced artwork. The studio says it mistakenly failed to replace placeholders before the Crimson Desert release date. Steam also posted a disclaimer describing how the studio used generative AI tools.

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin’s March 22 update fixes a sound bug, quest progression issues, shortcut resets, and several boss-related blockers ahead of the game’s grand launch.

Some Pearl Abyss developers reportedly recognized shortcomings in the Crimson Desert story. However, leadership dismissed these concerns and resisted any pushback. Randomly collecting features from popular games, reviewers label the resulting control scheme as overly complex.

Thanks to the new cloud streaming access, PS Portal is currently on the rise. Sony now seems to want to support this further and is rectifying one of the biggest criticisms from users: the low bit rate when streaming, which was accompanied by a loss of picture quality.

Rumblings about an alternative to Steam have intrigued PlayStation fans. Unfortunately, a Bloomberg reporter doesn’t expect this new way to play PS5 exclusives to become a reality. Instead, Sony may cut back on the frequency of cross-platform single-player PC ports to protect console sales.

Nintendo will modify its latest console to comply with the EU Right to Repair directive. Gamers in this region may find that the Switch 2 battery becomes straightforward to access and replace. Depleting battery life in the original Switch is a common reason for contacting Nintendo Support.

With Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, another Pokémon classic is now available on the Nintendo Switch 2. While the community is generally happy to see the GameCube title return, two major issues are clearly dampening the excitement.

Sony has begun issuing automatic refunds to PlayStation players for Highguard microtransactions following the game’s March 12 server shutdown, a rare move for the company’s typically strict refund policy. Reports indicate the refunds, spotted via PlayStation notifications and first shared in a since-deleted Reddit post, are currently limited to PlayStation while Steam and Xbox users may need to pursue refunds manually.

Initial opinions of the Crimson Desert PS5 version describe disappointing graphics. Excessive blurriness and unstable frame rates do not show the open world of Pywel in its best light. Pearl Abyss chose not to send critics copies of the game for the base PlayStation console before its release date.

Nacon has launched the RIG R5 Spear Max HD, a $149.99 wired gaming headset that targets audiophile-grade playback with 40mm GrapheneQ drivers tuned for under 0.3% distortion, a USB‑C DAC rated for 32-bit/384kHz, and Dolby Atmos support. The modular Snap+Lock design enables swappable ear cups and a reversible 6mm broadcast-style microphone, while broad plug-and-play compatibility spans PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch systems, iOS, and Android.

Nintendo has disappointed gamers with poor performance in its official GameCube emulator. Gradually, the company has addressed bugs and sensitive inputs that plague many retro favorites. The latest Nintendo Switch Online update further improves controls in GameCube games like F-Zero GX.

Crimson Desert is one of the most ambitious open-world games that involves a lot of outdoor areas as well as indoor settings. Not everything has been or can be optimized for visual perfection, but a new detailed video could help with the major issue of noise.

Some Crimson Desert reviews evaluated a build of the game with serious storage limitations. A critic explains that the developers released patches that expanded inventory, possibly affecting Metacritic scores. Without storage boxes, players may still have to deal with some release date headaches.

An unofficial decompilation project has produced a native PC build of the Nintendo GameCube’s Animal Crossing, bypassing emulation with an x86 translation layer that swaps the console’s GX graphics API for OpenGL 3.3.

Many Nintendo supporters rely on MicroSD Express cards to build Switch 2 game libraries. A recent firmware update has caused the console to stop recognizing the expandable storage. Most reports focus on the 1TB PNY card, but other gamers mention problems with competing brands.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has today received its most important update to date, as many games look significantly better thanks to a boost mode. Comparison videos now show how drastic the graphics upgrade actually is for many Switch titles.

Bethesda has finally launched Starfield on the PlayStation 5 after two years of PC/console exclusivity. Existing players will also get a bunch of new content via the Free Lanes update and the paid Terran Armada DLC.

Some players can’t contain their excitement before the Crimson Desert review embargo expires. A Korean YouTuber commented on the performance improvements Pearl Abyss has made since earlier builds. Exploration and combat are often punishing, but quality-of-life features can be surprisingly helpful (spoilers follow).

Microsoft has announced the next batch of games that Xbox Game Pass members will be able to download and play this month. The lineup includes Resident Evil 7, The Long Dark, and more.

Catering to sim racing novices and enthusiasts, the Logitech G RS H-Shifter boasts wide compatibility. The 7-speed manual gearbox pairs with the brand’s popular racing wheels on PC and console. With a sturdier construction, the $159.99/€159.99 accessory features smoother Hall-effect technology.

The Xbox app is taking another step toward becoming an all-in-one gaming hub. Insiders can now add shortcuts to games and apps previously incompatible with the launcher. Microsoft continues to optimize Windows for gaming, with the Project Helix Xbox console on the horizon.