CONSOLE News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Humankind has been released today on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass. It is a surprise release considering Amplitude Studio and SEGA had not announced anything about Humankind console edition, following its indefinite delay last October. The game has been priced at €49.99, and is available digital only. However, a PS5 physical edition called Humankind Heritage Edition will be released on October 10th.

Microsoft has taken the wraps off a new line of Xbox Console Wraps, a bespoke customisation option for gamers who want to restyle their console or have a limited edition console look, without shelling out another £450+ for a new machine.

Zenless Zone Zero is an upcoming game published by HoYoverse. With Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Honkai Impact 3rd being highly successful in the gacha genre, will Zenless Zone Zero meet the expectations of fans?

Atari is teaming up with Plaion on a new retro home console after finally taking a mulligan on its last one. The Atari 2600+ pays homage to the original Atari 2600, which delighted children of the disco era starting in 1977, although this remake is based on the four-switch model from 1980. It plays both Atari 2600 and 7800 games. However, most buyers will want to track down physical cartridges as the retro system, which requires them to play, is only bundled with a collection of 10 titles that lacks system standouts like Pac-Man, Frogger, Space Invaders and Pitfall!

If you're old enough to remember the days when consoles were made of wood and powered by the hopes and dreams of a better future, you might be excited to know Atari is bringing its classic 70s/80s console, the Atari 2600, back as a «modern day faithful recreation» — and it'll even play original cartridges if you still have some lying around behind your Zimmer frame.

Microsoft has unveiled the first of the official Xbox Series X console wraps which includes a Starfield variant. Pre-orders are now available in the US and the UK from $44.99 / £39.99.  

Before the 1983 video game crash and Nintendo’s subsequent takeover of the industry with the NES, the Atari 2600 reigned supreme. The popular console was pretty much the poster child for ‘late 70s/early ‘80s gaming, boasting a vast library of titles that have since inspired a multitude of games for decades to come. Over 30 years after the 2600 was discontinued, it’s making a contemporary comeback. 

Humankind has been released today on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox Game Pass. It is a surprise release considering Amplitude Studio and SEGA had not announced anything about Humankind console edition, following its indefinite delay last October. The game has been priced at €49.99, and is available digital only. However, a PS5 physical edition called Humankind Heritage Edition will be released on October 10th.

Atari has taken the wraps off the Atari 2600+, a modern reinvention of its most popular home console.

Atari has partnered with Plaion to recreate its classic entry in the console landscape. The Atari 2600+ will play games from both the 2600 and 7800 consoles.

Atari and Plaion have announced the Atari 2600+, a new version of the original Atari 2600 / VCS hardware that plays original cartridges.

Microsoft has taken the wraps off a new line of Xbox Console Wraps, a bespoke customisation option for gamers who want to restyle their console or have a limited edition console look, without shelling out another £450+ for a new machine.

The Xbox Series X is a pretty remarkable thing in terms of what it can do, but it's not exactly the most striking console anyone has ever made. It was mocked for looking so much like a fridge when revealed that Xbox leaned into the joke and actually made Series X mini-fridges. Until now, the only way to get your hands on a Series X that isn't just a black box has been to win a contest or bag yourself one of the few limited edition versions. That changes later this year thanks to the newly announced Series X wraps.

Microsoft has announced that it is launching console wraps for the Xbox Series X, allowing players to customise their current-gen console. Kicking things off is the announcement of an Xbox Series X console wrap featuring a Starfield design. The Starfield design console wrap has been created to pair quite well with the game’s limited edition Xbox Wireless Controller and headset, which were unveiled back in June.

If there’s anything that Microsoft is great at, it’s coming up with cheaper alternative ways to sell its gaming products and services. The original Xbox found a way to rip music CDs to home consoles and implement a more streamlined way to access online gaming. Meanwhile, the Xbox 360 introduced the removable Hard drive, although replacing those wasn’t always easy. Not to mention, the extremely popular subscription-based Xbox Game Pass available for Xbox Series X|S.

Gamers will soon have a unique accessory to conceal their Xbox Series X in. Microsoft has revealed a small lineup of Xbox Series X console wraps, designed to provide a more lively aesthetic to the obelisk-like console. The $44.99 wraps are currently available to pre-order from the Microsoft Store in either Arctic or Mineral camo options. Those are due to ship out by Nov. 10. A Starfield-themed console wrap is also available for pre-order for $49.99, and will be available sooner on Oct. 18.

Microsoft has revealed new console wraps for the Xbox Series X. 

Microsoft is launching a range of official consoles wraps for Xbox Series X — including a design inspired by Bethesda's upcoming space RPG and sandwich-collecting sim Starfield — that'll go on sale across Europe, Canada, and the US starting in October.

Microsoft has announced a range of official Xbox Series X console wraps, which will be released later this year.

Sony has been offering custom PlayStation 5 plates for quite some time now, including a recent version that brings a Spider-Man 2 look to the console. Microsoft, which has given away several custom Xbox Series S units in contests, is getting in on the action by selling official wraps for the Xbox Series X.

Microsoft's new console wraps will launch with three striking designs to help you customize the console that you already have.

By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.

Microsoft has announced the console wraps for the Xbox Series X, allowing owners of the company's high-end eight-gen console to personalize their device.

Baldur's Gate 3's long-foretold console launch date inches ever closer, and in proof that a Time Stop spell cast on a critical 20 hasn't actually crossed over into our plane of existence, the meaty RPG's various preload times on PS5 have been revealed.

Antonline is giving away a Madden NFL 24-themed Xbox Series S, but you can also cash in on a few great bundles.

Montreal-based developer Goose Byte has announced The Signal, an Unreal Engine 5-based open-world third-person survival crafting game in development for console and PC. An Early Access launch is planned for PC via Steam in Q1 2025, followed by a full release across console and PC in Q2 2026. It is targeting a $29.99 price point.

If you’re planning to preload Starfield on PC, be warned: the game weighs in at just under 140 GB.

Fortnite maker Epic has expanded its Online Services overplay to consoles as well as PC.

We live in a world where video game consoles are defined by their exclusives. If one is more popular than the other, chances are it has a stronger and more appealing library of titles. PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo all have their own franchises that drive people to buy their consoles, but Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida has recently made a bit of stir by suggesting that the industry would be better if we only had to one console to choose from.

Microsoft has announced the next wave of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The new Lords of the Fallen is shaping up pretty nicely, and it's certainly a looker in terms of pure detail. Some followers of the upcoming Soulslike, however, have been curious about how it'll run on their hardware, ever since developer Hexworks revealed some relatively high PC spec requirements without much of an idea for target performance.

Black Desert Console has added Imoogi, the massive serpent boss that makes the 10th boss from the Land of the Morning Light expansion. Black Desert Mobile also has a big update, adding the new Wizard class.

According to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick mid-gen console upgrades, which also includes the rumored PS5 Pro model, aren't that important.

Imoogi, the tenth boss in theLand of the Morning Light expansion for Black Desert Console, is coming soon to the MMORPG. Black Desert Console celebrates the serpent boss, as well as the other bosses in the expansion in our exclusive first look at the trailer.

The global video games market would return to growth in 2023 on the back of strong sales of consoles such as Sony's PlayStation 5, according to gaming market research firm Newzoo.

Thunderobot Mix is an upcoming Mini-PC that offers a console-like gaming experience through its compact design and top-notch specifications.

This week, Nintendo shared their financial reports for the first quarter of the fiscal year, and it has turned out to be one of the publisher’s most profitable quarters to date driven by the release of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

Katsuhiro Harada and Michael Murray talk about the next entry in the beloved Tekken series, and Bandai Namco's approach for it.

An enterprising developer is working on reviving a lost piece of gaming history. A YouTuber using the handle Tuxality has posted a video (via GamesRadar) showing early work on an emulator that can play the games from an obscure rival to the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3 that only launched in two countries.

Baldur’s Gate III is available right now — partially. To be clear, the game itself is complete, but its rollout is fragmented, with different release dates for each of its planned platforms. Following a lengthy Early Access period, the PC and Mac version of Baldur’s Gate III went live today, August 3, while the PlayStation 5 version is due out on September 6. The game’s developer, Larian Studios, hasn’t provided a release date for the Xbox Series X and S edition.

Microsoft has just rolled out a new feature to some Xbox Insiders (a group of passionate fans who have early access to the latest platform developments) which allows players to stream gaming footage from their Xbox console directly to Discord, and this update is hitting the masses soon. 

Microsoft made a key argument to the EU that possibly made the difference in getting their deal approved.

Microsoft has announced that Xbox Insiders will now be able to stream their gameplay through Discord directly through the console. The feature, previously exclusive to Discord users on PC, is coming to consoles for the first time, removing the need for dedicated capture hardware to stream gameplay to your friends.

Microsoft is currently rolling out a new «highly requested» feature for select Xbox Insiders that'll let them stream their console gameplay directly to Discord, with the capability said to be launching for all Xbox One and Series X/S users «soon».

Play-Asia will release a physical edition of Startup Company Console Edition for Switch, the distributor announced. Pre-orders will open on August 3 via Play-Asia, and only 2,000 limited editions will be produced.

Nintendo may be revealing their next console to industry insiders in this coming Gamescom.

PS5 games have jumped up the UK physical charts following a 75% increase in console sales.

Nintendo's next mainline console is reportedly set to launch in the second half of 2024. As per VGC's sources, development kits for the next gaming console have been sent out to ‘key partner studios,' adding that it can be used in portable mode akin to the current Nintendo Switch. It's common for console manufacturers like PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo to provide test units to developers, way ahead of launch, so they can start making, testing, and optimising games for the said platform. No pricing details were mentioned, but for comparison, the Nintendo Switch was launched at $299.99 (about Rs. 24,684) in the US.

Nintendo’s next-generation console is slowly starting to come into focus. The Switch successor is slated for release in the second half of 2024, according to a new report from VGC, citing anonymous development sources. Some “key partner studios” reportedly already have development kits for the Switch successor.

Nintendo's new hardware is reportedly on pace to launch in the second half of next year.

With the growing competitiveness in the handheld industry, it looks like we have a new player stepping in. Windows Central has revealed that Lenovo is reportedly prepping a new "Legion Go" handheld device.

By Ash Parrish, a reporter who has covered the business, culture, and communities of video games for seven years. Previously, she worked at Kotaku.

According to various sources, Nintendo may be gearing up to launch its next console sooner than you may think. 

Nintendo’s next console will reportedly be portable like the Switch and is targeting a release in the second half of 2024, according to a new report today from VideoGamesChronicle. 

Development kits for Nintendo’s next console are now with key partner studios, with launch planned for next year, sources have told VGC.

Nintendo is likely to release a new console during the second half of 2024, according to a VGC report citing “multiple people with knowledge of Nintendo’s next-gen console.” Development kits are reportedly already with key partner studios.

According to a report from VGC, Nintendo's next console is launching in the second half of 2024 and development kits have already been sent to key partner studios. While we don't know what this new console will look like, VGC's sources say that it will be usable in portable mode like the Switch, but may launch with an LCD screen instead of OLED.

Mortal Kombat 1's highly-anticipated beta period has been confirmed: 18th-21st August.

By Antonio G. Di Benedetto, a writer covering tech deals and The Verge’s Deals newsletter, buying guides, and gift guides. Previously, he spent 15 years in the photography industry.

Pre-orders for the hot, new Spider-Man 2 special edition PS5 console and themed accessories are currently live through Sony. While Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 for the PlayStation 5 doesn’t launch until Oct. 20, the console and the rest of the goodies are set to launch on Sept. 1. As for what makes it special, just look at it; this PlayStation 5’s removable plates and DualSense controller have a unique color treatment that blends Spidey’s signature red with a venomous black consuming it.

Sony has opened pre-orders for the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 special edition PlayStation 5 console bundle, console covers and DualSense controller.

PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has announced more than 40 million PS5 consoles have now been sold since its release in November 2020. With any PS5 Stock issues now completely rectified, Ryan said: «With the support of PlayStation fans, we have reached a milestone of 40 million PS5 consoles sold through to gamers since launch. Thank you so much to our community of gamers — without you this would have been an impossible task.»

Skate (or Skate 4, as it's colloquially known) is currently in development, with EA inviting the community in over the past year to kick its tiny, skate-board-sized wheels on PC. This has all been going swimmingly, apparently, but EA has thrown us console warriors a lifeline; we'll get the chance to have our say on PlayStation platforms, although the timeline on that one is anybody's guess.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 launches for PS5 on 20th October 2023, but before then, you can get into the web-slinging mood by customising your PS5 and DualSense controller with some classy decals. Sony has announced the PS5 Console — Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle as well as a special PS5 DualSense Controller will be available from 1st September 2023, and pre-orders will be going live soon.

Select European countries like Spain and Portugal have recently been enjoying discounts of up to €100 on PS5 systems, but a new claim from PS Plus leaker billbil-kun states the sale price will be expanded to other countries soon. While the leaker doesn't know when the promotion will begin, they've posted the sort of discounts UK, USA, and German residents can look forward to.

You can already play Tower of Fantasy on PC or a smartphone, but Sony has been heavily promoting the PS5 and PS4 port, and that’s because the open world gacha is a timed console exclusive. The small print at the end of the game’s latest launch trailer notes that the PlayStation version is deploying “at least 12 months earlier than any other console”. This is boilerplate language for a timed console exclusive, as we’ve also seen with titles like Forspoken and Deathloop.

Four years on from its original launch for PC, Novarama’s co-op twin stick RPG shooter Killsquad has now also become available on PlayStation consoles. Given how long after its original release its console port is coming, many would have assumed that the developer would choose to bring it to as many platforms as possible- so why is it that there’s no Xbox version of Killsquad?

The PlayStation 5 has passed another milestone, with more than 40 million consoles now sold by Sony since its launch in late 2020.

Sony Group Corp has sold more than 40 million PlayStation 5 consoles, its gaming division said on Thursday, citing the easing of supply chain problems.

Thank your own personal deity, it's Friday. I'm going to keep this intro brief for a number of important reasons. Firstly, because I have to go preorder myself one of these Spider-Man 2 DualSenses (because they're apt to sell out). And secondly, because I need to go play more Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC, a game you should totally look into if high-end graphics are your bag.

The PlayStation 5 has passed another milestone, with more than 40 million consoles now sold by Sony since its launch in late 2020.

The free Land of the Morning Light expansion is now live in Black Desert Console , adding a sweeping new region inspired by the Joseon dynasty, new bosses, new story, and much more. 

Electronic Arts has provided an update on its plans for Skate playtesting on consoles.

The long-awaited next instalment in EA’s Skate franchise has been in the works at Full Circle for a while now, and though it remains to be seen how long it’ll be before it’s ready for release, it’s been abundantly clear that the game is continuing to make steady progress behind-the-scenes. A lot of that, of course, has been down to the consistent playtesting Full Circle has been doing for the game on PC- but what about console players?

The Tony Hawk Pro skater franchise mainly dominated skateboarding video games for years. However, EA stepped in and tried their hand at the sport. The result was Skate; we’ve received three mainline installments for the IP. But we know a new game is in the works, and it will soon be available for playtesting on console platforms. So if you’ve been itching to join in on the fun PC players have already been experiencing, keep an eye out within your inbox. That’s, of course, if you already signed up to become a Skate Insider.

Sales of Microsoft's Xbox consoles have dropped by 13 percent in the last quarter, according to the latest earnings report.

Shrek will return to console games for the first time in over a decade in a newly announced karting game.

Apogee, Nightdive, and New Blood have announced that the console version of Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition will be delayed on console. No date has been given for when we can expect the game to hit Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, but the PC version is still expected to drop on July 31, 2023.

There has been plenty of chatter online lately about a potential announcement of a PlayStation 5 Slim. That model was rumored about for a good while, and it was expected that we would see some kind of an announcement during the PlayStation Showcase event scheduled for May earlier this year. Unfortunately, that event ended without mentioning a new PlayStation 5 model. But the rumors continued to pour in online, with even Microsoft pointing out that they speculated a PlayStation 5 Slim model was in the works during their FTC court case.