The Xbox Series X might be the most consumer-friendly console ever made. That may seem like a hyperbolic statement at first glance, especially if Microsoft announces a ludicrously high price in the coming days. But as it stands, all signs point to the Xbox Series X being a product that is seriously good value.  

If you’re already part of the Xbox ecosystem, Microsoft is doing everything in its power to make sure you stay committed to team green. But there’s also some very compelling reasons that newcomers may not be aware of, which could sway their decision as to which console to buy. Let’s dive in.

Xbox first-party exclusives are included with Xbox Game Pass

Xbox One was rightly lambasted for its mediocre exclusives this generation, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had any standout titles. Some games have grown over time into successful franchises, like Sea of Thieves, and Forza Horizon 4 is arguably one of the best driving games of this generation. But whether an exclusive does well or not is entirely subjective. What matters most is getting to play it and forming your own opinion (I personally enjoyed Crackdown 3, for example, which most people despised). 

Thankfully, Microsoft gives Xbox Game Pass subscribers access to all its first-party titles as soon as they launch. That means instead of shelling out $60 for Halo Infinite, you’ll get Master Chief’s next outing as part of Xbox Game Pass on day one. You’ll also get every other first-party game that Microsoft releases, such as the inevitable Forza Horizon 5, Gears 6 and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. 

If you own a PS5, however, you’ll have to stump up full price to play the latest game from Sony’s worldwide studios – and when not every title is top-tier (yes, even Sony makes some duds), Microsoft’s approach seems extremely generous in comparison.

• The cheapest Xbox Game Pass deals

Full backwards-compatibility 

One of the worst aspects of the PS4 and Xbox One generation was the swarms of remasters, remakes and re-releases that developers rushed out to make to cash in on the lack of backwards-compatibility. This is unlikely to change on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but I’m personally tired of paying for slightly better looking games I already own. 

Clearly, Microsoft understands this sentiment, as its backwards-compatibility program has been a breath of fresh air for the industry, which often feels like its sole focus is to squeeze you of every dime you have.

Xbox Series X will not only support hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games at launch, then, but it will also improve them substantially. Microsoft has already hinted at how games can benefit from the power of its new console by increasing the framerates and resolution of older titles, along with retroactively adding HDR. And we’ve already seen this on Xbox One X, where games like Red Dead Redemption and Final Fantasy XIII were boosted to 4K, making them look brand-new again. 

Sony, on the other hand, hasn’t been as forthcoming when it comes to backwards-compatibility. We know that the majority of PS4 games will work on PS5, but we’re unlikely to see any support for PS1 and PS2 games other than via digital re-releases, and PS3 games will likely be reserved for streaming through PS Now, which isn’t a great experience. It’s clear which console will have the most games to play at launch, then.

You can use your existing Xbox One accessories

If, like me, you’ve collected half a dozen limited edition controllers, or spent a sizable chunk of change on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, it’s nice to know that every single accessory for Xbox One will also work on Xbox Series X. This means you won’t need to shell out for another pad for the player two in your life, and if you’ve grown accustomed to the feel of the Xbox One controller, you don’t have to switch to the slightly refined Xbox Series X version if that’s what you prefer. 

While we know the PS5 DualSense controller includes many of the same features of the DualShock 4, such as the touchpad, lightbar, speaker and headphone jack, it’s unclear as to whether Sony will let you use its older controllers and accessories in the same way on PlayStation 5. If it doesn’t, then all those spare controllers you own will be left to gather dust, and with the DualSense's fancy features pointing to an expensive price tag, you’ll need to dip into your cash reserves if you’re after a second pad.

Xbox Smart Delivery gives you the best version of any game

With the next-gen consoles looming, buyers can sometimes find themselves in a tricky position: do I buy this game now, or wait for the fancier version to come out on the new consoles? Thanks to Xbox Smart Delivery, this common headache is now a thing of the past. 

When you buy a supported game on Xbox One, you’ll automatically get it on Xbox Series X. That means if you buy Gears 5 today, or download it as part of Xbox Game Pass, it will be available on Xbox Series X if you purchase Microsoft’s new console. The same applies if you want to play an Xbox Series X game on your Xbox One. Bought Halo Infinite on Xbox Series X but want to play it on the Xbox One located in your bedroom? Xbox Smart Delivery will recognize this and deliver the correct version of the game so you can play Halo without getting out of bed. 

Worryingly, we don’t know if this will be the case on PlayStation 5, at least it seems like it’s being left to developers to decide, more than anything. With Sony already stating that it’s designing games exclusively for PS5, it’s hard to see any PS5 titles being playable on the PS4, and although some games might get an upgrade to PS5, we already know that Microsoft has promised games like Destiny 2, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Gears 5 and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla will all support Xbox Smart Delivery.

Xbox Play Anywhere is a bonus for PC players

Xbox Play Anywhere has been around for a while now, but it’s criminally overlooked in terms of the value it provides. If you buy the digital version of a game that supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you’ll own it on both Xbox One and PC. Xbox Play Anywhere titles support cross-save, too, so you can carry your progress over to PC or console, depending on where you want to play.

You might not own a PC, or simply prefer to play on console – however, getting something for free is never a bad thing, and there are some notable titles that support the service such as Resident Evil 7 and Cuphead. Sony used to have a similar scheme with PlayStation Vita, but ever since it stopped supporting its now defunct handheld device, there’s nothing extra to be gained from buying a game digitally on Sony’s console.

Project XCloud could be a game-changer

Microsoft has promised to combine Project XCloud, it’s upcoming cloud streaming service, with Xbox Game Pass, which makes total sense. We don’t know if the new service will affect the price of a Game Pass subscription, but the prospect of playing games on any device through the power of the cloud gives players another way to enjoy Xbox games.

Sony was quick to the cloud gaming scene with PS Now, but the service has faced criticism for being overpriced and the overall experience being a shaky one. Sony has also been using the service to primarily stream PS3 games with mixed results. I’ve tried the Project XCloud beta myself and, despite the usual gripes that cloud gaming can bring such as visual artifacts and the odd stutter in connection quality, it’s left me considerably impressed.

Cloud gaming still isn’t ready for mass adoption, though (sorry, Stadia), and Microsoft is acutely aware of this. But being able to play when you’re in a pinch or can’t be bothered to fight over who gets the TV is an awesome option to have.

• Xbox Series X games list: every game announced so far

Ah, PUBG – the battle royale game that took the world by storm and inspired countless competitors has certainly lost its way as of late. Through a mixture of baffling decisions, poor communication, and a general stubbornness to change, PUBG’s popularity continues to wane, particularly on console. 

In an attempt to appease players, who may have already had their heads turned by rivals such as Call of Duty: Warzone or Apex Legends, Joon H. Choi, console lead project manager, has penned a personal letter to the game’s fans, who are appropriately addressed as “Survivors”. No kidding.  

Deemed as high-priority topics that have been “floating around the community”, the dev team touches on the issues with ranked mode, anti-cheat and game stability, as well as how they’re handling those brain dead bots. Typically, it’s an unclear and strangely-worded response in a time where clarity and action is so desperately needed, but nevertheless, let’s break down what Choi had to say. 

Solo act

Ranked mode, which arrived in the 7.2 patch, has apparently left PUBG Corp “overwhelmed by the reception and support” (though we don’t know whether that reception was good or bad). According to Choi, there’s always room for improvement, and one of the biggest demands from the community is the addition of solos to ranked mode. 

Now, to anyone who hasn’t played PUBG, solo mode is how thousands of people enjoy the game. Personally, it’s the only mode I play on PC, as I always play squad games with my friends on Xbox One, and the thought of playing with random strangers isn’t very appealing. Therefore, since patch 7.2, I haven’t been able to play ranked mode and have been left to battle lobbies made almost entirely of bots (which I still believe could damage the game entirely). Of course, to the surprise of no one, some parts of the community haven’t been very happy about this. 

This isn’t the community’s fault – it’s poor planning from the developer.

In its defense, PUBG Corp says that its data, which apparently dictates every decision they make, showed that the popularity of squad mode outweighed the need to include solos or duos. And furthermore, solos and duos won’t be added to ranked mode in Season 7, because of the simple reason that PUBG has too many modes, and matchmaking would be negatively impacted.

It begs the question, then: why did PUBG add so many superfluous modes in the first place? Do we really need team deathmatch, a ridiculous fantasy-themed mode that changed the entire concept of the game just to unlock some daft skins, and a public match mode filled with bots for newcomers? No, we did not. This isn’t the community’s fault – it’s poor planning from the developer, which sometimes feels like it’s making things up as it goes along. And it's just resulted in a more frustrating game.

It doesn’t sound like solos or duos will come to ranked mode any time soon, either, as this will upset the balance of the current rankings and introduce more queues. But maybe there’s some more positive news in how the developer plans to tackle radar hacks, which have plagued the game for years. 

Cheating chat

Choi bravely admits that radar hacks have been “a huge thorn in the side for us for a looooong time” – you can tell he understands because he’s used five zeros in the word long. Despite promising some sort of “packet encryption” measure against radar cheats, PUBG Corp won’t explain how it will work exactly, just in case they “give out information that baddies could use against us”. And while they do expect to see a drastic reduction in radar hack usage (note: not a permanent end to the problem), Choi signs off with the confidence boosting promise that he’s keeping his “fingers crossed”. That's not totally reassuring. 

Speaking of cheats, what about SMS authentication for ranked mode? It’s already a requirement on PC if you want to play, but Choi said the developer believed it wasn’t required on console, as cheating is a lot harder to do. That’s a funny thing to say, when he literally just discussed a game-breaking hack which works on consoles... 

The good news is that SMS authentication might come to consoles to help combat cheaters and dodgy accounts from playing the game. But perhaps somewhat predictably, PUBG Corp doesn’t know when it will come or how it will be implemented. They’ll let us know, though.

Cue the deletion of queues

Glossing over the fact that PUBG now apparently crashes less than it ever has on console (congrats, I guess?) the developer of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has tackled the hot topic that continues to leave the community in uproar: the bothersome bots. 

Like them or loathe them, PUBG is staying resolute on its decision to keep them in the game. Choi has said that the developer's data has shown a positive change in making sure lobbies aren't primarily full of the AI invaders. But worringly, there’s no mention on how the bots will be improved mechanically, because they’re comically bad as it stands. 

Still, Choi notes that bots can still fill up the majority of a lobby depending on the queue times, but he's seemingly out of ideas on how to fix this issue. Choi suggested that the best solution might be to “funnel players into less queues” and is “exploring the idea of closing some down”, but nothing concrete seems to be decided.

PUBG needs to go back to basics. It has to concentrate on the core experience first and foremost.

A final farewell

In the third to last paragraph of the letter, Choi finally gets to the crux of PUBG’s problem – if you ignore all the cheaters and stability issues, of course. 

“We support many queues in PUBG – too many. We have steadily been adding more queues over the years and now support the most amount of queues in any Battle Royale game – a genre that sometimes requires over 100 players per match,” Choi admits. “Reducing the number of queues might be a bullet we have to bite to not only prevent matches where players are playing against too many bots (this was not our intention in the first place), but to also future proof the game and ensure a healthier matchmaking experience overall, for everyone.”

It’s hard not to agree with Choi’s statement. PUBG does have too many queues, and it’s arguably because the developer has lost sight of what PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is all about. PUBG needs to go back to basics. It has to concentrate on the core experience first and foremost, for the long-term health of the game.

Terminator

The addition of bots wasn’t the first sign of PUBG failings – it’s had numerous problems in the past and continues to do so – but bots certainly acted as the catalyst to show just how bad a state the game was in. It’s horribly bloated, disjointed, and in need of some proper care and attention. 

Ultimately, though, PUBG Corp needs to make a simple decision: does it want to re-establish itself as the best battle royale experience on the market, or simply attract new players in the hope they’ll purchase a battle pass or some extra skins? Right now, it feels like the strategy is leaning towards the latter, and it’s why I'm disheartened at what this fantastic game has become. 

• PUBG is dying – how bots threaten to destroy PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

If you’re after a laptop that has the hardware required to power the latest games, Best Buy is currently offering a $100 discount on an impressive Asus TUF 15.6” gaming laptop. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 inside for only $899.99, you can also snag $20 off a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365, which should cover all your productivity needs.

The Asus TUF 15.6-inch gaming laptop also comes with a 512GB SSD, for super-fast boot times and 8GB of RAM to make multitasking a breeze. It’s aesthetic isn’t exactly subtle, though, with sharp, bold lines and a bright backlit yellow keyboard that make it very clear this is a product aimed squarely at gamers. Still, for well under $1000, it’s a great price for the top-tier components packed inside.

With the back to school season fast approaching, this is a fantastic price on a laptop that can comfortably handle productivity tasks and gaming. Best Buy is also offering a price match guarantee, so if you do see it cheaper elsewhere, the retailer will match it. Still, we doubt you'll see another tempting deal like this until Amazon Prime Day. 

Asus TUF gaming laptop deal:

See more gaming laptop offers with our roundup of the best cheap gaming laptop deals, or simply check out the best cheap laptop deals and sales on a variety of models. 

If you're in the UK, you can scroll down to find a similar deal.   

Sony believes that its exclusive PS5 games will ensure it stays ahead of Microsoft’s Xbox Series X when the consoles go head-to-head later this year.

The PS4 is home to some truly excellent exclusive titles, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man, God of War and Horizon: Zero Dawn – and Sony showed off nine new games from its worldwide studios during its PS5 games reveal event, including Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7 and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. 

Interestingly, Sony and Microsoft are taking two very different approaches when it comes to handling next-gen exclusives. Microsoft is making sure that Xbox Series X games, like Halo Infinite, will also work on Xbox One and also puts all of its first-party games on Xbox Game Pass, day and date of release. 

• All Xbox Series X games announced so far
• PS5 vs Xbox Series X: the ultimate head-to-head
• 5 things the PS5 must improve over the PS4

Sony, meanwhile, has promised that games designed exclusively for PS5 will only work on its next-gen console. That means you won’t be able to play Horizon Forbidden West on PlayStation 4, for example.

Only on PlayStation

Speaking to The Guardian, Sony executive vice-president Simon Rutter stressed that exclusives are “hugely important. More important, I think, than they’ve ever been.” Rutter also believes that exclusives are necessary so that developers and system designers can make the most of a console’s capabilities. 

“Through their proximity to the system’s designers, PlayStation’s studios are able to really extract the most out of the system performance and that’s a really valuable attribute for a platform holder to have,” said Rutter. “[PlayStation] can rely on a studio network that can really show off the innovations that we’re trying to put across… when the exclusives are as powerful as Marvel’s Spider-Man or Horizon, they are important games that people want to play.”

An example of this approach will be seen in Gran Turismo 7, which Rutter promises will "benefit from almost every PS5 tech enhancement."

Generational leap

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s president and CEO Jim Ryan echoed the company’s approach and said players shouldn't expect PS5 games to come to PS4. “We have always said that we believe in generations,” Ryan said. "We believe that when you go to all the trouble of creating a next-gen console, that it should include features and benefits that the previous generation does not include. And that, in our view, people should make games that can make the most of those features.

“We do believe in generations, and whether it's the DualSense controller, whether it's the 3D audio, whether it's the multiple ways that the SSD can be used... we are thinking that it is time to give the PlayStation community something new, something different, that can really only be enjoyed on PS5.”

With two differing strategies, then – one seemingly based on value and the other based on maximizing new technology – it will be interesting to see which approach will resonate most with consumers when both consoles release later this year. 

• Should you upgrade to Sony's new console? PS5 vs PS4 Pro

BT Sport is now available on Now TV devices, giving customers another way to watch Premier League football when it restarts. 

The BT Sport app is already available on numerous devices, including Samsung smart TVs, PS4, Xbox One and Apple TV, as well as mobiles and tablets. But customers with a Now TV Smart box will also be able to access BT Sport for the very first time. 

The devices supported are listed below:

• Now TV 4K Box
• Now TV Smart Stick
• Now TV Legacy
• Now TV Smart box

BT Sport has the rights to 20 Premier League games, none of which are free-to-air. New customers can purchase a BT Sport Monthly Pass for £25 per month, which lets anyone buy and watch BT Sport on a month-by-month basis.  BT has also expanded its catch-up and on-demand content, as customers can now watch classic matches and events from the UEFA CHampions League, UEFA Europa League, Emirates FA CUp and more. Full event replays are also available, lettings fans re-watch Premier League games in full, soon after they've been broadcast on BT Sport

Football’s coming home

BT Sport’s first Premier League game begins on June 20, which sees a double-header of Watford vs Leicester and Brighton vs Arsenal. Fans will have the option to watch with or without pre-recorded dynamic crowd noise using the red button. and the pass will also offer every match from the German Bundesliga, live UFC, Turkish Super Lig, WWE, AFL and more. 

Andy Haworth, managing director at BT Sport has this to say: “Today’s news marks the latest in this season’s sport innovations from BT, following our launch this season of Europe’s only channel offering sports in stunning HDR picture quality,” said Haworth. “BT continues to create more ways for our customers to watch their favourite sport, and we’re connecting more viewers to our content as BT Sport continues to go from strength to strength.”

• It's almost time for kick-off: How to watch the Premier League

Gran Turismo 7 will take full advantage of the PS5’s exclusive features, Sony has promised.  

The PS5 is packed with a bunch of unique technology, such as haptic feedback and adaptive triggers on the DualSense controller, a super-fast SSD, and 3D audio. With Gran Turismo 7 being a PS5 exclusive, Sony has said that it will “benefit from almost every single technological enhancement that we have in PlayStation 5."

Speaking to The Guardian, Sony executive vice-president Simon Rutter believes that Gran Turismo 7 will be a showcase for the console, and detailed exactly how its realistic racing game will wow players with the PS5’s new technology.

• Check out all the PS5 games announced so far
• Why Sony isn't ready for a PS5 Digital Edition
• Do you love or hate the design of the PS5?

Feature rich

First of all, loading times will be seriously sped up thanks to the PS5’s SSD. “The loading times will be next to nothing compared to what they have been in the past,” said Rutter, which will come as a huge relief to many Gran Turismo fans, as load times have always been painfully long. 

When it comes to 3D audio, Rutter promises an immersive experience. “Sitting in the cockpit, the 3D audio allows you to hear the thunderous roar of a Ferrari behind you or in front of you, and you can recognize the difference between that and the engine noise of a Maserati,” said Rutter. 

But what about the DualSense controller? Well, it sounds like Gran Turismo 7 will have that covered too. “Driving the car using the DualSense controller, you’ll have a different feeling in your hands from the smooth undulating tarmac of a racetrack, compared to the gritty sensation on a gravel track,” said Rutter. “Pressing a soft accelerator will feel very different than pressing on a stiff brake pedal or gear paddle.” 

Gear up

Gran Turismo 7 was revealed during Sony’s PS5 games reveal event, where we also got to see the console and its polarizing design in all its glory.

It sounds like exciting stuff, then, but we’re used to developers and executives wax lyrical about upcoming consoles. The features certainly give the PS5 a unique selling point over the Xbox Series X, but there's a chance they will be largely ignored by third-party developers, much like the DualShock 4’s touchpad. Ultimately, we’ll have to wait and see, but it certainly sounds like Gran Turismo 7 will do its best to maximize Sony’s vision of what its next-gen console can do.

• The DualSense PS5 controller is packed with fancy features – but they won't get used

After months of speculation and questionable concept designs from eager fans, Sony has finally revealed what the PS5 looks like. And honestly, I think it's hideous...

The PS5 has a polarizing design to say the least. At a glance, it produces the same reaction as when you put a spoon of Marmite in your mouth for the very first time – you either wrench in disgust or are pleasantly surprised. There's no in between (and for the record, I hate Marmite).

If you were to be kind, though, you could say the PS5 is reminiscent of something the PC manufacturer Alienware would produce. But I personally agree with the less flattering comparisons that are floating around the internet: Sony’s console does look like a Wi-Fi router or a cheap knock-off.

From its strange popped collar to its inhaled middle and two-tone color scheme, the PS5 is at odds with almost every piece of technology I've ever owned. There’s no getting away from the fact this is a gaming console, either, and Sony seemingly wants everyone to know it. While I have no qualms with that, I’d still prefer something that doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. A console should, ideally, complement my existing home entertainment devices, particularly if it’s going to be around for five plus years. 

If you want to go hard on the gaming aesthetic like Nintendo did with the GameCube, then that's fine. I bloody love that purple cube. But this feels like Sony is trying to prove its console is some sort of space-age technology, which doesn't really hold up when we already know that the Xbox Series X trumps it when it comes to technical specs.

Large and in charge

With two versions of the PS5 available, it’s clear that compromises were made to the original vision of the console’s design. The PS5 Digital Edition, which removes the 4K Blu-Ray drive, looks like the console Sony really wants people to buy (and the one it would prefer to use in all its marketing material). 

The standard model, though, is blighted by an unsightly spare tire in the form of the disk drive. It destroys any symmetry Sony was clearly aiming for and it’s plain weird to look at – it appears as though it's been bolted on at the last second. 

Sony definitely wants people to stand the console up vertically as well. Yes, it can be placed horizontally, but it looks rather awkward – the console seems to be almost balancing on the accompanying plastic stand. 

With evidence pointing towards the PS5 being absolutely gargantuan in size, you’ll need to make ample room for Sony’s towering piece of plastic, too, no matter which orientation you choose. If the comparisons people have made based on the console's disk drive are anything to go by, this will be the biggest console Sony has ever made – and it's comically large. 

Despite Sony’s best efforts to inspire a different reaction, the console’s appearance is ultimately cheapened by its plastic design. The DualSense PS5 controller looks far more appealing to me, and manages to retain a premium look. But the console misses the mark completely. I can’t envision it taking pride of place in my living room, and I can almost feel it creaking in my hands as I summon the strength to move it.

Party chat

Are there any positives about the PS5’s design, though? Well, yes. There’s one big win for Sony: everyone is talking about the new console – whether it’s good or bad. When placed next to the Xbox Series X – which is seriously understated in comparison but no less ambitious in its design philosophy – it’s even more of a conversation starter. The PS5 design can’t help but make you say, “have you seen the PS5” to your friends and family, just to see their reactions. 

I must admit that I do like the blue light that envelops the console, though. However, I’m sceptical that it will remain on during gameplay. I’ve been burnt before by consoles that promised an alluring glow – the Wii was famously advertised with a futuristic blue light on the console’s disc drive, but it would only appear when you had a notification (and that quickly became annoying). The PS4 is also guilty of the old bait and switch, as its LED switches to a white light when in use, not blue. And when fans thought the top of the Xbox Series X was a green LED, it actually turned out to be just a piece of plastic.  

Frankly, though, the PlayStation has generated so much goodwill over the years that I can see the majority of fans looking past the console’s garish design simply because the PS5 has the games they want to play. And that’s what it ultimately comes down to, of course. No console generation has ever been won by having the most attractive plastic box (although there’s no denying the Wii was gorgeous and sold by the bucket load). It’s what lies inside that counts, but let’s gloss over the fact that the Xbox Series X has Sony beat this time around when it comes to specs, shall we? 

• How do the two next-gen consoles compare? PS5 vs Xbox Series X

Demon’s Souls is being remade from the ground up for PS5, Sony has revealed during its PS5 games reveal event. 

Demon’s Souls was originally released in 2009 on the PlayStation 3, and was the catalyst for the incredibly popular Dark Souls series, which is beloved by many due to its punishing difficult and satisfying gameplay. You can watch the announcement trailer below.

Good for the soul

The game is being handled by developer Bluepoint Games, who are renowned for creating impressive remasters such as Shadow of the Colossus on PS4. It looks like Demon’s Souls will be an even more ambitious project, though, due to the nature of the game. 

An action role-playing game, Demon’s Souls was well-received when it released in 2009. What makes the game so difficult, however, is that combat relies on expertly-timed strikes and parries, all while managing your stamina. One false move, though, and you could end up on the wrong end of an enemy, and be sent back to your previous save point. All the enemies you defeated will respawn, and you’ll need to seek out the foe that wronged you to regain the souls that you previously earned. 

We didn’t get a release date for Demon’s Souls, sadly, but let’s hope fans won’t have to wait too much longer before they can return to the hostile world of Boletaria. 

• PS5 games: all the games confirmed and expected

GTA 5 is coming to PS5 in the second half of 2021, Sony has announced. The game will be enhanced and expanded, and feature a range of visual upgrades and improvements to performance that will take full advantage of the PS5’s beefy hardware. 

The announcement was made during Sony’s PS5 games reveal event, where Rockstar’s open world epic had the honor of kicking off the show. Despite releasing in 2013, GTA 5 continues to be a big seller for Rockstar, and it seems like the publisher is determined to get the game into even more hands.

GTA Online will also continue on PS5, with additional content that’s exclusive to Sony’s new console. A standalone version of GTA Online will also be made available for free, exclusively for PlayStation 5 players during the first three months.

• You need to play these: best PS4 games
• Subscribe to PS Plus? Best PS Plus games
• Want to know more about PS5? All the PS5 games confirmed

Grand return

Starting today, all PS Plus members will get GTA$1,000,000 deposited into their Maze Bank account for GTA Online, and this amount will be topped up every month until the launch of GTA 5 on PS5. That’s a lot of Rockstar cash to be earned, then. 

Interestingly, GTA 5 might be the first game to release for three generations of consoles. The game first debuted on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, before making its way to PS4, Xbox One and then PC. With a PS5 release now on the horizon, it seems like the wait for GTA 6 might be further off than we think.

• Why would Rockstar release GTA 6 so soon? GTA Online is gold mine

Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 was pushed back from its original June 6 release date by publisher Activision in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests that are currently taking place around the world, but we now know when it'll be released: June 12.

The new season is called 'Radioactive Agent' and, as you can imagine, it'll have a biological warfare theme. This includes new camos, gear, a new map and an improvement to the battle royale mode, by adding new locations to the map.

When does Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 start?

Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 is set to kick off on June 12, although we don't have a concrete time at which you'll be able to download it in your region. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 4 starts two days before at 11pm PDT or 7am BST though, so it's possible the timings will be the same.

What’s included in Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7?

Call of Duty: Mobile is getting a slew of new locations for its battle royale map, including Black Market, Downtown, Frigid Wetland, Harbor, Heat, Sanitarium and Ski Town. There’s also a host of new modes, challenges and events on the way, which should keep players busy. A new Ranked Mode season will also begin at the same time. 

While not confirmed, the Call of Duty: Mobile subreddit has teased that the gulag might also be coming to the game’s battle royale mode. As seen in Call of Duty: Warzone, the gulag pits players one-on-one in a bid to earn a respawn back into battle.

How much is the Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 battle pass?

The Call of Duty: Mobile Season 7 battle pass is free, but if you’re after the premium items it will cost 800 COD Points ($9.99 / £9.99). A premium pass is also available, which grants you 25 tiers and additional unlocks for 2000 COD Points ($24.99 / £24.99). The battle pass includes all the usual unlockables fans have come to expect: loads of unique skins for your guns and operators, COD Points and XP boosts galore.

It's likely that Activision will reveal when Season 7 will begin in the next few weeks, but for now, we'll need to keep an eye on the game's Twitter account for more details. 

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Season 4 start date, delay and battle pass

Nintendo has revealed that an additional 140,000 user accounts were accessed by unauthorized means back in April. Previously, the company had said that only 160,000 accounts were affected and was slow to acknowledge the problem at the time. 

The news will come as a worry to those who are concerned about the security of their Nintendo Account and Nintendo Switch, although Nintendo stressed that less than one percent of all Nintendo Network ID (NNID) users were affected by the breach. 

The security breach saw unauthorized users hijack vulnerable accounts using illegally obtained NNID information (which was required to make purchases on the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS). To make matters worse, some hackers took advantage of users' saved PayPal details to purchase various in-game currencies, such as Fortnite’s VBucks.

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Nintendo has since reset all NNID and Nintendo Account passwords that were hacked, and disabled Nintendo Account sign-in via NNID. It’s still not possible to log-in via your NNID at the time of writing.

Step it up

If you haven’t already done so, Nintendo recommends that all users should enable 2-Step Verification as an additional layer of security. You can follow the steps from the company’s support page, which will guide you through the entire process, or follow our simple guide.

If you’re worried about whether your account has been breached, you can check if you’ve had any unwanted access on your account by viewing the ‘Sign-in History’ on the ‘Sign-in and Security Settings’ page.

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Via Eurogamer

The Dead Space series has been dormant since 2013, but the sci-fi survival horror game might be getting a welcomed revival on PS5.

Dead Space writer and novelist Antony Johnston took to Twitter to tease that he’s been working on a big video game for almost two years, and encouraged people to watch Sony’s PS5 games reveal event on Thursday (June 11) to find out more.

When pressed further by a curious Twitter user, Johnston replied with a cryptic answer – one that admittedly could be applied to hundreds of video games on the market.

Dead excited

Sony has long been rumored to be working on a new Silent Hill, but publisher Konami has vehemently denied that any new game is the pipeline. Antony Johnston does have a rich history of penning stories for survival horror games, though, and previously worked on Ubisoft’s Zombi U, as well as the third-person action game, Binary Domain.

With the PS5 games event set to (hopefully) reveal a plethora of new and exciting titles, surprises are almost guaranteed. A new Dead Space game would go down a treat, and could be a great showcase for PS5’s new Tempest 3D audio tech. Who wouldn’t want to hear a necromorph creeping up behind them?

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The PS4 has been a runaway success for Sony ever since it launched in 2013. With over 102 million units sold to date, the PlayStation 4 will be remembered as one of the most popular video game consoles of all time – and rightly so. 

Nevertheless, there’s always room for improvement, and Sony needs to ensure that some of the foibles of its predecessor are not repeated for PS5. The early signs point to the Xbox Series X providing stiffer competition this time around, too, so anything Sony can do to strengthen the PS5’s appeal in the eyes of consumers can only help its chances of success. 

So what does Sony need to change? Here are five things PS5 must improve over the PS4 if PlayStation wants to keep its crown as the king of consoles. 

1. The build quality and battery life of the controller 

The PS4 controller has been dogged with two prevalent problems: susceptible build quality and a pitiful battery life. When the DualShock 4 first released, players lamented a multitude of issues that affected the controller – from sticking L1 and R1 buttons, snapping trigger buttons, or the analog sticks’ rubber-coating wearing away. The latter problem was only resolved a few years later, when Sony finally decided to switch to a more durable material.

The meager battery life has also been a point of contention with the DualShock 4. With an average 4-7 hours of charge, due in part to the controller’s criminally-underused touchpad and always-on lightbar, it simply doesn’t last long enough for the majority of gamers. Compare the DualShock 4 to the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, which lasts up to approximately 40 hours, and it’s hard to make excuses for Sony’s battery-sapping pad. 

The DualSense controller simply has to do better, then. But with so much technology and fancy features packed into it, Sony might struggle to get the balance right once again.

2. The noise levels of the console 

Commonly compared to a jet engine during takeoff, the PlayStation 4 has been routinely mocked for its poor acoustics. The launch models of both the PS4 and PS4 Pro were notoriously loud, and games such as God of War and Horizon: Zero Dawn could send the PS4’s fans into overdrive. 

When stacked up against its whisper-quiet rival, the Xbox One, it’s hard not to feel shortchanged by Sony’s machine. The PS5 needs to be much quieter, then, and with the next-generation consoles pushing out a serious amount of power, keeping thermals and noise levels in check will be a significant technical challenge.

3. Cross play and cross save support 

When cross play was first announced for Fortnite, Sony was less than forthcoming about if or when its console would support it. Eventually, after some hollow reasoning and increasing pressure from players, the company reluctantly changed its stance on cross play support.

Sony is still way behind the likes of Microsoft when it comes to supporting cross play and cross save support, however, and even Nintendo have done a better job of letting gamers play together. Remember #4ThePlayers, Sony?

4. Proper backwards-compatibility

After both the PS4 and Xbox One launched with no backwards-compatibility support, Microsoft shocked the gaming community when it revealed that it was bringing back hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles for its current-gen console. Not only that, but Microsoft continued to improve on its backwards-compatibility program with the Xbox One X release, which let older games benefit from the console’s increased power. For Xbox Series X, the situation sounds like it will only improve further, with retroactive HDR support and the ability for some games to run at higher resolutions and framerates. 

Sony, on the other hand, has previously only offered older games through its much-maligned cloud-streaming platform, PlayStation Now, or through the PS Store as a select number of digital downloads. As a result, not only have gamers been forced to pay for games they likely already own, but they’ve also had a worse experience in the process due to the frustrating nature of cloud gaming.

Sony has promised that the PS5 will be backwards-compatible, but at this stage, we’re still none the wiser as to how comprehensive that support will be, and whether previous PlayStation generations will even be supported. With such a rich history of games to tap into, it would be a huge missed opportunity if Sony overlooked the importance of backwards-compatibility support. 

5. PlayStation Now isn't tempting enough

Speaking of PlayStation Now, there’s no denying that in its current state, it’s largely been overlooked by the PS4’s install base. The streaming platform has had problems with pricing, an average library of games and stern competition from Microsoft’s subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, to deal with, and just hasn’t taken off.  

PS Now made a positive change in recent months, though, by allowing PlayStation fans to download titles, much like you can with Xbox Game Pass. But the games the service gets don’t tend to stick around for as long, and tend to be many years old. 

The streaming side of the service is also still too unreliable, and the quality isn’t quite there. With Microsoft’s Project XCloud already confirmed to be part of Xbox Game Pass, and generally being well-received despite only being in beta, Sony might find itself suddenly behind the pack, despite having a years-long headstart.

The first gameplay footage of Call of Duty 2020, rumored to be called Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, may have just been revealed. 

In typical Call of Duty fashion, the player can be seen sprinting, vaulting, aiming down sights and inevitably camping (just kidding), as they explore what could be Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s first exclusive map. The footage below could also be nothing more than an elaborate hoax, but it does look rather convincing.

It should be noted that the off screen footage has reportedly been taken from 45 minutes of pre-alpha code, and focuses on a new map called Tank. As with any pre-alpha footage, the game will look dramatically different to what we’re seeing here when it releases, so bear that in mind. For example, it appears that textures and other graphical elements are missing entirely, and the UI and HUD elements aren’t in place.

Duty calls

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and unrest across the world, Activision would normally have announced a new Call of Duty by now, as the annualized franchise gears up for its usual October release. 

However, with the world in a tumultuous place, Activision has delayed Season 4 and Season 7 for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Mobile respectively, so it’s unclear when Call of Duty 2020 will be officially unveiled. 

It’s a safe bet that Call of Duty 2020 will release on Xbox One, PS4 and PC, and might support PS5 and Xbox Series X as a cross-gen title, just like Call of Duty: Ghosts did when it was released. 

We also know that Activision plans to support Call of Duty: Warzone for the foreseeable future, so it’s unlikely that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will feature its own dedicated battle royale mode this time around. 

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The Xbox Series X will launch in Japan during the holiday season 2020 (that’s between October and December for our non-US readers) despite historically poor sales for the Xbox brand in the country.

Microsoft confirmed the console would launch at the same time as the rest of the world in a statement to the long-running Japanese video games magazine, Famitsu (thanks, VGC). 

The Xbox One arrived in Japan 12 months after it launched in Western regions, which didn’t exactly scream that Microsoft cared much about the Japanese market. 

To date, the Xbox One has captured just 0.3% of global sales in the region according to market research company IDC, and Famitsu’s latest annual sales report for 2018 states that the beleaguered console shifted 15,339 units during the entire year. Compare this to Sony and Nintendo, which managed to sell 1.7 million PS4 consoles and 3.5 million units of the Nintendo Switch, and it’s grim reading for Microsoft.

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Microsoft isn't giving up, though. In an interview with Gamertag Radio, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has acknowledged the company’s failures in the region, and has pledged to do “a much better job” with the Xbox Series X. Some analysts have called for Microsoft to pull out of Japan entirely, as they see it as an impossible hurdle for Microsoft to overcome, but Spencer said he remains committed to the region and hopes Xbox can “mean more than it does today” when Xbox Series X launches in Japan.

Microsoft has recently acquired more Japanese games for Xbox One fans to enjoy in the last few months. The Yakuza series has made its way to Xbox Game Pass, as well as Kingdom Hearts 3. Xbox One also got a number of Final Fantasy games, although it’s unclear when Final Fantasy 7 Remake will arrive on Microsoft’s platform.

Xbox in Japan

Xbox has consistently been overlooked by Japanese consumers and has made a number of missteps since the original Xbox released. Over the generations, though, Microsoft has invested in exclusive games like Dead or Alive 3, Lost Odyssey and Blue Dragon in an attempt to broaden its player base beyond America and Europe. 

Can Microsoft make it big in Japan, then? Early predictions would probably point to no, as the odds are certainly stacked against the company. But Phil Spencer’s continued commitment can only be admired, and if the Xbox Series X wants to get the same type of games that PS5 and Nintendo Switch will inevitably attract, having a presence in Japan is still an absolute must.