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Halo Studios Announces “Deep Dive” Event on Upcoming Halo Games This Month

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Halo Studios is set to give fans an exclusive look at the future of the franchise during a special panel at this month’s Halo World Championship. The developer had previously announced in June that updates on Halo games currently in development would be shared at HaloWC in October, and now fans know exactly when and where to tune in. The esports event will run from October 24 to October 26 in Seattle, U.S., bringing together players and enthusiasts from around the globe. Devamını Oku

Microsoft raises Xbox prices in U.S. again amid tariff pressures

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Microsoft announced on Friday that it will increase U.S. prices for its Xbox consoles for the second time this year, citing rising costs tied to tariffs and supply chain pressures. The hikes take effect October 3 and will see the Xbox Series S (1TB) priced at about $450, the Series X at $650, and the special edition 2TB Galaxy Black Series X close to $800.

The move follows a May round of price increases across the U.S., Europe, Australia, and the UK. Combined, the Xbox Series X has risen by $150 in six months, straining consumer budgets already squeezed by inflation.

Microsoft said the adjustments reflect “changes in the macroeconomic environment” rather than opportunism. Analysts agreed tariffs are the driving factor. “Hardware is being repriced to absorb new trade pressures,” said Joost van Dreunen, games professor at NYU Stern.

The hikes come as Sony raised U.S. prices on its PlayStation 5 consoles last month, with the PS5 Pro now retailing for $749.99. By contrast, Microsoft said it will not raise prices on controllers, headsets, or hardware in other global markets.

Industry forecasts had expected console sales to drive growth in 2025 alongside major game releases like Grand Theft Auto VI and Nintendo’s anticipated Switch 2. However, repeated price hikes and delayed titles may dampen momentum, clouding the near-term outlook for the video game sector.

‘GTA VI’ Delay Slows Global Video Game Market Growth, Newzoo Report Shows

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The global video game market’s growth is projected to improve slightly in 2025, increasing by 3.4% to reach $188.9 billion, according to a report by research firm Newzoo, exclusively seen by Reuters on Tuesday. This marks a modest rise from last year’s 3.2% growth.

Industry experts had anticipated a stronger surge in 2024 driven by the anticipated launch of Take-Two Interactive’s blockbuster title Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI) alongside new gaming consoles. However, the game’s delay to 2026, combined with hardware price hikes caused by tariffs, has created uncertainty in consumer spending patterns.

Michiel Buijsman, Newzoo’s principal analyst, noted that the forecast accounts for factors such as hardware cycles, pricing trends, growth in installed user bases, and the slate of upcoming game releases. Despite the delay, Newzoo projects an average annual growth rate of 3.3% through 2027, down from an earlier forecast of 3.7%.

The market is expected to benefit from GTA VI’s launch in 2026 and other premium games such as Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem. The PC release of GTA VI is also predicted to sustain growth through 2027.

Price increases for major consoles like Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation have raised concerns about slowing hardware sales amid global economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s Switch 2 has become the company’s fastest-selling console to date, bucking this trend.

Buijsman highlighted that Xbox sales continue to lag behind PlayStation’s previous generation, projecting moderate hardware sales ahead. Xbox recently announced its new handheld device, the Xbox Ally, developed with ASUS, which is slated for release during the 2025 holiday season.