➀ Sony announced the PlayStation 5 Pro with a feature to enhance image quality for PS4 games; ➁ The feature appears to be a system-wide upscaling pass similar to AMD's FSR1; ➂ It may not work on all PS4 titles, but it should improve resolution on select games.

➀ Valve Steam Deck has been a major success since its early 2022 launch, selling millions of units. Despite the Steam Deck OLED's release a year later, Valve has no plans for annual hardware upgrades. ➁ Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat, designers of the Steam Deck, emphasize the importance of a generational leap in compute before releasing the second generation. ➂ The Steam Deck's solid performance, especially the OLED version, suggests Valve's reluctance to release a new version too soon.

➀ Reports suggest Microsoft will halt sales of Xbox consoles in Saudi Arabia; ➁ Microsoft has informed major stores in Saudi Arabia of the decision; ➂ The move is seen as a re-strategization effort by Microsoft.

➀ Microsoft has been struggling with its Xbox strategy, changing short and medium-term plans frequently; ➁ An insider claims that Xbox's plan changes every year, with inconsistent messaging on new projects like a handheld console; ➂ Microsoft's recent industry moves, such as acquiring Activision-Blizzard and studio closures, have been met with uncertainty and changes in direction.

➀ Microsoft is confirmed to be working on the next generation of Xbox consoles; ➁ The next Xbox will include both a traditional console and a portable system similar to the Steam Deck; ➂ The move is seen as a response to the power disparity between the Xbox Series S and Series X.

➀ Sony has reaffirmed that consoles will remain the core of its business; ➁ Hideaki Nishino, CEO of SIE's Platform Business Group, highlighted the value of home consoles in providing an intuitive and immediate gaming experience; ➂ Despite exploring the PC gaming market, Sony seems committed to prioritizing consoles over other platforms.

➀ Sony has introduced a new Welcome Hub to the PS5, replacing the previous US-exclusive Explore Tab; ➁ The update allows sharing party voice chat links on messaging and social media apps; ➂ Users can now personalize 3D audio profiles, adjust Remote Play settings, and enable adaptive charging for controllers.

➀ According to PlayStation, 75% of all PS5 owners prefer Performance Mode over the fidelity option; ➁ Mark Cerny, the console architect, revealed that while 25% of PS5 owners have a 120 fps-capable TV, most players will choose performance mode for higher framerates; ➂ The PS5 Pro aims to offer no compromise between graphics and framerate.

➀ The PS5 Pro was officially announced with a larger GPU offering up to 45% faster rendering; ➁ The CPU part of the SoC remains unchanged; ➂ The PS5 Pro will cost £699 and does not include a disc drive or vertical stand by default, but comes with a 2TB SSD.

➀ Sony officially announced and revealed the PlayStation 5's specifications in-depth; ➁ Another 'Technical Presentation' is set to be hosted by Mark Cerny; ➂ The presentation is expected to focus on PS5 and innovations in gaming technology.

➀ Sony has subtly teased the existence of the long-rumoured PS5 Pro, confirming its updated design. ➁ The company has shared some of its plans for the impending milestone of the OG PlayStation One's 30th birthday. ➂ A leaked design of the upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro was discovered in a blog post header image, confirming its 3-striped appearance.

1. The development team behind DUNE Awakening has expressed difficulties in optimizing the game for the Xbox Series S, calling it a 'challenge'. 2. The game will initially launch on PC due to the need for extensive optimizations before releasing on Xbox. 3. Despite the challenges, the team is confident in delivering a well-performing game on all platforms, including older hardware.

1. Final Fantasy XIV's director, Naoki Yoshida, has revealed plans to bring the MMO to Nintendo consoles. 2. Yoshida mentioned the goal is to release the game on as many devices as possible. 3. The reference to Nintendo consoles might include both current and future hardware, potentially hinting at the upcoming Switch successor.

1. Guilty Gear -Strive-, a popular 2.5D fighting game, is set to release on Nintendo Switch on January 23, 2025. 2. The Switch edition will include all characters and updates from Seasons 1-3, priced at $60. 3. The game will feature rollback netcode for improved online stability, though crossplay is limited to PlayStation and PC.

1. Astro Bot, a 3D mascot platformer from PlayStation’s Team Asobi, is set to receive a sequel as indicated by leaked PlayStation Trophies. 2. The Platinum Trophy for the game includes a description hinting at a future adventure. 3. The potential success of the game could lead to a full-fledged sequel in the near future.

1. Microsoft's Xbox Series X promised high frame rates and powerful performance but has often failed to deliver on these promises. 2. The console's marketing emphasized 'True 4K' and high teraflop counts, but many games have launched at 30fps instead of the promised 60fps. 3. Sony's PS5, focusing on other features like SSD and DualSense controller, has managed to offer 60fps options in all first-party titles, contrasting with Xbox's performance.

1. Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, a remaster of the 2012 action game, is set to release on current-gen consoles and PC on September 12th. 2. The remaster will also be available on last-gen consoles (PS4 and Xbox One) in November. 3. This move by developers to release games on last-gen consoles after current-gen versions is becoming more common.

1. Forza Motorsport is set to receive several updates over the next four months, including reworked Spectate mode, Drift mode, and new cars and tracks. 2. The updates also feature improvements to Forza Race Regulations and new ways to unlock cars. 3. The long-awaited ray-traced global illumination feature is not expected to be ready for 2024.

1. Square Enix has reaffirmed its commitment to bring more games to Xbox, starting with Final Fantasy XIV. 2. Naoki Yoshida, producer and director of FFXIV, discussed the importance of strengthening the community on Xbox for the Final Fantasy franchise. 3. The company is shifting towards a multiplatform policy to reach as many players as possible, with more Square Enix titles expected on Xbox.