1. HBO's The Last of Us Season 2 teaser trailer released, hinting at a 2025 release; 2. The teaser features the phrase 'I saved her', resonating with fans of the original game; 3. The adaptation of The Last of Us Part II is expected to tackle its complex narrative and controversial themes.

1. Former Bungie employees claim that Sony overpaid for the acquisition of Bungie. 2. Three ex-employees allege that Bungie's upper management overstated the studio's financial prospects to Sony. 3. Bungie's CEO, Pete Parsons, has been criticized for his extravagant spending while the studio faced financial difficulties.

1. Microsoft confirms Xbox's presence at Gamescom 2024, starting on August 21st. 2. The event will feature multiple showcases including Bethesda and general Xbox events. 3. Games to be highlighted include S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Atomfall, Age of Mythology, Star Wars Outlaws, and more.

1. Sony announces the August lineup for PlayStation Plus Essential, featuring older titles like LEGO Star Wars The Skywalker Saga, Five Nights at Freddy's Security Breach, and Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. 2. These games will be available from August 6th to September 2nd. 3. September's lineup promises more exciting titles, including day-one access to Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions.

1. Sony's PlayStation VR2 headset saw a significant sales increase of over 2000% due to a heavy discount. 2. The price cut led to a reported rise of over 2350% in sales within a 24-hour period. 3. This surge in sales caused PSVR2 units to sell out in many retailers, with more units sold in one day than the rest of 2024 combined in the US.

1. The video game industry is shifting from traditional 30fps and 60fps standards to a new 40fps standard, especially with the advent of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. 2. 40fps offers a balance between visual quality and performance, providing a smoother experience without sacrificing visual fidelity. 3. This new standard could potentially redefine the gaming experience, making 40fps the preferred choice for next-gen consoles.

1. SEGA has delisted the Xbox 360 version of Sonic Generations from the digital store ahead of the launch of Sonic x Shadow Generations. 2. This move might be to promote the upcoming remaster and push more sales. 3. The delisting could also be related to the closure of the Xbox 360 store, although other compatible games are still available.

1. Playground Games, known for the Forza Horizon series, is developing the Fable reboot and has opened a third studio to assist with the project. 2. The original studio continues to work on the Forza Horizon series, while the newer studios focus on Fable. 3. The expansion indicates significant investment and effort into the Fable reboot.

1. Sony's PlayStation Plus Extra library saw a 48% drop in player engagement in July compared to June. 2. Despite notable game additions like Remnant II and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, the player count decreased significantly. 3. The drop might be partially attributed to the absence of heavy discounts on PS Plus subscriptions during the 2023 Days of Play event.

1. Sony has announced a themed DualSense controller based on the upcoming game 'Astro Bot'. 2. The controller will be available for pre-order on August 9th at £69.99. 3. This release marks a shift towards more custom controllers for Sony, especially for the PS5 generation.

1. The upcoming title Mafia is reportedly coming to Xbox's Game Pass service in August, following a leak by industry insider NateDrake. 2. It is unclear whether the entire trilogy or just the first entry will be added to the service. 3. With Mafia 4 gearing up for an official reveal, it makes sense for 2K to promote its prior entries on subscription services.

1. Microsoft is reportedly working with Capcom to bring MT Framework support to Xbox, allowing games like Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection to be released on the platform. 2. This collaboration could also enable other Capcom titles, including Monster Hunter Stories and The Great Ace Attorney, to be available on Xbox. 3. The move is seen as an effort by Microsoft to address tech incompatibility issues and strengthen its relationship with Capcom.

1. Atlus has confirmed that Persona 5: The Phantom X, initially released for mobile and PC, will be coming to consoles and additional territories. 2. The company announced this during an in-person event, also revealing plans for collaborations and crossovers with other Persona games and IPs. 3. The game, currently in beta in several Asian countries, aims to balance the gameplay effectively to enhance the experience.

1. Valve is adding official support for the 1920x1200p 'DeckHD' mod in the Steam Deck's Gamescope compositor; 2. This change theoretically eliminates the need for users to replace bios for third-party displays; 3. The support is currently specific to the DeckHD mod, indicating that universal display support is not yet in development.

1. Polyphony Digital released update 1.49 for Gran Turismo 7, which included improvements to the game's physics system. 2. The update introduced a humorous bug where vehicles bounce into the air unintentionally. 3. The development team is aware of the issue and is currently investigating the cause.

1. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is set to be added to Xbox Game Pass on August 8th, following Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. 2. This marks the third Activision Blizzard game to join the service, after Diablo IV in March and Modern Warfare III recently. 3. The trilogy has sold over 20 million copies since its release in 2017, making it a significant addition to the Game Pass library.

1. Rise of the Ronin, developed by Team Ninja and published by Koei Tecmo, has released a surprise demo on the PlayStation Store. 2. The demo allows players to experience part of the game and carry over their save data to the full version. 3. This move aims to attract more players to explore the game's world and potentially increase its popularity.

1. Sony announces a limited edition Concord DualSense controller, differing from their usual approach. 2. The controller is currently available in the U.S. through PlayStation’s Direct store, with hopes for wider availability. 3. Priced at $84.99, it is slightly more expensive than the standard DualSense.

1. The PS5 beta firmware update introduces personalized 3D audio profiles for headphones and earbuds. 2. Remote Play settings can now be adjusted per user and access can be limited. 3. The DualSense controller receives adaptive charging, but only for newer PS5 models.

1. Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass price increase, despite being controversial, is expected to significantly boost revenue. 2. Subscribers may pay up to 35% more due to the price hike and incentives for the Ultimate tier. 3. The revenue from Game Pass is projected to grow by over 200% to $5.5 billion by 2025, partly driven by the addition of Call of Duty.