17th – 19th June, 2025
SAG-AFTRA Strike Ends with AI Protections: The year-long SAG-AFTRA strike, launched in July 2024 against major publishers like Activision and EA over AI use in game production, ended on June 11, 2025. Announced on June 17, the agreement includes a 15.17% wage increase for union actors, a 3% rise over three years, and safeguards against AI, marking a significant shift in industry standards.
Xbox Game Pass Wave 2 Additions: On June 17, Microsoft revealed Wave 2 for Xbox Game Pass, adding 11 new games, including day-one releases FBC: Firebreak and Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, plus the newly announced Rematch. FBC: Firebreak launched on June 17, while Rematch arrives on June 19, boosting the service’s June lineup.
PlayStation State of Play Highlights: The June 2025 PlayStation State of Play, reported on June 19, unveiled new games like Deus Ex: The Conspiracy (PS2 classic, June 17), Sword of the Sea (August 19, PS Plus), and Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow (2025, PS VR2). Silent Hill f, set for September 25 with a 1960s Japan setting, also stole the spotlight.
New Xbox Releases and Hardware News: On June 19, XboxEra highlighted Sarah Bond’s vision for cross-platform play, while AMD confirmed powering the next Xbox generation. Crazy Cats vs. Crazy Cyborgs launches on June 19, adding to the week’s excitement.
Game Delays and Updates: On June 18, GameSpot noted delays for titles like Parallel Experiment (now June 5, 2025, with mobile support) and ongoing shifts for Replaced (pushed to 2025), reflecting development challenges amid industry trends.
PC Gaming Highlights: On June 19, PCGamesN praised Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a 2025 GOTY contender, while Promise Mascot Agency emerged as an oddball indie hit, showcasing diverse PC releases.
Rockstar Releases GTA Online ‘Money Fronts’ Update (June 17): Rockstar introduced a major new update for GTA Online—Money Fronts—adding intuitive criminal fronts like car washes and laundromats, plus a batch of fresh vehicles and gameplay improvements.
Broken Arrow RTS Launches June 19 on PC: Slitherine’s modern warfare RTS Broken Arrow hits PC on June 19, featuring deep unit customization and faction-based strategy in a large-scale tactical environment.
Summer Game Fest Tone Dampened by Protests: At Summer Game Fest in LA, attendees noted tension between in-event excitement and nearby ICE raids and protests. A developer’s “Make FPS Great Again” hat also sparked controversy and conversation about sensitivity in public events.
PlayStation State of Play Recap (June 19): Sony’s June State of Play offered exciting reveals: new games for PS5 (like Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement and Astro Bot enhancements) and upcoming collectibles—keeping fans hooked and anticipating future releases.
Hades II ‘Unseen Update’ Preps 1.0 Launch: Supergiant Games rolled out the Unseen Update for Hades II, polishing combat styles and narrative elements in readiness for its full release later this year.
12th – 16th June, 2025
MindsEye Faces Backlash After Poor Launch: On June 14, MindsEye became the worst-reviewed game of 2025 so far, with a Metacritic score of 43 based on six reviews, as reported by TheGamer. It sits just below Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator. IGN noted on June 14 that the game received its first emergency hotfix to address performance issues after a disastrous launch. Posts on X also highlighted new gameplay creation tools and future content plans, but sentiment remains negative due to the rocky release.
Rainbow Six Siege X Upgrades Released: On June 15 and 16, IGN shared that Rainbow Six Siege X launched with major updates, including improved sound design and enhanced maps featuring better lighting, textures, shadows, and destructible elements. The game offers free access across PC, PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Cronos: The New Dawn Gameplay Revealed: On June 13, IGN showcased new gameplay from Bloober Team’s upcoming horror game Cronos: The New Dawn during IGN Live and Summer of Gaming, building anticipation for its unique survival horror experience.
Silent Hill 1 Remake Announced: On June 14, IGN reported that Konami announced a Silent Hill 1 remake, exciting fans of the classic horror series. Metro.co.uk also noted on June 13 that readers are looking forward to this remake, adding to the hype.
Stellar Blade Hits Big on Steam: On June 14, IGN shared that Stellar Blade became one of Sony’s biggest Steam launches, reflecting strong PC gaming interest in the action title.
Dispatch: A New Superhero Game with a Twist: On June 15, Polygon highlighted Dispatch, a new superhero game blending the cozy office setting of The Office with the satirical tone of The Boys. Gameplay focuses on assigning heroes to tasks like stopping robberies or retrieving balloons, offering a fresh take on the genre.
New PS5 and PS4 Games This Week: On June 14, Push Square listed new releases from June 16 to 22, including Gex Trilogy (June 16, PS5/PS4), Rooftops & Alleys: The Parkour Game (June 17, PS5), Without a Voice (June 18, PS5/PS4), and FBC: Firebreak (June 17, PS5), a co-op shooter set in a mysterious agency.
Summer Game Fest Reflects on GTA 6 Delay and Switch 2 Launch: On June 14, Variety reported that Summer Game Fest 2025 (June 6-9) faced challenges with Grand Theft Auto 6 delayed to spring 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 launch (selling 3.5 million units in four days), and industry layoffs. Despite this, the event highlighted new games and held strong, though GTA 6’s absence was felt.
Mario Kart World Sees Strong Sales: On June 14, IGN noted that Mario Kart World had impressive sales in its first few days, reflecting the continued popularity of the franchise amid the Nintendo Switch 2 launch.
Grow a Garden Update Announced: On June 13, IGN shared that Grow a Garden will release its third expansion for the Bizzy Bees update on June 14, introducing crafting and new events, keeping the community engaged.
Gears of War: Reloaded Announced (Remaster): Microsoft and The Coalition unveiled Gears of War: Reloaded during June’s Xbox showcase. The enhanced edition offers 4K/60FPS campaign and 120FPS multiplayer, HDR & VRR support, and full cross-play across Xbox and PlayStation. A beta has already launched for Xbox Game Pass users, with the full release slated for August 26, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
007 First Light Rebranded & Revealed: IO Interactive’s new title, now officially named 007 First Light, was revealed in early June’s State of Play. This James Bond origin story, in development since 2020, is set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and Switch 2 in 2026.
BLAST Austin Major Continues: The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025—a Counter‑Strike 2 tournament—remains in full swing at Austin’s Moody Center. Featuring 32 teams and a $1.25 million prize pool, the event runs through June 22.
VCT Toronto Masters in Progress: The Valorant Champions Tour: Toronto Masters kicked off on June 7, with twelve elite teams battling it out in Canada. The tournament extends to June 22.
Steam Next Fest Highlights: Steam’s June Next Fest launched with over 2,500 playable demos. Standouts include Mina the Hollower, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, Ball X Pit, and Word Play — showcasing the indie scene’s creativity.
Sony Removes Steam Region Locks: Sony has quietly lifted regional restrictions on several top Steam titles including Spider-Man 2, Helldivers 2, and God of War: Ragnarök, opening purchases to over 100 more countries
8th – 11th June, 2025
Microsoft Enters Handheld Market with ROG Xbox Ally: At Summer Game Fest on June 8, Microsoft partnered with ASUS to unveil the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X handhelds. They run Windows 11 and will support Game Pass, PC storefronts, and remote play. Announced launch is this holiday season, with early impressions praising controls and performance—though some users noted the full Windows interface may feel clunky for gaming.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Confirms 2025 Release: During the Xbox Games Showcase, Hollow Knight: Silksong was confirmed for a 2025 release across multiple platforms. It’ll launch day one on Game Pass and debut alongside the new ROG Ally handheld.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Announced at State of Play: At PlayStation’s June State of Play, Sony and Arc System Works unveiled Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, a 4v4 tag-team fighter launching in 2026 on PS5 and PC.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Trailer Drops: Kojima Productions revealed Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, set to launch June 26 exclusively on PS5. The cinematic trailer teases philosophical themes, NPCs like Troy Baker and Elle Fanning, dynamic systems like a monorail, and deeper emotional storytelling.
PlayStation Plus Adds Battlefield 2042 & FBC: Firebreak: June’s Extra/Premium lineup includes Battlefield 2042, FBC: Firebreak, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2, and more. Available from June 17 to subscribers on Extra & Premium tiers.
Counter-Strike 2 BLAST Austin Major Underway: From June 3–22, the BLAST Austin Major brings top-tier CS2 action to the Moody Center in Texas—with a 32-team field and a $1.25 million prize pool.
PUBG Mobile Super League CSA Spring 2025 Begins: The regional tournament kicks off June 12 in Kazakhstan, featuring 20 teams competing for $200,000 and slots in the PUBG Mobile World Cup.
PC Gaming Show Drops 20 Exciting Announcements: The PC Gaming Show on June 9 showcased 20 new games, including a third-person action title with shapeshifting mechanics out on June 9, an FPS battling an underwater civilization releasing August 12, and a four-player co-op mutant-fighting game launching June 17. FBC: Firebreak and others were also highlighted, making it a big day for PC gamers.
Outer Worlds 2 Gets October Release Date: At Summer Game Fest, The Outer Worlds 2 from Obsidian Entertainment got a confirmed release date of October 29, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC. The sci-fi RPG sequel has fans buzzing with its promise of expansive worlds and deep storytelling.
Grow a Garden Teases New Event: Grow a Garden announced a new event set for June 14, 2025, as part of its weekly content updates. The game continues to engage players with fresh activities, and its Discord server is the go-to spot for the latest codes and updates.