★ Special Edition ★
The Game Gazette
| Vol. 1, No. 1 | ✦ Gaming News ✦ | July 18, 2026 |
◆ Top Story ◆
Switch 2 Conquers America: Second Fastest-Selling Console in US History
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Nintendo
Switch 2 
5.9 Million Units Sold in First Year.
Nintendo’s hybrid marvel has dethroned all rivals, selling 19.86 million units worldwide as of Q1 2026. Only the Game Boy Advance (6.5M) surpassed it in its first year on US soil.
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PlayStation 5 Pro:
The Premium Powerhouse 
Sony’s PS5 Pro now commands $899.99 — a $200 rise since launch. Despite price shocks, 93.7 million PS5 units shipped. Disc production ends January 2028. 85% of purchases now digital.
|
Xbox Braces
for Price Storm 
Microsoft raises Xbox prices August 1, 2026 — up $100–$150. Xbox records its worst-ever May sales. Yet Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout remasters promise a comeback.
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|
19.86M
Switch 2 Worldwide
|
93.7M
PS5 Lifetime Units
|
$899
PS5 Pro Price
|
Nov 19
GTA 6 Launch
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◆ Console Market Deep Dive ◆
The Great Console Price War of 2026
RAM Shortage Driven by AI Data Centers Forces Historic Price Hikes Across All Platforms
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PlayStation
Goes Digital-Only
Sony announced that physical disc production for new PlayStation games will cease in January 2028. The shift reflects a dramatic trend: 85% of all PS5 and PS4 game purchases are now digital. PlayStation Network boasts 125 million monthly active users as of March 2026. A bold new modular controller with a built-in touchscreen interface has been revealed in a Sony patent filing.
“The disc era is drawing to a close.”
— PlayStation Blog, July 1, 2026
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Nintendo
Reigns Supreme
The Nintendo Switch 2 outsold the base PS5’s lifetime Japan sales in just weeks. Mario Kart World leads the charge. The console’s hybrid design — play at home or on the go — continues to resonate with all ages. Price: set to increase later in 2026 due to component costs.
Switch 2: 19.86M worldwide
PS5: 93.7M lifetime | Xbox: worst May ever
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What to Watch: GTA 6 Arrives November 19, 2026
|
The gaming world holds its breath. Grand Theft Auto 6 is set to launch November 19, 2026, and analysts predict it could single-handedly revive console hardware sales. Retailers warn stock may be insufficient to meet holiday demand. One question looms: will $800 Xbox and $900 PS5 Pro prices deter buyers?
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GTA VI
November 19, 2026
Global console shipments forecast to fall 19.5% in 2026. Average hardware price now $502 — up from $440 last year.
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✦ Also Trending Now ✦
| ► Adventures of Elliot wins June 2026 PlayStation Players’ Choice | ► Sony patents modular controller with touchscreen interface |
| ► Back to the Dawn coming to PlayStation 5 | ► PS5 Slim gains Linux Unity firmware support |
| ► Steam Deck OLED: Top 10 most-played games — June 2026 | ► Xbox “Reset Fallout” — major restructuring discussion |
The Game Gazette ★ Special Edition ★ July 2026
Curated from my RSS Feeds | Audley Williams