2XKO shuts down, GTA 6 reshapes the industry, and next-gen pricing fears mount

2XKO, Riot Games' free-to-play fighting game for PS5 and other platforms, is ending active development later this year after failing to attract enough players. The closure is a notable stumble for a high-profile project that never quite found its footing, and it underscores how brutally competitive the live-service fighting game space has become.

GTA 6's looming release is generating as much industry anxiety as anticipation. Analysis circulating today examines what its launch could mean for the broader gaming market — and separately, the US Army has confirmed it is offering soldiers who reenlist for at least two years four days to play the game, an unusually specific recruitment incentive. On the hardware side, an analyst warns that if PS6 and Xbox Project Helix launch at $1,000, five-year sales could run 40 percent below the PS5 generation — a sobering figure as both platform holders weigh their next moves.

EA's post-Saudi acquisition future is drawing scrutiny, with a former manager suggesting the company could offload dormant properties like Ultima and Wing Commander. The concern that sales transparency is eroding got a separate airing after Xbox and EA both stopped sharing US digital sales data with Circana. And Mortal Shell 2 pushed out its first balance patch, loosening the in-game economy and pulling back on some enemy and boss difficulty for a smoother experience.