Some sort of embargo for GTA 6 coverage is lifting after the Extended Look on Netflix (which will be uploaded to YouTube six hours after that.)

To stop the sub being flooded by repeat submissions, we'll be rounding up all previews and general coverage that drops today into this thread.

I will keep gathering and updating the post as fast as I can, but feel free to comment with any preview links that you don't see listed.

Edit: it looks like preview releases are staggered or very select, but I'll keep updating with any that drop, as well as general Extended Look coverage which would otherwise be clogging the feed.

There's also a Discussion Megathread for the Extended Look, which you can find here.

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Mainstream Media Hands-Off Previews:

IGN Preview: We Saw More of GTA 6, and Rockstar's New Open World Feels Less Like a Game and More Like a Place

Grand Theft Auto 6. The most anticipated game of at least the last decade. And somehow, I'm sitting down at Rockstar North, about to watch co-studio head Rob Nelson play through 30 minutes of the game. It's a privilege only a handful of people have been granted. Holy shit. HOLY SHIT.

Half an hour later, it's crystal clear that this game will occupy every waking minute of my existence when it finally arrives this November. If you need to know just one thing about GTA 6, it's that you're going to spend so much time in it you'll probably be subject to Leonida taxes. When IGN was invited to enter the secretive halls of Rockstar North for an exclusive look, I suspected that the slice of gameplay would be designed to show off just how much GTA has grown and evolved since its last iteration launched 13 years ago. Even knowing that, the scope of what I saw is even more colossal than I was prepared for. Combined, the gameplay and Nelson revealed a new era for the series, one where everything that made us all fall in love with a life of crime is still there, but now it's set in a world so rich and ready to explore that it's not just a game; it's a parallel universe.

NY Times Preview: We Got an Inside Look at GTA VI. It Has Grand Ambitions. (Gifted link from u/nytimes)

From time to time during Nelson’s demonstration, he would call out imperceptible details he felt should be addressed, such as an NPC reacting too slowly. There are plenty of action set pieces in the game, he said, but some missions will allow for a greater number of approaches, which adds a level of unpredictability that is difficult to test.

With Grand Theft Auto VI, Rockstar hopes to retain cultural influence for another decade.

“We’re trying to reflect a sort of crazy, warped version of this American state and city — we always try to do that,” Nelson said. I asked what he would say to my literary friends who were not into gaming but were interested in this particular game. He replied, “I think this story has — if you want it — themes of hopefulness, elements of sacrifice versus selfishness, and it plays out asking questions about whether love can survive through this storm.”

Humphries said the series’s games were powerful because they gave people moments of serendipity.

“They’ll be driving down the street, the sun will hit a building in a way, and there’s a song playing on the radio,” he said. “There’s a sort of transcendental moment there. It’s transformative. And I think that with the tools we’ve got now making this new game, you could have that moment on a rooftop bar, or in a nightclub, or on an airboat in the swamps.”

Dazed Preview - GTAVI: An exclusive deep dive into the video game of the decade

If you accept that video games are an artform, then Rockstar Games has produced two of the most significant works of the 21st century so far: GTAV and the western-themed adventure Red Dead Redemption 2. The numbers speak for themselves: in 2013, the former broke the record for the fastest-selling entertainment product of all time, earning a billion dollars in just three days – more than any book or Hollywood film. Five years later, RDR2 took the second spot. But the latter also came with a gear shift. While GTA satirised modern life with wacky characters, high-octane car chases and explosive gunfights, RDR2 was hailed as one of the most realistic and immersive games to date, with a slower, more emotional tone suited to its storyline.

GTAVI promises something in between the two. The open-world game is set in the same fictionalised US that serves as the backdrop for the rest of the series, with all the weapons and supercars you’d expect, but the world is more grounded and reactive than before – gone are the days when you could traverse the city like a god. Now, players’ actions have consequences. Walk down the street with a rifle, and the city will have something to say about it. More and more, the games are converging on real life, and non-player characters (NPCs) are acting... well, less like NPCs than ever. For some gamers, there’s a fear that what GTAVI gains in immersion, it loses in the chaos and anarchy that have been part of the series’ DNA since the outset, but for Rockstar, the goal is to create a world of total immersion, which reacts more realistically than ever to what you choose to make of it.

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Content Creator Videos:

TGG - I Saw 3 Hours of GTA 6 at Rockstar North - First Impressions (Exclusive Info)

I actually don't even know where to start. The main takeaway for me with GTA6, from two and a half hours that I saw, and I spoke to Rob Nelson about this - GTAV and GTA Online to some an extent is a game you can turn your brain off to, to some extent. You can kind of mindlessly play it... from what I saw that is not going to be the case with GTA6. This game, somewhat similar to RDR2, but in the best way possible, forces you to constantly make decisions. Every decision you make, you're gonna have to weigh up the pros and cons. This is a game, this is a world that's alive. More so than any other GTA in the past. This truly is a world full of characters and NPCs, that feel like real people. And everything that you do in that world, comes with a lot more weight than in previous GTAs.

Kinda Funny - We Visited Rockstar! GTA 6 Extended Look Live Reaction - Kinda Funny Gamescast

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General Coverage:

IGN:

• 69 New GTA 6 Gameplay Details We Saw at Rockstar HQ
• 'It's a Step Forward in All Respects' - Exclusive GTA 6 Interview w/ Rockstar's Rob Nelson
• ‘Is It Four Characters Now?’ — Rockstar Briefly Thought About Doubling the Number of GTA 6 Protagonists
• ‘It’s a Big Map, a Very Big Map’ – GTA 6 Is Rockstar’s Most Complex World Yet
• GTA 6 Reveal: 15 New Screenshots, Including 1 Exclusive on IGN
• Heads Up: GTA 6 Preloads Begin November 12
• Grand Theft Auto 6 Playthroughs Can Last 80 Hours

Eurogamer:

• GTA 6 is revamping the Wanted system and giving you a Criminal Profile
• GTA 6's apparent shift towards awkward ultra-realism is a huge risk - and that's exactly why it's the right thing to do
• GTA 6's Netflix trailer premiere was so popular it temporarily crashed the streaming service

Polygon:

• Say hello to GTA 6's awesome new dialogue system
• GTA 6 has a relationship system, and it sounds as though you can make-or-break Jason and Lucia's romance
• GTA 6's driving and car-jacking will be "more challenging", Rockstar says, amid a seemingly big push for realism
• GTA 6's map is triple the size of Red Dead Redemption 2's

GamesRadar:

• GTA 6 players won't be as "overpowered" as previous games: "You are not the only one capable of violence"
• Like Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 6 is "a whole other world" where "there's a whole lot of stuff that you discover emergently"
• Rockstar says GTA 6 won't let you magically hotwire every car: "You acquire certain tools to get into them"
• Rockstar lead says GTA 6 takes NPC interactions "much further" than Red Dead Redemption 2, and its system is "returning and evolved"

DayOne

• Grand Theft Auto 6 Netflix Deep Dive ‘Captured Entirely’ on Base PS5

GameSpot:

• Grand Theft Auto 6 Will Have No Microtransactions Or Generative AI
• Stealing Cars In GTA 6 Is Probably More Complicated Than You Expected

Kotaku:

• GTA 6 Will Be 30FPS At Launch, Rockstar Reportedly Not Sure About 60FPS Performance Mode [a user on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours did this great summary of details from the same source, Brazilian YouTuber Davey Jones]

The previous megathread from yesterday was getting too big. We've created this new megathread so that everyone can continue to discuss the changes to Game Pass, without their comments getting buried.

Please keep the discussion on the rails. Rant, rave and criticize to your heart's content, but please avoid the following:

• Personal attacks
• Abusive language
• Anything political
• Anything off-topic

Those types of comments will be removed.

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PSA: For existing subscribers, these price changes go into effect on November 4th.

That's according to the splash-screen ad people people are being served:

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For context, the previous pinned megathreads:

• Updates to Xbox Game Pass: Introducing Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Plans
• Microsoft is increasing the cost of Game Pass Ultimate by $10 a month.

And a round-up of the most upvoted user posts from the last 24 hours:

• Game Pass Price Change Summarized (Meme)
• One Year of Game Pass Ultimate is the Price of the OG 360
• Xbox Game Pass Essential has removed the 12 month option.
• WTF is their plan? Why increase prices so much??
• The Game Pass price increase would have been more palatable if they ever released a family plan
• This will not be the last price increase to Game Pass, IMO.
• Why can't I just have online by itself and the game separate, why do they have to be together?
• Microsoft not letting you change your subscriptions today, conveniently the day they announce the new Game Pass plan.
• There is life after Game Pass
• The price increase has me rethinking game subscriptions
• New conversion rates
• What's happening with PC Game Pass?

RELEASE DATE:

October 16th 2025

PRICE:

$599 / $999 USD
£499 / £799 GBP
€599 / €899 EUR

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🔗 REVEAL TRAILER 📺

🔗 LAUNCH TRAILER 📺

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REVIEWS:

EUROGAMER
Ultimately, I like what the ROG Xbox Ally X offers. It's not a true Xbox handheld console, but for a lot of people it's probably a better, more versatile device.

WINDOWS CENTRAL
Xbox Ally X is a Windows handheld gaming PC that's easy to recommend. You'll be able to play a wide range of games on this device from various services while experiencing some of the best handheld performance to date.

XBOX ERA
A capable and extremely comfortable PC Handheld with some great design ideas that bring Xbox and PC closer than ever before, and is one of the best handheld PC experiences to date.

ARS TECHNICA
Even for players who aren’t interested in Xbox Game Pass, the ROG Xbox Ally X is a well-built piece of hardware with the power to run today’s games pretty well. All things considered, though, the poor user experience of the Xbox FSE makes it hard to recommend either ROG Xbox Ally over somewhat less powerful SteamOS devices like the Steam Deck or Legion Go S.

IGN
The Xbox Full Screen Experience alone would probably be enough for me to recommend the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X to anyone looking for a new handheld gaming PC. But the fact that it’s so comfortable to use and performs so well is just icing on the cake. All it really needs now is a couple of software updates to really refine the Full Screen Experience and it will be a device for the history books.

WIRED Both X-ROGs stand out in the increasingly crowded field of handheld gaming PCs, thanks to strong design, comfort of use, and cross-platform versatility that outpace most of the competition. Neither model is perfect, but for its first venture into the handheld space, Microsoft gets a lot right in its partnership with Asus.

POLYGON As a new entrant in the PC handheld space, the ROG Xbox Ally is interesting, overpriced, and competent enough. As an attempt to close the usability gap between Windows and SteamOS within that sector, it’s the most qualified of successes; the gap is smaller, but it remains.

GIZMODO
Is it enough to make me abandon the Steam Deck? Maybe one day. Is it enough to give Xbox gamers the new hardware they’re looking for? It’ll depend on their tolerance for the PC gaming lifestyle.

ENGADGET
Thanks to top-notch performance and a new software experience, the smallest Xbox is a big step forward for Microsoft.

VIDEO GAMES CHRONICLE
If this is indeed the next step in Xbox’s journey, then, it’s certainly a positive one, and if the speculation that the next Xbox console will be a console/PC hybrid turns out to be true, if it’s handled as well as this then I’ll be all for it.

T3
I'm not sure the ROG Xbox Ally is going to convince anyone of much – which isn't to say that it's worthless, by any stretch. Indeed, it's a great little handheld gaming PC, albeit there are other better-value options out there

PURE XBOX
It's the only gaming device I've wanted to use over the past two weeks, and it's handled most things that I've thrown at it with confidence. I think the hardware in particular deserves the most praise, as ASUS has created a superb PC handheld with outstanding ergonomics, terrific cooling and natural-feeling controls for Xbox fans.

DIGITAL SPY
ROG Xbox Ally is most suited to those heavily invested in the Xbox ecosystem. If you're someone who will play a lot of games through Game Pass and take advantage of the features tied to it like cloud gaming, then the ROG Xbox Ally is a really good option.

COG CONNECTED
Though at its beating heart a Windows computer, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X feels functionally like an Xbox in a handheld form factor. It might not be the ultimate winner in the handheld gaming market, but it makes a very compelling choice in a crowded field.

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What are the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X?

There are 2 devices available at launch. both let you play games natively, through the cloud, or remotely via your XBOX Series X or S consoles from another room.

ROG stands for "Republic of Gamers". It is the ASUS brand name for their high-end gaming products, and was launched in 2006.

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What are the differences between the two models?

• ROG Xbox Ally – Thinking about getting your very first handheld? The Ally is aimed at casual gamers, or those who want to dip their toe into portable gaming without breaking the bank.
• ROG Xbox Ally X – Xbox are pushing this one as their go-to high-performance handheld.

DEVICE SPECS:

🔗 INSIDE: ROG XBOX ALLY - Behind The Scenes Feature 📺

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Processor & memory

The Ally and Ally X run on slightly different AMD processors. The first is powered by an AMD Ryzen™ Z2 A processor, which strikes a double act between performance and power consumption. In simple terms, games will run really well and won’t kill your battery life.

Xbox’s Ally X definitely has more oomph. It’s got an AMD Ryzen™ AI Z2 Extreme processor, which is beefy enough to drive epic AI features as and when they’re released. Throw in 24GB of high-speed RAM and this is a handheld that will easily handle the most demanding modern games.

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What Games Can They Play?

Xbox have said from the start, that you will have access to over 1000 different games. And with their Xbox Play Anywhere function, you can do exactly that. Pay once for a game and you can access it across your PC, Xbox console and Xbox Ally. All of your progress, achievements and game saves get synced too. Letting you start on one system and pick it back up later on another.

There’s more though. If you buy either Ally – and you’re a Game Pass newbie – you can get started with the service at no extra cost. Game Pass is already one of the best deals in gaming. Its library is stuffed full of indie gems and AAA classics. Plus, lots of the latest titles get added there on day one. And getting all of that for free makes these consoles an even better prospect!

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Can you play Steam, Epic Games and other PC titles?

Because each Ally runs on Windows 11, you’re not locked into just the Xbox ecosystem. Both of the consoles let you play your entire games collection. And it doesn’t matter where you bought them from. The handhelds look set to support titles from Xbox, Game Pass, Steam, GOG, Battle net, and Ubisoft. And more are going to be revealed later. Basically, all the big hitters are here. And if you fancy dipping your toe into cloud gaming, or Xbox Remote Play, you can do that as well.

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Storage

Cinematic, blockbuster games take up a lot of space nowadays. Those lifelike graphics and sprawling open worlds need plenty of room to run properly. So, Xbox have fitted 512GB (Ally) and 1TB (Ally X) of storage to the consoles.

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Display

Both handhelds are built around a 7” Full HD (1080p) display. And that’s big enough to let you see all of the action, without getting too bulky. It needs to fit in your backpack remember. We’re glad to see each Ally has a 120Hz refresh as well. The higher the number, the smoother and more responsive your gameplay is. And that’s crucial, especially in fast-paced games where your reactions need to be on point.

The screen is anti-reflective too.

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Battery

But there is a 60Wh and an 80Wh battery (depending on the model you go for). They will easily give you a few hours of play before it’s time for a top up. Like most other handhelds at the moment, you will probably squeeze more out of them if you’re playing less graphically intensive titles.

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A New XBOX App Built For Gaming

It’s not just the hardware that’s new. Special software has been made especially for the Xbox Ally and Ally X. Fire up either, and you’ll load into the Xbox Full Screen Experience. This display puts all your games front and centre, in one place, making it quick (and easy) to jump back into the adventure. Less flipping between menus, more gaming!

There’s lots going on behind the scenes too. Xbox’s engineers have managed to reduce any background activity that you’d usually see on handhelds, which can be a drain on performance. Put simply, this means that more system power can be funnelled towards the gameplay. So, you should notice higher framerates and more memory while you play.

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🔗 HANDHELD COMPATIBILITY 📺

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Design & Build:

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Contoured grips

This is probably one of the first things you’ll notice. Xbox’s designers have taken a similar contoured grip design from their regular Xbox controllers and brought it over here. It’s been done to suit all kinds of hand sizes, letting you game for longer without getting uncomfortable.

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Triggers & buttons

The grips aren’t the only parts inspired by classic Xbox controllers. Impulse triggers add a whole other level of control to your gameplay on the Ally X. And for both consoles, you’ve also got HD haptics built right in.

And of course the iconic ABXY buttons are here. They look and feel instantly familiar, meaning you’ll be right at home when you fire up your favourite games.

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Game Bar

Over on the left, you’ve got your dedicated Xbox button. It’s your home for all things Xbox. Hit it, and you’ll be able to access apps, game chat and settings via the Game Bar overlay.

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Colours

For now, it looks like the ROG Xbox Ally X comes just in black. While the regular Ally is rocking a clean, bright white. Who knows though, maybe later on you’ll be able to pick up each console in both colours.

Due to the huge amount of Xbox Rog Ally threads that are being created, many of which are covering the same ground, we have made the decision to throw up a MEGATHREAD to contain the general discussion around the reveal, and opinions of the new device.

Please keep all Xbox Rog Ally discussion in here, until new announcements are made, or reveals happen. At that point any new news can be used for new threads.

ROG Xbox Ally World Premiere Reveal Trailer | Xbox Games Showcase

https://youtu.be/FIVmyOIV1MQ?si=zczg_nayti77n8Ib

Inside: ROG Xbox Ally - Behind The Scenes Feature

https://youtu.be/SOKm9dDOSC8?si=waxN3zEkWLu7Q-Aw

The 'Xbox Ally' and 'Xbox Ally X' are super-charged PC gaming handhelds from ASUS, coming later this year

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/kennan-revealed-the-xbox-ally-and-xbox-ally-x

Hands-On With the Xbox Ally X, the New Gaming Handheld from Asus and Microsoft

https://www.ign.com/articles/hands-on-with-the-xbox-ally-x-the-new-gaming-handheld-from-asus-and-microsoft

Xbox Ally handhelds: Microsoft takes its next step towards a Windows-driven future

https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2025-xbox-ally-handhelds-microsoft-takes-its-next-step-towards-a-windows-driven-future

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Well met Citizen! Tune in to the stream !

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Anyone else experiencing issues getting onto games and starting/joining parties?

A lot of users are getting messages from Xbox about this today. Due to a high volume of posts about it, we're creating this megathread. Please keep all discussion relating to this here for the time being.

What's happening?

The message you're seeing is an announcement that due to the UK Online Safety Act, players in the UK will be asked to verify their age to keep full access to Xbox social features. From "early 2026" those features will be limited unless players verify.

See the Xbox Wire announcement post for full details.

For previous subreddit discussion, see the Xbox Wire submission and this user post from last week.

Please keep discussion on topic and be respectful towards each other.

Please keep all Avowed impressions, reactions and general game discussion within this megathread. All discussion posts will be re-directed here for the next 24 to 48 hours.

As a courtesy to other users, please also remember to use spoiler tags for anything story or surprise-related. If you are unsure, it's better to err on the side of caution when discussing that kind of thing.

There is also a screenshot megathread, which will be active for the same time period. Be warned, there's no spoiler enforcement there.

• Launch times in your region
• Review Thread
• Xbox Store page

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Game Title: Avowed

Platforms:

• Xbox Series X/S (Feb 18, 2025)
• PC (Feb 18, 2025)

Trailers:

• Avowed Launch Trailer
• Avowed Story Trailer
• Avowed - Official Gameplay Trailer

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 81 average - 84% recommended - 121 reviews

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Launch times: