FIVE AT 5: TESTRONIC’S NEWS ROUND-UP

We’re only in the third week of January, but as ever, there’s still much going on in the world of games, as well as in the industry itself. Here we take a look at what the price tag of GTA 6 will be, two sets of industry accolades, the question of whether 2025 will be the most unpredictable year in games in history, and whether Elon Musk really is the best Diablo IV player in the world…

GTA 6 Price Sparks Debate: Analysts Predict $80 or More: That the games industry itself – as well as gamers – are looking forward to the arrival of GTA 6 goes without saying. But currently the big discussion is around what its price-point is likely to be. According to IGN, industry analysts suggest that the game could retail for $80, with some predicting the price might even climb to $100. The reasoning? The cost of developing AAA titles has skyrocketed, thanks to cutting-edge technology, larger teams, and increasingly ambitious projects. While this price point reflects the scale and effort required to produce games like?GTA 6, it also raises questions about accessibility. Will players balk at the higher price, or will the promise of unparalleled experiences justify the cost? The discussion touches on a broader industry trend, as studios grapple with balancing profitability with consumer affordability, as you’ll discover here – https://shorturl.at/tqAxq

The Top 50 UK Game Makers of 2025 Announced: Timed to coincide with the recent PG Connects event in London (which we very much enjoyed!), the PocketGamer.biz annual roundup of the top 50 UK game makers has once again shone a spotlight on the incredible talent and creativity in the UK industry. This prestigious list highlights a mix of major studios, such as?Rockstar North?and?Creative Assembly, alongside innovative indie developers that continue to push boundaries. The 2025 edition emphasises the diverse range of genres and experiences being created in the UK, from hyper-realistic RPGs to playful mobile hits. The recognition serves as a testament to the UK’s status as a global gaming hub. Find out who made the list here - https://shorturl.at/UnncS

Astro Bot Wins Game of the Year at New York Game Awards 2025: Elsewhere, the New York Game Awards took place earlier this week, with Team Asobi’s Astro Bot lauded for its creativity, endearing characters, and inventive gameplay mechanics that push the boundaries of what’s possible in platforming games. As well as being named Game of the Year, the title was also awarded Best Kids Game and Best Music in a Game. As reported by Gamesindustry.biz, From Software's Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree was also a big winner, picking up accolades for Best World and Best DLC. You can see the full list of winners here - https://shorturl.at/ad9Tg

2025 is the Most Unpredictable Year in Gaming History: That’s according to The Gamer, which reveals that each year the team puts together a ‘fantasy draft for video games’ (“like fantasy football, but dorkier”), predicting the best games of the year. And at this point, they have come to the conclusion that 2025 will be the year of ‘Maybe Baby’. That is to say that ‘there are a lot of games that will maybe come out this year, and will maybe be good’, according to the author. And, of course, there will be the yet-to-be-announced titles. Take a look and see if you agree - https://shorturl.at/XDWqR

Elon Musk Admits to Paying People to Play Video Games for Him: Elon Musk, the man synonymous with electric vehicles and space exploration – has been the subject of much discussion amongst the global gaming community since claiming he’s one of the best Diablo IV players in the world. Allegations of Musk paying players to level up for him were apparently denied, with even his ex-partner Grimes taking to X to defend him. But, according to Gizmodo, the multi-billionaire has now admitted to getting some help, with streamer NikoWrex posting a transcript of his exchange with Musk: “Have you level boosted (had someone had someone else play your accounts) and/or purchased gear/ resources for PoE 2 and Diablo 4?” NikoWrex asked. Musk responded with a “100 percent” emoji. Get the full skinny here - https://shorturl.at/XiJCJ

We’ll be back again with our round-up of the top articles that have caught our eye. But, in the meantime, drop us a note to share anything you’ve come across!

Image by?Karolina Grabowska?from?Pixabay

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