Microsoft News Articles
Wednesday22nd Oct 2025
News Microsoft Is Reportedly Increasing The Cost Of Xbox Dev Kits In Latest Price Hike
Said to be a 33% price bump
A new report is being shared by The Verge today (paywalled) that claims Microsoft is making another Xbox-related price increase; this time for its Series X|S console dev kits. This isn't looking like a small bump in price either, according to the report. The Verge says we're looking at a 33% cost jump for these Xbox dev...
News Sarah Bond: Our Next-Gen Console Will Be 'Very Premium' & Informed By ROG Xbox Ally
The Xbox President speaks...
Shortly following the release of ROG Xbox Ally, Microsoft's Sarah Bond has been dropping hints about the team's next-gen plans - and the Xbox President has had some interesting things to say about the next console from Microsoft. In a new interview with Mashable, Bond was quizzed about rumours that the next-gen Xbox...
Tuesday21st Oct 2025
Rumour Xbox Won't Announce Starfield For PS5 Until 2026, It's Claimed
"Unless plans change..."
Back in August, we heard separate rumours to do with Xbox's Starfield - both relating to the game expanding to more platforms in 2026. First we heard about a PS5 version coming in Spring, before leaker NateTheHate added that a Switch 2 version was also planned for some point next year. Now, that same insider is claiming that...
News Two More First-Party Games Get Dynamic Backgrounds On Xbox Series X|S
The collection grows again!
Microsoft has added two more dynamic backgrounds to its Xbox Series X|S collection, following a batch of recent additions that we covered on PX last week. These two new options are based on The Elder Scrolls Online and The Outer Worlds 2, with the latter
Roundup Here's What The Critics Think Of Ninja Gaiden 4 From Xbox Game Studios
Out now on Game Pass!
In what's fast becoming an incredibly busy month for Team Green, Xbox Game Studios' latest release in Ninja Gaiden 4 is now out in the wild - and we delivered our Pure Xbox verdict just a few hours ago! To give you a broader range of opinions though, we're going to gather up a bunch of reviews down below, alongside providing a...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (October 21)
Including a new first-party release!
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass roundup! Today, we have two titles coming to the library, including Microsoft's Ninja Gaiden 4 - which has just launched for Xbox Series X and S. Down below is a quick introduction to NG4, alongside today's other Xbox Game Pass addition; which returns to the library after...
Monday20th Oct 2025
News Xbox President Explains Why Microsoft Ditched Its First-Party Handheld
It came down to "speed" and being "innovative"
When rumours of a handheld Xbox console first started doing the rounds a while ago, it became apparent that Microsoft was not only working with Asus on a 'partner' device (now known as ROG Xbox Ally), but also on its own first-party handheld similar to existing home consoles. Once development on the two...
News Microsoft Passes The Buck To Asus For ROG Xbox Ally's Price Tag
"It really was Asus, because this is their hardware"
One of the most controversial aspects of Microsoft's new ROG Xbox Ally device is the eyewatering price tag — particularly the X version, which comes in at a thousand bucks — and in a new interview with Variety, Xbox exec Sarah Bond says that it was largely manufacturer Asus that decided on...
Friday17th Oct 2025
Roundup Here's What The Critics Think Of Keeper On Xbox Game Pass
Out now on GPU!
Another Xbox first-party title is in the books! Yep, Double Fine's Keeper is now available to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass players, so we're here to round up a bunch of early reviews to get an idea of what folks are thinking so far. Of course, our Pure Xbox review has
News Microsoft Debuts ROG Xbox Ally At Gamescom Asia With Impressive Hands-On Booth
"Make sure you stop by and say hello"
The ROG Xbox Ally is out now of course, and neatly coinciding with the device's launch, Gamescom is currently hosting its Asia x Thailand edition of the convention - and Microsoft SEA is there in full force with the new handheld Xbox! We're starting to see Gamescom Asia Xbox booth pics crop up on our social...
News Double Fine's Keeper Is Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (October 17)
A new Xbox first-party release!
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today brings just the one game - although it's quite a big addition as Double Fine's Keeper makes its XGP debut. This is an Xbox first-party release from the folks that made the well-received Psychonauts 2 back in 2021, so it shou
Thursday16th Oct 2025
News Four New Retro Classics Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (October 16)
More classics to play on Game Pass!
Microsoft has added four new titles to its Retro Classics library this week, shortly after adding the same amount of games to the collection back in September. Although this is another slightly smaller list than what we've become used to since Xbox Retro Classics launched in May, any new addition
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (October 16-19)
Your latest batch of free trials
Xbox Free Play Days has landed! We've got a big batch of games playable on the service this week, with five games available as part of Microsoft's main list - and a bonus sixth game thanks to Focus Interactive and a new Space Marine 2 trial. Here's your main FPD list this weekend: Everspace F1 25 Hell Let Loose
News Xbox Says It 'Defines Success' By How Much Time Players Spend On The Platform
All about the engagement
With the ROG Xbox Ally now spreading its wings around the globe, the Xbox Wire team has shared a blog post about the device's day one launch and what updates are coming in future - and they've used some interesting language here as Microsoft enters new territory with its first handheld system. <related ids="192638">
News Waterpark Simulator Has Become A Viral Hit On PC, And The Devs Might Bring It To Xbox
"We plan to expand to other platforms"
In recent weeks, we've seen CayPlay's viral hit Waterpark Simulator popping up all over our YouTube and social media feeds - and to be honest, it's making us a bit jealous that we can't hop in and play on Xbox. Despite this being a Steam-only release for now though, the developer has hinted that other platforms...
News Xbox Indie Showcase Announced For October 2025
"Packed with exclusive trailers, new looks, and gameplay"
We have a new Xbox showcase coming this month! Yep, in partnership with IGN, ID@Xbox will be showcasing some of the platform's hottest indies on October 28th - and we're expecting some fresh Xbox Game Pass announcements here as well. IGN hasn't confirmed any XGP announcements just yet, but t
Wednesday15th Oct 2025
News Three Games Are Moving Over To Xbox Game Pass Premium Today (October 15)
Along with a bonus fourth title!
With Microsoft's recent Xbox Game Pass overhaul, the new 'Premium' tier is a much more affordable option - and despite a lack of day one launches on there, plenty of games are still being added on a regular basis. Back on Monday,
Rumour Halo Remake To Feature 'Modern Mechanics', Could Be Announced This Month
Keep an eye on the Halo World Champs
In recent months, we've heard little bits and pieces about a Halo: Combat Evolved remake potentially coming to Xbox next year - and now some new information has been shared that hints at the sorts of changes we can expect Halo Studios to make with its new version of the original Halo. Twitter account Halo Leaks...
Tuesday14th Oct 2025
News Summer Game Fest 2026 Date Revealed With 'Spectacular Cross-Platform Showcase' Teased
Geoff is back, back again
Ahh, we're just about settling down after this year's showcase season, with the fall games rush about to begin here in late 2025. Well, as ever, this industry just keeps on ploughing forward - and today, The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley has revealed the date for their Summer Game Fest 2026 showcase. Yep, the de-facto...
News The Outer Worlds 2 Is Bringing 'Big Sequel Energy' To Xbox Game Pass This Month
New live action trailer is very Obsidian
We're just about two weeks away from The Outer Worlds 2 at this point, and as the game's marketing cycle starts to ramp up, the team has dropped a new live action trailer that takes the mick out of sequels - and it's very tongue-in-cheek Obsidian. As usual, we've chucked this trailer up above for you to take...
News Xbox Journalist Says Latest Rumours Are 'A Huge Challenge For The Brand Right Now'
"Some Xbox fans have been worried..."
Rumours about the imminent demise of Xbox are hardly a new phenomenon — they seem to start swirling around every time Microsoft makes a controversial decision — but we've seen them dialled up to 11 after the recent Game Pass price hikes - and journalist Tom Warren believes they're becoming "a huge challenge...
Monday13th Oct 2025
News Insomniac's Xbox Exclusive Sunset Overdrive Celebrates Its 11-Year Anniversary This Month
Time flies when you're downing Overcharge
Around this time last year, we reminisced about one of Xbox's best-ever exclusives when Sunset Overdrive officially hit 10 years of age - and while its 2025 anniversary isn't quite as important, we have seen the Xbox community talking about the game once again, and we don't really need much of an excuse to...
News Everwild Screenshots Leak Online Several Months After Xbox Cancellation
Featuring gameplay & UI elements!
Back in July, as part of broader layoffs at Microsoft, Rare's Everwild was cancelled after more than five years in the making - and now a selection of in-development screenshots have been shared online; giving us an idea of what the Sea Of Thieves developer was looking to build with
Saturday11th Oct 2025
News Four Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass In November 2025 So Far
An early look at next month
As we always do around this time of the month, we're taking an early look today at what's ahead for November 2025's Xbox Game Pass selection, with four titles having been confirmed for the service next month already. The next Call of Duty title is the big one confirmed so far; Black Ops 7 comes to the main Game Pass...
Friday10th Oct 2025
News New Rumours Suggest PS6 & Next-Gen Xbox Could Both Release In 2027
Another head-to-head year?
Yesterday, we covered the big Xbox 'Magnus' Leak and what it could potentially mean for Microsoft's next-gen console - and while some of that information admittedly goes a little over our heads, the rumoured release window is something that we can fully understand. Yep, that leak again suggests that the next-gen Xbox is...
News Xbox's Minecraft Movie Is Officially Getting A Sequel, Airing In 2027
That was quick!
Following the incredible success of 2025's A Minecraft Movie, outlet Deadline has confirmed that A Minecraft Movie 2 is now officially in the works - and it's heading to theatres in summer 2027. Jared Hess returns to direct the u
News Xbox's The Outer Worlds 2 Is Now Available To Preload, More Than 2 Weeks Before Launch
Better clear some storage space
Excited for The Outer Worlds 2 from Xbox Game Studios developer Obsidian Entertainment? Well, we're less than three weeks out from launch - and the game has now gone gold, with pre-loading available on Xbox Game Pass as we speak.
Thursday9th Oct 2025
News Call Of Duty Is Finally Removing Skill-Based Matchmaking In Black Ops 7
Disbanding lobbies are also going away!
Ever since the big Modern Warfare reboot in 2019, the whole matchmaking system in Call of Duty changed; to one that tries to match players up of a similar skill level above all other metrics. It's a system that should work in theory, but in practice has led to a feeling of being punished for playing well - and...
News Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Anniversary Update Brings New Game+ To Xbox
Available today!
To celebrate the studio's 15th anniversary, MachineGames has announced a major update for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - one that brings the much-requested New Game+ to Xbox's 2024 adventure. Available today and free for all Indiana Jones players, the anniversary patch is briefly showcased up above. The team's three major...
News Former ZeniMax Devs Who Were Fired By Xbox Create New Company Called Sackbird Studios
They're not even trying to be subtle...
Back in July — when we first started hearing about mass layoffs and project cancellations at Xbox — we learnt that ZeniMax Online Studios' new game, Project Blackbird, was one of those cancellations. With it came several job losses, and now a few of those veterans who formerly headed up the Bethesda team...
