Craig is a Staff Writer and former Video Producer at Pure Xbox, where he covers the biggest games in the world of Xbox.
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (August 13-17)
Your latest batch of FPD weekend freebies!
Well, whaddaya' know, it's Thursday again! That means it's time for your next batch of Xbox Free Play Days titles, and this week's offering is sadly a little underwhelming. The headliner here is of course, the Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Beta which is set to go live in just a few hours' time. We've...
News This Kingdom Hearts-Inspired Platformer Is Out Now On Xbox, And Reviews Are Looking Great
"A love letter to the action platformers of the '90s and early '00s"
In a recent indie game feature, we highlighted a bunch of August titles we fully expected to fly under your radar, one of which was called Duskfade. It's an action platformer that harkens back to the early 2000s, drawing comparisons to PS2-era classics like Kingdom Hearts and Jak...
News Gears Of War: E-Day Dev Announces 10 Improvements For Beta Weekend 2
Lancer buff, Versus Aim Assist, stability fixes, and more
Gears of War: E-Day's Multiplayer Beta is entering its second weekend today, following a massive turnout during the first Beta, despite access being limited to those who pre-ordered the game or subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The Coalition recently posted on the official
News Three Games Are Available Today Across Various Tiers Of Xbox Game Pass (August 13)
"Have you seen the dog bowl?" "I didn't think he could!" 🥁
We're back with another Xbox Game Pass update for you all, this time to spotlight the three new additions available today across various tiers of the service. First up to the crease is Cricket 26, bringing its swinging-wicket-cricket gameplay to every tier bar Essential. Howsat? Want...
News No More Room In Hell 2 Is Out Now, Bringing Its 'Intense' Co-Op Survival FPS To Xbox
Zombies + Friends + Proximity Voice Chat = Fun
One of the games featured in our weekly "coming to Xbox" article was No More Room In Hell 2, an "intense 8-player zombie shooter" that recently left Early Access and launched on Xbox Series X|S consoles with its version 1.0 release. The FPS will have you and your squad deploy across several mission...
Roundup The First Reviews Have Arrived For Hell Let Loose: Vietnam
Scoring good's good enough
Saddle up, new meat! R-E-V-I-E-W-S are in for Hell Let Loose: Vietnam and it's looking fairly positive! If this is your first time hearing about the game, let me get you up to speed. Vietnam is the second Hell Let Loose title, a series known for its brutal and unforgiving FPS combat. If you're yet to try the 50v50...
News Bethesda Hints At Plans To Improve Xbox Version Of Oblivion Remastered
That will hopefully bring Switch 2 optimisations to Xbox
An optimised version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered launched on Nintendo Switch 2 this week, and despite suffering performance issues for over a year now, Xbox users were disappointed by the lack of an Xbox Series X|S update. Just a few months back, Digital Foundry highlighted...
News Giant Rat Leads Protests Against Xbox Layoffs Outside Bethesda HQ
The Elder Scrolls VI looks "incredible", but what about that rat?
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma visited Bethesda's Rockville, Maryland HQ on Tuesday to check out a 'live playthrough' of The Elder Scrolls 6, but what really caught everyone's attention was 'Scabby', a giant inflatable rat. Last month, Microsoft cut 1,600 jobs across its Xbox division, with a...
News Two Games Are Available Today Across Various Tiers Of Xbox Game Pass (August 12)
Including a surprise drop!
It's a brand new day, the sun is shining (please don't look directly into it), and we've got another Xbox Game Pass update for you! We were only supposed to get one new addition today, but there's actually two thanks to a surprise drop! Premium members will have access to both of games on offer today, now that Ball x Pit...
News Digital Foundry Shares 'Highly Impressive' Analysis From Gears Of War: E-Day's Beta On Xbox
"A standout example of what Unreal Engine 5 can achieve on consoles"
Last weekend, The Coalition hosted the first of two Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Betas on Xbox Series X|S and through the Xbox PC app. The turnout was massive, with players sharing videos of their favourite moments from the Early Access Beta, which climbed to seventh spot...
Roundup Here's What The Previews Are Saying About Star Wars Zero Company
"Something every Star Wars and turn-based afficionado should put on their wishlist"
The early word for Star Wars Zero Company is in, with several outlets saying pretty much the same thing: that it's brilliant. Previews are coming in thick and fast for the upcoming turn-based tactics game with a Star Wars twist, and, as expected, there are plenty of...
News Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Publisher Reveals Runtime Ahead of Xbox Game Pass Launch
And how big the download sizes are on PC and console
As we creep closer to the release of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, we're beginning to learn more about the game, including how long it'll take to beat. First thing's first, publisher Focus Interactive has updated Resonance's FAQ page to confirm that the game can be completed in 20 hours, give...
News More 'Avid Consumers' Are Pre-Ordering $100 GTA 6 Edition Over The Cheaper Version
"Pre-orders have gone much better than expected"
Looks like the majority of people are willing to splash $100 on a game, at least when it comes to GTA 6, arguably the biggest game release in modern history. In an interview with CNBS, Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Rockstar's parent company Take-Two Interactive discussed GTA 6 pre-orders, saying they "have...
News Three Games Are Available Today Across Various Tiers Of Xbox Game Pass (August 11)
Here's a look at what's joining Game Pass today!
We've got another Xbox Game Pass update for you, with three games joining the service today across various tiers. August is looking rather Premium heavy, with all three of today's games releasing in, or shuffling into the mid-tier option. If you think August is coming up a smidge short, I suppose...
News Xbox Releasing Major Bug Fix This Week To Address Recent Server Outage Issues
Xbox CTO is as transparent as the 25th Anniversary Xbox, and we love to see it
Xbox Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet, who was praised for his transparency following the major Xbox outage that left some users unable to play games - discs or digital - is back with another update. On July 28th, Van Vliet st
News Blizzard Is Now 'Top Performing' Xbox Studio, Mostly Due To Overwatch and Diablo IV Success
Good to know Blizzard is still cooking!
Blizzard joined forces with Xbox through the Activision acquisition a few years back, and whilst it's been a rough year for Microsoft's Xbox division, it seems the Overwatch maker is kicking butt. As reported by Windows Central, leaked intern
News Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Has Solid Start On Xbox, Despite Launching Two Years Later
No surprise the GOTY runner-up sold well on Xbox
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth made quite the splash when it first launched as a PS5 exclusive back in 2024, and according to Square Enix's latest financial results, it looks like the RPG is still making waves on Xbox two years later. The Japanese publisher shared some interesting sales figures for Q1 of...
News Xbox Rolls Out Mandatory Age Verification To Access 18+ Rated Games In Australia
Age verification needed for both Xbox and Microsoft Stores
The next time you're looking to buy a game on the Xbox Store, you may be prompted to confirm your age. Xbox is now asking users in Australia (and even some in New Zealand) to verify their age before purchasing 18+ rated games, both on console and through the Microsoft Store on PC. Users...
Talking Point Xbox Is Getting Its Own Platinum Trophy, But What Will Make It Different?
What would we call them? Diamond Achievements?
Cheevos - or Xbox Achievements, as they've been dubbed since debuting on the Xbox 360 - have become a quintessential Xbox feature. These are earnable in-game challenges that reward you with points and tally up to display your overall gamerscore. They became so popular back in the 360 days that Sony had...
Feature 25+ Of The Best Discounted Games From Xbox's Four New Early August 2026 Sales
A selection of the finest discounts
Tucked away inside this month's new Xbox sales is a hefty discount with your name on it. Four new promotions have popped up on the Xbox Store over the past few days, alongside a selection of notable deals exclusively for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. You can take your pick from Bethesda's 40th Anniversary Sale,...
News Halo Studios Suffers Job Losses Shortly After Campaign Evolved Launch
Update: Xbox source says they're not "layoffs", but "external contractor shifts"
It's been just nine days since the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved (a remake we loved enough to slap a 10/10 on it) and now a few employees at Halo Studios have indicated they've left the company. The revamped campaign appears to be off to a good start, at least on...
News Two Games Are Available Today Across Various Tiers Of Xbox Game Pass (August 6)
Here's a look at what's joining Game Pass today!
We're back with your latest Xbox Game Pass update for August. Two more games join the subscription service today across various tiers, including a bonus third title if you're willing to count a 10-hour trial as an extra game. Truth be told, August is shaping up to be a Premium-heavy month for Game...
News Two More Games Revealed For Xbox Game Pass In September 2026
Have a look at what's to come next month
August may have just begun, but we're taking an early gander at what's ahead for September 2026's Xbox Game Pass lineup. We already knew of two games, Dune: Awakening and Minecraft Dungeons 2, but thanks to a couple of recent announcements, we can now confirm two more games are on the way. First up is...
"We just did it because it's a pretty cool part of the Xbox ecosystem"
I've been pretty vocal here at Pure Xbox about my admiration for the Xbox Play Anywhere program. About the ability to access my Xbox library across console, desktop, and handheld devices, and how it's arguably Microsoft's defining feature right now. It's the reason I stick...
