Latest Features
Feature Last Orders! What Are You Getting Before The Xbox 360 Store Closes?
July 29th is just around the corner
Here we go then, folks! We know we've mentioned this a ton recently, but after Monday, you won't be able to buy anything on the Xbox 360 store again! This weekend marks your last chance to grab whatever you want before it closes. The Xbox 360 store closing date is July 29th, 2024, after which it'll permanently go...
Feature Best Xbox Call Of Duty Games: All 22 Games Ranked By Your Votes
It's been 19 long years!
We're definitely in a Call of Duty mood at the moment with the arrival of Modern Warfare 3 on Xbox Game Pass and Black Ops 6 heading to the service later this year, so now feels like a good time to look back at the series on Xbox! A few months ago, we asked for your favourite Call of Duty game on Xbox to date, and using...
Feature Four Years Later, People Are Still Getting Confused By Xbox's 'Horrible' Console Names
What are your thoughts on them?
When Phil Spencer announced back in late 2019 that the next Xbox console would be known as the "Series X", it immediately sparked conversations over whether the naming convention had become too confusing. After all, we already had the Xbox One S and Xbox One X, and by late 2020 we also had the Xbox Series X and Xbox...
Hands On Call Of Duty MW3's Campaign Is Here For A Good Time, But A Short Time
Modern Shortfare
Update (Tue 23rd Jul, 2024): With Call of Duty: MW3 joining Xbox Game Pass this week, we thought we'd share some of our older coverage to give you an idea of what to expect. Below, you'll find our original "hands on" of the MW3 campaign from last November, which highlights what you can look forward to from a single-player...
Talking Point Have You Ever Bought A Controller From Xbox Design Lab?
If so, are you happy with it?
Back in the day, we used to love getting special edition Xbox controllers - especially game themed ones. During the 360 and early Xbox One days there were some amazing official pads out there, but once Xbox Design Lab became a thing, the program sort of took over as the de facto limited edition controller factory for...
Talking Point What Are You Buying In The Xbox Summer Sale This Year?
We're tempted by a bunch of things
We're now a few days into the big Xbox Summer Sale for 2024 (also known as the "Xbox Ultimate Game Sale 2024"), and we're definitely finding ourselves tempted by a whole range of great deals that are available until July 31st. Some of those include recent AAA titles such as Alan Wake 2 and Suicide Squad: Kill The...
Poll What Do You Think Of 'Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn' On Xbox So Far?
How are you finding it?
It's been a few days now since Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn made its debut for Xbox Game Pass on July 18th, and considering the game's opening weekend has now passed, we'd like to know how the Pure Xbox audience is feeling about this Game Pass action RPG. We had mixed feelings on this one during our re
Talking Point How Hyped Are You For Indiana Jones On Xbox Series X|S?
It's definitely the big release of 2024 for us
We've passed the halfway point of 2024 now, and we're very much looking ahead to what's in store for us during the latter part of the year. There are absolutely tons of fantastic-looking games on the horizon, but we'd probably still single out Bethesda's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as our most...
Feature These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (July 22-26)
Hopefully along with some Game Pass titles...
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for July 22-26! Although we haven't got any confirmed Game Pass titles yet, we do have over 20 new releases heading our way including F1 Manager 2024 and the new version of 7 Days to Die. That said, the last time we checked, 7 Days to Die hadn't yet passed...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 20-21)
There's plenty to choose from on XGP!
Welcome to the weekend! We're spoilt for choice on Xbox at the moment, with lots of new Game Pass additions, some excellent Free Play Days titles, a Throne and Liberty Beta, the new free-to-play release of
Talking Point Do You Think This Generation Will Be A Short One?
Shutting up shop early
So, we're almost at the four-year mark of the Xbox Series X|S generation, and if the last few console cycles are anything to go by, we should be around the halfway mark right now. Xbox 360 lasted eight years, Xbox One lasted seven, but what about Xbox Series X and S? Will they go the distance and turn in similar numbers?...
Interview The Precinct - A Mix Of Police Simulator And Old-School GTA
"There is a lot for players to uncover"
It's ridiculous how many amazing indie games we're getting on Xbox this year, and The Precinct looks set to be another one in the near future! This mix of Police Simulator and old-school GTA is being brought to us by the team behind 2019's American Fugitive, and it looks to be shaping up extremely well based...
Talking Point If You Had To Limit Yourself To Three Xbox Games, What Would They Be?
Our own "Desert Island Discs" scenario
Over here in the UK, we have a popular BBC radio series called Desert Island Discs in which celebrities choose a selection of songs that they'd bring with them to a desert island - it's just a way of asking for their favourites basically. So, how about we do the same with Xbox games? For this weekend's...
Feature These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (July 15-19)
Including five Game Pass titles!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for July 15-19! We've got a very busy few days ahead, with some particularly big Xbox Game Pass releases on the way including Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess! Here's what's coming to Xbox next week:
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 13-14)
How about Neon White on Xbox Game Pass?
Welcome to another weekend! We've got a bunch of new Xbox Game Pass titles to enjoy over the next couple of days, along with more Xbox Free Play Days additions and a special "Teaser" sale ahead of the Xbox Summer Sale 2024! Here's what we're playing this weekend: Fraser Gilbert, Editor: I'll tell you what...
Talking Point Two Months On, Did Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Live Up To The Hype?
It was such a long wait...
It's weird that we're not talking about Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 as much anymore. Pure Xbox was on an indefinite hiatus when the game was first revealed back at The Game Awards in 2019... it's been that long since it was revealed! And of course, the past few years have built more and more hype for Ninja Theory's latest...
Talking Point Do You Ever Pre-Order Xbox Games Anymore?
Are your buying habits changing?
Earlier today, reports started to swirl about the biggest UK games retailer stopping in-store pre-orders in 2024, and the news has got us thinking about the practice and whether it still has a place in gaming these days. At one time, pre-ordering new games felt like a much more worthwhile thing to go out and do...
Reaction Microsoft's Constant Tweaking Of Xbox Game Pass Is Becoming Exhausting
Just pick a plan and stick with it
So, Xbox Game Pass is changing again. Following last year's introduction of Game Pass Core comes a fresh replacement for 'Console' Game Pass in the form of Xbox Game Pass Standard - which sits just underneath Game Pass Ultimate. Keeping up? Yeah... it's all becomi
Talking Point Have You Ever Bought Any Official Xbox Merchandise?
If so, was it worth the money?
On quiet Tuesdays like this, all kinds of conversations come up at Pure Xbox HQ, and today the topic is official Xbox merchandise. Specifically, we're interested in knowing if you personally have ever bought anything like this. Obviously we're not talking about controllers or consoles here. Instead, we're referring to...
Soapbox I Miss The Type Of Pick-Up-And-Play Games We Got On Original Xbox
Waking up to a new realisation
This past weekend, I took a couple of days off work for a short break, but as I've recently learnt in life, Xbox soon finds me again in some fashion. This time out, a browse of a retro game shop saw me picking up gunboat warfare title Blood Wake on the original Xbox, and it's making me miss this era so bloody much...
Talking Point Is There A Place For 'Snap Mode' On Xbox In 2024?
Not gonna lie, we actually miss it
It's been over 10 years since Xbox introduced a new feature called "Snap Mode" that would allow Xbox One owners to watch TV or access apps at the same time as playing their favourite games, and it's still being talked about to this day. That's despite the fact that Snap Mode hasn't existed for ages now - the...
Feature 'Blur' Is An Xbox 360 Classic That Deserves Backwards Compatibility
Alas, it'll probably never get it
If you're a fan of racing games and you were playing them back in the Xbox 360 days around 2010, you'll probably remember the so-called battle between Blur and Split/Second. Both of these fantastic racers were released around the same time, and both of them ultimately never got as much appreciation as they deserved...
Talking Point Xbox Fans, How Are You Getting On With Microsoft Rewards In 2024?
How many points have you got right now?
Earlier this week, we talked about Microsoft Rewards for the first time in a while - and that's not usual for us! Truth be told, we've soured on the program a little over the past year, and that's simply because you can't earn as many points as you used to. It's still a fantastic service, don't get us wrong,...
Feature These 10+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (July 8-12)
Including four Game Pass titles!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for July 8-12! We've got some very intriguing titles heading to Xbox next week, especially when it comes to Xbox Game Pass, including the likes of Neon White, Tchia and The Case of the Golden Idol! Here's what's coming to Xbox next week: Ne
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 6-7)
Any Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 on Game Pass?
It's time for the weekend! As usual, there's plenty to enjoy on Xbox over the next few days, including a couple of new Xbox Game Pass additions, some big recent free-to-play releases, and over 700 deals on the Xbox Store! Here's what we're playing this weekend:
Preview If You Like Rollercoaster Tycoon, 'Parkitect' Might Be Worth Considering On Xbox
It needs mouse and keyboard support though
As you may have seen in our July 2024 Xbox indie games roundup earlier this week, Parkitect: Deluxe Edition recently launched on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and it's worth considering if you're a Rollercoaster Tycoon fan. Specifically, we're talking classic Rollercoaster Tycoon. Parkitect...
Poll What Do You Think Of The Callisto Protocol On Xbox Game Pass?
Give us your rating so far
Late last week, we polled the Pure Xbox community on your favourite Xbox Game Pass addition of last month, and Still Wakes The Deep was a narrow winner with 31% of the vote - closely followed by The Callisto Protocol (28%). We've already done a poll for Still Wakes The Deep, but
Talking Point How Do You Feel About 2024 On Xbox So Far?
As we pass the halfway point
2023 was a landmark year for the current generation of gaming, with what seemed like an endless list of fantastic titles dropping throughout that time. Resident Evil 4, Baldur's Gate 3, Alan Wake 2 and plenty of others took the plaudits in a busy 12 months on Xbox, but how are you feeling about this year so far? Will it...
Talking Point Has Your Gaming Slowed Down As You've Got Older?
Do you play more or less than you used to?
In two years' time, we're going to be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, and that's a slightly scary thought if you're of a certain age! We can very much recall enjoying the OG console in its heyday, and yet the reality is that plenty of fully-grown adults weren't even born when it first...
Feature 10 Exciting Xbox Indie Games To Look Out For In July 2024
We've got a great month ahead!
A new month means a whole bunch of fantastic indie games coming to Xbox, and looking at the list for July, we're really struggling to cut it down to just 10 examples! In fact, it could almost be made up of Xbox Game Pass titles alone. Nevertheless, we've used this opportunity to pick out a few Game Pass additions...
Talking Point Are You Hopeful That Capcom Is Working On 'Dead Rising 5'?
What would you like to see from a sequel?
Details on Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster are now out in the wild following a brief 'Capcom Next' livestream yesterday, with the newly-enhanced 360 title delivering 4K, 60FPS zombie slaying to Xbox fans this September. Now, while we're excited about that and will absolutely be replaying the first Dead Rising on...
PSA We're Officially In The Last Month Ever For The Xbox 360 Store
Godspeed
Well folks, this is it. After almost 20 years on the market, the Xbox 360 digital storefront officially closes down later this month, marking the end of an incredible era for Xbox. Of course, loads of the games from that generation are now available on the new Xbox store via backwards compatibility, but the closure this month will still be...
Feature All New Xbox Games Coming Out In July 2024
Nobody Wants To Die, EA Sports College Football & more!
Welcome to our roundup of all new Xbox games coming out in July 2024! Below, we've listed every Xbox game with a July 2024 release date, including all confirmed Xbox Game Pass releases so far. Some of the biggest titles here include Nobody Wants to Die, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn,
Preview Stalker 2 Hands On Preview - A Must-Play On Xbox Game Pass This September
Get out of here Stalker
The story of Stalker 2 is well known at this point. Finally, after delays, a cancellation, and a re-reveal in 2018, the cult classic PC game was set to get a true sequel in 2022, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine forced the Kyiv-based GSC Game World to relocate much of the studio to Prague. And yet, despite all of the...
Pick One Which Dead Rising Game Is Your Favourite On Xbox?
We've got a remaster coming soon!
For this weekend's Pick One feature, we thought we'd bring back our poll about the best Dead Rising game on Xbox, following the news that Capcom will be remastering the original title at some point later in 2024. <related ids="168179"> When we first ran this "Pick One" all the way back in late 2020, the OG...
Feature These 10+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (July 1-5)
Including a big free-to-play release!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for July 1-5! The big highlights of next week are the free-to-play release of The First Descendant and Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail expansion, but there's plenty of other good stuff as well! Here's what's coming to Xbox next week: New Xbox Releases (July 1-5):
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 29-30)
We're returning to a Double Fine classic
Welcome to the weekend! If you're looking for things to do on Xbox over the next few days, we've got a bunch of new Xbox Game Pass additions, more Free Play Days offers, and a whole bunch of great sales on the Xbox Store! Here's what we're playing this weekend: Fra
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Game In June 2024?
The Callisto Protocol? Octopath Traveler 2? Still Wakes The Deep? Tell us!
The month of June is over when it comes to Xbox Game Pass, and looking back over the past few weeks, we've been treated to some fantastic new additions including Octopath Traveler 2, Still Wakes The Deep and The Callisto Protocol! Don't forget about the mega popular
Talking Point Xbox Fans, How Do You Feel About The Future Of The Brand In 2024?
Has the June showcase turned things around?
It's no secret that 2024 has been a bit of a wild time to be an Xbox fan. We started out the year with rumours and speculation leading to a special business update podcast, while the last few months have brought numerous PS5 ports and s
Talking Point What's Been The High Point Of The Xbox Series X|S Generation So Far?
The console launches? Starfield? Halo? Tell us!
Isn't time scary?! It feels like only yesterday we were celebrating the launch of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S here at Pure Xbox, and now almost four years later, we're already starting to think about the next generation of consoles. <related ids="107167"> Of course, we've seen a lot...
Preview SteamWorld Heist 2 Hands On Preview - A Sea-Worthy Sequel To A Tactical Gem
Get in nerd, we're getting steamed!
Traditionally, someone would have to ingest several alcoholic beverages to get royally ‘steaming’—something we didn’t have to do at Summer Game Fest Play Days this year. Instead, we sat down for an hour-long ‘sesh’ with the upcoming strategy action-adventure, SteamWorld Heist 2. After a brief...
Soapbox Forza Horizon 4 Hosted The Best Racing In The Series, And I'll Be Sad To See It Go
One more trip to the lakes
Well, Forza Horizon's British racing festival is about to close its doors - with Xbox announcing that Forza Horizon 4 will be delisted from digital storefronts later this year. Of course, the game will remain playable for existing owners after this date, but it's being removed from Xbox Game Pass
Talking Point Are You Still Interested In Beyond Good & Evil 2 From Ubisoft?
Or has it been too long at this point?
Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition launches on Xbox today, with Ubisoft's fresh remaster of the Xbox classic hoping to bring audiences new and old to the Beyond Good & Evil universe. Early reviews of the new remaster seem pretty good so far, but we want to
Talking Point 10 Years On From 'Rise Of The Dark Spark', Should Activision Bring Back Transformers?
Xbox now has the power!
Since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard there's been lots of talk about what Xbox could effectively 'bring back' from the annals of ActiBlizz history, with Crash, Spyro and Guitar Hero amongst some of the most common suggestions. However, in the background there's always been a little bit of noise about Activision's take...
Feature Every Xbox Game We Played At Summer Game Fest 2024
Hands on previews with a bunch of Xbox games
Summer Game Fest has wrapped up, and what a spectacle it was this year! There’s still a lot of exciting stuff to discuss from the event over the next few weeks, but what exactly did Pure Xbox get up to while we were living it large in the LA sun? Well, "living it large" might be a bit of an...
Pick One Which Game From This Year's Xbox Showcase Are You Most Excited For?
If you had to pick one, which would it be?
It's been a while since we've brought out the "Pick One" features here at Pure Xbox, but this opportunity seemed too good to pass up! Looking back at the 2024 Xbox Showcase, we're asking for the one game you're most excited for. And yes, we know that's a nightmare to vote on! This year's event was filled...
Feature These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (June 24-28)
Including four Game Pass titles!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for June 24-28! We've got some interesting titles on the way next week including a return for Beyond Good & Evil along with four Xbox
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (June 22-23)
How about Shadow of the Erdtree?
It's time for the weekend! We've got plenty to play on Xbox over the next two days including a few new Xbox Game Pass additions along with three more Free Play Days titles, and there are also hundreds of new deals on the Xbox Store! Here's what we're playing this weekend:
Feature 10 Exciting New Indie Games To Play On Xbox In June 2024
Including Game Pass titles!
It's been a busy old month with the Xbox Showcase and all the other Summer Game Fest goodness that's come our way, so we've neglected to provide our usual indie games roundup... until now! We've seen some great indie releases on Xbox in June 2024 already, and we've got a whole bunch more on the way over the next couple of...
Feature VALORANT Beta Review (Xbox) - Riot Makes Its Console Debut With A Well-Crafted Shooter
Valiant effort
We can still remember the hype when Riot Games launched its Counter-Strike-like shooter VALORANT on PC a few years ago now - there was a lot of excitement around such an esteemed developer taking on Valve's mammoth FPS series head-on. Four years later, the team is bringing the game to console, and its initial beta has gotten off to a...