Tag: Microsoft - Page 12
Guide Xbox Indie Showcase (February 2025): Date, Start Times, And What To Expect
Update: It's happening today!
As announced right at the start of the month, Microsoft has another Xbox showcase coming up very soon (it's actually now today!), focusing on indie titles from some of the biggest developers and publishers in the scene. So, in this guide, we'll go over everything we know so far about the event - including the date,...
News January Hardware Sales The Worst Since 2020 In The US As Xbox Consoles Decline By 50%
Are we ready for new hardware?
Today, analyst firm Circana (formerly NPD), has revealed some interesting facts & figures about how the gaming industry is performing at the start of 2025 - and while earlier news about software sales was positive for Microsoft, a look at recent hardware sales proves a lot tougher. Now, to be clear, the entire...
News Xbox Sales Charts Dominated By EA & Microsoft In The US To Kick Off 2025
An interesting start to the year
Today, analyst firm Circana (formerly NPD), has revealed some interesting facts & figures about how the gaming industry is performing at the start of 2025 - and we thought Xbox's game sales chart for last month was quite interesting to look at. The top 10 best-selling games on Xbox last month were all published...
News Indiana Jones And The Great Circle Update 3 Now Live On Xbox
Here are all the Xbox fixes
Bethesda and MachineGames have released Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Update 3 - and the patch contains plenty of new features and bug fixes across all platforms. Those new features are primarily for PC players, focusing on frame generation and high-end ray tracing features like path tracing on AMD hardware - which...
News Microsoft CEO Commits To Producing 'Great Quality Games' As Xbox Expands
"We've got to produce great quality games"
Following up on yesterday's announcement of Muse AI, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been talking about Xbox's commitment to gaming in a new episode of the Dwarkesh Podcast - noting that the team has to produce "great quality games" to be successful in this field. Basically, the discussion about...
News How Microsoft Managed Xbox Brand 'Is Not My F**king Fault', Says OG Xbox Creator
Xbox dev has his say on Microsoft's messaging
In a new chat with Seamus Blackley over at VideoGamer, the outspoken OG Xbox creator has touched on Microsoft's messaging around producing the most powerful console hardware - and how his take on Xbox would have been quite different had he stayed with the company. This discussion about Xbox hardware...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (February 20-23)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Microsoft's Free Play Days program is now live on Xbox for the coming weekend, and we have an interesting title leading the charge this week. That headliner is Amazon Games' New World: Aeternum, which is playable alongside two other Xbox titles. Here's your full Free Play Days selection for this week: Dragon Ball...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 20)
Jump into two big XGP additions
Welcome to your latest February 2025 update for Xbox Game Pass! Today, two titles are entering the library - including an EA Play addition in the form of Codemasters' latest F1 title. Here's a little more on what to expect from today's two new Xbox Game Pass additions: F1 24 (Console, PC, Clou
News Former PlayStation Exec Says Xbox's New Strategy Is 'Natural' For Microsoft
"It’s pretty straightforward"
Since leaving PlayStation in recent months, industry legend Shuhei Yoshida has had plenty to say about his time working in gaming - and fresh comments this week touch on Microsoft and the company's new strategy with Xbox. Speaking with Last Stand Media, Yoshida covered plenty of topics while guesting on a new podcast...
News Xbox Is 'Exploring' AI To Make Its Older Games Playable On Modern Hardware
"Introducing Muse"
Microsoft has today announced 'Muse AI', a new artificial intelligence program that it thinks "could radically change how we preserve and experience classic games in the future". Muse is a work-in-progress over at the Xbox owner, and it sounds like it could have big implications for the future of gaming. What we're interested in...
News Xbox Exec Thanks Fans For Helping Avowed Go Number 1 On Steam
It's a top seller in multiple regions
Avowed is finally available outside of early access this week, and as a result of the game's standard edition becoming available to purchase, the Xbox RPG has rocketed up the charts on PC platform Steam. At the time of writing, the Obsidian title is number one in Steam's US sales charts - and here in the UK...
News Xbox Is Running A Strange Buy One, Get Two Free Sale Right Now
There's a few OK deals to be had
Alongside Xbox's usual set of weekly deals, which we've covered and highlighted our top picks from already, Microsoft is running another 'Buy One, Get Two Free' promotion right now - and this one includes a strange selection of games. <related ids="178353"> We'll be honest, most of the offers in this...
News Nine Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Late February 2025
Including this awesome Team NINJA release from 2023
The next games set to leave Xbox Game Pass in February 2025 have been revealed today, and there are eight of them in all - including some fan favourites such as Maneater, Warhammer 40K: Boltgun and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Six of the eight have been dated for the end of the month (February 28th),...
News These Three Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (February 20-25)
Your latest roundup of new titles
Beyond Avowed's addition to Xbox Game Pass today, it's been looking pretty quiet for the rest of the month - but Microsoft has just added a batch of new titles to the XGP lineup. While today's refresh only contains three games, Microsoft has also announced that "even more Game Pass announcements" will be revealed...
News Xbox Cloud Gaming Adds Three More 'Owned' Titles To Streaming Library
Including a very recent release
At the tail end of last year, Microsoft finally starting rolling out cloud gaming functionality to titles outside of the Xbox Game Pass library, and that's expanding again this week with three more additions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now permanently stream three more titles, including last week's
News Xbox Will Be 'Honest & Transparent' About Platforms In Future Showcases, Says Phil Spencer
"I just want to be transparent with people"
So far, Xbox's move towards putting games out on other platforms has felt hesitant at times, but that should change in future - according to Microsoft Gaming's CEO. In a recent interview with Phil Spencer himself, the Xbox boss mentioned that Team Green will be "honest and transparent" about the platforms...
News MachineGames Is 'Working On Some Pretty Cool Things' After Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
"Join us in this next chapter of ours!"
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle bookended Microsoft's 2024 for big game releases, and it sounds like Bethesda developer MachineGames is already hard at work on the next thing over at Xbox HQ. In a new LinkedIn post from MachineGames' Nicole Åkerlid, the Swedish studio is said to be "working on some pretty...
News Phil Spencer Says Xbox Is Done Trying To Convince PS5 & Switch Players To Move Over
"I’m not trying to move them all over"
Over the weekend, a fresh Phil Spencer interview dropped where the Xbox boss talked lots about the future of Microsoft's gaming business - including what's next for the team and its desire to release games wherever players want to play. When asked about 'becoming SEGA' and effectively going third-party, Phil...
News Xbox Studio Obsidian Says 'Not Trying To Grow Aggressively' Will Keep It Going For Decades
It hopes to stick around for 100(!) years
Obsidian Entertainment is in and amongst the headlines right now for its stellar work on Avowed, but it isn't stopping there. The Xbox studio plans to be around for 100 years or more, by sticking to what it knows and staying true to itself. In a new talk at DICE 2025 (thanks, PC Gamer), Obsidia
News Xbox's Avowed Is 'One Of The Best' Unreal Engine 5 Games So Far, Says Digital Foundry
"Avowed surprised me"
Yesterday, we covered an early look at how new Xbox title Avowed is running on both Series X and S - having been surprised by the inclusion of a 40FPS mode on Xbox Series S. Now though, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry have dug a little deeper - and they're claiming that
News Xbox Reporter Says Series X|S Successor Has Been 'Fully Approved' By Microsoft
"Now moved past its early pitch stages"
Roughly a year ago, Xbox president Sarah Bond suggested that Microsoft was building an all-powerful next-gen console, and it's now reported that the project has been fully greenlit and approved by the company in recent times. That's coming from
News Xbox Game Pass Hit Indiana Jones Scoops Up Multiple DICE Awards
An "outstanding achievement"
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was one of the major Xbox releases of last year, and while it missed out on certain end-of-year award shows in 2024, it has made the shortlist for multiple events taking place in early 2025. This includes the DICE Awards - with the action-adventure Game Pass title by MachineGames...
Talking Point Next Month, This Gorgeous Xbox-Published Platformer Will Be Five Years Old
Where does the time go?!
Some of Xbox's indie partnerships have been pretty fantastic in recent years, especially when it comes to bringing some of the space's most enticing titles to Xbox Game Pass. However, it was an actual Xbox-published series that's perhaps highlighted this best over the last decade or so - and the most-recent game in that...
News EA Missed Out On Buying Blizzard & Some Big Activision Franchises, Says Former CCO
"EA saw all those first and passed"
Activision Blizzard has some absolutely massive game series' under its belt these days such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, but they weren't always guaranteed to be ABK franchises. Speaking in a new interview on the Grit podcast, former Electronic Arts CCO Bing Gordon claimed that EA passed on some huge...
Random Xbox Fan Shares Clip Of Microsoft's Console Factory Line From 2006
We miss you, Xbox 360
Look, we're not out here to ruin anyone's day or anything, but the Xbox 360 is officially 20 years old this year. You read that right, November 2025 marks two whole decades since Microsoft's seminal Xbox console first launched - which is a bit of a scary thought, if we're honest. However, we do have lots of nostalgia for that...
News Xbox Adds Four More Titles To 'Stream Your Own Game' Service
Cloud gaming on XGP
At the tail end of last year, Microsoft finally starting rolling out cloud gaming functionality to titles outside of the Xbox Game Pass library, and that's expanding again this week with four additions. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now permanently stream the likes of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Return to Grace...
News Xbox Praised For Putting 'Lots Of Effort' Into Store Curation Compared To Sony & Nintendo
"They have pretty high standards"
Over the last couple of console generations, digital storefronts have become a lot more open, operating a more freeform approach to game listings akin to something like Steam. This, in turn, has resulted in quite a bit more 'shovelware' appearing on console storefronts - and a new report from IGN looks into this...
News Microsoft Is Assisting Development On Xbox Console Launch Exclusive 'Mecha BREAK'
Coming Spring 2025
Shortly after the Xbox Games Showcase last summer, Microsoft announced that third-person shooter Mecha BREAK was coming to Xbox consoles in 2025 - and now the development team has narrowed down a release window, with the help of Team Xbox. Chinese developer Amazing Seasun Games has announced that Mecha BREAK is coming to Xbox...
News Xbox Pledges Support For 'iicon', A New Industry Event From The Organiser Of E3
Taking place April 2026
The Entertainment Software Association, also known as the ESA, has announced 'iicon' - a new event that aims to "connect visionaries, thought leaders and innovators from across industries to harness the power of interactive entertainment". This is the same organisation that put together E3, gaming's central summer convention...
News New Financial Report Provides Estimated Xbox Series X|S Sales Figure As Of Late 2024
Take-Two drops new estimates
As we know by now, Microsoft no longer provides accurate sales figures for Xbox Series X|S consoles, meaning we often have to go off estimates to get an idea of how the systems are selling. As it turns out, it's not just us that has to try and work things out either - mega-publisher Take-Two has provided a fresh consoles...
News Xbox Play Anywhere Title Available For Free With Amazon Prime Gaming This Month
Playable on Xbox & PC
Amazon has announced another batch of free titles coming to its Prime Gaming service for the rest of February, and the list features one particularly interesting inclusion - a game you can play on Xbox. Yep, Amazon Prime Gaming typically focuses on PC titles playable on various platforms (Steam, GOG, Epic Games, etc.), but...
News EA's Madden NFL 25 Is Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (February 6)
For Game Pass Ultimate members
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update - this time a fresh addition to the EA Play library. Yep, later today, Madden NFL 25 will enter EA's service, meaning Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members will be able to enjoy the title at no extra cost. Here's a quick introduction to your new Game Pass...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (February 6-9)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Free Play Days has been revealed for the coming weekend, and all three options this week launched within the last six months, so you've got some very recent releases to get stuck into here. One of those is last year's 9/10-rated Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - although it's only multiplayer and Zombies that will be...
News Xbox App Recommends Trying Out Delisted First-Party Game, Confusing Fans
"Tailored to your tastes" in delisted games
Ahh, delisted digital video games. These things float around in the internet ether, accessible for owners to re-download on supported systems, but no longer purchasable on associated storefronts. However, that doesn't always stop platforms from accidentally advertising them, as has seemingly happened here...
Talking Point It's Been A Year Since Phil Spencer Announced The 'Xbox Business Update' Event
What followed was a turning point for Xbox
As we move further and further into 2025, Xbox's multiplatform approach is now a very tangible reality, but at one time it seemed like an unbelievable change of course for a console platform holder. That time, funnily enough, was exactly one year ago today - when boss Phil Spencer ended rampant speculation...
News Xbox Exec Showcases Incredible Avowed Advert In Times Square
"Our global media campaign launches"
Things may feel a little quiet right now considering how close we are to Xbox's big Avowed launch this month, but marketing on the game might just be about to heat up. The Obsidian RPG is now the star of a huge animated billboard in Times Square, as Microsoft's "global media campaign launches" this week for the...
News Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass Standard (February 5)
Including a massive first-party addition
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today, Microsoft is bringing three more titles to it's Game Pass Standard tier - all three of these games are already available in the XGP Ultimate library. Without further ado, here are your new Game Pass Standard
News Two More Xbox First-Party Games Are Moving To PS5 In 2025
A new age is upon us
As part of an update on the future of Microsoft's 'Age' series, Xbox has confirmed that Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition and Age of Mythology: Retold are both heading to PS5 in 2025. These are the latest Xbox Game Studios titles to be announced for the Sony platform, following the reveal of a Forza Horizon 5 port last week...
News Reporter Suggests Console Exclusives Will Soon Be 'Obsolete', Especially For Third-Party Devs
Reacting to "fantastic" PC sales for FF7 Rebirth
As we all know by now, Microsoft has well and truly moved into new times with its multiplatform push in recent years; involving Nintendo and Sony systems in its plan to put Xbox games everywhere. While this is proving to be a bold new step for Team Green, it does seem to be a trend that's taking hold...
News Xbox 360's Launch Was One Of The 'Scariest' Career Moments For Ex-PlayStation Boss
It was a whole year before the PlayStation 3's release
The Xbox 360 generation is arguably the best era of Xbox gaming, and part of its success was credited to Microsoft getting the jump on the competition at the time. During an interview with MinnMax recently, former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida was asked about the "scariest moment" in his...
Talking Point February Marks Microsoft's First Xbox Game Studios Release Of 2025
Are you excited for it to launch?
Well, 2025 is officially kicking into gear now that January has come and gone - some of the biggest game publishers in the world are set to drop major projects this month. Of course, one of those is Xbox with Obsidian's Avowed - and we're just checking in to see how excited everyone is for this upcoming first-party...
News Fallout: New Vegas Writer Rejoins Xbox's Obsidian As Creative Director
No, he's not making New Vegas 2
Over the weekend, industry veteran John Gonzalez rejoined Xbox studio Obsidian Entertainment, after almost 15 years away from the team. Back in the day, Gonzalez was the lead writer on Fallout: New Vegas, and now rejoins the team as Creative Director on a different project. Bethesda's 2010 Fallout spinoff has such...
News Ex-PlayStation Boss Compares Xbox's New Strategy To SEGA, Says It's A 'Balancing Act'
"It does have historical precedence"
Xbox effectively going "multiplatform" over the past year has been big news across the gaming landscape, and the latest update on this new strategy was the announcement that Forza Horizon 5 would be coming to PS5 this spring. Speaking to Reece Reilly of 'Kiwi Talk
News 10 Xbox Games Are Shutting Down Their Servers In February 2025
It's a sad month for these Xbox titles
A couple of months ago, we highlighted a bunch of Xbox games that were set to turn off their servers in early 2025, and unfortunately we've been informed about many more since then - so it's time to take a look at February's lineup! As things stand, there are 10 Xbox games set to shut their servers this month,...
News Xbox Exec Congratulates Lonely Mountains Dev On 'Unbelievable' Game Pass Launch
Half a million players reached
One of the biggest Xbox Game Pass surprises last month was Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders after the game was quietly inserted into the January lineup - and it seems that the development team has been enjoying a rather successful launch as a result. Late last week, the Snow Riders team logged onto social media to reve
News Seven Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Early February 2025
Including this epic action RPG from 2021
Microsoft has today pulled back the curtain on the next seven games that are set to leave Xbox Game Pass in early February 2025, which includes the likes of Tales of Arise, EA Sports UFC 3 and a whole bunch of great indie titles. At least six of these will be removed from Xbox Game Pass on the 15th of...
Poll How Would You Grade The First Month Of Xbox Game Pass In 2025?
Have you enjoyed the new additions?
January's Xbox Game Pass lineup is now officially complete with today's launch of Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector - and although it's unlikely you'll have had time to play that one just yet, we want to know how you feel about the first month of XGP in 2025. We've had some big Game Pass releases lined up in...
News Xbox Leaker Believes Gears Collection Is Real, Will Launch On PS5 Day One
The Cole Train ain't stoppin'
After what's been years and years of rumour and speculation, we might just have our strongest evidence of a Gears of War remaster collection yet. Well-known Xbox leaker eXtas1s has posted a new video that breaks down a bunch of
Soapbox As A Huge Forza Fan, I'm Fine With Horizon 5 Going To PS5
But I might feel differently about a day one release
Well, we've officially moved into the territory where one of the big three Xbox franchises (Halo, Gears, Forza) will no longer be console exclusive - as Horizon 5 plans its PS5 course this spring. I've been preparing myself for this moment for a while now, especially with all of the rumours going...
News Former PlayStation Exec Says 'The Game Is Changing' As Xbox Goes Multiplatform
"They were Blockbuster, they became Netflix"
With the announcement of Forza Horizon 5 moving over to PS5, Xbox has planted another flag in its new multiplatform landscape, which started to take shape around a year ago. Things are definitely moving forward as we head into 2025 though, which is causing lots of industry folk to chime in on the matter -...
