Tag: Microsoft - Page 15
News Xbox Apparently Thinks Making Hellblade 2 Exclusive Was 'A Mistake'
Project regret
Xbox's exclusive game strategy has been all over the place this year as the team seemingly keeps chopping and changing its approach to things - and we're now hearing a rumour that Microsoft regrets making one of its 2024 games Xbox console exclusive. That 2024 title is apparently Hellblade 2, which arrived for Xbox Series X|S and PC...
News YouTuber Breaks Down Xbox's 'Almost Perfect' New Ad Campaign
Offering a different perspective
Microsoft's new 'This is an Xbox' ad campaign is certainly a bold new step for the platform, as the team continues with its push to open up the idea of 'Xbox' to a wider user base. It hasn't been without its controversies though — especially for us diehard console users — but a fresh video breakdown attempts to...
News Indiana Jones And The Great Circle 'Glitch' Shows How The Game Would Look In Third-Person
Would you like this as an option?
A lot has been said about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's gameplay perspective and how fans would like an option to experience the game in third-person - and, well, a new glitch posted on social media gives us a glimpse at what this could look like. Shared on Twitter earlier today, we can see a short gameplay...
News Microsoft Boss Highlights Why He's Feeling 'Very, Very Good' About Xbox Right Now
"We feel fantastic about the progress we've made"
The big Xbox story of today has undoubtedly been Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's comments about "redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan", but he also had some other interesting things to share during that same interview. Speaking as part of the annual shareholders meeting, Nadella revealed that he...
News Xbox Is Reportedly Working On A 'Cross-Platform Interface' Called Project Rainway
Inspired by Blizzard's Battle.net
Following on from Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's recent comments about the future of Xbox, outlet Windows Central has dug into the Xbox owner's plans - subsequently revealing a new cross-platform initiative apparently going on at the Redmond company. According to the site, in particular reporter Jez Corden,...
News All Of These Xbox Games Will Turn Off Their Servers In Early 2025
Nine titles announced for the first three months
We've got a lot of cool stuff to look forward to on Xbox in early 2025, including some great Xbox Game Pass additions and even some first-party releases, but sadly there are a few server closures that are heading our way as well. In fact, there will probably be a lot more than the nine we already...
News Four More Call Of Duty Titles Seemingly Being Prepared For Xbox Game Pass
Four COD games crop up on PC
Last week, three classic Call of Duty games appeared on the Microsoft Store for PC; a sign that the company is likely preparing them for an Xbox Game Pass drop somewhere down the line. Well, you can add four more series entries to that list this week. Yep, Call of Duty: Ghosts,
News Microsoft CEO: 'We Are Redefining What It Means To Be An Xbox Fan'
By taking the "joy of gaming everywhere"
Reports about Microsoft potentially ditching platform "exclusives" have recently been fuelled by its gaming division's new marketing campaign which classes pretty-much everything as an Xbox. Now, Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has chimed in with some new comments about this strategy during the company's annual...
News Xbox Has Reportedly Delayed 'A Big Game' Into 2026
Journalist takes a guess at what it might be
As we close in on 2025, Microsoft will no doubt still be mapping out what its release schedule looks like in full next year - and a new comment from journalist Jeff Grubb hints that those plans are still being figured out right now. Speaking on a livestream covering last week's The Game Awards, Grubb...
News Xbox Reporter Says That Microsoft 'Won't Have Exclusives Going Forward'
"Everything is timed exclusive at most"
Xbox has changed its approach to game exclusives this year, as the team brings more and more titles to PS5 and Nintendo Switch - and it's starting to sound like the strategy has now completely shifted at Microsoft. We've seen the brand's new ad campaign that calls most things an 'Xbox', and now Windows...
Rumour Sony's LEGO Horizon Adventures Could Be Coming To Xbox
On the horizon
After a year where Microsoft pressed on with its multiplatform plans — bringing more and more Xbox games to PS5 — it looks like we might finally see something head in the other direction. According to Arab media outlet JustPlayIt, Sony is planning on bringing this year's LEGO Horizon Adventures
News Yes, The Outer Worlds 2 Is Another Xbox-Developed Game Heading To PS5
Seemingly on day one
During The Game Awards 2024, one of Xbox's biggest reveals was the surprise appearance of The Outer Worlds 2 - after largely being MIA since 2021. That quietness has been understandable though — developer Obsidian is very busy — and the game's resurfacing in 2024 has brought along with it another interesting wrinkle. The...
News Towerborne Gets Major Winter Update Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Release In Early 2025
Microsoft is preparing the Game Pass launch
Towerborne, a Microsoft first-party release, somewhat strangely launched on Steam before Xbox earlier this year - but the team is still preparing for a console and Game Pass launch at the beginning of next year. And, ahead of that wider release, the Steam Early Access bu
Random Xbox Has Apparently Made A 'Red Ring Of Death' Ugly Sweater
It's believed to be selling out fast at Microsoft
We've finally reached the holiday season and according to a story over on The Verge, Microsoft has internally released a new sweater. It's not just any sweater though, it's apparently a "Xbox 360 glitch holiday sweater". This one features what's described as an "interchangeable module" that can...
News Xbox's First Indiana Jones Update Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
PC players also get a major new feature
While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has only just gone live on Xbox Game Pass, the title has been available in early access since late last week, which has given developer MachineGames enough time to throw together a day one patch. The big new feature included her
News Phil Spencer Shares His Xbox 'Year In Review', And He's Been Very Busy In 2024
"So many fun games this year"
Earlier this week, Microsoft launched its 'Xbox Year in Review' tool for 2024, and of course - we've all been checking and comparing our personal stats here at PX HQ. However, we're also curious about what other folks have getting up to on Xbox this year - and following on from Snoop Dogg's reveal yesterday, Phil...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (December 5)
Your final additions before Indiana Jones next week
The Xbox Game Pass updates continue this week with another two additions to the service today (December 5th), and this time around they're both exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members. EA Sports WRC joins as part of EA Play following its initial release back in late 2023,...
News As Xbox Expands Its Reach, Former PlayStation Boss Talks About The Viability Of Consoles
"What is the purpose of a proprietary console"
There has been a lot of discussion in 2024 about the future of Xbox's console business as Microsoft ramps up its mission to make its game library more accessible across multiple devices and platforms. With this in mind, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden was recently asked in the same Eurogamer...
News Xbox Announces Final Six Games Leaving Game Pass In Late December 2024
For once, we're finding out very early
It's almost always the case that Microsoft reveals the games leaving Xbox Game Pass two weeks in advance, but as a special December treat we've been given more advance notice than usual - the entire month has been mapped out! Earlier this week, we highlighted the seven games that will leave Xbox Game Pass in...
PSA Xbox 360's Two Crackdown Games Are Free On The Microsoft Store
Just a gentle reminder!
For a while now, a bunch of older Xbox games have been free to claim via the Microsoft Store, particularly from the Xbox 360 generation. Well, two of those games are Crackdown 1 & 2, and there's been lots of social media talk today about them being free - so we thought we'd bring them to your attention once again. Yep,...
News Xbox Engineer Shows Off Console Dashboard With 'Comic Sans' Font
We... kinda dig it
We've seen plenty of Xbox dashboard renditions over the years, right from the OG 360 blades all the way up to the modern Series X|S dashboard, but we never thought we'd see the day where 'Comic Sans' font gets plastered all over the Xbox home screen - until now. Yep, Xbox's engineering lead Eden Marie has taken to
News Seven Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Early December 2024
Including a Forza Horizon game!
Microsoft has revealed eight games leaving Xbox Game Pass in the early part of December 2024, and this batch includes some huge titles - with the most notable being the departure of Forza Horizon 4 as it gets delisted. In the case of Forza Horizon 4, the game will no longer be purchasable digitally after December...
News Xbox Fans Plead With Microsoft: 'Don't Forget About Us Physical Gamers'
Avowed to be frustrated
A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft unveiled various editions of Avowed ahead the game's release next February - and the move has stirred up some controversy within the Xbox community. Straight after its announcement, fans weren't happy with another 'code in a box' situation from Microsoft, and that's now spilled over into more...
News Xbox Analyst 'Doesn't See' Microsoft Ditching Hardware Despite New Marketing Campaign
"I guess it could but I don't see that happening"
Since Microsoft unleashed its new 'This is an Xbox' marketing campaign earlier this month, there's been lots of speculation about what this means for the future of Xbox hardware - but a well-known industry analyst has played down the idea of Microsoft ditching consoles anytime soon. Circana's Mat...
News Xbox Exec Talks 'Honouring Our Craft' As They're Named In Variety's Gaming Leaders List
Matt Booty was recently promoted at Xbox
American magazine Variety has highlighted ten '2024 Gaming Entertainment Leaders' in the past week or so, and Xbox executive Matt Booty has made the list this time around. Booty was recently promoted within Microsoft's new gaming leadership structure - the longtime exec is now President of Game Content and...
Rumour Forza Horizon 5 'Will Arrive' On PS5, Despite A Delay From Xbox
"I don't know when, but it will arrive"
Earlier this year, we heard a strong rumour that Forza Horizon 5 would be another Xbox game to move over to PS5 at some stage - and now that very same source has provided an update on the situation as we near the end of 2024. According to prominent leaker eXtas1s, Microsoft's Forza Horizon 5's PS5 port is...
News Microsoft Offering Bonus Gift With Digital Xbox Series X Consoles, For A Limited Time
"Gift adventure to the gamer on your list"
Microsoft has plenty of Black Friday offers across its consoles, games and accessories this year, but the refreshed 2024 lineup of Xbox Series X|S consoles is largely missing from the deals. However, if you're looking at getting the white digital Series X specifically, the team has bundled in a substantial...
News Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Congratulates Departing PlayStation Exec On Their 'Amazing Career'
"Congrats on an amazing career at PlayStation"
Longtime Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida has announced their departure from PlayStation this week, and Xbox boss Phil Spencer has sent the exec a warm message - as he prepares to leave one of Microsoft's biggest competitors in the gaming space. Taking to Twitter early this morning, Phil sent his...
News Xbox Fans Are Wondering What Happened To Series X|S Exclusive 'Contraband'
It was revealed over 3 years ago!
Remember Contraband, the open world co-op game announced by Xbox Game Studios back in 2021? Well, we've seen or heard very little on the Avalanche Studios game since then - and Xbox fans are starting to wonder what the heck is going on with it. Over on the platform's
News Microsoft Reporter Shares 'Confirmation' That Xbox EMEA Is Still Selling Consoles
Despite reports of slow down in the Middle East
Back in the summer, we heard vague reports that Microsoft may be slowing down its console selling business in certain wider markets - namely in select EMEA countries like Saudi Arabia. More recently, a report from that nation made similar claims - but Windows Central's Jez Corden has been squashing...
News Black Ops 6's First Free Zombies DLC Comes To Xbox Game Pass Next Week
Welcome to Citadelle Des Morts
During the reveal of Black Ops 6 Season 01, developer Treyarch announced that a brand-new Zombies experience was coming to the game at some point this season - and that time is almost upon us. Revealed this week via a new cinematic trailer, new Black Ops 6 Zombies map 'Citadelle Des Morts' comes to Xbox Game Pass on...
News Rare Boss Now Officially The New Head Of Xbox Game Studios
A new era for Xbox
Last month, it was revealed Rare's boss Craig Duncan would become the new leader of Xbox Game Studios, replacing Forza Motorsport's Alan Hartman. Now, in an update on Rare's socials, it seems Duncan has "recently started" in his new role, with his existing team celebrating his tenure after "13 years and 10 months". "Today we're...
Poll Which Is Your Favourite Xbox Title From Bethesda Developer MachineGames?
The team is about to release Indiana Jones
Earlier today, we caught wind of the fact that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be MachineGames' longest experience yet, and that's got us thinking about the Bethesda developer - and what they've accomplished so far on Xbox. Up to this point, the Swedish studio has been solely in charge of the
News Xbox's Avowed Team 'Very Confident' About Competing With Other Big Releases Next Year
"We're very confident that Avowed is going to stand on its own"
Earlier this year, Xbox's Avowed got delayed to February 2025 - a launch window that now looks busy with the likes of Assassin's Creed Shadows, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Monster Hunter Wilds all launching in the same month. However, dev team Obsidian Entertainment isn't wor
News Call Of Duty Becomes Most-Played Game On Xbox After Incredible Black Ops 6 Launch
Beating Fortnite, Roblox
After playing host to Activision's most-successful Call of Duty launch month of all time, Black Ops 6 has now become to the most played game on Xbox in the US - beating out some huge free-to-play titles in the process. Yep, if you check the current most-played Xbox games list in the US, Call o
News Two Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass This Week (November 26-27)
Starting today!
Welcome to this week's Xbox Game Pass update! Over the next couple of days, we have two fresh additions coming to the library, including the 2023 squad-based shooter Aliens: Dark Descent. But first, let's start with today's brand-new addition to Game Pass: Nine Sols (Console, PC, Cloud) - November 26: "Nine Sols is a lore...
Talking Point What Do You Want To See From Xbox In 2025?
As Microsoft redefines the meaning of Xbox
As we near Xbox's final major release of 2024 with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, we've started to look back on the year in general - and think about what we hope to see from the team in 2025. It's been a bumpy old ride being an Xbox fan at times this year, and we're wondering what you think next year...
Rumour Xbox Giving MW3 Developer Four Years To 'Lead' New Call Of Duty Project
It will not be a "year 2" release
Earlier this year, Microsoft's first Call of Duty addition to Xbox Game Pass was Sledgehammer Games' Modern Warfare 3 - and a new rumour gives us some insight into what the Activision team is working on next. According to well-known COD leaker TheGhostOfHope, the MW3 developer is wo
News Xbox Game Pass Didn't Hurt Overall Black Ops 6 Sales, Says Analyst
But PlayStation dominated the split
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the first series entry to launch day one on Xbox Game Pass, and naturally, that led to questions about whether such a move would affect sales. While the title's Game Pass inclusion seems to have dented Xbox sales specifically, PC and PS5 have more than pulled their weight to make up...
News Multiple UK Retailers Undercut Microsoft With New Xbox Series S Deals
Black Friday sales aplenty
Yesterday, Xbox UK unveiled its official plans for Black Friday this year, with some solid deals to be had across Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and their associated accessories. However, as we hit one week until the big day itself, loads of retailers over here have slashed prices even further - especially for Xbox Series S...
News Nine Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Late November 2024
Play them now before they're gone!
We've got another batch of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in late November 2024, and this time there are eight titles in all - including the likes of Remnant: From The Ashes, Conan Exiles and Coral Island. There's The Walking Dead: The Final Season as well, which we think is a fantastic conclu
News These Five Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (November 20-27)
November's second wave is here
Microsoft has revealed the second batch of titles joining Xbox Game Pass in November 2024, which includes the previously confirmed Stalker 2 and Nine Sols along with the surprise addition of Aliens: Dark Descent. We've also got two games entering XGP "Standard" - these are already available with Xbox Game Pass...
News Surprise! Xbox's Avowed Has Been Confirmed For Another Platform
Even Blizzard's digital service "is an Xbox"
Well, here's a bit of a surprise. Xbox has today revealed it's bringing Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming fantasy RPG Avowed to not only Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and Steam platforms, but also Blizzard's Battle.net launcher on PC. This was confirmed in an announcement today on Xbox Wire. While we've seen...
Reaction Like It Or Not, Xbox Has Gone Full Throttle On Multiplatform
It's much bigger than Series X and S
We've known for a good while now that Microsoft wants Xbox to be more than a console, but up to this point in time, its messaging around that pursuit has been quite vague. It's always felt like the company wants to keep its loyal fans happy, while also adapting and growing Xbox as a business, which hasn't always...
News Microsoft Is Now Advertising Pretty Much Every Gaming Device As An Xbox
"This is an Xbox"
We've been hearing for months and months, years even, that any device with Microsoft's games on it is an 'Xbox' of some sort. The company has been pushing PC, Mobile and Xbox Cloud Gaming for ages at this point - but today's absolutely massive new marketing campaign is their biggest move in this direction yet. Launched earlier on,...
News Phil Spencer Thinks Stalker 2 Could Be An Xbox Game Of The Year Contender
"The quality has really come a long way"
It's official, folks, we're less than a week away from Stalker 2 hitting Xbox Game Pass - and Microsoft's gaming boss thinks that the open-world shooter could be a real GOTY contender in 2024. Speaking with Game File, Phil Spencer was asked about the upcoming title and its
News Xbox Delayed Avowed Purely Because Of Its 2024 Game Pass Schedule
"Okay, let's make sure we pace this out a little better"
Obsidian's upcoming RPG Avowed was supposed to be out at this point, but the game was eventually delayed to February 2025 earlier this year. While delays in this industry often happen due to evolving development timelines, Xbox insists this isn't the case with Avowed. Speaking in a new...
News Xbox's Best-Rated Game Of 2024 Is On Free Play Days This Weekend (November 14-17)
This is a fantastic lineup!
Xbox has unveiled its latest Free Play Days lineup, and we have some really big games on the program this weekend. Leading the charge is Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth — Xbox's highest-rated game on Metacritic this year — alongside another major 2024 release in EA Sports College Football 25. Here's your full Xbox...
News Microsoft Issues Statement As 'Hundreds' Of ZeniMax Workers Go On Strike
A one-day strike across four locations
Yesterday was a turbulent day in the world of ZeniMax Media, as hundreds of unionised workers at the company went on strike against Microsoft at four different locations in Maryland and Texas. As reported by IGN, this involves people who work on the likes of DOOM, Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, and is related...
News Xbox Fan Shares Stunning 4K Images Of 360 Launch Title Project Gotham Racing 3
These look amazing!
Right, by now you probably know that we're huge fans of Project Gotham Racing here at Pure Xbox HQ - so it's no surprise that when we saw some fresh 4K images of PGR3 in and amongst the Xbox Reddit homepage this week, our hearts skipped a little bit. Of course, these aren't official images pulled from the Xbox version or...
