Tag: Microsoft - Page 6
News Xbox Exec Talks About Three Core Aims For Microsoft's Next Console
"We're designing dedicated hardware..."
Alongside the ROG Xbox Ally, we know that Team Green is working with AMD on next-generation Xbox hardware, and Series X|S architect Jason Ronald has been talking on a new podcast about three of Microsoft's core aims for its next console. In the latest Official Xbox P
News Xbox's Latest Series X|S Background Isn't Very Dynamic, But It Does Look Great
And it takes into account tile space!
We're officially one week out from the release of Gears of War: Reloaded, and to celebrate its upcoming launch, Microsoft has dropped a themed dynamic background on Xbox Series X|S - although the term 'dynamic' is a bit of stretch here. As you can see in the clip down below, the team has based this off the...
Guide Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live Showcase: Date, Start Times & What To Expect
Just a few hours away!
Welcome to our Pure Xbox guide for Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live! As we're now closing in on Geoff Keighley's big August event, we're going to go over the exact date, length and start times for the upcoming livestream - alongside some of what we can expect to see during Gamescom's ONL showcase. We also have some official...
News ROG Xbox Ally Accessories Appear Online As Device Lands At Gamescom 2025
Allies for Ally
Earlier today, we learnt of the first game to be 'certified' for ROG Xbox Ally, and now the device's first accessory has been teased by third-party manufacturer Dbrand. Yep, live now on the official Dbrand website, an ROG Xbox Ally X version of the company's 'Killswitch' case has been teased. At the moment, it's just a
News Gears Of War: Reloaded Is The First Game To Be ROG Xbox Ally 'Certified'
"It's officially certified!"
It's Gamescom week, which means we're going to be hearing lots about the ROG Xbox Ally in the coming days, as Microsoft and ASUS plan to launch their new gaming handheld(s) in 2025. Oh, and they're kicking the week off with an announcement of the ROG Ally's first 'certified' game. Yep, taking to social media today,
News Microsoft 'Wraps Up' Xbox Series X|S Era As Hardware Chief Teases What's Next
"As we wrap up this journey..."
With ROG Xbox Ally right around the corner, it feels as though Microsoft is moving into a new era with Xbox devices, and fresh comments from a Microsoft hardware chief confirm that Team Green is about ready to move on from Xbox Series X|S. In a lengthy post over on LinkedIn, Partner Head of Design at Xbox Carl...
News Five Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Late August 2025
Some big titles are on the way out
Microsoft has just announced its latest batch of titles departing Xbox Game Pass, with five games leaving the service at the end of August. The most notable titles in here are the critically acclaimed Sea of Stars, which leaves after two years in the library, and Borderlands 3 - with the 2K shooter on its way out...
Talking Point What Are Your Plans For Gamescom 2025?
Watch party?
Next week, Europe's biggest gaming convention arrives in the form of Gamescom 2025 - with this year's show set to be one of the most expansive yet. Dozens of companies are confirmed to be attending the event, with in-person hands-on sessions being joined by plenty of livestream showcases - making this another busy week in the gaming...
Talking Point Will The ROG Xbox Ally Be Your First 'Handheld Gaming PC'?
If you're buying one, that is
With this week's Amazon leak providing our latest look at the ROG Xbox Ally, we're creeping ever closer to this thing potentially dominating the conversation at Gamescom 2025 - at least when it comes to Xbox news. The device is confirmed for both the show floor and Xbox's first livestream broadcast, and ahead of all the...
News 90+ 'Stream Your Own Game' Titles Added To Xbox Cloud Gaming Lineup
Another huge batch added!
Literally two weeks ago now, Microsoft made a bumper update to its Xbox 'Stream Your Own Game' service; adding 100 titles to the collection for early August 2025. Well, that number has now grown by almost the same amount in the middle of the month. <related ids="185944"> Yep, the team has now added another 91 games...
Report Microsoft Has No Plans To Bring Black Ops 7 To Switch 2 At Launch
It may come one day, but not for now
We're all set for Xbox's big worldwide reveal of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 during Gamescom Opening Night Live next week, but Switch 2 players probably shouldn't get their hopes up for much just yet. According to the ever-reliable billbil-kun, Microsoft's upcoming Call of Duty title won't be releasing on...
News Xbox Is Making It Easier To Find 'Play Anywhere' Titles In Your Library
Buy once, play on any device
Xbox Play Anywhere has been a huge focus for Microsoft in recent months, particularly as its builds towards launching the ROG Xbox Ally, and the team is introducing a handy new XPA feature in its latest preview update. Rolling out now on Xbox, players will be able to easily filter Play Anywhere titles within their games...
News Xbox Suffers Multi-Hour Server Outage, Invites & Party Chat Affected
Update: Now fixed
Having trouble with the Xbox servers this morning? It's not just you! Lots of players have been reporting issues over the past few hours - mainly with inviting friends to chats and multiplayer games - and Xbox Support has now confirmed there's a problem and the team is working on fixing it ASAP. The five specific issues mentioned...
News Two More Games Are Getting Delisted On Xbox In September 2025
Both disappearing from the Xbox Store next month
Yes, it's still early in the month to be talking about what's happening in September, but we thought you'd want to know about any potential delistings ASAP - and we already know of two games that are leaving the Xbox Store next month. The first of these has just been announced in the form of Star...
News ROG Xbox Ally Infographic Appears Alongside Early Amazon Listing
It's now been taken down...
Last month, we heard reports that Microsoft's ROG Xbox Ally device would go up for pre-order in August - and a now-removed Amazon listing points towards that becoming a reality very soon. <related ids="185783"> Yep, ahead of the system's reported pre-order drop during Gamescom 2025, Amazon listed the base ROG Xbox...
News Xbox's Latest 'Buy One, Get One Free' Promotion Is Now Live
Focusing on simulator titles
Xbox has just put another one of its 'Buy One, Get One Free' promotions live on the Microsoft Store, and this one focuses around a batch of simulators across Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. As is usually the case with these Xbox BOGOF sales, the selection — along with their associated deal prices — is a bit of a mixed...
News Helldivers 2 'Bring The Boom' Trailer Teases Halo ODST Crossover On Xbox
Bringing the boom
Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X|S in exactly two weeks' time, and to celebrate, the team at Arrowhead has put together the Xbox's version official launch trailer - containing a little tease relating to Team Green's most famous franchise. Yep, we've chucked this 'Bring the Boom' trailer up above for you to feast your eyes...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (August 12)
Including a new first-party drop
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today, we have two new additions to the library - one of those being Microsoft's updated version of Hellblade 2, which brings a new 60FPS performance mode to proceedings. Here's an introduction to that addition, alongside today's other XGP title:
Talking Point Is Forza Horizon About To Become Xbox's Main Forza Franchise?
The future of Motorsport is in doubt
Last week, some of the Xbox community started taking note of how quiet Forza Motorsport had been on social media since Microsoft's recent layoffs, which the Xbox developer swiftly responded to with reassurances that both Forza Motorsport and For
News Three New Demos Have Been Added To The Xbox Store Already In August
Update: And we're getting more!
Xbox doesn't really talk about demos these days, so it's our job to sort through them and look for hidden gems every now and again - and we've spotted three from August already that are highlight-worthy additions to the Xbox Store. The first of these is the demo for Gothic 1 Remake, and this demo serves as a prologue...
News Xbox's Heretic + Hexen Remasters Are 'Exceptional', Says Digital Foundry
"Nightdive has done it again"
Last week, Bethesda and Nightdive Studios shadow dropped Heretic + Hexen on Xbox Game Pass following several teases from the remaster specialist developer - and now the folks over at
News Grounded 2 Is Off To An Impressive Start On Steam & Xbox Game Pass
Early sales & players numbers are in
Microsoft's latest first-party release, Grounded 2, launched at the back end of July on Xbox and PC — including Game Pass — and the early signs are suggesting that it's been a successful Early Access launch for Obsidian & co. First off, as pointed out by Klobrille, the game has infiltrated the top 10...
News Sony SVP Discusses 'Moving Away From A Hardware-Centric Business Model'
Update: SeekingAlpha transcript provides more context
With the upcoming release of Helldivers 2, Sony is bringing its first PlayStation published title to Xbox platforms - and since then, we've heard rumours that the Japanese firm is mulling over more multi-platform ports in the future. Now, an official comment from Sony's Senior Vice President has...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (August 7-10)
Playable with any Game Pass tier
Free Play Days has officially landed on Xbox! This weekend, we have four games to get stuck into across Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S - including Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited. Here's your full selection of Free Play Days titles this week: Cassette Beasts (two-hour trial) The Elder Scrolls...
News Assassin's Creed Mirage Is Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (August 7)
Another AC title hits the library!
Welcome to your latest XGP roundup! Today's a big one - with another of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed games joining the lineup almost two years after its initial launch in October 2023. Here's what to expect from Assassin's Creed Mirage on Xbox Game Pass: Assassin's Creed Mirage (Console, PC, Cloud) - Later Today
News 10+ Ubisoft Games Added To Microsoft PC Store Ahead Of ROG Xbox Ally Launch
But they're not Play Anywhere compatible...
Ubisoft has today revealed another batch of games that are now available on Microsoft's PC storefront, as the Xbox owner continues to improve combability ahead of its upcoming ROG Xbox Ally launch. Previously, these games would have only been accessible on PC via the likes of Steam or Ubisoft's own...
News Xbox Dev Turn 10 Goes Dark As Questions Remain Over The Future Of Forza Motorsport
FM Social media has gone very quiet
Just over a month ago now, Microsoft's sweeping layoffs affected Xbox studios around the globe, including Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10. According to reports, Xbox's premiere racing studio was hit particularly hard by job cuts — seemingly losing around 50% of staff — and the team's lack of
News Four Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass Standard (August 6)
Another library refresh
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass roundup! Today, Microsoft is adding four games to its mid-tier 'XGP Standard' library, including the likes of Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders and Citizen Sleeper 2. Oh, and before we round all of these up, the ma
News A Month After Xbox Layoffs, Call Of Duty Dev Raven Software Officially Unionises
It took nearly 3 years of negotiation
Raven Software, the team behind the campaign portion of last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, is this week celebrating a fresh union contract that guarantees improved working conditions over at Xbox. Per a post from the Communications Workers of America (CWA), the group of Raven employees who voted to unionise...
News Three Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass In Early August 2025
Update: Atlas Fallen could be leaving too
Microsoft has announced the first batch of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in August 2025 today, with three games set to depart the service on August 15th - the majority of them across console, PC and the cloud. Here's the full list of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in early August 2025: Date Game Leaving...
News These 9 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (August 5-14)
Your latest batch of new titles
Microsoft has revealed a new batch of Xbox Game Pass titles for the first half of August 2025, which includes the previously-confirmed Hellblade 2 Enhanced, as well as some surprises like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Here's what's coming to Xbox Game Pass from August 5 through August 14
News Xbox Adds New Dynamic Background & Gamerpics For Rare's 40th Birthday
Rare's big day
As we just unveiled elsewhere on Pure Xbox, we have some goodies being announced today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of developer Rare - and those goodies also include a batch of fresh gamerpics and a new dynamic background on Xbox Series X|S. <related ids="185925"> Yep, to celebrate 40 years of the famous Xbox studio,...
Talking Point Should Xbox Bring Back Limited Edition Consoles?
Does it tempt you to double dip?
Throughout the Xbox 360 and Xbox One eras, Microsoft was prolific when it came to limited edition consoles. Pretty much every major release from Xbox Game Studios would have an epic console to pair with it - from the likes of Halo 3 way back in 2007 right through to Gears 5 the year before Xbox Series X came out...
Opinion This Month On Xbox Is Stacked, Including A Few First-Party Treats
A quiet summer? Not a chance!
We've now ticked over to the month of August, which at one time would have meant the final 'quiet' period before the gaming calendar really kicked into gear later in the year. In recent times, though, new releases seem to be coming thick and fast pretty much every month - and this one is absolutely no different!...
Report Starfield PS5 Port Planned For Spring 2026 Alongside New Expansion
But don't expect a shadow drop
Things have been a little quiet on the Starfield front as of late, but a new report suggests that might be about to change. Outlet MP1st is today reporting that the game's second expansion — alongside a PS5 port — is due out in Spring 2026, and we could be hearing about it all much sooner than that. The site says...
Rumour Sony Is Planning To Bring More PS5 Games To Xbox
But we don't know which
We're living in strange, strange times, folks. Hot on the heels of a Sony job listing that talked about hiring an executive to work on PlayStation's multiplatform strategy, new rumours are indeed suggesting that the Japanese game maker has plans to bring more games to Xbox. This is coming from well-known leaker NateTheHate,...
News Xbox Is Predicting A Revenue Decline For The Start Of Fiscal Year 2026
Setting expectations for Q1
Despite some positive news for the company's most recent financial quarter — including content & services growth and record Game Pass revenues — the outlook isn't so hot for next quarter. As part of this update on how Microsoft and Xbox are doing financially, the team has predicted a revenue decline for Q1 of its...
Talking Point It's Been A Year Since Microsoft Closed The Xbox 360 Store
Goodnight sweet prince
Can you believe that it's been more than a year since Microsoft shut down the old Xbox 360 store? Well, you better believe it! Yep, Team Green closed the curtains on the Xbox 360 storefront on July 29th, 2024; just over a year ago now as we look back here in 2025. We must admit, we do miss the 360 days quite a lot. OK, the...
News Xbox Game Pass Annual Revenue Nears $5 Billion For First Time, Says Microsoft CEO
Satya Nadella points out the positives
Last week, we highlighted how Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had been discussing the recent job layoffs at Xbox, stating how they'd been "weighing heavily on me" and that he expressed his "sincere gratitude to those who have left". That's not to say Xbox hasn't enjoyed any success recently though, and in a...
News Xbox QuakeCon 2025 Sale Now Live, Including DOOM: The Dark Ages & Indiana Jones DLC
Some great offers here!
Earlier today, we reminded you fine folks that Xbox's big summer sale is about to wrap up in a few days here - but just as that promotion begins to fade out, a major Bethesda sale is now live to celebrate QuakeCon 2025. <related ids="185819"> A bunch of these titles are on Xbox Game Pass of course, but crucially,...
Reminder The Xbox Summer Sale 2025 Ends This Week
This is your last chance!
It's almost time for Xbox's big Ultimate Game Sale for Summer 2025 to wrap up, with the current list of deals expected to expire late on Friday, August 1st (that's just two days away!). So, we're here to remind you that whatever you've had your eye on over the last week or two is probably worth picking up now. Of course,...
News PlayStation's Q2 2025 Sales Charts Are In, And Xbox Is Dominating The List (US)
Six of the top 10 are Xbox games
Much has been said about Microsoft's pivot to put Xbox games on PS5 in recent months, but the numbers don't lie, and the team continues to shift copies on the Sony platform. This week, Circana has put out fresh data that gathers up the top 10 best-selling games on PlayStation (physical and digital) for Q2 2025 - and...
News ROG Xbox Ally Pre-Orders Will Reportedly Go Live Next Month Ahead Of 2025 Launch
All eyes on Gamescom
It's looking like August will be when we find out lots more information on the ROG Xbox Ally, folks. Yesterday, we found out that the Xbox handheld will be available to the public at Gamescom 2025, and a new report suggests pre-orders will open up next month as well. According to the ever-reliable billbil-kun over at
News Grounded 2 Early Access Impressions Are In Ahead Of Xbox Game Pass Launch
Xbox's latest release is almost here
Microsoft's newest first-party title Grounded 2 launches in Xbox Game Preview in just a few hours here - and ahead of that imminent Game Pass release, a bunch of early impressions and reviews have started to hit the web. If you're yet to be totally convinced by Grounded 2, these write-ups might just change that...
News Xbox Introduces Controversial Age Verification Process In The UK
Age verification needed for certain features
Those who reside in the UK may have seen lots of attention being put on new online age verification rules recently - some amusing, some not-so-much. Well, Microsoft has now detailed how it will implement its own age verification process across Xbox devices in the region. Starting now, Xbox users have...
PSA Expect To See Lots Of ROG Xbox Ally Impressions Next Month
Hollow Knight: Silksong too!
It's safe to say that here at Pure Xbox, we've been pretty high on the ROG Xbox Ally since it was unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase last month. Plenty of questions about the nature of the device still remain though - some of which are likely to be answered in less than a month at Gamescom 2025. Yep, as part of today's...
News Xbox Announces Gamescom Livestream Schedule For August 2025
Get a detailed look at upcoming Xbox games
Xbox has today detailed its plans for Gamescom 2025 - next month's mammoth gaming convention taking place in Cologne, Germany. The big news is that Microsoft is hosting two livestreams straight from the Xbox booth, featuring detailed looks at upcoming first and third-party releases. Some of the games...
Talking Point So, What Other PS5 Games Do You Want To See Come To Xbox?
Sony is looking at more Xbox ports after HD2
Over the weekend, a new Sony job listing that mentioned bringing more PS5 games to other platforms — including Xbox — spread like wildfire. At the time, we were away from our desks, briskly unaware of all the meltdowns and speculation that of course followed. The TL;DR of this news is that basically,...
Report Two Of Xbox's Upcoming First-Party Titles Are In Development For PS5
And they could be coming on day one
Microsoft's multiplatform plan is now in full swing, with two more of its big games making their way to PS5 next month in the form of Hellblade 2 and Gears of War: Reloaded. While those two titles are both locked in for August 2025, we're now hearing that another pair of Xbox games are being developed for PS5 as...
News Two Games Are Available This Week With Xbox Game Pass (July 29 - August 1)
Including a new Xbox first-party title
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! At the time of posting, two titles are scheduled to join the Game Pass library this week - including day one first-party release Grounded 2. So, we're going to give you a quick summary of these two new Game Pass drops down below, along with a couple of trailers so...
