Tag: Xbox Game Studios
News Rolling Stone's Top 25 Games Of 2025 Features Two Xbox First-Party Titles
Here's the full list
We recently mentioned how three Xbox first-party games had made the cut in the AP's top 10 releases of 2025, and now we've got another list from Rolling Stone — a top 25 of 2025 roundup — that includes two Xbox first-party titles in theirs. The two games are Ninja Gaiden 4 and
Rumour Two Xbox First-Party Titles Get Leaked 2026 Release Windows
Big pinch of salt with these, folks
With next year (and beyond) on Xbox looking pretty darn stacked, Microsoft could be having some trouble knowing where exactly to place its first-party games in its 2026 release calendar. We know of four big titles landing next year at the moment - and some fresh rumours today are giving us a narrower window for...
News Xbox Game Studios Has Loads Of Titles Heavily Discounted In Its Steam Black Friday Sale
Lots of XGS, Bethesda & Activision offers!
Here at Pure Xbox we've done plenty of coverage on Microsoft's Black Friday offers already - from a general roundup of the big Xbox digital sale to discounts on Game Pass and so on. If you're playing over on PC a lot more these days though — especially in the wake of
News Xbox Developers Are Reportedly 'Thrilled' To Release Their Games On PS5
It helps relieve sales pressure
Over the last 18 months or so, we've seen Microsoft pivot to releasing games on rival platforms - including PlayStation of course. While the reaction to this move has been mixed, shall we say, within the community, it sounds as though Xbox developers at large are pretty pleased with the decision. Talking with 404...
News This Xbox Game Studios Adventure Deserved More Nominations At The Game Awards 2025
Maybe even GOTY?
Earlier this week, The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley unveiled all of the nominations for this year's show; which goes ahead on Thursday, December 11th. A variety of Xbox first-party titles were nominated for numerous awards here - including DOOM: The Dark Ages, Indiana Jones, The Outer Worlds 2 and more. Ho
News Xbox Game Studios & Activision Are Finally Teaming Up With 'Minecraft Blast'
It's a mobile game, though...
Ever since Xbox started acquiring these big developers and publishers, we've probably all thought about the synergy we might possibly see from Microsoft's gaming division, but that hasn't really happened just yet. At large, these developers and publishers within Xbox seem pretty separate - but finally, we're at least...
Talking Point What Do You Think Xbox's Release Schedule Looks Like For 2026?
Where will Halo, Gears, Fable & Forza fit in?
With Halo: Campaign Evolved having finally been announced after months of rumours, we now have four major locked-in releases from Xbox Game Studios for 2026 - a new Halo, a new Gears, a new Fable and a new Forza Horizon. Next year looks set to be a massive one for Xbox, especially considering the brand...
News Phil Spencer Addresses AI & Developer Creativity At Xbox Game Studios
"I really leave it up to the teams..."
In a new panel at the Paley International Council Summit, Phil Spencer sat down with Double Fine Studio Head Tim Schafer to discuss a whole host of gaming-related topics - and the Xbox boss had some interesting things to say about AI use and developer creativity over at Microsoft's gaming division. Despite the...
Report Xbox Has Been Asking Its Studios To Hit 'Higher Profit Margins' Since 2023
Right as the Activision Blizzard deal closed...
Bloomberg's ever-reliable gaming journalist Jason Schreier (along with colleague Dina Bass) has today put out an extensive report on Xbox, and how Microsoft is now asking the division to deliver "higher profit margins" in the wake of its massive acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The report says that...
Pick One Which Is Your Favourite Double Fine Game On Xbox?
Keeper comes next
With Xbox exclusive Keeper launching next week — and a distinct lack of marketing for it, to be honest — we wanted to go back and talk about Double Fine's Xbox history in today's 'Pick One' feature! This famous development house, led by visionary Tim Schafer, has produced some absolute classics over the years - and most of...
News Xbox Game Studios Titles Up For Several Awards At Golden Joysticks 2025
Indiana Jones, South of Midnight & more involved
Voting for this year's Golden Joystick Awards has gone live today, and while Xbox misses out on any Game of the Year nominations this time around, several of its titles are up for various other awards at the 2025 edition of the show. Xbox's Deep South-inspired adventure South of Midnight is up for...
News Xbox Game Pass Adds First-Party Game To 'Leaving Soon' Section, But Don't Panic
Update: It's since been removed
If you've woken up today and checked your Xbox app to see that a first-party game is leaving Xbox Game Pass soon, don't worry! This is almost certainly just an error, and we're assuming Microsoft will fix it in the very near future. The game in question is Age of Mythology: Retold, which is showing up alongside all...
News Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From September 2025
After some big announcements from Microsoft
Following what's been a busy few months for Xbox in a multitude of positive and negative ways, super-fan Klobrille has shared another updated version of their long-running Xbox Game Studios roadmap - with some recent additions and unfortunate casualties now accounted for on the list. As we've covered...
News Unnamed Xbox Game Studios Title Shows Up On Tokyo Game Show's 2025 Schedule
Airing on September 27th
The excitement for Tokyo Game Show next week is starting to build, with Xbox recently laying out its livestream plans for the convention. Indeed, we have Microsoft's own broadcast airing September 25th, and now a new third-party livestream has hinted that the Xbox event may well contain a pretty big surprise.
Talking Point Next Month Is A Big One For Xbox Game Studios, And We're Here For It
Multiple first-party games in one month!
On the back of the Xbox Games Showcase in June, we reminded you fine folks that Microsoft has three first-party games launching within 12 days of each other this year - and that time is almost upon us! Yep, those three games all land next month, with Xbox preparing for a busy October for its first-party...
News Despite Cancelling Everwild, Xbox Has Just Hired Its Executive Producer For A Major Role
They're now Chief of Staff at Xbox Game Studios
We're still gutted by the cancellation of Rare's mysterious IP Everwild earlier this year, and here's hoping more details come out about it - we'd love to see some in-development footage and get more behind-the-scenes info. In the meantime, it's been revealed that Everwild's executive producer, Louise...
Feature Xbox Game Studios: All Microsoft First-Party Developers & What They're Working On
Including Bethesda & Activision Blizzard
At this stage, Microsoft has lots of in-house development studios making Xbox games, including all those teams across Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard. So, as we begin another year of Xbox, we thought we'd gather up every Microsoft first-party developer and what they're working on right...
News Xbox's Matt Booty Issues Statement On Layoffs And Game Cancellations
"We did not make these choices lightly"
We've heard about lots of layoffs at Xbox today, which has led to multiple cancelled games highlighted by Perfect Dark and Everwild, and Xbox Game Studios chief Matt Booty has issued an internal statement about this to employees. In his statement, as shared by
News Imminent Xbox Layoffs Could Include Entire Studios, Warns Industry Veteran
"Good luck to all involved. Brutal."
Back on Tuesday, it was reported that Microsoft could be making major layoffs throughout the Xbox division at some point next week, and industry veteran George Broussard has now chimed in with what he knows about the situation. Broussard, who worked on the likes of Duke Nukem, Max Payne and Prey back in the day,...
News Xbox Data Shows 'Most' Console Owners Are Playing On Other Devices As Well, Says Exec
Hence the big focus on multi-platform
It's no secret that Xbox is going all-in on a multi-platform strategy these days, spanning the likes of console, PC, handheld and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and they're obviously doing this based on data that suggests it's a good idea. In fact, speaking to GamesRadar
News Xbox Has Three First-Party Games Coming Out Within 12 Days Of Each Other
Clear your schedule
As the Xbox Games Showcase was kicking into gear on Sunday, it became apparent that October 2025 was going to become a busy month for new first-party releases. We started the event with nothing confirmed for that month, and ended it with three major Xbox Game Studios titles being scheduled within 12 days of each other. The first...
News Phil Spencer Says 2026 Is Going To Be 'A Really Special Year' For Xbox
He also explains why some big games are skipping 2025
Towards the end of Xbox's big summer showcase this year, boss Phil Spencer came out to introduce Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 - but not before he championed the ROG Xbox Ally and
News Xbox Dominates PS5 Charts, Forza Horizon 5 'Most Downloaded' Game In May
Half of the PS5 top 10 are Xbox games!
PlayStation has just released its 'top downloads' chart for May 2025, and once again, Microsoft is dominating the list on PS5 in both the US and the EU - including a pole position for Xbox's Forza Horizon 5. Yep, Playground Games' open-world racer is top of the charts for PS5 in both regions, following what...
Talking Point Will This Lost Xbox Game Studios Title Appear At Microsoft's 2025 Showcase?
It was announced 4 years ago!
It's almost time for the Xbox Games Showcase 2025, which means we're all starting to try and think about what games might make an appearance this year. While you'll have to wait a tiny bit longer for our full Pure Xbox predictions, we have started wondering about one game in particular. Where the heck is Contraband
News Eight Xbox First-Party Games Heavily Discounted By Humble Bundle (PC)
"Must-play games by Xbox Game Studios"
Over the weekend, you may have noticed a new Xbox Game Studios promotion going live on the Humble Bundle website, and it's a fantastic offer that provides some heavy discounts - but it's also not targeted at console owners. It's known as the Xbox Game Studios Publisher Bundle, and it features these eight...
News Xbox's Hellblade 2 Studio Shares Blurred-Out Tease Of New Game
"Always great to come together at the studio"
Incredibly, it's been almost a year since Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 was released for Xbox and PC, and developer Ninja Theory is busy working on whatever's next - as shown off in a blurred-out image via social media recently. You can see this in the tweet below, where the team have gathered together to...
News Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Game Studios Roadmap From May 2025
Following a busy month of announcements
After what's been a crazy few weeks for Microsoft and its output on Xbox and beyond, social media aficionado Klobrille has shared an updated Xbox Game Studios roadmap - featuring everything Microsoft is working on for the coming months and years. In fact, Klobrille's roadmap starts all the way back in 2020 -...
News Xbox Is 'Spitting Pure Fire' Right Now, Says Baldur's Gate 3 Exec
Specifically as a publisher
It's been an absolutely crazy year for Xbox first-party games already. We've had Ninja Gaiden 2 Black as a shadow drop in January, Avowed in February, and South of Midnight and Oblivion Remastered (another surprise!) in April. In the next few months, we've also got DOOM: The Dark Ages, To
News Xbox Studio inXile Reminds Us That Clockwork Revolution Exists, Releasing 'In Due Time'
Led by former Fallout, Wasteland devs
Almost two years ago now, Xbox studio inXile Entertainment introduced Clockwork Revolution to the world at the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase - and despite some small updates, we've really not seen much of the Microsoft first-party title since. This week though, the team has remin
Reaction Xbox's Third-Party Strategy Is Finally Making Sense To Me
Will it work out in the long term?
I think I had the same reaction that many Xbox fans did when it was revealed that the likes of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 would be coming to PS5. Why are we losing our exclusives? Doesn't Xbox care about the potential harm to console sales? Is a third-party strategy really the best way...
News Xbox Game Studios Publisher Sale Now Live On Steam, Up To 90% Off Select Titles
Including some newer releases
With lots of Xbox's catalogue now available on the PC platform Steam, we're always curious to see when Microsoft hosts sales over there - particularly to play bits and pieces from the portfolio on Steam Deck. And, to close out April, a big Xbox Game Studios sale has just gone live on the platform - including some of the...
Opinion South Of Midnight Dev Could Become An Xbox Game Studios Gem
If Microsoft continues to support them
So, just before a recent break from work to celebrate a birthday milestone I'd rather not talk about, I had the pleasure of playing and reviewing South of Midnight - which has ended up becoming one of my favourite Xbox Game Studios releases in donkey's years. In fact, pull the fantastic but ultimately...
News Microsoft's Next Xbox Game Studios Release Has Officially Gone Gold
Heading south
Well, shortly after sharing an updated Xbox Game Studios roadmap for 2025 and beyond, Microsoft has announced that its next big first-party release has officially gone gold! Yep, Compulsion Games' South of Midnight is now locked and loaded for its Xbox Game Pass release next month. That Game Pass release arrives on
News Xbox Fan Shares Updated First-Party Roadmap Following Recent Microsoft Announcements
Tony Hawk added, Fable shifted
It's been quite a wild few months for Team Xbox, hasn't it? Aside from even more PS5 release dates rumoured and formally announced, we've also had some surprise reveals for Xbox Series X|S - alongside
News Xbox's Latest First-Party Expansion Quietly Arrives On Console & PC
A new "legendary journey" for Age of Mythology: Retold
It feels like there's not really been much hype around Age of Mythology: Retold over the past however many months, even despite the fact we really like the game itself, but perhaps its new expansion will help to change all that. Yes, Age of Mythology: Retold - Immortal Pillars is now available...
Talking Point With Fable Now Delayed, Which Xbox First-Party Game Launches This Fall?
Microsoft has a gap to fill
Well, Microsoft delivered the news this week that its big Fable reboot has been delayed - and before this recent turn of events, the Xbox RPG was probably the team's biggest release planned for late 2025. However, even with this delay, Xbox still has some major games planned for this year including South of Midnight and...
News Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Studios Roadmap For 2025 & Beyond
An incredible first-party year ahead
With all the drama and debate that's gone on in regards to Xbox's multiplatform push lately, it's easy to forget that the first-party portfolio for 2025 is arguably looking better than ever - and it's already got off to a great start in recent weeks! So, following the awesome Xbox Developer Direct back in...
News Xbox Is Hiring For Someone To Lead An Unnamed Dev Team, Starting Next Month
Job post spotted
An interesting Xbox job post has been spotted online today, leading to questions about whether this role is for an unannounced team or project over at Xbox Game Studios. Microsoft is looking for "an experienced Executive Producer" to "lead a game team" - but what that team is within Xbox remains a mystery at this time. Furthermore,...
Feature 10+ Major Games That Xbox Could Be Preparing To Release This Year
What a lineup this would be!
With the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 just around the corner, we're in that period right now where everyone seems to making predictions about not only the show, but also the rest of 2025 and how it looks for Xbox's lineup of games. The official word is that we're already getting a great set of titles this year, with the...
News Xbox Is Set Up For A 'Bright' Future, Suggests Industry Analyst
Despite a "rocky couple of years"
We've heard a lot about the downsides of Xbox this year, even though there have been many positives along the way, and that's primarily because of the controversy over various first-party titles jumping to PlayStation (and Switch). Microsoft has clearly started implementing new strategies for the Xbox brand, as...
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's Matt Booty Talks PS5 Ports, Explains How The Scheduling Works
Specifically in the case of Indiana Jones
Matt Booty, president of game content and studios at Microsoft, has been doing the rounds with media recently to promote Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and as you'd expect, he's been asked about its upcoming PS5 port. In an interview with Variety, Booty reiterated that Xbox is still making every...
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...
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...
News Xbox Boss Namedrops Marvel's Blade & Everwild Following Recent Studio Visits
Phil has been busy!
As of late, the Xbox exec team have been a bit quieter on social media, especially in the wake of Microsoft's recent studio closures and developer layoffs. However, Phil Spencer has been breaking that trend recently with a return to the Threads platform - and the boss has delivered some interesting Xbox Game Studios updates over...
Review Ara: History Untold (PC) - Xbox Game Studios Delivers Yet Another Great Strategy Title
History evolved
Following the release of Age of Mythology: Retold earlier this month, the Microsoft-published simultaneous turn-based “historical grand strategy” game Ara: History Untold has now arrived exclusively for PC under the Xbox Game Studios label. This isn’t exactly your average take on history – blending all sorts of histories,...
News Xbox Lists 'Announced' First Party Games In New Social Media Graphic
We've got plenty of dates for 2024 and 2025
Today's Gamescom Opening Night Live event is officially in the books, and as you can see in the special new graphic above, we've got a much better idea of release dates for various Xbox first-party games in 2024 and 2025! Well... 2024 at least. The likes of Starfield: Shattered Space and
News 343 Responds To Rumours About The Studio Outsourcing Halo Development
It ain't happening, chief
There seems to have been some strong rumours going around recently suggesting that Xbox studio 343 Industries was moving towards an 'overseer' role for future Halo games - hinting that they'd no longer be the series' core developer. Well, a number of sources have now come out to shut down those rumours, including a comment...
News Here's A Look At The Updated Xbox Studios Roadmap For 2024 & Beyond
What an unbelievable lineup!
Well, another Xbox Games Showcase is in the books! Many Xbox fans believe that this year's Showcase was one of the best of all time, and we've definitely got an amazing couple of years ahead when it comes to first-party titles. As we've highlighted numerous times here at Pure Xbox in the past, Xbox fan Klobrille...
News Xbox Hires Squanch Games Co-Founder For First-Party Leadership Team
"I look forward to the journey ahead"
Xbox has added some new talent to its first-party roster! Squanch Games (High On Life, Trover Saves The Universe) co-founder Tanya Watson has announced she's joined Microsoft as "part of the Xbox Game Studios leadership team". Here's what Tanya had to say in a message on LinkedIn last week: "I am thrilled...
