Timeline
Wednesday10th Dec 2025
News Netflix Didn't 'Attribute Any Value' To Warner Bros. Games As Part Of WB Takeover Bid
"They're relatively minor compared to the grand scheme of things"
Last week, we heard how Netflix was attempting to purchase Warner Bros. in a stunning $82.7 billion deal, before Paramount ended up fighting back with a deal of their own — we'll see how this all unfolds in the coming months. One of the big questions at the time of the Netflix...
News These Two Games Are Your Final Xbox Game Pass Additions For 2025 (December 10-11)
2026 is upon us!
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today, NetherRealm's Mortal Kombat 1 joins the XGP library - playable for Series X|S, PC and Cloud players across the PC Game Pass, Premium and Ultimate tiers. We also have one more addition for tomorrow at the time of writing; that being Bratz: Rhythm & Style. So, we're going to round...
Tuesday9th Dec 2025
News Xbox & Activision Issue Statement On The Future Of Call Of Duty Following Black Ops 7 Backlash
"A message from the Call of Duty team..."
After what sounds like a disappointing launch for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Xbox's Activision team has put out a frank and surprisingly open message about the future of the franchise moving forward. In an address to series fans, Activision has announced that it will no longer release back-to-back Black Ops...
News Xbox Is Bringing Age Of Empires Mobile To PC Game Pass In Early 2026
The mobile version of the PC game, coming to PCGP. Got it?
The teams behind the Age of Empires and Age of Mythology series' have been sharing their plans for 2026 today, which includes a new PC release for Age of Empires Mobile - a game that's proved a hit on Android and iOS. This version will be available on PC Game Pass at launch, as well as...
News Xbox Winter Demo Fest Now Live, 30+ Games Available To Play For Free
Update: More titles revealed, all live until December 31st
The Xbox Winter Demo Fest for 2025 (otherwise known as the Indie Selects Demo Fest) has now kicked off, allowing you to play over 20 games for free. It's not officially being promoted at the time of writing, but we've done some sleuthing and discovered these 20+ titles that are part of it...
News Here's Your First Look At The Xbox Bowl In EA Sports College Football 26
Ahead of the real thing next week
Last week, we mentioned how ESPN and Microsoft had joined forces to host the first ever "Xbox Bowl" in Texas on December 18th, and now it's actually been added to EA Sports College Football 26 across all platforms including PS5! You can access the Xbox Bowl through Exhibition mode, and it includes some pretty neat...
News Xbox Up For 'Best Game' At The BAFTA Awards 2026, But There's A Long Road Ahead
This is just the Longlist
Awards season continues! BAFTA has revealed its official Longlists for the BAFTA Games Awards 2026 today, which includes one Xbox title in the "Best Game" category - that being Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. These Longlists have been compiled by over 1,700 BAFTA members (made up of "experienced games professionals...
News Xbox & Bethesda Shadow Drop Another Switch 2 Game, And You'll Never Guess What It Is
How many times?!
Those of us who are enjoying Switch 2 right now are pretty intrigued to see which games Xbox brings to the platform in the near future; the team has plenty of recent games to move over, right?! Wrong, current-gen Nintendo players are being treated to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim once again. Yep, Xbox's Bethesda team has today shadow...
Rumour Xbox 'Hopes' To Bring Backwards Compatibility Program To ROG Ally & Windows PC
"There is an effort being made"
It was only yesterday that we were talking about how much value backwards compatibility still brings to the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in 2025, and I've personally really missed being able to play those games on the ROG Xbox Ally. Well, it sounds like Team Xbox "hopes" to bring those classic original Xbox and...
News Ex-Forza Dev Says Horizon 5 Was Impacted By COVID, New Game Is 'In A League Of Its Own'
"I didn’t leave Playground to build another Horizon"
In a new interview with Traxion, former Forza Horizon developer Gavin Raeburn has talked about their new racing game being built over at Lighthouse Games, whilst also touching on 2021's Forza Horizon 5 and how the Xbox title was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. First off, let's look at FH5...
News 'Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced' Gets PEGI Rating Ahead Of The Game Awards 2025
Here comes the remake / remaster!
There's been a lot of talk about an Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake (or remaster) over the past few years, and now it looks like it's about to show up very soon as it's just appeared on the PEGI website with an "18" rat
News More Xbox Players Are Starting To See Success With The Free Red Dead Redemption Upgrade
"Finally got the RDR free upgrade..."
Yesterday, we posted an article about folks still not receiving their free upgrades for Red Dead Redemption on Xbox, and it looks as though Rockstar has seen the outcry and implemented a new fix. Heading over to the Xbox subreddit today, we're seeing lots of folks finally say that RDR's free Xbox Series X|S...
News Resident Evil Legend Leon Kennedy Confirmed For Requiem Thanks To Store Page Reveal
Thanks, PSN
Ever since Resident Evil Requiem was revealed earlier this year, it's been rumoured that series stalwart Leon S. Kennedy would star in some role - despite Grace Ashcroft being the centre of attention in marketing materials so far. Well, thanks to the ever-reliable source that is a PlayStation St
News Take-Two Hires Former Perfect Dark Leads To Spin Up A Brand-New Project
A second take
Following Perfect Dark's cancellation back in July, we heard reports that GTA maker Take-Two had tried to take over the project before talks collapsed, but it sounds as though the mega publisher liked what it saw. The same so
News Two Major AAA Games Have Just Been Added To Xbox Play Anywhere
Love to see older titles getting the treatment!
It's always great to see brand-new releases being included as part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program, but it's even more exciting when older titles suddenly join it as well, especially when they're major AAA favourites. That's exactly what's happened today, with both Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake...
News Xbox Exec Teases 'Exciting' Plans For 2026 When Asked About OG Xbox Titles & Game Pass
"I can't confirm or deny what you're asking"
We've already heard about how Xbox is planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the brand in a big way next year, and Xbox architect Jason Ronald has been discussing this more in a new interview with the BBC in the UK. Ronald's interview was mainly about the ROG Xbox Ally
News Four Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (December 9)
One of the biggest drops of the month!
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today, we have four titles joining the main Game Pass Ultimate library - three across console and PC, and one PC-only addition. Here's all the info you need on today's Xbox Game Pass titles (December 9): A Game About Digging A
Monday8th Dec 2025
Roundup All The Xbox Reveals From The 11 Bit Studios Digital Showcase 2025
Nothing too crazy, but some nice updates all the same!
Today marked the first ever 11 Bit Studios Digital Showcase, which was only a small event highlighting a few titles from the Polish developer / publisher's portfolio including the likes of Frostpunk and The Alters. There were no brand-new game announcements here, but some titles have received...
News Paramount Fights Back Against Netflix With 'Superior All-Cash Offer' For Warner Bros.
It's not over yet!
Last week, it was announced by Netflix that the company was buying Warner Bros. in a deal worth over $82 billion, but now Paramount has launched an all-cash tender offer to acquire all of Warner Bros. Discovery's outstanding shares for $30 per-share (in cash). In a statement released today, Paramount chairman David Ellison...
Talking Point Four Years On, Did Halo Infinite Ever Live Up To Expectations?
With major updates done, what's your final verdict?
Xbox has reminded us that Halo Infinite launched four years ago today (the full campaign version anyway), so we want to check in with the Pure Xbox community on your feelings about this particular series entry almost half a decade later, especially with the game's major updates now wrapping up...
News Xbox Dev Reveals That Sony Asked About Microsoft Flight Sim Going To PS5 Years Ago
The 2024 edition hits PlayStation today
Back in September, we learnt that Microsoft Flight Simulator was jetting off to PS5 this year - and now an interesting interview with an Xbox developer talks about the series' interesting journey to PlayStation platforms. Speaking with XDA, Microsoft's Flight Sim lead dev Jorg Neumann talked about the...
Opinion Backwards Compatibility Still Adds So Much Value To Xbox Series X|S In 2025
10 years after back compat was first announced!
I've just been doing a little storage space cleanup on my Xbox Series S today, removing some bits and pieces I just don't have the time for at the moment and installing one or two older titles that I fancy dipping back into sometime this week. And, once again it struck me that backwards compatibility...
News Four Xbox First-Party Releases Mentioned In GamesRadar's Top 25 Games Of 2025
And guess what was number 1?
As we get closer and closer to the voting for Pure Xbox's Game of the Year 2025 (look out for it this Saturday!), we've got more "Best Of" roundups to highlight from across the internet, with this latest one coming from GamesRadar. Those folks have picked out their top 25 games of the year, with four Xbox first-party...
News Red Dead Redemption Free Upgrade Still Not Working For Some As Players Voice Frustrations
Will Rockstar respond?
If you were around the gaming world last week, you may have seen the drama surrounding Red Dead Redemption - where Rockstar's free Xbox upgrade wasn't working for most people on the launch of its new current-gen release. Well, the team fixed the issue for lots of players pretty quickly, but now a week later, some owne
News OD's Reveal Trailer 'Full Of Hints' As To How The Game Will Play, Says Hideo Kojima
Also says it's going to be a "challenging" game to make
Back in September, Kojima & co. finally showcased a gameplay teaser for OD — their upcoming Xbox title — and despite the trailer being typically cryptic, the legendary game maker says that it was "full of hints" as to how the game will actually play. Speaking with anaweb and translated by
News Xbox Series X|S Had No Black Friday Deals, So They Lost To A Console We've Never Heard Of (US)
Struggled in the UK too
There's been an unfortunate narrative doing the rounds on social media this weekend about Xbox consoles, and it's all to do with some new Black Friday 2025 data that suggests the Series X and Series S sold poorly during BF week. Specifically, Mat Piscatella of the analysis group "Circana" took to Bluesky on Sunday to share...
Guide Xbox Adds More Perks For Game Pass Members (December 2025)
Update: Few more added to the list
The Xbox Game Pass Perks program is continuing to add a bunch of freebies for Game Pass members throughout December 2025, including for the likes of Fortnite, The Crew Motorfest, Delta Force and so many other games. We expect many more to come over the next few weeks, and we'll update this guide when we spot them...
Sunday7th Dec 2025
News The ROG Xbox Ally Has Just Received Its First Major Discount
Available until late December or while stocks last
Just under two months since the ROG Xbox Ally first arrived, it's just received its first major discount! Xbox has officially reduced its price by $100 in the US until December 20th, although only at certain retailers. This brings the price of the standard ROG Xbox Ally down from $599 to $499 USD...
Saturday6th Dec 2025
Poll What Are Your First Impressions Of Routine On Xbox Game Pass?
Enjoying the new sci-fi adventure?
Our latest day one Game Pass release has been out for a few days now in the form of sci-fi horror game Routine, after what was a rather lengthy development period for the Lunar Software title. So, are you enjoying the game on XGP after all this time? We introduced this one as an Xbox Game Pass title back in 2022,...
News Here's What Might Leave Xbox Game Pass In January 2026
Some early predictions
What's leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2026? Well, Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything just yet, but based on some games that were added to the service this time last year, we can at least make a few predictions ahead of time. We know that a lot of Xbox users want more advance notice of games leaving Xbox Game Pass, but...
Feature These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (December 8-12)
Including five Game Pass titles!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for December 8-12! Even though it's getting close to Christmas, there's still a lot to talk about in terms of new releases right now, with the likes of Terminator 2D: No Fate, Thank Goodness You're Here!,
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (December 6-7)
Kicking back with some Marvel Cosmic Invasion?
It's another weekend, folks! We've seen some fairly steady Xbox activity this past week as we approach our first December weekend - with plenty to play over the next few days such as Marvel Cosmic Invasion, Octopath Traveler 0, Routine and more on the platform. Here's what we're playing this weekend:...
Friday5th Dec 2025
News Xbox Studio Rare Is Getting Inundated With Requests For A New Banjo-Kazooie Game
Following the "Mumbomania" project in Dreams for PS5
Alright, so you probably saw the news about this "Banjo-Kazooie: Mumbomania" project that was cross-posted to Pure Xbox by our friends at Push Square yesterday - a game made in Dreams for PS5 that's gone viral this week. The gist is that someone made their own version of Banjo-Kazooie inside of...
News The Bloodlines 2 Team Is Giving Away A ROG Xbox Ally X For Free
How's your luck?
Since the release of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X a couple of months ago, it's been hard to find any kind of discounts or giveaways for the two devices, but we've just come across something via the Bloodlines 2 team on social media. As you can see below, they're giving away a free ROG Xbox Ally X, which is pretty crazy considering...
News Xbox Finishes Off The Week With Two New Game Pass Reveals, Both For Next Month
The earliest two of 2026 so far
We've been kind of waiting for Xbox to give us some release dates for early 2026 when it comes to Xbox Game Pass — until this week, we only had two of them — and now we've finally got our first couple of next month. These two games are MIO: Memories in Orbit, which was revealed at the PC Gaming Show last night,...
News Fallout Creator Rejoins Xbox Studio Obsidian, Hints That He's Not Working On New Vegas 2
"Don’t bother guessing, you’re not going to guess right."
In a new update on their personal YouTube channel, long-time game developer and Fallout creator Tim Cain has announced that they've returned to Obsidian Entertainment; the Xbox studio responsible for Avowed, Fallout New Vegas, The Outer Worlds series and more. Naturally, this rekindling...
News GTA 5's Michael De Santa Returns In Major New 'Safehouse' Update For GTA Online
"This is a nice neighborhood!"
We don't often talk about GTA Online updates these days at Pure Xbox, but this one's extra special! A Safehouse in the Hills in the name of the new update that's coming on December 10th, and it features a very familiar face. Yes, GTA 5's Michael De Santa — one of the main three characters in the single-player...
News Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Third-Person Looks Cool, But A Little Janky
Changing the game
After months of waiting since its initial announcement, third-person mode is now live in Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - and the folks over at IGN have shared some extended gameplay of the new mode which you can take a look at above. Pulling things out to an over-the-shoulder perspective, the new third-person option in Avatar:...
News Metroid Prime 4 Has A Stronger Connection To Xbox And Halo Than You Might Think
"Lots of former 343 devs on this"
Apparently, something is happening over in Nintendo land this week. There's some kind of long-awaited sequel that's been in the works for 18 years? "Metroid"..."Prime"... they call it? That's a new one to us! Seriously though, the new release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond actually has a connection to Xbox, and...
News Netflix Is Buying Warner Bros. For Even More Money Than Xbox's ActiBlizz Deal
Update: WB confirms gaming division is included
In an announcement that's sending shockwaves throughout the entertainment world, streaming giant Netflix has announced its intentions to buy Warner Bros. - for a whopping $72 billion (or $82.7 billion as a "total enterprise value"). Going off Netflix's statement on this, the move doesn't mention...
News Keeper Update Adds New Video Modes & PC Ultrawide Support On Xbox Game Pass
The game's first major update!
Since Keeper released back in October we've not really heard much from its developer Double Fine, but to close out the year, the team is here this week with a brand-new update for the Xbox title. Live now on Xbox, PC and Game Pass, Keeper's December update introduces Noir Mode for that black-and-white look, High...
News Xbox Winter Demo Fest 2025 Begins Next Week, And A Few Have Gone Live Already
Here's a sneak peek
We've got a new Xbox Demo Fest taking place next week! This is the annual winter version of the event, which is officially known as the "Indie Selects Demo Fest" - featuring over 30 games that are free to try from December 9th. We'll obviously have a full roundup of all the demos for you ASAP, but they're being kept under wraps...
News Clockwork Revolution Dev Shares New Message About Its Eagerly Anticipated Xbox RPG
"This is the most complex game I've ever worked on"
Clockwork Revolution has a bit of hype behind it within the Xbox fanbase - heck, even boss Phil Spencer sounds pretty excited about what inXile is cooking up. And, while info on the title remains scarce, the team has delivered a new message about the game as part of the latest PC Gaming Sho
It's all about cloud streaming
Back in the middle of 2023, Microsoft was still in a difficult position in regards to acquiring Activision Blizzard. The UK Competition and Markets Authority had made it clear that changes needed to be made before they'd approve the deal going through, and one of those changes ended up being a surprise agreement with...
Thursday4th Dec 2025
Roundup All The Xbox Reveals From The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025
Over 15 of them!
We're not done with showcases in 2025 yet! The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025 showcase has just concluded this evening, and it included a few Xbox reveals as part of the event. Everything that featured an Xbox logo can be found down below, which includes some brand-new announcements for the likes of Starship Troopers: Ultimate...
Series S is cutback, but "retains enough of its character"
Silent Hill 2 finally came to Xbox last month after a year-long wait, and its release was quickly followed up with some brief Xbox Series X|S comparisons. Now though, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry have delivered their verdict - and despite the
News ESPN To Host The First Ever 'Xbox Bowl' In Texas Later This Month
"We’re proud to welcome Xbox as the title sponsor"
It's been announced today that Xbox has joined forces with ESPN to become the title sponsor of December 18th's college football bowl game between Missouri State and Arkansas State. The entire event is getting some major Xbox branding as a result, with the logo being a big Xbox controller as seen...
News Four Huge New Sales Have Just Gone Live On Xbox, 500+ Games Discounted
Black Friday is over, but the sales continue!
As if Xbox hadn't given us enough deals to take advantage of over the past few weeks via Black Friday 2025, we've now got another four huge new sales that have just begun on the Xbox Store - and most are lasting for two weeks. Specifically, these are the Beyond Black Friday Sale (which is DLC-focused),...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (December 4-7)
New free trials now live on Xbox!
Xbox Free Play Days is here for the next few days! We've got six games playable as part of the program this week - with one of those in Destiny 2 bringing loads of premium expansions to the program as well. Here's your full Free Play Days rundown this week: Astria Ascending Bassmaster Fishing Descenders Destiny 2...
News Left 4 Dead Creator Is Making A New 'Four-Player Co-Op Shooter', But It Might Not Come To Xbox
Developer Bad Robot Games signs deal with Sony
Bad Robot Games has today announced a new "four-player co-operative shooter" being led by Left 4 Dead's original creator Mike Booth - but there's a chance this attempt to rekindle that L4D flame may not see the light of day on Xbox. Although this development studio has been working away for a number of...
