Tag Archives: xbox

Is Microsoft moving away from exclusive games and embracing multiplatform development? Phil Spencer responds to the latest rumours...

While Microsoft accidentally went live early with a Final Fantasy 14 beta announcement in January, it has taken several weeks to get new details. With Final Fantasy 14 launching on Xbox consoles for the first time, Square Enix will be holding an open beta for the Xbox Series X/S version …

There has been a lot of drama around Xbox in recent days, as news broke that Microsoft is considering ditching game exclusives and moving towards multiplatform development. Microsoft hasn't addressed those rumours yet, but while we await an official response, the next batch of Game Pass titles have been announced. …

Microsoft going multiplatform could finally end the 'console war' for good and PC gamers stand the most to gain...

Palworld has taken the gaming world by storm since its debut earlier this month. It has become the largest third-party Game Pass launch in just ten days, reaching over 7 million players across Xbox consoles, PC and the cloud. The Steam version of Palworld is a few updates ahead of …

In recent weeks we have heard a great deal about Microsoft and their alleged plans to adopt a more multi-platform approach with their games. This was followed up by an update to Xbox exclusive Hi-Fi RUSH which seemed to suggest that the game would be coming to PlayStation. Now, thanks …

Last year, Embracer Group officially shut down Volition, a long-running studio best known for the Saints Row games. Now, a group of former Volition developers have banded together to start up a new studio, known as Shapeshifter Games.  Shapeshifter Games is founded by former Volition veterans. The new studio won't …

Several months on from acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft kicked off 2024 with the announcement that it would be laying off nearly 2000 employees. Unsurprisingly, this has been followed up by a glowing earnings report from Microsoft executives.  With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft's gaming business is now one of …

Starfield has had somewhat of a controversial existence. Following a multi-year long hype and marketing period, the game launched to solid reviews – albeit with much a greater disparity in opinions. Fortunately, the team at Bethesda have been continuously updating the game – with the last patch perhaps being its …

Just as 2022 saw Sony revamp its PlayStation Plus game subscription service, Microsoft’s 2023 included a refresh of its own Game Pass platform, eschewing the rarely-used and antiquated Xbox Live Gold with Game Pass Core, while keeping its regular Game Pass service as is – aside from a slight price hike. As I did last year, we will be looking at the past 12 months of Xbox Game Pass to determine whether the service is worth its ever-increasing asking price...

Square Enix made a surprise appearance at Xbox's recent Developer Direct showcase, announcing plans to bring Visions of Mana to Xbox consoles this year, alongside other platforms. Shortly after, a pre-order page for the game on the Xbox Store was listed with a Game Pass tag, leading to rumours that …

Over the past few generations we have seen Microsoft move away from physical media, instead opting to push for an all-digital future. It seems Xbox’s lack of a physical presence has had an impact on sales, with just 10% of all physical media being spent on Xbox. As reported by …

In recent weeks we have heard a great deal about Microsoft and their alleged plans to adopt a more multi-platform approach with their games. It seems as though one of the first titles to get a PlayStation port is last year’s breakout hit Hi-Fi RUSH – with the latest update …

Turtle Beach has recently unveiled the first product in its new line of gaming simulation peripherals. Named VelocityOne Race, this universal wheel and pedal system has been designed by Turtle Beach's simulation group and is engineered to deliver a more realistic racing experience on Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. The …

With the Xbox Developer Direct soon to be upon us, a number of leaks have sprung up, prematurely revealing Microsoft’s plans for the upcoming showcase. Though the console manufacturer has announced that the Direct will focus on 4 specific titles, a mysterious 5th game will reportedly be announced and shown …

Microsoft has recently announced the latest batch of Game Pass games, which are set to be released in the second half of January and early February. This wave of new games includes some exciting titles such as Persona 3 Reload, F1 23, and Palworld. The new additions start with the …

After years of waiting, Microsoft and Square Enix finally announced that the highly popular MMO Final Fantasy XIV would be coming to Xbox consoles next month via an open beta. Ahead of the game’s launch, Microsoft has detailed exactly how the beta will work. In what appears to have been …

Twice a month Microsoft updates its Game Pass library with a number of new and exciting titles. For the second half of January, the console manufacturer has now detailed the full list of titles dropping onto the service over the next two weeks, including the much-anticipated Persona 3 Reload and …

Sea of Thieves has quietly become one of Microsoft’s best Xbox console exclusives. Launching all the way back in 2018, the game saw a lukewarm response upon its initial release. 5 years and 10 Seasons later however, the game is better than ever. Following rumours that Microsoft is planning to …

Hellblade II was the first game shown off by Microsoft for the Xbox Series X|S all the way back in December 2019. In the many years since we have seen a whole host of trailers – though no release date. Ahead of the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has seemingly had its release date leaked...

Announced back in 2021, Contraband is an Xbox console exclusive currently in development by Avalanche Studios and set to be published by Microsoft themselves. While we know very little about the game officially, one insider has now offered our best look yet at the upcoming co-op heist game. As reported …

This time last year, we reported that a Gears of War Collection was in the works, with little else known about the project at the time. Though there has yet to be any official word on its existence, the collection is reportedly nearing completion, with internal testing currently underway. As …

Back in October last year we reported on a leak which claimed that following the relative failings of Halo: Infinite, the team at 343 Industries dropped future use of their bespoke Slipspace Engine – instead opting to use Unreal Engine 5 for the next title. Though yet to be officially …

Last week, we reported on a leak which claimed that Microsoft was prepping to host an Xbox Developer Direct some time soon – just as they did in January of 2023. Now, the showcase has been officially announced by Microsoft, taking place in just a week’s time. Making the announcement …

Most major video games have internal mock reviews conducted during their development, giving the studio and publisher an idea of what the general public will think of a game ahead of its release. According to one insider, internal mock reviews for Xbox’s upcoming Hellblade 2: Senua’s Saga have put the …

Sea of Thieves has proven to be one of Xbox’s most successful console exclusives. Launching all the way back in 2018, the game has gone from strength to strength, selling millions of copies on Steam alone and promising a decade’s worth of support from the team at Rare. With more …

For years now, both Microsoft and Square Enix have been promising that the highly successful MMO Final Fantasy XIV would be coming to Xbox consoles at some point in the future. Last year, they finally revealed that the game is planned to launch some time in 2024. After a great …

During the 2023 Game Awards, industry legend Hideo Kojima appeared on stage alongside horror filmmaker Jordan Peele to offer further details on their Xbox console exclusive ‘OD’. While we still know very little about the game/experience, Kojima has claimed that OD will be one of his most experimental games ever. …

Last year, Microsoft surprised many when they hosted their Xbox Developer Direct, announcing and showing off a bunch of games – and even shadow dropping the surprisingly excellent Hi-Fi Rush. Though the console manufacturer has yet to announce a 2024 edition of the direct, a showcase is reportedly happening quite …

The launch of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 introduced the concepts of achievements and trophies respectively. While PlayStation’s trophies have managed to hook in quite a few platinum hunters, Xbox’s achievement system has fallen out of relevance in recent years. With that in mind, Microsoft is reportedly prepping to …