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Reviews of Microsoft Games
Review Age Of Mythology: Retold (Xbox) - Microsoft's Godly RTS Classic Revitalised
Go beyond history
Age of Mythology might not be a major numbered entry, but it's still played a significant role in the Age timeline – transitioning the series from 2D to 3D following the success of Ensemble's real-time strategy king, Age of Empires II. Mythology wasn’t just there to fill the void when it landed on PC in 2002 and is still...
Review Sea Of Thieves - In Truly Ship-Shape Condition Two Years After Launch
It's a pirate's life for me
When Sea of Thieves initially set sail in 2018, it was met with somewhat mixed reviews. Rare's pirate playground is undoubtedly a masterful creation; a vast, dynamic, hyper-stylised sea world dotted with mysterious islands and skeleton forts in which players are set free to create their own grand adventures. However, it...
Review Forza Horizon 4 - The Best Racing Experience On Xbox One
Fuel Britannia
Offshoots aren’t meant to surpass their source material. They’re meant to be unusual curios that take an existing concept in twist it in ways the mainline series never could. When the original Forza Horizon casually rolled up onto the scene in 2012, no one really expected it to attract the fan base that it did, but eight years on...
Review Forza Horizon 2: Storm Island (Xbox One)
Making it rain.
When crafting a DLC package of any significant weight for a game that has gone down really well with gamers and critics alike, developers have to be careful. What they add can’t interfere with the mix that they already had, as they really don’t want to be messing with a successful formula. Playground Games found a way to ensure...
Review D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die (Xbox One)
Look for D
Remember Deadly Premonition? It’s one of the most divisive games ever to be released upon the world. Poor production values, bizarreness to the extreme, and campy…well, everything else, meant it was one of those wonderfully weird games that either clicked with you, or it didn't at all. Now, four years after the release of Deadly...
Review Kinect Sports Rivals (Xbox One)
Do or die.
To say that Kinect Sports Rivals is a high-profile title for Xbox One would be something of an understatement. Being the only game (barring the violently bad Fighter Within, which barely passes as a game) available that’s been designed for the much-maligned Kinect device that’s included with every console, people were looking to...
Latest Microsoft News
TodayTue, 8th Apr 2025
News Nintendo's Doug Bowser Just Channelled One Of The Most Infamous Xbox Quotes Ever
Don, you're famous again!
If you're an Xbox fan of a certain age, you probably remember one of the most infamous moments in the brand's history that occurred back in 2013, when then-Xbox boss Don Mattrick advised people who didn't have access to a constant internet connection to just buy an Xbox 360 - rather than the new Xbox One that had just been...
Saturday5th Apr 2025
Talking Point Early Access Players, Have You Been Enjoying Xbox's South Of Midnight So Far?
Another big Xbox Game Studios release
So, after years of anticipation since We Happy Few first launched almost a decade ago, Compulsion Games is back with South of Midnight; an Xbox Game Studios title now available in early access on Xbox and PC. Yep, following the recent trend of early access DLC bundles, folks can hop into this Southern gothic...
Friday4th Apr 2025
Guide Next Xbox Console: Everything We Know So Far About Microsoft's Next-Gen System
Your all-in-one guide to the console AFTER the Series X
With the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S generation now having spanned multiple years, it's time to look ahead to what the next Xbox console will deliver for us, which is expected to arrive at some point in the not too distant future. In this all-in-one guide, you'll find everything we know so...
Wednesday2nd Apr 2025
News Nintendo Switch 2's Crazy Game Prices Could Be Terrible News For Xbox Fans
Makes Game Pass look incredible though
We all know that Nintendo likes to place a certain value on its first-party games that never drops all that much, but with the Nintendo Switch 2, that's being taken to the next level - just wait until you hear how expensive Mario Kart World is! So, to buy a digital version of Mario Kart World on the Switch 2,...
Roundup Here's What The First Reviews Are Saying About 'A Minecraft Movie'
You might be surprised!
This week marks the arrival of A Minecraft Movie after a long wait, and although many had predicted that it would fare poorly with the critics, quite a few early reviews have actually been very positive for it so far. Here are some of the reviews and impressions we've spotted for A Minecraft Movie: Chris Killian...
Tuesday1st Apr 2025
Rumour Halo's Leap To Other Platforms Might Be More Limited Than Expected
UE5 has been a significant shift
There have been ongoing rumours about the Halo: Master Chief Collection making the jump across to certain other platforms, but now new information suggests it might not necessarily play out like expected. Speaking to 'The Xbox Two' podcast about the upcoming Switch 2 launch, The Verge's senior editor Tom Warren...
Saturday29th Mar 2025
Poll What Score Would You Give Atomfall On Xbox Game Pass So Far?
Enjoying your time with the new RPG?
With Atomfall finally out in the wild for a few days now on Xbox Game Pass, we want to know what you make of the game so far! Yep, Developer Rebellion launched its new IP just a few days ago, and it arrived on Microsoft's Game Pass Ultimate service day one. Here at Pure Xbox, we've been pretty impressed with...
Guide Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In April 2025
The latest confirmed (and rumoured) reveals
Looking for a complete list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in April 2025? It can be pretty difficult to keep track of all the comings and goings in the world of Xbox Game Pass every week, so we've put together this handy guide to provide an overview of what's coming to Xbox Game Pass in April, as well...
Friday28th Mar 2025
News Amazon Adds 'Frequently Returned Item' Warning To Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller
"Check customer reviews to learn more"
Over the years, both iterations of Microsoft's Xbox Elite Controller have had pretty widespread reliability issues - that's not to say that every user will experience this sort of thing, but it's certainly more likely than it is with normal Xbox controllers. As a result, Amazon's new warning system that alerts...
News Microsoft Posts 'Farewell' Message As Xbox Game Pass Mobile App Goes Offline
Adios
Back in September of last year, Microsoft announced that it was going merge its Xbox mobile apps — ditching the dedicated Game Pass version in the process — and after halting new downloads from November, the team has now posted a farewell message as the app goes offline. As shared over on Reddit, user
Random Xbox Memes On Avengers: Doomsday With 'Deadpool Butt Controller'
How do you do fellow kids?
Yesterday was a pretty exciting day for Marvel fans with the cast of the new movie 'Avengers: Doomsday' officially revealed in a lengthy trailer made up exclusively of chairs and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man turned Doctor Doom) at the very end of the line. Xbox has taken this an as opportunity to remind everyone about its...
Thursday27th Mar 2025
News Microsoft Celebrates 50th Anniversary With New Dynamic Background For Xbox Series X|S
Featuring some iconic Xbox characters
Following three fresh additions to the Xbox Series X|S dynamic background collection earlier this month, Microsoft has added another new entry - and it features some pretty iconic Xbox characters for the company's 50th anniversary. Yep, live now on Xbox Series X and S consoles, the 50th anniversary background...
News Microsoft Unveils 'Backbone' Mobile Controller That Looks Like An OG Xbox Gamepad
The classic translucent green look
Microsoft is putting more and more focus on Xbox Cloud Gaming these days, and today's announcement of an OG Xbox-themed 'Backbone' controller fits in with that new strategy rather nicely. Coming in at $109.99, the Xbox-themed Backbone controller is available now in the US via the accessory maker's website - and...
News Xbox Dev Obsidian Announces New Turn-Based Combat Feature For Pillars Of Eternity
10 years after the game launched!
In the run up to launch in mid-February, Xbox developer Obsidian would have been pretty busy getting Avowed ready for prime time - but that hasn't meant this prolific studio has been quiet elsewhere; far from it. To celebrate 10 years of Pillars of Eternity, the team has been working on a big old patch - a patch...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (March 27-30)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox's Free Play Days program has returned for the coming weekend, and Microsoft is being generous this week with five free titles to hop into this time around. We don't have any major games on the list this week, but there's some nice variety here - which could mean the selection is worth a good browse if you're after...
Wednesday26th Mar 2025
News Xbox Game Pass Title Atomfall Looks 'Distractingly Last-Gen', Says Tech Review
DF has its say
With Atomfall out now in Early Access form, we're starting to see footage of the game crop up online - and of course, the team at Digital Foundry has taken a closer look at the game on current-gen consoles and PC. However, despite the team's tech review focusing on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 in terms of consoles, DF actually goes as far...
News Xbox Controllers Drop To Lowest Price Of 2025 At Amazon UK
Good controllers, reasonably priced
If anyone in the UK is after a brand-new Xbox Series X|S controller at the moment, we're seeing some pretty good deals at various retailers right now - including online at Amazon UK and Argos. These prices, which are the lowest we've seen all year, first cropped up at Argos thanks to a 10% discount code, before...
Talking Point Will Any Next-Gen Xbox Have A Disc Drive?
Or will Microsoft go all-digital across the board?
So, the rumours about Microsoft's slate of next-gen systems seem to have slowed down a little bit lately, after we heard about three potential devices being in the works over at Xbox earlier this month. Skipping over that 2025 partner handheld for the moment and looking ahead to the two
News Microsoft Unveils Custom Xbox Series X Console Themed Around Atomfall
You'll have to enter to win one
With Atomfall finally set to arrive on Xbox Game Pass tomorrow, the marketing push from developer Rebellion is in full swing - and now Microsoft is joining in on the act with a custom Xbox Series X console themed around the post-apocalyptic RPG. As shared on social media this week, fans can enter to win a custom Xbox...
News Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass Core (March 26)
The cheapest tier of Xbox Game Pass
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today's refresh focuses purely on the Xbox Game Pass Core library, which grows by three new titles as Microsoft builds out the service. All three of today's new Game Pass Core titles are very well regarded - particularly Batman: Arkham Knight which is still revered by...
News Minecraft's Latest Update Includes 'Highly Requested' Feature
"Pause when alone"
Minecraft, as you might have already seen, just rolled out its new 'Spring to Life' update and while it's filled with all sorts of new and exciting content such as new blocks, animal variants, and much more, there's also one particular feature that has long-time players rather excited. It's the ability to pause - yes, the team at...
Tuesday25th Mar 2025
Talking Point Almost 6 Months On, Are You Still Playing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024?
Or did the turbulent launch put you off?
Earlier today, we caught wind of Asobo Studio's new 'World Update' trailer (up above) for Brazil and some surrounding areas - adding an array of fresh locations to both Microsoft Flight Simulator and MSFS 2024 this month. The update looks a beautiful one, and will no doubt provide players with some nice new...
News Three Xbox Games Are In The Top 10 Pre-Orders On PS5 Right Now
Further justifying the third-party strategy
There's been so much debate over the past year about whether Xbox is right to put its first-party games on other platforms, but as we've seen with the likes of Sea Of Thieves and Grounded, it can definitely pay off with the right titles. Looking at the "Pre-Orders" section on the PS5 store today, Xbox has...
News Xbox's Early Access DLC Returns For South Of Midnight, But It's A Lot Cheaper This Time Around
Play up to 5 days early
We're exactly two weeks out from Microsoft's South of Midnight hitting Xbox Game Pass on April 8th, but folks who are keen to play this one ASAP can grab the game early - at a pretty decent price compared to recent releases. Yep, just like Xbox's biggest games of the last few years, South of Midnight has an early access DLC...
News Microsoft's New 'Buy One, Get One Free' Sale Features Plenty Of Xbox DLC
Available for the next week or so
This week, Xbox is hosting yet another 'buy one, get one free' sale on the Microsoft Store - and this particular promotion focuses on a bunch of Xbox DLC packs for multiple titles. In here, we have a pretty eclectic mix of add-ons, from big expansion passes for major AAA games, to small chunks of DLC for some more...
News Xbox Will Bring 'A Lot More' Exclusives To PS5 And Switch 2 In 2025
The latest report reiterates Xbox's new strategy
We've already been told to expect more first-party Xbox games on other platforms going forward, but if you somehow missed the message, here's an update. Off the back of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being locked in for an April 15th release on the
Monday24th Mar 2025
News Xbox Celebrates 20 Years Of Forza Motorsport With Huge FM4-Flavoured Update
A "legendary" Forza Motorsport 4 track returns
In May, Microsoft's Forza series will turn 20 years old, and Team Xbox has some big anniversary plans for 2023's Forza Motorsport as a result. Turn 10 Studios has announced that as part of the game's 20th anniversary update, Forza Motorsport 4's "legendary" Fujimi Kaido track will make its grand return...
News Another Major Xbox Game Pass Release For April 2025 Has Gone Gold
Next month is shaping up nicely
Last week, we heard that Microsoft's very own South of Midnight had gone gold and is locked and loaded for its upcoming Xbox Game Pass launch - and now the service has seen another major title go gold ahead of its April release. <related ids="179743"> That's right, the much-anticipated turn-based RPG Clair
Saturday22nd Mar 2025
News Xbox Joins New Gaming Accessibility Initiative As Founding Member
"Our goal is to empower as many people as possible"
Microsoft (and Team Xbox) will be joining the new "Accessible Games Initiative" as a founding member alongside Electronic Arts, Google, Nintendo of America and Ubisoft. This new "cross-industry effort" led by the Entertainment Software Association in the US aims to provide clear information about...
Thursday20th Mar 2025
News Atomfall 'Pre-Launch' Footage Showcases Upcoming Xbox Game Pass RPG
One week to go!
In recent weeks we've been hearing plenty about Rebellion's upcoming Game Pass title Atomfall - and now the game's "pre-launch" trailer is here ahead of its release for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This brief look at the title showcases the game's Lake District-based setting, punchy combat and unique take on a post-apocalyptic RPG...
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 Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (March 20-23)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Free Play Days is back for the coming weekend, and we have four games featured in the program this time out - including SEGA's Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance; which only launched on Xbox last summer! Here's your full Xbox Free Play Days lineup this week: Bassmaster Fishing Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance
News Using Your Xbox Controller To Type On Windows Just Got Easier
A small but handy update
Microsoft continues to develop its Xbox experience on PC and other devices, and the company this week has rolled out a new "gamepad" keyboard for Windows 11. Basically, what this means is it should now be easier to type and navigate the keyboard layout when using your Xbox controller on Windows 11. As highlighted by The...
Wednesday19th Mar 2025
Talking Point Xbox Is Two Months Away From Making Its Mark On Another Legendary FPS
A new age is coming
We've now passed the midway point of March, which means we're just a few months out from Microsoft bookending the first half of the year with another huge Xbox release. We had Avowed in February, we've got South of Midnight next month, and then Xbox is taking on the daddy of first-person shooters in May - with DOOM: The Dark...
News Xbox Series X|S Sales Now Trailing Almost 20% Behind Xbox One In The US
4.5 years into the generation
Xbox Series X and S consoles have been out in the wild for more than four years at this point, and new data suggests that the pair of consoles are lagging well behind Xbox One's performance at this time last generation. Now, we must add that this data is coming from Circana — who solely focuses on US sales — but...
News Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's Latest Addition Is Going Down Pretty Well So Far
"It is so good"
This week, Microsoft brought yet another day one release to Xbox Game Pass in the form of 33 Immortals - and despite the game's early access nature right now, it seems to be going down pretty well with players so far. Over on the Microsoft Store, the game has a 3.5 star rating in Xbox Game Preview at the moment, with around 50% of...
Guide When Will Microsoft Reveal The Xbox Spring Sale 2025?
It should be coming very soon!
With some spring-like weather finally hitting UK shores this week, and the likes of Valve offering up a big Spring Sale on Steam already, you may be wondering when Xbox will go live with its spring-time sale. The truth is that right now, we don't know the exact date for the Xbox Spring Sale 2025, but it's safe to say...
News Xbox Series X And S Offer Vastly Different Experiences With Assassin's Creed Shadows
"The Series S version presents the least stable"
With press now going hands-on with Assassin's Creed Shadows, the folks over at Digital Foundry have had time to pick apart Ubisoft's latest open-world title - and it sounds like an ambitious but mixed experience on Xbox Series
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass Standard (March 19)
Two fresh titles hittin' the library
Welcome to another Xbox Game Pass roundup! Today's additions are only brand-new for Xbox Game Pass Standard players - although both of these games are also in the main Game Pass Ultimate library and have been for a while. Anyway, here's what's new for XGP Standard players today, March 19:
Tuesday18th Mar 2025
News Microsoft Is 'Focused On Helping' Indie Devs Make Use Of Xbox Play Anywhere
A stronger focus on XPA
Ever since fans threw together this big old Xbox Play Anywhere 'master list', Microsoft seems to have paid more attention to its multi-device purchasing program - and the team has again acknowledged the service in a new post about its ID@Xbox successes. In a fresh
Guide Xbox Game Pass Core: Full List Of Games (March 2025 Update)
Here's everything you can play on Game Pass Core
Back in September 2023, Microsoft finally phased out Xbox Live Gold, replacing it with Xbox Game Pass Core as a new entry-level tier to its subscription service. Unlike Games with Gold, which has now been scrapped, Xbox Game Pass Core grants subscribers access to a select list of games separate to...
News Two First-Party Games Now Confirmed For Xbox Series X|S In April 2025
A stacked schedule
For a few months now, Team Xbox has had Compulsion's South of Midnight lined up as its major first-party release for April 2025 - but Microsoft has now added a second game into the mix. After launching in Steam Early Access last year,
News Three Titles Are Joining Xbox Game Pass Core This Month
The cheapest Game Pass tier gets more titles
As part of today's Xbox Game Pass update, Microsoft has announced that three more titles are joining the Game Pass Core library later this month; the team's replacement for Xbox Live Gold. There are some nice additions here, including the pictured-above Batman: Arkham Knight - which still looks gorgeous...
News These Six Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (March 18-27)
Late March's XGP additions
Microsoft has today announced its next batch of Xbox Game Pass titles, all of which are heading to the library over the next few weeks. We've got six games arriving in total, including the likes of 33 Immortals and Atomfall. Here's the full list of Xbox Game Pass additions for March 18-27:...
News 10 Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Late March 2025
Some big games departing the service
Xbox has revealed the next batch of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in March 2025 today, and there are some big ones in the mix - including popular titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and a whole lot more. We don't know the cloud status of these just yet, but the console and PC removals have...
Monday17th Mar 2025
Pick One If Xbox Acquired One Ubisoft IP, Which Should It Be?
A hypothetical hmm
In recent weeks, we've started to hear more and more about Ubisoft's plans to sell off its biggest assets - including official statements from the company alongside reports about multiple publishers being interested in the team's IP. One of those publishers is Xbox, apparently, and we want to pose a simple question: if Microsoft...
Saturday15th Mar 2025
News New Xbox Insider Update Aims To Help 'Free Up' Storage Space
"We have exciting news"
If you're an Xbox Insider, there's an exciting new feature in the latest update preview that promises to help with storage management. Xbox has introduced a "new and improved way" to free up some "much-needed storage space" if you happen to be running low. It also adds recommendations on how to save space, which could...
Friday14th Mar 2025
Talking Point What Other Bethesda Remakes Would You Like Xbox To Greenlight?
What else deserves a glow-up from Team Green?
Well well well, we just can't seem to go a week without another rumour about that darn Oblivion remake - with the latest reports suggesting that this Elder Scrolls re-do could be out in a matter of weeks. While we'll be happy to see a nice little modernisation of the Bethesda classic, there's also plenty...
News Xbox Announces Two Huge Titles For Its 'Stream Your Own Game' Service
One out now, one launching very soon
At the end of last month, we brought news of five fresh additions to Xbox's 'Stream Your Own Game' library alongside 10 more titles that were planned for the near future - and since then, Microsoft has announced another two major additions to the service. Today, Xbox has revealed that the upcoming
News Ubisoft IP Could Cost Buyers More Than The Company Itself, Says Report
A pricey endeavour
Earlier this week, we heard that Microsoft has seemingly held talks with Ubisoft about buying some of the French company's gaming IP - and a fresh report tells us that purchasing these franchises would likely cost a pretty penny for the Xbox owner, if they were to go ahead and pick anything up. By way of a new report from outlet...
