News No Joke, There's Now A Way To Play Super Mario 64 On Xbox
And it's totally free and easy to do
News Microsoft Rewards Is Giving You A Chance To Win Xbox Game Pass Ultimate For Life
Including an engraved lifetime membership card
Random James McAvoy Got So Addicted To Oblivion On Xbox 360, He Destroyed The Disc
"I was like, 'Right, we’re done, we’re over, never again!'"
News Myst Is Finally Making Its Way To Xbox, Available Day One With Game Pass
Get involved with the myst-ery
News - August, 2021
Tuesday31st Aug 2021
News Bethesda And Xbox Shut Down Speculation About 'Starfield Coming To PS5' (Again)
Nothing has changed
We've heard on a number of occasions now how Bethesda's space RPG Starfield will be a "PC and Xbox" exclusive, but it hasn't stopped some fans out there from attempting to twist comments made by the Bethesda executive, Pete Hines. Hines recently responded to a fan on Twitter speculating about the possibility of the upcoming game...
News Yes, The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Reportedly A 'Planned' Xbox Exclusive
Just like Starfield
Last night saw an array of social media drama, as the topic of Starfield being an Xbox exclusive surfaced once again. Following on from that, one industry insider reiterated the game will not be coming to other consoles and neither will The Elder Scrolls 6. According to journalist Jeff Grubb, not only will Starfield be an Xbox...
News Halo Fans Want The Xbox Series X Limited Edition Controller To Be Sold Separately
"It only comes bundled with the console"
During Gamescom last week, we got treated to the reveal of a beautiful Halo Infinite limited edition Xbox Series X console. It's stunning and even comes packed with a special 20th anniversary Halo controller. Following the announcement, Halo fans have desperately wanted to see the controller sold separately,...
News The First Two Of September 2021's Xbox Games With Gold Are Now Available
Rise up to face the Chaos hordes
You can now begin downloading the first batch of September 2021's Xbox Games With Gold titles (one day early!), which are the Xbox One game Warhammer: Chaosbane and Xbox 360 game Zone of the Enders HD Collection. Both titles are available right now from the Microsoft Store (links at the bottom of the page) or by...
Video EA Shares A 'Very Early Look' At The Next-Gen Dead Space
It looks promising
It may not have a release window yet, but EA has released an exclusive first look at the Dead Space remake. While it's not exactly a full gameplay reveal, it is an indication of what players can expect. Running in the Frostbite engine, a few glimpses of the game can be seen during the developer live stream. However, the team was...
Video Here's An Hour Of Far Cry 6 Gameplay Running On Xbox Series X
Are you ready to visit Yara?
Ahead of its release this October, Ubisoft has released some stunning Far Cry 6 gameplay, running on Xbox Series X. The footage itself is looking fairly similar to past Far Cry entries and doesn't seem to be reinventing the wheel too much. It appears to be taking a few inspirations from Far Cry New Dawn, most notably...
PSA Red Dead Online Is Leaving Xbox Game Pass Soon
So long, partner
Update: We've now got a date! Red Dead Online will leave Xbox Game Pass on September 13. Original story: Another game bites the dust on Xbox Game Pass, as Red Dead Online has now been confirmed to be leaving the service soon. The game is listed within the leaving soon section on the Xbo
Deals 250+ Games Included In This Week's Xbox Sales (August 31 - September 7)
Including an Activision Publisher Sale
It's time for another set of weekly Xbox deals! The selection is pretty big again this week, including the usual Deals with Gold and Spotlight sales, along with an ID Survival Sale, a Devil May Cry Franchise Sale and an Activision Publisher Sale. We've highlighted just a few of the most notable Xbox games...
Deals All Classic Xbox Games In This Week's Sales (August 31 - September 7)
Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles
This week's selection of Xbox Deals is now live, and alongside the usual Deals with Gold and Spotlight offerings, we've also got an ID Survival Sale, a Devil May Cry Franchise Sale and an Activision Publisher Sale. Below, we've included every single Xbox 360 and original Xbox game available over the next week, but...
News Windows 11 Arrives This October, 'The Best Windows Ever For Gaming'
"Windows 11 was built for gaming"
Following Windows 11's official announcement back in June, Microsoft has confirmed today that the operating system will be available on October 5, being described as "the best Windows ever for gaming". The company seems to be really leaning into this aspect of the marketing as well, highlighting the likes of...
Mini Review The Big Con - A Charming Xbox Console Exclusive
90s road trip, anyone?
There's something about the atmosphere of the 90s that just resonates with so many people - even those who weren't even alive during the time period. From the classic dial-up tone when you connected to the internet to taking home your favourite movie from Blockbuster, it's a timeless period that many feel nostalgic towards...
News After Seven Long Years, Metal Gear Solid V's Xbox 360 Servers Are Being Shut Down
DLC will also be no longer available to purchase
Konami has confirmed that the online services for Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain on Xbox 360 are beginning to shut down starting today. As spotted by VGC, Konami has confirmed plans to shut down the Metal Gear Online portion of the game. The 'Termination of Purchase System' starts today, and...
News These Four Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass Today (August 31)
Last chance to shoot some hoops
In case you'd forgotten, today marks the removal of four more games from the Xbox Game Pass library, with arguably the two most notable games in the bunch being the Xbox One edition of NBA 2K21, and horror title Blair Witch. Here are the four games confirmed to leave before the end of the day on Xbox Game Pass:...
News Gotham Knights & Suicide Squad Are Getting An Update This October
Both bringing new reveals
It's been a long time since we heard about Gotham Knights and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. The former was originally intended to launch this year but has since slipped into 2022. After radio silence all year, with no appearance at E3 or Gamescom, both titles will finally be remerging at DC Fandome on
Monday30th Aug 2021
News Microsoft Rewards Is Giving You A Chance To Win Xbox Game Pass Ultimate For Life
Including an engraved lifetime membership card
Microsoft Rewards is the gift that keeps on giving, and if you're willing to risk throwing some of your hard-earned points away, you can be in with a chance of winning an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription... for life! By going to the 'Redeem' section on the Microsoft Rewards Xbox app (or website),...
News Hurricane Ida Is Looking Suitably Scary In Microsoft Flight Simulator
The result of its real-time weather feature
Hurricane Ida unfortunately began its strike on the state of Louisiana over the weekend, leaving the likes of New Orleans without power, and Microsoft Flight Simulator has become a destination to observe its path from the skies. If you didn't know, Microsoft Flight Sim features the ability to turn on...
Feature These Games Are Coming To Xbox This Week (August 31 - September 3)
Get ready to team up for trauma!
It's time for another weekly Xbox new releases roundup, and this week is absolutely packed with new releases including the likes of WRC 10, Surgeon Simulator 2 (included with Game Pass), Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions, Rustler (aka 'Grand Theft Horse'), The Big Con, KeyWe, Lake, RICO London, Golf Club: Wasteland...
News Xbox Becomes Official Partner Of The England Football Teams
A multi-year partnership
The Football Association has announced today that it has entered into a partnership that will see Xbox become the official gaming partner of the England football teams. It's a multi-year deal, but we're not sure exactly how many years. The partnership is said to be "a celebration of the driving principle of inclusivity in...
News Double Fine 'Doesn't Currently Have The Budget' To Add More Languages To Psychonauts 2
"We may get that chance, and we really really hope we do"
Double Fine and Xbox Game Studios' Psychonauts 2 has got off to an incredible start with critics and fans alike on Xbox Game Pass, but sadly not everyone has been enjoying it globally due to a lack of support for certain languages. Since release, there have been calls for the likes of...
News Riders Republic's Open Beta Appears To Have Been A Big Success
It's received plenty of praise
Riders Republic, an "open world sports paradise" from Ubisoft set to arrive on Xbox this October, held its first (and presumably only) beta on Xbox last week, and it seems like the majority of players really enjoyed their time with it. The beta was initially 'invite-only' before opening up to everyone last Wednesday,...
Sunday29th Aug 2021
News Replaced Devs Say Phil Spencer's Reaction To The Game Was 'Out Of This World'
"It was mind-blowing"
When Replaced was first shown at the Xbox E3 Showcase this year, the reaction to the game was extremely positive. Its stylish combat, art design and soundtrack pushed the game very high up on many people's radars, Xbox boss Phil Spencer being one of them. His response was something that the team has described as "mind-blowing".
Talking Point How Are You Feeling About Halo Infinite After Recent News?
Good? Bad? In the middle?
This week has arguably been the biggest in terms of Halo Infinite news since last year's initial gameplay reveal. Following on from the announcement that it would be launching without co-op campaign support and Forge mode, we then got bombarded with a release date, reasoning behind
Random Xbox Advises Not To Name Your Child "Game Pass"
Seriously, don't do it
Xbox Game Pass is fantastic value for a subscription service, but that doesn't mean you should name your child after it. During a Gamescom 2021 live stream earlier this week, Xbox games marketing manager, Aaron Greenberg, jokingly advised fans not to call their child "Game Pass". "I also ask that no one name their baby Game...
News Assetto Corsa Competizione Is Getting A Free Xbox Series X|S Upgrade
With 4k visuals and "smooth" 60FPS gameplay
Fans of Assetto Corsa Competizione, the official GT World Challenge videogame, will be glad to hear that it's getting a free next-gen upgrade for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, although it won't arrive until February 24, 2022. The upgrade will allow for 4K visuals at a "smooth" 60FPS, along with a free...
Saturday28th Aug 2021
News Xbox 360 Gamerpics Are Getting 'Fixed' For Xbox One, Series X|S
Thanks to one particular Xbox engineer
If you're still rocking a classic Xbox 360 gamerpic you might have noticed it's got increasingly smaller whenever a new generation arrives. There's normally a grey background on it as well. Fortunately, Xbox will soon be updating how these pictures look after Twitter user @noukon earlier this week noted how...
Soapbox Help, I'm On A Nostalgic Trip Through The Multiverse Of Spider-Man Xbox Games
Web-slinging through history
This week has been a nostalgic week for Spider-Man fans. The release of the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer - which re-introduced some classic villains via the multiverse - instantly became the most-watched trailer within a 24 hour period, beating the likes of Avengers: Endgame. It's an incredible achievement, and unless...
Pick One Which Of These Is Your Favourite Saints Row Game?
Remember, you can only pick one!
It's time for another round of Pick One! This week, to celebrate the announcement of a Saints Row reboot heading to Xbox in February 2022, we thought we'd take a look back at the history of the beloved series on Xbox. Every single Saints Row game has been on Xbox, ever since the first one all the way back in 2006...
News Moonglow Bay Devs: Joining Up With Xbox Game Pass Has Been 'So Chill'
"I'd be happy working with them again"
Earlier this year, some negative reports regarding PlayStation's handling of indie games surfaced which raised a few eyebrows. It's a sad affair if that's how certain titles are handled, but luckily, the general consensus seems to be that working with Xbox is an entirely different experience. The developers at...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 28-29)
It's all about Psychonauts 2 for us
Welcome to the weekend! It's been an extremely busy week in the world of Xbox, and there's plenty to check out over the next couple of days including Psychonauts 2 and Myst on Xbox Game Pass, three more Free Play Days titles and a massive Gamescom 2021 sale
Friday27th Aug 2021
News Saints Row Team: We Aren't Backing Down, But We Understand The 'Knee Jerk' Reaction
"It’s a shock, we get it"
Update: As promised, a new Saints Row trailer has been shared today with extra gameplay footage. Original story: Ever since the announcement of the Saints Row reboot earlier this week, the opinion from the community has been very divided. Some love it, some hate
News UFL Is A Brand-New Console Football Game With Massive Ambitions
And it's taking on FIFA and eFootball
We were treated to a very short and intriguing look at something called UFL during Gamescom Opening Night Live earlier this week, which is a console football game aiming to take on FIFA and eFootball in the future. UFL has been in development for five years already, and will be a free-to-play game centring...
News Bethesda Shares Videos Of Three Dazzling Locations In Starfield
Which location calls to you the most?
We may be over a year away from the release of Starfield on Xbox Game Pass, but that hasn't stopped Bethesda from sharing multiple new videos, highlighting three various locations from the upcoming space RPG. The very brief, but stunning looks, give an insight into the concept art behind three distinct locales:...
Video Saints Row Drops A More Extensive Trailer Following Fan Backlash
Feeling better about it now?
As promised, a new taste of Saints Row has been delivered from developer Volition and publisher Deep Silver, following an increasing amount of fan backlash after its initial reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live earlier this week. The original CGI trailer for the game was met with a huge amoun
News Xbox Adds Halo Infinite Dynamic Background For Series X|S Owners
Get ready for Master Chief's new game
Arguably the biggest announcement of Gamescom this year was 343 Industries and Microsoft locking in a launch date for the highly anticipated Halo Infinite. In case you missed it, it's arriving on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X and PC on 8th December. In the lead-up to the game's launch, Microsoft has...
News Insurgency: Sandstorm Brings Its Tactical Co-Op FPS To Xbox This September
Fight towards victory in intense co-op and PvP battles
The popular PC team-based, tactical FPS shooter Insurgency: Sandstorm has finally been given a release date for consoles, with the Xbox version landing on September 29, available to pre-order now. Insurgency: Sandstorm will allow you to "engage in realistic modern firefights in the definitive...
News Strangely, Halo Infinite Won't Give You XP For Just Playing Matches
This ain't it, Chief
One of the most addictive loops for multiplayer games is the promise of constant rewards for in-game kills and winning matches - it's what keeps people coming back for more. But what if that dangling carrot was taken away and instead replaced with in-game challenges that needed to be completed to progress? That's exactly what...
News Xbox Mini Fridges Still 'On Track' For 2021 Release, Says Exec
Just tell us where to send our money
What's the most anticipated release of the year? Halo Infinite? Forza Horizon 5? No, it's those Xbox Series X mini fridges, and GM of Xbox Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg has confirmed they're still coming in 2021. Greenberg highlighted the fridges in response to a comment on Twitter yesterday, noting that...
News The Atari VCS Might Be Getting Support For Xbox Game Pass
"Atari will work on building out the content it offers"
The Atari VCS, a "completely modern gaming and video computer system, blending the best of consoles and PCs", is seemingly planning to add support for Xbox Game Pass titles as part of Xbox Cloud Gaming "in the coming months". This is according to the company's recent annual results filing,...
Reaction Gamescom Has Proved Not Everything Needs A Digital Showcase
Maybe it's time for a change?
There have been so many digital events this year that we've lost count. It feels like only yesterday we were covering E3, but that was June! Flash forward a few weeks and here we are at Gamescom with some new showcases to capture our attention. The main two have been Xbox's Gamescom stream, and of course, Gamescom...
Interview Moonglow Bay - Wholesome Beginnings And The Freedom Of Xbox Game Pass
"Players are going to be surprised by the game's depth"
Moonglow Bay has been growing a wave of anticipation since its announcement earlier in 2021, and the Xbox Game Pass title finally has a release date of October 7! As a result, we sat down with developer Bunnyhug about the upcoming fishing RPG. Talking about its wholesome roots and the joys of...
Roundup Elden Ring Previews Suggest It Will Be Worth The Wait
January can't come soon enough
Elden Ring is one of the most anticipated games in a long time. The levels of hype are astronomical and the fanbase is foaming at the mouth to learn more about the next title by FromSoftware. Luckily, a ton of previews have surfaced today dropping a boatload of new information. From being able to fast travel from...
News Catdog And April O'Neil Join The Ring For Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl
A match made in heaven
Following a similar tradition to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in dramatically revealing new fighters, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl closed out last night's Future Games Show with the unveiling of two new playable characters - Catdog and April O'Neil. After a 90 minute showcase in which the live chat was screaming for the fighter...
Thursday26th Aug 2021
News Myst Is Available Today With Game Pass, 'Reimagined' For Xbox
It's been rebuilt from the ground up
It's been a busy couple of days in the world of Xbox, including the brand's Gamescom 2021 Showcase and attendance at Gamescom Opening Night Live, but don't forget that we've got another major Game Pass title dropping today! After 28 long years, the classic PC adventure game
News Razer, Seagate Announce Halo Infinite Headset & USB Game Drives
To celebrate Halo's 20th anniversary
If yesterday's news of a Halo Infinite special edition Xbox Series X console and Elite Controller wasn't exciting enough, then maybe these new accessories will whet your appetite. Razer has unveiled a Halo Infinite Edition Razer Kaira Pro headset, whereas Seagate has announced a special edition
News Here Are Your Xbox Games With Gold For September 2021
Another four games are on the way
Microsoft has officially announced all four Xbox Games With Gold titles for September 2021! These games are available to download for free for Xbox Live Gold members (including subscribers to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate). Here's the complete list of titles you can look forward to in September: Xbox Series X / Xbox...
News Replaced Devs On Xbox Game Pass: Developers Should Grab This Opportunity And Never Look Back
"We weren't thinking for more than five seconds about it"
Xbox Game Pass is perfect for consumers. As members of the service, we'll gladly take numerous games entering the service day one, additional perks, and embrace the money we've saved over the years. It's also extremely beneficial from a developer's standpoint too - at least according to the...
News 343 Industries Explains The Lack Of Halo Infinite Campaign Footage
"We will absolutely show campaign gameplay..."
The lack of Halo Infinite campaign gameplay this year has been frustrating for many fans. After last year's showing, which left a sour taste in the community's mouths, 343 Industries really needs to win back a lot of players for its campaign. Don't worry, the developer isn't tone-deaf and there's...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (August 26-29)
"Enter mankind’s greatest conflict"
It's time for another batch of Free Play Days titles! Three more games are available to play for free this weekend for Xbox Live Gold members, and they're ready to download right now. So, what's on offer? We've got The Elder Scrolls Online, which has been included with Free Play Days since last week, EA's most...
News Park Beyond Is A Wacky Theme Park Management Game Coming To Xbox Series X And Series S
Will you be taking a ride?
Move over Planet Coaster, there's some competition on the horizon, as Bandai Namco is bringing Park Beyond to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S sometime in 2022. Developed by Limbic Entertainment, the team behind Tropico 6, the hook for this theme park management sim is to go larger-than-life. While Planet Coaster is very...
News Don't Worry, Scorn Is Still Scheduled To Hit Xbox Game Pass This Year
Fingers crossed!
Scorn has been relatively quiet so far in 2021. Last year it was treated to gameplay footage and other news, but in 2021 it seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. However, a recent Xbox Game Pass for PC montage shown at Gamescom Opening Night Live revealed it's still scheduled to arrive this year. In a blink and you'll...
Interview Replaced - How Disney's Hercules And Batman Inspired This Upcoming Xbox Game Pass Title
"I think the journey has only just started for us"
Replaced made waves when it was first shown back at Xbox's E3 Showcase earlier this year, and has now made another mighty impression with a new trailer at Gamescom Opening Night Live. It's had such an impact, even the head of Xbox Phil Spencer took to social media to rave about the game earlier this...
Poll Are You Happy With September 2021's Xbox Games With Gold?
What do you make of the selection?
Microsoft has officially announced September 2021's Xbox Games with Gold, giving us a look at four more games we'll be able to play at no extra charge with our Gold memberships next month. In case you missed it, the games are Xbox One titles Warhammer: Chaosbane and Mulaka, along with Xbox 360 (backwards...
News Saints Row 2022 Will Be A 'Complete Reboot' With A 'Brand-New Tone'
"It was a pretty easy decision to go back to our roots"
The reveal of Saints Row at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 yesterday wasn't exactly a surprise, but it was great to finally see it in action - albeit briefly. While we'll most likely hear more news over the coming months before its February 25, 2022 release date, some more details about the...
News The Halo Infinite Xbox Series X Is Already Going For $1,000+ On eBay
No surprises there, then
In a move which all of us pretty much predicted, the Limited Edition Halo Infinite Xbox Series X (announced yesterday at Gamescom Opening Night Live) is selling out incredibly fast when it goes live, with fans desperate to get one. And, in another very unsurprising turn of events, they're already being sold at a significant...
News Xbox Exclusive CrossfireX Gets A New Multiplayer Trailer
Prepare for battle
As part of this year's Gamescom, the upcoming team-based FPS CrossfireX got a new trailer. In case you've missed our previous coverage, it's a collaborative venture between Remedy Entertainment and Smilegate Entertainment. The new video shows off the game's multiplayer modes. As impressive as it looks, admittedly it's got a lot...
News Black Desert Dev Shows Off Its New 'Creature-Collecting' Game
Introducing DokeV
Pearl Abyss - the South Korean developer behind the MMO Black Desert - shared its premiere gameplay trailer of DokeV at Gamescom's Opening Night Live. It's been described as a "creature-collecting" game featuring plenty of "open world action-adventure" and seems to have a little bit of everything else, too. Though, one thing it's...
News Portal And Halo Inspired Shooter Splitgate Launches Season Zero
New map, battle pass, game modes and more...
Following on from the news last week that the free-to-play team-based shooter Splitgate had reached 10 million downloads in less than a month, 1047 Games has now officially launched Season 0. There is a reimagined version of the original map Karman Station, a new battle pass with 100 levels of brand new...
Video Watch The Future Games Show At Gamescom Here
Featuring world premieres and new gameplay
Update: The Future Games Show is now over, but you can watch the full replay above! Original story: Welcome to the Future Games Show at Gamescom 2021! Today's stream will profile over 40 games from a variety of publishers including Frontier Developments, Team17, Koch Media and Tripwire Interactive. The...
Wednesday25th Aug 2021
News It's Happening, Halo Infinite Is Getting A Limited Edition Xbox Series X
Available to pre-order starting today
We were wondering when the first limited edition Xbox Series X would arrive, and now we've got it in the form of a Halo Infinite edition set to release on November 15! Halo is also getting a special Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, too. The Halo Infinite Xbox Series X is available to pre-order from today for...
News The Halo Infinite Xbox Elite Controller Arrives This November, Pre-Order Now
With a custom design inspired by the Master Chief’s iconic armor
In addition to the Limited Edition Halo Infinite Xbox Series X announced earlier today, it's also been revealed that Halo Infinite is getting a limited Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, arriving this November for $199.99 USD. The controller can be pre-ordere
Guide Psychonauts 2: How To Solve Hollis’ Hot Streak Pharmacy Mental Connection Puzzle
Another brain teaser
Having solved the Hollis Classroom Mental Connection puzzle earlier on in Psychonauts 2, you may think you're equipped to handle whatever the game has to throw at you in regards to these conundrums. We thought the same until we entered Hollis' mind again for an even tricker round. This time, you're tasked to connect multiple...
Thursday26th Aug 2021
Random Xbox Tweets The Perfect Response To Halo Infinite Leak
Seeing the funny side of it
Xbox and 343 Industries had some major news to share regarding Halo Infinite's release date of December 8 today at Gamescom Opening Night Live, but unfortunately it leaked much earlier in the day. Nevertheless, the Xbox social media team saw the funny side of it, taking to Twitter after the official announcement to issue...
Wednesday25th Aug 2021
News The Next Saints Row Is Officially Heading To Xbox In February 2022
The saints are back
After some not so subtle teases, a reboot of the Saints Row franchise has been announced, arriving for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on February 25, 2022. The reboot will be set in a new fictional city riddled with violence and crime. You'll be engaging in classic shooting, driving and other ludicrous open-world...
News Halo Infinite Has An Official Release Date, Launches This December
Join the fight
After the Microsoft Store accidentally leaked the release date earlier today, we now have official confirmation that Halo Infinite is arriving for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC on December 8. Of course, the multiplayer will be free-to-play, as previously confirmed, and the campaign will be available to purchase...
Guide Psychonauts 2: How To Find The Astronaut Ice Cream For The Scavenger Hunt
Possibly the trickiest Scavenger Hunt item to find
Throughout Psychonauts 2 you'll gain a couple of additional side missions. The first one you get will be the Scavenger Hunt side quest, and while most of the items are pretty easy to find, some are a bit trickier - the Astronaut Ice Cream is one of the most notable. This one is a bit more hidden...
Video Watch Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021 Here
Reveals, updates and "other surprises"
Update: The show is now over, but we've provided a roundup of all the major reveals here at Pure Xbox! Original story: Welcome! We've only just cooled down from Xbox's Gamescom 2021 Showcase yesterday, and now we're already diving straight ahead into Gamescom Opening Night Live, which promises reveals,...
News Microsoft Rewards Is Giving Away Hundreds Of Points With Psychonauts, Forza & Madden
And they're all accessible via Xbox Game Pass
We all know how generous Microsoft Rewards can be, but this really is taking things to the next level, as three separate punch cards are now live on Xbox for Psychonauts 2, Forza Horizon 5 and Madden NFL 22. All of them are offering 250 points for completing just one achievement, and the best bit is...
News PlayStation Exec Congratulates Xbox On The Launch Of Psychonauts 2
Head of PS Studios praises the "great reception"
Double Fine's Psychonauts 2 has been a long time coming, but it's finally arrived on Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming today, and a PS4 version is also available (playable on PS5 through backwards compatibility). To commemorate the launch, PlayStation Studios boss Hermen Hulst has...
Roundup Here's What Was Revealed At Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021
Missed the event? Here's a recap
Weren't able to catch Gamescom Opening Night Live earlier today? No worries! You can always go back and watch the on-demand version for yourself (it's a two-hour event), which you'll find elsewhere on Pure Xbox. If you don't fancy watching it all the way through, we've also detailed all the important reveals in this...
News The Microsoft Store Appears To Have Leaked Halo Infinite's Release Date
Coming this December?
The lack of Halo Infinite news at Xbox's Gamescom 2021 Showcase was a bit strange, but it's been suggested we may hear more during Gamescom Opening Night Live. The evidence seems to be stacking in that favour, as one of the Microsoft Store pages has reportedly updated the game's listing with a December 8 release date. The...
Guide Psychonauts 2: How To Get A Brain For Nick
Nick a brain
A fair few hours into Psychonauts 2, after your first major mission, the game will open up with quite a few quest objectives. One is to help a character known as Nick, who is looking for a brain. While the game points you in the right direction, once there it can be a little confusing as to what you need to do, so we've broken it down...
Video Here's The First Next-Gen Gameplay Of Call Of Duty: Vanguard
Feast your eyes
As promised for Gamescom Opening Night Live, a first-look at raw next-gen footage of Call of Duty: Vanguard has been shared. In terms of the gameplay, it's the usual Call of Duty fluff. Explosions, sneaking around and a couple of stunning set-pieces for good measure. It looks absolutely gorgeous, clearly taking advantage of next-gen...
News Phil Spencer: Xbox Cloud Gaming On Console Has Changed How I Discover New Games
To no surprise, the Xbox boss is a huge fan
While the majority of Xbox's Gamescom 2021 Showcase was relatively low key, one standout was the confirmation that Cloud Gaming would be coming to consoles this holiday season. It will allow Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S players to to stream games from the cloud without being forced to download...
News Marvel's Midnight Suns Brings Its Superhero Tactical RPG To Xbox In March 2022
Avengers assemble!
After numerous rumours throughout the year, 2K Games has finally announced Marvel's Midnight Suns, a tactical RPG coming from Firaxis, the team behind the X-Com series. It's heading to Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in March 2022. No gameplay was shown, but it's said to be similar to the traditional X-Com gameplay. A...
News XEL is A 'Gorgeous Sci-Fi Zelda-Like' Heading To Xbox Series X And Series S In 2022
Another Zelda clone for the collection
There's been a huge surge of Zelda inspired titles recently. Death's Door, Baldo: The Guardian Owls and now XEL, a vibrant adventure coming to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in 2022. XEL is being developed by Tiny Roar and promises a huge overworld littered with dungeons, ac
News State Of Decay 2 Is Adding A Remaster Of The First Game's Map
Return to Trumbull Valley September 1st
Undead Labs has announced the 'Homecoming Update' for its zombie survival game State of Decay 2. On 1st September, the map from the original State of Decay game will be added to the second game's Juggernaut Edition as a fully remastered and open-world playable area. "In this new version of the iconic map,...
News Psychonauts 2 Is Now Available With Xbox Game Pass
And it includes touch controls with xCloud
The day has come! Double Fine's much-anticipated Psychonauts 2 is now finally available on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming, so you can start playing right now! If you haven't been keeping up with it, the game is a sequel to 2005's Psychonauts and serves...
Poll How Would You Grade Gamescom Opening Night Live 2021?
Give us your verdict
The dust is now beginning to settle on today's Gamescom Opening Night Live! If you haven't had a chance to watch it yet, you can catch the full thing over at our live blog page, and we've also provided a full recap of all the announcements that occurred as part of the show. So, all things considered, what grade would you give...
News Surprise, Little Nightmares 2's Xbox Series X And Series S Upgrade Is Now Available
A free upgrade for all owners
We knew it was coming but didn't know when, but as of today, Little Nightmares 2: Enhanced Edition is now available as a free upgrade for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, accessible to owners of the Xbox One version. The upgrade is aiming to dial up the spooks with an increased resolution on shadows, increased...
News Stray Blade Brings More 'Metroidvania' And 'Souls-Like' Action To Xbox In 2022
Get ready to battle glorious legendary foes
During this year's Xbox's Gamescom showcase, 505 Games and Point Black Games announced the action RPG Stray Blade for Xbox Series X|S. It's coming to these systems in 2022 and is described as having both "Metroidvania" elements and "Souls-like" combat. The player is tasked with fighting for their freedom,...
News Riders Republic's Xbox Open Beta Is Now Available Until August 28
Get riding!
Ubisoft invited certain players into a closed Riders Republic beta over the weekend, but now the invitation has been extended to everyone until August 28. It's playable for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S owners, and can be downloaded via the
News LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Gets A New Gameplay Trailer, Coming Spring 2022
The force will be with you, always
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga has just dropped its first trailer in an entire year with the confirmation of a Spring 2022 release window. Yes, they're really making us wait for this one, folks! The trailer didn't reveal too much we didn't already know, but the gameplay did confirm intergalactic travel between...
News Jurassic World Evolution 2 Finds A Way On Xbox This November
Pre-orders are now live
Today's Gamescom Opening Night Live event gave us another look at Jurassic World Evolution 2, set to arrive for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on November 9, with pre-orders available now. The game is said to build upon 2018's Jurassic World Evolution with a new narrative campaign featuring iconic characters,...
Guide How To Watch Today's Xbox Gamescom Opening Night Live Event
Including reveals, updates and "other surprises"
The Gamescom festivities kicked off yesterday with Xbox's 90-minute showcase, and now we're ramping things up even further today (Wednesday, August 25) with the two-hour Gamescom Opening Night Live event. So far, we know that a Saints Row reboot will be making an appearance duri
Guide Psychonauts 2: How To Solve The Hollis Classroom Mental Connection Puzzle
Learn the ways of mental connection
The first of the new abilities you'll unlock in Psychonauts 2 is Mental Connection, a grappling hook that can be used to hook onto thoughts. You unlock the ability after entering Hollis Foresythe's brain for the first time, and while it initially may be straightforward to use, the finale of the level introduces a...
Guide Psychonauts 2: How To Unlock Photo Mode
Snap!
With every game these days, photo mode is one of the features many players have come to expect. Luckily, Psychonauts 2 has a photo mode, and while you may be inclined to try it out straight away, it's not as simple as that. It's a few hours into the game before you can unlock photo mode, and can actually be missed entirely if you're not...
News Sea Of Thieves Embarks On A Borderlands Crossover Promotion
Get a ship set straight from the vaults of Pandora
Rare has had tremendous success with its Sea of Thieves Pirates of the Caribbean Tall Tales expansion - experiencing a record-breaking month with over 4.8 million pirates sailing the seas in June. Following the announcement of the Disney crossover, Rare said
Tuesday24th Aug 2021
Random ‘There's A Fly In My Xbox’, Says Concerned Series X Owner
"What am I meant to do?!"
Sometimes somebody tells a story that's so bizarre, you just have to share it. In the case of this poor soul, their console was seemingly attacked by some flies who flew into their Xbox Series X with disastrous results. As shared by Reddit user The Blue Wizard, the vents on the top of their Xbox Series X have proven to do...
News Humble Games Is Bringing These Nine Indies To Xbox Game Pass At Launch
A ton of exciting titles
If you thought Xbox Game Pass couldn't get bigger, Humble Games has announced these nine indie titles will be launching onto the service. Not only that, but they will be available on day one! Archvale: Embark on a journey to find the ruins of a long-believed mythic arch in this colorful hybrid between classic RPGs and...
Roundup Here's What Was Revealed At Xbox's Gamescom 2021 Showcase
Missed the event? Here's a recap
Weren't able to catch Xbox's Gamescom 2021 show earlier today? No worries! You can always go back and watch the on-demand version for yourself (it's a 90-minute event), which you'll find elsewhere on Pure Xbox. If you don't fancy watching it all the way through, we've also detailed all the important reveals in this...
News Xbox One Insiders Continue To Report 'Black Screen Of Death' Issues
"Factory reset here I come..."
An issue has been plaguing Xbox One users for a while now, christened the 'Black Screen of Death'. It seems to only affect members of the Xbox Insider program, and essentially renders the console useless. In just the past few days, Microsoft has issued a variety of updates to Insiders suggesting this issue has been...
News I Am Fish Is Swimming Onto Xbox Game Pass At Launch This September
A charming, physics-based adventure
Curve Digital has announced today that the "charming, physics-based adventure" known as I Am Fish will be launching for Xbox on September 16, and better yet, it'll also be included with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC. The game will see you "swim, roll, glide, chomp, flip flop, inflate, fly and bite your way...
Deals All Classic Xbox Games In This Week's Sales (August 24-31)
Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles
This week's selection of Xbox Deals is now live, and alongside the usual Deals with Gold and Spotlight offerings, we've also got an ID Super Saver Sale and a huge Gamescom sale... but the latter is limited to Europe only. Below, we've included every single Xbox 360 and original Xbox game available over the next...
Deals 450+ Xbox Games On Offer This Week, Including A Huge Gamescom Sale
But only Europe gets the Gamescom sale
It's time for another set of weekly Xbox deals! This selection is absolutely huge if you're in Europe this week thanks to a special Gamescom sale, while everyone also gets Deals with Gold, Spotlight and ID Super Saver offers as well. We've highlighted just a few of the most notable Xbox games offers in this...
News Crusader Kings 3 Is Jumping To Xbox Series X|S With Game Pass
The critically-acclaimed PC strategy title
Update (Tue 24th Aug, 2021 21:45 BST): It's now been made official as part of Xbox's Gamescom 2021 Showcase that Crusader Kings 3 is heading to Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, possibly as a next-gen exclusive. This version is said to "take advantage of the many strengths of the system", including...
News Xbox Cloud Gaming Is Officially Coming To Consoles This Holiday
Discover new games with the click of a button
We'd known for a while now that Xbox Cloud Gaming was coming to console at some point, following its previously successful launch for mobile and PC, and now we have an official release window of holiday 2021. It will be made available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users, and it will be as simple as...
News Psychonauts 2 Loads Ridiculously Fast On Xbox Series X & Series S
Twice as fast as the PlayStation 5
It's no secret that Psychonauts 2 has been tailored for the Xbox Series X and Series S. Since Microsoft's acquisition of Double Fine, resources were used to create a next-gen specific version for Xbox, and the results have paid off. A new analysis from YouTuber ElAnalistaDeBit has looked into the loading times for...
Poll How Would You Grade Xbox's Gamescom 2021 Showcase?
Give us your verdict
The dust is now beginning to settle on today's Xbox Gamescom 2021 Showcase! If you haven't had a chance to watch it yet, you can catch the full thing over at our live blog page, and we've also provided a full recap of all the announcements that occurred as part of the show. So, all things considered, what grade would you give...
Video Watch Today's Xbox Gamescom 2021 Showcase Here
Updates on the biggest games coming soon to Xbox
Update: The event is now over, but we've rounded up all the major reveals here at Pure Xbox! Original story: Welcome! It's time for the Xbox Gamescom 2021 showcase, which will "share the latest updates and gameplay for some of the biggest games coming soon to Xbox." It's already been confirmed that...
News Here Are The Release Times For Psychonauts 2 On Xbox Game Pass
No need to be psychic for these times
After those incredible reviews of Psychonauts 2 yesterday, you'll no doubt be eager to jump in as soon as the game goes live on Xbox Game Pass. Fortunately, won't have to wait too long, as it's expected to arrive relatively early. As revealed by the
News Microsoft Flight Simulator Is Getting A Major Online Racing Expansion
Competitive multiplayer is on the way this year
Asobo Studio has announced that Microsoft Flight Simulator is adding competitive multiplayer with a new expansion later in 2021 in the form of Reno Air Races, "allowing you to race against your friends and pilots around the world". Available this fall, the "major" first expansion for Flight Sim will...
News Into The Pit Brings Fast-Paced Roguelite Action To Xbox Game Pass This October
Time to die again
If you're hardcore and you've already beaten Hades multiple times, then get ready for another tough challenge, as Into the Pit is bringing more roguelite action to Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC via Xbox Game Pass on October 19. Utilising a first-person perspective, developer Nullpointer Games is allowing you to use...
Video Prepare To Have Your Mind Blown By The First Eight Minutes Of Forza Horizon 5
In all its 4K glory
There's no denying Forza Horizon 5 is an absolute stunner. It looked gorgeous even during the 1080p Xbox Gamescom 2021 stream, and now the 4K footage has dropped, delivering the full jaw-dropping experience in all its glory. Playground Games has released footage of the first eight minutes of the game, and anyone who has played...
News Forza Horizon 5 Is Getting A Limited Edition Xbox Controller
And you can pre-order it now
It was revealed as part of today's Xbox Gamescom 2021 Showcase that Forza Horizon 5 is being treated to an official limited edition Xbox Wireless Controller, and it's available to pre-order now with a release date of November 9. The controller includes all the same features as the standard Xbox Series X and Xbox Series...
News Don't Worry, It Looks Like Halo Infinite Will Be At Gamescom Opening Night Live
Let's hope so!
Let's address the elephant in the room - Halo Infinite wasn't part of today's Xbox Gamescom 2021 Showcase, and many had anticipated we might have been treated to new footage and/or a release date at the event. Don't be too disappointed, as while we're admittedly basing this on teases and speculation, it does sound like Halo might...
Random Halo Infinite's 'Craig The Brute' Meme Shows Up At WWE Raw
"Climb the ladder kid, make yourself famous!"
Although the first look at Halo Infinite wasn't necessarily well received last year, an unlikely hero - or should we say meme - was born. We're talking about 'Craig the Brute'. Since then, the community has embraced this character in all sorts of ways, and 343 Industries is even planning on gi
Video Here's A New Look At The Gunk, Coming To Xbox Game Pass This December
It's alive!
It's felt like an eternity since we last saw The Gunk in action, but fear not, a new short but sweet gameplay trailer aired during Xbox's Gamescom 2021 stream. Not only does it prove it's very much real, but it's also coming this December to Xbox Game Pass. While the trailer omitted a release date, an
News Embr Is Heating Up Some Multiplayer Mayhem On Xbox This September
Fight fire with fire
Embr, a multiplayer-focused game in which players take the roles of firefighters, is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S on September 23. The game has been in early access on PC for a while now but is finally making its way to consoles. Be warned though, don't go in expecting a serious depiction of life as a...
Video Dying Light 2 Gameplay Trailer Delves Into Parkour, Zombies And Choices
A little bit of everything
Kicking off Xbox's Gamescom 2021 stream, Dying Light 2 came barging in with a brand-new gameplay trailer, filled with action and consequences. The trailer, which is being dubbed 'Decide the Fate of the City', gave us a look at a little bit of everything. The gorgeous 4K footage showcases improvements in the series'...
Monday23rd Aug 2021
Feature These Games Are Coming To Xbox This Week (August 24-27)
Prepare for the ultimate hunt
It's time for another weekly Xbox new releases roundup, and this week is dominated by two major releases in the form of Double Fine's Psychonauts 2 (also on Game Pass!) along with the survival shooter Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Also, the classic 1993 PC title Myst is coming to Xbox for the first time, and again, it's...
Review Psychonauts 2 - Bigger, Better And Crazier, Another GOTY Contender
Absolutely mental
Replaying the first Psychonauts this year felt as though we'd slipped back into our younger selves, sat in front of the TV on a Saturday morning watching cartoons. It has such a wonderful atmosphere, with characters we love, a world that's a delight to explore, and a beautiful insight into mental health that's portrayed with ease...
Review Aliens: Fireteam Elite - A Survival Shooter That's All About The Action
A mostly great squad-based Xeno shooter. Mostly.
Diving into Cold Iron Studios' Aliens: Fireteam Elite for the very first time - especially if your last videogame experience of this universe was Alien: Isolation - it's probably best to adjust your expectations ever so slightly. This isn't some slow-burn horror effort, tension-filled corridor crawler...
News Assassin's Creed Odyssey Is Officially Getting A 60FPS Boost For Xbox Series X, Series S
"Missing Ancient Greece?"
Ubisoft has issued the very exciting news for Assassin's Creed fans today that 2018's Assassin's Creed Odyssey is getting a free boost from 30fps to 60fps for Xbox Series X|S as soon as tomorrow, August 24. It's worth noting that this has nothing to do with Microsoft's FPS Boost feature, and is instead an official patch,...
News Xbox's Gamescom Stream Will Be 90 Minutes Long, No New Reveals Or Major Surprises
Settle in
Xbox is set to host a Gamescom stream tomorrow evening (August 24) at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET. While the advertising for the show is hyping it up, Xbox exec Aaron Greenberg has come forward to temper expectations. According to an Xbox Wire post, the show will be 90 minutes long, but Greenberg added on Twitter that fans should...
Guide Everything You Need To Know About Psychonauts 2 On Xbox Game Pass
Game details, release times, pre-load info & more
Psychonauts 2 is launching this week, and if you haven't checked out our review already, you should know that it's an absolute masterpiece! Of course, with stellar reviews across the board, no doubt many Xbox owners who haven't checked out the series before will be wondering what this is all
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Aliens: Fireteam Elite
A facehugger or a chestburster?
Having only being announced a few months back, Aliens: Fireteam Elite is here to offer some manic co-operative action. Ahead of its launch on August 24, reviews for the game have dropped today. Here at Pure Xbox, we gave the game a 7/10, praising how it replicates the the feel of the films and solid co-op gameplay...
News 2K's Relationship With WWE Has Reportedly Become 'Seriously Strained'
"It just hasn’t been a fun place to be"
It's been a busy couple of days for the wrestling world and WWE's 2K series in general, with a brand-new trailer and release date of March 2022 cropping up for WWE 2K22 over the weekend, which is later than usual for the series. We've been hearing good things about how the game is shaping up, but even so, a...
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Psychonauts 2
Worth losing your mind over?
After what feels like an eternity, Double Fine's Psychonauts 2 is finally releasing for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S with Xbox Game Pass on Wednesday, August 25. It's been a long wait! Fortunately, it's also been worth the wait, as it's been getting superb reviews across the board, including here at Pure...
Guide Xbox At Gamescom 2021: Everything You Need To Know
The date, time and details for this year's Xbox stream
Gamescom 2021 has crept up on us, with the festivities getting started tomorrow, August 24 with a special Xbox stream that will "share the latest updates and gameplay for some of the biggest games coming soon to Xbox." Here's a bit of what you can look forward to during the event: "You’ll...
News Bad News, Call Of Duty: Vanguard's August Alpha Won't Be On Xbox
And the beta arrives a week later than PlayStation
Following the reveal of Call of Duty: Vanguard last week, Activision has revealed that the first public Alpha test for the game begins this weekend, but unfortunately it's only going to be available to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners. "From August 27 at 10 AM PT to August 29 at 10 AM PT,...
PSA Xbox's Gamescom Event Will Be Streamed In 1080p This Tuesday
A 4K upload will be available after the show
Xbox is coming in hot tomorrow (August 24) with its very own Gamescom stream. While the show won't be packing any big reveals or new announcements, it will be a 90 minute showcase dedicated to upcoming games for the rest of 2021. Much like Xbox's E3 Showcase, the event will be streamed at 1080p/60fps...
Sunday22nd Aug 2021
Guide Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon & Leaving Soon In August 2021
The latest Game Pass reveals and updates
Looking for a complete list of Xbox Game Pass games coming soon in August 2021? 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 this August, as...
News Xbox Canada Has Created This Amazing Lumberjack Controller
"Made for life in Canada"
We've seen some pretty inventive custom Xbox controller designs over the years, and this one is definitely worth adding to the list! It's been created by the official Xbox Canada team, and is being given away in a competition. To be in with a chance of winning it, you just need to RT the following tweet and follow the team...
News The Outer Worlds 2 Seems To Already Be In A Playable State
Development might not be as fresh as we thought
One of the highlights of the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase in June was the reveal of The Outer Worlds 2. According to Obsidian's hilarious trailer, at that point in time, the development team hadn't finished the game's design, story or "finished any gameplay" that was actually ready to show... the...
News 343 Industries Talked About, But Decided Against Delaying Halo Infinite Past 2021
"To have a beginning you need to pick a moment..."
We were presented with the disappointing news earlier this week that Halo Infinite won't include either campaign co-op or Forge at launch later this year, with both features set to arrive as seasonal post-launch updates. The reason is that "they're just not ready", and so the intent is now to add...
Talking Point What September 2021 Xbox Games With Gold Do You Want?
What's on your wishlist?
It's almost that time once again, with more Xbox Games with Gold titles set to be announced very soon! The month of August has seen Darksiders 3, Yooka-Laylee, Lost Planet 3 and Garou: Mark of the Wolves all given away for free for Xbox Live Gold subscribers, and another four games will soon be on the way. If you haven't...
News WWE 2K22 Gets A New Trailer And Late Release Date Of March 2022
Featuring a redesigned engine and "stunning" visuals
We've been treated to another look at WWE 2K22 as part of SummerSlam this weekend, along with the news that the game will officially be releasing later than usual for a WWE title, set to arrive for Xbox in March of 2022. Typically, WWE games have released around the end of the year, but 2K22...
Saturday21st Aug 2021
Random James McAvoy Got So Addicted To Oblivion On Xbox 360, He Destroyed The Disc
"I was like, 'Right, we’re done, we’re over, never again!'"
Hollywood star James McAvoy is one of the cast members in this week's release of Twelve Minutes, and an interview about it with Forbes, he revealed that he actually got way too addicted to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion back in the day. McAvoy explained that he "love fantasy...
News Hades Soars Over Flight Sim As Metacritic's Highest-Rated Xbox Game Of 2021
It's also the highest-rated Series X|S game of all time
This year is proving to be an incredible year for Xbox owners. Just last month Microsoft Flight Simulator launched on Xbox Series X|S and instantly became the highest-rated game of the year for Xbox on Metacritic. However, that time in the top spot didn't last long, as Hades has quickly...
Video YouTuber MVG Reveals His Role In Developing The Quake Remaster
"It's just a dream come true"
After a number of rumours, id Software and Bethesda this week announced (and released) a Quake remaster on all platforms including the Xbox Series X and S. As you might have already heard - Nightdive Studios assisted in bringing the game to these modern systems. Nightdive game developer and YouTuber, MVG, has also...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 21-22)
We're hooked on Splitgate!
Welcome to the weekend! We've got lots to check out on Xbox Game Pass over the next two days, including the likes of Twelve Minutes. Recompile and the Quake remaster. Three more
Pick One Which Of These Quake Games Is Your Favourite?
Only one can win
It's that time again! This week has seen some pretty surprising announcements, the most exciting arguably being a remaster of the original Quake for Xbox, along with the release of the original Quake trilogy on Game Pass for PC. With that being said, we decided to take the opportunity to see which game from the series is the...
Video Death's Door Prototype Footage Shows Just How Far The Final Release Came
Discover the game's origins
Death's Door has captured the hearts of players around the world everywhere - we even gave the game a prestigious 10/10 score here at Pure Xbox! It's always interesting to see how experiences such as this began, and the above footage of Death's Door's prototype gameplay is a fascinating watch. Shared by the team at Acid...
Friday20th Aug 2021
News No Joke, There's Now A Way To Play Super Mario 64 On Xbox
And it's totally free and easy to do
We've come across a very neat trick! The classic Nintendo game Super Mario 64 is actually playable on your Xbox right now, and it doesn't require any kind of emulation tools or special apps. Back in April, our sister site Nintendo Life highlighted how Super Mario 64 was now playable via a browser (it's called...
News Kojima: Twelve Minutes Is So Good, It Makes Me Want To Create A New Adventure Game
He might already be making one for Xbox...
The interactive thriller Twelve Minutes finally arrived on Xbox Game Pass yesterday, and lots of Xbox and PC players have been enjoying it over the past 24 hours-or-so, including none other than industry legend Hideo Kojima. Taking to Twitter, Kojima stated he "lost track of time and just played it for...
News Halo Infinite Won't Include Co-Op Or Forge At Launch This Fall
"They're just not ready"
343 Industries has provided an update on the development for Halo Infinite today, admitting that both co-op support for the campaign and the Forge level editor will not be included with the game at launch this fall as they're "just not ready". The news was revealed by Joseph Staten, Halo Infinite creative head, who advised...
News Xbox's Latest Console Update Fixes An Issue With Broken Game Trials
It's a 1.1GB download
You might have noticed that Xbox has a new update available to download today, but Microsoft has yet to provide any specific patch notes for it. However, we do at least know that it targets an issue with broken game trials. This stems from an issue players were having with the 10-hour EA Play trial of Madden NFL 22, where even...
News Quake Is Getting A Limited Run Physical Edition, But Not For Xbox
At least not yet, anyway
Microsoft and Bethesda surprised us all with the announcement of an elaborate Quake remaster yesterday, launching straight into Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and the cloud, which went down an absolute treat with Xbox fans. However, there is a big downside if you're a fan of physical editions, as while Quake will be getting...
News Big Rumble Boxing Is Giving Us 'Ready 2 Rumble' Vibes, Out This September
Featuring characters from the Creed and Rocky movies
We all know that Xbox has been starved of boxing games over the past decade (although we're keeping a close eye on eSports Boxing Club), but we're finally getting one on September 3 in the form of Big Rumble Boxing. The video above gives us a look at gameplay, and to us it seems fairly...
Deals The Original Psychonauts Is Ridiculously Cheap Right Now On Xbox
Deal of the century
Psychonauts 2 is launching next week, but why not spend this weekend diving into Double Fine's original masterpiece? Up until the sequel's release, you can grab the game for a ridiculously low price of just £0.91 / $0.99 on Xbox! The deal is live right now and can be purchased via your console or the Microsoft Store. Even after...
News Here We Go, A Saints Row Reboot Is Being Teased For Gamescom
Everybody stay calm!
Just when you thought 2021 couldn't possibly deliver any more breathtaking announcements, the long rumoured Saints Row reboot looks to finally be surfacing at Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25. The tease comes from the show's presenter Geoff Keighley, who has shared an image of a graffiti sprayed wall, with the words...
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Madden NFL 22
Is it in for a touchdown, or has EA fumbled it?
Today marks the release of the standard version of Madden NFL 22 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and the reviews have also only just begun to trickle out, so this is our first chance to see what the critics think. Is it worth a purchase, or you should you wait until it hits EA Play next...
News Unsurprisingly, Halo Infinite Looks Set To Include A Photo Mode
Get snapping, Spartan!
Photo modes have blown up in recent years. As games continuously look prettier than ever before, it's no surprise more and more developers are adding the feature into their games. Now, with Halo Infinite on the horizon, it looks as though it's also set to feature a photo mode, at least according to a recent data mine. The...
News Don't Forget, The Diablo 2: Resurrected Open Beta Begins Today
Running until Sunday
There's just so much happening in the gaming world right now, isn't there? There used to be a time when new releases were fairly quiet in the summer, but now we've got massive indie hits on the way, multiple game betas and events such as Gamescom on the horizon. In all that noise it can be easy to miss out on one or two details,...
News Phil Spencer Talks About Quake’s Legacy Within The Games Industry
"You can remember before Quake and after Quake"
The Quake remaster's surprise announcement and drop into Xbox Game Pass yesterday was a very welcome one. It's a game with a huge cultural impact and one that Xbox boss Phil Spencer recognises. As part of Quakecon 2021, Spencer delivered a small message about the game and how "it set a bar" when it...
News Xbox Fans Could Win A Custom Bethesda Series X|S Controller
Celebrate QuakeCon in style
QuakeCon 2021 is taking place this weekend and to celebrate Bethesda is giving away a special custom Xbox Series X|S controller. It features the logos from all of Bethesda's franchises such as The Elder Scrolls and Quake. Provided you're located in the US, all you have to do is follow and retweet the official Bethesda...
News Finally, LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Is Appearing At Gamescom Next Week
It's true, all of it
An entire year since we last saw LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (at Gamescom 2020, in fact), it's finally been confirmed to be a part of this year's Gamescom Opening Night Live with a new look at the game. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga was originally meant to release this spring,
Thursday19th Aug 2021
News Don't Worry, Call Of Duty: Vanguard Isn't 270GB On Xbox
It's still pretty sizeable though
Call of Duty: Vanguard had its big official unveiling earlier today, with the game set to arrive for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on November 5, and to the surprise of no one, it's going to take up plenty of storage space. However, despite a listing of 270.05GB cropping up on the Microsoft Store...
Guide Twelve Minutes: How To Prove Your Wife Is Innocent
And how to get Bumblebee to talk to you
So, you're stuck on Twelve Minutes with Xbox Game Pass and you're trying to convince the 'cop' that your wife is innocent in regards to her father's murder, but he's asking for proof and you don't have it. What do you do?! How To Prove Your Wife Is Innocent In Twelve Minutes: We're going to assume that in...
News The Quake Remaster Is Real, And It's Out Now On Xbox Game Pass
Complete with local and online multiplayer
Oh it's true! After a unknown Quake game was rated for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S earlier today, it has now been revealed to be an 'enhanced' edition of the original title, available now with Xbox Game Pass! This isn't just a simple remaster either, as in addition to the (up to) 4K...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (August 19-22)
Outplay rival gangs in intense PvPvE multiplayer heists
It's time for another batch of Free Play Days titles! Three more games are available to play for free this weekend for Xbox Live Gold members, and they're ready to download right now. So, what's on offer? We've got The Elder Scrolls Online, which is actually sticking around in Free Play Days...
News Skyrim Anniversary Edition Launches This November For Xbox One, Series X, Series S
Along with a free next-gen update
Yes, another version (!) of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is on the way, this time in the form of an Anniversary Edition. It's set to launch on November 11 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The new release is to mark the 10th anniversary of the game and will be available to purchase for owners of Skyrim:...
News Hell Let Loose Will Feature Cross-Play Between Xbox Series X|S & PS5
PC is being kept separate
Hell Let Loose was previously announced to be arriving on Xbox Series consoles at some point in 2021, and now developer Black Matter has confirmed cross-play will be implemented between Xbox and PlayStation 5. The news was revealed on Twitter when a fan asked if cross-play was coming to the game. It was said that Xbox...
Guide Twelve Minutes: How To Find The Pocket Watch
The cop wants your wife's watch, but where is it?!
So, you're stuck on Twelve Minutes with Xbox Game Pass and you keep hearing about this pocket watch the cop wants to know about. The only question is, how do you find it? Does it even exist? Fortunately, it's a pretty easy solution. Where Is The Pocket Watch In Twelve Minutes?: Firstly, you'll...
News Six More Games Are Now Available With Xbox Game Pass (August 19)
"Change the outcome and break the loop"
Update: Well, we've been treated to a few surprises today! The original Quake been remastered and shadow-dropped on Xbox Game Pass for console, PC and cloud, while the PC service has also added two other Quake classics. We've added them all to the list below. Original story: It's Game Pass day! We've got...
News Xbox Unveils New Stereo Headset, Launching This September
Pre-orders now open
Xbox has announced a new wired Stereo Headset, launching on September 21 for £54.99 / $59.99. The new peripheral looks to be a more affordable alternative to the Xbox Wireless Headset, which was released earlier this year. Compared to that one, the new Xbox Stereo Headset will be wired but will still include "clear microphone...
Guide Twelve Minutes: How To Find Out The Name Of The Nanny
It's "something flowery", but what is it?
So, you're getting close to the end in Twelve Minutes with Xbox Game Pass and you've convinced the cop your wife is innocent. He's mentioned the nanny's name is "something flowery", but how do you find out what it is? What Is The Nanny's Name In Twelve Minutes?: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THE LATE STAGES...
Guide Twelve Minutes: How To Prove The Day Is Restarting
How to convince your wife of the time-loop
So, you're stuck on Twelve Minutes with Xbox Game Pass and you're trying to convince your wife that the day is restarting. The only problem? She doesn't believe you. Fortunately, there is a way to prove it to her. How To Prove The Day Is Restarting In Twelve Minutes: There are a couple of ways we were...
News Overnight FPS Sensation Splitgate Reaches 10 Million Downloads
1047 Games planning to extend open beta
The upcoming free-to-play shooter Splitgate is already turning into one of the surprise video game success stories of 2021. In less than a month, the open beta of this Halo and Portal-inspired game has now reached 10 million downloads. In response to this, the de
News The Ascent Patch Now Available, Brings Co-Op Improvements, Translation Fixes, More
It's a long list
The Ascent launched on Xbox Game Pass last month and while it was generally well-received, was plagued with a few issues. Ray tracing wasn't available in the Xbox Game Pass for PC version at launch, the co-op was fairly broken, and many commented on the game's poor translation in certain areas. An update has now been released
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Recompile On Xbox Game Pass
The sci-fi Metroidvania adventure
The big release today on Xbox Game Pass (prior to Quake!) arrived in the form of interactive thriller Twelve Minutes, but we've also had another couple of intriguing day one launches including the Metroidvania-inspired Recompile
News Three Classic Quake Games Have Been Added To Xbox Game Pass
But two of them are PC only
We've had a very pleasant surprise today in the form of a brand-new Quake remaster for Game Pass on console, PC and cloud, but we've also had two other Quake games join Game Pass for PC exclusively. Those two games are Quake 2 and Quake 3: Arena, with the difference being that they are the original versions of those...
Rumour GTA Remastered Trilogy Will Launch In 2022, Not This Year
We may have to wait a little longer
Hot on the heels of a reported GTA Remastered Trilogy coming to light, the previously claimed 2021 release window for the trilogy is said to be inaccurate, according to another industry insider. Tom Henderson, who correctly leaked information about Battlefield 2042 and Call of Duty: Vang
News NHL 22 Takes To The Ice This October With A New Game Engine
Optimised for Xbox Series X|S for the first time
Update (Thu 19th Aug, 2021 16:15 BST): We now have the official details! The standard version of NHL 22 officially arrives for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on October 15, and the Frostbite engine will be implemented across all versions, delivering “the biggest single-year visual upgrade...
News Rumoured Quake Remaster Rated For Xbox One, Series X, Series S
We're anticipating an announcement today
Last week, it appeared a "revitalised edition" of the original Quake was set to be announced. A rating for the game has now been spotted for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, along with the suggestion we may see its announcement anytime now. The rating is on the ESRB website, which lists Quake from...
News Call Of Duty: Vanguard Launches On Xbox This November
Get ready to drop into action
After a pretty explosive Call of Duty: Warzone event, we've been given our first official look at Call of Duty: Vanguard. It will be launching on November 5 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The game is set to include a full campaign, multiplayer and the return of the fan-favourite Zombies mode. The Xbox...
News Fatal Frame: Maiden Of Black Water Will Include A Free Xbox Series X And Series S Upgrade
Enhancing the terror for next-gen
With Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water (or as it'll be known in Europe, Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water) finally making its way to Xbox this October, many players are excited to jump into the iconic horror game. As an added bonus, Xbox Series X and Series S owners will get an enhanced version of the game when...
News Art Of Rally Patch Fixes 'Press Any Button To Start' Issue On Xbox
Along with an assortment of other fixes
Art of Rally launched onto Xbox Game Pass last week, and while it proved to be a lovely little title, it came with one small caveat - players were plagued with an issue that would stop them from being able to sign in. Luckily, there was a workaround for the issue, but a new patch has reportedly rectified the...
Wednesday18th Aug 2021
Guide How To Join The Xbox Insider Program
Everything you need to know
Over the past few months, there have been loads of cool features coming to Xbox. The only problem is, when they're first announced, you're usually hit with those dreaded words: Currently available for Xbox Insiders. Of course, these features roll out universally over time, but sometimes you just want to be one of the...
News Here Are The Release Times For Twelve Minutes On Xbox Game Pass
No detective skills needed here
The rest of August is looking impressive for Xbox Game Pass. Titles such as Psychonauts 2, Myst and of course, Twelve Minutes, are all arriving in the next week-or-so. The latter is dropping on Thursday, August 19, and if you were hoping to dive straight in at midnight, you're going to be slightly disappointed...
Deals All Classic Xbox Games In This Week's Sales (August 17-24)
Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles
This week's selection of Xbox Deals is now live, and as usual, we've got another selection of original Xbox and Xbox 360 classics to take advantage of, and it's another massive one this week with over 50 featured deals. Below, we've included every single Xbox 360 and original Xbox game available over the next week,...
News Former PlayStation Exclusive Oddworld: Soulstorm Is Heading To Xbox
Complete with all-new content
After speculation arose earlier this year, Oddworld Inhabitants has now officially announced an Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S version of Oddworld: Soulstorm is on the way. No official date has been revealed, but new content has been confirmed to be in the works, although it's unclear what that may be. It's...
Review Twelve Minutes - The Game Pass Thriller With A Hollywood Cast
If I could turn back time
It's impossible to not at least be intrigued by Twelve Minutes. An interactive top-down thriller, launching into Xbox Game Pass on day one, and starring a Hollywood cast the likes of which games are almost never treated to, especially in the case of indie titles. The question is, can it live up to the hype? Fortunately, the...
Guide Microsoft Rewards: Earn 500 Easy Points With This New 'Animal Antics' Xbox Challenge
500 points for just a few minutes of work!
It's Microsoft Rewards time! You might have noticed yesterday that another new punch card went live on the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox, and it's a fantastic way to get 500 easy points for just a few minutes' work. As you can see from the image above, you first need to activate the 'Animal Antics' punch...
News Free-To-Play Shooter Vigor Now Runs At 60FPS On Xbox Series X And Series S
With more enhancements planned for the future
The sheer number of impressive free games on Xbox is staggering right now, especially when quite a few of them are packed to the brim with content. What's even more enticing is how many of those titles have also received a free next-gen upgrade, with Vigor now joining that celebrated list of games. As...
News Myst Will Use AMD's Fidelity FX Super Resolution Tech On Xbox
"This allows us to crank the graphics quality much higher..."
The news of Myst joining Xbox Game Pass next week has been met with excitement. For years we've been the one console family that has missed out on the iconic title, but now, not only are we getting the game, but a graphically superior version. In fact, it's said to be using AMD Fidelity...
News Among Us Devs 'Offended' By Fortnite's New Impostor Mode
That's pretty sus
Fortnite is no stranger to taking a popular concept and putting it into its own game. The now successful battle royale mode in Fortnite stemmed from the increasing buzz around PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds at the time, and now its new Impostor Mode is eerily similar to Among Us. Its resemblance is so striking that a couple of...
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Twelve Minutes
Time waits for no one... except here
Twelve Minutes officially arrives on Xbox Game Pass in just under 24 hours, and the first reviews have dropped today, giving us a chance to see what the initial verdict is like on the interactive thriller ahead of its release. We've also had a chance to review the game, so we've included our Pure Xbox verdict...
News Xbox Exclusive The Gunk Is Still Launching This Year, Publisher Confirms
With more information "coming soon"
It's been a long time since we last heard about Image & Form Games' upcoming Xbox exclusive The Gunk. After being announced and shown off just over a year ago, things have been fairly quiet from the developer ever since. With a release window of 2021, many were beginning to believe it may miss the mark, but...
News Sea Of Thieves: A Pirate's Life Launch Results In 'Record-Breaking Month' For Rare
4.8 million players sailed the seas in June
Despite a bit of a rough launch, the Sea of Thieves - Pirates of the Caribbean Tall Tales expansion has proven to be incredibly successful for Rare. In a developer update, the game's creative director Mike Chapman has revealed the record-breaking numbers - with 4.8 million players sailing the seas in the...
Random A Broken Bee Almost Ruined Skyrim's Iconic Intro
"That bee was an immovable force of nature"
We all know the introduction to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Even if you haven't played the game, there's a ton of memes, clips and other amusing compilations out there referencing it. However, it was something that proved challenging to make according to one former developer on the game, as a rogue bee...
News Tales Of Arise’s Free Demo Is Now Available On Xbox
With some free bonus content for the full game
If you’re eager to get your hands on Tales of Arise, then fear not - a free demo is now available to download on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The demo allows players to explore a part of the game’s world, with a chance to engage in the new battle system that many fans are dying to get...
News Despite A Mixed Reception, Biomutant Has Sold Over 1 Million Copies
And recouped its development costs within a week
Biomutant arrived earlier this year, and after years of hype, it didn't quite make the lasting impression many hoped it would. While by no means a terrible game, the general consensus placed it in a fairly average light, with it doing very little to differentiate itself from the crowd. That being...
Tuesday17th Aug 2021
News Myst Is Finally Making Its Way To Xbox, Available Day One With Game Pass
Get involved with the myst-ery
Despite being ported to seemingly everything, Myst has never graced the Xbox ecosystem... until now. After all these years, the classic puzzle adventure game is making its way to Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on August 26. Oh, and it will be included day one with Xbox Game Pass when it launches too! For...
News SCUF Gaming Unveils New 'High-Performance' Controllers For Xbox Series X, Series S
And yes, they're wireless
SCUF Gaming is the latest company to have announced new Xbox controllers specifically for the Series X and Series S today (although they work with Xbox One as well), and unlike many other third-party controllers, they're wireless too. The Xbox SCUF Instinct and Instinct Pro include features such as removable faceplates,...
News Xbox Series X's Higher Resolution UI Won't Impact Game Resources, Confirms Exec
Good news!
The news of a higher resolution UI for Xbox Series X owners has been welcomed. It's something that's been requested for a while now, and although it's beginning to roll out, some Xbox users have raised concerns it will take resources away from games. Fortunately, it's been confirmed that the new feature will not affect any titles running...
Guide Everything You Need To Know About Twelve Minutes On Xbox Game Pass
Game details, release times, pre-load info & more
We've got a treat on the way to Xbox Game Pass this week! Twelve Minutes, an interactive thriller with a Hollywood cast, is launching on the service for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming on August 19. Ahead of its release, we've put together a quick guide so you know...
News YouTuber Highlights 'Awesome' 4K PS1 Emulation On Xbox Series S
Is there anything the Xbox Series X|S can't do?
We already know the Xbox Series consoles are a great source of emulation. We've seen games such as The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess played through the two systems, and things are constantly improving. According to a new video from Modern Vintage Gamer (MVG), a new PlayStation 1 emulator is...
News These Nine Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (August 17-26)
The latest batch of titles
The latest batch of Xbox Game Pass titles has arrived! Microsoft has today unveiled another nine games coming to the service over the next couple of weeks, with some of them (mostly Cloud titles) arriving today as well. Here's what's coming to Xbox Game Pass over the next few weeks: Date Game Platform August...
Deals 300+ Games Included In This Week's Xbox Sales (August 17-24)
Including a 'Start Your Engines' sale
It's time for another set of weekly Xbox deals! The selection is huge once again this week, spanning Deals with Gold and Spotlight sales as usual, along with the ongoing Ubisoft and QuakeCon sales and a special Start Your Engines sale! We've highlighted just a few of the most notable Xbox games offers in this...
News Outriders Devs Yet To Earn Royalties, Despite Huge Xbox Game Pass Launch
"We estimate it at between 2 and 3 million units..."
Outriders was a huge hit when it dropped onto Xbox Game Pass earlier this year. It skyrocketed to the top of the most played games chart and became a massive talking point in the Xbox community. It was a big win for Xbox owners, who were able to dive into a AAA third-party title on launch day, but...
News Splitgate Is Giving Away Free 'Epic' Skins With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Grab them while they're hot!
Splitgate has become something of a sleeper hit. With little to no hype before its release, the success it has today is something nobody could have predicted. Better yet, the team at 1047 Games has now partnered with Xbox to bring some free cosmetics for Game Pass Ultimate members. With the XTREME Perks Bundle, players...
News Another Four Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass Soon (August 31)
Shoot some hoops while you can
Microsoft has unveiled the next set of four games that will be removed from Xbox Game Pass in the latter part of August 2021, arguably highlighted by the removal of horror title Blair Witch and 2K Games' NBA 2K21. Here's the full list of games currently set to leave on August 31: Date Game Platform August...
News Cyberpunk 2077's First Free DLC Is Coming In Patch 1.3, Includes Numerous Cosmetic Items
It's not a lot
CD Projekt Red has outlined the first pieces of free DLC players can expect in Cyberpunk 2077, which include a new car, new jackets, and an alternative look for Johnny Silverhand. The new pieces of DLC come as part of the upcoming Patch 1.3 and will be obtainable after key parts in the game. The only one that is useable at any point...
Random Xbox Is Busy 'Doing Research' For Those Series X Mini-Fridges
They're set to arrive later this year
The Xbox Series X mini-fridges are coming this year, and we don't know about you, but we're just as excited for these as we were for the console launch. It seems Xbox execs are also ecstatic about their launch, judging by these reactions to a human-sized Series X fridge that is being investigated for 'research...
News Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.3 Is 'Coming Soon', Here Are The Full Patch Notes
It's a big one
Cyberpunk 2077 is set to get its biggest update yet with Patch 1.3, which CD Projekt Red is touting as the beginning of future quality of life changes. With it being such a huge patch, a long, long list of notes has accompanied it. There's no release date for it yet outside of "coming soon", but take a look at everything coming. Also...
News Xbox Touch Controls Have Been Added To Ten More Games
Psychonauts, Need for Speed, Wasteland 3 and more
Accompanying today's Xbox Game Pass announcements is the news of a new batch of touch control supported titles. Ten games in total have been added to the selection, accessible for users who are playing through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Whether you're on the train home from work, or in the back of the car...
News Fortnite Streamer Ninja Is Doing An 'AMA' On Halo's Subreddit
Ask him anything!
If you're already questioning why a Fortnite streamer would be doing an AMA on the main Halo subreddit, then you might not know about Ninja's past history. Before he streamed Epic's battle royale, Tyler Blevins was actually a professional Halo 3 player - representing several esports teams. So, if you're an "OG" as Ninja puts it,...
News Marvel’s Avengers' Free War For Wakanda Expansion Is Now Available
The king enters
Are you ready to dive back into Marvel's Avengers? A brand new expansion is now available to download for free under the guise of War for Wakanda, introducing the fan-favourite hero Black Panther into the fray. Voiced by the talented Chris Judge - who is perhaps more widely known in PlayStation circles for playing Kratos in God of...
Monday16th Aug 2021
Random New Xbox 'Game' Turns Your TV Into A Giant Aquarium
No, seriously
Your Xbox can be used for a wide range of things. You can play games, watch films, listen to music, and now, turn it into an Aquarium. The wonders of modern consoles! A 'game' known as Siamese Fighting Fish has been making some 'waves' in the Xbox Reddit community over the past 24 hours, as it acts as a virtual aquarium. It's perfect...
News Here's A Look At The Crysis Remastered Trilogy On Xbox Series X, Coming Fall 2021
Remastered for a new generation of hardware
Crytek officially announced the Crysis Remastered Trilogy back in June, set to bring Crysis, Crysis 2 and Crysis 3 to last-gen and next-gen consoles in fall 2021, and now we've got a proper look at Xbox Series X gameplay. The video above is a comparison trailer between the original Xbox 360 versions of...
News The Xbox Series X Is Finally Getting A Higher Resolution UI
It's rolling out now for Insiders
We highlighted earlier today how Xbox had a "very cool" feature coming to Insiders this week, and it's now been revealed in the form of an "increased resolution UI", rolling out specifically to Xbox Series X users in the Alpha rings. There's no word on exactly what the new resolution is, but Microsoft says that...
News Madden NFL 22's Free Trial Has Been Extended With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Update: Enjoy "unlimited play" until Tuesday night
Update: Well, this is a nice little bonus! Even if you've used up all of your 10 hours of free trial time for Madden NFL 22 with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, EA is now providing "unlimited access" to the title until Tuesday night. As you can see, the reason for this is because some players have been...
Feature These Games Are Coming To Xbox This Week (August 17-20)
Including Game Pass thriller Twelve Minutes
It's time for another weekly Xbox new releases roundup, and this week is dominated by a few particularly noteworthy launches in the form of EA's Madden NFL 22, along with interactive thriller Twelve Minutes and Metroidvania-inspired hacking adventure Recompile, the latter two of which are al
News Xbox Game Pass's Boyfriend Dungeon Is Proving To Be Controversial For Some Players
"We apologise for any hurt inflicted by our mistake"
Boyfriend Dungeon launched without warning onto Xbox Game Pass last week, and despite its quiet arrival, it's making some ripples throughout the community regarding its content. Be warned, there are minor spoilers ahead. Initially, the trailers for the game painted a light adventure, with...
Guide Hades For Xbox: How To Fix 'Achievements Not Unlocking' Issue
Here's what you need to do
You've just finished your first run of Hades, you're feeling pretty accomplished, but then you realise your achievement for finally making your way through hasn't unlocked. Achievements have been a big problem in Hades since its launch for Xbox Game Pass last week, with many reporting issues of achievements not unlocking...
News PS Store Accidentally Reveals Call Of Duty: Vanguard Reveal Date
Set your watches for this Thursday
It's usually the Microsoft Store dropping release dates early, but this time the PlayStation Store has swooped in to steal that crown. A store advertisement has confirmed a reveal for Call of Duty: Vanguard is arriving on August 19 at 10:30am PT / 1:30pm EST / 18:30pm BST and will be taking place as an event within...
News Xbox Reportedly Has A 'Very Cool' Preview Feature Arriving This Week
According to a Microsoft cloud solution architect
There's not too much to go on here, but it's been reported by a Microsoft cloud solution architect on Twitter that Xbox has a "very cool" new preview feature arriving this week, although no details have been provided at the time of writing. Microsoft's Shane Osborne got involved in the discussion in...
PSA Mortal Shell's The Virtuous Cycle Expansion Will Be Free For Its First Five Days
And you can keep it forever!
Mortal Shell's expansion The Virtuous Cycle launches for Xbox on August 18, and while you may be ready to rush out and spend money on it, it's actually going to be totally free to claim up until August 22. It's described as a "roguelike expansion", and a new trailer has been launched to commemorate its release along...
News CD Projekt Red Outlines What's Coming In Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 1.3
Don't get your hopes up
It's been a while since we've had a Cyberpunk 2077 update, with the last one arriving all the way back in June. Patch 1.23 introduced a ton of fixes, but the work is far from over. Thankfully, Patch 1.3 is on the horizon, and while the full details of its content are yet to be released, we've been given an insight into its...
News Psychonauts Creator Tim Schafer 'Would Love' To Remake The Original Game
"It’s possible in the future"
Psychonauts 2 is nearly upon us, with many players set to jump into the series for the first time on August 25. While the original game is also available on Xbox Game Pass, some are sceptical to go and replay it due to its age, but a remake is something the game's creator Tim Schafer has said is "possible in the...
News After Leaving Xbox Game Pass, GTA V Is A Best-Seller In The UK Again
It just can't be stopped
It's been a while since we last looked at the UK boxed charts, but this past week has been pretty interesting for a couple of reasons, one of which being that GTA V rocketed to second place after leaving Xbox Game Pass on August 8. A specific breakdown of sales figures for the different platforms hasn't been provided, but...
Mini Review Button City - All Style, No Substance
Defunctland
From the outside, Button City looks as though it should be a wholesome recipe for success. It has a wonderful visual style, cute characters and boasts a ton of arcade games to lose yourself in. All of this is set to be wrapped in a beautifully told story that pulls on those nostalgic heartstrings of sitting in the arcades when you were...
Sunday15th Aug 2021
Random Xbox Promotes Game Pass With A Ridiculously Catchy Music Video
Be warned, it'll get stuck in your head
We're not sure anything can top the Xbox All Access music video featuring "R&B sensation" All-4-One that Xbox dropped back in July, but the marketing team is back again anyway with another comical music video, this time promoting Xbox Game Pass with a ridiculously catchy tune and even on-screen lyrics so...
News Two More Of August 2021's Xbox Games With Gold Are Now Available
Embark on an epic adventure
You can now begin downloading the second batch of August 2021's Xbox Live Games With Gold titles (one day early!), which are the Xbox One game Yooka-Laylee and Xbox 360 game Garou: Mark of the Wolves. Both titles are available right now from the Microsoft Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace (links at the bottom of the page)...
News XBLA Classic Toy Soldiers Is Returning In HD Form This September
"We're launching a few weeks later than planned"
It was announced earlier this year that Toy Soldiers HD would be arriving on Xbox this August, but it's suffered a very slight delay, now releasing for Xbox One (backwards compatible on Xbox Series X|S) on September 9. If you don't remember it, Toy Soldiers was one of the popular games of the Xbox...
News Graphical Improvements Coming To The Elder Scrolls Online August 31st
Dynamic resolution scaling, new HDR mode and more...
Following on from the free Xbox Series X|S upgrade in June, The Elder Scrolls Online team has announced its popular and ever-growing MMO will be receiving additional graphical improvements at the end of the month on 31st August. For consoles, this will include dynamic resolution scaling -...
Saturday14th Aug 2021
News Xbox Head Phil Spencer Has Already Got His Hands On Valve's Steam Deck
He's been hanging out with Gabe Newell this week
We've heard how Valve's recently announced Steam Deck can be used as a handheld Xbox and now head of Microsoft's gaming division, Phil Spencer, appears to have got his hands on one. In his latest post on social media, Spencer revealed how he actually visited Valve's HQ earlier this week to talk to...
Guide All Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks You Can Claim In August 2021
Get some exclusive Splitgate gear
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks program is back as usual for August, so we've listed everything you can currently get your hands on below. The most recent addition is a set of Diamond Dynasty packs for MLB The Show 21! We'll keep adding to this list as more Perks are added over the coming days and weeks. Here...
Hardware Review Turtle Beach Recon Xbox Controller - Very Impressive, Great For Audio Fanatics
We're liking the "sound" of this controller
We're going to be totally honest with you, the first time we saw Turtle Beach's Recon Xbox controller back at E3 2021, we thought it looked pretty ugly. In fact, it does look ugly, even in person. But looks can be deceiving, and despite some early reservations, we've come away highly impressed, to the...
News These Six Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass This Weekend (August 15)
Last chance to try this timeless classic
In case you'd forgotten, this Sunday marks the removal of six more games from the Xbox Game Pass library, including popular titles such as the original Final Fantasy VII, Darksiders Genesis and Don't Starve: Giant Edition. Here are the six games confirmed to leave before the end of the wee
News Remedy Can Make Control's Sequel Bigger Thanks To 10 Mil Players
"We are in the early conception phase..."
Developer Remedy has released its half-year review report over the past 24 hours-or-so, and the most noteworthy news to come out of it is that Control has surpassed 10 million players, contributing to plans for a "bigger-budget" sequel. Here's what Remedy CEO, Tero Virtala, had to say about Control's...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 14-15)
It's got to be Lawn Mowing Simulator, right?
Welcome to the weekend! We've been treated once again over the past few days, with a bunch of new Xbox Game Pass additions, three more Free Play Days titles, and of course, everyone's most anticipated release, Lawn Mowing Simulator! Plus, if you're interested, the free Back 4 Blood open beta is taking...
Friday13th Aug 2021
News The Xbox Series S Is A 'Genuine Engineering Marvel', Says Analysis
"Microsoft shipping this at $299/£249 is remarkable"
We're taking a look at another Digital Foundry analysis this afternoon, as the outlet has embarked on a teardown of the Xbox Series S hardware (which you can watch above), calling it a "genuine engineering marvel" in the process. The teardown, performed on a dead console by DF's Richard...
Random Social Media Star Ricky Berwick Now Has His Own Custom Xbox Series Controller
And you can actually buy it
"Your not so normal video entertainer" Ricky Berwick, who boasts over 2 million followers on YouTube and 8 million followers on TikTok (just to name a couple of social media platforms), now has his own custom Xbox Series controller. Once again, this is the work of a collaboration between talented creator POPeART...
News Xbox Exec Explains Why Quick Resume Isn't Always Available For New Releases
"You shouldn't see a delay for new titles soon"
One of the neatest features of the Xbox Series X and Series S is the ability to use Quick Resume. It's fantastic to have multiple games running at once and being able to freely jump between the batch. While it's a great feature, more and more games seem to be launching without the support — something...
News It Sounds Like A 'Revitalised Edition' Of Quake Is Getting Announced At Quakecon
Quake could be back!
With huge events such as Gamescom coming up, Quakecon has quietly crept upon us. There are tons of panels looking at iconic series' such as Elder Scrolls and Fallout, but one that's sparked attention is a Quake presentation, which appears to be revealing some kind of upgrade in the form of a "revitalized edition". As spotted by
News Hellblade Is A 'Whole Lot Better' On Xbox Series X|S, Says Digital Foundry
"It's well worth checking out"
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice received a next-gen patch this week, elevating the game further than ever before. While we noted some fantastic upgrades, we're no tech wizards here at Pure Xbox, so Digital Foundry has stepped in to deliver a
News Red Dead Redemption Remaster Could Be On The Way If Reported GTA Trilogy Is A Hit
Please make it happen
News broke out last night of a potential Grand Theft Auto remastered trilogy, as several outlets reported on Kotaku's discovery. However, the main report featured one small detail that many overlooked - a Red Dead Redemption remaster or rerelease is also reportedly on the cards, depending on the trilogy's success. As mentio
PSA Xbox Game Pass Quests Have Been Having Issues This Week
But they seem to be clearing up now
If you're a keen user of the Microsoft Rewards program, you'll likely have noticed that Xbox Game Pass Quests have been having some tracking issues this week, specifically over the past couple of days. During that time, we've seen reports that Quests — including the 'Play a Game' and 'Log into the Game Pass...
News The Critically-Acclaimed Hades Is Now Available With Xbox Game Pass
Escape from the Underworld again and again
After what feels like a lifetime, the genre-defining roguelike Hades is now available with Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming. You can take your pick! Attempt to escape from the Underworld over and over again — but don't worry, death is not the end. Each...
Talking Point Which Game Has The Best Photo Mode?
Snapshot!
This week we've been jumping into the Xbox Series X version of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and while it's been great to experience the game again, it's been just as satisfying playing around with the game's photo mode. Over our playthrough, we've managed to create some truly incredible images (if we say so ourselves) with very minimal...
News Back 4 Blood Dev Confirms Bots And Difficulty Balance Will Be Improved For Launch
The team is well aware of the issues
The free Back 4 Blood Xbox open beta is out now, and if you've been playing it already (or you tried the early access beta last week), you might have noticed some teething issues with bot smartness and difficulty balance. Fortunately, the team developing the game is well aware of this, and one of the big...
News Hades Supports Touch Controls On Xbox Game Pass With xCloud
Surprise!
One of the best features of Xbox Cloud Gaming is how certain games are getting support for touch screen controls on mobile devices. Players can simply boot up the game and get going without having to find a controller. It makes playing on commutes easier and opens up new ways of experiencing the game. Hades is the most recent titles to be...
Thursday12th Aug 2021
Guide Art Of Rally For Xbox: How To Fix 'Press Any Button To Start' Issue
Can't sign in? Here's what you need to do
Hooray! Art of Rally is finally available on Xbox Game Pass. The only catch? It's not working properly. As you're probably well aware, the game is suffering from an issue at launch on Xbox where the "press any button to start" screen forces you to continually sign-in on a loop, which means the game actually...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (August 12-15)
"Immerse yourself in the glorious chaos of all-out war"
It's time for another batch of Free Play Days titles! Three more games are available to play for free this weekend for Xbox Live Gold members, and they're ready to download right now. So, what's on offer? We've got AO Tennis 2, which really is a pretty decent tennis game, EA's popular and...
News Phil Spencer Suggests Nintendo & PlayStation 'Don't Want' To Support Xbox Game Pass
"We have no plans to bring it to any other closed platforms"
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been talking to GamesRadar as part of a new interview, suggesting (unsurprisingly) that Nintendo and PlayStation "don't want something like Game Pass" to be brought to their platforms right now. Asked about the potential of an Xbox app on Nintendo Switch,...
News GTA Remastered Trilogy Reportedly Heading To Xbox This Fall
Said to be "in the final stages of development"
We've got some huge news to share courtesy of Kotaku, which is reporting that a GTA remastered trilogy is not only in the works for Xbox, but it's "currently in the final stages of development" and will be releasing sometime this fall. The outlet says that (according to its sources) this will focus on...
News You Could Win This Insane Psychonauts 2 Xbox Series X With Microsoft Rewards
"Unravel the adventure. Enter today!"
Microsoft Rewards has added a very cool new competition today in the form of a sweepstakes to win a custom Psychonauts 2 Xbox Series X, along with a digital copy of the game, an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and 1TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card, plus an 77" LG G1 4K Smart OLED TV. Crazy! To be in...
News Stylised Racer Art Of Rally Is Now Available With Xbox Game Pass
But it's having some technical issues
We've got another Game Pass release today in the form of Art of Rally, a stylised racing experience available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC and Cloud, although it's having some technical issues right now. If you find that you load up the game and it continually asks you in a loop to sign in,...
News Stalker 2 Will Officially Run On Unreal Engine 5, Confirms Developer
Glorious
Stalker 2 came in with an incredible gameplay demo during Xbox's E3 Showcase this year, and now we have confirmation of the tech that powered the eye-watering trailer. Developer GSC Game World has confirmed the game is actually running on Unreal Engine 5. The game joins a small batch of titles that have been revealed to have moved over to...
News Call Of Duty: Vanguard Images And Details Leak, Reveal Reportedly Taking Place Next Week
Box art, release dates, an open beta - it's all here
A ton of Call of Duty: Vanguard images and details have surfaced online, along with a report which says a full reveal of the upcoming shooter is arriving on August 19. The report comes from DualShockers, which claim several sources have said an August 19 date is in place for an official update on...
Guide Here Are The Release Times For Hades On Xbox Game Pass
It's almost time to escape the Underworld
It's already been a very busy week for Game Pass, and the highlight hasn't even arrived yet! A year since its critically-acclaimed release for Nintendo Switch and PC, Hades is finally coming to Xbox Game Pass on Friday, August 13. In terms of release times, we're a little bit in the dark because nothing has...
Friday13th Aug 2021
News Surgeon Simulator 2 Is Coming To Xbox Game Pass This September
Scalpel, saw... rubber ducky
Bossa Studios - the creator of titles like I Am Bread - has revealed Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas will be coming to Xbox Game Pass on 2nd September. That's the same day as the game's official release Xbox and multiple other platforms - meaning you'll be able to play it right away if you're an Xbox Game Pass...
Thursday12th Aug 2021
News Xbox Wants To 'Do Something Different' To Other Platforms, Explains Phil Spencer
"Our strategy is not to just go be like someone else"
Xbox's vision has shifted in recent years. Following on from former Xbox exec Don Mattrick seemingly doing everything in his power to destroy the brand, Phil Spencer then took over the reins to get us where we are today. With the Xbox Series X and Series S, Game Pass,and a wave of exclusives on...
Video Here Are Two Gorgeous Forza Horizon 5 Gameplay Videos In 4K
New car customisation, a look at the map & more
Forza Horizon 5 is coming to Xbox this November, and it looks gorgeous. We've been treated to an array of trailers, interviews and more, but these raw footage videos are perhaps the best look at the game we've had thus far. In the first video, we have just over 11 minutes of footage to gorge our eyes...
Soapbox Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Helped Me Confront My Anxiety
Sometimes a 100-hour game is good, actually
Without getting too down, the last year or so has been tough for many - if not all of us. We’ve been faced with a situation that we never even dreamed of coming across in our lifetime, and it’s been exceptionally challenging on many fronts. As a result, people around the world have found solace in...
Friday13th Aug 2021
News It's Time, The Free Back 4 Blood Open Beta Has Begun On Xbox
But it's been having some matchmaking issues
If you've been waiting to try out Back 4 Blood on Xbox ahead of its Game Pass release on October 12, now is the time, as the game's free open beta is accessible to everyone on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. In case you didn't know, Back 4 Blood is essentially a Left 4 Dead spiritual...
Thursday12th Aug 2021
News WWE 2K22 Is 'Playing Fantastic', According To Early Insider Reports
"This feels like a wrestling fan’s wrestling game"
The spotlight is well and truly on WWE 2K22 this year following a two-year break in development for the series, and while we haven't seen much of it so far, early insider reports are suggesting very positive things about the game. This comes courtesy of Forbes writer Brian Mazique in a YouTube...
News Timed Switch Exclusive Bomb Rush Cyberfunk Is Coming To 'Other Platforms' A Week Later
Fingers crossed for an Xbox release
If you've been keeping tabs on all-things indie this week, you might have heard about a special Nintendo showcase that took place yesterday. Nintendo Life did a great job with its coverage of it, by the way. One of the highlights was the Team Reptile Jet Set-style game, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. During the broadcast,...
News Splitgate Is Getting A Next-Gen Upgrade For Xbox Series X, Series S
"We're going to do it"
Splitgate may be hitting turbulence with its servers, but that isn't stopping plans for an Xbox Series X and Series S upgrade at some point in the future. In a recent Q&A with fans on Splitgate's Twitch channel (thanks, The Gamer), 1047 Games' CEO, Ian Proulx, confirmed a next-gen version is coming. It may not be anytime...
Wednesday11th Aug 2021
Guide Everything You Need To Know About Hades On Xbox Game Pass
Release times, game details & more
Hades is joining Xbox Game Pass this Friday, and after the hugely positive reception to the game last year, it's something we should all be very excited for. The game made a name for itself after releasing on Nintendo Switch and PC, but finally, we get to see what all the fuss is about on Xbox. With its arrival...
News Xbox Game Pass' Atomic Heart Is In The 'Final Assembly' Stage, Confirm Devs
"The long wait is almost over, we promise"
Remember the bizarre first-person shooter Atomic Heart that was shown back at Xbox's E3 Showcase? You'd be hard-pressed to forget it, as it was absolutely bonkers. It immediately captured our attention, especially with its inclusion into Xbox Game Pass on day one, and now the team at Mundfish has confirmed...
News Boyfriend Dungeon Has Quietly Launched On Xbox Game Pass
Hades meets Love Island
We’ve been getting a few new Xbox Game Pass titles this week, and Boyfriend Dungeon has now joined the roster with a surprise launch today(!) on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC. The dungeon crawling adventure adopts an unusual premise. Here, you will literally be romancing your weapons (no, seriously) as you...
News 343 Industries Jokingly Responds To Criticism Over Halo Infinite's Destructible Fruit
Fruitgate continues
The past week has been a strange one for Halo Infinite. There's been a ton of discussion surrounding the game's destruction physics - namely with its fruit. Videos have surfaced comparing the game to others, each one comprised of blasting fruit with a gun to see how they react. It's a strange trend and one that doesn't seem to
News Twelve Minutes Is Now Available To Pre-Download Via The Xbox App
The highly-anticipated Xbox Game Pass thriller
One of the most highly-anticipated new Xbox Game Pass releases in August is Twelve Minutes, an interactive thriller starring a Hollywood cast, and you can now pre-download (and pre-order) it ahead of time if you want to. There is a catch, in that if you haven't bought the game and you just want to...
Reaction Xbox Game Pass Is A Gold Mine For Indies Right Now
2021 is the year of indies
Yesterday, we were treated to another Xbox Indie Showcase, and regardless of how you feel about the presentation's setup, there's no arguing there were some intriguing games shown. In fact, Xbox has been delivering a stellar library of indie titles in the past few months, plenty of which have dropped day one into Xbox Game...
Rumour Halo Infinite Will Include ‘Wacky’ Cosmetics, Similar To Apex Legends
"One skin appears to be a snowman"
One of the major elements of Halo Infinite's multiplayer is the vast array of customisation options that will be available. Players will be able to deck out their spartan in a range of different armours to give them a truly unique personality. While you may assume these will be pretty standard Halo fare, a new...
News Microsoft Is Giving Away A Custom 'Free Guy' Xbox Series S
But only in the US
We haven't seen too many custom Xbox Series S designs thus far, at least not in an official capacity, but Microsoft is giving one away to celebrate the release of Free Guy, along with a custom controller and various other goodies. You can see the full selection below, which includes a Free Guy Stash Bag, HyperX Cloud II...
News Of Course, There's A Multiplayer Nerf Game Coming To Xbox This October
The Nerfs have been buffed
With every IP under the sun getting the video game treatment these days, it was only a matter of time before Nerf guns were next. For those who hoped they would make their way to Xbox, you're in luck, as Nerf: Legends launches for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S this October. It's probably no surprise that...
News Dying Light 2 Will Use VRR For Higher Frame Rates On Xbox Series X & PC
As part of the Performance Mode
It's quite crazy to think that Dying Light 2 will finally be with us as soon as this December, but it will, and speaking to MP1st, Techland has revealed a bit more information about the game's Quality and Performance modes. Firstly, the game's Quality Mode will feature ray tracing, in which players will "observe...
News Diablo 2: Resurrected's Free Xbox Open Beta Takes Place Next Week
With an early access beta occurring this week
Diablo 2: Resurrected is getting an open beta next weekend, allowing fans to check out the game ahead of its launch for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on September 23. The open beta weekend will begin on August 20 at 6pm BST / 1pm EDT / 10 am PDT and will run until August 22. During this...
PSA Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Siege Of Paris Is Available Now With The Season Pass
With a standalone release arriving on August 12
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla's next huge expansion was originally scheduled for Xbox tomorrow, and if you've already sunk hundreds of hours into the game like us, you'll no doubt be eagerly anticipating the next adventure. The Siege of Paris technically launches standalone on August 12, but if you own...
News Life Is Strange Remastered Collection Has Been Delayed Until Early 2022
Life is Strange: True Colors is still on schedule
Square Enix has announced that Life is Strange Remastered Collection has been pushed back until early 2022. In a statement on Twitter, it was revealed that due to the ongoing worldwide pandemic, the game is being delayed to "alleviate any additional pressure on the Life is Strange team"...
News Idris Elba Will Voice Knuckles In Sonic's Second Movie Outing
"Knock, knock"
As you might recall, a sequel to the Sonic the Hedgehog movie is currently targeting an April 2022 release. While a lot has already been leaked so far, a new and more official update has now sent the Sonic fandom into an absolute frenzy. Overnight, English actor Idris Elba has seemingly revealed himself as (spoiler alert)...Knuckles...
News Sonic & Tails Will Be Playable Characters In Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania
Gotta go fast this October
Here's some cool news! We already knew that Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania was heading to Xbox on October 5, but it's been revealed today that both Sonic The Hedgehog and Tails will be playable characters in the game! The two iconic characters will be free and unlockable in Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania, and also join...
Tuesday10th Aug 2021
News Six More Games Are Now Available With Xbox Game Pass (August 10)
Hope you like racing games
It's Game Pass day! We've had another five games enter the service exclusively for EA Play and Game Pass Ultimate members today, and they're all Codemasters racers following EA's acquisition of the company a few months ago. Additionally, following its announcement at the Xbox Indie Showcase, Library of Ruina is also now...
Review Hades - The Genre-Defining Roguelike Strikes Again
A roguelike for people who hate roguelikes
What can we say about Hades that hasn't already been said? It's a genre-defining title that captured the hearts of millions of players around the world last year and went on to win many awards. Now, after almost an entire year since its full release, Xbox players can finally get their hands on the huge hit...
News Xbox Highlights Five More Indie Titles Heading To Game Pass
Update: A couple of changes to the listings!
Update: Sadly, Pathfinder: Wrath & Righteous is no longer being confirmed for Xbox Game Pass. However, Library of Ruina has surprisingly dropped on Xbox Game Pass today! It's available right now. Original stor
Roundup Here's What Was Revealed At August's Xbox Indie Showcase
Missed the event? Here's a recap
Weren't able to catch the Xbox Indie Showcase earlier today? No worries! You can always go back and watch the on-demand version for yourself (be warned, it's a couple of hours long!), which you'll find elsewhere on Pure Xbox. If you don't fancy watching it all the way through, we've also detailed all the important...
Deals 300+ Games Included In This Week's Xbox Sales (August 10-17)
Yep, it's a big selection this week
It's time for another set of weekly Xbox deals! The selection is absolutely packed this week, with over 500 deals (from around 300 games) to choose from across Deals with Gold, Spotlight, Publisher, QuakeCon and Add-On sales. Phew! We've highlighted just a few of the most notable Xbox games offers in this week's...
Wednesday11th Aug 2021
Deals All Classic Xbox Games In This Week's Sales (August 10-17)
Xbox 360 and original Xbox titles
This week's selection of Xbox Deals is now live, and as usual, we've got another selection of original Xbox and Xbox 360 classics to take advantage of, and it's a pretty massive one this week with over 50 deals included. Below, we've included every single Xbox 360 and original Xbox game available over the next...
Tuesday10th Aug 2021
Hands On Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice - A Subtle Bump In Visuals On Xbox Series X
Still a visual stunner
After the news of Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice receiving an Xbox Series X and Series S upgrade yesterday, we just had to dive in. Admittedly, none of us have actually finished the game here at Pure Xbox - a travesty, we know - so this next-gen upgrade is the perfect chance for us to finally embark on that quest. The upgrade...
News EA Is Giving Away Another Battlefield Expansion For Free On Xbox
You've got a week to claim it
You might remember that late last month, EA was giving away the "They Shall Not Pass" expansion for Battlefield 1 for free on Xbox, and now a second expansion is being given away in the form of Battlefield 4's "Second Assault". Like last time, you've got a week to
Roundup Here’s What The Critics Are Saying About Hades For Xbox
By the gods!
Hades, the magnificent roguelike which graced a few platforms last year, is finally making its way to Game Pass this week. As such, a new wave of players will be able to dive into the award-winning title and see what the fuss is about. Ahead of its launch on August 13, a wave of reviews for the Xbox version have dropped - including our...
News Surprise! Sam & Max: Save The World Remastered Is Now Available On Xbox
Woah
The famous duo is back with Sam & Max: Save the World Remastered. Oh, and it's available to download on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S today (!) for £16.74 / $19.99. Originally released on Xbox 360, before getting the remastered treatment on Nintendo Switch and PC last year, now everyone can enjoy the remastered edition on...
Live Watch Today's ID@Xbox Indie Showcase Event Here
Reveals, Game Pass news & more
Update: The show has now finished, and we've recapped all of it in our roundup here at Pure Xbox! Original story: Welcome! Today marks the return of the Xbox Indie Showcase event for a second time, set to feature "tons of independent titles" including brand new game announcements, as well as Xbox Game Pass news...
News 6.3 Million People Have Now Played Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Great news for Ninja Theory
Yesterday, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice got a surprise upgrade for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S - adding "enriched visuals, DirectX Raytracing, resolution mode" and more. As part of this, developer Ninja Theory has had a chat with Xbox Wire about the new update. One of the highlights was the reveal of a certain...
News Stardew Valley Is Officially Digging Its Way To Xbox Game Pass
We're in for a treat
Talk about a great Xbox Game Pass announcement! It's been revealed today as part of the August Xbox Indie Showcase that Stardew Valley will officially be coming to the service, expected to arrive "probably sometime in the fall." If you've never played it, Stardew Valley is an extremely popular open-ended country-life RPG...
News Back 4 Blood's Xbox Open Beta Arrives This Weekend, Pre-Load Now
Everyone can try the free beta this weekend
We had some good fun with the closed Back 4 Blood beta this past weekend, which was made accessible to those who had pre-ordered the game, and another beta is arriving this weekend for everyone on Xbox. The release times for the free Xbox open beta of Back 4 Blood are Thursday, August 12 at 12pm PT/ 3pm...
Poll How Would You Grade August's Xbox Indie Showcase?
Give us your vote
The dust is now beginning to settle on today's Xbox Indie Showcase event, which gave us a look at a bunch of games from a wide range of developers, including some exclusive reveals and Xbox Game Pass announcements! If you haven't had a chance to watch it yet, you can catch the full show elsewhere on Pure Xbox, and we've also...
Guide How To Watch Today's ID@Xbox Indie Showcase
All the details you need
It's time for round two of the Xbox Indie Showcase later today, which will highlight "tons of independent titles" heading to Xbox, and we're hoping for quite a lot of Xbox Game Pass news to come out of the event as well. "During this showcase, we’ll once again feature tons of independent titles, including brand new game...
News Tales Of Arise Is Getting A Free Demo On Xbox Next Week
Ahead of its September launch
It's hard to believe we're only about a month away until Tales of Arise finally graces our Xbox consoles, but here we are! If the wait is starting to get a bit too much, then relax, as a free demo is on the way on August 18 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Details on the contents of the demo are pretty...
Monday9th Aug 2021
News Here It Is, The Official Forza Horizon 5 Map
In summer (wet season)
Forza Horizon 5 is now just a few months away, and while we've seen plenty of screenshots and videos of it over the past few weeks, we haven't viewed its map in full... until now. The image above is a look at the map in summer. It's already been confirmed that the map is about one-and-a-half times the size of Forza Horizon...
News Heads Up, Halo Infinite's File Size Is Likely Going To Be Huge On Xbox
We're gonna need a bigger SSD
It's no surprise, but it looks as though Halo Infinite's file size is going to be pretty huge. With the campaign, multiplayer, and the foundations for an ever-expanding game, it makes sense. A recently 'leaked' image is currently making the rounds on social media, placing its total file size at 97.24GB on Xbox. It...
News Grand Theft Auto V Will Seemingly Run At 4K, 60FPS On Xbox Series X
We'd be surprised if it didn't
We're only a few months from Grand Theft Auto V coming to Xbox Series X and Series S in the form of an 'Expanded and Enhanced' edition, but we're still yet to hear anything substantial about the game. However, we now appear to know its most basic specifications (for Xbox Series X, at least) thanks to a recent...
News Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Is Now Optimised For Xbox Series X, Series S
With all-new 'DirectX Raytracing' support
Update: We've now got confirmation on more details about this optimisation, including the fact that DirectX Raytracing is reserved for the 30fps mode, and there's even a special 120hz mode at 1080p if you want to use it. "With three graphics modes you can pick your preference of frame rate, resolution, or...
Tuesday10th Aug 2021
News Xbox Gamescom Sale Arrives This Month, Up To 75% Off Selected Titles
For European members only though
Alongside the news of Xbox hosting its own Gamescom 2021 stream, plans for a sale to tie in with the occasion have also been confirmed with up to 75% off selected titles. The sale will be limited to European Xbox members, and it's said "a range of iconic games" will be included. While there are no set dates for the...
Monday9th Aug 2021
Random The Ascent Looks Surprisingly Breathtaking In First-Person
We can only dream
There have been some mixed reactions to The Ascent since it hit Xbox Game Pass last month, but everyone seems to agree it's visually stunning. That being said, things can always look better, and this recent mod that changes the game to a first-person perspective really showcases just how beautiful the world actually is. As created...
News Xbox Is Re-Adding The Ability To Stream Your Console To Your PC
Remote Play is now available for Insiders
Remote Play was previously a really popular feature that allowed you to connect your Xbox One to your PC and play games remotely, and while it was taken away for a while, it's making a triumphant return as of today. Initially available only to Xbox Insiders, this feature now also supports Xbox Series X and...
News Xbox Announces Gamescom 2021 Stream Filled With 'In-Depth' Updates
Ahead of Gamescom Opening Night Live
Kicking off the week with some big news, Xbox has announced its Gamescom 2021 plans, which include a dedicated stream filled with in-depth updates, Xbox Game Pass news and more. Ahead of Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 25, Xbox will host its own warm-up stream on August 24 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST /...
Feature These Games Are Coming To Xbox This Week (August 9-13)
Defy the god of the dead
It's time for another weekly Xbox new releases roundup, and we've got a pretty busy week in store, highlighted by a bunch of Game Pass additions. Both Hades and Art of Rally are making their debuts on Xbox (and Game Pass), while outside of XGP, major launches include AC: Valhalla's second expansion, and of course,
News SEGA's Humankind Is Launching Day One With Xbox Game Pass For PC
"This is more than history, it’s your story"
We've got some good news for PC players, as it's been announced today that SEGA and Amplitude Studios' 4X strategy game Humankind will be available with Xbox Game Pass for PC at launch. The most recent delay for Humankind arrived a few months ago, where the release date was rescheduled to August 17, so...
News Cyberpunk 2077's Senior Gameplay Designer Joins Playground Games To Work On Fable
He's "designing and implementing combat"
With how many games are developed every year, it always seems as though the industry is rather small when you see developers swapping between companies. Now, the latest change sees Cyberpunk 2077's senior gameplay designer making the move to Playground Games to work on Fable as a principal game designer. The...
News Take-Two Working On Three Unannounced Remasters, Some ‘Almost Certainly’ GTA
The company previous said it doesn't deliver "simple ports"
If you thought the era of remasters and remakes was over, then get ready for at least three new games, as Take-Two claims it has several more on the way. The news comes from Take-Two's Q1 2022 earnings report (thanks, VGC), which reveals the company has three unannounced "iterations of...
Reaction Xbox Needs To Do Something About Its User Review System
Let's be honest, it's a bit of a mess
You might not even be aware of it, but Xbox utilises a user review system for most games on the Microsoft Store, and you can find these reviews by searching for a game on Xbox and then scrolling down the game page until you find the 'Ratings and Reviews' section. The problem? It's a real unmoderated mess. Take...
News The Xbox PC App Is Now Rolling Out Cloud Gaming Integration
Play console games on your PC via the app
Xbox Cloud Gaming has been available for PC for a while, but unlike xCloud's original rollout for Android, the PC version (along with iOS) has only been accessible via browser, which we've had mixed results with. Fortunately, Microsoft has announced that as of today, Cloud Gaming is being rolled out to Xbox...
Sunday8th Aug 2021
PSA Art Of Rally Should Be On Your Xbox Game Pass Radar Next Week
According to the critics, at least
We've got a fairly big week ahead of us in terms of Xbox Game Pass, dominated by the release of Hades on Xbox for the very first time, along with five Codemasters racers joining the EA Play and Game Pass Ultimate libraries. In the middle of all that, though, is
Reminder GTA V Is Leaving Xbox Game Pass Today (August 8)
After just four months on the service
In case you missed the news a couple of weeks ago, today marks the removal of Grand Theft Auto V on Xbox Game Pass for console, which takes place exactly four months to the day it was re-added to the service back in April. No explanation has been provided for why GTA V is leaving so quickly, although it stuck...
Random Halo's Legendary Multiplayer Announcer Does Voice Lines From Destiny 2
Just imagine a crossover
Although Bungie moved on from the Halo series more than a decade ago, plenty of fans still like to reminisce. One individual who has been around since the series' inception is the voice actor Jeff Steitzer - Halo's famous multiplayer announcer. He worked with Bungie back in the day, but what would it be like if he was...
Saturday7th Aug 2021
News Xbox Is Getting An All-New 'Night Mode' Feature Very Soon
Dim your screen, console & controller
The latest Xbox Insider update for members of the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring went live last night, and it includes a brand-new feature in the form of 'Night Mode', adding some handy new tools for late-night gamers. As you can see in the video above (courtesy of The Verge's Tom Warren), Night Mode allows you to dim...
Pick One Which Codemasters Racer Are You Most Excited For On Xbox Game Pass?
Arriving into XGP Ultimate with EA Play on Tuesday
It's time for another round of Pick One! This week, to celebrate the upcoming addition of five Codemasters titles to the EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate libraries "starting August 10", we thought we'd put the spotlight on them. The upcoming racers include three entries from the Dirt series,...
News Microsoft Flight Simulator Patch Reportedly 'Fixes' Quick Resume On Xbox Series X|S
You may now return to the cockpit
The latest hotfix arrived for Microsoft Flight Simulator across Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC yesterday, and while it isn't mentioned in the release notes, the patch appears to have fixed Quick Resume support on Xbox Series X|S. Fans have taken to social media to report that Quick Resume is now working...
News Psychonauts 2 Is Now Ready To Pre-Install With Xbox Game Pass
"Play it Day One"
It's now the month of August and that means Psychonauts 2 is almost here. If you're planning on playing this new release via Xbox Game Pass, the good news is it's now available to pre-install on Microsoft's subscription service. It'll take up about 28GB of space on your system and will unlock later this month on 25th August...
News Elden Ring Store Listings Emerge, Containing New Details, Screenshots
We can almost taste it
Even though we have a release date for Elden Ring, gameplay to look at, and tons of details, it still doesn't feel real, does it? Don't worry, it absolutely is, as store listings for the game have begun to surface, packed with some tasty new details and a few tantalising screenshots. Both Steam and the PlayStation Store have...
Hands On Back 4 Blood Is Left 4 Dead 3 In All But Name
And that's not a bad thing
When Back 4 Blood was first announced, we initially were turned off by yet another zombie game hitting the market. It's a genre that's died a death now (no pun intended), and we weren't sure how many more avenues could be explored. It wasn't until we discovered this was being helmed by the creators of Left 4 Dead that our...
News NHL 22's Closed Beta Hits The Ice Later This Month, Sign Up Now
Space is limited, so get in while you can
We haven't actually heard anything about a release date for EA's NHL 22 as of yet, but a closed beta for the game is officially arriving on Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in late August, and you can sign up for it now. As expected, this means NHL 22 will be making its debut on next-gen consoles...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 7-8)
Anyone for some Dodgeball Academia?
Welcome to the weekend! As always, there's lots of good stuff to check out on Xbox over the next couple of days, including a bunch of new Xbox Game Pass titles, three Free Play Days additions and the usual Xbox weekly sales. Here's what we’re jumping into over th
Friday6th Aug 2021
News Insignia, The OG Xbox Live Replacement, Is Still Quietly Making Progress
A way to play original Xbox games online again
If you happened to be a member of the Pure Xbox community all the way back in May last year, you might remember a story about a project called 'Insignia'. Still in private development as of 2021, the aim of this project is to allow original Xbox owners to play games online without any modifications or...
News Cyberpunk 2077 Still Has 'A Lot That Needs Changing' Seven Months Later, Claims Digital Foundry
"Without a doubt, further optimisations are needed across the board"
Seven months on and Cyberpunk 2077 players are still awaiting a completely smooth experience. The next-gen version has been promised in the second half of 2021, but until then, Xbox owners are forced to play via the backwards compatible version. All this time later, Digital Foundry...
Poll How Many Xbox Controllers Do You Own?
Just the one, or a whole selection?
The Xbox Series X and Series S generation is really up and running now when it comes to controller designs, with plenty of variations having arrived on the scene, with the latest being the Aqua Shift variant launching on August 31. But even beyond that, there are a vast number of Xbox One controllers that have...
News Crunchyroll Is Giving Away Three Free Months of Xbox Game Pass For PC
But you'll need to be a new XGP member
Anime streaming service Crunchyroll has entered into a partnership with Xbox to give away three months of Xbox Game Pass for PC to anyone who is a current member of Crunchyroll Premium, or signs up for a free trial of it. You can head to the Crunchyroll website to sign up for the 14-day free trial and claim...
News Killer Instinct Official Website Update Has Some Fans Excited
Is it a sign? Probably not...
Although the latest Killer Instinct game might still seem relatively new compared to certain older entries in the series, it's technically an Xbox One launch title - released all the way back in 2013. Since then, it has received a number of updates including new levels, modes and fighters. The last major update in...
Video Here's A Look Behind The Scenes At Xbox Game Pass's Twelve Minutes
Starring Daisy Ridley, James McAvoy and Willem Dafoe
There are a bunch of exciting games heading to Xbox Game Pass in August, and one of the highlights is undoubtedly interactive thriller Twelve Minutes, which is launching into the service on its release day on August 19. Ahead of the release, Collider has been given an exclusive reveal of almost...
News The Ascent Players Are Raising Concerns Over The Game’s Text Size
"There are too many accessibility issues"
The Ascent may be proving to be a huge success in terms of its gameplay, but players are raising concerns over the game's accessibility options - one notable complaint being the in-game text size, which is very small. While there are options to adjust the subtitle size - which work perfectly - other...
News Back 4 Blood Dev Talks 'Mind-Blowing' Excitement Of Launching On Xbox Game Pass
"That's going to be kind of crazy, right?"
Back 4 Blood, the spiritual successor to Left 4 Dead, is officially releasing on Xbox Game Pass on October 12, and ahead of its release, executive producer Matt O'Driscoll has been talking about launching into the service on day one. In an interview with GamesRadar, O'Driscoll enthused that the ability to...
News EA's Dead Space Remake Could Reportedly Launch Late 2022
Some new details about the game have also surfaced
Dead Space was announced just last month with a brief teaser trailer. Due to not having much to show, many expected to not see the game for a few years at the very least, but according to a new report, it could be coming as early as next year. The report comes from VentureBeat
News Ubisoft Confirms Riders Republic's Beta Will Take Place Later This Month
Test the slopes ahead of release
Riders Republic may have been hit with a short delay, but that's not stopping Ubisoft from pushing out a beta for the game. It will run between August 23-25 on all platforms. The limited access beta requires interested parties to sign up to create a Ubisoft account and then
Video New Guardians Of The Galaxy Cinematic Showcases Player Choices
Launching this October
Eidos Montreal has dropped a new in-game cinematic of its upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy game, demonstrating that it won't be an entirely 'hands-off' experience during cutscenes. The short but sweet scene introduces the villainous character Lady Hellbender, who meets the five quirky heroes. After a player choice is made "to...
Thursday5th Aug 2021
News Xbox Developers Now Need To Pay For Unity, But It's 'Free' With PlayStation & Nintendo
It could affect future titles coming to Xbox
Unity has changed its terms, meaning a Pro license or Preferred Platform License Key will be needed to continue developing games for Xbox - something Microsoft reportedly does not offer to developers. The report comes from Gamasutra, which claims the keys are gifted to developers by Nintendo and Sony,...
News Seven More Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass (August 5)
"Rise to fight again"
It's Game Pass day! We've got seven more games entering the service across console, PC and cloud today, including a couple of day one releases in Dodgeball Academia and the PC-only early access release of Starmancer. Here are the new games you can download with Xbox Game Pass today: Curse of the Dead Gods: Console, PC,...
News Cris Tales' Game-Breaking Glitch Has Now Been Fixed On Xbox
It should work fine now!
Update: Modus Games has dropped a patch for Cris Tales on Xbox, suggesting players should no longer run into the controller de-sync issue. We can confirm the update is now live and ready to download on Xbox Game Pass. Original Story: Cris Tales hit Xbox Game Pass yesterday after months of anticipation, but many players...
News The Ascent Update Quietly Adds Difficulty Options On Xbox
Hopefully making for a more accessible experience
The Ascent launched on Xbox Game Pass last week, and while players seem to be embracing it, many have noted that it's plagued with a few difficulty spikes. To combat that, a recent patch has quietly added difficulty options to ensure a more balanced experience. Yesterday saw the launch of a new...
Random This Custom Halo Xbox Series X|S Controller Is A Beauty, But It'll Cost You
Created by the brilliant POPeART
Talented creator POPeART (formerly known as Xbox Pope) has unveiled his latest Xbox custom controller design in the form of the 'Halo Needler', and the big appeal this time is that you can actually buy it if you want to. The controller is being sold by TREZN with free worldwide shipping, but it comes at the...
News Could We Be Getting LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga News At Gamescom 2021?
The force is strong with this one
Since the indefinite delay of LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, we haven't really heard much about the game. In fact, before said delay, we didn't know too much about it then either. However, with any luck, we're hoping this recent tweet from the team behind
News Ryan Reynolds' New Movie 'Free Guy' Features Vehicles From Halo
Check out this "life-sized" Warthog from the premiere
If you've been wondering what's up with Xbox cross-promoting 20th Century's new movie Free Guy (starring Ryan Reynolds), it seems some of the gaming giant's IP actually features in it. At the red carpet event of the film in New York, Xbox unveiled a "life-sized" replica of a Halo Infinite...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (August 5-8)
Welcome to Hope County, Montana
It's time for another batch of Free Play Days titles! Three more games are available to play for free this weekend for Xbox Live Gold members, and they're ready to download right now. So, what's on offer? As previously revealed, Far Cry 5 is the highlight of this weekend's offerings, but we've also got another couple...
News EA Issues Confident Statement In Response To PES Going Free-To-Play
"We've seen this happen before"
Konami rocked the boat last month when it was announced that Pro Evolution Soccer would be wrapping up after 25 years, and in its place would be eFootball - a brand-new soccer experience utilising a free-to-play model. From a FIFA perspective, EA was asked during yesterday's earnings call about the company's reaction...
News Xbox Indie Showcase Returns Next Week With Announcements And Game Pass News
With some live game demos too
Remember the Xbox Indie Showcase back in March? Well, it's back, promising new announcements and Xbox Game Pass reveals. It's set to air Tuesday, August 10 at 9AM PT / 5PM BST. You can tune in either via Twitch Gaming's or Xbox's Twitch channel, and the show is promising to be packed full of "new game announcements",...
News There's Reportedly A New '3D' South Park Game In The Works
Aww sweet, dude!
Good news, South Park fans! It's been four years since the release of The Fractured but Whole, but now Bloomberg is reporting that South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are investing in a new game based on the series. The only news we have so far is that it's a "3D video game that is set in the world of South Park" and...
News EA: Mass Effect Legendary Edition Sales Were 'Well Above Expectations'
"There is enduring power to the franchisees and IP that we are building"
If you were worried that Mass Effect may have had its time in the sun, then fear not. The latest earnings report from EA confirms that the recently released Mass Effect Legendary Edition performed "well above expectations". The last quarter is said to have delivered a "big...
News EA Says It's Committed To Investing In The Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Franchise
Expect more adventures in a galaxy far, far away
Star Wars fans seemed to gravitate towards Jedi: Fallen Order when it initially launched back in 2019. It's no surprise, as the game perfectly captured the spirit of the Star Wars universe, along with delivering some stellar lightsaber combat. Luckily for fans, EA has said it's committed to investing...
News Evil Dead: The Game Has Been Pushed Back To 2022, Single-Player Mode Being Added
Not so groovy
Evil Dead: The Game was intended to be a Halloween treat for all us horror fans out there, but unfortunately the title has now been pushed back to February 2022. To ensure the game is the ultimate Evil Dead experience fans have come to expect, the extra time is being used to polish the experience. Not only that, but it's also allowing...
Wednesday4th Aug 2021
News Sorry Folks, Lawn Mowing Simulator Won't Be On Xbox Game Pass At Launch
But never say never
What started out as a humorous announcement has turned into a game with a lot of hype in the form of Lawn Mowing Simulator, which arrives next week on August 10, but unfortunately it won't be included with Xbox Game Pass. This was revealed to us in our exclusive interview with the game's lead producer, Michael Davies, who...
Thursday5th Aug 2021
News Microsoft Flight Simulator Is Now Metacritic's Best Xbox Game Of 2021
Will anything be able to soar above it?
We're now over halfway into 2021 (crazy, we know!) and we've already seen some incredible games release on Xbox platforms this year. As of right now, last week's release of Microsoft Flight Simulator is taking the crown on Metacritic. In case you didn't know, Metacritic takes critics' scores and puts them...
Wednesday4th Aug 2021
Deals Xbox Is Hosting A Mega Far Cry Franchise Sale This Week
Take advantage of 20+ Far Cry Xbox deals
This week's selection of Xbox Deals is now live, and alongside the Xbox Summer Sale which runs until Friday, Xbox is also hosting a special Far Cry Franchise Sale for the next week, featuring over 20 separate deals. Below, we've included every single Far Cry game / add-on available over the next week, and to...
News The Ascent Boasts Impressive Opening Weekend Results, Over $5 Million In Total Sales
"We have been overwhelmed by the positive response"
The Ascent launched on Xbox Game Pass last week, resulting in thousands of players downloading and checking out the game. Despite that, it's still managed to be a huge success for publisher Curve Digital, which is celebrating its largest ever opening weekend in sales revenue after the game's...
News The Outer Worlds 2 Will Seemingly Be Built With Unreal Engine 5
The first game has also reached over 4 million sales
The Outer Worlds 2 is a long ways off - the initial teaser trailer even said so. That being said, development appears to be underway on the next iteration in the space RPG series, and a recent job listing could suggest the game is being built in Unreal Engine 5. On developer Obsidia
News Halo's Voice Actors Were Nearly Recast On Two Separate Occasions
"It almost slipped away from me"
The voice of Halo's Master Chief, Steve Downes, has appeared as part of a brand-new episode of the Gameplay podcast today, and as part of it, he's revealed that Halo's voice actors were almost recast on two separate occasions. The first was during the Bungie days, where following the success of the original Halo:...
News MLB The Show 21's Xbox Release Appears To Have Been A Major Success For Sony
"The Show 21 contributed significantly to sales and profit..."
Sony has followed on from Xbox last week by reporting the latest earnings results for the PlayStation brand, and interestingly from an Xbox perspective, there's a little note discussing the success of MLB The Show 21. The company says that MLB The Show 21's launch on "other platforms"...
Random Xbox Fans Want Microsoft To Add Clippy AI To Halo Infinite
Halo's Twitter account seems open to the idea...
With Xbox lately, a lot of things have been born out of a meme...Craig the Brute, a fully functioning Xbox mini fridge - so what's next? Video game accessory maker Astro Gaming shared the following mock-up of a Halo Infinite multiplayer avatar holding a rather interesting personal AI -
News Curse Of The Dead Gods Arrives On Xbox Game Pass This Week
A new roguelike coming to the service
One of the best parts of Xbox Game Pass is being introduced to games we would have never have even dreamed of playing. Curse of the Dead Gods is one of those titles, an isometric roguelike hitting Xbox Game Pass tomorrow. On a quest to find treasure, you stumble upon a temple which seemingly never ends...
News Halo Multiplayer Announcer Pledges Support For Trans Players
"You are all un-freaking-believable"
Jeff Steitzer, the iconic voice behind Halo's multiplayer, has spoken out about his support for trans rights, telling the community he "hope things will be better for " in the future. The video of Steitzer came from the message site Cameo, where fans can request to have phrases or shoutouts from their favourite...
Interview Our Cutting-Edge Chat With The Lead Producer Of Lawn Mowing Simulator
"We’ve been blown away by the positive sentiment..."
Brace yourself folks, it's the big one! Lawn Mowing Simulator will be with us in less than a week on Tuesday, August 10, and we've had a chance to track down the game's lead producer for a chat ahead of launch. The game has been receiving loads of attention in recent weeks following a very...
News Xbox's Phil Spencer Was 'Amazed' At How Well Psychonauts 1 Holds Up
He's waiting until release to play the sequel
Head of Xbox Phil Spencer was a guest on the Xbox Twitch channel last night during a 90-minute long stream in which he played Destiny 2, joining in via audio chat from his Xbox Series S whilst on vacation. The majority of the chat was centred around Destiny 2, but Spencer made a few comments about the...
News 343 Industries Is Hoping To Have At Least One More Halo Infinite Flight Before Launch
"Our hope is to land at least another larger scale flight"
Halo Infinite's first Technical Preview has come and gone, but hopefully at least one more is on the cards before launch, as developer 343 Industries has said it "hope to land at least another larger scale flight". The information comes from Halo's community director Brian Jarrard, who...
News Spligate Team 'Absolutely Working Our Tails Off' To Improve Server Capacity
The full release has been slightly delayed
Splitgate has become something of a phenomenon over the past few weeks. Ever since it entered its beta last month, players have been arriving in their droves to check out the Halo meets Portal shooter. Unfortunately, with such a small team working on the game, the servers have taken a bit of a beating -...
Tuesday3rd Aug 2021
News EA Play Is Bringing Five Codemasters Games To Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Codies enters the arena
EA has announced five titles will be joining the EA Play service starting August 10, meaning they'll also be available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. The five titles celebrate EA's acquisition of Codemasters, delivering an array of the developer's racers to the service. Here are the Codemasters games are coming to EA...
News Another Seven Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass Soon (August 8-15)
Trevor has (almost) left the building
Update: We've now got dates to share! GTA V will leave on August 8, and the rest will leave on August 15. Original story: Microsoft has unveiled the next set of seven games that will be removed from Xbox Game Pass in the early part of August 2021, highlighted by the previously revealed departure of
News These 15 Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (August 5-17)
The latest batch of titles
The latest batch of Xbox Game Pass titles has arrived! Microsoft has today unveiled another 15 (!) games coming to the service over the next couple of weeks, with five of them being Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles via EA Play. Here's what's coming to Xbox Game Pass over the next few weeks: Date Game Platform August 5
News The Ascent Dev 'Actively Working On Fixes' For Reports Of Co-Op Issues
Crashes, unable to join matches, it's all here
The Ascent launched with Xbox Game Pass last week and fans seem to be loving the cyberpunk RPG. One of its main draws is the inclusion of online and offline co-op, made even more enticing with its inclusion into Game Pass, but many fans have run into issues with the game's multiplayer. Reddit is home...
News Take-Two: Xbox Game Pass Style Services 'Don't Make Sense For Frontline Titles'
"Our views remain unchanged"
2K Games owner Take-Two held its latest earnings call yesterday, and in one of the questions that was posed to the company, chairman and chief executive officer Strauss Zelnick was asked about how Take-Two feels about subscription models (which incorporates the likes of Xbox Game Pass) from a business perspective. In...
News Take-Two CEO Believes GTA V Will Be 'Highly Appealing' To Xbox Series X And Series S Owners
The enhanced version arrives this November
It's easy to forget a new version of Grand Theft Auto V is on the horizon for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, but it's just a few short months away from gracing our consoles... again. Speaking about the game in a recent earnings call, Take-Two Interactive shared an interesting note about the enhanced...
Random Uh-Oh, Halo Infinite's Destructible Fruit Has Become A Bit Of A Talking Point
Attention to detail or just nitpicking?
The first Halo Infinite Multiplayer Technical Preview has officially ended, and while many participants seem to be quite taken with it (including us here at Pure Xbox) there are some more, let's say...controversial takes. One video, in particular, on the Halo subeddit highlights how the destruc
News Xbox Unveils New Aqua Shift Special Edition Controller
The first special edition controller with rubberised grips
Despite the Xbox Design Lab opening up again, a new controller has been unveiled sporting a beautiful aqua glossing, arriving on August 31. The Aqua Shift controller will be the first special edition Xbox controller to come with rubberised grips, each equipped with unique dual colour...
News Art Of Rally Is Drifting Onto Xbox Game Pass Next Week
"Will you master the art of rally?"
Earlier this year, Art of Rally was announced to be launching on Xbox Game Pass day one, and now we have a release date of August 12 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. The stylish racer has been available for PC users via Steam for some while now, and has been subject to very positive reviews
Wednesday4th Aug 2021
News Far Cry 5 Will Be Entirely Free To Play On Xbox This Weekend
And it's also on sale at 85% off
Ubisoft is having a massive Far Cry celebration on Xbox this week, with the highlight being the inclusion of Far Cry 5 in a free weekend trial from August 5 at 2pm to August 9 at 9pm ("your local time"). You'll be able to give the 2018 first-person shooter a try to see whether it merits a purchase, and if you want...
Tuesday3rd Aug 2021
Deals 50+ Games Added To This Week's Xbox Sales (August 3-10)
Alongside the huge Xbox Summer Sale
It's time for another set of Xbox deals! This week's selection is smaller than usual due to the ongoing Xbox Summer Sale (also known as the 'Ultimate Game Sale'), which still has a couple of days left to run until Friday, August 6. We've highlighted a few of the most notable Xbox games offers in this week's new...
News You Can Now Have Master Chief As A GPS Navigator On Your Smart Device
"Put on your safety belt and let's go!"
Ever wanted to be directed where to go by the voice of Master Chief? Of course you have, and the latest update for the GPS app Waze lets you do just that. For those who don't know (we didn't), Waze is an all-in-one GPS app which allows you to set routes, provide real time updates on traffic, listen to music,...
News Dodgeball Academia Launches Day One With Xbox Game Pass This Week
If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball
As part of today's Xbox Game Pass announcement, Dodgeball Academia was announced to be arriving day one into the service on August 5. The sport is given a unique lick of paint here, as it pits you in a single player RPG. It's not all colourful dodgeball battles, as you'll also spend time navigating...
News Former Xbox Exec Takes Over As Co-Lead Of Blizzard Entertainment
Along with Jen Oneal from Vicarious Visions
Following Activision Blizzard being sued over a culture of harassment and discrimination, company president J. Allen Brack has stepped down from the position. To assume the role, former Xbox corporate vice president Mike Ybarra and former Vicarious Visions studio head Jen Oneal will take over at Blizzard...
News A Gummy's Life Brings Gang Beasts Style Action To Xbox Later This Year
Candy crush
A Gummy's Life, a physics-based multiplayer game which previously launched on PC and Nintendo Switch, is punching its way onto Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S later this year. The multiplayer party game has you picking your own candy-themed fighter, as you fight in relentless online and offline matches. Built around using...
Monday2nd Aug 2021
News 8BitDo's New Xbox Media Remote Arrives This September
"The most beautiful Media Remote ever made for Xbox"
8BitDo is today announcing a brand-new media remote for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, available to pre-order from today over at Amazon US, and set to begin shipping on September 15. There are actually two variants of the remote, including one long black Media Remote ($19.99) and one short...
Feature These Games Are Coming To Xbox This Week (August 3-6)
It's all about the indies this week
It's time for another weekly Xbox new releases roundup, and after a couple of very busy weeks, we're looking at a much quieter few days ahead. However, we have got a bunch of Xbox Series X|S optimised titles on the way, a couple of notable expansions, and hopefully some more Xbox Game Pass titles which have yet to...
Mini Review The Krispy Kreme Xbox Donut - A Series-ly X-cellent Treat
Sooooo good
It's here. After months of waiting - the donut to end all other donuts. Krispy Kreme has launched The Nexus Level donut, an Xbox style treat which is sure to tickle your taste buds. As with any big release, we've been on the ground day one to check it out, give it a taste, and share our thoughts. While we're not quite donut connoisseurs,...
Hands On Halo Infinite's Multiplayer Feels Like The Perfect Blend Of New And Old
This could be the start of something new
There was a lot riding on the Halo Infinite Technical Preview. Despite it only being a taste of what’s to come, first impressions count, and it was one the game scarpered in its gameplay reveal last year. Playing the game for the first time has to feel right, and capture the magic that many felt had been...
News Death's Door Devs: 'Our Wildest Expectations Have Been Met'
"Nothing could've gone better"
Death's Door launched last month and blew away everyone's expectations - including ours. It's a brilliant marriage of games such as Zelda and Dark Souls, and has captured the hearts of many players around the world. But according to the team, the game's success is something they only ever dreamed as being their...
Video Here's Seven Minutes Of The Back 4 Blood Open Beta
Bringing its horde to Xbox this month
Left 4 Dead spiritual successor Back 4 Blood is coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch this October, but before then, we've got a couple of open betas taking place on Xbox this month so you can try the game out early. Ahead of the first one (which begins later this week), IGN has gone hands-on with the beta in both...
Talking Point What's Your Favourite Video Game Sequel?
Red Dead Redemption 2? Halo 2? Portal 2?
Twitter has been an incredible place for nostalgia today. Multiple sequels of much-loved games have been trending, including titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and Portal 2. It's been a great trip down memory lane, looking back on many fantastic follow-ups, which in quite a few instances have outshined the...
News The Ascent Is Bringing DLSS, Ray Tracing To Xbox Game Pass For PC
The Steam version already has it
Interestingly, The Ascent has launched two PC versions. One for Steam and another via Xbox Game Pass for PC. Both are different, most notably in the fact that the Steam version includes DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and ray tracing support - something Xbox Game Pass for PC members are sadly missing out on...
News Free-To-Play Xbox Console Exclusive ExoMecha Has Been Delayed To 2022
It was originally meant to release this month
The impressive looking FPS ExoMecha was scheduled to launch this month, but the team at TwistedRedGames have now confirmed it's been pushed back to Q1 2022. ExoMecha is a free-to-play title heading to PC, and Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S as a console exclusive. It looks to be a mixture of...
News Halo Infinite Dataminers Allegedly Discover 'Battle Royale' Audio Clip
Is it a sign of things to come?
Halo Infinite's first technical preview has been a huge success on Xbox and PC over the past few days, but there have been a couple of downsides, such as campaign files being unintentionally leaked onto the web. Additionally, dataminers now appear to have discovered an audio clip of Halo Infinite announcer Jeff...
News Assassin's Creed Valhalla's Director Is Helming The Dead Space Remake
Let's hope Issac isn't diving off of any towers
With the excitement of a Dead Space remake on the way settling down, it's time to look deeper into who's working on the project. Confirmation via a LinkedIn profile has confirmed the former game director for Assassin's Creed Valhalla will now be helming the highly anticipated remake. As spotted by
Sunday1st Aug 2021
Roundup Here's What's Coming To Xbox In August 2021
Including some major Game Pass releases
July was a really good month for Xbox, but August is already looking just as good, with a variety of major releases on the way including Aliens: Fireteam Elite and Madden NFL 22, along with highly-anticipated Xbox Game Pass releases such as
Guide How To Claim 2000 Bonus Microsoft Rewards Points On Xbox In August
Your Monthly Bonus Round instructions
It's that time again! We're big fans of the Microsoft Rewards program here at Pure Xbox, which allows you to complete tasks in order to earn redeemable points which can be spent on gift cards, donations and much more. August 2021's "Monthly Bonus Round" challenge has just begun, and by satisfying a few easy...
News eSports Boxing Club Unveils Stunning New Gameplay Video, Coming To Xbox
"See our progress since the last gameplay walkthrough"
There's been a ton of hype surrounding eSports Boxing Club ever since it was first announced back in April 2020, and that hype has only grown over the past few days following the unveiling of a new gameplay walkthrough video. You can watch the video above, which showcases how the already...
News Halo Infinite Players Have Already Eliminated Over Six Million Bots
The most deadly bots are now en route
The Halo Infinite multiplayer technical preview is currently underway this weekend - introducing player-like bots to this part of the series for the first time ever. As previously explained, the more bots players slay - the more the experience will evolve. It's now been confirmed more than six million bots have...