Tag: Microsoft
News Amazon Adds 'Frequently Returned Item' Warning To Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller
"Check customer reviews to learn more"
Over the years, both iterations of Microsoft's Xbox Elite Controller have had pretty widespread reliability issues - that's not to say that every user will experience this sort of thing, but it's certainly more likely than it is with normal Xbox controllers. As a result, Amazon's new warning system that alerts...
News Microsoft Posts 'Farewell' Message As Xbox Game Pass Mobile App Goes Offline
Adios
Back in September of last year, Microsoft announced that it was going merge its Xbox mobile apps — ditching the dedicated Game Pass version in the process — and after halting new downloads from November, the team has now posted a farewell message as the app goes offline. As shared over on Reddit, user
News Microsoft Celebrates 50th Anniversary With New Dynamic Background For Xbox Series X|S
Featuring some iconic Xbox characters
Following three fresh additions to the Xbox Series X|S dynamic background collection earlier this month, Microsoft has added another new entry - and it features some pretty iconic Xbox characters for the company's 50th anniversary. Yep, live now on Xbox Series X and S consoles, the 50th anniversary background...
News Microsoft Unveils 'Backbone' Mobile Controller That Looks Like An OG Xbox Gamepad
The classic translucent green look
Microsoft is putting more and more focus on Xbox Cloud Gaming these days, and today's announcement of an OG Xbox-themed 'Backbone' controller fits in with that new strategy rather nicely. Coming in at $109.99, the Xbox-themed Backbone controller is available now in the US via the accessory maker's website - and...
News Xbox Dev Obsidian Announces New Turn-Based Combat Feature For Pillars Of Eternity
10 years after the game launched!
In the run up to launch in mid-February, Xbox developer Obsidian would have been pretty busy getting Avowed ready for prime time - but that hasn't meant this prolific studio has been quiet elsewhere; far from it. To celebrate 10 years of Pillars of Eternity, the team has been working on a big old patch - a patch...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (March 27-30)
Included with Xbox Game Pass
Xbox's Free Play Days program has returned for the coming weekend, and Microsoft is being generous this week with five free titles to hop into this time around. We don't have any major games on the list this week, but there's some nice variety here - which could mean the selection is worth a good browse if you're after...
News Xbox's Perfect Dark Co-Developer Announces Several Layoffs
"We did not make this decision lightly"
One of the major development teams working on Xbox's Perfect Dark reboot has laid off multiple employees this week, the studio has confirmed on social media. Crystal Dynamics, the Tomb Raider developer which has also been drafted in to work with Xbox on Perfect Dark, has let go of 17 workers in total.
News Xbox Controllers Drop To Lowest Price Of 2025 At Amazon UK
Good controllers, reasonably priced
If anyone in the UK is after a brand-new Xbox Series X|S controller at the moment, we're seeing some pretty good deals at various retailers right now - including online at Amazon UK and Argos. These prices, which are the lowest we've seen all year, first cropped up at Argos thanks to a 10% discount code, before...
Talking Point Will Any Next-Gen Xbox Have A Disc Drive?
Or will Microsoft go all-digital across the board?
So, the rumours about Microsoft's slate of next-gen systems seem to have slowed down a little bit lately, after we heard about three potential devices being in the works over at Xbox earlier this month. Skipping over that 2025 partner handheld for the moment and looking ahead to the two
News Microsoft Unveils Custom Xbox Series X Console Themed Around Atomfall
You'll have to enter to win one
With Atomfall finally set to arrive on Xbox Game Pass tomorrow, the marketing push from developer Rebellion is in full swing - and now Microsoft is joining in on the act with a custom Xbox Series X console themed around the post-apocalyptic RPG. As shared on social media this week, fans can enter to win a custom Xbox...
News Three Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass Core (March 26)
The cheapest tier of Xbox Game Pass
Welcome to your latest Xbox Game Pass update! Today's refresh focuses purely on the Xbox Game Pass Core library, which grows by three new titles as Microsoft builds out the service. All three of today's new Game Pass Core titles are very well regarded - particularly Batman: Arkham Knight which is still revered by...
News Minecraft's Latest Update Includes 'Highly Requested' Feature
"Pause when alone"
Minecraft, as you might have already seen, just rolled out its new 'Spring to Life' update and while it's filled with all sorts of new and exciting content such as new blocks, animal variants, and much more, there's also one particular feature that has long-time players rather excited. It's the ability to pause - yes, the team at...
News Xbox Buying Ubisoft Would Be An Unwise Move, Suggests Former PlayStation Boss
"It's just too big to manage"
Back at the start of the month, it was reported that Xbox might have shown interest in acquiring one or more IP from Ubisoft, and speaking in an interview recently, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden urged caution around this. Layden was asked about Xbox buying Ubisoft rather than any specific IP, and he advised that...
News Publisher Ratalaika Games Is Delisting 6 'Easy Gamerscore' Titles From The Xbox Store
All going over the next few weeks
In recent months, we've seen quite a few titles switch off their servers as game publishers wind down support on certain releases - and today, Publisher Ratalaika Games has revealed that six of its titles will be completely removed from the Xbox storefront in the coming weeks. Now, to get ahead of things here -...
News Microsoft's New 'Buy One, Get One Free' Sale Features Plenty Of Xbox DLC
Available for the next week or so
This week, Xbox is hosting yet another 'buy one, get one free' sale on the Microsoft Store - and this particular promotion focuses on a bunch of Xbox DLC packs for multiple titles. In here, we have a pretty eclectic mix of add-ons, from big expansion passes for major AAA games, to small chunks of DLC for some more...
News Xbox Will Bring 'A Lot More' Exclusives To PS5 And Switch 2 In 2025
The latest report reiterates Xbox's new strategy
We've already been told to expect more first-party Xbox games on other platforms going forward, but if you somehow missed the message, here's an update. Off the back of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle being locked in for an April 15th release on the
News Bethesda Reveals PS5 Release Date For Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Moving over next month
Well, the day has finally arrived. After months of speculation since Xbox first announced that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was coming to PS5, the team has finally revealed the new release date. Indy moves over to PlayStation on April 17. You can check out th
News Another Major Xbox Game Pass Release For April 2025 Has Gone Gold
Next month is shaping up nicely
Last week, we heard that Microsoft's very own South of Midnight had gone gold and is locked and loaded for its upcoming Xbox Game Pass launch - and now the service has seen another major title go gold ahead of its April release. <related ids="179743"> That's right, the much-anticipated turn-based RPG Clair
News Two Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass Ultimate This Week (March 25-27)
Two fresh additions inbound
Welcome to another Xbox Game Pass roundup! This week, Microsoft is delivering two more titles to the main Game Pass Ultimate library, including the much-anticipated day one release of Atomfall. Here's exactly when these two new games will be added - alongside a brief synopsis of what to expect when they hit Xbox Game...
News Xbox Joins New Gaming Accessibility Initiative As Founding Member
"Our goal is to empower as many people as possible"
Microsoft (and Team Xbox) will be joining the new "Accessible Games Initiative" as a founding member alongside Electronic Arts, Google, Nintendo of America and Ubisoft. This new "cross-industry effort" led by the Entertainment Software Association in the US aims to provide clear information about...
News Microsoft's Next Xbox Game Studios Release Has Officially Gone Gold
Heading south
Well, shortly after sharing an updated Xbox Game Studios roadmap for 2025 and beyond, Microsoft has announced that its next big first-party release has officially gone gold! Yep, Compulsion Games' South of Midnight is now locked and loaded for its Xbox Game Pass release next month. That Game Pass release arrives on
News Xbox Fan Shares Updated First-Party Roadmap Following Recent Microsoft Announcements
Tony Hawk added, Fable shifted
It's been quite a wild few months for Team Xbox, hasn't it? Aside from even more PS5 release dates rumoured and formally announced, we've also had some surprise reveals for Xbox Series X|S - alongside
News Using Your Xbox Controller To Type On Windows Just Got Easier
A small but handy update
Microsoft continues to develop its Xbox experience on PC and other devices, and the company this week has rolled out a new "gamepad" keyboard for Windows 11. Basically, what this means is it should now be easier to type and navigate the keyboard layout when using your Xbox controller on Windows 11. As highlighted by The...
Talking Point Xbox Is Two Months Away From Making Its Mark On Another Legendary FPS
A new age is coming
We've now passed the midway point of March, which means we're just a few months out from Microsoft bookending the first half of the year with another huge Xbox release. We had Avowed in February, we've got South of Midnight next month, and then Xbox is taking on the daddy of first-person shooters in May - with DOOM: The Dark...
News Xbox Series X|S Sales Now Trailing Almost 20% Behind Xbox One In The US
4.5 years into the generation
Xbox Series X and S consoles have been out in the wild for more than four years at this point, and new data suggests that the pair of consoles are lagging well behind Xbox One's performance at this time last generation. Now, we must add that this data is coming from Circana — who solely focuses on US sales — but...
News Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's Latest Addition Is Going Down Pretty Well So Far
"It is so good"
This week, Microsoft brought yet another day one release to Xbox Game Pass in the form of 33 Immortals - and despite the game's early access nature right now, it seems to be going down pretty well with players so far. Over on the Microsoft Store, the game has a 3.5 star rating in Xbox Game Preview at the moment, with around 50% of...
Guide When Will Microsoft Reveal The Xbox Spring Sale 2025?
It should be coming very soon!
With some spring-like weather finally hitting UK shores this week, and the likes of Valve offering up a big Spring Sale on Steam already, you may be wondering when Xbox will go live with its spring-time sale. The truth is that right now, we don't know the exact date for the Xbox Spring Sale 2025, but it's safe to say...
News Two Games Are Available Today With Xbox Game Pass Standard (March 19)
Two fresh titles hittin' the library
Welcome to another Xbox Game Pass roundup! Today's additions are only brand-new for Xbox Game Pass Standard players - although both of these games are also in the main Game Pass Ultimate library and have been for a while. Anyway, here's what's new for XGP Standard players today, March 19:
News Microsoft Is 'Focused On Helping' Indie Devs Make Use Of Xbox Play Anywhere
A stronger focus on XPA
Ever since fans threw together this big old Xbox Play Anywhere 'master list', Microsoft seems to have paid more attention to its multi-device purchasing program - and the team has again acknowledged the service in a new post about its ID@Xbox successes. In a fresh
Guide Xbox Game Pass Core: Full List Of Games (March 2025 Update)
Here's everything you can play on Game Pass Core
Back in September 2023, Microsoft finally phased out Xbox Live Gold, replacing it with Xbox Game Pass Core as a new entry-level tier to its subscription service. Unlike Games with Gold, which has now been scrapped, Xbox Game Pass Core grants subscribers access to a select list of games separate to...
News Two First-Party Games Now Confirmed For Xbox Series X|S In April 2025
A stacked schedule
For a few months now, Team Xbox has had Compulsion's South of Midnight lined up as its major first-party release for April 2025 - but Microsoft has now added a second game into the mix. After launching in Steam Early Access last year,
News These Six Games Are Coming To Xbox Game Pass (March 18-27)
Late March's XGP additions
Microsoft has today announced its next batch of Xbox Game Pass titles, all of which are heading to the library over the next few weeks. We've got six games arriving in total, including the likes of 33 Immortals and Atomfall. Here's the full list of Xbox Game Pass additions for March 18-27:...
News 10 Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass In Late March 2025
Some big games departing the service
Xbox has revealed the next batch of games leaving Xbox Game Pass in March 2025 today, and there are some big ones in the mix - including popular titles such as Monster Hunter Rise, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and a whole lot more. We don't know the cloud status of these just yet, but the console and PC removals have...
Pick One If Xbox Acquired One Ubisoft IP, Which Should It Be?
A hypothetical hmm
In recent weeks, we've started to hear more and more about Ubisoft's plans to sell off its biggest assets - including official statements from the company alongside reports about multiple publishers being interested in the team's IP. One of those publishers is Xbox, apparently, and we want to pose a simple question: if Microsoft...
Talking Point What Other Bethesda Remakes Would You Like Xbox To Greenlight?
What else deserves a glow-up from Team Green?
Well well well, we just can't seem to go a week without another rumour about that darn Oblivion remake - with the latest reports suggesting that this Elder Scrolls re-do could be out in a matter of weeks. While we'll be happy to see a nice little modernisation of the Bethesda classic, there's also plenty...
News Xbox Announces Two Huge Titles For Its 'Stream Your Own Game' Service
One out now, one launching very soon
At the end of last month, we brought news of five fresh additions to Xbox's 'Stream Your Own Game' library alongside 10 more titles that were planned for the near future - and since then, Microsoft has announced another two major additions to the service. Today, Xbox has revealed that the upcoming
News Ubisoft IP Could Cost Buyers More Than The Company Itself, Says Report
A pricey endeavour
Earlier this week, we heard that Microsoft has seemingly held talks with Ubisoft about buying some of the French company's gaming IP - and a fresh report tells us that purchasing these franchises would likely cost a pretty penny for the Xbox owner, if they were to go ahead and pick anything up. By way of a new report from outlet...
Report Call Of Duty 2025 Will Go Big On Zombies As Xbox Plans Black Ops 2 Sequel
New details emerge
The Call of Duty machine never stops, and today, fresh details about this year's entry in the series have emerged courtesy of Insider Gaming. The reputable outlet has put out a new report that focuses on developer Treyarch going all-in on Zombies mode - with six maps planned; set in some "out there" locations. The report says...
News Bethesda's Rumoured Elder Scrolls IV Remake Could Shadow Drop On Xbox, It's Claimed
"A shadow drop is possible"
So, it's been a good few months now that we've been hearing about a possible remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - although Microsoft is yet to announce the title at the time of posting. Well, following on from more rumours about the title arriving 'soon' earlier this week, it sounds like there's a possibility we...
News Alan Wake Remastered Free Copies Are Being Revoked By Xbox
More than a month after the glitch occurred
Right at the tail end of January, we shared news on an Xbox glitch for Alan Wake Remastered where players could claim the game for free via a Free Play Days trial for Alan Wake 2. Well, unfortunately, Microsoft has begun revoking these free copies - more than a month aft
News Microsoft Shares Updated 'Xbox Play Anywhere' Games List As It Unifies Console & PC
"Over 1,000 titles are now supporting Xbox Play Anywhere"
We've been banging on about how Microsoft needs to promote the incredible Xbox Play Anywhere feature a lot more than it does, and low and behold, a bunch of Xbox handheld rumours have seemingly prompted an announcement! It's being officially confirmed today that Xbox Play Anywhere now...
News Xbox's 2025 Handheld Likely To Be PC-Focused, But Console Games Could Work In Future
How the 2025 & 2027 devices are shaping up
So, with multiple reports out there now about Xbox's 2025 handheld console, we're seeing some confusion amongst fans about what this device will actually be, and whether it will support console games. Initial reporting on the system suggests that it'll basically be an Xbox-branded
News Microsoft Has Reportedly Discussed Acquiring IP From Ubisoft
As the French company looks for buyers
In recent months, we've seen that Ubisoft is still seeking investment from somewhere as it wrangles with game delays and general management difficulties - and a new bit of information has come to light today that suggests Microsoft has held discussions with the company over the future of its gaming IP. In an...
Talking Point Will Xbox Manage To Create 'Something Legendary' With The Next Halo?
Moving past infinite
Late last year, Microsoft revealed a "new dawn" for its legendary Halo series - with 343 Industries also rebranding to 'Halo Studios' in the process. While we've not heard much about the franchise's next entry since this announcement, the Xbox developer is indeed hiring for this new project - and it's asking aspiring workers to...
News Xbox Is Delivering Some Of Its 'Biggest Updates Ever' As Forza & Age Move To PS5
Some very nice bonuses for Xbox players
While there's been a mixed reception from Xbox fans so far regarding Microsoft's continuing multiplatform efforts, there's definitely one nice bonus to some of these games having an extended shelf life - massive free updates for the existing Xbox versions. Yep, next month, both Forza Horizon 5 and Age Of...
News Xbox Series S Needs A 'Significant' Marketing Push For GTA 6, Insists Analyst
"One last hurrah for this generation"
Last month, we heard that GTA 6 publisher Take-Two believes Rockstar's upcoming epic will help sell Xbox consoles later this year - and now a new Windows Central piece with the help of analyst Rhys Elliot goes into how Microsoft should be lookin
News Activision Blizzard Aims To 'Meaningfully Elevate' BlizzCon When It Returns In 2026
"Something is coming...ready yourself"
Xbox studio Blizzard has announced that its BlizzCon event is taking another year off this year after skipping 2024 - and the convention's 2026 edition will "meaningfully elevate this iconic celebration", according to the team. Addressing followers in a fresh announcement post, the World of Warcraft maker says...
Talking Point If The Next-Gen Xbox Is More 'PC-Like', Will You Still Buy It?
Straddling the line
So, yesterday a pretty interesting report came out of Windows Central that discussed several aspects of Microsoft's next-gen console plans - including the fact that multiple handheld projects are currently in the works over at Xbox. However, what we want to talk about here is this notion that
News Xbox Login Raises Concerns About Preservation Of Forza Horizon 5 On PlayStation
Sony's been criticised for doing it on PC as well
Xbox's new strategy has it releasing more games on more platforms, but there are still certain steps new players must follow if they want to join in on the fun. One of them happens to be mandatory Microsoft account logins. We've seen this with Sea Of Thieves and now sure enough, it's come up with...
Reminder Seven Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass This Weekend (March 15)
There's a few days left to enjoy these titles
As we fast approach the middle of March, we've got to remind you about seven games that are leaving Xbox Game Pass this Saturday, a few of which are particularly notable - such as Lies of P and the pictured-above Evil West. You've got just about four days left if you want to try any of these (they're...
