A new report from Windows Central suggests that plans for a Microsoft-developed Xbox handheld have been sidelined so that Microsoft’s full focus can be on improving Windows 11’s performance on third-party handheld PCs. This news comes as a disappointment, as rumors regarding an official Xbox handheld have circulated for a while and have even been addressed by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer.

The report goes on to explain that Microsoft wants to “prioritize” the gaming performance of Windows 11. In turn, this will allow the OS to function and run games more smoothly on third-party handheld PCs that use Windows as the primary operating system. This will be seen next in a previously reported upon Asus handheld codenamed Project Kennan, which will reportedly be positioned as a partner device for Xbox. Windows Central claims that the software side of Kennan still requires a “significant effort” from its developers, even though the hardware side is “essentially finished” and the device is reportedly set to release this year.

In the long term, it appears that this may only be a temporary setback in the effort to create new official Xbox hardware, such as a handheld. Windows Central goes as far as to say that “Microsoft is still deeply investing in developing its own Xbox gaming handheld technology in the future,” even though third-party handhelds are now what’s being primarily prioritized. A next-gen Xbox console is also reportedly slated for 2027, and Microsoft is in the process of upgrading its Xbox Cloud Gaming technology. There have also reportedly been no layoffs as a result of this shift, which is a positive sign and suggests that this move is truly a matter of resource allocation.

Keep in mind that Microsoft and Asus have yet to officially announce an Xbox-related handheld, despite both having been heavily teased and rumored. If Windows Central’s reporting is accurate, we can expect Asus’ device to arrive sometime later this year, in the midst of a fall lineup featuring titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2.

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Xbox Game Pass has already included many great games from 2025, whether it’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 or Blue Prince. However, the newest addition to the service made the rounds last year with its award-winning story and gameplay, even being considered as one of the best of 2024. The service did add Balatro and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, two titles that received tons of praise when it released. Now, fans, especially of RPGs, will be able to play one of the most acclaimed games of the genre that Persona and Shin Megami Tensei fans would be remiss not to play.

If there was one game that gave Astro Bot a run for its money with Game of the Year awards last year, it was Atlus’ Metaphor: ReFantazio. The title, made by Studio Zero, which is comprised of the team behind Persona 3, 4, and 5, was a smash hit with critics and fans. On Metacritic, Metaphor: ReFantazio received a 94, making it the fourth best-rated game of 2024 behind Balatro and Astro Bot. Despite huge competition with other RPGs like Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the high-fantasy turn-based game took home a handful of accolades like Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction at The Game Awards 2024.

“Enter a unique fantasy world where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince,” reads an official description of Metaphor: ReFantazio. “Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical ‘Archetype’ powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an ‘Archetype’, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.”

As expected from Atlus, Metaphor: ReFantazio delivers on its turn-based combat, taking a more tactical approach with formation movements. Instead of Demons or Personas, you’ll equip Archetypes, which have various qualities and affinities that can help you in battle, like magic or boosts. In terms of the game itself, you’ll explore the United Kingdom of Euchronia as you join the race to become King against the militant Louis to break the curse of the once-thought-dead prince.

RELATED: Metaphor: ReFantazio Vinyl Announced by iam8bit

For those who played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Metaphor: ReFantazio is the perfect segway into more RPGs. Overall, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a great game to jump into on Xbox Game Pass if you haven’t played it already, whether you’re looking for your next RPG fix or wanting to play a game with a fantastic story, engaging gameplay, killer soundtrack, and beautiful visuals.

Are you planning to play Metaphor: ReFantazio now that it’s on Xbox Game Pass? Did you play the title when it launched last year? Let us know in the comments below!

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After five years, it seems like Final Fantasy 7 Remake may finally be about to come to Xbox. The Final Fantasy series isn’t exactly synonymous with Xbox. Although Final Fantasy has been on Xbox, it is a series that is very closely linked with the PlayStation brand. PlayStation and Final Fantasy obviously predate Xbox, so those who played Final Fantasy 7 for the first time when it came out played it on the PlayStation 1. Sony has always been pretty tight with Square Enix and that’s why it was pretty devastating for JRPG fans on Xbox when they locked down some of the biggest Final Fantasy games as PlayStation console exclusives.

Rumors of Final Fantasy 7 Remake coming to Xbox have swirled for years, but as more time passes, more fans lose hope. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth came out on PS5 in 2024, and still, no sign of an Xbox port of its predecessor. On top of that, Final Fantasy 16 has also been locked to PS5 and PC. It’s been a struggle for Xbox fans who want to experience some of the most highly acclaimed games of all-time, but it sounds like there’s a good chance this may change very soon.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake May Be Announced for Xbox Next Week

According to Windows Central‘s Jez Corden, he believes that Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth, and Final Fantasy 16 will all get announced for Xbox at its summer gaming event. If that’s true, that would make for a huge mic drop moment for Xbox, doubly so if they can get them on Xbox Game Pass to make up for the extended wait, but that’s pure speculation. It has been rumored for a while that Final Fantasy 7 Remake would come to Xbox this year, while Rebirth will come next year, but Corden didn’t elaborate on release timing.

“Long-suffering Xbox Final Fantasy fans should finally get their vindication at the Xbox Showcase, with titles like the Final Fantasy 7 remakes and Final Fantasy 16 being announced for Xbox,” said Corden. “Perhaps there’s room for Square-Enix to go a bit further and reveal upcoming projects like Dragon Quest 12 as well. We can only hope, right?”

It would be great if Xbox and Square Enix were able to stealth drop at least one of these games during the event. It would give gamers something great to play right away and likely lead to great sales. It’s expected that Final Fantasy Remake Part 3 will not be exclusive to PlayStation 5 or PlayStation 6 and will release on a wide range of consoles, suggesting that it will come to Xbox. If that’s the case, Square Enix will need to make the first two chapters available on Xbox ahead of time in order to get Xbox fans caught up to speed in time.

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Microsoft is officially rolling out Copilot for Gaming, its AI gaming sidekick, today in beta for both iOS and Android devices via the Xbox app. The app feature is designed to help gamers with the games they are playing and answer questions about the game. It can also provide information about Xbox activity and even provide recommendations for games to play next. Microsoft will be testing Copilot throughout the beta phase and making adjustments as needed.

Copilot is now available in beta for those in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and other regions listed here. It is available to download on iOS devices through the Apple Store and through the Google Play Store for Android users. Those who opt into the beta are encouraged to provide feedback as they use the app and its features.

Microsoft also revealed plans to bring Copilot for gaming to the Game Bar on Windows PC and make it more widely available in the Xbox app in the future. As Microsoft tests Copilot, more countries will likely see it released there going forward.

RELATED: 7 Xbox Game Pass Retro Classics Subscribers Should Check Out First

Players can use Copilot’s gaming functions to get help on a game. This includes when stuck on a puzzle or a reminder of how to do something, such as crafting recipes in Minecraft. It can also provide recommendations on what to play by informing it what types of games you like or are looking to try. Finally, Copilot can provide information on Xbox achievements, Game Pass, and play history. These features will likely be expanded on with future updates.

The reception to Copilot has been mixed, with many disliking AI being used in the gaming industry at all. Others have found it to be helpful and provide enough benefits to outweigh the risks.

What are your thoughts on Copilot for gaming and AI in the gaming industry? Let us know in the comments below!

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State of Decay 3 may finally be releasing after years of silence. Xbox has a wide assortment of franchises, some of which are homegrown and others have been acquired by buying up studios. Xbox holds the keys to some of the most iconic franchises in gaming with Halo, Call of Duty, Gears of War, and a lot more, but they also have some of the most underrated games out there as well. It’s a great variety, but it also sometimes makes Xbox look overextended. At the start of the current generation, Xbox announced a bunch of games that still haven’t come out nor do they feel very close. Perfect Dark, Everwild, and State of Decay 3 make up some of these games.

However, Xbox is gearing up for another one of its big summer showcases and it seems like there’s a lot that could be revealed. While we will surely hear about a wide mix of third-party games and more imminent games like Fable, what about the stuff that was announced ages ago? Well, it sounds like there’s a chance we could get a good taste of that as well.

According to Windows Central‘s Jez Corden, he expects State of Decay 3 to have a presence at the showcase because he’s heard that the game is planning to launch in 2026. While not confirmation, Corden is pretty reliable when it comes to Xbox news and a 2026 launch window would make sense for a game that’s been in the works for about five years now. It seems a bit sudden given how long we’ve gone without hearing much about the game. There was a new State of Decay 3 trailer last year, but it lacked any real detail or gameplay.

“There’s also State of Decay 3, whose photorealistic announcement trailer really set the expectation bar high,” said Corden. “State of Decay as a concept and a franchise has truly limitless potential. So, so many games have tried and failed to deliver a truly essential co-op zombie apocalypse simulation experience. From what I’ve heard, State of Decay 3 could be launching as soon as 2026, so maybe now is the time to offer fans a deeper look at what could be one of Microsoft’s biggest games of next year.”

The State of Decay games are some of the most underrated Xbox games out there. They’re zombie survival games where players can play as a variety of different survivors and build up a homebase of sorts. They can then go out with friends and accomplish missions, scavenge for resources, and much more. It’s likely State of Decay 3 will be pretty massive in scale with how long it has taken to make, but that will also be extremely valuable to Xbox Game Pass as it means the game will keep players around from month to month.

If State of Decay 3 is really coming next year, 2026 is going to be a massive year for Xbox. Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, State of Decay 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and maybe even something like Perfect Dark all releasing next year would create one of the best Xbox line-ups we’ve ever seen, maybe reminiscent of Xbox’s golden days on the 360.

Are you still interested in State of Decay 3? Let me know in the comments.

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A 2012 game that was an Xbox 360 exclusive when it released — though it eventually came to other platforms — is available for free for 24 hours as part of a new promotion. Back in 2012, the likes of Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Mass Effect 3, The Walking Dead, Far Cry 3, Borderlands 2, Halo 4, Dishonored, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Fire Emblem Awakening, New Super Mario Bros. 2, Journey, Guild Wars 2, Forza Horizon, and Assassin’s Creed III all headlined the year. 2012 wasn’t the most stacked year in gaming history, but it certainly was not a slow year either with plenty of noteworthy releases.

One release that flew under the radar in 2012 was Sine Mora from Digital Reality and Grasshopper Manufacture. A shoot ’em up, Sine Mora released on March 21, 2012 as an Xbox 360 exclusive, earning a strong 85 on Metacritic. To put that number into context, if Sine Mora released this year to the same score it would currently be in the top 20 highest-rated games of the year category.

Right now, and until May 29, Amazon Prime subscribers via Prime Gaming can revisit this 13-year-old classic though not in its original form. The version of the game that has been made free is the 2017 extended version that was released for platforms of that time.

“Sine Mora EX is a side-scrolling shoot ’em up that provides a unique challenge, where time is the ultimate factor,” reads an official pitch of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Mixing classic shooter sensibilities with contemporary presentation, Sine Mora EX is a gorgeous shoot ’em up offering both a Story Mode that weaves an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode that provides deep, satisfying gameplay to challenge fans of the genre. With many ways to manipulate time, Sine Mora EX features over 50 weapon combinations to complete each beautiful stage that fits to the player’s skills with scaling difficulty. Soundtrack composed by Akira Yamaoka and featuring boss designs by Mahiro Maeda.”

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Blown Away by New Free Game Announcement

Those with an Amazon Prime subscription that decide to trigger this free game offer should expect an experience that on average lasts about 2 to 5 hours, though completionists will need closer to 15 hours with the game. Normally, those interested need to pay $10 for this experience.

For more coverage on all things Xbox — including the latest Xbox 360 news, but as well as the latest Xbox Series X news and the latest Xbox Game Pass news — click here.

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On May 21st, Xbox and Activision released Retro Classics as a benefit for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Created in partnership with Antstream Arcade, Retro Classics is a collection of older Activision video games released for retro platforms like Atari 2600, DOS, Amiga, and more. The catch is that players stream these titles through Antstream’s cloud gaming technology rather than playing them natively on a console like you would in something like Capcom’s Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.

If you have great internet speeds, it’s a solid way to experience these important retro titles. That said, there are already 50 retro games to choose from, and more games will be added over time, so it may be tough to decide what you want to play first. To help, I wanted to shout out seven games in particular that are worth checking out if you install Retro Classics as a Game Pass Ultimate subscriber.

1. Pitfall!

You can’t go amiss in checking out Pitfall. Probably the most iconic game included in Retro Classics, Pitfall helped put Activision on the map and was one of the earliest 2D platformers released, establishing many of the fundamental tenets of the genre. It’s one of those classics you should play to better understand how video games have evolved over time.

2. Atlantis

A more underrated Atari 2600 game included in Retro Classics, Atlantis is a simple shooter game where players have to defend Atlantis from invading spaceships. Players can shoot vessels from three set angles and earn points for every ship they take down. The goal is simply to survive enemy waves for as long as possible before the city is destroyed, and despite its simplicity, I had a great time playing Atlantis.

3. MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat

MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat is a great game, but it stands out in Retro Classics for one main reason: it’s a PlayStation 1 game. In the MechWarrior games, players control a giant mech and have to manage completing objectives while customizing and maintaining such a large weapon. Although MechWarrior 2 did release on other platforms, the version included in Retro Classics is the PS1 version. The novelty of playing a game from that system through Xbox Game Pass can’t be understated.

4. Zork 1: The Great Underground Empire

If you want to see just how far video games have come, consider checking out the Zork games in Retro Classics. Zork I: The Great Underground Empire is one of the trailblazing text adventure games, as you have to role-play through its adventure by issuing text commands. It’s a little clunky to play on an Xbox controller with a virtual keyboard, but it serves as a reminder of a time before even real-time graphics were standardized in video games.

5. River Raid

River Raid is another Activision classic and a shoot ’em up where players control a fighter jet behind enemy lines. It’s simple, but the dance of shooting enemies and obstacles, dodging them, and ensuring you drive through certain spots to fuel your plane back up allows this Atari 2600 shoot ’em up to still hold up today. If you care about representation in the video game industry, you should also know that this game was designed by Carol Shaw, one of the first female game designers ever.

6. Bloody Human Freeway

Another novel part of video game history, Bloody Human Freeway is actually a prototype version of an Atari 2600 game called Freeway. While players dodged cars as a chicken crossing the road in the final version of Freeway, the original version of the game had players control a human who would become a blood splatter when hit by a car. Bloody Human Freeway is the original version of this game, and it’s neat that Activision would allow it to be included in a collection like Retro Classics.

7. Space Quest 6

Finally, Sierra’s adventure game makes up quite a big chunk of Retro Classics‘ library right now. While you can’t go wrong playing any of them, of the games currently available, I enjoy Space Quest 6 the most. It’s a comedic sci-fi adventure game, and I think its humor still holds up today. While adventure games aren’t nearly as popular as they once were, I’m glad Sierra can get the love it deserves through representation in Retro Classics.

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The Microsoft Store has a free AAA Xbox game for Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users, however, the offer is only available for the next 72 hours or, more precisely, until May 27. Once redeemed, the game is free to keep forever, but it must be redeemed within this window. Meanwhile, the offer is available to all Xbox users and is not locked behind an Xbox Game Pass subscription like similar offers in the past.

The Xbox game in question is Metro 2033 Redux. Now, if you have deja vu, it is because Metro 2033 Redux was given away for free on the Microsoft Store back in April, or it was supposed to be. There was an error with the giveaway, which is why, a month later, it has been made free again. And so far, there have been no issues.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Metro 2033 Redux is a 2014 release and a remaster of 2010’s Metro 2033. The latter was a PC and Xbox 360 release while the former a PC, PS4, and Xbox One release.

A first-person shooter meets survival-horror game, Metro 2033 is the first game in the Metro series and notably the first release from 4A Games, the studio responsible for the Metro series. It was followed up by a sequel, Metro: Last Light, in 2013, and then another sequel, Metro Exodus, in 2019. There was also Metro Awakening in 2024, but this was a VR spin-off.

Upon release, the original game garnered a solid Metacritic score of 81 and sold a couple million copies, both which were a substantial success for 4A Games and both of which were more than sufficient to launch a series that, as noted, continues more than a decade later.

“The year is 2033. An entire generation has been born and raised underground, and their besieged Metro Station-Cities struggle for survival; with each other, and the mutant horrors that await outside,” reads an official description of the game on the Microsoft Store. “You are Artyom, born in the last days before the fire, but raised underground. “Having never ventured beyond the city limits, one fateful event sparks a desperate mission to the heart of the Metro system, to warn the remnants of mankind of a terrible impending threat. Your journey takes you from the forgotten catacombs beneath the subway to the desolate wastelands above, where your actions will determine the fate of mankind. But what if the real threat comes from within?”

RELATED: New Xbox Game Pass Day One Game Is Its Biggest of June

While Metro 2033 Redux is an Xbox One game there is a native Xbox Series X|S version that offers FPS boost. Content wise, meanwhile, Metro 2033 Redux is roughly 9 to 11 hours long, on average. However, completionists will need closer to 20 to 25 hours with the game.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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The Gears of War and Halo series have long been considered titans in the gaming industry, but Halo has always been given preference from Xbox when this honor should go to Gears of War. This isn’t to say the Halo series is bad, far from it, but it pales in comparison to Epic Games and The Coalition’s series. Gears of War offers a narrative steeped in tragedy, brotherhood, and personal sacrifice. Its gameplay redefined the third-person shooter genre and its innovations have been seen in shooters since the first title released in 2006. Gears of War is the superior franchise with a distinct edge thanks to its aesthetic, gameplay, storytelling, and consistent tone.

Halo’s story is primarily told through the eyes of Master Chief, a largely silent protagonist. While this allows the player to view themselves as the protagonist, it causes the narrative and emotional stakes to suffer. This is not true for Gears of War and its primary protagonist, Marcus Fenix. Marcus shares a stoic quality with Master Chief, but his emotional depth is far more developed.

At the start of Gears of War, the stakes are made painstakingly clear. Marcus’s introduction at the Slab and his disillusionment with the COG set the tone for the series. This is further reinforced by the bond between Marcus and Dom, establishing a strong brothers-in-arms aspect that Halo cannot match. Players follow Marcus and Dom on a poignant and impactful journey filled with loss and heartbreak in a desperate attempt to save humanity.

Furthermore, the side characters in Gears of War bring far more nuance than Halo’s side characters, aside from a select few. Anya, Hoffman, Baird, and Cole play a significant part in the story and develop as characters throughout each game. The Carmines and their sacrifices show the gritty and realistic nature of Gears of War while giving fans hope for a better tomorrow.

Both series utilize a sci-fi dystopian setting, but Gears of War just feels more cohesive. This point of distinction is made in its visual style, sound design, and character writing. Sera’s dark and ruined landscapes match the hopelessness and brutality of the world in the face of the Locust Horde’s invasion. This creates an immersive experience and shows the players the weight of trying to save the world as Marcus and Delta Squad.

RELATED: Every Gears of War Game, Ranked

The gameplay in Gears of War is also leagues beyond that of Halo. While not the first game to use a third-person cover-based system, Gears of War revolutionized it and made it what it is today. Its sticky cover, roadie run, and blind fire are some of the most iconic aspects of the game. Not only this, but its characters have a weight and physicality that give its combat a visceral feel that Halo never matches with its first-person combat, which feels similar to other games in the genre.

Speaking of iconic, the Lancer is one of the most iconic weapons in gaming. Chainsawing an enemy in close quarters is incredibly satisfying in both single-player and multiplayer, especially when engaging in a chainsaw duel.

Not only this, but the cooperative nature of Gears of War is miles beyond that of Halo’s. Playing as Marcus and Dom through the campaign with a friend is the best way to experience the game. Reviving a downed teammate, coordinating positioning, and taking on the Locust together create a sense of camaraderie that perfectly matches the theme of the series. Horde mode further showcases the brilliance of Gears of War’s cooperative nature and fight for survival.

Gears of War’s competitive nature may be niche, but it is still played to this day. It rewards positioning, skill, and teamwork. With a slower time to kill and cover, earning victory in Gears of War’s multiplayer is a hard-fought battle. Even power weapons in the series do not compare to how fast players can kill one another in Halo, especially with Big Team Battle and vehicles.

RELATED: Gears of War Remaster Makes Big Campaign Change

Halo is certainly a pioneer in the FPS genre, but Gears of War distinguishes itself through an emotionally engaging narrative, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a cohesive tone. The emphasis on the human cost of war highlights the maturity of the series. Gears of War: Reloaded and Gears of War: E-Day serve as a way to honor the series’ past and move it forward, showing both nostalgia and that it can evolve.

The post Gears of War Is a Far Better Xbox Series Than Halo and This Is Why appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new, 2025 Xbox Series X game — which is also available on Xbox One — is now free for one week only on the Microsoft Store. In other words, it is free through May 31, but once June 1 arrives the Xbox game will revert back to its normal price. Until then, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users can claim the game for free, no Xbox Game Pass needed. And once claimed it is free to keep forever.

The Xbox game in question is called was just released back on April 8, 2025, so it being made free just a month later comes as a surprise. That said, those after the latest and greatest Xbox games are going to find this new free game download — which is for Epic Landscapes Jigsaw — lacking. It is very rare for an Xbox game to be made free on the Microsoft Store, whether an Xbox One game or an Xbox Series X game. The same even applies to Xbox 360 games and original Xbox games. And when it does happen, it is never the latest and greatest game. It is typically a smaller, more random game. And this new free game is no exception to this rule.

Developed and published by Nova Softwares, Epic Landscapes Jigsaw is — as the name suggests — a literal puzzle game. To this end, if you don’t like digital jigsaw puzzles, this new free Xbox game is not going to be for you.

“Are you passionate about nature and love solving puzzles,” reads the game’s official description on the Microsoft Store for those interested in knowing more. “Epic Landscapes Jigsaw is the perfect game for PC & Xbox, offering a serene and visually stunning puzzle experience inspired by the Earth’s most breathtaking locations. Explore majestic mountains, tranquil lakes, enchanted forests, golden deserts, and more — all brought to life in vibrant, high-resolution jigsaw puzzles.”

RELATED: Microsoft Store Makes One of the Best Xbox Games of All Time Only $3.99

Those that decide to take advantage of this offer should note that the game requires 766.35 MB of space to download. Meanwhile, those unimpressed with this free Xbox game download will be happy to know there are other freebies on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S this week that may be of interest, especially for RPG fans.

For all of the latest Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users have been surprised with new freebies that are perfect for RPG fans. Long gone are the days where RPGs are smaller, more niche releases. In fact, some of the biggest releases every year are RPGs. In 2025, RPG fans have been treated to the likes of Monster Hunter Wilds, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Avowed, and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and we aren’t even at the halfway point of the year yet. Meanwhile, some of the very best games of last year were RPGs: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Metaphor ReFantazio, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and Dragon’s Dogma 2. Suffice to say, RPG fans have been feasting in recent years.

Those on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series X that enjoy RPGs will be happy to know there are now two freebies for two all-time great RPGs: the aforementioned Metaphor ReFantazio and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. It is unclear why the former has been released, but the latter is to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the game.

More specifically, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users can now download dynamic backgrounds featuring art from both of these games and make said backgrounds their dashboard screen. Both backgrounds are classified as dynamic because they are not static, but the dynamism is minimal. This is always the case with Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S dynamic backgrounds though. There is clearly a rule or guideline that dictates the dynamism be subtle and minimal because it has been the one consistent with every free dynamic background released for the Xbox consoles.

RELATED: New Xbox Game Pass Day One Game Is Its Biggest of June

It is unclear if there is a limited window to grab these dynamic backgrounds, but so far every dynamic background that has been released on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S has remained available, suggesting each is a perpetual offer.

For more Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Microsoft has confirmed another day one Xbox Game Pass game coming in June 2025, and it is arguably the biggest day one Xbox Game Pass for the summer month. Of course, because it is a day one game it will be limited to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Any Xbox Game Pass subscriber on the Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Standard tier does not have this new day one game to look forward to next month. Those with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription though will want to mark June 10 on their calendars.

Joining June’s lineup of day one Xbox Game Pass games — which already includes The Alters, Rematch, and FBC: Firebreak — is the recently announced Warhammer 40K: Space Marine remaster, dubbed Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition. Meanwhile, also being added at launch on June 10 is Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X, which perhaps would be the most notable Xbox Game Pass day one game available in June if it were not available in a free-to-play form.

How long Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition will be available via Xbox Game Pass remains to be seen, but the moment it releases on June 10, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC subscribers will be able to download for free with their subscription.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine debuted back in 2011 via Relic Entertainment and on the PC, PS3, and Xbox One. Upon release, it garnered Metacritic scores in the 70s, but it is once again relevant because in 2024 it got a sequel in the form of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Developed by Saber Interactive, the sequel surpassed its predecessor in success and relevancy. To this end, it was notably one of 2024’s biggest and best games, hence why its predecessor is now getting a remaster 14 years later.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Hit Is the “Perfect Game Pass Game,” Say Subscribers

It is important to note when Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition releases it will cost $39.99. However, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to purchase it with a 20 percent discount as long as it is in the Xbox Game Pass library, and thus will only have to pay $32.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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New information has come to light hinting at a beta for the upcoming Gears of War Reloaded. The remaster of the classic Gears of War surprised fans, but a beta is even more surprising. However, the inclusion of the game’s multiplayer is a good indicator that The Coalition wants to ensure everything goes smoothly, especially considering its multiplatform release. Getting cross-play networks to function properly is an important aspect of a smooth launch. Not only this, but it gives fans a chance to see the game before its arrival on August 26th.

The Gears of War Reloaded beta was discovered thanks to a new SteamDB appearance. On the page, it shows a total of four players, with many online at the same time. This likely indicates developers testing the servers to ensure they work. That said, no date was given for the beta, but one would assume it would be soon considering the launch date for Gears of War Reloaded.

RELATED: Gears of War Remaster Releases First Images Showing Major Visual Upgrade

Gears of War Reloaded is a faithfully remastered version of the first game, bringing the full experience to modern hardware. Players can expect the same great campaign and multiplayer experience from the original, but with enhanced graphics, cross-play, cross-progression, and zero-loading screens in the campaign.

This marks the first Gears of War game to be released on PlayStation, and many hope the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day follows suit. Those who already own the Gears of War Ultimate Edition can get this version for free as an upgrade, while all others will have to pay $39.99 on launch day. Gears of War: E-Day has yet to receive a release date, making this remaster the best way to get back into the series until then.

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Xbox has revealed a sleek new controller for The Witcher 3‘s 10th anniversary. The Witcher 3 is one of the most beloved video games of the last decade, if not of all-time. Despite the fact the two games were fairly niche, CD Projekt Red really made a name for itself on The Witcher 3 and became a very well known developer seemingly overnight. Even though it was meant to be a conclusion to a trilogy, it gained a ton of players and became one of the best selling games of all-time with over 50 million copies sold. It even went on to win Game of the Year.

It’s not something you see often, but it showed that players couldn’t resist the world and story of Geralt of Rivia, even if they didn’t have all the context of what came before. Now, fans are eagerly awaiting The Witcher 4, which will be CD Projekt’s next game. The studio took a pretty big break from the RPG series to make Cyberpunk 2077, another highly successful (albeit somewhat controversial) game from the studio. Fans aren’t quite sure what’s in store for them with The Witcher 4, but it seems like Ciri will be the main protagonist, taking over from Geralt. Fear not, though, it’s expected that Geralt will still be a part of the game, he just won’t be the main character.

The Witcher 3 Gets New Xbox Controllers for 10th Anniversary

With all of that said, CD Projekt Red is celebrating arguably its best game so far. The developer has teamed up with Xbox to make two custom controllers inspired by The Witcher 3 in celebration of its 10th anniversary this month. One is a custom version of the standard Xbox Series X|S controller while the other is a custom version of the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller which comes with all kinds of paddles, extra buttons, and other customizable elements to give you the best possible experience with a controller. They’re both black with hints of red around the controller, namely in the claw marks on the side and the eyes of Geralt’s iconic wolf emblem on the center of the controller.

“We explored a lot of directions when creating this controller, but from the beginning we knew we wanted to tell a story,” said Joshua Flowers, Design Team Lead at CD Projekt Red when speaking about the Xbox controller’s design. “We wanted it to feel like something that has been with you on the path, something worn and personal. As we developed concepts, we began crafting the story of this controller — and how it might exist in The Witcher 3‘s world. This narrative is what we fell in love with. It had to feel like it belonged in The Witcher 3 universe — like it had lived through battles and carried stories of its own.”

It was also revealed that the controller features Glagolitic script, the oldest known Slavic alphabet as also seen in the game. CD Projekt Red didn’t want to spoil what exactly this text says, but I’m sure it won’t be long before fans figure it out. Perhaps it’s a hint at The Witcher 4? The Witcher 3 Xbox controllers are available now for $79.99 and $169.99 respectively on the Microsoft Store.

The Witcher 4 is still expected to be years away, but hopefully, we’ll get some more updates on the game in the near future. It’s likely the game won’t be ready until 2027 at the absolute earliest, but given CD Projekt Red’s past, they likely don’t want to rush anything.

Are you going to snag one of these controllers? Let me know in the comments!

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has proven enormously popular since launching last month. The game’s success seems to have even taken its developers by surprise; by Sandfall Interactive’s own admission, the collector’s edition sold out way earlier than anticipated. Thankfully, there’s going to be a new version for those that missed out. The Monolith Set was announced this morning, and it will include many of the same items that were in the collector’s edition, with the exception of the game itself, and the cosmetics. As a result, the Monolith Set will actually be cheaper than the collector’s edition was!

The set itself will cost $119.99, and it will contain the Steelbook case, Monolith music box, and Expedition Journal Artbook that were all available previously in the collector’s edition. Basically, if you bought the game but missed the set, this really is the perfect option. There is a catch, however, and it’s a pretty big one: the Monolith Set will likely have a higher price in the U.S. than Europe. U.S. based customers will see higher prices on shipping, and there might be import duties as well. In a post on the game’s official X/Twitter account, this was attributed directly to the tariff situation playing out right now in the U.S. with China.

“Due to the ongoing tariff situation between the US and China, shipping costs to the US will be higher to account for potential charges at delivery, and US customers may incur additional import duty,” the announcement reads.

Tariffs have already proven to be a major cause for concern for gamers. Since U.S. President Donald Trump announced the tariffs on goods coming from China, several companies have been forced to increase the price of goods to offset the extra costs. Notably, several Nintendo Switch 2 peripherals have seen a price increase ahead of their release next month, including items like the camera, Pro Controller, and amiibo figures. Similarly, Microsoft announced a price increase on a number of Xbox products earlier this month, though the company avoided directly mentioning the tariffs in its announcement.

RELATED: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Developer Comments on Nintendo Switch 2 Port

Preorders for the Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Monolith Set will begin on Friday, May 23rd and will run through Thursday, June 12th at 8 a.m. PT. There will be a limit of two Monolith Sets per person, which the developers say is an attempt to prevent people from reselling it on the secondary market. Considering the absolutely absurd price the collector’s edition goes for on eBay at the moment, that’s probably a good move. Hopefully there will be more than enough quantity of the Monolith Set to meet demand, but fans of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 should be ready to preorder tomorrow just to be on the safe side!

Are you excited about the Monolith Set for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33? Do you plan on snagging a preorder when it becomes available? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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We’re past the halfway point in the month of May, but Xbox Game Pass has some big plans to close out the month. Microsoft has revealed what to expect over the next two weeks, and there should be a lot to enjoy, regardless of your subscription tier. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers have a pair of day one games to look forward to, but the most exciting release is going to be available to everyone. The list of games coming over the next two weeks can be found below:

• May 22nd- Creatures of Ava (Xbox Series X|S) through Game Pass Standard
• May 22nd- STALKER 2 (Xbox Series X|S) through Game Pass Standard
• May 22nd- Tales of Kenzera: Zau (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• May 27th- Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
• May 28th- To a T (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• May 29th- Metaphor: ReFantazio (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
• May 29th- Spray Paint Simulator (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard and PC Game Pass
• June 3rd- Crypt Custodian (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• June 3rd- Symphonia (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass

Out of all the games listed today, Metaphor: ReFantazio might be the biggest deal. The RPG was one of the biggest games of 2024, receiving Game of the Year awards and nominations from several outlets. Metaphor’s arrival on Xbox Game Pass is the perfect opportunity for subscribers to finally see what all the fuss is about. It could also be the perfect option for genre enthusiasts that have already finished Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which came to Xbox Game Pass last month. If you’re a fan of the RPG genre, Game Pass has been pretty good to you these last few weeks!

Another notable addition this month is To a T. The game is developed by uvula, a new studio founded by Keita Takahashi, the creator of the Katamari Damacy series. To a T focuses on a young boy named Teen, who has arms that are stuck in a T-pose. Because of this, some tasks are harder for Teen than they might be otherwise, and players will have to help him navigate his world. For fans of Katamari Damacy, Takahashi’s latest looks very interesting and unique.

Overall, May turned out to be a pretty big month for Xbox Game Pass. DOOM: The Dark Ages started things off on a high note, and the next two weeks have a lot of big games coming up. It remains to be seen what next month has in store, but with the Xbox Games Showcase set to take place on June 8th, we probably won’t have to wait much longer to see what the future holds.

Are you excited about any of these games headed to Xbox Game Pass? Will you be trying Metaphor: ReFantazio as a result? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Xbox is reportedly making some big changes with its next console which may allow PlayStation games to be playable on it, but not in the way you’d expect. Xbox is constantly redefining how we interact with consoles. They are trying to innovate in new ways all of the time with things like Xbox Live, Xbox Game Pass, and much more. The original vision for Xbox One was pretty ahead of its time and may have been more embraced now, but ultimately, it wasn’t met with kind words back in 2013. Xbox is now breaking down barriers by selling Xbox exclusives on PlayStation. This started with smaller, older games like Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush but is expanding more.

It was recently confirmed that Gears of War is coming to PlayStation 5 later this year alongside a new remaster for Xbox and PC, bringing a tentpole Xbox franchise to Microsoft’s rival platform. It’s great for gamers on PlayStation and even those who just love these franchises unconditionally, but some Xbox fans have begun to feel like they are missing out in some way. PlayStation gets seemingly everything, while Xbox players are missing out on The Last of Us or Marvel’s Spider-Man. These are games that are defining the industry right now and it feels like Xbox is sharing a bit more than others. However, that might change in a way very soon.

The Next Xbox Could Feature PlayStation Games Via Steam

A new report from Windows Central reveals some of the decision making for the next Xbox. There was a pitch to ditch backward compatibility for the next Xbox in favor of leaning into Windows 11 compatibility. Thankfully, it seems like that pitch was rejected and won’t be part of the console’s future, but Xbox is expanding in other ways. Xbox is reportedly talking to PC storefronts like Valve to bring a platform like Steam to Xbox. There’s some debate over how this could actually benefit Xbox, as it would mean Xbox is giving people another place to buy their games. However, one key thing here is that it could be a clever work around to bring PlayStation games to Xbox.

PlayStation has ported a bunch of its games like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 to PC. Essentially, a lot of the biggest PS4 and PS5 games could be playable on Xbox, so long as there isn’t some weird restriction. It sounds like Microsoft really wants to turn Xbox into more of a pre-built PC at an affordable price point, not too dissimilar from Valve’s Steam Machines. This could be a viable way for Xbox to stay in the game as the PC market is becoming increasingly popular and this would be a really easy entry point for people who are intimidated by buying or even building such an expensive machine.

Only time will tell how this all shakes out, but it seems like Xbox is taking some big swings with its next console. We probably won’t see it for another couple of years, but it’ll be interesting to see what the next era of Xbox is as it defies so many traditions of console gaming already.

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While you can access many Xbox Game Studios titles through Game Pass Ultimate, wanting to own what you play digitally is also understandable. If you’ve been waiting to pick some Xbox-published games up, you’ll want to snag something during the Xbox Game Studios Sale currently running on the Microsoft Store. It began on May 19th and runs through May 26th, with discounted Xbox Game Studios games released across Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

From original Xbox games like Fusion Frenzy to newer Xbox Series X/S titles like Halo Infinite, plenty of games Xbox-owned studios have made or Microsoft has published over the years are discounted. It can be tough to sift through these discounts to determine what’s worth picking up. I wanted to spotlight five particularly great titles discounted right now that you should consider picking up.

1. Avowed (25% off)

Avowed, which was just released in February, has received its first hefty discount. Obsidian Entertainment’s excellent latest RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe plays more like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim than Baldur’s Gate 3, but still features some of the best writing and toughest choices you can find in an RPG. On top of that, the combat is actually pretty entertaining thanks to creative character builds like a gunmage and weapons with meaningful special abilities. Typically, Avowed costs $70, but the base game is discounted by 25% to $52.49. The game’s Premium Edition has also been discounted by 25%, now costing $67.49 rather than $90.

2. Gears Tactics (67% off)

Even though it was an Xbox Series X/S launch title, not enough people talk about Gears Tactics. It’s essentially XCOM with a Gears of War coat of paint, and it’s subversive to play a Gears of War game that’s more about taking your time and thinking tactically than running, gunning, and chainsawing anything in your way. Gears Tactics also went the prequel route before Gears of War: E-Day did, telling the story of Kate Diaz’s father, Gabriel. If you’re a Gears of War fan but have never played this spin-off, it’s worth playing to satiate your appetite as we wait for an E-Day release window. Gears Tactics still retails for $30, but you can get it at a 67% discount during the Xbox Game Studios sale and get it for just $9.89.

3. Lost Odyssey (75% off)

If you enjoyed the turn-based gameplay and narrative themes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, you need to check out Lost Odyssey. Considered by some to be the true Final Fantasy XIII, this Xbox 360 RPG was written by Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and taps into the emotional storytelling and captivating turn-based battles that earlier Final Fantasy games were known for. Unfortunately, it came out when Japanese-developed RPGs weren’t looked upon as fondly as they were several years beforehand and are now, so it didn’t make the impact it should’ve. Still, it’s backward compatible and fully playable on Xbox Series X/S, and is a natural follow-up to Expedition 33. Lost Odyssey is typically $25 if you want to buy it digitally, but it’s discounted by 75% to $6.24 during this sale.

4. Psychonauts 2 (67% off)

Double Fine is one of the most talented studios currently owned by Microsoft, and Psychonauts 2 is one of its best games. In Psychonauts 2, all of the different platforming “worlds” players explore are the inner workings of someone’s mind. It’s wacky, cartoonish, and over-the-top, but still has some meaningful portrayals of mental health problems and creates a universe you want to spend more time in. It’s my favorite 3D platformer not developed by Nintendo. It’s discounted by 67% during the Xbox Game Studios sale, priced at $19.79 rather than $60. You can also pick up the first game in the series for $3.29 as part of this sale if you want to play through the duology at once. Also, if you like to learn about the realities of game development, I highly recommend watching the Double Fine PsychOdyssey documentary on YouTube.

5. Sea of Thieves (50% off)

Finally, there’s Sea of Thieves, Rare’s live service pirate multiplayer game that was actually the first game that entered Xbox Game Pass on release day. Despite that, those with years invested in this game should probably take the step to actually own the game if they don’t already. Sea of Thieves is an underrated stalwart of the live service game space, and also features the closest thing to a new Pirates of the Caribbean game that we’ve gotten recently. All three versions of Sea of Thieves: 2025 Edition are half off currently. You can buy the standard edition for $20, the Deluxe Edition for $25, or the Premium Edition for $30.

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It is no secret that Microsoft is broadening its Xbox brand beyond just a video game console. Its “This Is an Xbox” ad campaign clearly showed exactly what the company plans to do with its green gaming brand. Everything, from PCs to mobile phones, will eventually become places where players can play games from their Xbox library. It seems Microsoft plans to further this initiative by integrating digital distribution platform Steam to its store, possibly allowing users to use the app on Windows-based devices.

According to insider eXtas1s, Microsoft has begun testing Steam support for the Microsoft store. In a translated post from P40L0 on ResetEra, a new app called “Steam DF Beta” appeared on the Microsoft Store, which allows users to download the popular digital games storefront from the Microsoft Store. This is similar to the Epic Games Store, which is already available in this fashion. The insider does clarify that this doesn’t indicate that Steam will run on the current Xbox consoles, but would make the process of downloading the app easier for future devices running Windows, like a possible Windows-based Xbox.

“Everything is going to be developed around PC environments,” eXtas1s said (via TheGamer). “Those logically need Steam integration, and you’ll have that in your Microsoft Store when you turn on your next-generation Xbox console. This will allow you to have Steam on your Xbox console and on any Windows device without the need for complex configurations.”

Insider eXtas1s also claims that Microsoft is working on an interface for Windows machines, like Steam’s Big Picture mode, to bring a console-like experience to PC and next generation Xbox consoles. This would certainly help Microsoft achieve its new direction to bring the Xbox brand to as many devices as possible, as it would give users familiarity across multiple devices.

RELATED: Xbox Branded Handheld Images Leak Online

Steam support, along with Xbox’s version of Big Picture mode would be two great features for the supposed handheld Microsoft is planning to release this year. According to a report from Windows Central back in March, the Xbox-branded device would “look unmistakably Xbox” and feature “an official Xbox guide button, and Xbox design sensibilities.” The report claims that the company is partnering with a currently unknown original equipment manufacturer to produce this Xbox-branded portable PC. Microsoft will reportedly manufacture its own device as part of the next-generation of Xbox products.

Although it does seem that all the signs are pointing to Steam support coming to Xbox, it is still uncertain to what extent. This could be similar to Epic Games Store, where it is simply an app available on Microsoft Store. It could also be integrated within the Xbox app, as previously shown in a since removed image from a blog post back in March (H/T The Verge). We will just have to wait and see when Microsoft formally reveals the feature in the future.

Is Steam support something you would like to see in future Xbox consoles? Is the ability to play your Steam library on an Xbox device entice you in any way? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The post Steam Support Reportedly Coming to Xbox appeared first on ComicBook.com.

An Xbox Game Pass hit from earlier in the year is being described and hailed as the “perfect Game Pass game” by some subscribers. Xbox Game Pass — or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to be more precise — has been on fire lately. Over the last month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have been treated to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and DOOM: The Dark Ages all in a row and all at launch. Before this legendary run, things were a bit slower. This is bad for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, but good for games that release in this slower period as they don’t get overshadowed by bigger games, which means they attract more attention and gain more traction. A great example of this is Atomfall. If Atomfall was added to Xbox Game Pass during the aforementioned run, it would have been buried. Rather, it released during a slower time for the subscription service, and consequently was a hit. In fact, it was the #1 most-played game on Xbox Game Pass at one point.

Atomfall was added to Xbox Game Pass back in March, but subscribers continue to talk about it, despite the flurry of heavy hitters recently. To this end, a recent post on the Xbox Game Pass Reddit page asked whether subscribers were still enjoying the survival game. The post also took the time to praise the Xbox Game Pass game.

“Atomfall came as a surprise to me. I knew literally nothing about it and when I saw it on Game Pass I initially dismissed it as another edgy low budget open world post-apocalyptic title,” reads the Reddit post in question. “But then after playing both Oblivion Remastered and Clair Obscur I needed something new so I decided to download it. And while I won’t say the game is a 10/10 I am pleasantly surprised at how much I’m enjoying the game so far.

Commenting on the post, one Xbox Game Pass subscriber described it as the “perfect Game Pass game.” Of course, not every comment echoes the sentiment, but many do.

“I loved it. Stripped down immersive sim with a nice hands off approach to objectives. Story was cool enough, gunplay was good enough (better than a lot of RPG shooters),” reads another comment. “I really had fun exploring and loved that there were a limited number of actually designed dungeons.”

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Have Less Than Two Weeks With These Five Games

For those interested, Atomfall is a post-apocalyptic survival action game from UK studio Rebellion Development, the team best-known for the Sniper Elite series. Upon release, the game — available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X — garnered Metacritic scores in the 70s.

Those that decide to check it out based on these recommendations via Xbox Game Pass should expect to dump about 10 to 17 hours into the game to beat it, though completionists will need closer to 25 hours with the game.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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Xbox Game Pass subscribers across various tiers of the Microsoft subscription service have less than two weeks with five different Xbox and PC games. Once gone, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will have to purchase each said game to continue to play it. The good news is that as long as each game is available via Xbox Game Pass, each is available to subscribers with an exclusive 20 percent discount if they wish continue playing any of the leaving games.

The most notable of the five games is Remnant 2, a 2023 release from Gunfire Games and Gearbox Publishing. Beyond this, the rest of the four games are smaller and less notable releases, however, each has an 80 above Metacritic and/or very glowing user reviews, suggesting there will be subscribers who will lament their departures.

Below, you can check out all five Xbox Game Pass games leaving the subscription service on May 31, days before a major new day one game is added in June:

Remnant 2 (Console, PC)

RELATED: Microsoft Just Made an Anti-Consumer Change to Xbox Game Pass

About: “Remnant II is the sequel to the best-selling game Remnant: From the Ashes that pits survivors of humanity against new deadly creatures and god-like bosses across terrifying worlds. Play solo or co-op with two other friends to explore the depths of the unknown to stop an evil from destroying reality itself. To succeed, players will need to rely on their own skills and those of their team to overcome the toughest challenges and to stave off humanity’s extinction.”

Metacritic Score: 85

Humanity (Console, PC)

About: “Humanity is a third-person puzzle-action game where you become a dog to command massive, marching crowds of people to jump, turn, push, float, shoot, and climb their way to salvation across 90 story-mode stages.”

Metacritic Score: 86

Cassette Beasts (Console, PC)

About: “Collect awesome monster forms to use during turn-based battles in this indie open-world RPG. Combine any two monster forms using Cassette Beasts’ Fusion System to create unique and powerful new ones!”

Metacritic Score: 83

Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath (Console, PC)

About: “Welcome to…. The Steel Sewer. The biggest motherflippin secret base in the galaxy. We are X Slayers… It is we who fight The Psyko Sindikate. We pledge to defend the people of earth even though they’re beep-holes to us and don’t even deserve it. Why? Because the Psyko Sindikate are freakin sick evil turds and are using the Hackblood (yes… they are stealing our powers… idiots) to bring evil enemies to life & take over the world and enslaven humanity.”

Metacritic Score: 80

Firework (PC)

About: “Firework is a Chinese horror puzzle game. The story takes place in a remote mountain village. An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of the massacre. Lin Lixun, rookie police, participates in the re-investigation by chance. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering. Is it a supernatural phenomenon, or an elaborated murder?”

Metacritic Score: N/A

As always, once these games are gone there is no guarantee that any of them will return. When and if any of them do, it will likely be a while, or at least this is what historical context suggests.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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A major Xbox Game Pass day one game for June 2025 has been confirmed. The last few weeks have been one of the best runs in Xbox Game Pass history, all thanks to day one games. There has been The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and DOOM: The Dark Ages — and more — all within about a single month. That is a remaster of one of the best games of all time, one of the best games of 2025, and a new DOOM game all available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at the moment of release.

Looking ahead, and in particularly looking at June 2025, the big day one game for Xbox Game Pass subscribers to look forward to was/is Rematch. However, there may now be another day one release that is even bigger. More specifically, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can look forward to Rainbow Six Siege X.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X is not a new game, but a massive update to the Ubisoft tactical shooter releasing on June 10 that the French games maker promises will transform and evolve the 2015 Rainbow Six game.

Now, for those confused, Rainbow Six Siege X is indeed going to be a free-to-play game, but there is a premium version that comes with more content, and this version is going to be available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It has also been teased that Xbox Game Pass subscribers will get additional benefits as well.

RELATED: 2016 Xbox One Game Tops Xbox Game Pass Charts 9 Years Later

As noted, Rematch is still probably the Xbox Game Pass highlight of June. FBC: Firebreak and The Alters are also set to be day one games next month and could end up surprising subscribers. How good these extra benefits are for Rainbow Six Siege X will ultimately determine how relevant its addition to Xbox Game Pass is, because as noted it is available in a free-to-play capacity.

Xbox Game Pass is available in various different forms via Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PC. For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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The Microsoft Store has made one of the best Xbox games of all time only $3.99 for a limited time. This Microsoft Store deal is only available until May 27, but it is available to both Xbox One users as well as Xbox Series X users. The game in question is specifically an Xbox One game, however, it does have a next-gen Xbox Series X version, hence why it it is available natively on both generations of Xbox consoles.

The discounted game was released in 2015, when it notably won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, beating the likes of Fallout 4, Bloodborne, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Rocket League, and Undertale. Some other heavy hitters from that year include Halo 5: Guardians, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Batman: Arkham Knight, Splatoon, Super Mario Maker, Star Wars Battlefront, Mortal Kombat X, and Ori and the Blind Forest. Reigning above all of these games is The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, which is not only widely considered the best game of 2015, but one of the best games of all time, as evident by its 94 on Metacritic and the fact it ranks among the best-selling video games of all time having sold over 50 million units.

Those who have never played the legendary open-world RPG can now grab a copy on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X for just $3.99 thanks to a massive 90 percent discount. This is the cheapest price the CD Projekt Red game has ever been. Unfortunately, it does not come with either of game’s equally excellent expansions: Blood and Wine and Hearts of Stone. For that you will have to upgrade to The Complete Edition, which is also on sale, but only for 80 percent off, which means it is only on sale for $9.99.

RELATED: PS1 Game Coming to Xbox Series X Over 30 Years Later

“You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will,” reads an official elevator pitch of the game on the Microsoft Store, for those somehow unfamiliar with it. “Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.”

Those that decide to check out The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt via this Microsoft Store deal should expect to dump at least 50 hours into the game just to mainline the story. Meanwhile, those that want to see the main side content will need closer to 100 hours with the RPG. And then completionists will need closer to 175 hours of free time.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox deals — click here.

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A PS1 game, and a exclusive to the very first Sony console, is coming to Xbox consoles for the first time, over 30 years later, via the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. The game in question technically hails from 1993, a year before the PS1 was released. And that is because in 1993 it was released in Arcades. The following year, the PS1 was released in 1994, and the game in question came to PS1, the only console it has ever come to. This is going to change though.

In addition to Nintendo Switch 2, PS4, and PS5, Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer is now also coming to Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X on June 5. This new release of the PS1 classic is not a remaster, let alone a remake, but there is new content for those interested in time traveling back to the mid 90s.

More specifically, this new release comes with a new “Time Attack Mode” that lets players focus on trying to complete the game as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, there are now multiple save slots instead of just one, a rewind feature, and a quick start feature. There is now also VRR support, “enabling more accurate reproduction of the original arcade game’s experience.”

For those unfamiliar with Ridge Racer, it is because the series has essentially been dormant since 2013, with only one small, inconsequential spin-off release since then in 2016. The arcade racing series debuted back in 1993 via the game above. Upon release, it garnered positive reviews and sold well enough to birth a series of the same name, and a series that was a staple of the mid and late 1990s.

It is unlikely Bandai Namco will ever revive the series with a proper new installment, but the earlier games, and especially the first one, remain nostalgic releases that continued to be cashed in on. That said, this specific release comes the way of Hamster.

For more coverage on all things PS1 — including all of the latest PS1 news, all of the latest PS1 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest PS1 deals — click here.

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Arrowhead Studios, the team behind Helldivers 2, has revealed exciting news for its next game which should be good for Xbox fans. Arrowhead has quickly become one of the most renowned developers in the game industry, despite the fact that a lot of people probably weren’t that aware of who they were prior to 2024. However, Helldivers 2 was such a smash success thanks to its thrilling gameplay, tongue-in-cheek tone, and ever evolving universe. It’s hard to say anyone could have predicted how big Helldivers 2 would become, but it certainly made a mark on the industry and set Arrowhead up for a big future.

Of course, the sad thing about Helldivers 2 is that it was exclusive to PlayStation and PC. Xbox players were left behind and while some had hope that maybe PlayStation would try to capitalize on the hype and bring it to other platforms that hasn’t happened and seems more unlikely as time goes on. Although Helldivers 2 is a game that is ongoing, it seems like it has been made pretty clear that it will remain on PS5 and PC. Perhaps there’s a world where Helldivers 3 goes to Xbox, especially with a recent update from Arrowhead.

As reported by Forbes, it was confirmed by Arrowhead CEO Shams Jorjani in the Helldivers Discord that the studio’s next game is 100% self-funded and therefore is free from any deals with particular platforms. It was noted that Arrowhead loved working with PlayStation and is open to partnering with the platform again, but it sounds like Arrowhead is in charge of what game it is making next and where that game ends up.

“The wonderful thing is that thanks to the amazing support of you FINE people Arrowhead’s future is quite bright and we have the freedom to explore some really cool concepts that we couldn’t have otherwise,” said Jorjani. “Game 6 (our next project) will happen the way it will happen thanks to you. […] The next game is 100% funded by ourselves so we’ll call 100% of those shots.”

This is exciting news as it should hopefully mean Arrowhead will release its next game on Xbox or at the very least, it has the freedom to do so. It’s unclear what Arrowhead’s next game is, but it sounds like it probably isn’t Helldivers 3. It sounds like Arrowhead is exploring some new ideas, but it’s entirely possible there’s more Helldivers in the future. Either way, it’s likely Arrowhead has a much bigger budget than ever before following the Helldivers 2 success and that should lead to something really special. There’s a lot more freedom afforded to this team even beyond platforms and money, so hopefully, it leads to something great.

What do you want to see next from Arrowhead?

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A new sale for Bethesda’s spacefaring RPG Starfield has seen the game dip below $20 for the first time ever. At this point, Starfield has almost been out for two full years. As such, Bethesda has already discounted the game numerous times, not only on Xbox Series X and S, but also PC. Now, a new promotion for Starfield has begun that slashes the game’s price to a low that has never been seen before.

This new deal in question for Starfield comes from an unexpected place: the Verizon store. While the retailer is typically known for selling mobile phones and internet services, it also happens to sell a handful of video games. Starfield just happens to be one of those games and is now discounted all the way down to $17.50 on the storefront. This deal is only for physical copies of Starfield on Xbox Series X and S, but represents savings of 75% off of its normal $69.99 value.

It’s worth stressing that this deal for Starfield might not last long, so you’ll want to act quickly. Verizon is likely cutting the value of Starfield by such a steep amount so that it can clear out its remaining inventory of the game. Once it sells out, there’s a good chance that it won’t be back in stock in the future.

If you’d like to learn more about Starfield to see if it might be for you, you can check out one of the game’s trailers and its official synopsis from Bethesda below.

Starfield

About: “Starfield is the first new universe in over 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.

In the year 2330, humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. You will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of space in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.”

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A classic MMO has finally made its way to Xbox after spending nearly two decades as a PC exclusive. For many, many years, there were a lot of games that were exclusive to PC, much to the frustration of console gamers. Sometimes this was due to how demanding the games were for the hardware, other times it came down to the fact that they just made more sense as PC games with keyboard and mouse instead of controller. However, we’ve started to see more and more games on all platforms, bridging the gap between console and PC. Games like Arma and the tactical shooter Ready or Not have all begun making their way to consoles, finding new fans.

While there are some fans that hope to see other games come to console, there’s work to be done. World of Warcraft is a game that console players hope to see one day, but there’s no telling if or when that will happen. It would probably be in Xbox’s best interest given they now own World of Warcraft developer Blizzard, but perhaps it’s more complicated than we all think. Nevertheless, another fantasy MMORPG has finally made its way to console, though its arrival was pretty quiet.

Wizard101 Has Released on Xbox

Wizard101, an MMORPG that was initially developed for younger audiences, has made its way to Xbox via the console’s Game Preview program. This allows games to arrive on the platform in an early access capacity for a lower price while fans give feedback on how the game works on console. Wizard101 has a pretty loyal cult following on PC and now, its console arrival will allow more players to enjoy it. The game takes obvious inspiration from Harry Potter as players inhabit the shoes of a young wizard student, tasked with battling evil in turn-based combat.

Wizard101 is available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S with plans to bring it to PS4, PS5, and even Nintendo Switch at a later date. PlayStation has different standards for game releases and isn’t as keen on early access games, so that is likely why the game isn’t available there yet. However, when Wizard101 arrives on other platforms, the console versions will all exist on one big server, allowing for crossplay between Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo.

You can view a description of Wizard101 below.

A dark magic has overtaken Wizard City and the many worlds of The Spiral. You may be a brand-new student at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts, but you and your magical spells may be the only hope The Spiral has to thwart the evil forces threatening the balance of everything. Unlock your inner magic and prepare to unravel the mysteries surrounding a professor gone rogue. As you master powerful spells, darkness threatens to engulf The Spiral.

Hone your strategy to unleash powerful magic and defeat foes in thrilling turn-based card combat. Add or remove spell cards before each battle to strategically get the cards you need when you need them! Take down foes solo or team up with friends for maximum efficiency. Take time to relax and rest up before your next big fight with numerous side systems! Hatch and train countless adorable pets, craft mighty weapons and gear, harvest hefty rewards with gardening, reel in your best catches with fishing, or decorate your castle to your heart’s content with housing.

The post Classic 17 Year Old MMO Quietly Releases on Xbox appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox may be preparing to announce some sequels to some of the best games in its portfolio. Xbox has been one of the major players in gaming since its creation in the early 2000s, but it has reached a size that no other company can match. Part of this is because Xbox is owned by Microsoft, one of the largest and most successful companies in the world with endlessly deep pockets. After a pretty disappointing generation with the Xbox One where the company failed to produce consistent worthwhile exclusives that could compete with PlayStation, it began buying up other studios like Activision and Zenimax, owner of studios like Bethesda and Arkane.

This has proven to be a fruitful investment and resulted in some really excellent first-party games from Xbox like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and the upcoming first-person shooter Doom: The Dark Ages. Of course, all of these games are also going to PlayStation alongside Xbox classics like Gears of War. It’s a very different time for Xbox and one that was inconceivable even a decade ago. But a lot has changed and now Xbox is managing a portfolio of games and studios that would make anyone’s head spin, but it seems like they may be leaning into that.

New Wolfenstein and Dishonored Games May Be Announced at Xbox Showcase

With Xbox’s summer showcase just one month away, fans are speculating about what may revealed at the event. Could there be a new Halo game? A new look at Perfect Dark? No one really knows, but a new leak has poured a lot of gas on the fire. ZeniMax has filed new trademarks for Dishonored, Wolfenstein, Deathloop, and Quake ahead of Xbox’s summer showcase. The timing is certainly suspect, especially since there hasn’t been any kind of trademark activity from the company since last August.

Arkane Lyon worked on both Dishonored and Deathloop, but is currently developing Marvel’s Blade, which is likely an all-hands effort. If there is another team at the studio working on other projects, it likely wouldn’t be working on two other games. There has been a lot of demand for a new Dishonored for years, though, so this trademark news only gets fans excited. Given these franchises are also now under Microsoft’s umbrella, it’s possible other studios in the Xbox ecosystem are working on them, but that seems less likely. Those games are the unique visions of the studios that made them and it’s hard to imagine someone else coming in to do a sequel. Something like that makes more sense for a broader franchise like Halo which has a bunch of different directions it could go in.

A new Wolfenstein is also heavily in-demand since Wolfenstein: The New Colossus came out in 2017 and Wolfenstein: Youngblood left a lot to be desired. Perhaps MachineGames has had a team cooking up Wolfenstein 3 while working on Indiana Jones, but it’s hard to say. It’s entirely possible all of these trademarks are just simple updates, covering legal bases for the company and making sure they own the rights to these franchises. It wouldn’t be surprising if we got an update on one of these franchises, but it would be hard to imagine getting updates on all four.

Which of these franchises do you want to see return? Let me know in the comments.

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For many gamers, fantasy life sim Palia has become a cozy staple in constant rotation. Until now, the fantasy MMO has only been available on PC via Steam or for Nintendo Switch. But starting on May 13th, Palia is reaching for a new audience of cozy adventurers as it arrives on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Even if you’re not new to Palia, today’s an exciting day for the cozy game. May 13th also marks the biggest influx of new content for Palia since launch, with the massive Welcome to Elderwood update.

Palia is a free-to-play cozy MMO that offers cross-play and cross-progression. That means gamers can join up with friends across various platforms as they explore the lush fantasy world. And now, that includes PS5 and Xbox Series X|S gamers. Whether you’re new to Palia or moving over from another platform, you can get a series of free Account Linking rewards when downloading Palia on one of its newest platforms. PS5 and Xbox Series X|S gamers will receive the following after linking their Palia account on one of the new platforms:

• PlayStation 5: Astro Tool Skins, Astro Glider, Astro Froggy Bucket
• Xbox Series X|S: Volt Tool Skins, Volt Glider, Volt Froggy Bucket

Even if you don’t plan to grab the game on a new platform, there’s still plenty of shiny new content to look forward to. The Elderwood Expansion arrives in Palia today as well, following a massive patch. Here’s a taste of what the new expansion has to offer in its brand-new launch trailer:

The Elderwood update for Palia is the largest new content update since the game launched in 2023. It brings in new story content, a brand new area, new critters to collect, and more. This patch is now live across all of Palia’s platforms.

Palia Patch Notes for the Elderwood Update

If you’re curious to know everything new arriving in Palia with the new update, the truly massive May 13th patch notes have you covered. This patch is so big, it has its own table of contents on the Palia website to show off all the new features, improvements, bug fixes, and more. You can check out the full list over on Palia‘s official website, but let’s break down the biggest additions from the Elderwood expansion.

RELATED: Netflix’s New Cozy MMO Sounds Like Its Most Ambitious Game Yet

Here are the high-level changes you’ll notice right away with the Elderwood update:

• A new map, the Elderwood, a lush overgrown forest seeping with magic.
• A new chapter of our Main Story.
• A new Villager joining the cast of Palia.
• The introduction of Infected Essence, a major focus of the gathering experience in Elderwood.
• The search for Artifacts and ability to craft Relics, a new equipment type that provides buffs to not only yourself, but your party.
• New Gatherables, including a new wood type and forage you can knock down.
• Changes to mining, making Palium a more abundant resource and introducing dedicated mining nodes for Gold and Silver.
• New Huntable Creatures (and plushies!)
• New Insects, including a frog-like critter called the Rockhopper.
• New Fish, including some ferocious sharks.
• New garden crops found within the Elderwood.
• A new set of Cooking Recipes that make use of everything in the Elderwood.
• Our largest single patch of decor, including multiple new furniture sets.
• The introduction of Courier Pets to the game.
• And last but definitely not least, decor limits have increased on the housing plot from 3,000 to 3,500!

Clearly, there’s a lot of new content to explore for players who are returning to Palia or checking it out for the first time now that it’s available on current-gen consoles. The Elderwood update, like the rest of Palia’s content, is free-to-play. The game offers in-game purchases for cosmetics and more.

The post Cozy MMO Palia’s Huge New Elderwood Update Is Its Biggest Patch Yet (And It’s Free) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Having just entered Early Access today,, the highly anticipated DOOM: The Dark Ages has already impressed many with its realistic visuals, action-packed combat, and gory gameplay. However, according to a recent video, it seems that one console manages to bring out the best of the game’s graphics: the PlayStation 5 Pro. Despite Bethesda and id Software being Xbox first-party companies and on Xbox Game Pass, it seems that, in some of the visual aspects of levels, the PlayStation 5 Pro version beats out that of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

As the third game from the rebooted DOOM franchise, DOOM: The Dark Ages brings players back to the Dark Ages, during the reign of the Doom Slayer prior to the events of DOOM (2016). With demons galore and new weapons like the Skull Crusher Pulverizer and Shield, you’ll bash and shoot against the hordes of Hell, all with a badass rock soundtrack in the background. Being a prequel, it is accessible to those who haven’t played DOOM (2016) or DOOM Eternal, though both games were massively acclaimed upon release and do help you get acclimated to the sometimes hectic gameplay. Still, despite all titles being on Xbox Game Pass and being an Xbox first-party release, it’s PlayStation that gets the last laugh.

In the video above, posted by ElAnalistaDeBits, we see a comparison between all of the versions of DOOM: The Dark Ages: Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 5 Pro. Throughout the video, we see the differences between them, which makes it all the more noticeable that the PS5 Pro does outdo the Xbox in some ways. For example, much of the vegetation in the world is a lot more visible on PlayStation 5 Pro than it is on Xbox. In addition, the PS5 Pro version maxes out at 1662p while Xbox Series X and base PlayStation 5 only go up to 1440p.

RELATED: DOOM (2016) Is Still the Benchmark for Modern Shooters

It is important to note that, in terms of recency, the PlayStation 5 Pro is the latest console of the bunch, which does explain why it looks relatively better in some areas than its counterparts. Still, for some, those details don’t matter too much, especially as it is an FPS. The fast-paced gunplay of the iconic Bethesda franchise rarely has you take in the sights before you’re hit with multiple projectiles and the seemingly gallons of blood of your enemies. Though for those who do like consistency with their graphics and the best possible experience, it seems the PlayStation 5 Pro may be the way to go with The Dark Ages.

DOOM: The Dark Ages is available now for Early Access, with its official launch set for May 15th, on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5 Pro, and Xbox Series X|S, as well as Xbox Game Pass. For all things DOOM, gaming, and beyond, keep it here at ComicBook.

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Gun Interactive has confirmed that support for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will be coming to an end following an update later this month. In a post on the game’s official website, the publisher said that “we feel that we have seen The Texas Chain Saw Massacre fully realized,” while listing off several notable accomplishments. Players should not expect to see any additional content released for the game in the future, but Gun has explicitly stated that the game is not getting delisted, and will remain playable. That should be good news for anyone already having flashbacks to Friday the 13th: The Game!

“…The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will not be receiving any further future content or support. This means that there will be no more DLC, balance updates, or bug fixes, after our upcoming May patch. You can still expect a few more patches in the future in order to transition towards peer-to-peer matchmaking. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will still be playable and is NOT being delisted from store fronts,” the game’s official website reads.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was released in the summer of 2023, so the game’s updates lasted a little under two years. During that time, the game added multiple maps and a handful of new Killers and Survivors. Gun Interactive enlisted several horror icons to voice these roles, including Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th), Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator), Scout Taylor Compton (Halloween), and Skeet Ulrich (Scream). In today’s blog post, Gun Interactive notes that bringing these actors into the Texas Chain Saw Massacre franchise was “incredibly rewarding and important to us.”

For many players, it might have seemed like the writing was already on the wall for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Sumo Nottingham was the original developer on the game, but development shifted to Black Tower Studios last year. That’s rarely a good sign, and fans could not be blamed for thinking that new content was set to conclude in the near future. Despite this, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre received the new Rush Week mode last year, offering something significantly different from the main game.

RELATED: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Review: Lots of Horror, Little Content

While Gun Interactive is painting this decision as “the natural creative end,” fans can’t help but feel a little disappointed with how this situation played out. There had been hopes that Gun Interactive might eventually get the rights to films beyond the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but legal red tape prevented the game from referencing any of the sequels. That likely hampered the developers in a way that we didn’t see with Friday the 13th: The Game (which clearly had its own set of problems). Gun Interactive closed out the blog post hinting at its next major project. While no information was revealed, Gun says the plan is to “continue to do what we do best… make your favorite horror games.”

How do you feel about support ending for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre? Were you still regularly playing the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Over the weekend, Bandai Namco revealed a roadmap and a whole lot of details about the future of Tekken 8. The first major update on the roadmap is now live, adding new features, new skins, and the first of several planned Balance Adjustments for the fighting game. It’s hard to say right now just how far reaching these changes will be, but the developers are clearly looking to fix a lot of the issues that have come about since the start of Season 2. Basically, Bandai Namco is trying to fix the “attack-heavy balance” as quickly as possible and get the game back to where fans are happiest.

Players will be happy to learn that Bandai Namco is also banning a number of accounts, including those who cheat, intentionally disconnect to avoid losing, and those using “inappropriate skins” along with names and messages that don’t fit with the standards set by the development team. Full patch notes can be found below:

# TEKKEN SHOP
* New “Vigilante Tech Pack” Added
– A common costume pack containing the following items:
　- Vigilante Tech Jacket (Upper Body)
　- Vigilante Tech Pants (Lower Body)
　- Vigilante Tech Shoes (Shoes)
　- Vigilante Tech Cap (Headgear)
　- Vigilante Tech Mask (Glasses)

* New “Cyber Phantom Pack” Added
– A common costume pack containing the following items:
　- Cyber Phantom Jacket (Upper Body)
　- Cyber Phantom Pants (Lower Body)
　- Cyber Phantom Boots (Shoes)
　- Cyber Phantom Mask (Mouthpiece)

* “TEKKEN SPECIAL DEAL” Event
– During the event period, selected items will be available at special prices.

# TEKKEN FIGHT LOUNGE
* New Feature “TEKKEN GHOST SHOWDOWN” Added to the Entrance
– Speak to Max at the entrance of the “TEKKEN GHOST SHOWDOWN” to access new features such as enabling/disabling AI learning and deleting previous AI learning data.
– By sitting at the dedicated “TEKKEN GHOST SHOWDOWN” terminal, players can engage in real-time Ghost vs Ghost battles.

Note: What is a Ghost?
– A player’s AI-controlled avatar that evolves based on battle behavior.

* Five Special Ghosts with Character Panels Appear
– Defeat each special ghost to earn a unique character panel.
– The character panels are fan art submissions from the “TEKKEN FANDOM Campaign.”
– The special ghosts will be available in the lobby until the next update scheduled for June.
– New special ghosts will be added in the next update.

# PLAY DATA / LEADERBOARDS
* Viewing Some “Season 1” Data Now Available
– By selecting “Season 1” from the “Filter” function, some data will now be viewable.

# Balance Adjustment Policy for Ver.2.01

In TEKKEN 8 Ver. 2.01, additional adjustments have been made to address the game’s attack-heavy balance.

Alongside the previously implemented fixes for “issues that could be addressed quickly,” this update also begins to tackle longer-term issues—such as reducing air combo damage and reworking Heat Burst performance—which were raised frequently by players and required more time to evaluate.
* The patch notes for Ver.2.01 are scheduled to be released on [PDT] Monday, May 12, 6:30 PM / [CEST] Tuesday, May 13, 3:30 AM.

1) Gradual Adjustment of Moves with Excessive Return
Following the previous update, balance adjustments have been made with a focus on the following points:

– Adjustment of moves where the return is disproportionately high relative to the risk involved
– Adjustment of high-performance moves that easily create consecutive advantageous situations and lead to one-sided developments

Through these adjustments, the goal is to achieve a more balanced playing field across all characters and foster an environment where diverse strategies can thrive.
Additionally, moves not targeted in this update will continue to be reviewed based on player trends and feedback, with further adjustments implemented as necessary.

2) Reduction of Aerial Combo Damage
In consideration of the current trend of increasing overall combo damage, adjustments have been made to the damage of moves that contribute significantly to particularly powerful aerial combos across all characters.
These changes are intended to increase the opportunities for offense, defense, and tactical exchanges, while also addressing the excessive disparity in damage potential between characters.
Aerial combos will continue to be closely monitored, and if instances of excessive damage are identified, additional measures will be considered as appropriate.

3) Adjustment to Heat Burst Performance
In light of the fact that, during exchanges surrounding Heat Burst activation, it was often difficult for the defending player to evade the move with sidesteps even when anticipating the activation, the overall tracking performance of Heat Burst against lateral movement has been reduced.
This adjustment is intended to make it easier for the defending side to respond through movement or evasion, thereby enabling more interactive mind games that reward defensive techniques.

4) Reduction of Chip Damage from Heat Smash
Given that the increase to maximum health has already lessened the impact of chip damage overall, this update limits adjustments specifically to Heat Smash, reducing its chip damage output.
Rather than implementing a broad revision to chip damage at this stage, we have opted for a targeted response. Moving forward, we will continue to monitor match environments and player behavior, and consider additional adjustments to chip damage as necessary.

# Future Adjustments
The next update (Ver. 2.02) is scheduled for release in June 3rd.
This update will include adjustments to certain character-specific moves that consume remaining Heat Timer duration, as well as balance improvements through targeted character tweaks.
Building on the outcomes of the previous and current updates, we will continue our efforts to enhance the overall battle balance and ensure a more refined and competitive gameplay environment.

RELATED: Tekken 8 Developers Tease Additional Final Fantasy Fighters Following Clive

Changes to the individual fighters can be found at Tekken 8‘s official website right here. For those hoping to see additional adjustments, Balance Adjustment #2 is less than a month away; Bandai Namco has already confirmed that it will be released on June 3rd. That same day will also see some new content released, including a collaboration with Karate Kid: Legends. Following that, a third balance adjustment is planned for sometime this summer.

How do you feel about today’s big Tekken 8 update? Do you think this will help improve the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New Tekken 8 Update Adds Ghost Showdown, New Skins, and More appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Forza Horizon 5 was released on PlayStation 5 late last month, marking the first time the series has ever appeared on a Sony platform. It’s a pretty big deal, and developer Playground Games and Lamborghini are celebrating in a unique way. The game recently added the Lamborghini Revuelto, and players can now score a free livery for it by using the Share Code 687 884 132. After inputting the code, players will receive a livery design that starts out green in the front of the car before blending into a striking blue coloration.

The two colors are obviously those used by Xbox and PlayStation respectively. While the official Forza website doesn’t explicitly say that this is meant to reflect the two console color schemes, it’s pretty clear from the language. Xbox is clearly signaling an end to the console wars between the two companies, just as so many players on PS5 have embraced games created by Microsoft.

“The roads of Forza Horizon have always been breathtaking. Now, they’re boundless. From April 25, Forza Horizon 5 opened up like never before, inviting players from more platforms to drive together on the same open road. Lamborghini and Forza have joined forces to create a powerful symbol of unity: a first-of-its-kind livery, designed for a vibrant driving community, that is only getting bigger,” the announcement reads.

Xbox has been making a concerted effort to bring more of its games to rival platforms over the last year. Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are the two most recent examples, but this shift in strategy really started kicking into gear with games like Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Pentiment. In the short term, the strategy is clearly working, as these games are selling quite well on PS5. However, fans continue to worry about the long-term impact, and what it might mean for interest in future Xbox consoles. The argument being that some people might simply buy a PS5 if they can get all the good Xbox games on the platform.

RELATED: Xbox’s Fable May Release on PS5

Whatever the case might be, the new livery is a nice freebie, and it’s available to all players regardless of which platform they play Forza Horizon 5 on. It’s a very sleek option, and it might give players an extra incentive to unlock the Lamborghini Revuelto if they haven’t already. Of course, it will be interesting to see if a similar design is released if the game ever gets announced for Nintendo Switch 2. Microsoft has kept its plans mostly quiet for Nintendo’s new system, but it’s a safe bet that we could see some Xbox games similarly make the jump. Could we see a livery with Xbox green, PlayStation blue, and Switch red next? The possibility doesn’t seem all that farfetched!

Have you picked up Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 yet? How do you feel about so many Xbox games jumping over to other platforms? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New Forza Horizon 5 Freebie Celebrates “More Gamers Driving Together” on PS5 and Xbox appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox 360 was revealed 20 years ago today and it is one of the most important days in gaming history. Video games have been around for many, many years now, but it’s largely still in its infancy as a medium as creators continue to push it to new boundaries. We’ve come a long way from crudely animated 2D side scrollers and every generation feels like it creates a dramatic leap forward. Simply look at how much Rockstar Games has evolved in just 20 years with GTA 3 bringing in the era of 3D open-world games and now, GTA 6 looks absolutely unbelievable. It’s hard to imagine where we could go next, but the geniuses at these studios keep showing us there’s more to do.

With that said, it feels like this era of gaming really began with the Xbox 360. While seeds were certainly planted back on the original Xbox and PS2, it feels like Xbox 360 really realized the full potential of things like online gaming. With that said, it was a lot of fun to look back at the original Xbox 360 reveal and see how Microsoft was preparing everyone for the future.

Looking Back on Xbox 360’s Reveal 20 Years Later

The Xbox 360 reveal was hosted on May 12th, 2005 on MTV and it was roughly 20 minutes long. While there was a proper E3 reveal that summer, this was the first time anyone got to see what the console looked like and what features and games it would have. The reveal is pretty hilarious in hindsight given its short length and the fact that it barely focuses on the games. There’s a concert from The Killers, an extended Pimp My Ride segment where West Coast Customs is putting original Xbox consoles in peoples’ cars, and a bunch of era-specific music along with all kinds of quirky camera angles and excessive editing. It certainly feels like a throwback to a different era.

However, it does highlight how forward thinking the Xbox 360 was in some ways too. Former Xbox executive J Allard highlighted the Xbox 360’s online marketplace that would be used for buying things like DLC and even full games. Xbox 360 embraced the digital and online era in a massive way, even becoming the first console to let you stream Netflix in 2008. While Xbox One was marketed as the “all-in-one entertainment system”, a lot of that was already present on Xbox 360.

Xbox was building a machine that didn’t just play the latest and greatest games, it was a hub for everything entertainment. It was a Roku before a Roku, an Amazon Fire Stick before Amazon Fire Stick, and it was truly innovative. While PlayStation would up the ante toward the end of the generation by figuring out day one digital games that could be pre-loaded, Xbox 360 was giving gamers new ways to engage with their games.

On top of that, Xbox 360 had the brilliant achievement system which rewarded players for accomplishing certain tasks in a game. Pretty much every competitor besides Nintendo has adopted some version of the achievement system and it totally revolutionized not only how some people play games, but how games are made thanks to added challenges, modes, and Easter eggs added for the sake of achievement hunting.

Although Xbox Live existed on the original Xbox, it wasn’t until the Xbox 360 that it really became what it is today. Xbox Live expanded in a major way with things like Xbox Live Party Chat, allowing a group of friends to speak to each other regardless of if they were playing the same game or not. They also could have their own custom avatars, profiles, and more.

Ultimately, Xbox 360 changed the industry forever. It was a platform where some of the biggest franchises like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto thrived, but also one where the industry evolved in massive ways. Xbox made gaming even more of a social hobby than before with Xbox 360 and brought everything further into the digital age, cementing a structure that is still being used today. It’s quite an achievement and proves that Xbox 360 is one of the most influential pieces of gaming hardware ever made.

The post Xbox 360 Was Revealed 20 Years Ago Today, Here’s How it Changed Everything appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The next few months will see a lot of content added to Tekken 8. Bandai Namco has pulled back the curtain on its plans for the game’s future, which will see the arrival of a new DLC fighter, free and paid cosmetics, a movie collaboration, and more. However, the developer’s biggest announcement is the game’s next DLC fighter. It has been confirmed that Season 2 will see the return of Fahkumram, a character that first debuted as a DLC fighter in Tekken 7. As of this writing, an exact date has not been announced, but Fahkumram will return to the series sometime this summer.

Tekken 8‘s new content will begin to arrive on May 13th with the arrival of Balance Adjustment #1. This will include the free Tekken Ghost Showdown as well as the paid Cyber Phantom Pack and Vigilante Tech Pack. Then on June 3rd, a free Karate Kid: Legends collaboration will arrive alongside Balance Adjustment #2, and more free and paid skins. The third Balance Adjustment does not have a revealed release date beyond “summer,” but players can expect a bunch of Pac-Man themed content, including the new Pac-Pixels stage. A full trailer for all of this new content can be found below.

So far, reception to the announcements has been highly negative on YouTube and Reddit. Tekken 8 players were already disappointed with the current season, and these new announcements have not helped matters. Fahkumram was a controversial character in Tekken 7, thanks to his overpowered nature. It’s possible the developers will have balanced him out and made him more enjoyable, but right now there seems to be little enthusiasm around his return. One YouTube user called Fahkumram “a character no one asked for,” while others questioned the logic of releasing the same fighter as DLC in two games in a row. It’s been known for a while that Tekken 8‘s next DLC character would be a returning fighter, but fans clearly would have preferred to see someone else instead.

The Karate Kid: Legends collaboration has similarly received harsh words from Tekken 8 players. The collaboration makes some sense, but players are basically getting a free hoodie cosmetic, and some advertising signage. Players are arguing that it would have made more sense to bring back Lei Wulong, a character inspired by Jackie Chan, who happens to be one of the stars in Karate Kid: Legends. Instead, Bandai Namco is bringing back Fahkumram, and some have even argued that the new Pac-Man inspired stage looks too much like the Geometric Plane stage from the previous Tekken.

RELATED: Tekken 8 Developers Tease Additional Final Fantasy Fighters Following Clive

Hopefully fan reception will be a little stronger once this content is actually released. Tekken 8 debuted last year to universal acclaim, but much of the game’s community seems to have lost faith in Bandai Namco since the launch of Season 2. It looks like winning them back is going to take some effort.

How do you feel about this new content for Tekken 8? Do you think it was a mistake bringing back Fahkumram? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The Microsoft Store in Europe just disappeared 27 different Xbox One and Xbox Series X games from existence, leaving Xbox users no option to purchase said games. Thankfully, for the rest of the world, this is only the case in Europe. Europe is a big place though, which means millions and millions can no longer buy 27 Xbox games, at least via the Microsoft Store.

Given that the Xbox games come from various different developers and publishers, it is safe to assume this is nothing more than a Microsoft Store bug. That said, No Gravity Games, in particular, has been impacted, as all of its games are included in the 27 delistings.

Softening the blow is the fact there are some random and fairly inconsequential games fluffing this number out. However, there are a few notable games such as Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Super Meat Boy Forever, Song of the Deep, and Hyper Light Drifter.

More specifically, the following Xbox games have been removed from the Microsoft Store in European markets: Abo Khashem, Alder’s Blood: Definitive Edition, Cats and the Other Lives, Creepy Tale, Creepy Tale 2, Destropolis, Exorder, Flippin Kaktus, Grim Dawn: Definitive Edition, Gylt, House, Hyper Light Drifter, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Mundaun
One True Hero, Ooblets, Paper Dolls Original, Primal Light, Quest Hunter, REKT! High Octane Stunts, Song of the Deep, Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion: HD Renovation, Steve, Jackson’s Sorcery!, Strike Force Kitty, SuperMash, Super Meat Boy Forever, and Will You Snail.

RELATED: Microsoft Just Made an Anti-Consumer Change to Xbox Game Pass

At the moment of publishing, none of the implicated parties have commented on the stranger Microsoft Store delisting. If this changes, we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, all of these games will presumably return in the coming days and weeks because this is almost certainly just a bug. Games get delisted often, but not this many at once, let alone from a variety of publishers.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox One news, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news — click here.

H/T, True Achievements.

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Gears of War is one of the most iconic and celebrated shooter series in gaming. It originated on the Xbox 360 and had to compete with the Halo series, something it did easily. Gears of War is a tight-rope walk balancing horror, gritty militaristic action, third-person cover-based shooting, and a surprisingly deep and compelling narrative. The series has seen multiple entries, divided between the original trilogy, spin-offs, and a sequel duology. Ranking these Gears of War games is a challenge because none of them are bad games. That said, not all are created equal, and some games remain the gold standard for the series.

Gears of War features seven games, which excludes Gears POP!, which just feels too different to include here. Another interesting fact is how the series has changed hands, starting with Epic Games before ending up with The Coalition. Since then, the Gears games have received numerous praises, with some getting more than others. Ahead of both Gears of War: E-Day and the Gears of War Remaster, we have ranked every Gears of War game from worst to best.

7) Gears of War: Judgment

Gears of War: Judgment is the first title released after Epic Games stepped away from the series and handed development over to People Can Fly. It serves as a prequel to the main trilogy and is often seen as a spin-off due to the changes. The most obvious change is a shift to Damon Baird and Augustus Cole as the protagonists, deviating from Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. All of this would have been fine considering both Baird and Cole Train’s popularity within the series, but People Can Fly made other major changes that left fans dissatisfied with the game. 

RELATED: Dave Bautista Calls on Fans to Petition for Live-Action Gears of War

Inconsistent pacing, lack of emotional depth, fragmented storytelling, and the inclusion of Lancers before their invention all led to fans heavily criticizing Judgment. Shifting away from the grounded and horror tones of the first three titles made it stand out, but not for the better. Its launch created a disconnect and just didn’t resonate with longtime fans. That being said, Gears of War: Judgment isn’t a bad game, but it cannot compare to the games that came before it. Judgment would introduce the Overrun mode, which paved the way for future game modes. It also had polished combat and engaging gameplay that fans praised.

6) Gears of War 4

The series was passed off once again, this time from People Can Fly to The Coalition. Instead of a prequel using previous characters, Gears of War 4 takes place 25 years after the events of Gears of War 3. It features a new cast, consisting of JD Fenix, Marcus and Anya’s son, as well as Kait Diaz and Del Walker. Gears of War 4 focused on humanity’s rebuilding of Sera and the threat of a new enemy, the Swarm. Stunning visuals and mechanically solid gameplay solidified the title far ahead of Gears of War: Judgment and a return to form, but this is also part of its problem.

Gears of War 4 played things too safe. It essentially followed the tried and true formula of the original trilogy without expanding with anything new. The campaign starts off strong but fails to keep fans engaged throughout due to weak character development and a less interesting enemy. It lacked the emotional weight of the previous entries, especially coming off Gears of War 3. However, Gears of War 4 successfully captured the polished and exciting multiplayer of the past, even bringing back the fan-favorite Horde mode. The Coalition created a great game here, but it felt more like a stepping stone to what would eventually become Gears 5.

5) Gear Tactics

Gears Tactics took fans by surprise, ditching the series’ third-person cover-based shooting gameplay for a top-down tactical shooter. Fans jokingly call it “Gears of XCOM,” and this is a fair description. Co-developed by The Coalition and Splash Damage, fans dove into a Gears of War 4 prequel, following Gabe Diaz, father of Kate Diaz. It successfully combined the gritty world of Gears of War with compelling tactical gameplay to create a thrilling spin-off title.

That said, many fans were disappointed with the change. While it maintained the visceral tone, it was a major deviation from the core gameplay. This could have been successful, but the lack of mission variety and repetitiveness ultimately led many to lose interest. Gears Tactics did offer players a robust class system with wide customization options and presented a compelling story with exciting cinematics. Gears Tactics was a bold choice, drastically changing the series, and its experiment ultimately worked. However, its flaws detract from the overall experience, but these can easily be fixed in a sequel.

4) Gears 5

The Coalition took everything they learned from Gears of War 4 and improved upon it with Gears 5. For the first time in the mainline games, players were not behind a Fenix, but instead, Kate Diaz became the protagonist. This title was the first game to move toward an open-world, even if it went semi-open-world. The graphics for Gears 5 were even more stunning, and The Coalition took big risks with its story that paid off.

RELATED: New Gears of War Rumor Angers Longtime Fans

Gears 5 uses a more emotional and personal narrative told through Kait’s perspective. It dives deeper into the lore of the Locust while keeping the gritty tone the series is known for. Its open-world aspects introduced new features, such as weapon crafting, new traversal methods, and more emphasis on exploration. New combat options were added in the campaign through Jack, and The Coalition expanded on classic modes like Horde and Escape. Where Gears 5 suffered was inconsistent storytelling, and its open-world nature clashed with the series’ identity, two issues that can be overlooked.

3) Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3 is the stunning conclusion of the original trilogy, bringing the most powerful emotions yet. Not only that, but it provided a deep finale to an incredible journey, and fans praised its storytelling. Gears of War 3 possesses one of the most emotional moments in the series, one that still haunts many to this day. It pushed the Xbox 360 to its limits visually and mechanically. Where the game falters is in failing to innovate, but it uses the core aspects of the series to its fullest potential.

Not only did it nail its single-player campaign, but Gears of War 3 has some of the best multiplayer in Gears of War. Classic multiplayer modes returned, but Epic Games also added a new mode, Beast mode. The multiplayer was incredibly polished, perhaps with the exception of the Sawed-off Shotgun, and offered many different ways to play. Gears of War 3 is a balanced and dramatic experience, and a blast to play from start to finish.

2) Gears of War

The original Gears of War stands the test of time, and it is no surprise that Microsoft is rereleasing it with a new remake. Marcus Fenix’s story started here, and players were hooked from the beginning. Gears of War is the darkest game in the series, setting the gritty horror tones early on. The war-ravaged world of Sera sucked players in thanks to the presence of the Locust and its willingness to kill off characters. Additionally, Gears of War proved to be a technical marvel at the time, showcasing the power of the Unreal Engine.

Following up Gears of War is a challenging task, only accomplished by Gears of War 2. Its story was compelling, tightly paced, and just downright enjoyable. Meaty characters and brutal combat grabbed players’ attention, especially the iconic Lancer. Moments like encountering the Berserker and the final boss fight against General RAAM remain some of the best in the series to this day. Gears of War launched with a unique identity, differentiating itself from other shooters at the time and laid the foundation for the series, showing why it’s still popular today.

1) Gears of War 2

Gears of War 2 is the only game in the series to top the original entry. Epic Games improved upon every aspect of Gears of War in this sequel. Its campaign was somehow more compelling and engaging, with higher stakes, new characters, and a stronger narrative. The environments were more diverse, and its cinematic set pieces stunned players at the time. Gears of War 2 upped the emotions, having the second-most emotional scene in the games. All of this created the perfect campaign, one that is equally matched by its multiplayer.

Gears of War 2’s multiplayer truly showed off the improvements to combat. Chainsaw duals, improved cover transitions, new weapons, and tight gameplay made it some of the most fun on the Xbox 360. This doesn’t even take into account Horde mode, which saw a group of players facing off against waves of Locust enemies. This mode instantly became a fan-favorite, and almost every game has included it and expanded upon it. Gears of War 2 may not have started the series, but it certainly showed its potential and set the bar for future titles.

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Microsoft just made a change to Xbox Game Pass that is not very consumer friendly. The change comes as a bit of a surprise because Micorsoft’s approach to Xbox Game Pass since its inception in 2017 has been very consumer friendly. There is an argument that the current iteration of Xbox Game Pass at its current price is consumer friendly just as a product. The aforementioned change is not consumer friendly though. Thankfully, it is a minor change to the subscription service in the grand scheme of things.

More specifically, Microsoft has made a change to the conversation ratio for existing Xbox Game Pass Core subscribers trying to convert their subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Previously, the ratio was 3:2, now it is 2:1. What does this mean? Well, it’s bad news for anyone in the future trying to make this conversion.

Previously, if you had — for example — 90 days left remaining on your Xbox Game Pass Core subscription, it would convert to 60 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. That is with a 3:2 ratio. Now, with a 2:1 ratio, it will convert to a 45 day subscription of Xbox Game Pass. In short, Xbox Game Pass subscribers are getting less bang for their buck on Xbox Game Pass conversion rates going forward.

Microsoft has not said why it’s made this change, but it is obviously a change this is going to save it some money, at the cost of the consumer. There’s a strong chance this has to do with Xbox users taking advantage of the system by buying Xbox Game Pass Core codes from other countries, where they are cheaper, and then converting them into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, essentially getting free extra days of subscription. However, considering Xbox Game Pass is routinely given away for $1 and the many other insanely consumer friendly policies Microsoft takes up with Game Pass, it is a little surprising to see it make this change.

As you would expect, Microsoft has been very quiet about this change, only making note of it via Xbox Support. If this changes, we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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Xbox Game Pass subscribers on both console and PC have exactly one week to play one of the best Xbox 360 exclusives for free. Thankfully, the Xbox game in question is only three to four hours long, so a week with it is plenty of time not to just play it, but complete it. Meanwhile, until it departs Xbox Game Pass on May 15, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can also purchase the game with a 20 percent discount, which means pay $16 rather than $20 for it.

The game in question hails from 2013, a year that saw it win Best Xbox Game at the VGAs, now known as The Game Awards. It also notably earned a nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction at the more prestigious D.I.C.E. Awards. The game is specifically, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, which released on August 7, 2013 as an Xbox 360 exclusive. And it was a timed exclusive to the Xbox 360 for about a month before it came to PS3 and PC on September 3 of the same year. The version specifically available via Xbox Game Pass though is the Xbox One version released in 2015.

Upon release, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons earned a Metacritic score of 90, making it one of the highest-rated games of 2013. For those that don’t know, it was the debut game from director Josef Fares, who would go on to create A Way Out, It Takes Two, and Split Fiction. This was before Fares made his own studio though, and thus it was developed by Starbreeze Studios, the studio best known for the Payday series.

“A man, clinging to life. His two sons, desperate to cure their ailing father, are left with but one option,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “They must set out upon a journey to find and bring back the ‘Water of Life’ as they come to rely on one another to survive. One must be strong where the other is weak, brave where the other is fearful, they must be… Brothers. This is one journey you will never forget.”

It is worth clarifying that a remake of the game was made and released in 2024 for the Xbox Series X and other platforms. That said, the game leaving Xbox Game Pass on May 8 is not the remake, but the original.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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A new version of the ROG Ally has leaked, which will feature official Xbox branding. This new version of the handheld will come in black, and the images apparently come from the FCC’s official certification, according to Eurogamer. That means these images should be seen as fairly legitimate, even if they aren’t the ideal way to see the device. The images of the device show a dedicated Xbox button, in contrast to other versions of the ROG Ally. Unfortunately, we don’t know how much these portable options will cost, or when they might launch. However, current models of the ROG Ally range in price from $649.99 to $799.99.

A similar price point is possible, but it’s hard to say, given the recent hardware price increases that have been seen for Xbox products. That could be a steep ask for many existing Xbox fans. Images were shared on X/Twitter by user @94G8LA, and can be found in the post embedded below. While the images of the devices are dusty and covered in fingerprints, they do offer an idea of what to expect once we get official images from Microsoft. Besides the dedicated Xbox button on the left hand side of the black system, the new version of the ROG Ally has grips meant to draw inspiration from the current Xbox controller.

We’ve known for a while now that Xbox has wanted to break into the handheld space, and Jez Corden of Windows Central hinted last year that an Xbox handheld device could be revealed in 2025. Following the release of these images, Corden confirmed that this is the “Project Kennan” that he reported on more recently. Notably, only one of the devices in those images features the Xbox branding, and that’s the black design. Corden believes that the white design is the ASUS ROG Ally 2, while the black version is the officially branded Xbox device.

It’s too early to say what kind of compatibility the new handheld will have with Xbox software. The current ROG Ally works with Xbox Game Pass, and that’s always been a given. Xbox Play Anywhere titles are also a safe bet. However, actual compatibility with other digital games is unlikely. Corden believes we won’t see full compatibility until Xbox releases its own in-house developed handheld, which is apparently still happening, but not expected until 2027.

RELATED: Backbone Reveals Sleek New Xbox Controller Design

Now that these images have leaked online, it will be interesting to see when Microsoft and ASUS decide to make an official announcement. When images of the Xbox Series S leaked online, the company decided to adapt and push the announcement ahead of schedule. It’s possible we could see something similar here, but there’s no way of knowing for certain. Hopefully the full reveal will be compelling, and give Xbox fans an incentive to make a purchase.

Would you be willing to purchase an Xbox branded handheld? How much would you be willing to spend? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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May is kicking off with the next batch of Xbox Game Pass games being revealed, and it includes one of the biggest games of 2025 in DOOM: The Dark Ages. Not only this, but there are loads of fantastic indie games and multiplayer games to play with friends. Players subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will get the best rewards, but the lineup for Xbox Game Pass Standard isn’t too bad either. Starting today, players can access Dredge, a cosmic horror fishing game that made waves on release, as a start to this month’s great games. More will come, and fans can expect the following games on Game Pass soon.

• Game Pass Standard:
  • May 6 – Dredge
  • May 7th – Dragon Ball Xenoverse
  • May 7th – Dungeons of Hinterberg
  • May 7th – Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
  • May 7th – Metal Slug Tactics
  • May 8th – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed
  • May 13th – Warhammer: Vermintide 2
  • May 20th – Firefighting SImulator: The Squad
  • May 20th – Police Simulator: Patrol Officers
• Game Pass Ultimate:
  • May 8th – Revenge of the Savage Planet
  • May 15th – DOOM: The Dark Ages
  • May 16th – Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Subscribers Threaten to Sell Xbox After Latest Update

The stand-out game in this month’s selection for Xbox Game Pass is DOOM: The Dark Ages. It will be available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on May 15th, meaning those with the basic subscription plan must upgrade to play it. Players with the Ultimate subscription also get access to Revenge of the Savage Planet and Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, two other promising games.

DOOM: The Dark Ages releases day one on Game Pass and id Software’s latest entry looks to be the best one yet. With new weapons, new enemies, and even more gory combat, fans are in for a treat with this one. There isn’t long to wait for the next brutal adventure, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users can enjoy it for free.

Those with Xbox Game Pass Standard can look forward to titles like Dredge, Dungeons of Hinterberg, Flintlock: Siege of Dawn, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed, and so much more. Xbox Game Pass offers different games each month, with some being better than others. May is looking pretty good thanks to DOOM: The Dark Ages, but the supporting titles are well worth the subscription as well.

What are your thoughts on the Xbox Game Pass lineup for May? Do you plan to play DOOM: The Dark Ages or do you have your eyes on something else? Let us know in the comments below!

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An Xbox 360 game that was scrapped back in 2010 has finally seen the light of day some 15 years later. Since the turn of the century, there have been numerous games that were announced that ended up being canceled for one reason or another. Some of these games would go on to be reworked and later re-released in a new manner, while others have remained in the grave, never to be heard from again. Now, one Xbox 360 game that was thought to be lost long ago has finally come back with a new release on modern platforms.

As of today, May 6th, Captain Blood has been released across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms. First unveiled all the way back in 2004, Captain Blood was once in development for the original Xbox at publisher 1C Company. Work on the project ended up stalling and changing hands, though, which led to its development being rebooted multiple times over. Eventually, Captain Blood ended up shifting from Xbox to Xbox 360 and was still in the works up until 2010. Somewhere around this time, though, the project fell apart once again, this time, what seemed to be for good.

Now, some 15 years later, Captain Blood is finally getting its widespread release. Thanks to a partnership between the original developer SeaWolf Studio and General Arcade, Captain Blood has been revitalized. Despite releasing in 2025, Captain Blood retains many of the throwback gameplay stylings that were associated with games from the early 2000s. As such, this is a title that many old-school fans of games from the Xbox 360 era might want to check out for themselves.

To learn more about Captain Blood and see how it plays for yourself, you can get a look at its latest trailer and official synopsis attached below.

Captain Blood

About: “Captain Blood is a pirate-themed action game set on the Spanish Main in the 17th century, where you step into the boots of a fearsome pirate on a quest for gold and glory. Expect wild adventures with cannon firing, pistol shooting, swashbuckling sword fights, and plenty of pirate shenanigans. This action-packed hack’n’slash features fierce hand-to-hand combat, hordes of enemies, and a classic fighting system with flashy combos and epic finishers.

Prepare for intense deck battles where you can fire the ship’s cannons and fend off blood-thirsty boarding crews. Collect gold to upgrade your fighting skills, buy new weapons, and become the most feared buccaneer on the high seas. Fight for wealth and glory!”

The post Forgotten Xbox 360 Game Finally Releases 15 Years After Being Canceled appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The newly announced Gears of War remaster is making a pretty big change to the game’s campaign. Gears of War is one of the most respected shooter franchises in the game. Initially developed by Epic Games, Gears of War was Xbox’s marquee franchise going into the Xbox 360 generation. Xbox had created Halo for the prior generation and had every intention of keeping it going in the 360 era, but it wanted something that could stand alongside it and provide a much different kind of shooter experience. Gears of War was born and was an immediate smash hit that dominate the late 2000s, helping cement Epic Games as a top-tier developer.

The series was eventually handed off to a brand new developer known as The Coalition, which created a sort of legacy sequel in the form of Gears of War 4. The game followed Marcus Fenix’s son and his contemporaries while also bringing older versions of classic characters into the fold. It has been about six years since the last Gears of War game and although a new Gears of War prequel with Marcus and Dom is on the way, the jury is still out on if we will ever get a proper Gears 6. The Coalition has suggested that story will return, but it is a bit hard to imagine that happening if Gears of War: E-Day is a roaring success and fans demand more from those legacy characters.

Gears of War Remaster Removes Campaign Loading Screens

With all of that said, it seems like Xbox is trying to prep fans for a return to the earliest days of the franchise. A brand new Gears of War remaster known as Gears of War: Reloaded was just announced and will bring the beloved shooter to PS5. This is more or less just a remaster of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, a remaster of the original game that came to Xbox One about a decade ago. However, it boasts all kinds of new visual improvements to make it the definitive version of the game. It’s not as awe-inspiring or in-depth as the recent Oblivion remaster, but it does have some notable changes that will likely draw in fans of the original game.

One of the most eye-catching changes to Gears of War: Reloaded is that there are zero loading screens in the campaign. That means it will be a seamless experience from start to finish. This is pretty awesome because a lot of games these days have eliminated notable load times. While there are still some brief loading screens, the SSDs available in consoles today make it so there’s hardly any waiting around, which couldn’t be said of previous generations. As of right now, it’s unclear how Gears of War will transition between level to level without load times. Perhaps there will be a fade to black and fade in to make it a smooth transition, but it seems like this will be a great way to experience the beloved campaign.

On top of that, Gears of War: Reloaded will have cross-play for its co-op campaign and multiplayer. That means PS5 players can play through the entire story with an Xbox or PC friend if they so choose. All in all, it sounds like The Coalition has created something pretty special.

Are you going to try out Gears of War: Reloaded? Let me know in the comments.

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Xbox had some of the best selling games on PlayStation last month. It’s hardly a secret that the games industry is making massive changes to how and where we consume games. A decade ago, you had to pay $60 for every brand new AAA game and now, that’s not always a guarantee. Services like Xbox Game Pass make games way more accessible and allow people to play great new games like Oblivion Remastered at no extra cost. Xbox has been one of the companies really pushing change in how games are distributed by embracing subscriptions, multi-platform releases including day and date with PC, and even things like cloud streaming.

Xbox has somewhat controversially decided to bring more and more of its games to PlayStation 5. This started with some smaller, older games, but now it seems like the company is bringing some of its biggest games. Xbox recently brought Forza Horizon 5 to PlayStation 5, giving Sony access to two of the biggest racing franchises with Forza and its own homegrown series, Gran Turismo. It’s expected that Xbox will bring a lot of its other big franchises to PlayStation later this year. Gears of War was also just announced for PS5, confirming rumors from earlier in the year.

Xbox Tops PlayStation Store Charts

Nevertheless, it seems like PlayStation is becoming a great place to play if you like to have access to everything. Xbox recently confirmed that it is the top publisher for most pre-ordered and pre-downloaded games on PlayStation and new data backs that up. PlayStation has revealed the best selling games for April 2025 and the top 3 games were all Xbox/Microsoft-published games. In the United States, the top 3 games sold on the PlayStation Store were The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5 where in the EU, it was the same games just in a slightly different order. Forza Horizon 5 topped the EU charts followed by Oblivion and Minecraft respectively.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also made the list as the 11th best selling game on the PS Store for April following its PS5 debut alongside Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at number 7. All of these games are published by Xbox and it highlights not only how many franchises and studios Xbox owns, but the amount of great games they are putting out and how widely available they are.

This is likely only to increase as Xbox continues to push more games to PS5. It’s rumored that Fable will be a day one PS5 game when it releases in 2026, so it’s becoming clear that it’s not just delayed or staggered releases for older game anymore. Xbox’s biggest franchise, Halo, is also rumored to be coming to PS5. Either way, Xbox is showing its power outside of its own hardware. Whether there will be any kind of exclusives going forward remains to be seen, but clearly it is benefiting them financially to release games everywhere.

Do you want to see more Xbox games on PlayStation? Let me know in the comments below.

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Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and even Xbox One users can now play GameCube games on their Xbox consoles. Nintendo is finally adding GameCube games to Nintendo Switch Online this June, but ahead of this, modders have got GameCube games running on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. They also have GameCube games running on Xbox One consoles, however, with an asterisk as the modders in question note users may run into problems on Xbox One due to inferior hardware. Of course, GameCube games are not demanding, but emulating games can be taxing on hardware, hence the warning.

This has been made possible via Dolphin through RetroArch, and includes RetroAchievement support. Of course, running emulators, and having emulated software, could result in issues down the road — such as your Xbox getting banned — but Xbox has been more lenient on emulation and modding then some of its competition.

“Thanks to the efforts of SternXD, the maintainer of XBSX2, GameCube games can now be playing on your Xbox Series consoles,” reads a statement that accompanies the development.”Both softcore- and hardcore achievements are supported, as well as almost every config option available on the PC version. There is also support for DSU, button mapping support to remap your Xbox controller, and booting into the GameCube/Wii menu straight from the settings menu.”

Those interested in knowing more can find more information here. That said, it is important to reiterate that Microsoft can crack down on this at any moment. Typically, running homebrews and emulators themselves are perfectly legal, as is using emulators that are open source or for games you legally own. However, retail mode emulation, downloading ROMs, and especially distributing emulators and ROMs can get you in trouble. All of this is important to consider when weighing up how badly you want to play Super Mario Sunshine or Pokemon Colosseum on your Xbox console.

RELATED: Xbox Series X Deal Makes $70 AAA Game Only $5

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Gears of War is finally coming to PlayStation 5 via a new remaster. Xbox has a handful of major franchises such as Halo, Forza, and of course, Gears of War. These franchises have been pillars of Xbox for decades now and have been system sellers for each generation of Xbox, however, things have changed with Xbox in recent years. Not only are Xbox games coming to PC, but they are also starting to make their way to PS5. Most recently, Forza Horizon 5 came to PS5 which was highly successful, but it seems like Xbox’s other big franchises are also coming to PlayStation.

Yes, the rumors are true: Gears of War is coming to PlayStation 5. Xbox has announced a brand new remaster of Gears of War titled Gears of War: Reloaded and it will bring the beloved third person shooter to PS5. This remaster will come with 4K resolution, 120 FPS, zero loading screens in campaign, and much more. This is building off of the bones of the Gears of War: Ultimate Edition that was released on Xbox One about a decade ago and Xbox players who own that game will get a free upgrade to this new remaster. Gears of War: Reloaded will release on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC on August 26th.

Gears of War: Reloaded will also have crossplay and cross-progression, meaning there are no platform walls. If you play on multiple platforms, you can carry over your progress between them. You will need a Microsoft account to bring that progress over between platforms, but such a thing is not required to play the game or play with people on other consoles. Those who have some trauma after the Helldivers 2 PSN account controversy can rest easy, it is an optional feature that players can take advantage of.

Gears of War: Reloaded will release in August for $39.99 and will be a day one title for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Xbox and PC. All content for Gears of War will be included in this package, so this can be considered the definitive version of the game. This version of the game was rumored for a while, but rumors indicated that it would be the Gears of War trilogy and that multiplayer may not be included. Thankfully, multiplayer is included in this version, but fans will seemingly have to keep waiting for remastered versions of Gears of War 2 and 3.

It seems likely that Xbox would bring the remaining Gears of War games to PlayStation 5 later on, otherwise they are left hanging with just the first game. Either way, it seems like we can probably count on Halo also coming to PS5 now, as rumors also suggested that was a possibility.

Are you going to play Gears of War on PS5? Let me know in the comments.

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A new, couple of updates is bad news for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The first update is Xbox raising prices, of both its games and its consoles. What’s not included in the price hike is Xbox Game Pass, but best believe that is coming soon. If Xbox is raising its prices it is to offset new and developing costs. Xbox Game Pass is not excluded from these costs. The reason it wasn’t increased alongside the other price increases is purely an optics decision. The price increase is going to come soon though, which ties into the second update.

Over on gaming forum Reset Era, industry insider Shinobi602 recently replied to a comment pointing out the lack of Xbox Game Pass price increase. Responding to this, Shinobi602 simply replied with “lol.” Now, it is unclear how much of this is speculation vs inside information, as the reply itself is vague and non-committal. Given the industry insider status of the user though, many have taken it as a hint.

As you would expect, anticipating this Xbox Game Pass price increase, subscribers are not very happy, with talks of cancellation now on the tongue of many Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

“And as with all these increases. Stop buying. If people would just stop buying and unsubscribe they’ll have no choice but to lower the price,” writes one Xbox fan. “Econ 101. But people just can’t help themselves. So these greedy businesses will just get away with it.”

Another comment adds: “It’s never been more over for the game industry.” Meanwhile, a third comment adds: “If they raise it again I’m just going to have to sell my Xbox I already have a gaming PC I just enjoyed being able to relax on my couch instead of sitting at my desk but I can also just move my pc to the tv since it’s 120hz VRR.”

RELATED: Xbox One Classic Is #1 on Xbox Game Pass Charts 11 Years Later

Of course, there is no guarantee an Xbox Game Pass price increase is on the horizon. One is no doubt inevitable, but is it on the horizon? It’s impossible to say definitively, but it sure looks that way right now. To this end, we expect an Xbox Game Pass price increase later this year before Call of Duty 2026 hits. The better question is how much more will it cost after the price increase? Many are suggesting a $5 increase, which would be hefty and bump Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to $25 a month. And at that price point, many may start to reconsider their subscription.

That said, Xbox Series X consoles got a 20% increase with these new price increases, while games got a 14% increase. If Xbox Game Pass price gets a similar price increase, then it won’t be as much as $25, but somewhere between $22 and $24.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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Xbox Series X and Xbox Series X fans have been surprised with a free download for the next big game coming from Xbox. The latest major release from Xbox is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which comes the way of Bethesda. And the next big Xbox game in the pipeline also comes the way of Bethesda. And much like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, this Bethesda game will not be exclusive to Xbox consoles, but will be available on PS5 as well. That game is DOOM: The Dark Ages. That said, while the new Xbox release will be on PS5 the moment it releases on May 15, PS5 users don’t have access to a new freebie released for it ahead of its launch.

The new DOOM: The Dark Ages freebie is not a free, early code for the Bethesda game, but rather a new dynamic background for Xbox users to decorate their Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles with in anticipation of the game’s release later this month.

Like previous backgrounds released for the Xbox Series consoles, this new one is completely free. Unfortunately, also like previous Xbox Series X backgrounds released this generation, the dynamic element of the background is very minimal. To this end, it almost looks more like a static background than a dynamic background. Why Xbox continues to release dynamic backgrounds with little to no dynamism, we don’t know, but this has been true of each and every single one.

Also, as always, there is no word if this background is a permanent freebie available to all Xbox users in perpetuity or if it is a limited time offer that will eventually expire. So far though, every background released for the console has remained available, and considering Xbox owns DOOM, there is especially no reason to expect this to be an exception to the rule.

That said, while the dynamic element of the background leaves plenty of room for improvement, Xbox fans in the comments of the post above seem happy with the new freebie.

“That looks incredible,” reads one of the comments on the post above. “Holy **** this looks amazing,” reads a second comment from another Xbox fan.

RELATED: Xbox Series X Deal Makes $70 AAA Game Only $5

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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An Xbox One game from 2014 is currently the #1 most-played game on the Xbox Game Pass Standard charts 11 years later. The game in question, a Ubisoft title, was recently added to Xbox Game Pass alongside a new update that added 60 FPS to the game on current-gen consoles. For Xbox fans, specifically, this means the game runs at 60 FPS for the first time on console if you have an Xbox Series S or an Xbox Series X. While a meaningful update, it is not the biggest update, yet the game is currently outranking GTA 5, Diablo 3, A Plague Tale: Requeim, Anno 1800, and more for the #1 spot on the Xbox Game Pass Standard charts.

For those that have not connected the dots yet, the mystery game is Far Cry 4 from Ubisoft Montreal. While Far Cry 5 is the best-selling installment in the series, and while Far Cry 3 the most critically-acclaimed and beloved installment, Far Cry 4 is often viewed as the second best Far Cry game to date, behind only the aforementioned Far Cry 3. Considering this, it is not the biggest surprise to see so many interested in jumping back into the game 11 years later, but it is certainly a bit surprising considering it is not the biggest game in the franchise, nor the newest. To be fair to the other games it has topped though, Xbox Game Pass did market the addition quite a bit this past week.

As the name suggests, Far Cry 4 is the fourth mainline installment in the series. It hit back on November 18, 2024 via PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. Upon release, it garnered Metacritic scores between 80 and 85, with the variance coming down to platform. While a successor to Far Cry 3, and a predecessor to Far Cry 5, it has a standalone story. There is some lore continuity shared between the games, but it is very, very minimal.

“Hidden in the towering Himalayas lies Kyrat, a country steeped in tradition and violence. You are Ajay Ghale,” reads an official pitch of the game. “Traveling to Kyrat to fulfill your mother’s dying wish, you find yourself caught up in a civil war to overthrow the oppressive regime of dictator Pagan Min. Explore and navigate this vast open world, where danger and unpredictability lurk around every corner. Here, every decision counts, and every second is a story. Welcome to Kyrat.”

Those that decide to check out Far Cry 4 via Xbox Game Pass can do so with just an Xbox Game Pass Standard subscription. This means, unlike many notable Xbox Game Pass additions, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is not needed.

Once downloaded, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can expect a game that is about 18 to 30 hours long, though completionists will need closer to 50 hours with the Ubisoft game. As for long it will be available via Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft does not disclose. As long as it is available via the subscription service though, subscribers can purchase it with an exclusive 20 percent discount.

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

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An Xbox Series X game that normally costs $70 is on sale for just $5, thanks to a massive 93 percent discount. In other words, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users can save $65 on a AAA game. The deal comes not the way of the Microsoft Store, but courtesy of Best Buy, which means it is for a physical copy of the game. That said, the Best Buy deal is only available until May 5.

The Xbox Series X game in question is notably the second best-selling game of 2024. The best-selling game, like most years, was Call of Duty. More specifically, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Right behind it though was EA Sports College Football 25. Of course, with EA Sports College Football 26 expected to release on July 10, the latest installment is only going to be relevant for a bit longer. However, at the price point of $5, you can’t beat the opportunity to check out the series and see if it’s going to be for you, and if it is going to be something you want to spend $70 on come July.

The first college football game since 2013’s NCAA Football 14. EA Sports College Football 25 debuted last summer to Metacritic scores of 80 and 83, with the variance depending on the platform. And as alluded to, it proved to be a massive commercial success, beating out Madden, EA FC, and EA’s other sports games that year in terms of sales.

“It’s very difficult for me to wrap my thoughts about College Football 25 into one neat package for a review,” reads a snippet of our review of the game. “On the one hand, I am having a blast playing Dynasty mode and am loving the customization and pageantry of collegiate sports. On the other, I can’t help but notice the Madden bugs in the system that we’ve been dealing with for at least five years, and I’m a little bummed that every other mode feels like the team ran out of time. At the end of the day, College Football is back, and the foundation EA has built is solid enough that I am very excited to see what the future holds. That’s about all I can ask for.”

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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