• The Xbox Game Pass lineup for June has been announced
• The selection features nine games, including Herdling, Total Chaos, Beastro, and more
• Persona 5 Royal headlines the collection this month

Microsoft has announced the Xbox Game Pass lineup for the first half of June ahead of the 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, adjacent to this year's Summer Game Fest (SGF).

The selection offers nine games so far, across different Game Pass tiers, including the day-one releases Solarpunk, which launches on June 8, Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions, coming June 11, and Junkster, arriving on June 16.

Also available is Herdling, the new adventure game from Firewatch publisher Campo Santo, where players must find, tame, care for, and guide a herd of horned beasts called Calicorns to a mountain peak.

TechRadar's Managing Editor, Social & Engagement, Josephine Watson, reviewed Herdling, describing it as "a surprisingly well-rounded atmospheric adventure that belies its short play time" that is "undoubtedly an indie gem, but not without its flaws."

Total Chaos, a survival horror from the creator of Turbo Overkill, as well as boxing game Undisputed, a cozy life sim and deck-building adventure, Beastro, and Frog Sqwad, a co-op extraction puzzle-platformer, are all coming to the service too.

Finally, Persona 5 Royal, the award-winning role-playing game (RPG) from Atlus, headlines the collection for this month. It's one of my absolute favourite RPGS that expands on the original 2017 release with more dungeons, new characters and relationships, and a story that will steal your heart.

As Microsoft mentions in the Xbox Wire post, five games will leave Game Pass on June 15, including Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Warhammer 40K Space Marine: Master Crafted Edition, so save on these games while you can.

Xbox Game Pass titles for June 2026

• Herdling (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – Available now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
• Total Chaos (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – Available now with Game Pass Premium; joining Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass
• Solarpunk (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – June 8 for Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass + day one on Game Pass
• Undisputed (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – June 8 for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass
• Persona 5 Royal (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 9 with
  Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass
• Beastro (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – June 11 with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• Frog Sqwad (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – June 11 with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions (Game Preview) - (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – June 11 with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass + day one on Xbox Game Pass
• Junkster (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – June 16 with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass + day one on Xbox Game Pass

• Xbox Insiders can now test new console features
• They include a new boot-up experience, tiered Gamerscore badges, and new library filtering
• The tiered Gamescore badge feature was previously requested by fans

Xbox has announced new console changes that Xbox Insiders can test today, including newly introduced tiered Gamerscore badges that were highly requested by fans.

As detailed in a new Xbox Wire post, these new additions were "shaped directly by player feedback," bringing "even more ways to personalize and shape your experience," and will roll out to more Insiders over time, with the full release arriving for the broader player base later.

The first of the updates is a fresh boot-up experience, which adds a new animation and sound featuring the new Xbox logo with the company's signature green.

"You’ll see and hear the update when you power on your console, bringing a refreshed look and feel from the moment you jump in," the post reads.

Next is the new tiered Gamerscore badges, which were highly requested by players in the past. Players will now earn these tiered badges that reflect their lifetime Gamerscore, as shown below, "giving you a fresh way to showcase your journey on Xbox." They'll appear on player profiles and in the Guide, making it easier to see achievement history at a glance.

As each player's total Gamerscore grows, their badge will evolve, "reflecting every milestone along the way."

"Holy crap! They are doing it! Tiered Gamerscore badges are coming to Xbox profiles!" said one player on X/Twitter after previously requesting the update back in March.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who was appointed the new gaming head in January following Phil Spencer's retirement, responded with a simple "heard you!"

Finally, new filters have been added to the game library to help players separate games they own from those shared with them, and identify installed titles they no longer have access to.

"Whether you’re switching devices or jumping between consoles, it’s now clearer what’s in your library and what’s actually playable," Xbox said.

The Xbox CEO has been making steady changes over the past few months after committing to return to the "spirit" of the gaming brand earlier this year.

"The spirit of 'Return to Xbox' is about returning to the spirit that the team was founded on," Sharma said at the time. "It's that spirit of surprise, it's the spirit of building something nobody else was willing to try."

Most recently, Sharma announced that Xbox will ditch its integration of Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant, and the company has also cut Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 to $22.99 per month.

• CEO Asha Sharma and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty have laid out the plan for Xbox's future
• "Microsoft Gaming" is now simply "Xbox"
• The goal is to prioritize "daily active players" and "reevaluate our approach to exclusivity, windowing, and AI"

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and Xbox Chief Content Officer Matt Booty have shared a detailed plan for the company's future, which includes a focus on player engagement and another name change.

In a lengthy Xbox Wire open letter, the pair started by acknowledging players' frustrations, particularly with new feature drops on console being "less frequent" and how its "presence on PC isn't strong enough."

They also admitted that "pricing is getting harder for people to keep up with", core experiences like search, discovery, social, and personalization "still feel too fragmented," and developers and publishers are asking for better tools and a platform to grow faster.

"At the same time, a new generation of players is coming online with different expectations. Their time is split across games, media, and everything else competing for attention. They expect more content in familiar places, want to shape the worlds they play in, and want to create and socialize together, not just play together. These changes are happening as the industry reshapes around us. Console remains large and stable," the statement reads.

"Windows now represents more players and more hours and is increasingly where competition is most intense. Players have access to more games than ever, even as the cost and time to build blockbuster titles continues to rise, putting pressure on what gets made and how risk is taken."

There's mention of big hits from small teams like Roblox, and how players are choosing subscriptions and services as their primary way to play, and expect instant access, value over time, and libraries that continuously evolve.

"Xbox will be where the world plays and creates. We will build a global platform that connects players and creators everywhere. Console is at the foundation, delivering a premium experience, and cloud brings that experience to any device. You can play where you want, and your games, progress, friends, and identity stay with you across console, PC, mobile, and cloud."

The company recently announced a price cut to Game Pass Ultimate, and in the open letter, the Xbox leaders suggested similar changes are on the way by offering "flexible" pricing" for all players.

"Xbox will be built to be affordable, personal, and open. We will offer flexible pricing so it’s easy to get started and keep playing," they said. "The experience will adapt to you, letting you customize how you play, helping you find what you’ll love, and connecting you with the right people. And we will be open to all creators, from individuals to the largest studios, giving anyone the tools to reach a global audience and keep their games growing over time."

This is where Asha and Booty confirmed that going forward, Xbox's "new north star" is "daily active players" and will execute this plan by prioritizing "hardware, content, experience, and services."

Project Helix, the next Xbox console, was mentioned, as well as a strong ecosystem, "creator-centric platforms" like Minecraft, The Elder Scrolls, and Sea of Thieves, a way to "fortify Game Pass with clear differentiation and sustainable economics", and more.

The CEO and COO also confirmed it will "reevaluate our approach to exclusivity, windowing, and AI", which suggests the traditional Xbox exclusivity period could make a return.

With this plan in mind, Sharma and Booty also announced that "Microsoft Gaming" is no more and will now be known simply as "Xbox" again.

"To achieve our master plan, the way we work must transform," they said. "Our best work happens when the full stack moves together. 'Microsoft Gaming' describes our structure but it does not describe our ambition. So, we are going back to where we started and changing our team’s name. We are Xbox."

The company then offered a list of what it does best, including:

• Earn every player 
• Protect our art 
• Stay rebellious 
• Progress over perfection 
• Signal over ceremony
• Core before more
• Outwork the problem 
• Speed is learning
• Makers over managers
• Clarity is kindness

In other news, Xbox is reportedly planning to roll out a new Game Pass tier that will be bundled with a Discord Nitro subscription.

Sharma recently teased a new Discord partnership as part of an effort to "make Game Pass more flexible for our players," and it's claimed that this new Game Pass "Starter Edition" will be it, and allegedly feature "50+ games like Stardew Valley, Fallout 4, and Grounded," 10 hours of cloud gaming every month, and Xbox Rewards.

• A new Xbox Game Pass tier will reportedly be tied to Discord Nitro
• Leaks claim the "Starter Edition" tier will be offered as part of a Discord Nitro subscription
• It will allegedly offer 50+ games, cloud gaming, and Xbox rewards

Xbox is reportedly planning to roll out a new Game Pass tier that will be bundled with a Discord Nitro subscription.

Earlier this week, after the company announced a price cut to Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma teased a new Discord partnership as part of an effort to "make Game Pass more flexible for our players."

While the official announcement has yet to be made, new leaks have claimed that the partnership will introduce a new Game Pass tier called "Starter Edition", which will be bundled with Discord Nitro.

That's according to a datamine posted on ResetEra (via VGC), which alleges that "Xbox Game Pass (Starter Edition) is now included with Nitro."

"Subscribe to Nitro and access Xbox Game Pass (Starter Edition), deals on gear, new Orbs perks, and so much more," one of the datamined text strings reads.

It's claimed that "50+ games like Stardew Valley, Fallout 4, and Grounded," will also be included in the bundle, as well as "10 hours of cloud gaming every month" for select titles, and Xbox Rewards.

"All yours with Nitro," the post reads. "Up to $25/year in the Store with Rewards."

The way things have been moving recently, Xbox could officially announce the details of its Discord partnership soon.

Elsewhere, it's claimed the company is reportedly also working on a new Game Pass plan that would allow users to choose the content of their membership.

This comes after Xbox cut the price of Game Pass Ultimate from $29.99 per month to $22.99, and PC Game Pass from $16.49 to $13.99 a month. New Call of Duty titles will also no longer be day-one launch offerings.

• A new "pick your own" Xbox Game Pass plan is reportedly in the works
• Windows Central claims the new formula will allow users to customize the content of their membership
• Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has also teased a new Discord partnership

Microsoft is reportedly working on a new Xbox Game Pass plan that would allow users to choose the content of their membership.

That's according to Windows Central's Jez Corden, who claims sources told him that the long-term goal for the company is to make the subscription service "more flexible."

This would align with what Xbox CEO Asha Sharma recently said in a leaked memo to staff, in which she admitted the service was "too expensive" for players.

"Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation," the message, obtained by The Verge, reads. "Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system, which will take time to test and learn around."

Corden claims that a "pick your own plan" formula for Game Pass is in the cards, where users would be able to decide what packages of content they want in their plan.

The idea, essentially, would mean players could remove Cloud Gaming from their plan to lower the price, and even remove content like the Fortnite Crew subscription service and add day-one Xbox games instead.

Windows Central also points out Microsoft's leaked "Duet" and "Triton" codenames for Xbox Game Pass, which suggests new packages are in the works.

Players have reacted to the report, with some sharing their enthusiasm for the potential change, while others suspect Microsoft is "probably just figuring out a way to charge you slightly less money for significantly less content."

"Please. I don't need half the things I pay for," one user in a Reddit thread said.

Another wrote, "Great! As someone who doesn’t use these bonuses, I will benefit from these changes."

The report also comes as the Xbox CEO teased a new Microsoft and Discord partnership, writing on X/Twitter that they're "teaming up again" as part of an effort to "make Game Pass more flexible for our players."

Game Pass Ultimate currently features a month of Discord Nitro, so Xbox may be looking to evolve the offering.

The news comes after Xbox announced a price cut on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, as well as the removal of Call of Duty titles as day-one offerings.

Now, Game Pass Ultimate will cost $22.99 instead of $29.99 to per month, while PC Game Pass will go from $16.49 to $13.99 a month.

• Analysts agree the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price cut and the removal of Call of Duty titles as day-one offerings was "not suprising"
• Circana's Mat Piscatella says the offering "did not lead to a significant increase in Xbox console sales or even subscriptions"
• Ampere Analysis's Piers Harding-Rolls says, "Microsoft was leaving a substantial amount of revenue on the table through a loss in premium sales"

Industry analysts appear to agree that Microsoft's decision to slash the price of Xbox Game Pass and remove Call of Duty games as day-one launch titles was the right move.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Game Pass Ultimate will drop from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, while PC Game Pass will go from $16.49 to $13.99 a month.

In addition, new Call of Duty games will only be available "about a year" after their release, but recent titles like Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 will continue to be available to members.

Now, several analysts have told GamesIndustry.biz that the move was inevitable because the offer of new, day-one Call of Duty games wasn't driving console sales or subscriptions.

"It was clear from very early on in the Call of Duty on Game Pass experiment that it did not lead to a significant increase in Xbox console sales or even subscriptions," said Circana's Mat Piscatella. "So, this change is not surprising at all. A little overdue, perhaps. But not surprising."

Ampere Analysis's Piers Harding-Rolls agreed with Piscatella's sentiment, saying, "the commercial reasoning for pursuing a subscription-first strategy for new releases the size of CoD has not been realised."

"Its inclusion in Game Pass was hoped to turbo-charge the service, but these short-term intense boosts of subscribers taking advantage of cheaper access to one of the most popular premium games available have not been able to be sustained for the long term," Harding-Rolls explained.

The analyst goes on to say that with Call of Duty games being a day-one offering, "Microsoft was leaving a substantial amount of revenue on the table through a loss in premium sales," explaining that the data "never suggested" to him that their inclusion in Game Pass had "as big an impact on sales of the game."

"I am certainly not convinced at all that the inclusion of Call of Duty on Game Pass on day 1 had any significant impact on sales of the game on, say, PlayStation platforms," he said. "If future versions of Call of Duty deliver the experience its players want, then sales will thrive regardless of its inclusion or exclusion from Game Pass."

Both Piscatella and Harding-Rolls agree that the Ultimate tier price cut will be beneficial in the long run, with the latter calling it a "balanced solution" for the broader playerbase.

"I think the price reduction should help subscriber numbers grow," Piscatella said; however, he is doubtful it will lead to higher Game Pass spending in the short-term.

He continued, saying subscription spending has been a huge money maker for the market over the past two years, but says the subscription service's original $29.99 monthly cost "was making the value part of that consumer calculation questionable."

Despite the removal of Call of Duty games as day-one Game Pass releases, Harding-Rolls believes this won't mean the end of day-one launch titles on the service and suggests it's still a "legitimate new release strategy for select games and first-party releases will remain central to this approach."

"However, it does open the door to a more flexible approach to release windowing of first-party new games more generally," the analyst added. "As the industry has seen with the shift away from platform exclusivity, Microsoft is not averse to pivoting its strategy to deliver a better outcome for the company."

The latest Game Pass changes come after Xbox CEO Asha Sharma admitted in a leaked memo that the service was "too expensive" for players.

The Verge reported that Call of Duty and the release of Black Ops 7 were among the main contributors to Microsoft increasing the price of Game Pass in October 2025.

While Xbox Game Pass is now cheaper, the prices are still higher than last year, before Microsoft hiked the cost across all subscription tiers. Before the price increase, Ultimate cost $19.99 per month.

• Xbox Game is about to get cheaper and change a little
• Game Pass Ultimate will drop to $22.99 a month, while PC Game Pass cost $13.99
• This comes after Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said the service had "become too expensive" in a leaked memo

Xbox has announced that it is cutting the price of its Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass services, and that it will no longer offer new Call of Duty games at launch.

As detailed in a brief Xbox Wire blog post, Game Pass Ultimate will drop from $29.99 to $22.99 a month, while PC Game Pass will now cost $13.99 rather than $16.49.

New Call of Duty games will also only become available "about a year" after they release. Call of Duty titles which are already on the service, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and its follow-up Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, will continue to be accessible.

The news comes from a leaked internal memo that revealed that Xbox CEO Asha Sharma thought Game Pass had "become too expensive for players" and wanted to "evolve" the service. "We need a better value equation," she said.

Although Game Pass is about to get cheaper, these new prices are still higher than they were this time last year. The price of Game Pass went up across all subscription tiers in October 2025, with Ultimate rising to $29.99 / £22.99 per month, up from $19.99 / £14.99 per month.

The company also stopped offering a 12-month package, which gave buyers the plan at a slightly cheaper cost.

The Verge reported that one of the reasons for that price hike was the move towards including Call of Duty on the service day one - a practice that presumably decreased valuable launch sales.

• Former PlayStation exec Shawn Layden has suggested Xbox can't save Game Pass
• Layden said Xbox is "trying so hard to will this into health" despite the current issues
• This comes after a leaked memo from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma revealed plans to "evolve" the "expensive" service

Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden has suggested Microsoft can't save Xbox Game Pass, following comments made by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma about wanting to "evolve" the service.

Earlier this week, a leaked memo to employees obtained and reported on by The Verge showed Sharma admitting that the subscription service is now too expensive for members as she outlined a brief plan for how she aims to change things, writing, "Game Pass is central to gaming value on Xbox. It’s also clear that the current model isn’t the final one.

"Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system, which will take time to test and learn around."

Now, in a new LinkedIn post, Layden responded to the report saying Microsoft is trying too hard to keep Xbox Game Pass alive, suggesting the company can't save it.

"They are trying so hard to will this into health, despite unfavorable diagnostics and a grim prognosis," Layden said. "A clarifying post mortem would do the entire industry some good."

Layden has been a staunch critic of subscription models for some time, calling them a "danger" to the industry that turns developers into "wage slaves" (via Games Industry).

In the same report from The Verge, it was said that Call of Duty and the release of Black Ops 7 was one of the main contributors to Microsoft increasing the price of Game Pass once again in October 2025.

Currently, the Ultimate tier costs members $29.99 / £22.99 per month, up from $19.99 / £14.99 per month. There are also reports that the company is considering combining Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscription tiers, which could mean some users would pay more each month.

• Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has reportedly admitted that Xbox Game Pass is "too expensive"
• A leaked memo reveals that Sharma wants to evolve the service
• Sharma says, "It’s also clear that the current model isn’t the final one"

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has admitted that the company's Game Pass subscription service has become "too expensive" for players.

That's according to a leaked memo to employees obtained and reported on by The Verge, in which Sharma said Xbox Game Pass is now too pricey for members and shared a brief plan for how she aims to change things.

"Game Pass is central to gaming value on Xbox. It’s also clear that the current model isn’t the final one," Sharma wrote.

"Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system, which will take time to test and learn around."

Microsoft increased the price of Game Pass across all subscription tiers in October. Now, Ultimate costs $29.99 / £22.99 per month, up from $19.99 / £14.99 per month. There's also no option for a 12-month subscription, which would otherwise offer the plan at a cheaper cost.

The Verge reported that one of the reasons for the price hike was the decision to feature Call of Duty on the service, which occurred ahead of the launch of Black Ops 7 in November 2025.

In February, it was reported that the cost may go up once more because Microsoft is considering combining Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscription tiers, which could mean some users would pay more each month.

Sharma officially stepped into the Xbox Gaming CEO role following Phil Spencer's retirement earlier this year. At the time, she shared a message to fans, promising "the return of Xbox", and later clarified that she wants to take the brand back to its roots.

"The spirit of 'Return to Xbox' is about returning to the spirit that the team was founded on," Sharma said. "It's that spirit of surprise, it's the spirit of building something nobody else was willing to try."

I’ve played all the Forza Horizon racing games, and I’m not going to pretend that a significant chunk of my enjoyment of each and every one of them didn’t come from virtual tourism.

Sure, completing frantic street races, bombastic rally challenges, and elaborate stunt jumps in some of the coolest cars around is always going to be a lot of fun (especially given the brilliant vehicles handling model series developer Playground Games has truly mastered with each subsequent instalment), but it’s the series’ wonderfully realized spaces that has always kept me coming back for more. And on that front, the upcoming Forza Horizon 6 is shaping up to be the most impressive entry yet.

It brings the action to Japan for the very first time, a setting fans have been practically begging for over the last decade, and right from the starting line, it’s easy to see how good a decision that was.

Tokyo drift

The first few minutes of Forza Horizon 6 (a flashy, scripted race as has become tradition) have you speeding down highways alongside a bullet train, with occasional detours through winding woodland paths, as you zoom towards Tokyo in a rotating selection of eye-catching vehicles, including a beautiful Nissan GT-R.

It’s a lovely celebration of Japanese car culture, complete with little references to popular racing manga Initial D and many other petrolhead details that I’m sure I missed.

Even though I’ve been playing an early build, the rural surroundings already look simply incredible on Xbox Series X with loads of high-fidelity foliage, life-like lighting, and no visible pop-in, no matter how fast you drive. It comfortably looks better than 2021’s already attractive Forza Horizon 5, but it’s when you finally hit the streets of Tokyo that it becomes clear just how much more advanced this sequel is.

The city is by no means life-size, but the sheer scale of it is still pretty breathtaking. One of my biggest complaints with Forza Horizon 5 was the lack of proper urban locales — with its depiction of Mexico mainly focusing on rural villages and skipping major cities — and it seems like Playground Games is eager to compensate with this massive paved labyrinth. Buildings are detailed and varied, including strong representations of iconic landmarks like Tokyo Tower, and even within the city, there’s a good mix of different environments to discover.

A network of wide highways crosses the city, which are ideal for leisurely cruising, and the tighter streets are dominated by narrow alleyways and little hidden-away paved areas just waiting to be found. With a few fairly standard races under my belt, I was more than happy to spend most of my time getting to grips with its layout and hunting the many collectible mascots (smashed for a burst of XP) dotted around.

Although the roads are obviously much less busy than real-life — there wouldn’t be anything enjoyable about being stuck at five miles per hour in rush hour traffic after all — there are still lots of other cars out and about.

They’re mainly cute Kei cars (small, boxy urban vehicles synonymous with driving in Japan), providing a thrilling obstacle to dodge as you speed to the next race, and you’ll occasionally run into another player drifting around corners in something showier.

Growing your garage

While Forza Horizon 6 is expected to launch with more than 550 vehicles, I spent most of my time in this version of the game with the starting three: a 1989 Nissan Silvia K’s, a 1970 GMC Jimmy, and a 1994 Toyota Celica GT-Four ST205.

A decent initial roster, though I can’t help but notice that it contains nothing that hasn’t already been represented elsewhere in the series. It’s quite hard to tell if the models have actually been updated from Forza Horizon 5 (I’m leaning towards no and am sure someone on Reddit will have already posted a detailed comparison of each of them side by side by the time you read this), but the vastly improved ray-tracing is transformative either way.

Watching passing tower blocks glimmer back to me off the bonnet, I’m convinced driving in a game has simply never looked this good, and it feels great too due to the skilled implementation of the Xbox Wireless Controller’s rumble and haptic triggers. Like the last entry, handling changes realistically depending on the weather conditions, too, and my cars picked up an embarrassing number of scrapes the first time I was caught out in pouring rain. Seasons are set to return in the full game (the feature was absent from my preview), with the snowy winter conditions likely to be even more impactful.

There’s still plenty of other things that I need to see (I’m really hoping the scattershot progression system of the last game has been thoroughly overhauled and that the car roster has enough exciting new arrivals to maintain interest), but everything I’ve seen so far has made for a top first impression.

I’ll certainly be getting behind the wheel when it launches for Xbox Series X and Series S and PC on May 19, 2026. PlayStation owners won’t need to wait long to join me either, as the game will also be making its way to PS5 later in 2026.

• Hades 2 is coming to PS5 and Xbox on April 14
• The PS5 and Xbox Series X editions will run at 120 frames per second
• The new versions will arrive alongside new "bonus content and quality of life improvements"

Supergiant Games has announced that its award-winning roguelike, Hades 2, will finally launch on PlayStation and Xbox next month.

The news comes from the Xbox Partner Preview on March 26, where the studio confirmed that the Hades sequel will be released on PS5 and Xbox Series X and Series S on April 14. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

The PS5 and Xbox launch follows the game's official version 1.0 release last year, which arrived on PC, Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

The developer confirmed that the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will run at "an ultrafast 120 frames per second" and launch alongside brand new "bonus content and quality of life improvements."

"If you already have the game, expect these in a patch releasing that the same day, and we'll have full patch notes then," it said in an official post.

The contents of the bonus content patch remain a mystery, but in the new, gorgeously animated trailer, which sees the main character Melinoë gearing up for battle, there are a few hints as to what players can expect.

For instance, it looks like there will be a new scene featuring Heracles at the hot spring, a place where players can further their relationship with several other romance options.

Hades 2 made its way into TechRadar Gaming's Game of the Year 2025 list thanks to its thrilling combat and gameplay loop, striking visual art style, and electric soundtrack, making it a worthy successor to one of the best roguelike games of all time.

"Roguelikes are usually a hit or miss for me, but like the first game, Hades 2 has managed to hold my attention and keep me coming back even after hours of battling through the underworld," I wrote.

"Its unique characters and compelling narrative, inspired by the great Greek myths, and dynamic gameplay accompanied by a diverse replayability structure and challenging boss fights, will keep you on your toes and reward you for your efforts."

• Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley says the PS5 version of High on Life 2 is the studio's leading platform despite the first game's Xbox exclusivity deal
• Unlike the first game, the High on Life sequel is launching simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation
• Fridley says it was "kind of an easy business decision, as far as just looking at sales numbers on the first [game]"

Squanch Games CEO Mike Fridley has said releasing High on Life 2 simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation was a "no-brainer" following the first game's long Xbox exclusivity window.

In an interview with TechRadar Gaming ahead of the game's release this week, Fridley discussed the decision to bring the High on Life sequel to all platforms at the same time, following a deal with Microsoft that saw the first game exclusive to Xbox for a period of time.

The first High on Life game launched in December 2022 as a console exclusive for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and PC via Game Pass, and wasn't released on PS4 and PS5 until July 2023.

However, this time around, Squanch Games is launching High on Life 2 on Xbox and PlayStation on the same date, and is even making it available through Xbox Game Pass, which Fridley notes was "definitely part of the consideration" due to Microsoft's help with the original.

Speaking on the sales that the studio may miss out on through Game Pass, Fridley isn't sure if the game's exposure outweighs "the potential cannibalization of sales", but he is sure it will "help establish an IP so getting a bunch of people to play your game," adding, "if your game's good and you want to be a bunch of people to play it, getting it on Game Pass is great."

Even following the first game's success, the CEO added that "we're still in a franchise building mode" and he wants as many people as possible to know about the studio, explaining that "the best way to do that is to give it away and get as many people with their hands on it as possible."

Although High on Life achieved success with its short Xbox deal, Fridley remarked that the PlayStation version of High on Life 2 is its main platform, saying, "shockingly even after a delay on the Sony launch [on PS4 and PS5] – because of an exclusivity clause with the first game that Microsoft had – it's [PlayStation] still our lead platform," Fridley said.

When asked if that was a factor in the sequel getting a simultaneous launch on PlayStation, he said, "That was a no-brainer, like our lead platform is Sony, Steam is right behind it as far as units sold."

He continued: "If you're a PlayStation player, you're going to buy it on PlayStation. You're not going to play it on Game Pass, and with the recent subscription increase on Game Pass, I'm sure they've probably seen subscriber numbers go down a bit; so those people have to play it somewhere."

Despite Fridley's comment, it's worth mentioning that we can't prove that Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have lowered due to the recent price hikes.

"It was kind of an easy business decision, as far as just looking at sales numbers on the first one and not having that exclusivity this time around to launch it on all platforms," Fridley said, adding that outside of sales, "it's just cheaper. We don't have to do two marketing pushes… we're just piggybacking off our own marketing to sell the same copy."

High on Life 2 launches on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC tomorrow (February 13), with a Nintendo Switch 2 release slated for April 20.

If I say the words "High On Life" to you, chances are you felt very strongly one way or another about the 2022 shooter.

While the game itself was a solid bounty-hunting shooter, how you felt about Squanch Games' brand of humor likely informed how you felt about the game overall. The game received criticism for its comedic stylings, but high sales and a dedicated fanbase made up for a middling critical reception.

But with the departure of Squanch Games co-founder and Rick and Morty co-creator Justin Roiland in 2023, if there was ever a time for High On Life to experiment with its style of humor to potentially win over those who were averse to its comedic chops, it's with a sequel. "It's definitely something we considered during the period in which Justin was transitioning out of the studio," Mike Fridley, CEO of Squanch Games, tells me, "and we understand that being a comedy-forward game is very polarizing. Like every bit of comedy."

Fridley explains that "the humor is our sense of humor," adding that, "I think it would be very detrimental to ourselves and our sanity, but also just detrimental to our business model, to try and chase making everybody laugh. Generally, those end up being kind of watered down, very generic, safe games." And as someone who wound up very in the middle when it came to the original – mostly down to finding Roiland's Morty-like voice for the main gun Kenny being extremely grating – Squanch sticking to its guns is an understandable move. "The first game did 25 million players," Fridley explains, "I think it'd be a mistake to chase the folks that we probably will never convince that we're funny."

Pretending I'm a Superman

But behind the jokes, High On Life has a ton of potential. The bounty hunting first-person shooter (FPS) felt like it definitely took cues from the criminally overlooked Oddworld: Strangers Wrath – which I did have confirmed, as Fridley said it was "definitely an inspiration" – but it also felt like something was missing.

I wouldn't call it clunky, but it didn't feel quite as crisp or frantic as some of its contemporaries at the time – especially when it came to movement speed. And with Doom: The Dark Ages slowing the iconic FPS way down, I'm excited to see Squanch speed things up, thanks to a nice bit of wood on wheels.

After being considered for the original game, Squanch introduced skateboarding to the sequel, "We were like, let's mess around with that just as a side mechanic – probably a mini game or something like that – and we started to fall in love with it." Soon, the team started designing with it in mind, "It was like, 'we want to make every level skateable'. And then it became like, 'Okay, let's just replace the sprint with the skateboard and see how that feels'."

And after "a lot of internal and external playtesting," Squanch landed on the game's current speed to a level "where it felt like firing multiple weapons while traveling on a skateboard rail, grinding at that speed could all be done and processed in a way that felt like skillful, but also not like Dark Souls, skillful, where it's like too hard."

And while I've not got my hands on High On Life 2 yet (check out our High On Life 2 preview for that), Fridley did inspire confidence in me by letting me know, "I go back and play the first one now that I've been playing the second one, and it feels like I'm running molasses," adding, "This is, I think, the speed the game was always supposed to be. And it's great that we kind of found that eventually."

Gun Game

Despite playing as a voiceless protagonist, Squanch opted to make High On Life 2 a direct sequel to the original, as opposed to making it an anthology series.

While it was "definitely something we talked about," the team realised that the Gatlians – the weird sentient guns that chat with you throughout the adventure – are the way that the story is told.

"Not having Sweezy or not having Gus, for example, in the second game would feel like it wasn't a High On Life game," Fridley explains. Of course, that leaves the elephant in the room, as Roiland's Kenny was understandably removed when he left the studio, and while Fridley explained that this is "a conscious choice" to not have him around, "he hasn't officially been killed off either."

And on top of that, replacing the cast would mean replacing the guns. "We're trying to be comedy character focused" Fridley notes, and on top of that "you still need a short range weapon that does X, Y and Z." If the team were to replace Gus, for example, the team would still need a new shotgun character, but as Fridley explains, "we just love the characters, and we love the actors that do them. So it was kind of a no-brainer there."

For a game that places so much emphasis on its Gatlians the guns themselves weren't entirely unique. Some like B.A.L.L and The Creature showed that they could be interesting, but the guns very much fell into the Pistol, Shotgun, and SMG archetypes. "There's some non-traditional stuff there, but we want, we want the players to both feel that everything's a little bit off, but also feel a little familiar."

Fridley explains that some of these still fit into the mold of classic FPS weapons, with the Ralph Ineson-voiced Sheath, which is described as a Halo Battle Rifle; and there's an unannounced bow, which Fridley also describes as "typical." However, he notes, "both of their alternate abilities and their special attacks are outside of what you would normally think of for those archetypes."

Multiplatform madness

Obviously, the first game did extremely well on the platform, with Xbox VP Aaron Greenberg calling it a "breakout hit," but High On Life 2 seems like a big step up from the original in scale, so I was curious as to what Sqaunch thought about returning to Xbox Game Pass. While Fridley notes "it was definitely part of the consideration" this time around, Microsoft's help with the original game made it somewhat of a no-brainer to return, he explains, "what we found on the first time around was Microsoft and Xbox support their game pass games very heavily."

Fridley continues, "does the exposure outweigh the potential cannibalization of sales? We're not sure, but it does, for sure, help establish an IP so getting a bunch of people to play your game," adding, "if your game's good and you want to be a bunch of people to play it, getting it on Game Pass is great." And despite the success of the original, Fridley explains "we're still in a franchise building mode" where the relatively new studio "want as many people to know about Squanch" and "the best way to do that is to give it away and get as many people with their hands on it as possible."

Despite the launch on Xbox Game Pass, High On Life actually shines brightest elsewhere, "shockingly even after a delay on the Sony launch [on PS4 and PS5] – because of an exclusivity clause with the first game that Microsoft had – it's [PlayStation] still our lead platform," Fridley told me. And when asked if that was a factor in the sequel getting a simultaneous launch on PlayStation, he said, "That was a no-brainer, like our lead platform is Sony, Steam is right behind it as far as units sold."

"If you're a PlayStation player, you're going to buy it on PlayStation. You're not going to play it on Game Pass" Fridley continues, "and with the recent subscription increase on Game Pass, I'm sure they've probably seen subscriber numbers go down a bit; so those people have to play it somewhere." He explains, "It was kind of an easy business decision, as far as just looking at sales numbers on the first one and not having that exclusivity this time around to launch it on all platforms," and even outside of sales, "it's just cheaper. We don't have to do two marketing pushes… we're just piggybacking off our own marketing to sell the same copy."

High On Life 2 launches tomorrow on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S (with a Nintendo Switch 2 release set for April 20). Even as someone who didn't totally get on with the original, I'm somewhat optimistic for this sequel. You can expect my review to go live in the near future to see how that went for me.

• Microsoft is rumored to be merging two Xbox Game Pass tiers
• The PC Game Pass could be combined with the Xbox Game Pass Premium
• Some users may end up paying more for the same features

There's a worrying rumor doing the rounds that Microsoft is thinking about combining the Xbox Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscription tiers, which could eventually lead to some users paying more each month.

According to The Verge and Windows Central, Microsoft could "potentially" merge the two plans together, though nothing is official yet. It's also apparently looking at ways to bundle more third-party services in with these subscriptions, which would be beneficial.

It's by no means certain that price hikes will happen, and the timeframe for this isn't clear – the word is that nothing major will happen in 2026 – but as it stands today the PC Game Pass gives subscribers more for less, compared with the other plans.

This would certainly be an opportunity for Microsoft to simplify the various Xbox subscription options across consoles, PC, and the cloud, though existing subscribers are understandably concerned about the future – especially in light of recent price rises.

Prices and benefits

Microsoft is considering merging Xbox Game Pass with PC Game Pass from r/pcgaming

Right now, the PC Game Pass plan will set you back $16.49 / £13.49 / AU$19.45, and gives you access to the full Xbox PC library, plus day-one releases. The potential merger is with Xbox Game Pass Premium, which costs $14.99 / £10.99 / AU$17.95 per month.

Crucially though, Premium doesn't include the full PC title library, or day-one access. That means PC gamers might have to fork out for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate instead, now costing $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 after a price hike last year.

That's speculative at this stage, and the merged plan will possibly include all the PC benefits for the same price – but given the usual trend of subscription services, including those from Microsoft, existing users aren't optimistic about what the future holds.

Reddit posts predict Microsoft will kill off the PC Game Pass and push PC gamers to Ultimate for day-one access and other benefits. Several posts mention a "price hike incoming", while one thanks Microsoft for "reminding me to cancel".

Nostalgia can be a potent feeling, but by Albion did Playground Games’ Fable, aka Fable 4, trigger a dose of it during the first Xbox Developer Direct showcase of 2026. As someone who can’t remember the last time he cried, the sheer potency of nostalgia for a game I adored in my younger years almost brought a tear to my eye.

One of my first and most enduring Xbox memories was waiting for the original Fable; with the promise of a game with a world you could shape through your actions and decisions.

While the options to influence story outcomes via decisions and morality systems was nothing new, as there were plenty of CRPGs with similar systems – Baldur’s Gate 2 stands out to me as one notable example – the idea of a somewhat open world with such decision making in, for the time, attractive 3D graphics, was tantalising. I remember Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux touting how you could plant a tree in the game and, as the years passed, watch it grow.

However, when it was released in 2004, Fable lacked a lot of the dynamic features promised. Still it was far from a bad game: it had a whiff of 3D Zelda with open areas to explore and secrets to uncover, yet also mixed in some systemic elements – for example, people would react to what you did, and if your character ate too much he’d get fat.

I distinctly remember exploiting it all in fun and slightly dark ways. For example, playing as a renowned hero you could flirt with all manner of people in various villages and towns, to the extent you could ask them to follow you. I used this to lure people outside of their respective homes and villages and then murder them without alerting the guards. This would then mean their property would be put up for sale, which I’d then buy and rent out; from this I built up a real estate empire across a slice of Albion.

Other times, simply for fun and chaos, I’d buy a load of beers from a local tavern and use an emote system to give them to other punters, often ending up turning most of the village of Oakwood into staggering drunks.

All this was wrapped up in a fairy tale setting and story, rather than more traditional fantasy fare. With a big helping of very British humor on top, it made for a fresh and wonderful game back two decades ago, and I think it’s still worth playing today.

In the decades since Fable, we’ve seen some incredible games with fantastic systems and far more expansive worlds. With Breath of the Wild, Skyrim, and Red Dead Redemption 2 being just a few I could name, it perhaps leaves Fable and its sequels feeling a more basic and constrained when viewed through a modern lens.

Grounds for a reboot

But this is where Playground Games comes in. Rather than go for a sequel, this Fable is effectively a reboot, using different characters and a new story centred around being a hero.

Seeing a Fable rendered in what looks to be cutting-edge graphics and set in a proper open world – something Playground Games is adept at giving us in its Forza Horizon games – is amazing. Spotting hobbes and balverines, and heroes kicking chickens in the deep-dive video, takes me back to a time when life was a lot simpler.

However, the really exciting thing is it looks like Playground Games has the technology to actually bring to fruition the dynamism Molyneux touted for the original game.

Not only does it look like the ability to mess with villagers and townspeople is back, including a romance system and deeper insight into how they perceive you, there’s what Playground Games is calling the “Living Population” where there’s more than 1,000 unique characters with their own routines and personality; in the original Fable, such people had day-night routines, but it was somewhat rudimentary, as was the romance system.

It’s also looking like the morality system will be a lot less binary and more subjective, which should interact interestingly with the living population.

All this is very intriguing and exciting to me; while we’ve seen plenty of gorgeous open-world games – recently the likes of Starfield and Avowed – they arguably lack the depth needed to make interacting with the world engaging.

I also like the look of the combat system. It seems like it will have the straightforward approachability of the other Fable games but likely more depth for advanced players; I’m not expecting a Dark Souls or Elden Rin level of skill required, but more nuance and tools at a hero’s disposal is certainly attractive.

It’s probably safe to say the past 12 months hasn’t been a slam dunk for Xbox, with layoffs and game cancellations. Keeper gave a solid dose of creativity out of the Microsoft-owned Double Fine, but beyond that the brand hasn’t exactly galvanised the industry. But if Playground Games can nail this Fable reboot, I think it could be a fresh trailblazer for Xbox Game Studios. And the fact it's coming out on PS5 too, could bring Fable to a whole new audience.

So I’m crossing my fingers and toes that Fable finally lives up to its promise come this Fall, as it’ll be nice to have something else other than Grand Theft Auto 6 to get me through the darker, colder months.

• Loads of games are coming to Xbox Game Pass throughout January and the start of February
• This includes Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Resident Evil Village, and MySims: Cozy Bundle
• Subscribers will also be able to play Death Stranding Director’s Cut and more

Xbox has announced the next raft of titles coming to the Game Pass subscription service, and it includes some excellent experiences that I can personally recommend.

For me, the big highlight this month is easily the arrival of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 on January 29. This third-person shooter was comfortably one of my favorite releases of 2024, offering some good old-fashioned action that doesn't suffer from any of the bloat of most modern games.

You play as one of the fearsome Space Marines from the dark Warhammer 40,000 universe, mowing down enemies with powerful ranged and melee weapons. It's immensely satisfying, and there are loads of different modes to try, including a beefy single-player story, a distinct co-op campaign, and even some PvP multiplayer.

I'd also check out MySims: Cozy Bundle, a two-pack containing the old The Sims spinoffs MySims and MySims Kingdom. Both are lovely little experiences that are more akin to something like Animal Crossing than your usual Sims game - so a perfect fit if you want some relaxing titles to dip into for a few hours after work.

It's arriving on January 29, but if you don't want to wait that long for something to play, then Resident Evil Village is well worth a look with the next instalment, Resident Evil Requiem, set to release next month.

It's a survival horror game, of course, so not one if you're not a fan of scares - but still a highly enjoyable experience with some superb set piece moments. It's playable right now!

This is just a small fraction of the games coming to Game Pass soon. You can browse the full list below and see which Game Pass Tier you need to access them, below.

January 20:

• Resident Evil Village, – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• MIO: Memories in Orbit – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

January 21:

• Death Stranding Director’s Cut – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• RoadCraft – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Ninja Gaiden Ragebound – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

January 26:

• The Talos Principle 2 – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

January 28:

• Anno: Mutationem – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
• Drop Duchy – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

January 29:

• MySims: Cozy Bundle – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

February 2:

• Indika – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

How was 2025 for Microsoft? This year was shaky in many respects for the software giant, and notable stumbling blocks included a lacklustre level of migration to Windows 11 – despite the official end of Windows 10 happening in October (with a notable caveat) – and a huge drive with AI features that led to some immense pushback from disgruntled users who are unhappy with the current state of Microsoft's desktop OS.

Let's dive into the details of how Microsoft performed in 2025, starting with those key issues around Windows, and moving on to consider hardware, a glaring gaming fail, and other aspects where the company dropped the ball somewhat – plus there were some highlights, too.

Windows 10 support ran out – but there was no rush to upgrade to Windows 11

On October 14, 2025, the curtain was drawn over Windows 10, as the final official update for the last-gen operating system was deployed. But uniquely for consumers, this wasn't necessarily the end, as for the first time, everyday users were offered the chance to sign up for extended updates (along with businesses that have always had this privilege).

The Extended Security Updates (ESU) scheme was yours for the price of $30, or alternatively, you could just sync your PC settings to OneDrive and avail yourself of a year of extra support (through to October 2026) for no financial cost.

It was good to see Microsoft make this move – by which I mean the (effectively) free option for extended updates, which was implemented relatively late in the day – and it meant that quite a few folks remained on Windows 10 as a result. However, in turn this also meant that migration to Windows 11 has been more of a trickle than a torrent. (Although due to a good many older PCs not being compatible with its steeper system requirements, that was always going to be the case to an extent).

As to how many people ultimately make the move from Windows 10 to 11, that remains to be seen next year, when extended support runs out (assuming there's no further extension to the single additional year currently offered to consumers).

So, Windows 10 support ending turned out to be something of a non-event, although not entirely, as some Linux distros claimed that they were getting a substantial number of Windows defectors right off the bat. Is this the beginning of the long-predicted rise of Linux in the sphere of desktop operating systems? Let's not get carried away yet, but Valve is throwing its weight around in this area too with SteamOS (and I'll come back to why that's important shortly).

Microsoft's big push for more AI in Windows 11 – and how it backfired

It's been a turbulent ride for Windows 11 with AI this year, after Microsoft doubled down on its ambitions in this regard. 2025 was the year that the company declared its ambition to 'make every Windows 11 PC an AI PC' built on voice input, new powers for Copilot and AI agents.

And boy, did that not go down well. Not well at all, at least with many vocal members of the Windows community, and in fact we witnessed an outright rebellion of sorts. The leaders of that uprising came down hard on Microsoft for relentlessly pushing AI features that 'no one wants', and reminded the software giant of what people do want – the bugs and fundamentally wonky parts of Windows 11 to be fixed.

Did Microsoft listen? Er, not exactly – some execs even fired back at AI skeptics, and a quagmire of buzzwords ('agentic AI platforms' and so forth) continued to bubble forth from the company's marketing department and top brass (who'd clearly been primed with an AI hymn sheet to sing from).

It wasn't all bad news for Microsoft regarding AI in 2025, though. Some of the AI features which have emerged are quite nifty, like supercharged searching for Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs, which is genuinely useful. An AI agent arriving in the Settings apps could actually be quite handy, too (but is some way off that yet).

However, the overall focus on AI feels way too heavy, and just that fact makes people suspicious and wary (at least on the consumer side, anyway). There are also serious privacy worries and security concerns about AI agents in Windows 11, and rightly so – some of Microsoft's acknowledgements on the security front aren't comforting.

It's been a rocky road for AI in Windows 11 this year, and I don't see that path getting any smoother in 2026, either – unless Microsoft seriously rebalances its priorities with Windows 11 (and its PR and marketing efforts, to boot).

Elsewhere Windows 11 plodded along and still struggled with bugs

Away from AI, which was the big focus as mentioned, Microsoft didn't do a whole lot with Windows 11. And certainly not with the big annual upgrade, as there was very little to see with the 25H2 update. That said, there were some useful improvements made to Windows 11 this year, including a laudable new PC recovery option and a redesigned Start menu which made some useful changes.

However, the overriding theme was what Microsoft failed to do with Windows 11 – namely to sort out its quality assurance, keep a lid on bugs, and improve poor areas of the interface and inner workings of the OS where performance is lacking. The gaming side of Windows 11 was particularly problematic at times in 2025, as you may have noticed.

While the bugs weren't quite as prevalent as we witnessed last year, when the 24H2 update – which did make big changes to Windows 11 – caused quite some chaos, there were still too many of them in 2025. And there were some truly odd glitches – like the flashbang when opening folders, or having the interface displayed in a mishmash of two different languages somehow – which make you wonder what's going on at Microsoft, frankly.

And this is who we're trusting to get things right when it comes to autonomous AI agents working with our files inside Windows 11? You can see why people are nervous – and why Microsoft needs to get a better handle on dealing with Windows 11 bugs, and fast.

Gaming woes with Windows 11 as Microsoft treads a difficult path

As noted above, there were some nasty bugs that hit gamers on Windows 11 this year, and quite a bit of frustration therein. And in many ways, that's bad timing for Microsoft, as its operating system is coming under threat from a rival gaming platform – namely SteamOS.

As gamers on Windows 11 feel increasingly annoyed about the various bugs that are chucked their way, they are likely eyeing the progress Valve is making with SteamOS in terms of game compatibility. Moreover, in 2025 Valve changed up another gear with the revelation of its incoming new Steam Machine, which could be a genuine threat to Microsoft, aiming to make gaming in the living room as neat and convenient an experience as possible.

At the end of 2025, Microsoft acknowledged its gaming shortfalls on Windows 11 and promised (broadly) to be fixing them – but again, there's plenty of skepticism around that. And while the company made some commendable efforts to address Windows 11's issues on handhelds – where SteamOS looks so slick in comparison – these, too, fell short, and the Xbox Full Screen Experience represents more of a fudge than a fix (at least so far).

On the handheld front, Microsoft brought out new hardware, too – teaming up with Asus to release the ROG Xbox Ally X portable – and while this device had strengths, certainly, the price tag attached proved a big stumbling block and difficult to swallow.

Xbox Game Pass price hike misery

Sadly, Microsoft dropped the ball in another cost-related way on the gaming front during 2025, and that was with the Xbox Game Pass.

A substantial price increase was introduced in September 2025, when the Ultimate tier for the Xbox Game Pass was hiked to $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 per month. This was badly received (putting it mildly) and it sparked mass departures from disgruntled gamers (with so many reaching for that cancel button that Microsoft's systems crashed).

Microsoft argued that this price rise was in line with the value being added to the Xbox Game Pass in terms of additional games and extras, but many subscribers didn't feel that those moves justified anything like the increase levied – and voted with their feet.

While subscriber numbers could have suffered – and likely did, though we don't have any figures – revenue didn't, as per mid-2025 (and Microsoft's end of fiscal 25 earnings report) Game Pass annual revenue hit nearly $5 billion for the first time (including PC subscribers, that is). The apparent exodus of gamers after the price hike might rock that boat, but then again, in terms of revenue, those who've stuck with the top-tier of the service are paying a lot more.

All of this could be wrapped up in the bigger financial picture for the Xbox group and purported profit margin targets – don't forget Microsoft also axed jobs in the Gaming division to the tune of 9,000 in July 2025.

Xbox console sales crash and burn

There was more bad gaming news for Microsoft at the end of the year, as sales of its Xbox console were judged to have fallen off a cliff.

According to figures from an analyst firm aired in December, Xbox sales dropped 70% year-on-year – and while Sony didn't do well either, it didn't experience that big a drop (the PS5 was down 40%).

Of course, the Xbox has been struggling against the PS5 in the console wars anyway, and Microsoft's price hikes for its gaming hardware this year clearly didn't help.

Surface hardware didn't have quite the same impact

Last year was a big one for Microsoft's Surface division, as new Arm-based Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7 offerings scored resounding home runs. Did we see a repeat of that success in 2025? Not so much.

The Surface Pro 12 felt like a downgrade from the last model in some ways – which admittedly was related to bringing the price down – and while it wasn't a bad device by any means, it failed to carry the excitement through from the last iteration.

The Surface Laptop 13-inch for 2025 made a better impression, and is without doubt a good notebook, but it can't compete with the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) in performance terms, and loses out in the value battle against that Apple laptop.

All in all, it wasn't a bad 2025 for the Surface line-up, but it fell short of what Microsoft achieved last year.

Conclusion

It was not a good year for Microsoft. Between job losses, and unpopularity around AI, Windows 11 bugs, Xbox Game Pass and console price hikes alongside plummeting Xbox sales, as well as a (predictable) struggle to stoke migration to its newest OS, there was a lot of negativity directed towards the company this year.

In fact, I've been writing these end-of-year roundups for a long time now, and I can't recall many summaries that have been gloomier than Microsoft's report card for 2025.

Not from a consumer point of view, anyway, but here's the twist: in terms of balance sheets and shareholders, Microsoft had a buoyant 2025. The company saw the aforementioned gaming revenue high (with Game Pass), and its juggernaut cloud service tied in with AI witnessed impressive growth, justifying Microsoft's huge investments in AI – at least from a business perspective.

My worry remains that Microsoft is becoming too focused on profits and talking up AI with incessant marketing to please the shareholders, and it's forgetting about the little guys. You know, the people like you and me who use Windows 11 (or 10) on a daily basis.

I'd suggest this is a course Microsoft continues to pursue at its own peril, and I think the firm needs to remember who its grassroots customers are next year – and not just talk about improvements for Windows 11 like fixing gaming, but to actually act on them.

Xbox is so hard to predict that looking ahead to another year feels like an impossible task. I’m not sure anyone expected Microsoft to make major layoffs and shut down entire studios, not least its ‘AAAA’ Perfect Dark one, but here we are at the end of 2025, wondering what’s going on.

Microsoft has already started to talk about hardware, but with prices of consoles and the Xbox Game Pass subscription service climbing, can it really convince players it’s still a player, and that they should invest in its ecosystem?

Despite it feeling near-impossible, here’s our look ahead to 2026 and what’s to come for Xbox.

Are exclusives A Thing anymore?

It feels a lot like Microsoft is ahead of the curve with exclusives in some ways. Games cost a fortune to make, so why recoup that cost from just one segment of the market? With Sony’s Helldivers 2 likely to be a first salvo of PlayStation games on Xbox, we might look back at it as the decision that saved the brand. We might also look at it as the choice that doomed it, with Xbox hardware harder to recommend than ever - especially at its current price point.

The next title seemingly hopping the fence from Team Green to Team Blue is Starfield, with various suggestions that Bethesda and Microsoft are planning a major overhaul of the game in conjunction with its release on PlayStation. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but it certainly feels likely as a way to generate more income for a game that was in development for a long, long time.

On the topic of jumping ship, this year will see Halo come to PlayStation — something that would’ve been absolute sacrilege not too long ago. Halo: Campaign Evolved only includes the single-player portion of the original, but we’d be very surprised if the Master Chief Collection doesn’t follow in crossing the border in time to give PlayStation players a chance to catch up.

Elsewhere, Forza Horizon 6 is slated for this year and will take the series to Japan after years of fan requests. We’ve not seen a lot of it yet, with just a tone piece trailer and no gameplay so far, but given how well-received the series has been since its inception, we’re expecting good things.

Another title we’re expecting a lot from is Playground Games' Fable reboot. The role-playing game (RPG) has been delayed multiple times, and still looks to feature the very British humor of the Lionhead originals, but we’re yet to see a gameplay blowout as we’ve seen from Clockwork Revolution (which, to its credit, looks great).

Gears of War: E-Day will bring back Marcus Fenix for a prequel story, and Diablo IV is getting its second expansion, Lord of Hatred, but perhaps what we’re most curious about is Call of Duty. The long-running first-person series will still get annual releases, but not in the same sub-franchise each time, so Black Ops looks to be on hiatus for a while. In its place, expect Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 if the leaks are correct.

Sticking with Activision Blizzard, consider 2026 a big year for Microsoft’s shiniest new acquisition. Alongside Call of Duty and the Diablo expansion, more eyes will be on World of Warcraft with its Midnight expansion, and while Overwatch 2 has been winning players back, the return of BlizzCon is a chance to get all eyes on the legendary publisher.

On the third-party front, Xbox is still competing, but Sony has locked down the marketing rights for GTA 6. That could be a blow when it comes to console sales for lapsed gamers and more casual players who see the PS5 logo at the end of a TV ad and get right to ordering one.

Pragmata, Resident Evil Requiem, and 007 First Light are all big launches, but perhaps Microsoft’s biggest hurdle involves Xbox Game Pass and third-party releases. When the company hiked its prices, it promised more day-and-date launches from first- and third-party developers. 2025 saw big critical hits like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, but can it keep that up across a whole year to the tune of 75+ yearly games? We’ll soon find out.

You need an Xbox, honest!

Microsoft has already begun talking up the next console generation, only it doesn’t sound like it’ll really be much of a console at all. With suggestions suggesting it’ll feature multiple storefronts, we could (in theory) get a more PC-like console that has access to PC titles across multiple launches and even Sony’s PC output.

While we don’t expect Microsoft to start its new generation in 2026, it’s clear it considers this current one over. The cheapest, ‘entry-level’ Xbox Series S will now cost you around the same amount as the base PS5, despite being less powerful and having fewer exclusives. Microsoft, despite being on the bleeding edge last generation with the Xbox One X, didn’t look to rival the PS5 Pro, either.

After two price jumps within months for its hardware, Microsoft needs to do more next generation (or for the remainder of this one) to convince potential customers they need an Xbox or Windows PC. It’s already promised more gamer-centric improvements to its desktop operating system in the coming months, but given it’s still down an AI rabbit hole, which feels more and more misguided every week, that could take some time. It also needs to cool it with the price increases for a while.

As for the hardware we could see in 2026, we wouldn’t bet against an Elite Controller refresh. Rumors have swirled about a haptic pad that takes at least some cues from the DualSense, but that one launched in 2019 before the ‘Core’ version arrived in 2022. Expect fresh colorways for the standard pad, too.

Haven’t we been here before?

Microsoft was expected to throw in the towel multiple generations before, notably after the original Xbox and the disastrous Xbox One launch in 2013. This time it feels different, not least because of the money spent to acquire studios and publishers, as well as demands for a 30% profit margin. Will the next generation be Xbox’s last in any way, particularly hardware? That remains to be seen, but you wouldn’t want to bet either way.

If the company does go third-party, it’ll likely do so by pushing Xbox Game Pass wherever it can, but the service faces an uphill struggle to prove it’s worthy of the major price hike this year - and I don’t think Ubisoft Classics or Fortnite Crew is the answer.

Will publishers and developers lean away from Xbox and into Sony and Nintendo’s platforms if the install base gets too small? It’s a worrying thought considering that upstart spirit that kicked off Microsoft’s gaming efforts in the first place, but make no mistake - 2026 is crucial for the Xbox brand.

It's that time of the year again when we celebrate the biggest tech fails of the past 12 months. Celebrate? It's an odd choice of word, maybe, but let's face it, there's a certain amount of schadenfreude to be gleaned in looking back and reliving the most resounding flops that we've been forced to endure during 2025.

To make this list, our team of experts hand-picked a longlist of notable flops and fails from 2025 (and there was a lot to choose from). Then we published that list on the TechRadar WhatsApp channel for readers to vote on the worst of them all. Our list contains a mix of both catastrophic fails (like our number one) and disappointing product flops.

Below, you can read those mishaps in reverse order, but before we kick off it's time to also give a nod to our honorable mentions, which didn't quite get enough votes to make the cut for the full list.

They were, in no particular order: Friend's creepy AI necklace, Garmin's disastrous subscription service, Dyson's tame V16 Piston Animal vacuum, the fainting Tesla Optimus robot, and Taco Bell's half-baked AI drive-thru (which crashed when someone ordered 18,000 water cups). Oh, and we also got a very late entrant with Meta 'pausing' third-party Horizon OS (Quest) headsets, meaning offerings from Asus and Lenovo are no longer happening.

With that housekeeping out of the way, let's get on with the real show, starting from number 11…

11. Prime Video's hallucinating AI recaps

We all need recaps, right? If you haven't watched a show for a year (or maybe longer), you definitely need the last season refreshing in your mind.

Late in 2025, Amazon came up with the bright idea of saving you the trouble of having to trawl through YouTube trying to find a good recap of the correct seasons by providing one itself. The catch was these Prime Video recaps were AI-generated affairs, but hey – what could go wrong? AI is pretty much infallible, after all.

Of course, the propensity for AI to hallucinate – get things wrong – is well-known, and this scheme went awry in rather predictable fashion.

A recap of Fallout season one that went live early in December – just ahead of the release of season two, which is now underway – offered commendable production values, particularly compared to some of the more thrown-together, turgid and janky YouTube efforts. But it made a couple of telling blunders.

Firstly, the AI recap mistakenly stated that The Ghoul's flashback scenes were set in the 1950s (not 2077, where they're actually set, albeit with a retro vibe). Furthermore, the AI also got the summary of the season finale episode round its neck, completely misinterpreting the ending.

Those aren't minor mistakes, and so Amazon has gone back to the drawing board with this AI project, putting it on ice for now – and we've gone back to 'Man of Recaps' on YouTube.

• Read more: Prime Video hits pause on its AI-powered recaps after viewers were told Fallout was set in the 1950s

10. The ill-judged Sky Sports Halo channel

Does Sky's Halo channel not ring any bells? That isn't surprising, as it didn't hang around for long.

Halo was a Sky Sports channel on TikTok dedicated to "female sports fans" and billed as the "lil sis of Sky Sports" that briefly existed for a few days in November.

The idea was to "build a welcoming community for female fans, whether casual or committed, through fun, trend-led, and relatable content". Sadly, Halo didn't draw in new female sports fans, it only drew the wrath of women and girls everywhere who found it patronizing and sexist.

The relatable content about 'hot girl walks' and 'matcha' bordered on nonsensical, and it was cringingly condescending. Women universally complained that female sports fans just want to watch Sky Sports' normal coverage – and that they didn't need some ridiculous, dumbed-down version.

As a post on X (one of many carrying a similar sentiment) made clear, women don't need a separate platform, they just need to remain visible and be treated equally on existing Sky Sports platforms.

Halo only lasted three days before Sky pulled the plug on the channel, admitting that it "didn't get it right" with this very fleeting and misjudged endeavor.

9. Grok's 'MechaHitler' freak-out

Grok is Elon Musk's AI platform that's integrated with the social media site X, and it received an update in July, of which Musk observed: "You should notice a difference when you ask Grok questions."

And yes, there was a very noticeable difference, as Grok went completely off the rails. The AI embarked on what can only be described as a tirade of antisemitic insanity, as it declared itself to be 'MechaHitler' (a chaingun-toting robot boss version of Adolf Hitler from the Wolfenstein 3D game of the early 90s) and put forth all kinds of anti-Jewish conspiracy theories (and worse) on X.

The posts were deleted, but the damage was obviously done, even though Grok later claimed the comparison to MechaHitler was "pure satire". Musk blamed X users for provoking Grok's hate speech responses, and said that: "Grok was too compliant to user prompts. Too eager to please and be manipulated, essentially. That is being addressed."

New (already planned) Grok 4 models were quickly rolled out, and these were substantial advancements based on AI benchmarks – and put paid to the racist rants. However, any technical achievements here were completely overshadowed by what happened during the 'MechaHitler' incident, which goes down as one of the most baffling, and certainly the most outrageous, tech fails of this year.

8. Call of Duty's terrible co-op campaign

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was unleashed in November and there was good and bad here – and also atrocious.

That awful element of this first-person shooter package was the co-op campaign. As we make clear in our Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 review, there's so much wrong with the campaign it's difficult to know where to start.

How about the nonsensical story, featuring a poorly implemented plot that's a frankly painful experience all-round? Or the dreadful dialogue, or the overall rushed feel of the campaign? Or the jarring changes in the environment throughout the missions, and the overly large nature of Avalon, the semi-open-world map that much of the campaign takes place in?

Perhaps the very worst thing is how Black Ops 7 has gone into reverse gear at alarming speed compared to the cinematic thrills of the campaign of its predecessor, Black Ops 6. And the abandonment of the tight, scripted set-piece goodness that we've previously appreciated, in favor of leaning into Avalon and a more raid-like style as seen in massively multiplayer games, resulting in a much vaguer and more unsatisfying (and annoying) experience.

As our reviewer makes clear, when the highlight is laughing at how bad things are, the co-op campaign becomes rather like watching a particularly second-rate and tepid B-movie with friends – enjoyable in some ways, but for all the wrong reasons.

As for the multiplayer of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, well, that's very different, but the co-op campaign is definitely one of the biggest gaming fails of 2025 (though there were other, bigger, game-related flops – as you'll see below).

• Read more: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has some of the best multiplayer and zombies in the series, but also one of the worst campaigns

7. ChatGPT-5's charm downgrade

ChatGPT-5 arrived in August 2025, but this was not a high-five moment for OpenAI.

While GPT-5 was marketed as having major strengths in terms of understanding more complicated queries without needing additional context compared to previous models, and advancing in major ways in terms of maths and 'vibe coding', those using the new incarnation of the AI were left distinctly unimpressed with this launch.

Why? Emotion, that's why. People felt that GPT-5 was rather cold and abrupt in comparison to what they were used to with ChatGPT, and accusations were leveled of the new model having an emotionless tone compared to GPT-4o. In fact, such was the volume of complaints about this upgrade that OpenAI was forced to bring back GPT-4o and keep it on as an alternative option to GPT-5 (as a legacy model for ChatGPT subscribers).

OpenAI subsequently fine-tuned GPT-5 with improved personality tweaking options, and in the GPT-5.1 update, sought to achieve a better balance of emotion and connection while steering away from the dangers of sycophancy.

Some may think of current AI platforms as essentially a supercharged, super-deep web search, but this episode highlights a key difference between Google and ChatGPT (or other AIs). When people are using AI, they aren't just concerned about the result – as with a basic web search – but the overall experience.

It's not a surprising lesson, really, but it's one OpenAI clearly needed to learn.

6. The vanishing Trump phone

The Trump Mobile T1 Phone, to give the device its full name, was revealed in June 2025. Since then, we've been wondering where this smartphone has got to, and what's going on with it – and clearly you have, too, as you voted it into our top tech fails of 2025.

The gold and gaudy smartphone was initially marketed as 'Made in the USA' with a September release date. However, the former claim was soon walked-back to having an 'American Proud Design' and September came and passed with no sign of the smartphone. Indeed, at the time of writing in December, the Trump phone is still nowhere to be seen, leaving those who've pre-ordered (and dropped a $100 deposit) pretty miffed, no doubt.

There's still continued radio silence about when the hardware will actually ship, with The Verge tracking the saga with weekly updates, noting that it is possible to buy (and receive) devices from Trump Mobile – refurbished Samsung and Apple phones – just not the T1 Phone. You can also get Trump Mobile's 47 Plan and that works just fine, too, based on The Verge's testing.

But the gold T1 Phone remains mysteriously hidden backstage somewhere, out of sight from the audience who've pre-ordered the handset – leaving people wondering if it'll ever emerge from behind the curtain at this point.

• Read more: Can the Trump Mobile T1 Phone really be 'made in the USA'? Here's what experts say

5. The Xbox Game Pass price hike

Microsoft rejigged its Xbox Game Pass at the start of October, shocking gamers with the steepness of the hike that was actioned for the Ultimate subscription. Microsoft sent the price of that top-tier offering soaring to $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 a month, a 50% leap in cost (or just over in some regions).

Microsoft argued that the value proposition of the new Ultimate tier justified the increase, packing more games and extra bits like a Fortnite Crew membership and better cloud gaming (at 1440p resolution). Subscribers, however, didn't agree, and argued that some of this stuff didn't matter to them (certainly if they don't play Fortnite), then voted with their feet.

Indeed, a rash of Xbox Games Pass cancellations came through so thick and fast it crashed Microsoft's systems. You voted for this fail, too, to the tune of 6% of our poll's total votes, so there's clearly some anger about this which hasn't diminished as the end of 2025 arrives.

So, while Microsoft saw strong Game Pass annual revenue as revealed in the middle of the year (as part of the end of fiscal 2025 earnings report), this ill-thought-out hike could yet prove to be a major wrinkle in that income stream.

• Read more: The Xbox Game Pass price hikes are so bad, it literally crashed the membership site due to widespread cancellations

4. The perma-delayed GTA 6

Is Grand Theft Auto 6 one of the most keenly anticipated games of all time? Undoubtedly. Is it, in fact, the most feverishly awaited game ever to be developed? Quite possibly, although the heights reached here are at least partly down to the agitation around the delays with GTA 6.

You most likely know the story, or the broad strokes of it, but here's a recap of the full delay timeline. Grand Theft Auto 6 was originally confirmed as being in the works by Rockstar in February 2022, but it wasn't until the initial trailer dropped at the end of 2023 that we got the first release date – a pretty wide-open 'some point in 2025' arrival timeframe. That was later narrowed to a fall (autumn) 2025 window, meaning September to November of this year, of which Rockstar said it was "highly-confident" (ahem).

Then in May of this year came the first announcement of a delay to next year, with the game pushed back to May 26, 2026 (a telling date – the anniversary of Bonnie and Clyde's funeral, with a parallel seemingly being drawn to the game's protagonists).

Following that, in November 2025, came news that we had longer to wait again, with the second delay pushing GTA 6 back a further six months to November 19, 2026. We were told that this is all about adding extra polish, performance honing and bug fixing – and not adding content, it should be noted.

The frustration was evident online, though, and in our poll, too, where GTA 6 ended up with 6.5% of the total votes (that half a percent is important, as it edged the game past Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass fail). Clearly, the second delay was very disappointing for gamers everywhere – and it felt worse because of how confident Rockstar previously seemed with its 2025 release timeframe. Normally developers are pretty cautious about making more cast-iron sounding assertions about release dates, but not Rockstar – and we now know that its confidence was badly misplaced.

Still, the old mantra applies here: better that a game is properly finished than rushed out – although 'rushed' is certainly not an adjective that applies to GTA 6, not remotely. It's also worth remembering that other exciting big-name open-world games are nearer on the horizon (or even already here), too.

• Read more: GTA 6 has been delayed once again to ‘finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve’, though I’m not convinced this is actually the final release date

3. Microsoft's unwanted Copilot AI

Microsoft announced its intention to make every Windows 11 PC an AI PC in mid-October, just after Windows 10 reached its end of support. That meant a fresh push for Copilot, a newfangled scheme to bring other AI agents into Windows 11 to autonomously carry out tasks for you, and some voice input-related trimmings.

The timing was clearly about enticing Windows 10 holdouts to make the leap to Windows 11 and the sparkly AI-filled future, but to say it backfired is an understatement.

People rebelled against the buzzwords, against Windows 11 becoming an 'agentic AI platform', and a thousand and one different variants of the sentiment 'no one wants this' were hurled at Microsoft over a variety of social media outlets.

A raft of concerns were aired, including worries about security after Microsoft made it clear that AI agents are run at your own risk, and pose fresh avenues for potential exploits (even if Microsoft is obviously planning to defend against that). Not to mention broader concerns about privacy with AI agents working directly with your files – and the potential for bugs therein. (It's not like Windows 11 has a bad history with bugs, right?).

However, beyond this, the overwhelming cry aimed at Microsoft was to forget about adding fancy AI trimming to Windows 11, and to fix what's already there. To address some of the issues around performance, bugs, and wonky bits of interface which have been annoying Windows 11 users to this day.

Copilot wasn't just given the cold shoulder by consumers using Windows 11, though, as in early December, we also saw claims that Microsoft's having a tough time selling its agentic AI masterplan to businesses. As The Information reported (via Extremetech), Microsoft has purportedly lowered its agentic AI sales targets for staff – slashed those targets, in fact – although the software giant denied this.

On top of that, Copilot caught further bad press when the AI was found muscling its way onto LG TVs. The Copilot app was added automatically via an LG firmware update, with an additional sore point – there was no way to remove it. (Not initially, anyway, though LG later said it would provide a way to remove the app in a future webOS update – this just happened at the time of writing).

As you can imagine, this did not go down well at all, with plenty of suspicion about why Copilot was being forced onto a TV in this way, and the obvious privacy concerns therein.

So... was it a bad year for the Copilot brand? No – it was far worse than that. Maybe 'terrible' just about covers it, with Microsoft managing to provoke quite a monumental backlash against its AI. Therefore it isn't surprising to see Copilot was one of the top three fails of this year, capturing 9% of your votes.

• Read more: Microsoft says Copilot will 'finish your code before you finish your coffee' provoking another barrage of anti-AI and Windows 11 sentiment

2. The overpriced iPhone 16e

Apple released the iPhone 16e in February 2025 as a kind of middle-ground between the iPhone SE and the base iPhone 16. The core idea was a smartphone that offers the essentials of the iPhone 16 while dropping some of the trimmings – including some fancier bells and whistles – for a more affordable price tag.

There were problems here, though, firstly in that people weren't impressed with some of the design decisions Apple made, like running with a single camera. But the biggest stumbling block was that the price tag pinned on the iPhone 16e just wasn't budget-friendly enough.

The iPhone 16e launched at $599 / £599 / AU$999 compared to the iPhone SE (from 2022) that was going for $429 / £429 / AU$719 just before the new model arrived. That's a 40% leap in price, and it proved too much of an ask for a smartphone that has a few too many shortcomings (including a cut-down 60Hz display which takes away from the smooth and seamless experience you expect from an iPhone).

For the money, here at TechRadar we felt the iPhone 16e came up short, and the phone buying public agreed with us – in a survey, over 9 in 10 people felt the smartphone was too expensive for a 'budget' model, and 7 out of 10 were 'unimpressed' with the iPhone 16e overall. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said that $500 (and the regional equivalent elsewhere) felt a more appropriate price.

This isn't to say that it's a bad smartphone – because it certainly isn't as our iPhone 16e review made clear – just that the iPhone 16e is hampered by a disappointing lack of value. And you clearly agreed that Apple missed the mark by some distance with pricing, judging the iPhone 16e as the second biggest tech flop of 2025 with 12% of the total vote. Ouch.

1. The AWS and Cloudflare outages

2025 was a year in which we witnessed some almighty internet outages, showing just how the wheels could come completely off the net if a key service failed – leaving everyone seriously in the lurch for one reason or another.

Indeed, such was your frustration with this year's big outages – caused by AWS and Cloudflare respectively – that you voted this the top tech fail in resounding fashion, to the tune of 50% of the votes cast. To look at it another way, these downtimes were as big an issue as every other fail on this list put together.

AWS or Amazon Web Services was the first of this year's mammoth downtimes and it struck on October 20. It was caused by a DNS bug that hit the Northern Virginia (US-EAST-1) region of AWS, which is a critical part of the internet's infrastructure and handles a huge amount of Amazon's traffic – which the spanner in the works totally disrupted, sparking a domino effect causing problems with other AWS regions to boot.

The end result was the internet being very sluggish for many people across the globe on that day in October, and a frankly staggering array of services being affected or getting taken down outright for substantial chunks of time. That included Reddit, Slack, Zoom, Snapchat, PSN, Xbox, Steam and the Epic Games stores, Fortnite, Wordle, Starbucks, Apple Music, Tidal, T-Mobile, and many, many more – plus of course Amazon services themselves (like Prime Video). In total, over 1,000 websites or services experienced downtime issues, going by Downdetector.

As well as the sheer scope of this epic AWS fail, there were also a myriad of weird repercussions nobody expected. Unfortunate smart bed owners found their mattress stuck at an inclined angle, unable to be moved, or overheating, making sleep impossible for some, and school exams were disrupted, or bank transfers vanished into nowhere.

The Cloudflare outage followed this and was a disaster on a similar scale, effectively taking out a whole chunk of the internet on November 18, just a month later. Cloudflare is again a key player in terms of the infrastructure of the internet – providing security and boosting performance for sites and online services – and sometimes when websites won't load, you may be familiar with seeing its name pop up on an error screen in your browser.

This second major outage was caused by a failure in Cloudflare's own systems (originating from a database permission change), and victims included X, ChatGPT, Spotify, Zoom, and AWS (oh the irony), with collateral damage therein knocking out various other services.

The lesson was clear enough with these outages: in the online world, there's a lot of power concentrated in the hands of a few key cloud service providers, and should any important facet of those juggernaut operations go down, it can take out a huge slab of sites and services.

AWS in particular showed just how vulnerable the internet is to a single point of failure, and this has worrying implications for the future – especially when you view this through the lens of cyber-attacks (rather than internal bugs) being weaponized to intentionally cause online chaos.

• The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted begins today at 12PM PST / 3PM EST / 8PM GMT
• The showcase will count down the 25 most anticipated PC games in development
• Announcements, trailers, and special looks from over 50 games will also be featured

The annual PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, which will count down the 25 most anticipated PC games in development, officially returns later today, and there are plenty of announcements to look forward to.

The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, which is powered by Xbox Game Pass, is scheduled to air today, December 4, at 12PM PST / 3PM EST / 8PM GMT and can be watched live at PC Gamer’s YouTube, Twitch, X, and Facebook channels, as well as at GamesRadar+, Steam, Bilibili, and more.

The showcase's "most wanted" PC games in development have been voted for by a council of over 120 industry members from a longlist of 100 games chosen by PC Gamer, with long-listed games featuring some of the most anticipated titles of 2026, including 007 First Light, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and Resident Evil Requiem.

Alongside the main event, hosted by Frankie Ward, with co-host Midas and narration from Baldur’s Gate 3's Amelia Tyler, viewers can also look forward to plenty of trailers, announcements, and behind-the-scenes looks at over 50 games.

Those include a new trailer from Team 17's four-player co-op shooter, Rogue Point, a behind-the-scenes look at High On Life 2, trailers for Cairn, Killing Floor 3, Witchspire, and Remant Protocol.

A new gameplay trailer for Soulmask's ancient Egypt downloadable content (DLC), Shifting Sands, will also be revealed, along with announcements from developers such as Dotemu, Lightbulb Crew, and Playstack.

• YouTuber 'Moore’s Law is Dead' says Microsoft may be forced to increase the cost of Xbox consoles due to a global RAM shortage
• He explained Sony "planned ahead" so there likely won't be an increased to PS5 consoles
• The cost of Xbox consoles could increase "very soon", making it the third time since May this year

Microsoft will reportedly have to increase the price of Xbox consoles yet again "very soon" due to a potential global RAM shortage.

That's according to tech YouTuber 'Moore’s Law is Dead' in his new 'OpenAI RAM Hoarding Leak' video (via TGP), who spoke to multiple sources at retailers, memory makers, and partners.

They claim that because of the soaring cost and OpenAI's new deals with Samsung and SK hynix to secure a significant part of the world's DRAM supply for the foreseeable future, Microsoft may be forced to up the price of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

"[Microsoft] didn't plan ahead at all, apparently," they said. "If you still want an Xbox for some reason at their current pricing, those prices could go up soon, or supply could just entirely dry up because multiple sources of mine have apparently been warned by sales reps at Microsoft that this is going to affect the Xbox Series consoles very, very soon. Sooner rather than later."

Though there does appear to be a RAM shortage that could affect Microsoft, MLID said Sony will be saved from increasing the price of its PS5 consoles because it "planned ahead".

"From what I've heard, Sony planned ahead, bought up gobs of RAM near the bottom of the pricing, and thus they should be fine for months," the YouTuber added.

"They have plenty of GDDR6, at least that’s what I'm told. Prices could go up eventually; I could see that happening next year… but there is a reason Sony is cutting PlayStation 5 pricing for Black Friday. They aren't just doing this as some extreme move or because sales are bad. They can afford to do it; apparently, they are not worried about the RAM shortage, at least in the short- to mid-term."

If Microsoft is forced to increase the cost of its hardware for the third time, prices could skyrocket. It first increased the cost of its consoles in May this year, which saw a $100 hike on all Xbox Series X and S models, then again in September with an up to $70 increase.

It's been a tumultuous year for Microsoft. Just last month, it also announced major changes to Xbox Game Pass, which saw three upgraded plans and a massive price hike for the Ultimate membership.

Now, Ultimate costs $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 a month, up from $19.99 / £14.99 / AU$22.95. There's also currently no option to buy a 12-month subscription.

• Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has discussed the brand's biggest competition in a recent interview
• He says it "isn’t another console" like the PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2
• Rather Xbox is now competing with apps like TikTok and other forms of entertainment

Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty has said that the brand is now competing with platforms like TikTok and other forms of entertainment more than rival console manufacturers.

The comments come from a recent interview with The New York Times in the wake of the announcement of Halo: Campaign Evolved, a game that is set to come to PlayStation 5 in addition to PC, Xbox Series X and Series S when it launches next year.

“We are all seeking to meet people where they are,” Booty said.

“Our biggest competition isn’t another console,” he continued. “We are competing more and more with everything from TikTok to movies.”

This philosophy seems evident in recent Xbox marketing, notably the somewhat controversial 'This Is an Xbox' campaign that emphasizes how players can experience Xbox titles on all kinds of devices ranging from Smart TVs to virtual reality headsets and laptops.

Your eyeballs are a commodity

Although this may seem like a strange strategic shift that could alienate the core Xbox audience who value exclusive games, Xbox is one of the many gaming brands that finds itself competing in an increasingly difficult attention economy.

According to recent data from the Circana Player Engagement Tracker, live service titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Roblox continue to dominate on consoles reducing the amount of time players spend in more traditional gaming experiences.

Upcoming releases like Halo: Campaign Evolved have to compete not only with these titans when it comes to the dedicated gaming audience, but also the entertainment provided by devices like mobile phones that occupy the time of more casual players.

Per Statista TikTok has more than two billion users globally, while viewers watched more than 100 billion hours of Netflix content in just the first six months of this year.

By lowering the bar to access Xbox content through multi-platform releases and services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft clearly hopes that it will be able to entice that audience.

Will the strategy pay off? We'll just have to wait and see.

• Xbox boss Phil Spencer commits to the publisher's multiplatform strategy
• For PS5 and Switch 2, he says: "We would love for them to play our games on those platforms"
• The company still plans to release a console for the next generation

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has talked more about the Xbox brand's burgeoning multiplatform strategy.

In an interview with Japanese gaming outlet Famitsu, Spencer discusses several recent Xbox Game Studios-published titles that have seemingly performed well on PlayStation 5, including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.

"We've received good feedback on the PlayStation 5 version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle," he said, "and it's going very well from a business perspective. "Xbox Game Studios titles such as The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered and Doom: The Dark Ages have also been very successful on PlayStation."

Spencer also discussed efforts to bring Xbox Game Studios titles to Nintendo Switch 2, citing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 as a starting point. "We are making efforts to lower the barrier to entry for people to play our games through services such as Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Game Pass," Spencer said. Which, honestly, rings a little hollow after the subscription service's frankly absurd price hike.

He continued: "but at the same time, if there are people who want to play our games on PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Switch 2, we would love for them to play our games on those platforms. In that regard, we have received excellent support from both Sony Interactive Entertainment and Nintendo."

Some of the latest multiplatform moves Xbox is making include porting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to Switch 2 in 2026. Additionally, the recent reveal of Halo: Campaign Evolved confirmed Master Chief will be making his PS5 debut next year, too.

Despite this focus on a multiplatform strategy, Xbox seemingly remains committed to delivering console hardware of its own. Xbox president Sarah Bond recently teased the next Xbox console, stating it will "be a very premium, very high-end curated experience," adding: "You're starting to see some of the thinking we have in this handheld [ROG Xbox Ally], but I don't want to give it all away."

There's no doubt that the gaming industry is changing in multiple ways, with both PC and console manufacturers investing in portable gaming experiences via handheld devices, and consoles utilizing technologies like Nvidia and AMD's upscaling in DLSS and FSR, respectively.

We're seeing rumors of Sony making a new native handheld (a step up from the remote play PlayStation Portal device), and especially, the recent ROG Xbox Ally handhelds from Microsoft and Asus, take center stage. The strongest variant, the ROG Xbox Ally X, has been a point of contention, with a price tag set at $999 / £799 / AU$1,599, costing more than a powerful PS5 Pro.

While Sarah Bond (Xbox President) stated that Asus ultimately determined the pricing of the handhelds, Microsoft and Xbox have already been increasing prices for both its Xbox Game Pass subscription plans and its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles, and it's safe to say that it's annoyed many fans.

It gets worse when you realize that Bond made it clear that the next-gen Xbox console will be a 'very premium, very high-end curated experience'. This aligns with rumors suggesting it could be a PC-hybrid of some sort, and Sony PlayStation's Mark Cerny and AMD have already teased the highly anticipated PlayStation 6 using enhanced ray tracing, which draws hints at path tracing capabilities.

Both of these cases for next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles mean that we could very well be entering a generation of console gaming that is only attainable if consumers are willing to pay a premium price for consoles that may not end up offering premium experiences that justify those prices. Do I think gamers will be okay with that? Absolutely not, and a few of the reasons why may be obvious.

Premium pricing could destroy a major foundation of the console gaming appeal

It's one thing to offer a premium option, as Sony has done with the PS5 Pro, providing more powerful hardware to push visual fidelity and performance in games a step further. However, it becomes an issue if either the PS6 or the next-gen Xbox console's base model is so 'high-end' in terms of hardware that consumers may have no choice but to spend significantly more than usual.

I've been a console gamer (now primarily on PC) long enough to know that one of the fundamental aspects of console gaming is affordability, ensuring couch gameplay is still accessible to a wide range of gamers. However, if we begin to see console starting prices at $999 or $1,099 (which isn't off the charts at this rate), it partly defeats the purpose of console gaming.

One of the many reasons console gamers won't move over to PC gaming is because of pricing, and while there is only so much Sony and Microsoft can do to keep prices within a reasonable standard while providing more powerful hardware, high prices may not resonate well with console gamers.

Frustration from consumers may be the case, especially if these teased consoles from Sony and Microsoft fail to meet the 'high-end' and 'very premium' standards that are being touted. We've already seen this unfold with the ROG Xbox Ally X; to put it simply, the handheld's value is arguably poor considering the alternatives with very similar performance and power at half its $999 price, i.e. the original Asus ROG Ally using the Ryzen Z1 Extreme.

If next-gen console prices take a step up above the PS5 Pro's $699.99 / £699.99 / AU$1,199, then what stops gamers from switching over to PC for potentially better hardware around similar prices? That's already the view I and other consumers share with the PS5 Pro, but handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally X or Lenovo Legion Go 2 ($1,099.99 / £899 / AU$1,809) have become the center of that discussion.

You could likely still be paying for annual subscriptions on a high priced console

I've touched on this matter previously, but PS Plus and Game Pass subscriptions (which are required for online multiplayer access on console) are part of the reason why I believe PC gaming is cheaper in the long run compared to console gaming.

I think it's safe to say Microsoft and Xbox are continuously proving my point by increasing Game Pass prices, leaving the annual Ultimate tier option costing nearly as much as an Xbox Series S console, but I digress.

With this in mind, not only could console players potentially be paying a lot for online services, but also similar (or at least close enough) prices to what PC gamers would pay for a new rig or components, making the overall expense more than what's found on PC in many cases. Again, these are hypothetical scenarios, as neither the Xbox nor the PlayStation consoles have even been announced, but the market has a trend that backs up my argument of high starting prices.

Aside from optional subscription plans on PC like PC Game Pass, EA Play, or Ubisoft+, hardware ends up being the biggest hurdle in expenses.

Overall, having seen frequent price hikes from both Sony and Microsoft recently (mostly from the latter), it's left me even less confident that either will be reasonable with pricing for next-gen hardware – and I hope that by the time both are revealed, I'll be proven wrong.

It's been another busy week in the world of tech. After rifling through the Prime Day sales (some are still going), we saw Microsoft defend its Xbox Game Pass price hikes and we also reviewed the world's best travel camera.

To catch up on all this and more you can scroll down to see our recap of the week's seven biggest stories, plus links to the full articles if you're keen to learn more.

When you're done be sure to also check out our picks for the seven new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (October 10).

7. Microsoft defended Xbox Game Pass

Following significant fan backlash from its recent Game Pass price hikes, Microsoft decided to change course… wait, sorry, no, it doubled down.

Microsoft's director of gaming and platform communications, Dustin Blackwell, said that price hikes are "never fun for anybody" but insisted that these increases were the right thing and that more value is being added to its Game Pass plans.

Many of us here at TechRadar are yet to be convinced, and it seems many folks aren’t buying it either. More people than ever are reportedly Googling to find out how to cancel their subscriptions.

• Read more: ‘It’s never fun for anybody’: Microsoft defends Xbox Game Pass price hike

6. Tag Heuer revealed its pricey Apple Watch rival

Smartwatches are big on practicality, but often lack the design and prestige of classic watchmaking. Well, Tag Heuer tried to change that this week with its new Connected Calibre E5, whose ‘Made for iPhone’ billing means it plays particularly nicely with iOS devices.

Underneath its fancy, stainless steel design, the E5 is packed with sensors for fitness tracking, and can measure your blood oxygen, heart rate and sleep quality. And while it works with Android phones, you should get faster pairing, improved connectivity and more consistent updates on iPhones. The only stumbling block might be that $1,600 (around £1,200 / AU$2,400) price tag.

• Read more: Tag Heuer’s new smartwatches ditch Wear OS to become an Apple Watch alternative

5. Wake Up Dead Man wowed us

While the Netflix movie won’t be streaming until December 12, we got to see Wake Up Dead Man early at the London Film Festival where it made its debut.

The third in the Knives Out series starring Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc is “a near-perfect Netflix binge” according to our reviewer who gave it four out of five stars.

To give you a longer snippet from the full-review: "Thanks to a whip-smart script, there's almost a laugh every minute peppered in between Blanc's exceptional monologues we've come to know and love. Netflix, the cast and absurdness of what's happening around them are all in the firing line, and the metaphorical shots fired make for the most enjoyable surprises. Nothing is too scathing or overt, and there's no 'woke brigade' here. It's just smart craft, and that's what we want.”

• Read more: Wake Up Dead Man is the best Knives Out mystery yet

4. We tested a five-star travel camera

The new OM System OM-5 II travel camera has faced some criticism for being a bit too samey to its predecessor – but as the saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’

You could hike the price, boost the specs and change the identity of this camera, or you could get what you get from this travel snapper which is a fast, responsive travel-friendly experience with an EVF, weather sealing, excellent IBIS, and a wide range of compact, affordable, high-quality lenses.

The OM System OM-5 II has divided opinion but we’re firmly in the camp that it's great – which is why we gave it five stars.

• Read more: I tested the affordable OM System OM-5 II travel camera

3. Sennheiser revealed new headphones

Audio tech stalwart Sennheiser has revealed the HDB 630 headphones, which it promises will deliver “true audiophile sound”. That's largely because they’re bundled with Sennheiser’s BTD 700 USB-C dongle, which can bypass the wireless transmitter your phone uses to enable aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive audio no matter your device – looking at you, iPhone.

The quality is so good that even Spotify’s new Lossless update doesn’t quite max it out. Instead you’ll want a Tidal or Qobuz subscription (or similar) to get the best Bluetooth listening experience.

• Read more: Sennheiser just revealed new wireless headphones for 'true audiophile sound'

2. A reality-warping camera dropped

AI image and video tools are big right now, and Camera Intelligence's new Caira device has brought Google’s new Nano Banana AI image model to a MagSafe attachment so you can edit reality in real time.

The advantage here is you can see what your final result will look like before you get into your home editing studio and realize that a differently-composed shot would have looked a lot better than the one you took once all the adjustments have been made.

As with all such tools, there are questions about ethics and responsible practices, but Camera Intelligence says it’s limiting identity-warping functionality and that it’s committed to what it calls an “ethics-first” development strategy.

• Read more: The Nano Banana camera has arrived to edit reality in real time

1. We reviewed the Pixel 10 Pro Fold

This week we published our Pixel 10 Pro Fold review – and while it is a “phenomenal smartphone”, after some time with it we were “left wanting more… or maybe less.”

The issue is that the new Pro Fold costs $1,799 / £1,749 / AU $2,699, which is $950 / £750 / AU $1,000 more than the Pixel 10 Pro. The Fold can’t just be good, it needs to really justify its price against the excellent flat phones out there – and it doesn’t quite hit the mark in terms of cameras and features that take advantage of its unique design.

Still, it does look great, has a “charming software personality” and is the most durable smartphone on the market right now, so this foldable still has lots going in its favor.

• Read more: The Pixel 10 Pro Fold is a fine Pixel phone but less than the sum of its parts

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• Microsoft has delayed its Xbox Game Pass price hike for some users
• The move only affects current subscribers in certain countries
• Everyone else will have to pay the new, higher prices

Microsoft recently announced a massive overhaul of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service along with a series of painful price hikes, and to say those cost increases went down like a lead balloon would be an understatement. The outcry was startlingly vociferous, and Microsoft has just revealed it will be backpedaling slightly on the changes – but perhaps not for the reason you might expect.

We say 'backpedaling slightly' because the about-face is limited in scope, despite Microsoft defending its decision. Microsoft is pausing the price hikes for some users in selected countries, meaning that plenty of other gamers will have to pay the new, higher prices.

Specifically, Microsoft says the price increases will only affect new subscribers in countries like Germany, India, Ireland, Poland and South Korea. Users in those nations who are already Xbox Game Pass members will be able to keep paying the old rates, at least temporarily. In Ireland, for example, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will remain €17.99 a month for existing users instead of the new €26.99 price. That’s according to The Verge, which cited social media posts by users in those countries.

In an email sent to affected subscribers, Microsoft said: “At this time, these increases will only affect new purchases and will not affect your current subscription for the market in which you reside, as long as you are on an auto-recurring plan. Should you choose to cancel your plan and repurchase, you will be charged at the new current rate.”

The key phrase in that email is “at this time,” suggesting that Microsoft is holding fire temporarily, perhaps to let the anger die down. The implication, though, is that costs will revert to the original plan at some point in the future.

A temporary relief

The Verge confirmed with Microsoft that the email was genuine, with Microsoft commenting that “Current subscribers in certain countries will continue renewing at their existing price for now, in line with local requirements.” The line about “local requirements” might indicate that regulations played a part in the decision, rather than any gamer backlash.

Adding to that sentiment is the fact that the price changes will still immediately go into effect in many other locations, including the US and the UK. If user discontent was the main reason for the change, you might expect the rollout to be paused everywhere.

Microsoft has also stated that it will give users 60 days’ notice before any further changes are implemented. That should give you time to cancel your subscription if you’re worried about the new, higher prices coming into effect.

If you live in one of the countries where Microsoft has hit the pause button, you’ve got a temporary reprieve on the monthly cost you’ll have to pay for Xbox Game Pass. If you’re living elsewhere, though, you’re out of luck – although thanks to GameStop, there is still one way to sign up at the old price. For now, that might be your best bet.

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• The Xbox Game Pass price hikes are so bad, it literally crashed the membership site due to widespread cancellations
• How to cancel Xbox Game Pass on PC, console, and the app – a step-by-step guide to ditching the service if you've had enough of the price rises

• Microsoft confirms Xbox Game Pass discounts on 'all games and DLC purchases' have been scrapped
• Discounts have now been replaced with reward points
• "Ultimate and Premium subscribers will earn 10% and 5% - respectively - in points when purchasing select games and add-ons from the Game Pass library," Microsoft says

More changes have been made to Xbox Game Pass as Microsoft confirms that it has removed discounts on all game and downloadable content (DLC) purchases from its popular subscription service.

Last week, 'charlieINTEL' spotted that Game Pass Ultimate members could no longer access the 10% discounts on add-on content for Call of Duty, including removing the discount on Call of Duty Points and BlackCell, a premium upgrade to the standard battle pass that costs real money.

At the time, it was thought that this change was limited to just Call of Duty and its DLC; however, Microsoft has now confirmed that it now reflects all games and DLC purchases.

Instead of Game Pass discounts, Ultimate and Premium subscribers will now receive 10% and 5% worth of rewards points.

In a statement to IGN, Microsoft said, "This is not specific to any one game and reflects all games and DLC purchases. Instead of a discount on the purchases, Ultimate and Premium subscribers will earn 10% and 5% — respectively — in points when purchasing select games and add-ons from the Game Pass library.

"Ultimate members continue to have 20% discount on select games from the Game Pass library. On top of that, all Rewards members will earn points when shopping games and add-ons on the Store, while Premium and Ultimate subscribers will earn even more, 2x and 4x, respectively. See more details on the Game Pass Rewards program here."

This comes after Microsoft announced major changes to Xbox Game Pass, which saw three upgraded plans and a massive price hike for the Ultimate membership.

Now, Ultimate will cost $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 a month, up from $19.99 / £14.99 / AU$22.95. There's currently no option for a 12-month subscription.

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• Microsoft's gaming and platforms communication director defends new Xbox Game Pass prices
• Dustin Blackwell suggests that Microsoft is trying to add more value to Game Pass tiers
• PC Game Pass remains the cheaper way to play new games day one

It's becoming increasingly evident that consumers aren't happy with Microsoft and its new Xbox Game Pass prices, with the Ultimate tier hike being the worst offender at $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.99 a month – and it doesn't seem as though Microsoft is backing down on its decision either.

As reported by TweakTown, Microsoft's director of gaming and platform communications, Dustin Blackwell, said the Xbox Game Pass price hikes are 'never fun for anybody' but insists that more value is being added to Game Pass plans, in a statement to The Verge. That stance seems at odds with the fan reaction that stemmed from its initial price hike announcement, considering the mass cancellations alone.

I doubt comments of this nature will sit well with consumers, regardless of Blackwell's efforts to provide better reasoning for price increases. In fact, his comments suggest Microsoft won't walk back its decision, even if it means losing subscribers, which is already happening.

With the new ROG Xbox Ally X priced at $999 / £799 / AU$1,599, alongside both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consistent price increases, and now a Game Pass model that will cost $360 a year, it's safe to say that Microsoft isn't doing itself any favors at this point.

Analysis: it makes more sense to game on PC over Sony or Microsoft's consoles

With measures like this from Microsoft, PC gaming is becoming far more appealing for console players. Many would argue (including me) that it always has been. While none of the Xbox Game Pass price hikes are great news, PC Game Pass remains the cheaper option over Game Pass Ultimate, at $16.49 / £13.49 / AU$19.45, which comes with new games on day one.

Besides PC Game Pass, the PC ecosystem offers multiple affordable gaming options. Console storefronts, such as the PlayStation Store, don't usually have steep discounts, but on PC, it's much easier to find bigger price cuts for PC games via marketplaces like Loaded (formerly CDKeys).

I've mentioned this previously, but PC gaming also doesn't ask you to pay for access to online multiplayer, and most of Sony's exclusive triple-A titles end up on PC a year or two after their initial launch.

While Microsoft is feeling the brunt of backlash now, it won't be a surprise to see Sony raise its PlayStation Plus prices soon. If that occurs, it will only further place PC gaming a step up above console gaming, and that will solely be down to the decisions made by Sony and Microsoft.

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• Microsoft is reportedly gearing up to launch a free ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming
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• Microsoft is reportedly internally testing an ad-supported Xbox Cloud Gaming tier
• The tier will be free and not require an Xbox Game Pass subscription
• However, sessions will likely be capped and feature ads before play can begin

Microsoft could be getting ready to launch a free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier supported by ads.

A report from The Verge reveals that Microsoft is testing this ad-supported tier internally, with which employees at the company are able to stream select titles without the need for an Xbox Game Pass subscription. The catch being that players must watch a handful of ads before playing.

Sources told The Verge that the ad-supported tier encompasses some games players might own, as well as titles featured in Free Play Days promotions (essentially a demo for a game, usually available for a limited amount of time), as well as Xbox Retro Classics. That's Activision's catalog of retro titles from the '80s and '90s.

According to those sources, this free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier plays around two minutes' worth of ads before allowing players to stream games via the service. Sessions also seem to cap at one hour, with a total of five free hours available per month. However, this reportedly could change should the feature go live on Xbox consoles.

There's no word on a launch date for this free tier yet, but it will reportedly go into public testing soon (likely via Xbox Insider) and will be available on Xbox Series X, Series S, Xbox One, PC, handhelds, and browsers.

While an ad-supported free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier seems like a harmless announcement in and of itself, reports of its existence couldn't have come at a worse time. Microsoft has not long ago confirmed sweeping changes and price hikes for Xbox Game Pass tiers. The consumer response to which was so severe, the Xbox website crashed under the weight of players rushing to unsubscribe.

It's also not long after Microsoft confirmed yet another round of price increases for Xbox Series X and Series S consoles in the US. Microsoft stated the increases came as a result of changes in the "macroeconomic environment," but the reputation of the brand has arguably suffered as a result.

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• Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is still available at $19.99 at GameStop
• GameStop pledges to continue the $19.99 Ultimate membership price model
• Multiple storefronts also have the membership tier available for $19.99 a month

While Microsoft is facing backlash after the new price standard set for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, many have been quick to find solutions or alternatives to paying $29.99 a month – and fortunately, a familiar trade-in store has come to gamers' aid.

Announced on X, GameStop made a promise to continue the sale of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions for the previous $19.99 price a month, both in-store via physical gift cards and online. This comes after it made numerous tweets to condemn the price hike, further highlighting its stance on ensuring gamers get the best deals.

It's a great gesture from the popular game and trade-in store, and I have no doubts that it'll mount extra pressure on Microsoft to walk back its decision to increase pricing, and it wouldn't be the first time, either.

While it might seem like GameStop is alone on this one, it's also available for $19.99 on Amazon (in the UK and US), Best Buy, and Staples. It's unclear whether the prices remain unchanged at the storefronts (aside from GameStop) as they've yet to come into effect since Microsoft's recent announcement, but it's safe to say that GameStop's stance on the matter may prompt others to do the same.

Regardless, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the $19.99 a month price while it still lasts; there is a good chance that some retailers may adjust pricing to fit Microsoft's new plan accordingly, and while I'm confident Microsoft will eventually walk back on its decision, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Analysis: I'm tired of the 'market conditions' excuses, because gaming is gradually regressing from its hobby nature

If there's anything this current climate in gaming tells me, it's that gaming is in danger of becoming a monopoly and a rich person's hobby, with the likes of Xbox and Nintendo raising prices to ridiculous standards. Game Pass is just another example of recent price hikes, and I don't think it's going to stop any time soon.

It's also made worse when you realize Nintendo is involved in attempting to patent game mechanics, with lawsuits filed at Palworld (likely due to its major successes), where said mechanics should be deemed simple for any game developer to use. I've always felt that patents in gaming shouldn't exist, but I digress.

I'm concerned that if matters continue down the path of game companies consistently trying to enforce unjustified price hikes often blamed on 'market conditions', alongside larger publishers effectively bullying smaller studios into submission via unjust lawsuits, then gaming is in massive trouble (if it isn't already anyway.)

At the very least, outside of lawsuits, gamers have a voice to help push back against such measures, and that's done by voting with our wallets – and it's great to see that a vast majority of us are on the same page regarding Xbox Game Pass and its egregious pricing.

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• Microsoft announced another price increase for Xbox Game Pass
• The membership page crashed due to mass cancellations
• The Ultimate tier membership will now cost $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 a month

It's barely been a few weeks since Microsoft announced price raises for its Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles earlier in September, and it finds itself at the centre of controversy yet again – and it seems as though gamers are uniting against this issue.

As highlighted by Notebookcheck, Microsoft's membership page crashed after the announcement of Xbox Game Pass price hikes, as a plethora of users rushed to the site for cancellations.

The Ultimate Xbox Game Pass tier will now cost $29.99 / £22.99 / AU$35.95 per month, which makes an annual subscription $360 (not yet available), close to the price of a Series S console after the recent increase. It places Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service as the cheaper alternative, but that may not last long.

Without sugarcoating it, Xbox is gradually pushing its consumers further away from its entire ecosystem, including PC gamers (like myself) who have used Game Pass as an inexpensive method to play new titles day one – and it became evidently clear once I went to cancel my subscription, and was met with multiple page errors, indicating mass cancellations (and here's how to cancel Game Pass if you didn't already know).

At this point, it seems like the Microsoft Xbox brand can't catch a break with negative feedback and backlash, but many will argue that it only has itself to blame. Game Pass prices were increased earlier last year, Xbox console prices are skyrocketing, and the new ROG Xbox Ally X costs $999, so it's not a wild suggestion to say that consumer complaints are justified.

Based on the scale of fan backlash, we may see Xbox walk back on the new prices for Game Pass, as we've seen this happen with certain games, such as The Outer Worlds 2, where the $80 price controversy led to an eventual drop down to $70.

This is another case where voting with consumers voting with their wallets may prove to be pivotal in sparking reasonable price changes, and those changes may even arrive sooner than expected.

Analysis: Sony's PlayStation Plus is next, and I can sense it

It's only a matter of time, but I fully expect Sony to follow in the same footsteps as Microsoft Xbox with its PlayStation Plus membership service, just in the same manner that I anticipate an eventual $80 game price standard.

Some of you might suggest that this is far-fetched, but it almost feels as though the likes of Sony PlayStation, Microsoft's Xbox, and Nintendo are all in cahoots when raising prices for gaming hardware or games themselves. That feeling came after Microsoft announced its first-party Xbox games would cost $80, which wasn't too long after Nintendo's announcement.

I sense that Sony is waiting for controversy regarding the game and membership service prices to settle (or at least become normalized) before imposing its own new price standards.

These measures across the three giant companies for console gaming are making PC gaming far more appealing than ever before, especially when you consider that online gaming has always been free of charge, and that should never change.

My only major concern is that once more consumers find their way onto the PC ecosystem, that's when we'll start to see more controversial decisions take place, and I fear that the Xbox Game Pass price hikes are just the start of it for PC gamers.

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Xbox Game Pass is great for voracious gamers, but if you don’t have the time to play all the best Xbox Game Pass games - or even some of them - or want to keep costs down, the service quickly loses its value. And in all honesty, the price rises and changes we've seen to the service during this generation have impacted its value proposition somewhat.

Thankfully, getting rid of Xbox Game Pass is easy; all you need is your login info for your Microsoft account that has Xbox Game Pass and your PC or Mac, and you’re good to go.

Of course, before we begin, it’s worth pointing out that you can’t just cut and run with all of those games you downloaded from the service - once your subscription is over, you won’t be able to play any of the games you downloaded via the Xbox Game Pass service. So, if you’re right in the middle of one of those games, you should quickly finish that up before proceeding.

How to cancel on PC

1. Head to the Microsoft website and login 

Head over to Microsoft’s website to cancel your account.

From there, click the sign-in link at the top-right corner of the page, and log in using your Microsoft account information (i.e., the email you used to sign up for an Xbox account in the first place).

2. Go to My Microsoft Account to view your active subscriptions 

Once you’re signed in, you can click your name in the top-right corner and then click the “My Microsoft Account” link highlighted in blue.

At the top of the next page, you should see a long navigation bar that has the subheads Account, Your Info, Privacy, Security, Rewards, Payment & Billing, and Services & Subscriptions. Click that last one.

The next screen will allow you to manage your subscriptions, allowing you to Cancel Xbox Game Pass.

How to cancel Xbox Game Pass on console

1. Boot up your console and head into settings

It's easy to cancel on your Xbox console nowadays, too - regardless of whether it's a Series X, Series S, or older Xbox One.

First off, simply boot up your console, and begin by pressing the Xbox button when you're on the home screen. Then head into settings.

2. Go to accounts, find subscriptions, and then cancel

After you've gone into settings, navigate to and enter the Accounts submenu, then into Subscriptions, and then you should see a straightforward and obvious Cancel button to click.

How to cancel Xbox Game Pass on the app

1. Log in, select your profile, and then hit the settings gear

Luckily, you can also cancel Xbox Game Pass via the handy Xbox mobile app, which is excellently convenient.

Assuming you're logged in to your app, first hit your profile icon in the top left and then the gear icon in the top right

Go to My Subscriptions, hit manage, and then follow PC step 5

Then, click on 'My Subscriptions' in order to find a button called 'Manage' to click on.

You'll then be redirected to the Microsoft website on your mobile browser and can then follow the same steps as on PC above. In brief, log in again if you need to, then under Xbox Game Pass, click manage, and then cancel.

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• Xbox Game Pass reached "nearly $5 billion" in revenue over the last year
• Microsoft's FY25 Q4 results reveal that Xbox gaming revenue is up by 10% year-over-year, and Xbox content and services are up by 13%
• Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also says that there are 500 million monthly active users across gaming platforms and devices

Microsoft has shared a new milestone for Xbox Game Pass, which attained "nearly $5 billion" in revenue for the first time over the last year.

This achievement was announced as part of the company's FY25 Q4 earnings report detailing the results of the last 12 months (ending June 30, 2025), where CEO Satya Nadella also revealed that Microsoft has 500 million monthly active users across gaming platforms and devices.

“We are now the top publisher on both Xbox and PlayStation this quarter,” said Nadella. "...Game Pass annual revenue was nearly $5 billion for the first time" (via The Verge).

Overall, Xbox gaming revenue was up by 10% year-over-year, and Xbox content and services revenue, which includes Game Pass and first-party titles, is up by 13% this quarter.

This 13% increase could be attributed to Xbox's multi-platform push, which recently saw Xbox-exclusive games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 come to PS5.

Microsoft didn't share the latest subscriber numbers for the service, so there's no way to know if there has been an increase or decrease in members from 34 million players, which the company revealed in February 2024.

Xbox hardware revenue, however, is down 22% this quarter, which could be a consequence of Microsoft increasing the price of its Xbox Series consoles and accessories earlier this year.

Along with hardware price hikes, Microsoft also announced in May that some first-party titles will also be increased to $80 to match the cost of Nintendo Switch 2 games.

However, this plan may be subject to change as the company has since lowered the price of both The Outer Worlds 2 and Borderlands 4.

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• Xbox will now require age verification under the UK's Online Safety Act
• Microsoft says "starting early next year", certain Xbox social features will be limited to friends only in the UK unless age verification is complete
• Players will need to use a government ID, passport, credit card, or other forms of identification to complete the process

Microsoft has announced that it will require age verification for the continued use of Xbox social features, per the UK's Online Safety Act.

In a new Xbox support post, Microsoft said: "As part of our compliance programme for the UK Online Safety Act and our ongoing investments in tools and technologies that help ensure age-appropriate experiences, we're introducing age verification for Microsoft accounts in the UK."

The company explained that players over the age of 18 who don't verify their age between now and the beginning of 2026 can still play their Xbox console, but "starting early next year", certain social features will be limited to friends only unless age verification is complete.

For now, accounts belonging to players 18 and over in the UK are being asked to verify their accounts and will begin seeing notifications encouraging them to verify their age. This is an optional process for now, but it will change come early 2026.

Until an account's age is verified, users will only be able to use voice and text communication, party functionality, and game invites, and user-generated content like the Activity Feed.

Without age verification, the Looking for Group and custom clubs features won't be accessible.

"If you have an existing account or are setting up a new one, you may be asked to verify your age using Yoti, a trusted and secure third-party identity verification service," the post reads.

There are several ways to verify identity, including with a government-issued photo ID, like a passport, residency card, or any other government-issued identification document with the user's picture on it.

They can also use a live photo, ID verification, a mobile number to verify age through their carrier, and a credit card check.

"Whether a player verifies their age will not affect any previous purchases, entitlements, gameplay history, achievements, or the ability to play and purchase games, however we encourage players to verify their age via this one-time process now to avoid uninterrupted use of social features on Xbox in the future," said Xbox vice president of gaming trust and safety Kim Kunes in a separate Xbox Wire post.

"As this age verification process rolls out across the UK, we’ll continue to evaluate how we can keep players around the world safe and learn from the UK process. We expect to roll out age verification processes to more regions in the future. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to player safety, so these methods may look different across regions and experiences."

Xbox isn't the first platform to be affected by the UK's Online Safety Act. Reddit and Discord have also implemented new age verification systems to access 18+ content; however, gamers are already getting around Discord's tool by using Death Stranding's photo mode.

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After teasing the collaboration over a year ago, Meta and Microsoft have finally delivered their Xbox VR headset: and it’s a beautiful Meta Quest 3S. Because one new piece of Xbox hardware wasn’t enough for 2025.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this wasn’t entirely what I had in mind for the Xbox VR headset – I hoped we might get something a little more bespoke – but, after spending my weekend with the device, I've fallen in love.

The Meta Quest 3S was already an excellent headset, and this device’s upgrades and unique Xbox flairs have only elevated the experience it offers.

Best of all you'll get three months of Game Pass Ultimate with your bundle so you can stream the Xbox subscription's software catalogue directly to your headset.

If you have a great internet connection then I can tell you first hand that using this headset to play titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Oblivion Remastered on the giant virtual screen (up to 312 inches according to Meta’s math) this headset affords is awesome – and that’s before you even begin to explore the excellent VR games and apps Meta has up its sleeve.

Available now at $399.99 / £379.99 from Meta.com, Best Buy. Argos, or EE, this limited-edition Xbox headset is also something of a steal (I’ll explain why in a second). So whether you’re an avid Xbox gamer looking to try VR, or a VR fan looking to finally upgrade that aging Oculus Quest 2 this is what you’ve been waiting for.

Just note, Meta warns you’ll want to act fast to snag this special Quest 3S to avoid disappointment because once “it’s gone, it’s gone,” though when we asked it wasn’t able to give us a precise number of units that would be available.

Xbox through and through

Specs-wise the Meta Quest 3S has received no changes for this Xbox edition.

In many ways this is no bad thing, as the headset had plenty of performance power for the latest VR gaming experiences, but the Meta Quest 3 proper’s improved displays and optical setup (which lead to better visuals) wouldn’t have gone unappreciated.

That’s not to say this headset is identical to other Meta Quest 3S devices, however.

Instead of the white plastic-clad headset we’re used to seeing, this Meta Quest 3S makeover has turned it black with an Xbox green highlight around its front face panel – as well as introducing a subtle Xbox logo into its right arm where the 3.5mm aux port would be if this was a Meta Quest 3 proper.

The handsets have also been Xbox-ified. Again, they’re mostly black but with some green highlights – this time on the lettering of the ABXY buttons, the control sticks, and the tightening mechanism on their straps.

This Meta Quest 3S also comes with two upgrades in the box. Firstly you’ll get a matching black-with-green-highlights limited-edition Xbox controller, and the Quest 3S has been upgraded with a unique black Elite strap to boot – usually this would be a paid add-on, and only available in white.

This isn’t the battery strap, mind, so it simply makes the headset sit more securely on your face rather than increasing the battery life of your VR headset. Nevertheless it’s a solid add-on.

Rounding out the package is a three-month Xbox Ultimate subscription, which will be automatically applied to your account as part of the setup process of this special-edition Quest 3S.

A blockbuster deal

If you’ve been doing the math as I list the inclusions you’ll have noticed that the $399.99 / £379.99 asking price of this bundle makes it something of a steal.

A standard 128GB Meta Quest 3s would set you back $299.99 / £289.99, a standard Xbox wireless controller costs $64.99 / £59.99, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for three months would cost you $59.97 / £44.97 (at $19.99 / £14.99 per month), and an official Elite strap is $69.99 / £69.99.

Assuming you paid full price for all of these you’d spend $494.85 / £464.94 – and you’d only get a standard Meta Quest 3S, not this special Xbox one. Though, as with all bundles, it’s only a good deal if you actually intended to buy all the separate parts already.

That said, nothing in this package feels like unessential fluff.

So if you like the sound of this deal, the look of this limited-edition VR machine, or both, as both an Xbox and a VR gaming fan I’m certain you won’t be disappointed.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have a lot more Game Pass to be playing – which is definitely, totally for work purposes.

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Publisher Annapurna Interactive easily delivered one of the most visually striking and nostalgic setups at this year’s Summer Game Fest (SGF) Play Days. Their booth channeled ‘90s vibes with six cozy couch setups, each outfitted with displays styled to look like vintage CRT TVs, complete with CD players and even a custom Super Nintendo game box for their upcoming title Mixtape.

It was a perfect match for the aesthetic sensibilities of developer Beethoven & Dinosaur, the minds behind the BAFTA-winning The Artful Escape. With Fruit by the Foot snacks in hand and a 30-minute hands-on session with the interactive coming-of-age story, Mixtape left me more awestruck and emotionally hooked than other titles at SGF with twice the budget.

For those who missed the latest SGF Showcase trailer following its reveal last year, Mixtape tells the story of three friends navigating their final day of high school as they prepare for one last unforgettable party together in a small, unnamed American town. Alongside its beautiful stop-motion visual style that’ll remind many of games like South of Midnight or films like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the licensed soundtrack is hitting all the right notes as well with tracks from artists including DEVO, Roxy Music, The Smashing Pumpkins, Alice Cultrain, Iggy Pop, the Cure and much more.

During my time with Mixtape, it’s clear that Beethoven & Dinosaur has created a playable greatest hits of every young adult film of the past two decades, from Can’t Hardly Wait and Empire Records to Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Add an outstanding licensed soundtrack into the mix, and it’s an experience that left me wanting more.

But how does it play?

The playable opening credits of Mixtape center on Rockford, one of the three main protagonists, as she coasts downhill on a skateboard alongside her two close friends. Players can ollie, kickflip, and dodge traffic while the trio shouts “car!” to signal oncoming vehicles - crashing triggers a clever VHS-style rewind mechanic that lets you try again. Of course, the three also discuss how to acquire some booze for the party as music from Devo plays. The sequence ends at Rockford’s house, where she shares her lifelong dream of becoming a music supervisor in New York - an ambition she’s held since she was eight. That moment seamlessly blends gameplay with live-action footage, setting the tone for the game’s nostalgic, cinematic vibe. Off the bat, Mixtape does a fantastic job of setting the tone of an adventure based around friends who could be your own.

One early scene lets players spend time in Rockford’s nearly packed bedroom, a space brimming with personality - walls covered in posters, shelves lined with vinyl records, cassette players, and stacks of homemade mixtapes. The room captures that authentic, lived-in vibe of teenage years, evoking memories of aimless hangouts with close friends. There’s even a charming handshake mini-game that deepens the sense of connection between the characters. In 30 minutes, Rockford and crew felt like they were friends of my own. The wildest part is when Rockford goes into her first kiss, and this includes being inside as both analog sticks control tongues.

Burgers, beats, and bad decisions

That lends itself to a sequence that took me back to my first post-high school summer in 2006, which involved riding backseat in my friend’s 2005 Volkswagen GTI, where we drove around Los Angeles County while eating tacos and listening to NERD’s Fly or Die album at insanely loud volumes. Rockford and her friends do the same thing to burgers and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Players press a button to head nod, tap the side of the car door, turn on/off the interior car light, and more, all to the beat of the music playing. Many games do a fine job of bringing back memories of games played in the past. Mixtape does a phenomenal job of reminding me of simply my past, hanging out with the homies.

The final section of Mixtape unfolds at the party, where the trio’s carefree night takes a turn as police arrive to shut things down - likely hunting for underage drinkers. With one friend too drunk to stand, Rockford and the other make a split-second call to load them into a nearby grocery cart, kicking off a chaotic downhill escape.

Late nights, loud music, and run-ins with the cops

Things quickly spiral into a cinematic chase featuring a flood of cop cars and helicopters, dialing the drama up to eleven. The demo ends with the group crashing into a lake, leaving players wondering: did they actually manage to get away? Though that answer isn’t something I won’t find out till the game’s release, it took me back to that one time, me and those same friends had to dodge the cops during a late-night illegal street racing meet-up.

If Mixtape is anything like the demo, Beethoven & Dinosaur might have a generation-defining indie hit on their hands. It captures the awkward magic of growing up, the bittersweet pull of endings, and the reckless joy of friendship with a style and sound that hits deep. Whether it’s skating down a hill, vibing in a bedroom full of mixtapes, or escaping the cops in a grocery cart, every moment feels authentic and earned.

This isn’t just a game - it’s a love letter to late nights, loud music, and the people who shape who we are before life takes us in different directions. Though there isn’t an exact date, look for Mixtape to drop on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC by the year’s end.

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• The senior game designer for the original The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is impressed by Bethesda and Virtuos' remaster
• Bruce Nesmith thought the game was going to be a texture update and doesn't think calling it a "remaster" doesn't do it justice
• Nesmith would categorise the game as "Oblivion 2.0"

Bruce Nesmith, the senior game designer for the original The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, has shared his thoughts on Bethesda and Virtuos’ new remaster and doesn't think the term "actually does it justice".

In a recent interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith said that he spent years working on the original game and that "A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into it", but revealed he hadn't heard about the remaster until the game leaked online ahead of its official announcement.

"I intimately knew every single scene that they were showing. And they looked amazing," he said.

The game has been rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5 and features all-new character models, a new lighting system, environment improvements, and a rework of the game mechanics.

The enhancements are so significant that Nesmith doesn't think calling it a remaster is doing the game justice.

"I was assuming this was going to be a texture update," he explained. "I didn’t really think it was going to be the complete overhaul that they’ve announced it to be… I would not have batted an eye at that.

"But to completely redo the animations, the animation system, put in the Unreal Engine, change the leveling system, change the user interface. I mean, that’s, you’re touching every part of the game. That’s a staggering amount of remastering. It almost needs its own word, quite frankly. I’m not sure remaster actually does it justice.”

Bethesda shadow dropped The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered the day it was revealed, and the game quickly garnered over 190,000 concurrent players on Steam.

Seeing the reception to the 2006 remaster, Nesmith said the number one thing he feels is "pride".

"A game that I worked on has the longevity to still generate interest 20 years later and to be worth the effort—it sounds like considerable effort—and time that Bethesda put into remastering it," he said.

Since Nesmith thinks that the term "remaster" doesn't do the game justice, he thinks "The closest that could come [to categorizing it] is Oblivion 2.0."

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered is now available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Game Pass for $49.99 / £49.99 and $59.99 / £59.99 for the Deluxe Edition.

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• The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster will be officially revealed later today
• Bethesda confirmed a broadcast that will announce the game
• It's suspected that Bethesda will also shadow drop the Oblivion remaster following the livestream

After a series of leaks and rumors, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster will be officially revealed later today.

Bethesda shared a post on social media last night confirming that it will broadcast some sort of Oblivion announcement today, April 22, at 11AM ET / 8AM PT / 4PM BST on Twitch and YouTube.

The remaster was leaked last week, so it's not difficult to predict what the announcement will be, however, it's possible that the livestream will also be followed up with a surprise shadow drop.

New details later emerged that claimed that the game would launch on April 21, 2025, but considering the deluge of leaks, it's speculated that Bethesda pushed the announcement and shadow drop back by one day.

Alongside an official launch date, we'll also likely receive an official gameplay trailer showcasing the remastered graphics that were leaked through a selection of screenshots, as well as its updated game mechanics.

It's also claimed that the game will launch on PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. Although the Nintendo Switch 2 was just announced and confirmed to support third-party titles, it's unclear if we'll see the Oblivion remaster make its way to the handheld after it releases.

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• An Xbox Wire post highlights that we could see Hollow Knight: Silksong kinda soon-ish
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• My outside hope is Sthat ilksong becomes an Xbox handheld launch title

In a surprising turn-up in the gaming book that I wasn’t expecting to see today, we could potentially see Hollow Knight: Silksong arrive this year… an emphasis on the aspect of 'potential' however.

In an Xbox Wire post, Guy Richards, director at ID@Xbox noted: “Looking ahead, our lineup is incredible with upcoming games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Descenders Next, and FBC: Firebreak to play across the whole Xbox universe… and of course Hollow Knight: Silksong too!”

Now that could be a bit of an inside gaming joke in that Hollow Knight fans have been desperate for information about Silksong ever since and an Xbox Game Pass trailer back in 2022. It’s become a bit of a running joke that each year we could see the Hollow Knight sequel pop up at an Xbox Summer Showcase or the occasional Xbox indie developer preview stream, yet Silksong never appears.

However, it’s been eight years since Hollow Knight was released and since then the game has become a bit of a darling in the indie games world and spawned numerous content creators that have dived deep into the gamer’s lore and mechanics. So by that logic, a Silksong release date at the very least is something I feel Hollow Knight fans are within reason to expect.

Speaking as one such fan, my hope is we could see the Hollow Knight: Silksong, which tackles the Metroidvania game from the perspective of the first game’s antagonist-helper Hornet, get a proper showcase this year; maybe at a big Xbox Showcase in July.

There are a lot of reasons to be hyped here, as Silksong looks to take the platforming and combat of Hollow Knight and build upon it with more complex abilities and areas to explore.

But, again, this could all be a bit of trolling from Richards.

A great launch title for the Xbox handheld

Yet if there’s any weight to Richard’s words and my speculation, I’d like to run with it. I think it would be a shot in the arm for Xbox hardware if Silksong was used as a form of launch game for the so-called Xbox handheld; whether that takes the form of an Xbox-branded machine or a reworked Asus ROG Ally.

Now Hollow Knight wasn’t a platform exclusive, nor will Silksong be; unless Microsoft has cooked up some deal with developers Team Cherry. But I could see it being a great way to showcase a new handheld PC; I played Hollow Knight mostly on my Nintendo Switch and reckon it’s a great handheld gaming experience and marriage of hardware and software.

Of course, maybe Nintendo could beat Xbox to the punch and use the Nintendo Direct in April, to showcase the Nintendo Switch 2 running Silksong.

But with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond touted to make an appearance, it’s a lot more likely the game series that spawned half of the Metroidvania nomenclature would be used to show off new Nintendo hardware.

Whatever comes of this Xbox Wire post, I’m just glad that Hollow Knight: Silksong is part of the conversation, even if it’s a little dig at fans, as it reminds me that I and others have still got a promising Hollow Knight sequel to look forward to.

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After my hands-on playthrough of action-adventure game South of Midnight last month, it became evident that developer Compulsion Games has crafted something special with this upcoming game.

Set in a fictional rendition of the American South, the game showed significant potential with gameplay split between platforming, clever puzzles, and solid combat. However, what impressed me the most was the unique presentation that included stylized stop-motion-like visuals alongside outstanding audio.

This includes a soundtrack steeped in various American roots genres ranging from blues and country to bluegrass with some grand orchestral flair added as well. Interestingly enough, we also noticed that the music featured lyrics that moved the narrative along in an impactful way.

The musical experience of South of Midnight masterfully intertwines its Southern gothic narrative with rich audio elements, bringing the story of a woman’s search for her mother to life in a way that feels strikingly fresh and immersive.

Making all of that magic happen is composer Olivier Deriviere (A Plague Tale: Innocence, Streets of Rage 4) and Compulsion Games audio director Christopher Fox. I spoke with them both over video conference about their work on the Xbox Series X game that's also coming to Xbox Game Pass.

A new and beautiful experience

Coming from England, Fox saw his work on South of Midnight as an enlightening experience leading him to explore the deep musical traditions of the American South through his time researching and recording in Nashville, a city he calls synonymous with music. “This whole project was a beautiful learning experience for me,” he explained. “Visiting Nashville and meeting the performers gave me a new appreciation for how deeply music runs through people’s lives there.”

Deriviere echoed that sentiment saying that the city’s overwhelming musical energy left a profound impression on him as well. “You get smashed by the amount of energy there,” he recalled. “Music is everywhere, and it’s humbling to see how passionate people are about it.” Despite being from France, Deriviere’s father also raised him on Creedence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, and Tom Waits among others.

The team worked with a diverse range of performers, including young musicians who seamlessly transitioned between recording sessions and impromptu street performances. This deep connection to music became the backbone of the game’s soundtrack, ensuring that it resonated with the same passion found in real-life Southern music traditions.

One of South of Midnight’s most inventive features is how its music functions almost like a Greek chorus, reinforcing the story’s emotional beats. There are arguments that the game could even be considered a musical to an extent.

This ambitious approach, however, posed significant challenges. Fox admits that implementing such an intricate musical structure required gaining the trust of the development team, as it wasn’t a conventional choice in game design.

“Games tend to follow certain formulas, and this wasn’t one of them,” Fox explained. “I had to convince people that this was a unique approach worth exploring.” Once the narrative team aligned with the vision, the lyrics for the songs were crafted to directly reflect the game’s themes. South of Midnight director and writer David Sears played a key role in writing these lyrics, which in turn inspired Deriviere’s compositions.

The process was highly experimental, with Deriviere initially recording his own vocals as a reference for the final pieces. Finding the right voices to match the characters required meticulous casting, ensuring that both the spoken dialogue and musical performances felt cohesive.

Southern Roots mixed with orchestral grandeur

While much of South of Midnight’s music draws from the Southern tradition, the team also recorded sections at the legendary Abbey Road Studios with the London Contemporary Orchestra.

The fusion of these distinct musical worlds created a unique sonic identity for the game set for release on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC on April 8. This undertaking spanned over two and a half years, forging strong creative bonds among the team as there were over 100 live recording sessions split between Nashville, London, and Paris.

One of the most memorable figures involved in the project was John Kurlander, a legendary recording engineer who sadly passed away in early February. According to Deriviere, before Kurlander’s passing, he expressed excitement about the project, stating: “Most of the time, I know how things will sound; not today.” Those words encapsulate the innovative nature of South of Midnight’s music, where traditional Southern sounds were reimagined through orchestral arrangements, giving the game its distinct musical signature.

For Fox, one of the most powerful pieces from the soundtrack is ‘Altamaha-Ha’ which was recently released as a standalone music video. Having grown up in a church choir, Fox has always been deeply affected by choral music, and this track evokes a spine-chilling response every time he hears it. “There are moments in that song where you just feel the shivers down your spine,” he said. “It’s a testament to how the performers took the composition and elevated it beyond our expectations.” The music of South of Midnight is also going to be split into two albums: Original Songs and The Soundtrack — both available on all digital music streaming platforms today (March 20).

Looking back on the years-long process of creating South of Midnight’s music, both Deriviere and Fox express deep gratitude for the experience. The soundtrack is more than just a collection of background music—it’s a core component of the game’s identity, designed to immerse players in its world and evoke a deep emotional response. By blending the raw energy of Nashville with the grandeur of orchestral arrangements and a deeply narrative-driven approach, South of Midnight could set a new standard for video game music.

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Xbox's February update has expanded the fittingly named 'stream your own game collection' feature, allowing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play more games that they own via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The news comes from an official Xbox Wire post. Alongside now being able to invite your friends to a cloud gaming multiplayer session, the post details all the games now added to the stream your own game collection feature. Those recently added are as follows:

• Blasphemous 2
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
• Slime Rancher 2
• Subnautica
• Subnautica: Below Zero
• The Talos Principle 2
• Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered

There are also a healthy number of games being added to the streaming service soon, including:

• Atomic Heart
• Cult of the Lamb
• Hotline Miami
• Killer Frequency
• Neva
• Overcooked! All You Can Eat
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate
• Serious Sam Collection
• Trepang2
• Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition

This brings the total number of owned games players can stream to more than 50, and it seems like there's going to be even more added to the feature in the near future.

While Xbox Cloud Gaming itself covers a range of titles available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, this feature is specifically designed to give players the option to stream the games that they own beyond the subscription service.

Still, to make use of the stream your own games collection feature to begin with, you will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. You can check the box below for all the best rates on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in your region, should you need to renew your sub or add some more time to it.

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• Balatro's PEGI 18 rating has officially been reclassified to PEGI 12
• Even though Balatro explains poker, it was concluded that the game "contained mitigating fantastical elements that warranted a PEGI 12 rating"
• PEGI confirmed it will "develop a more granular set of classification criteria" when it comes to rating games with gambling elements

Balatro has officially had its PEGI 18 age rating overturned following an appeal.

That's according to a new press release published by PEGI, where it confirmed that the popular, poker roguelike has had its PEGI 18 rating reclassified to PEGI 12 following a "successful appeal submitted by publisher Sold Out Sales & Marketing".

Since the game is poker-inspired, Balatro was initially rated an 18 for having "prominent gambling imagery", even though the game doesn't actually feature any microtransactions or in-game currency.

"The Complaints Board concluded that, although the game explains the various hands of poker, the roguelike deck-building game contained Balatro's PEGI 18 rating has officially been reclassified to PEGI 12," it reads.

Balatro solo developer LocalThunk took to X / Twitter following the news to also confirm the new reclassification.

"After an appeal from my publisher, Balatro has been reclassified by PEGI from 18+ to 12+," LocalThunk said. "This is a good step from PEGI - bringing nuance to their rating criteria that used to be 18+ or nothing. I hope this change will allow developers to create without being unfairly punished."

LocalThunk followed up in his thread by posting an image holding physical console copies of Balatro, which feature the PEGI 18 rating on the covers, joking "Guess these are limited edition now!"

Another game, Luck Be A Landlord, was also confirmed to have been changed to a PEGI 12 in the press release after an appeal was submitted by publisher Fangamer. It was reasoned that although the game does feature a slot machine mechanic, "there were no specific transferable gambling skills and the game can therefore be rated PEGI 12."

It was stated that going forward, PEGI will "develop a more granular set of classification criteria" when it comes to games featuring gambling themes such as Balatro.

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• The latest collaboration update adds card skins themed after Assassin's Creed, Civilization 7, Fallout, and more.
• The award-winning poker roguelike is also now available on Xbox Game Pass

LocalThunk has unveiled the latest Balatro update for its Friends of Jimbo collaboration pack, which adds even more crossovers to the game.

The announcement comes from the latest ID@Xbox showcase, where the developer released the teaser trailer for Balatro Jimbo Pack 4, while also shadow-dropping the award-winning, poker roguelike on Xbox Game Pass.

From the trailer, we know that the free update adds new card skins themed after Assassin's Creed, Civilization 7, Fallout, Dead by Daylight, Rust, Slay the Princess, Bugsnax, and Critical Role.

All cards featured in the collaboration pack will have artwork based on fan-favorite characters from their respective games, like Fallout's Vault Boy and Dead by Daylight's The Trapper.

For the Assassin's Creed, in particular, players can expect to collect skins for some of the series' most iconic characters. These include Ezio Auditore da Firenze as the King of Spades card, Jacob Frye as the Jack of Spades, as well as Fujibayashi Naoe as the Queen of Spades, one of the playable protagonists from the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows.

This latest patch is the fourth update to Balatro's Friends of Jimbo collaboration pack. It was first released in August 2024 and added decks inspired by The Witcher, Vampire Survivors, Dave The Diver, and Among Us.

The crossover later saw card skins based on Cyberpunk 2077, Shovel Knight, Don't Starve, Divinity: Original Sin 2, Stardew Valley, Warframe, and more. It's unclear if LocalThunk has plans for even more updates, so we'll have to see what cards the sole developer has up his sleeve.

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• Microsoft's FY25 Q2 results reveal a 7% revenue decline for its gaming division
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Microsoft's gaming division experienced a 7% revenue decline during its second fiscal quarter.

According to the earnings release FY25 Q2 results, for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, Microsoft's revenue amounted to $69.6 billion and increased by 12%, and also saw a 29% drop in revenue for its Xbox hardware.

Meanwhile, Xbox's content and services revenue increased 2% which was attributed to the growth of Xbox Game Pass, according to Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft.

Speaking on the Q2 earnings call (VGC) Nadella said, "We’re focused on improving the profitability of the business in order to position it for long-term growth driven by higher margin content and platform services, and we are delivering on this plan."

"We also continued to see strong momentum for Xbox Cloud Gaming, with a record 140 million hours streamed this quarter," Nadella added.

"All up, Game Pass set a new quarterly record for revenue and grew its PC subscriber base by over 30% as we focus on driving fully paid subscribers".

It was also mentioned that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 proved to be a success due to its record-breaking launch month and that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has "already been played by more than four million people" since its launch on December 9 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.

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• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is coming on April 24, 2025
• The Xbox Developer Direct revealed a massive, explorable world map
• The map will be dotted with secrets and optional bosses to find

We've got a lot more information on the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 thanks to its lengthy appearance at January 23's Xbox Developer Direct. This includes a closer look at combat, characters and a fully explorable 3D world map.

A new official Xbox Wire post goes into more detail on the upcoming turn-based RPG, which is the debut project of French developer Sandfall Interactive. The post includes information about a feature that caught my eye the most - a massive overworld that players are able to explore akin to classics like Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana.

“Since the day I started working on this project in Unreal engine, I wanted a world map,” said creative director Guillaume Broche. “I feel like it’s such a cool thing that has almost completely disappeared from the face of the gaming industry. Like, nobody does that anymore, and for me it was such a crucial and important part of what made the old-school JRPGs unique."

Broche went on to describe the world map as "very big" and will be dotted with "hidden bosses" and "tons of secrets." From the glimpses we've seen, the world map also looks utterly stunning, presenting a fractured world with the hauntingly warped Eiffel Tower as its centerpiece.

Broche also talked about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's turn-based combat. Particularly, its context sensitive prompts for attacks and parrying that aren't too dissimilar to those seen in Xbox 360 classic Lost Odyssey.

It does seem like the game is going to be fairly challenging, but Broche stressed that there will be various difficulty modes. He also encouraged players to experiment with different character builds and combos, which both seem to be a huge focus. Broche hopes players will "break the game, because it's made for that!"

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will release on April 24 for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5 and PC. It'll also be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one of release.

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• Rewards with Xbox have received a significant update this year
• As of now rewards can be earned on PC for the first time
• Rewards are also now only available to players who are 18 and over

Microsoft has announced a significant Xbox Rewards update for the new year, overhauling its Game Pass Quests system as well as bringing them over to PC Game Pass for the first time.

Announced in an official Xbox Wire post, the first major change is in bringing Xbox Game Pass Quests to PC for the first time. This is rolling out today (January 7). Players will simply need to head over to the new Rewards Hub in the Xbox PC client - and it seems like rewards progress carries over between console and PC as it's all based on your Microsoft account.

Game Pass Quests themselves have had something of an overhaul. The 'Daily Play' quest will get you 10 points for playing any Game Pass game for 15 minutes. But the big earner is the new 'Weekly Streaks' system. By playing Game Pass games for 15 minutes for five days in a week rewards 150 points, and a multiplier is applied for completing the quest up to four times that amount.

One important thing to note is that Xbox Rewards have received an age rating update. Now, players can only earn Rewards points if they're 18 or older. Users under 18 can still earn points through games downloaded or purchased via parental approval, and points can still be earned via Bing searches and other daily quests.

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• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to play games through the Xbox app on LG Smart TVs
• Games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Avowed, and more are supported
• 'Stream your own game' feature will also be available

Microsoft has announced a new partnership with LG Electronics that will soon bring the Xbox App to select LG Smart TVs.

With this new partnership, this means all Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to play their games directly through the Xbox app on supported LG Smart TVs through Xbox Cloud Gaming.

"Our partnership with LG will help players easily discover and play games through the new Gaming Portal on LG Smart TVs,” said Lori Wright, corporate vice president of Xbox.

"We’re fortunate to have a great partner in LG who will bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to more players, letting new and longtime Xbox'ers find their favorite games and play with friends across screens."

Owners of an LG Smart TV will soon be able to explore the Gaming Portal for direct access to the Ultimate catalog and be able to play games like the latest Call of Duty title Black Ops 6, as well as highly anticipated releases like Avowed, which is set to launch on February 18.

"We are thrilled to announce the partnership with Xbox, which aims to enrich the gaming experience on LG Smart TVs with a broader selection of popular games," said Chris Jo, senior vice president of platform business at the LG Media Entertainment Solution Company. "The Gaming Portal will provide users with a seamless, convenient, and exciting way to enhance the gaming experience on LG Smart TVs."

Last year, Microsoft also announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can stream select games they own, outside the Game Pass catalog, via Cloud Gaming. It's now confirmed that this feature will also be available on the Xbox app with LG Smart TVs, allowing access to over 50 games players own, like Baldur's Gate 3, Balatro, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and more.

More information about the new collaboration is set to arrive in the "coming months", Microsoft said.

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It's been a challenging year for Xbox. On the positive, we've seen some of the console's best first-party games yet, with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle making a late-in-the-year dash for game of the year, and a return to form with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the jewel in Activision-Blizzard's crown.

However, those highlights appear in a sea of painful industry news. There have been multiple rounds of layoffs, with thousands of Xbox staff losing their jobs, several studio closures, including the team behind one of the best first-party games of this generation, and price rises, too.

There have been costs to players, with new tiers and prices for Xbox Game Pass pushing up the cost of Microsoft's subscription services. The move may respond to the cost of living crisis, but they also indicate that Game Pass, one of Microsoft's biggest swings, is not a success.

So, to look ahead to Xbox's 2025, we must also consider the past 12 months. The coming year will be make-or-break for Xbox.

Swings and misses

We're into the fifth year of the Xbox Series X|S, and we can see now that many of Microsoft's biggest swings have yet to pay off. After all its acquisitions, including the biggest buyout in gaming history, Xbox remains firmly in second place, behind PlayStation.

According to the latest financial reports, Xbox's revenue is up significantly. However, that growth is almost entirely down to folding Activision-Blizzard's earnings into Xbox's numbers, not because Xbox's games and hardware sold better. Console sales continue to decline – which isn't unusual five years into a console cycle. PS5 sales are down, too, but Sony's reporting larger growth from game and subscriber numbers.

Another big swing was Xbox Game Pass. While all the platform holders now offer a subscription service, Game Pass has been the most generous of them. Day-one releases for first-party titles significantly cut potential earnings, and licensing them from third-party's was extremely costly.

We know from leaked court documents that Microsoft aims for 100 million Xbox Game Pass subscribers by 2030. By February this year, the company had only hit 34 million, gaining just 10 million members since 2022.

That slow growth is likely behind the changes we saw in July, with new Xbox Game Pass tiers introduced, prices increased, and day-one releases restricted to the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.

There has been a human cost to those failures. Microsoft began the year by laying off 1,900 staff across the Xbox, Activision Blizzard, and Zenimax teams. Phil Spencer said the move aligned the company with "the best opportunities for growth".

That alignment continued in May when Microsoft closed four studios – Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, Redfall's Arkane Austin, Roundhouse Studios, and Alpha Dog Games. This time, Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty said the decision was “grounded in prioritizing high-impact titles".

Then, in September, Microsoft announced 650 further layoffs. Spencer says this was "to organize our business for long-term success".

Under the microscope

Those layoffs are a sign that Xbox is under greater scrutiny from Microsoft. You don't make the largest acquisition in game industry history and not draw more attention from your corporate overlords.

At a time when Microsoft is investing billions into its AI division and, on paper at least, seeing huge returns in share price growth, the gaming division doesn't look so rosy. For years now, it's been second-place to Sony and only showing small growth. Microsoft won't keep forking over billions to Xbox if Phil Spencer doesn't show a clear, working strategy in 2025.

Hardware sales are down, game sales aren't growing, and Game Pass hasn't yet delivered the subscriber base it needs.

Not all Doom and gloom

So, them's the 'breaks'; and they are significant. But let's move on to the 'makes' for 2025 because there is good reason to believe it may be the best 12 months in the console's life so far.

Xbox has had significant gaps in its first-party release schedule this generation, sometimes going more than a year between exclusives. However, while we don't have release dates yet, 2025 is full of major games fans have been waiting on for years.

In 2025, we'll see the release of Obsidian's excellent-looking first-person RPG, Avowed – which is set to scratch something of that Elder Scrolls itch. Doom: The Dark Ages, id Software's hyperviolent prequel, that arms you with a shield-mounted chainsaw and throws you against the hordes of hell. And we may see the release of Compulsion's third-person action game South of Midnight, which continues to look like one of the best new series coming to Xbox.

Most excitingly, however, at long, long, long last, Playground Games is due to release its Fable reboot. Officially announced before the Xbox Series X launch, we've (somewhat) patiently waited five years to chase chickens in a next-gen Albion. While there's no firm release date, all accounts still have it on the books to release in 2025.

While not confirmed for 2025, we should also see the release or new announcements for The Initiative's Perfect Dark reboot, The Coalition's Gears of War: E-Day, Undead Labs' State of Decay 3, and a whole host of other first-party games from the many studios Xbox acquired over the past decade.

Plus, with Marvel's Blade, Clockwork Revolution, and The Elder Scrolls 6 all likely to hit in 2026, we might finally see Xbox hit a steady release cadence of new exclusives.

Bring on the hard(ware) times

2025 could also be the year we see Xbox deliver (or at least flesh out) hardware rumors, leaks, and news that have broken throughout this generation.

According to the leaked court documents last September, Microsoft was planning a mid-generation upgrade for both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Brooklin would be an all-digital Xbox Series X with 2TB of storage, improved Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and reduced power consumption. Ellewood, the Xbox Series S upgrade, would feature the same connectivity and power upgrades.

That would align with the recently updated Xbox Series X design, slightly reducing power consumption. However, without the connectivity upgrades, there is reason to hope the real hardware refresh will still come in 2025. And, if Microsoft finds ways to lower production costs, the older consoles are due a price cut.

We also hope to see a new generation of Xbox's excellent Elite Series controllers. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 was released six years ago, and it's still the best first-party pad around. However, in the years since, Sony has released its own pro controller, the Dualsense Edge. It's about time Microsoft's Design Labs showed Sony they've not been resting on their laurels since 2019.

Of course, there is the long-talked-about Xbox handheld. In November, Phil Spencer confirmed that Xbox is building handheld prototypes. Sadly, it won't be released in 2025, but we should hear more about their plans for the machine. For instance, we already know it would be closer to a Steam Deck than a cloud-based handheld, as Spencer told Bloomberg that "being able to play games locally is really important."

But, with further court documents revealing that Xbox is targeting 2028 for its next console release, would a handheld device see out this generation or begin the next?

2024 showed that Microsoft's strategy for the Xbox wasn't working. With all of its acquisitions and inducements to get people onto Xbox Game Pass, it couldn't fill a release schedule and deliver what people wanted for their console: lots of great games. It was the staff who paid the cost of those decisions.

However, there is good reason to believe that 2025 will go some way to restore Xbox's sheen. It just has to deliver.

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• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's latest patch has been released
• Update 2 addresses a series of gameplay bugs and a save file issue
• Xbox players should now find a dramatic improvement to global illumination

MachineGames has released a new patch for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that addresses a number of quality-of-life issues.

The developer detailed the new changes in the Update 2 patch notes, which you can check out below, and it looks like it has primarily focused its attention on fixing general bugs, ranging from gameplay and graphics.

Namely, the latest patch has now fixed an issue where users' Game Slot was reported as "damaged" or missing, even though there was no actual problem.

In terms of gameplay, the first-person action game will now let players equip Indy's whip without any issues, his camera should no longer be permanently equipped, and it should no longer disappear after they use the quick-equip function.

Players on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will be glad to know that MachineGames has also massively improved Global Illumination. Now, shadowed areas in-game should appear as they should be instead of unusually bright.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Update 2 - Patch Notes

General

• Fixed an issue where users Game Slot may be reported as being damaged, or may appear to be completely missing, when no actual problem had occurred.

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue where player may be unable to equip Indy’s whip.
• Fixed an issue where a player may end up with Indy’s camera permanently equipped.
• Fixed an issue where player may drop and lose their camera if they use the quick-equip (“key item”) prompt to equip their camera while they are inspecting another nearby pick-up item.

Graphics

• Fix to prevent “Double vision” getting stuck on screen when Indy has almost drowned. To players who have already encountered this issue, repeating the near-drown should clear the issue.
• Some further improvements to reduce “stutter” from duplicated frames during cutscenes.

Missions and quests – Please note this section contains some small spoilers

• Fixed an issue where Gina may not approach the secret entrance to the Vatican Treasure Chamber, blocking the mission from progressing.
• Fixed an issue where Gina may go to pick the lock to the exit from the Vatican Treasure Chamber as soon as you enter the room, meaning you may miss some very important story developments.
• Fixed a big hole in the floor collision around the edge of the wall around the Ziggurat in Sukhothai that the player could fall through.

PC Specific fixes

• Fixed an issue where Nvidia DLSS may cause performance problems when enabled.
• Fixed an issue where Nvidia Frame Generation wasn’t activated properly if HDR is in use.
• Fixed an issue where Nvidia Low Latency Mode could cause performance problems when used with Frame Generation.
• Fixed an issue where global illumination may be completely disabled when playing with below minimum VRAM graphics cards.
• Fixed an issue where Lighting may be over bright in interior spaces if Path Tracing (Full Ray Tracing) is set to Medium or High Quality.
• Known Issue: Nvidia Frame Generation may be temporarily disabled if HDR is activated for the first time. To work around this issue, disable and then re-enable DLSS. This only needs to be done once.

Xbox Specific fixes

• Improvements to Global Illumination on Xbox, to fix issues where shadowed areas had appeared brighter than expected.

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• Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has doubled down on the company's multiplatform plan
• The CEO said he is "feeling, very, very good about where we are in gaming"
• Nadella explained that Microsoft is "redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan"

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella has said the company wants to redefine what it means to be an Xbox fan as he doubles down on its multiplatform plan.

This comes from Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting last week, via GameFile, where Nadella and Microsoft’s vice president of investor relations, Brett Iverson, discussed the company's gaming strategy while also reflecting on its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

When Iverson asked Nadella how he feels about the early return on that investment and current progress of Microsoft's gaming strategy, the CEO said he is "feeling, very, very good about where we are in gaming."

"In fact, right now, this is, like, the peak season in gaming, obviously with Black Ops and the new Call of Duty," said Nadella, referring to Black Ops 6' launch and day one release on Xbox Game Pass.

"It’s just been fantastic to see the launch and the marketing around it, the buzz around it and the love for gaming... If I think about it right, we chose the secular growth category in entertainment, which we think is gaming and said, ‘Let’s double down on it’."

The CEO pointed to the company's recent 'This is an Xbox' marketing campaign, which showcased the range of devices players can use to access Xbox games, explaining that it's a way Microsoft is "redefining what it means to be an Xbox fan: it’s about being able to enjoy Xbox on all your devices."

"And, more importantly, I think in [the] long-term, as a company, we can bring the best of the AI innovation, cloud innovation, console innovation, PC innovation to build the best games that can be enjoyed by gamers everywhere," Nadella added.

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