Xbox Game Studios News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Fallout is all the craze these days, especially off the success of Amazon’s recent TV show (recently renewed for Season 2). Though older titles like Fallout 76 and Fallout 4 have received impressive bumps in player numbers, the latter celebrating its Next-Gen Update launch, it wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft is thinking of ways to capitalize on the show’s success.

Age of Empires was originally launched for PC in 1997. Since then, the historical real-time strategy series has had multiple releases on platforms such as home consoles and mobile devices. With Age of Empires 4 pleasing fans on PC and Xbox, Microsoft is making another attempt to attract smartphone audiences with the upcoming Age of Empires Mobile.

About a year ago, one of Rare's fans noticed something on Google Maps.

Booty called, and boy did we answer. Earlier this week, the Sea of Thieves team revealed that 40 million of us had embraced our inner pirate and set sail since the game's debut across Xbox and PC. We seas-ed the day, if you will.

Grounded's Fully Yoked update arrived yesterday, marking its debut on PlayStation and Switch. However, it also brought its fair share of issues with it.

Just Cause developers Avalanche have become home to the latest union in the games industry, with over 100 staff at the Swedish studio set to be covered by a new agreement formed with local labour unions.

Here is something to warm the soul on a rather chilly April afternoon (at least, where I am). One creative game developer has used Playdate — the palm-sized, crank-operated console — to propose to his girlfriend.

Just Cause developer Avalanche has confirmed plans to enter a collective bargaining agreement with Swedish unions.

It looks like PS5 players can't wait to don tricornes and raise anchor; Sea of Thieves is currently experiencing «longer wait times that normal», according to developer Rare, thanks to a «high volume» of new players joining the game as part of today's freshly launched PS5 Closed Beta.

Microsoft is limiting Xbox Game Pass subscription extensions in certain countries to deter players from stacking their membership at a cheaper rate.

Ori developer Moon Studios has offered a small slice of news on a potential third entry in the series.

Gears 6 will be announced on June 9th, according to a report by The Verge.

Gears 6 will reportedly be announced on 9th June 2024.

Relic Entertainment, the freshly-independent developers of Company of Heroes, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Age of Empires IV, have confirmed a number of job losses. The layoffs come just a week after the studio announced their sale from former owners Sega, returning them to independence after two decades.

releases for Xbox Series X/S and PC on May 21. However, while it continues the first game’s story, it’s not quite the same creative team. A recent report revealed that Ninja Theory Founder and Senua’s Sacrifice Director, Tameem Antoniades, left the company at some point during the new game’s development.

It is often a minor controversy whenever a new AAA game comes out and is capped at 30 frames per second. However, visual effects director Mark Slater-Tunstill says there is a good reason that is locked at 30 FPS on Xbox Series X/S.

Mattel is launching a cute Xbox 360 block building kit — but its price tag is more than double what you'd spend on an actual Xbox 360.

Certain Affinity — the renowned Texas-based support studio most recently reported to be working on a Halo battle royale project for Microsoft — has announced a round of layoffs, which will see 25 employees lose their jobs.

Xbox head Phil Spencer wants to see more digital storefronts such as Epic and Itch.io on Microsoft's consoles.

Xbox gaming boss Phil Spencer has discussed the idea of a Microsoft handheld games device, and how Xbox games should play on third-party handheld hardware.

When Microsoft revealed its new strategy of bringing titles like Grounded, Sea of Thieves, Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment to other platforms, there was discussion on those that weren’t included. Starfield andIndiana Jones and the Great Circle were some of the most hotly rumored. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said the industry shouldn’t rule out any titles on other platforms, but they seem unlikely.

Sea of Thieves is celebrating its sixth anniversary today, 20th March, and to celebrate, Rare has given an unprecedented look at the year ahead for its multiplayer pirate game, with 2024 bringing the likes of windy horns, roaming warships, and portable grappling guns that let you whizz around the place with giddy abandon.

The PC version of Alpha Protocol is now available for purchase, digital rights management-free, via GOG for $19.99, the distribution platform announced in partnership with SEGA and Obsidian Entertainment. It is available at a 10 percent-off discount launch prince of $17.99 until April 3.

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Obsidian Entertainment has addressed the «bug» in Pentiment which meant the game ran at 120fps on PlayStation 5 — but not its native Xbox Series X/S.

Developer Turn 10 Studios' previously promised overhaul of Forza Motorsport's controversial car progression system arrives today, 11th March, on Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Last October, Forza Motorsport sped onto PC and Xbox Series X/S, wowing racing sim fans with over 500 vehicles and 20 tracks at launch. Not everything was perfect out the gate, however, as many players had complaints regarding the title’s car progression mechanic.

Following the launch of Sea of Thieves' radical structural overhaul last month, Rare is readying to release a new mid-season update next week that'll add anti-cheat and subscription-free solo play to its swashbuckling pirate adventure. Plus, a big 2024 content preview is on the way as part of Sea of Thieves' sixth anniversary celebrations.

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Former Xbox exclusive Pentiment currently runs smoother on PlayStation 5 than on Xbox Series X/S, fans have realised — prompting the game's director to blame the situation on a «bug».

When I did my undergrad degree in the nowadays-blissful-seeming early noughties, I swore off videogames entirely. I sternly and sorrowfully turned my back on such hit releases as Shadow of the Colossus, Far Cry and yes, even, that PC gaming essential Half-Life 2, so as to spend 11-hour days boning up on Aeschylus and Samuel Johnson. Then, two weeks before my final exams, I somehow went out and bought Ensemble's Age Of Mythology.

Age of Mythology: Retold will launch for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store in 2024, publisher Xbox Game Studios and developers World’s Edge, Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media, CaptureAge, and Virtuos announced. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

Over 25 years into Age of Empires’ history, it seems the storied strategy series is riding a high. Developers World’s Edge have announced their plans to follow up last year’s The Sultans Ascend DLC for Age of Empires 4 - said to be the best-selling expansion in the entire series’ history - with some new additions to the latest RTS instalment this spring.

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition has revealed its next DLC. Victors and Vanquished will apparently be the remastered RTS’ first “campaign-focused” expansion, offering up more playable scenarios than any of its previous packs - many based on popular community creations. Oh, and it’s out next month.

Age of Mythology Retold, the latest remaster of the god-battling Age of Empires spin-off, will finally see a release in 2024, having been revealed back in October 2022.

As expected, Microsoft yesterday confirmed that four of their games are headed to rival consoles: Pentiment to PlayStations 4 & 5 and Nintendo Switch; Hi-Fi Rush to PS5; Grounded to PS4, PS5, and Switch; and Sea Of Thieves to PS5. It's nice to see barriers between systems coming down and all, and it'll likely have consequences of note to serious businessheads, but what relevance does this have for us as a PC gaming website? Well! Grounded and Sea Of Thieves will support cross-platform multiplayer, so we'll be able to play them with our consolatory chums. That's nice.

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Following last week's long-rumoured announcement Microsoft is bringing four of its previously Xbox-exclusive first-party games to Switch and PlayStation 5, we've finally got official confirmation of the first two games making that multiplatform leap: Obsidian's historical narrative adventure Pentiment comes to Switch tomorrow, 22nd February, while inch-high garden adventure Grounded arrives 16th April on Nintendo's platform.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has addressed lingering questions around the company stance on physical media following last year's leaks of an «adorably all-digital» Xbox Series X refresh, saying Microsoft continues to be «supportive» of the medium, and insisting «getting rid of physical, that's not a strategic thing for us.»

As Microsoft opts to launch at least some of its Xbox exclusives on rival consoles, the company's gaming boss Phil Spencer has reflected on Sony's recent, hugely-successful launch of online, cross-platform shooter Helldivers 2 on PC and PlayStation 5.

Following mounting reports Xbox is preparing for some kind of multiplatform future, Microsoft has confirmed it'll be bringing four previously Xbox-exclusive first-party titles to PlayStation 5 and Switch later this year, with more likely to come in the future.

It’s official: Starfield, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are not coming to PS5 or Nintendo Switch in the foreseeable future. However, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer did confirm that four other titles would launch this year for other platforms.

Microsoft Flight Simulator's free Dune expansion is available now. It features the Royal Atreides Ornithopter from Denis Villeneuve's movies - with this entire DLC being a marketing tie-in with Dune: Part Two, which releases next month. It includes tutorials, time trials, and a "daring rescue mission".

Microsoft's Xbox and PC exclusive Pentiment will make its way to PS5 and Nintendo Switch, alongside the previously-leaked Hi-Fi Rush.

Microsoft has announced a special edition of the Official Xbox Podcast for February 15th, noon PT. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, president Sarah Bond and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty will be present and provide “updates on the Xbox business.” Last week, Spencer said this would be a business update event to discuss the company’s “vision for Xbox’s future.”

Next Official Xbox Podcast episode to provide details on new business changes

Xbox is still committed to making consoles, says boss Phil Spencer

Hideo Kojima dropped a bombshell at the end of January, announcing that — alongside development of Death Stranding 2 — he would also be returning to the action-espionage genre that put him on the map with the Metal Gear series, in the form of Physint for PlayStation 5. And now, in a new episode of his HideoTube web series, the designer has explained how a period of sickness and surgery — and thoughts of his own mortality — convinced him to 'change his priorities' and do something fans had been asking him to do for years.

Turn 10 Studios has released an initial outline of the changes it's making to car progression in Forza Motorsport.

Given that Microsoft have spent considerable time and effort becoming the biggest cock-of-the-walk possible, it does, I suppose, make sense that their layoffs are correspondingly massive. In an internal memo obtained by The Verge, Phil Spencer is very sad to reveal to the staff that, in order to grow, the combined powers of Microsoft's 22k-strong Gaming Division have to be denuded to the tune of 1,900 human beings. That amounts to about 8% of the division.

Obsidian's Avowed is a game for the more indecisive or changeable RPG player, with no "enforced" classes and an emphasis on easily respeccing and experimenting with different combinations of weapons and abilities. Or at least, that's my overall takeaway from a new Xbox podcast interview featuring game director Carrie Patel and gameplay director Gabe Paramo. In the video, the pair delve a little deeper into last week's Xbox Developer Direct showcase and how the game compares to their previous Pillars of Eternity games, which are set in the same world.

Master Chief actor Pablo Schreiber has said he will stake his reputation on Halo's next season being better than the first.

Halo Infinite won't receive a sixth season update and is moving away from the 'seasons' model entirely. Instead, on January 30th it'll receive a new arena map, a new operation and a handful of other new features, and it'll continue to be updated with shorter "Operation" battle passes in future.

Halo Infinite developer 343 Industries has confirmed there will be no further seasons after season 5.

Pablo Schreiber, the face (quite literally) behind Master Chief's helmet in Paramount's Halo adaptation, thinks it was a «huge mistake» to introduce a romantic relationship for the Spartan warrior. In fact, he pushed back against it.

Alternate history strategy title Ara: History Untold will launch for PC in autumn 2024, developer Oxide Games announced tonight during the Xbox Developer Direct presentation.

Obsidian Entertainment has revealed its first-person RPG Avowed is set to release this autumn.

Tonight's Xbox Developer Direct brought an update on Avowed, Obsidian's first-person fantasy RPG. A new trailer provided a substantial look at combat, including pistols, dual-wielding swords and wands, as well as a slightly updated release window: this autumn.

Today's Xbox Developer Direct stream offered updates on some of 2024's biggest Microsoft games, including MachineGames' Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, Obsidian's Avowed and Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2. If you missed the stream and want a quick roundup of all the news, games, release dates and trailers featured, we've gathered it all together in this post.

First-person action RPG Avowed will launch for Xbox Series and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store this fall, publisher Xbox Game Studios and developer Obsidian Entertainment announced. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will launch digitally for Xbox Series and PC via Steam and Microsoft Store on May 21 for $49.99, publisher Xbox Game Studios and developer Ninja Theory announced. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

Turn-based strategy game Ara: History Untold will launch for PC via Steam and Microsoft Store this fall, publisher Xbox Game Studios and developer Oxide Interactive announced.

During Microsoft’s Developers_Direct 2024, developer Oxide Interactive took the spotlight to showcase upcoming strategy game Ara: History Untold. The entire showcase for Ara: History Untold goes into quite a few aspects of the game, including the Prestige system, and even smaller things like how architectural styles of buildings could change over time.

We're going to get a look at some of Microsoft's big new Xbox games tonight, in a brand new Xbox Developer Direct. We've been promised a look at the new Indiana Jones game, Obsidian's new RPG Avowed, and Ninja Theory's Hellblade 2.

Today's the day of Xbox Developer Direct 2024, a select showcase of forthcoming Microsoft-published games, from sorcerous RPGs to intricate strategy games, which begins at 12pm PT, 3pm ET and 8pm UK. Wait, stop! Come back here, you silly goose. You don't need to go anywhere. I've embedded the livestream below, together with the key things you need to know about the games in question.

Sea of Thieves' 11th season is right around the corner, and it looks like its arrival next Tuesday, 23rd January, could very well bring the most radical overhaul for the multiplayer pirate adventure since its launch back in 2018. Behold the advent of fast-travel.

It is official: no shadow-drop game will be unveiled during the Xbox Developer Direct 2024. Or at least that appears to be the case. Let’s talk about this news.

The mysterious, long-rumoured Halo battle royale project from series co-developer Certain Affinity is no longer in development, a new report has claimed.

Paramount has released a new trailer for its Halo TV adaptation, as we approach the start date for season two.

With the launch of last year's Forza Motorsport — and an initial flurry of patches and fixes — behind it, developer Turn 10 Studios has confirmed its next steps for the racer will be to address three key community concerns over the «coming months».

We didn't review Turn 10 and Microsoft's latest Forza Motorsport and well, thank goodness, because I've just taken a look at the Steam page and it's a regular six-mile pile-up in there. The game's user reviews are Mostly Negative, three months after release, with complaints covering a wide gamut: the online being full of cheaters, the single player being boring, and the game being poorly optimised for PC.

Microsoft will show off a first look at its Indiana Jones game during a new Xbox Developer Direct broadcast later this month.

Following speculation Microsoft may be considering bringing its acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush to Switch, new reports have claimed the company has also been looking into a PlayStation and Switch release for developer Rare's acclaimed multiplayer pirate adventure Sea of Thieves.

When it first leaked as Overdose, it was believed that Kojima Productions’ new IP would be a horror title, albeit one with director Hideo Kojima’s signature twists (and potentially related to Death Stranding). However, upon its reveal as OD, it’s looking to be a lot more complicated than initially believed. The developer trademarked terms like Social Scream System and Social Stealth, and it’s confirmed to utilize Xbox’s cloud-native technology.

Microsoft announced that Activision Blizzard CEO is finally stepping down, effective December 29. He is not the only high-profile departure, though Microsoft intends to leave most of the company’s management in place.  

Microsoft has announced that Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, will be stepping down on December 29th. Instead of a replacement, Blizzard president Mike Ybarra and Activision publishing president Rob Kostich will report to Microsoft Gaming game content and studios president Matt Booty, per The Verge. Activision Blizzard vice chair Thomas Tippl is also leaving in March 2024 but reports to Booty till then.

I haven't checked in on Microsoft Flight Simulator for a while, but the aviation 'em up hasn't missed a beat. Last month it received World Update 15, continuing increase the detail of its global landscape with a visit to Greenland and the Nordics. Now Asobo have released City Update 5: European Cities 1, which brings a similar pass of polish to five "exemplary urban regions".

Microsoft has announced a range of offers across a selection of Xbox games, as well as its Series X/S consoles and Elite controllers.

With Hideo Kojima having unveiled his studio’s next game, OD, recently during The Game Awards 2023, the Internet has already gotten to work to decode hidden messages that the developer typically likes to sneak into his announcements. The TGA 2023 trailer for OD has been discovered to feature an interesting message, potentially nodding at Kojima’s cancelled Silent Hills.