Xbox Series X News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

With CI Games and Hexworks releasing the final update for Lords of the Fallen, the Souls-like action RPG is allegedly bound for Game Pass in the last week of May.

Starfield Update 4, which launched in Steam Beta on May 1, seems to have finally satisfied a lot of fans who had previously abandoned Bethesda's outer space RPG. After a lackluster player reception at launch, fan reaction to this newest Starfield update seems to be overwhelmingly positive.

Many players are still waiting for the Redfall DLC they spent $100 on. Redfall was positioned to be the next big release from popular developer Arkane Studios. Arkane became well known for games such as Dishonored as well as their more recent release Deathloop, which have both received praise for their unique combat and traversal mechanics.

A touch of the cooperative gameplay seen in smash-hit shooter Helldivers 2 is coming to Halo Infinite, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated group of players. The new mode is being created entirely using Forge mode, the native Halo Infinite level editor.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is coming up in less than three weeks’ time, and with its release drawing closer, developer Ninja Theory recently confirmed that it would be sharing something new from the game every day until its launch.

Final Fantasy 14 players waiting for Dawntrail news will soon be in luck, as Square Enix announced that the next Letter from the Producer Live broadcast and the updated Dawntrail benchmark are right around the corner. The 81st Live Letter will air on the morning of May 16, and the updated Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail PC benchmark is slated to be released during the week of May 23.

EA’s long-awaited Skate reboot has been in the works for a while, and though it’s still unknown how long it’ll be before the game is ready for launch, developer Full Circle has done an impressive job of continuing to share new details on the game, as well as how development is progressing. The studio has now released another episode in its dev diary series “The Board Room”, this time focusing on Skate’s customization options.

Some Baldur's Gate 3 fans who are waiting on the arrival of their physical copies of the game's Deluxe Edition may have to wait longer than expected, as Larian Studios has announced it is experiencing additional production delays for certain regions. The Deluxe Edition copies of Baldur's Gate 3 had all been originally been announced for the first quarter of 2024, but an earlier round of delays had already pushed it back.

XDefiant, Ubisoft's Call of Duty rival, has finally revealed its new release date of May 21. When it was first revealed in 2021, XDefiant was met with confusion and criticism from Ubisoft fans. Since then, after several playtest periods and a beta last summer, sentiment surrounding the FPS improved, as it featured sound gunplay and engaging combat, though it ultimately wasn't as polished as Call of Duty. Despite the positive response, the title was hit with several more delays, one in October and another this past March, leaving the fate of the game up in the air.

After a round of improvements, Xbox Cloud Gaming and console users will soon be able to manage their save files on the go and manage more than one Wi-Fi network in the OS settings. The changes are now available for Xbox Insiders to test on compatible Xbox Cloud Gaming devices and Xbox Series X/S, with a general release to the public likely happening after a short testing window.

Bethesda Game Studios executive producer Todd Howard addressed the criticisms of players left disappointed by Starfield. Since its release in 2023, the open-world sci-fi RPG has had trouble reaching the same level of universal acclaim as previous Bethesda titles, with longtime fans of the developer still divided on their opinions regarding their experience. While some enjoyed their playthrough of the title, other players found issues with several elements of Starfield's design and have not been shy of criticizing its developer for its perceived shortcomings.

Dead by Daylight is celebrating the lead-up to its anniversary, and May 14 is a date that many fans of the horror title will want to mark on their calendars. Dead by Daylight has been one of the most successful titles in the horror genre, and the month of May will have plenty of reason to celebrate these years of success.

Bethesda has inadvertently teased that Starfield's Shattered Space DLC may have a lot to do with one of the game's main factions, House Va'ruun. Starfield has just recently revealed a major new update that will finally bring maps to each major city, add new icons for the different shops and eateries, provide new ways for players to customize their ships, and much more.

After multiple delays and recent reports of development issues, Ubisoft said that the release date for XDefiant would finally be unveiled soon, and soon is finally here. The company has announced that the free-to-play multiplayer shooter will be launching later this month, on May 21.

Night City is a truly dangerous place, and recently released statistics have revealed some of the most dangerous encounters in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. The base Cyberpunk 2077 took players to Night City, a gritty futuristic dystopia where crime and corruption rule on every corner. As Cyberpunk 2077 protagonist V, players struggle to survive in this rough environment while making a name for themselves among the legends of Night City — even with dangerous enemies like the infamous Adam Smasher gunning for them at every turn.

The Summer of Gaming hasn’t even kicked off yet, but THQ Nordic already has a showcase lined up for August. The THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024 goes live on August 2nd at 12 PM PT/3 PM ET/8 PM BST, with a pre-show by HandyGames (of Endling – Extinction is Forever fame).

Developer Ninja Theory has announced that it will be sharing something from Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 every day throughout May until the game's launch. On day one, the developer revealed an impressive Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 screenshot showcasing the game's visuals.

The 2024 Call of Duty game may receive a reveal as early as this month, some newly emerged evidence suggests. The upcoming title is expected to be another entry in the Call of Duty: Black Ops series.

Xbox Game Pass members can now play Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition as part of their subscription. This is the first title to reach Microsoft's gaming service in May 2024, as well as the 59th new Xbox Game Pass addition since the turn of the year.

Looking at the baffling lack of marketing from Microsoft, you wouldn’t think Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a major first-party game that fans have been waiting for for several long years, but even though Microsoft and Ninja Theory are being unusually quiet about the game, it seems like they do intend to change that to some degree as the game’s launch draws closer.

With all the top-selling titles over the past three months in the US there’s been one constant – the PS5. Circana analyst/executive director Matt Piscatella confirmed that it topped console charts in unit and dollar sales for March 2024 and the first quarter. The Nintendo Switch ranked second in unit sales, while the Xbox Series X/S claimed second place in dollar sales.

Private Division-owned studio Roll7 is being shut down, as per a report published by Bloomberg. The studio, best known for the OlliOlli series and Rollerdrome, will be shuttered soon as part of Private Division parent company Take-Two Interactive’s recently announced mass layoffs, which will see the company cutting around 5 percent of its workforce, which is about 600 jobs. Roll7 was acquired by Private Division in 2021.

Halo Infinite has rolled out its new Banished Honor update, with developer 343 Industries making some crucial changes to the game's formula. This massive update includes a ton of new content, several bug fixes, and a multitude of features that are new to Halo Infinite.

Hypercharge: Unboxed is finally coming to Xbox consoles on May 31. The shooter, set in a world of toy soldiers, has been slated to receive an Xbox console release after the viral Hypercharge craze from a couple of years ago, and it seems that time has finally come.

The next big update for Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield is arguably its most exciting, with new gameplay options, proper Surface Maps and more display modes on Xbox Series X. But what about the future? The development team confirmed other features in development, including the game’s first land vehicle.

Xbox is working on a new dashboard feature that will enable users to combine dynamic backgrounds with static game art when scrolling through their games and apps on the dashboard. Currently, having static game art enabled as the background and hovering over games or apps that don't have game art attached will display the default Xbox background.

Bethesda has pulled the curtain back on the big Starfield update that's coming on May 15. Since launch, Bethesda has released multiple updates for Starfield to address fan feedback and squash lingering bugs. However, the next update for the game may very well be the biggest to date, implementing significant improvements that will benefit those playing specifically on Xbox as well as PC players.

TopSpin 2K25 fans are lashing out at 2K following widespread server issues that have impacted the game's single-player mode. Players are rallying against the game's always-online requirement, a common complaint made against a plethora of modern-day video games and one that is heavily affecting TopSpin 2K25.

Bethesda Game Studios’ fourth major update for Starfield launches on May 15th with many quality-of-life features and improvements. As director Todd Howard promised, there are “other display modes” for console players, which means you can finally play the game at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X.

Starfield’s largest update yet is launching on May 15th. It adds several much-requested features, like proper Surface Maps for planets, indicating points of interest and markers for vendors in the major cities. You can fast travel to the latter from the map or your Scanner, which should make it much easier to quickly sell excess items.

Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma 2 has emerged as the top-selling premium game in the United States for March 2024, per Circana analyst and executive director Matt Piscatella. It’s the third best-selling game of the year to date, with dollar sales surpassing the combined lifetime figures for Dragon’s Dogma and its expansion, Dark Arisen.

Digital Cybercherries’ shooter HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed, which made an impact for its unique setting and visuals, finally has a release date on Xbox. It launches on May 31st for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, retailing for $29.99. Check out the announcement trailer below.

The golden horse’s campaign of terror hasn’t ended yet in Blizzard’s Overwatch 2, but it’s somewhat curtailed thanks to the latest patch. Tank hero Orisa has seen key survival skills, Fortify and Javelin Spin, the former having a duration of 3.5 seconds from 4.5 (and 20 percent slower movement speed) while the latter’s cooldown has increased to nine seconds from seven.

Blizzard Entertainment has confirmed that Diablo 4’s fourth season, Loot Reborn, arrives on May 14th. It contains sweeping changes to the game’s loot and crafting systems, but there will also be balance changes and new items. For those looking to plan their builds, Season 4’s patch notes will go live on May 2nd.

After hosting a Public Test Realm for Diablo 4 Season 4, Blizzard Entertainment has announced that it goes live on May 14th at 10 AM PT. “Loot Reborn” offers extensive overhauls to loot, new activities and challenges, new crafting and upgrade systems, and much more.

Following the recently announced Tekken 8 roadmap, Bandai Namco has revealed the details of what will be in the next Tekken 8 update. This fits right in with the recent Tekken 8 roadmap, as it said Spring updates would be focused on balance adjustments, which is most of what is seen here.

Deliver Us Mars developer KeokeN Interactive has announced that it will be laying off its entire staff. This comes amid a turbulent period in the games industry that's filled with unfortunate job cuts and studio closures, and even though Deliver Us Mars was considered decent among fans, there were several other issues that led to KeokeN letting its workforce go.

A Fallout 4 player has built a unique fortune-teller hut for notorious settler Mama Murphy. Settlement building has been a prominent feature of Fallout 4 since its release, and this player has thought of a unique tribute to Mama Murphy.

Remedy Entertainment, the developer of Alan Wake 2, released a financial report showing that Q1 2024 profits are still below the title's budget even though sales have done well. The report shows more than just Alan Wake 2 earnings, with a full breakdown of the developer's financial situation.

Microsoft has a stacked lineup of major first-party releases lined up for 2024, but while a number of them are officially confirmed for this year, not many of them have specific release dates. That, however, is going to change at the company’s summer showcase in June, as per a report published by The Verge.

Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Games Showcase will be returning on June 9, and given the many first-party titles the company has in the pipeline for 2024, it seems safe to assume that it’s going to be a packed show. In fact, according to The Verge, multiple upcoming first-party games are going to get official release date announcements.

Xbox announced the date of its upcoming June showcase and teased a special deep-dive to reveal a new installment of a “beloved franchise.” This announcement has led to a whirlwind of speculation among players, who are waiting for more information about which game Xbox will unveil during its next showcase.

Don't Nod Entertainment, known for creating the Life Is Strange franchise, has released the trailer for the new game Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. This is one of seven games that Don't Nod has in development, along with puzzler Koira and a still-unnamed action RPG.

A teaser trailer has showcased the two new 6v6 maps arriving on May 1 with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Season 3 Reloaded update. The maps, called Checkpoint and Grime, will be joined by other new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 features.

The latest update for asymmetrical horror game TheTexas Chain Saw Massacre game is here, featuring a range of perk adjustments, including nerfs and fixes. The balance changes affect a number of perks, as well as issues with the new Victim in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The Switch version of former Xbox exclusive Hi-Fi Rush has received an official content rating from the European PEGI rating board, ahead of its rumored launch on the Nintendo platform. The rhythm action game from Tango Gameworks and Bethesda made waves following its debut early last year, wowing fans with its flashy artstyle and music. Hi-Fi Rush received multiple accolades at end-of-year award shows, including «Best Audio Design» at the 2023 Game Awards. Now, the game's rumored Switch release has just received its first official rating.

Eight games are leaving Xbox Game Pass on May 15, including Norco, one of the service's highest-rated titles. It's always sad whenever games are removed from the Xbox Game Pass lineup, but the good news is new games are added on a regular basis as well. In fact, Microsoft just recently pulled the curtain back on four games that will be coming to Xbox Game Pass as part of the May 2024 lineup.

Starfield director Todd Howard finally shares some new details regarding the game's upcoming Shattered Space story expansion, and though it looks like it's still quite a while away from release, players can also expect to see a few significant updates in the meantime. While Starfield has seen plenty of noteworthy content updates since its release in September of last year, many players — particularly those who already purchased the premium edition of the game — are still waiting on the release of its DLC before they jump back into it.

Developer Rare has released the patch notes for Sea of Thieves' Season 12 update, which includes new weapons, treasure, a cannonball type, and more. The major update arrives alongside Sea of Thieves' full PS5 launch.

Destiny 2’s Pantheon, a new raid boss gauntlet, is now available as part of Into the Light. It sees players facing off against raid bosses currently in the game, one after another, with the opportunity to earn raid weapons (including Adept and Deepsight versions), armor, Tokens and more.

Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, the successor to the Budokai Tenkaichi series, has received a new gameplay trailer. The theme is “Master and Apprentice” and reveals ten additional playable characters, including some fan-favorites. Check it out below.

Bandai Namco promised a balance patch for Tekken 8 this Spring, and based on the recent notes, it’s a doozy. Going live on May 7th at 7 PM PDT, Ver.1.04.00 contains adjustments to several fighters. Right off the bat, characters like Asuka, Bryan, Jack-8, Panda, Zafina, and Kuma have received some buffs, improving the usability of the game’s new Heat mechanics or further carving a niche for them.

A new trailer for Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, the enhanced version of the 2021 RPG, is now available. Nahobino’s new form is in action, alongside some of the new Demons to recruit, but more than anything, its tone is foreboding. Of the coming apocalypse to ensure the “ideal world.” Check it out below.

Rare’s live-service action-adventure title Sea of Thieves is available now for PS5 players. First available on Xbox One and PC in March 2018 before receiving an Xbox Series X/S update, it’s the first game from the developer to release on a PlayStation platform. Check out the launch trailer below.

After launching on Nintendo Switch last year, Forever Entertainment’s Front Mission 2: Remake is now available on PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. While it’s a remake of the 1997 classic, it also marks the first time worldwide audiences can experience the tactical RPG. Check out the launch trailer below.

After rumors of the same, Microsoft has confirmed that the next Xbox Games Showcase will occur on June 9th at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET/6 PM BST. It will be the first to feature titles from Activision, Blizzard Entertainment and Bethesda alongside Xbox Game Studios and third-party partners.

Remember Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Rocksteady’s live service looter shooter hasn’t been doing so good, peaking at a measly 193 concurrent players on Steam in the last 24 hours (per SteamDB). Nevertheless, the development team is preparing Episode 2 of Season of the Joker, which goes live next month.

Microsoft has officially announced the four games that are coming to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service in the first half of May 2024. New games are added to Xbox Game Pass in two waves every month. The first wave typically takes up the first 15 days of the month, while the second wave comes in the back-half of any given month. As expected, Microsoft has now revealed all the games coming in the first wave of new Xbox Game Pass additions for May 2024.

For all long as the Fallout franchise has been around, it has never been set outside of the United States. Of course, its over-the-top, retro-futuristic Americana satirization is a core aspect of what makes Fallout, Fallout, but on new few occasions, large chunks of the series’ fanbase have wondered how locations outside of the US are faring in Fallout’s post-apocalyptic setting, and whether they could fare as suitable settings for a future Fallout game.

Earlier this year, multiple leaks and reports claimed that Hi-Fi Rush was headed to the Nintendo Switch, and though Tango Gameworks’ acclaimed rhythm action game has received a multiplatform launch, it’s only released for PS5, with there being no official word on it coming to Nintendo’s console.

DON’T NOD is no stranger to narrative adventure titles with extensive dialogue systems, where your choices can affect the course of the story. While Lost Records: Bloom and Rage sees one playing through two timelines – Summer of 1995 and 2022 – and making decisions that affect each, the development team at DON’T NOD Montreal is going with a slightly different approach to its dialogue system.

DON’T NOD recently announced that Lost Records: Bloom and Rage, its next narrative adventure, would launch in late 2024. The new trailer showcased Swann, one of the main characters, and some locations in Velvet Core. Players go through the Summer of 1995 and 2022 when the core cast reunites, making decisions that shape both timelines.

Microsoft has announced the first wave of titles coming to Game Pass in May. It’s kicking things off early with Have A Nice Death, a 2D action rogue-like available today on console, PC and the cloud.

A Dragon’s Dogma 2 player has encountered a Pawn resembling Samuel L Jackson’s character, Jules, from Pulp Fiction. Pawns form a useful part of Dragon’s Dogma 2, joining the player’s adventure to assist in defeating tough enemies and finding rare items.

A fan-made Tekken 8 bot managed to obtain an online rank of Destroyer by pressing a single button. Bandai Namco's 3D fighter franchise has fostered a sizable and dedicated community since its 1994 debut, but that doesn't mean all the members of the Tekken sphere can agree on acceptable playstyles. Many players particularly look down on «spammers,» but as one user's Tekken 8 bot has shown, there might be a reason why mashing the same move over and over again is such a popular strategy.

The Xbox Game Pass library has expanded to include Have a Nice Death. The stylish and scintillating roguelike is the 17th new title to reach Xbox Game Pass in April 2024.

Ravenlok and five other games are leaving Xbox Game Pass later today, April 30. This wave of outgoing titles will round off an uncharacteristically busy month for Xbox Game Pass in terms of departures.

poncle’s Vampire Survivors is gearing up for some Contra collaboration DLC next week, but for now, a free new update is available. Version 1.10 “Laborratory” adds seven new Achievements, a new Challenge Stage, a new Bonus Stage and a new character. Check out the trailer below to see it all in action.

Moonana and Serenity Forge revealed a new gameplay trailer for Keylocker during the recent ID@Xbox Showcase, and it looks more sumptuous than ever. The turn-based cyberpunk rhythm RPG launches this Summer and will be available for Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Xbox players may soon have their puzzle game appetite satiated as a recently announced title, All You Need Is Help, is set to land on Xbox Game Pass soon as a day-one launch title. Being a co-op game, All You Need Is Help will also cater to those Xbox Game Pass users who want to play with their friends.

Bethesda's Todd Howard updates fans regarding the Creation Kit, an important feature that will be coming to Starfield soon. Most Bethesda fans are already familiar with the concept of the Creation Kit. When The Elder Scrolls:Skryim launched its Creation Kit, around 2,500 mods were available in just a week's time. Since it allows for easier modification of game files, creators have more flexibility in-game. This is partly the reason why Starfield fans are highly excited about its introduction to the game.

As excited as some may be for new ship-building options or city maps in Starfield, there’s the ever-present question of when official mod support will go live. Director Todd Howard confirmed it would be this year, previously stating the sci-fi RPG would be a “modder’s paradise.” As it turns out, some new information will be dropping soon.

Pocketpair’s Palworld appeared during the recent ID@Xbox Showcase, with the upcoming Summer update receiving its first trailer. It revealed four new Pals, two new weapons, and a new island players will traverse. While the new Pal count may seem low, the developer reiterated that the roster will grow with subsequent updates.

The Fallout franchise has been the center of attention despite the Next-Gen Update’s issues, but Bethesda continues supporting Starfield. The space-faring RPG will receive its first paid expansion this Fall with Shattered Space, and an update is coming up to add maps for cities and “some great stuff” for shipbuilding.

One of the most bizarre yet compelling puzzle titles in recent years is making its way over to Xbox consoles. THA Limited and Enhance’s Humanity, released last year for PlayStation and PC via Steam, and the acclaimed puzzle action title will soon be opening the gates for a new audience.

Bethesda Game Studios has been promising new content and features for Starfield for a while now, and though updates for the space-faring RPG haven’t been as significant as many would have hoped, more new details have emerged on when to expect some of that. Shattered Space, for instance – which will be Starfield’s first paid expansion – has been given a narrower launch window.

It’s been six years since Fallout 76 came out, and close to a decade since Fallout 4. Even if fervour surrounding the franchise wasn’t as high as it is right now thanks to the wild success of Amazon Prime’s Fallout series, demand for a new game would still be ravenous, but in the aftermath of the show, that feels doubly true. And even though it’s clearly going to be a while (to say the least) before that long-awaited new game releases, it seems like Bethesda might actually have two unannounced Fallout projects in the works in some capacity.

Xbox fans are all set to get a new game, Humanity, which was a day one PS Plus game. That's not all, as Humanity will also be available as a day one Xbox Game Pass game, which means existing subscribers will be able to try it out for absolutely free.

Embark Studios' free-to-play shooter The Finals is gearing up for the launch of a long-awaited game mode on May 2. The studio has been teasing this content addition for The Finals since the absence of last week's update, stating that it was working on delivering «Something very cool.»

Xbox Game Pass title Dungeons of Hinterberg has been treated to a release date, July 18. This day-one addition to Xbox Game Pass may appeal to both The Legend of Zelda and Persona fans, as it includes a healthy mixture of both series' elements.