Xbox News, Tips, Tricks & Ideas

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.

The Fallout 76 Invaders from Beyond event has returned, bringing the alien menace back to Appalachia. The latest iteration of the popular activity arrives just as Fallout 76 is blowing up in popularity across both PC and consoles thanks to Amazon's Fallout TV show.

Developer Aggro Crab has revealed that Another Crab's Treasure became the studio's best launch yet after selling 100,000 copies in under four days. Another Crab's Treasure is only the studio's second game but has quickly earned a positive reputation after its successful launch.

According to a source, a recent survey from Microsoft may prove that the tech giant is developing a handheld Xbox console to compete with the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally, and other portable handhelds. While Microsoft has not officially revealed any specifications or concrete information about a portable Xbox console, the new survey could indicate Microsoft is gauging interest in such a product.

Blizzard has recently implemented an Overwatch 2 update, which includes nerfs to Orisa's Fortify and Javelin Spin abilities, as well as to Venture's Smart Excavator, Drill Dash, and Tectonic Shock abilities. This update aims to refine gameplay dynamics and ensure a balanced experience, while also addressing some Overwatch 2 bugs to ensure smoother gameplay for players across all platforms.

Four-player cooperative action adventure game Funko Fusion will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on September 13, developer 10:10 Games announced.

Bungie releases Update 7.3.6.3 for Destiny 2, which fixes a number of issues with the wave defense Onslaught mode, tweaks weapons like Recluse, Hammerhead, and Tusk of the Boar, while also patching out two popular cheese spots during The Whisper mission. It's a busy weekly reset for Destiny 2 players as, in addition to the reset, the final two BRAVE Arsenal weapons have been added to the game. Players can once again farm for the Black Armory's Blast Furnace and the old Crucible-centric Luna's Howl hand cannon.

Microsoft has announced the timing of the next Xbox Games Showcase, to be livestreamed on June 9 at 1 pm ET. Just like last year, the event will unfold on the Sunday of Summer Game Fest, which kicks off on June 7 via livestreams and in-person events in Los Angeles. Also similar to last year, where Xbox’s showcase was followed by the Starfield Direct livestream, this year’s showcase will be followed by a deep dive on an upcoming game — and according to The Verge’s reporting, that’s Call of Duty.

The newest Assassin’s Creed game will soon arrive on iPhone and iPad. Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the 2023 installment that takes you to ninth-century Baghdad, will be available on June 6 for the iPhone 15 Pro series and iPads with an M-series chip.

Keeping track of all the latest video games coming out is an increasingly complex task, what with multiple PC storefronts, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile, and more to keep track of, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every month I'll be running down the games you need to be keeping an eye on, from the big triple-A headliners, to the intriguing indies you might overlook.

Publisher Atlus shared a new trailer for the upcoming. Releasing June 14 on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the re-release expands the game with an alternate “Canon of Vengeance” story path.

Microsoft has revealed the time and date for its upcoming in June. As with last year, Xbox will follow the show with a Direct presentation focusing on a specific title. However, the company is being secretive about which game it will be.

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.

Bethesda is now hoping to release new video games at a faster rate than it has in the past, especially with Fallout’s increased popularity. Bethesda is known for its massive RPG franchises like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and last year’s mega-hit Starfield. However, these titles can take an incredibly long time to develop, with Starfield suffering from several delays and being in production for nearly eight years before finally hitting stores in September.

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.

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.

Funko Fusion has been treated to a release date, with 10:10 Games revealing that its upcoming action adventure is set to hit the market on September 13. The announcement was accompanied by the launch of pre-orders for select versions of Funko Fusion, whose physical edition will be distributed in partnership with Skybound Entertainment's gaming division.

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.

Bethesda has released the hefty patch for Fallout 76 that removes a ton of bugs but weighs in at around 20 GB on console.

ATLUS has released a new trailer for Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, dubbed “An Ideal World.”

Just when you think a game likeShin Megami Tensei V can’t get any darker, a new version comes for blood.

Every month brings new games to the Xbox Game Pass service, with the regularly changing roster in Microsoft's subscription offering plenty of titles for different types of players to enjoy. These can be titles from long-running franchises, indie gems, or titles from Microsoft's first-party studios which are added at no extra cost upon their launch, making Game Pass one of the better deals in gaming.

Microsoft has announced that it will be hosting the Xbox Games Showcase on June 9th, and that this will be followed by a [Redacted] Direct. All we know is that the game being shown after is part of a “beloved franchise”, and that it will be a deep dive. The logo that represents the [Redacted] Direct seems to be a three headed dog, aka Cerberus. Cerberus has been part of or referenced in lots of franchises.

The next Xbox Games Showcase is scheduled to air this summer and it looks like it could also feature a Call of Duty Direct, too.

Bethesda has confirmed that owners of the PlayStation Plus version of Fallout 4won’t be able to access the new content update.

SteelSeries has just announced an all-new white version of its supreme Arctis Nova Pro line of wireless gaming headsets — and it's slick as heck.

Microsoft has officially announced the next Xbox Games Showcase. In a blog post, the company said the summer version will be on Sunday, June 9, at 10AM PT / 1PM ET.

Turn-based roguelite dungeon crawler The Land Beneath Us will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam on May 13, publisher PID Games and developer FairPlay Studios announced.

Xbox Games Showcase 2024 will air on June 9 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. BST, Microsoft announced. It will be immediately followed by a special deep dive “Direct” into the next installment of a “beloved franchise.” You will be able to watch it on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.

Publisher Bandai Namco and developer Spike Chunsoft have released a new trailer and screenshots for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO dubbed “Master and Apprentice,” which introduces 10 more playable characters.

Four-player cooperative action adventure game Funko Fusion will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam on September 14, developer 10:10 Games announced.

Microsoft has announced new titles coming to Xbox Game Pass in early May, which includes Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Kona II: Brume, Little Kitty, Big City, and more.

Microsoft has set the date for its Xbox Games Showcase this June. It’s also teasing a Direct that will immediately follow the showcase, but won’t say what that’s for just yet.

Microsoft unveiled the batch of games coming to Xbox Game Pass throughout the first half of May. It’s a smaller group of only four games, but all of them are neat additions to Microsoft’s subscription service. Here’s the full roster of games coming to Xbox Game Pass between May 2 and May 14.

Samsung announced two new video games for its TVs at the IAB NewFronts 2024 event that won’t require a controller to be played.

Microsoft has announced its E3-esque Xbox Games Showcase for June 9, 2024, with announcements from Xbox Game Studios, Activision Blizzard, and Bethesda all promised.

The big “E3” announcement season (E3 is dead, but you know what I mean) is almost here, and Microsoft has officially staked out their spot. Taking place in early June, the Xbox Games Showcase will feature games from Microsoft’s full portfolio of developers, including “Activision, Blizzard, Bethesda, Xbox Game Studios” and even some third-party publishers. Interestingly, like last year with Starfield, this will be a “double feature” with a main showcase, and a “Direct” which will dive deeper on a specific game.

Xbox has revealed that its next showcase will take place on June 9. It will be immediately followed by a direct based around a single studio, although Xbox has redacted its name in the announcement.

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.

Front Mission 2 remake is launching today, April 30th, on various modern platforms, including Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. Developed by ForeverEntertainment, Front Mission 2 remake brings new life to the classic tactical RPG, inviting players worldwide to immerse themselves in its engaging storyline and strategic gameplay.

Despite being one of the most successful games released by Remedy Entertainment, Alan Wake II still hasn't recouped its expenses, according to a new financial report.

Cyberpunk 2077 is among the most visually impressive open-world games ever released, and the hard work of modders is making the visuals of the game developed by CD Projekt Red even more impressive. So much so that the game can be almost indistinguishable from reality.

Microsoft has announced the first wave of games coming to Game Pass in May 2024. Highlights include Little Kitty Big City, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons.

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.

Stampede: Racing Royale will be added to Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access in the summer, Secret Mode and Sumo Leamington have confirmed. Those on the Xbox Insider Program can already get access to the game already. The 60 player racing battle royale game will also be receiving playtests on Steam soon.

Hi-Fi Rush's long-rumoured Nintendo Switch port has popped up again, this time in an age rating from the ESRB. This comes more than a month since the PS5 port dropped, and months after a release on the Nintendo console was first reported on.

Kaizen Game Works, the studio behind the bangin' 2020 detective game Paradise Killer, has revealed its next game, and it sounds absolutely wild in a way that seems meticulously catered to my precise tastes.

With all things Fallout now enjoying a significant boost following the breakout success of the Fallout TV show, Fallout 76 is enjoying a significant rise in player numbers. Last week, Bethesda announced that Fallout 76, its most recent mainline Fallout game, saw over one million people play in a single day.

Single-player action RPG and social simulation game hybrid Dungeons of Hinterberg will launch for Xbox Series and PC via Steam on July 18, publisher Curve Games and developer Microbird announced. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

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.

Reviving something popular from the past, whether it be a best-selling game or a well-loved TV show, is always a risk. There's usually a worry that whoever it is doing the reviving might not do the source material justice. That has not been the case when it comes to X-Men '97. The first season of the rebooted animated show has been going down a storm, and as we stare down the barrel of its three-part finale, Reebok has turned Wolverine and Gambit into some officially licensed footwear.

Hi-Fi Rush has been rated in Europe for Nintendo Switch.

Fallout 5 won't start development until after The Elder Scrolls 6 launches, so we're a long way off from the next numbered game in the series, but the Amazon show has ignited a newfound hype in the franchise. So, the question is whether a third party will develop a spin-off akin to Obsidian's New Vegas in the meantime.

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.

Palworld has been on one a hell of a run since launching earlier this year, breaking records and generating plenty of conversation, and developer Pocket Pair has been busy teasing new content. The most recent of these teases came during today’s ID@Xbox indie showcase, which gave us a peek at what we can expect from the game’s big summer update. The teaser showed off four new Pokemon-esque Pals, as well as a flamethrower weapon. There’s sure to be a lot more included in the update, but this gave us a nice taste of what kind of things are being focused on. Check out the teaser for yourself, below.

Sea of Thieves has finally dropped its anchor in PS5 waters, bringing with it years of content updates, quality of life improvements, and some of the best-looking water in a video game. But is this now former Xbox exclusive still worth playing six years after its initial launch? And how friendly is it to newcomers like us? After taking to the high seas with a rag-tag crew on PS5, Sea of Thieves proves itself to be one of the most approachable live service games on the market, and one we can’t wait to see grow on PlayStation.

An Elden Ring player has found a hidden weapon in theShadow of the Erdtree DLC trailer which many seem to have missed all this while. The hand-to-hand combat mechanic has been one of the most talked about aspects of the trailer, and it seems like the Elden Ring community has finally figured out what makes it possible.

Minecraft's Realms and Realms Plus recently received an update that added new features to Realm Stories, an enhanced render distance, and access to cosmetic items. The changes are meant to increase communication across the realm for all players, as well as jazz up everyone's characters. Minecraft Realms are only available for the Bedrock edition of the title.

An Elden Ring fan has showcased to the community of players an admirable Melina cosplay. The cosplay was well-received by the Elden Ring community, who filled the post to praise this fan's work.

A Stardew Valley player has discovered that an item currently available in the base game was suggested by another fan years ago. The discovery is just one indication of how ConcernedApe listens to fans and often implements ideas that are suggested for Stardew Valley's future updates.

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.

A Stardew Valley fan is sharing their concept for a Joja mod that could add a lot to the current experience of siding with Joja Corporation. While Stardew Valley has always had an option for players who would rather side with Joja Corporation, the route has been criticized in the past, as some players have felt there isn't much incentive to do a Joja Corporation runthrough. While that might be intentional, mods can always help to change the experience in the more dramatic ways that fans are hoping for.

poncle has released the version 1.10 update for Vampire Survivors, which is dubbed the “Laborratory” update.

“Snack ‘n slash RPG” HANGRY will be available for Xbox One alongside its previously announced PC (Steam) version, developer Game Pill announced. A release date was not announced.

Gamera Games has announced five titles coming to Xbox Game Pass and/or PC Game Pass, starting with The Rewinder for Xbox One and PC today, followed by Firework, Depersonalization, and Keplerth for PC, and Volcano Princess for Xbox Series and PC in the coming months.

A Commandos: Origins closed beta is set to take place this summer, with fans of the real-time tactical series able to sign up to take part now.

Pocketpair has announced that Palworld is going to be getting four new Pals, though they have not been named yet. They will be part of the updates coming this summer for the game, and it looks like a new area could be in the works too, but the PvP mode for Palworld is not likely to be released during the summer.

Promise Mascot Agency! has been revealed by the Paradise Killer developers Kaizen Game Works. Promise Mascot Agency! is an open world mascot management crime drama, where you play as a disgraced Yakuza lieutenant called Michi. He is sent to the bankrupt agency and is tasked with turning it into a profitable business.

Beyond Galaxyland has been revealed by developer Sam Enright, and it is due to come out later this year. In Beyond Galaxyland, the main character is Doug, a high schooler, who is transported away from Earth moments before the planet is mysteriously destroyed, and arrives in a galactic zoo called Galaxyland.

Q-Games has announced its newest project and it is All You Need Is Help. The game is a co-operative multiplayer puzzle game, where players are different shapes, that look a bit like Tetris shapes, work together to solve various puzzles.

Developer Microbird and Curve Games have confirmed that the action RPG Dungeons of Hinterberg will be available from July 18th, for PC and Xbox Series X|S. It has also been confirmed that Dungeons of Hinterberg will be available on Xbox and PC Game Pass on day one too.

Enhance and tha ltd. have announced that their puzzle platformer Humanity will be coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on 30th May. The game will also be available via Xbox Game Pass for both console and Windows PC.

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.»

Vampire Survivors has announced and shadow dropped the surprise Laborratory Update. Developer Luca Galante, aka poncle, calls the Laborratory Update an AAAA upgrade, as it is the biggest free update Vampire Survivors has ever had to date, adding new features and animations to the game.

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.

Publisher Kalypso Media and developer Claymore Game Studios have released a gameplay teaser trailer for real-time strategy game Commandos: Origins.

poncle has released the version 1.10 update for Vampire Survivors, which is dubbed the “Laboratory” update.