Over the last year, Xbox has made a big push into multiplatform gaming. PlayStation users have been the biggest beneficiaries when it comes to this change in strategy, as PS5 has received previously exclusive games like Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves, while next month will also see the arrivals of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5. Nintendo Switch has also gotten some games, with Grounded and Pentiment arriving on the platform. According to The Verge, 2025 will see Xbox continue this strategy, not only on PS5, but also on Nintendo Switch 2.

“Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s release on PS5 is part of a broader effort from Microsoft to bring more Xbox games to rival platforms. Microsoft first started launching previous Xbox-exclusive titles like Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded on PS5 last year, and 2025 will include a lot more titles appearing on both PS5 and Nintendo’s Switch 2,” writes The Verge’s Tom Warren.

The outlet does not offer any hints about plans to come, but Warren notes in that same article that he broke news about Indiana Jones coming to PS5 prior to the announcement from Xbox and Bethesda, so it’s possible he has some insider knowledge in this regard, as well. Warren’s inclusion of Nintendo Switch 2 is particularly notable, as Xbox has announced no plans for the platform, as of this writing. It’s likely that will change in the very near future though, as Nintendo is set to fully pull back the curtain on the platform on April 2nd. It’s possible the jump in hardware could give Xbox an opportunity to bring over several of the same games that have recently made their way to PS5.

It will be interesting to see what 2025 brings for the Xbox brand. While fans of the company’s consoles have not been happy seeing Xbox exclusives ported to other platforms, Microsoft clearly sees the financial benefit; these games seem to be selling quite well, which is helping to offset high development costs. There are still some high-profile Xbox franchises that have not made the jump to other platforms, most notably Halo and Gears of War. Xbox has previously indicated that there are no “red lines” in terms of games it won’t bring to other platforms, so it seems like it’s just a matter of time before it happens.

RELATED: Xbox Wants More Movies and TV Shows After Learning from Halo and Fallout

However you feel about Microsoft’s current strategy, the company is all in on multiplatform gaming, for the time being. While Xbox games will continue to arrive on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2, there is one true exclusive that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere; there are currently no plans for Xbox Game Pass to arrive on competing hardware platforms.

Are there any Xbox games you want to see go multiplatform? Do you think this strategy will work out for Microsoft in the long-term? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Nintendo Life]

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A new Xbox Game Pass announcement from Microsoft has some Xbox users subscribed to the subscription service unhappy with the current state of the service and worried about its future. Xbox introduced Xbox Game Pass back in 2017, and since then it has evolved a lot. It has improved in many ways, but in other regards it’s perhaps worsened. Meanwhile, it has also increased in price more than once, which in turn raises expectations and unhappiness when these expectations are not met.

To this end, recently Xbox announced more games leaving Xbox Game Pass soon, which is to say, leaving in two weeks on March 31. And there are not only some notable games departing the Xbox Game Pass libraries, but a good number of games as well. Suffice to say, Xbox Game Pass subscribers, or at least some Xbox Game Pass subscribers, are not very pleased with this combo.

For those that missed it, the following games are leaving Xbox Game Pass: MLB The Show 24, Lil Gator Game, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2, Open Roads, Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, Yakuza Kiwami 2, Yakuza Like a Dragon, The Lamplighter’s League, and Monster Hunter Rise.

With these latest departures, the entire Yakuza series will officially be off Xbox Game Pass. Meanwhile, MLB The Show 24 is not being replaced with MLB The Show 25, much to the annoyance of many subscribers who have been enjoying the series on Xbox Game Pass the last few years.

“MLB The Show 24 leaves, 25 not added. All Yakuza games gone. Is it just me, or does every month have more games leaving than being added,” writes one subscriber of the announcement over on Reddit. “I’m enjoying Avowed. But, if you’re taking away 10 games from Game Pass Ultimate and adding 4 or 5 then I dunno.”

A second fan continues the concern: “I’m not sure about numbers, but it seems like we lose more quality than we gain each month. The games you listed, Lies of P, SpongeBob, and maybe some others (feel like I’m forgetting something) all gone this month. We got Avowed recently amongst a sea of indies. I’m not ready to say Game Pass is “dead,” but I think it’s on the decline, and it has been since the big pricing changes.”

These two comments about the announcement are not isolated, and they follow a growing concern from subscribers about the quality of the subscription service, which is increasingly relying on Xbox Game Studios day-one games. And of course, these day-one games are only available via the most expensive tier of the subscription service, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

“Am I delusional or are they removing more than they’re adding,” reads a third comment. Meanwhile, a fourth subscriber adds: “Dang, Game Pass is imploding.”

The future of Xbox Game Pass remains a mystery. It has not been attracting the number of subscribers Microsoft anticipated or needs to attract to be a viable long term strategy. To this end, price increases can buy some time, but it appears Xbox Game Pass will need some tweaking in the coming months and years. If that tweaking includes fewer and fewer games though, subscribers may depart en masse, if these reactions are indicative of anything at least.

All of that said, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Meanwhile, for more Xbox Game Pass coverage, click here.

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Xbox users across Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X can grab a AAA game for free for a limited time, or at least some Xbox users can. While no Xbox Game Pass subscription is needed, a membership to another subscription service is required. As for the free Xbox game, it hails from 2015. For those that don’t remember, 10 years ago games like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, Fallout 4, Bloodborne, Super Mario Maker, Halo 5: Guardians, Batman: Arkham Knight, Star Wars Battlefront, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Splatoon, Mortal Kombat X, Rainbow Six Siege, and Rocket League dominated the industry.

The new free Xbox game is not quite on the level of these games in terms of popularity or relevance, however, it is a AAA game from a AAA publisher in the form of Bethesda, before it was acquired by Xbox. In other words it is notable, and unlike the games above, it is currently free with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Thanks to Prime Gaming, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is free to download on the Microsoft Store until April 21. This allows PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users with an Amazon Prime subscription to download the Bethesda game for free. And once claimed, the game is free to keep. In other words, unlike subscription services as Xbox Game Pass, the game is free to keep even without maintaining an active subscription. A subscription is required to download the game for free, but not to retain it.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a prequel to 2014’s Wolfenstein: The New Order and 2017’s Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus from the same developer, MachineGames. Upon release, it garnered a 76 on Metacritic, a respectable score, but a bit off the highs of the long-running and pioneering first-person shooter series.

Those that decide to check out Wolfenstein: The Old Blood for free on Xbox via Prime Gaming should expect typically 6 to 8 hours to beat the game. However, completionists will need closer to 15-20 hours with the game. Those on Xbox usually need to fork over $19.99 to the Microsoft Store to experience this content or have an Xbox Game Pass subscription, where the game is currently available.

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

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An OG Xbox game is set to return this year, 21 years after its original release, with a new multi-platform reboot. The game in question debuted all the way back in 2004, however, it didn’t come to the original Xbox at first. For its first two years on the market, it was a PC exclusive. Most know it from its 2006 Xbox port though. And because it never came to any other console, it is actually a console exclusive for the OG Xbox.

As a 2004 game, it competed for attention in what was one of the greatest years in video game history. In 2004, games like GTA San Andreas, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, World of Warcraft, Monster Hunter, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and many, many other great games came out. Suffice to say, 2004 made many cult classics that did not get as much attention as they probably would have released in most other years.

One example of this is Painkiller from developer People Can Fly, the studio that would go on to make a name for itself with 2011’s Bulletstorm, 2013’s Gears of War: Judgment, and 2021’s Outriders. Before all of these games, and others, it released Painkiller in 2004; its debut release. 21 years later, the first-person shooter is returning with a new reboot, set to release this year.

More specifically, sometime this fall a “reimagining” of the same name is set to release via PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It won’t be from the original developer though. Rather, it will be from Anshar Studios.

“Trapped in Purgatory, you are sentenced for your transgressions against Heaven. But the Voice of the Creator gives you a chance to redeem yourself,” reads an official pitch of the new release. “As one of the Champions, you are to stop the fallen angel Azazel who is about to unleash his demonic armies onto Earth. You will face hordes of enemies, demons with unique powers and three monstrous children of Azazel – the Nephilim. Will you succeed in your mission and earn your salvation?”

Right now, there is no word of what the pricing of this new reboot will be or whether or not it will be available via any subscription services at launch.

The post OG Xbox Game Returns 21 Years Later With New Reboot appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers who are planning to play the newly released Assassin’s Creed Shadows will find that they have a new perk to take advantage of with the game. At this point, AC Shadows isn’t available to access via Game Pass, although there’s always the chance that it could be added someday. Despite this, those who choose to buy the game outright on either Xbox Series X or S and also subscribe to Game Pass will be able to do something with it that others won’t.

Recently, Xbox announced that it would allow Game Pass members who purchase Assassin’s Creed Shadows to stream the game via the cloud. This feature is one that has been part of Xbox Game Pass for quite some time, although not all titles that are part of the service are available to stream. Conversely, some games that aren’t part of the Game Pass library at all are also part of this slate. Luckily, looking to play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on devices other than their Xbox console, the new release has joined the “Stream Your Own Game” library right upon its arrival.

The major caveat with this ability to stream Assassin’s Creed Shadows is that those who purchase physical copies of the game on Xbox won’t be able to take advantage of this perk. Only digital Xbox games are part of the “Stream Your Own Game” library, which is a bit disappointing, if understandable.

Additionally, this streaming perk is locked behind the Ultimate tier of Xbox Game Pass. As such, those subscribed to Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Core, or PC Game Pass will not be able to stream Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This is yet another instance of Xbox trying to push Game Pass members to subscribe to Ultimate, given that it’s the platform’s most expensive option.

By all accounts, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is the biggest game of 2025 so far to join this streaming catalog that Xbox makes available to its Game Pass Ultimate members. Other major titles in this lineup include Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Dying Light 2, Final Fantasy XIV, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Mortal Kombat 1, and Star Wars Outlaws, just to name a few.

The post Xbox Game Pass Has a Bonus Perk for Assassin’s Creed Shadows Players appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Video game adaptations are seeing a major renaissance right now. Studios are rushing to grab the rights to various video game properties, much in the same way we saw more than 2 decades ago with comic book adaptations, following the success of the first X-Men and Spider-Man films. As a result, we’ve seen a few adaptations of Xbox properties over the last few years. A Minecraft Movie is releasing in theaters next month, and both Halo and Fallout have seen adaptations through streaming services. Xbox wants to do a lot more in the future, though.

In a new interview with Variety, Xbox boss Phil Spencer talked about all of these experiences, and how they’re going to shape future adaptations. Basically, the company plans on doing a lot more movies and TV shows in the future. The goal is to use what’s learned from one project to improve on the next one. While Fallout was hugely successful, the Halo series left a lot to be desired, and was cancelled after just 2 seasons.

“We’re learning and growing through this process, which is giving us more confidence that we should do more,” Spencer told Variety. “We learned from doing ‘Halo.’ We learned from doing ‘Fallout.’ So all of these build on themselves. And obviously we’ll have a couple that miss. But what I’d say to the Xbox community that likes this work is, ‘You’re going to see more, because we’re gaining confidence and we’re learning through this.’”

Unfortunately, Spencer offers no hints about what we’ll see next, but there are plenty of candidates that make sense. Between Xbox original properties like Gears of War and Grounded, and recently acquired ones like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon, there are plenty of strong candidates for both TV and movies. We’ve already seen the success of these adaptations translate to video game sales as well; following Fallout‘s release on Prime Video, Fallout 4 saw huge sales despite having released almost a decade prior. As Xbox transitions to focusing on multiplatform releases, these adaptations can build a lot of awareness and interest in the source material.

RELATED: Jack Black Sings About Zombies and Crafting on New Minecraft Movie Song

The jury is still out on whether the quality of A Minecraft Movie will be closer to Halo or Fallout. However, from everything shown so far, it’s clear that there’s a greater attempt being made to deliver a faithful adaptation. The movie’s creators have put in a lot of effort to make something that feels accurate to the game, and they’ve even enlisted popular Minecraft content creators like Mumbo Jumbo to make sure everything works the way it does in the games. Xbox and its partners are clearly learning from a Halo show that kept showing Master Chief without his helmet!

What Xbox movies and shows do you want to see in the future? Do you think we’ll see the quality of these adaptations increase? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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An Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S exclusive game that hasn’t even released on Xbox consoles yet has a freebie that all Xbox users can download right now, no Xbox Game Pass required. The game in question is currently available in early access on PC and has been since September 10, 2024. There is still no word of a full release, though the game is set to receive its next update on April 29 alongside a release on Xbox consoles, which will be facilitated by Xbox Game Preview. Before this though, a freebie has been released.

The freebie comes the way of developer and publisher of the game, Stoic and Xbox Game Studios, the makers of the game. The latter needs no introduction, but for those that don’t know the former, they are the team behind The Banner Saga series. Last year, they introduced Towerborne via the aforementioned early access release. As noted, Towerborne still isn’t on Xbox consoles, and won’t be until April 29. However, in anticipation, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users can download a new and free dynamic background for their console featuring art from the game.

As always, with these free dynamic themes, there are no requirements or strings attached, they are simply a free gift from Xbox. All Xbox users interested in the theme below have to do is head to settings and then click on Personalization, then My background. From here, select Dynamic backgrounds. And at this point all you need to do is scroll through all of the available backgrounds until you see the Towerborne one.

Like every previous Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S dynamic background, there isn’t much dynamism to this one. It’s not static, but it’s certainly close to static. Meanwhile, also like every other dynamic background for the Xbox Series X|S before it, it does not come with any special music or sounds or artwork beyond the background itself. And at this point in the generation, it seems unlikely Xbox will ever evolve the backgrounds package to include any of these bells and whistles.

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

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Update version 1.3 for Stalker 2 has today gone live across Xbox and PC platforms. Throughout 2025, developer GSC Game World has been working hard to bring a number of improvements to Stalker 2. While the open-world shooter launched with quite a few problems at the end of 2024, thousands of fixes for the game have since rolled out in the months to follow. Now, this trend has continued with update 1.3 for Stalker 2: Heart of Cornobyl which should make is far better than before.

Available to download now, this new Stalker 2 update is said to bring over 1,200 different changes to the title. Specifically, GSC Game World says it has looked to improve on the AI and balance of Stalker 2 while also improving its performance across Xbox and PC. As expected with an update of this scale, a ton of bugs have also now been squashed which means that players should find far fewer oddities when exploring the world of Stalker 2.

To get a look at everything that this new update for Stalker 2 has done, you can find the full patch notes attached below.

Stalker 2 Update 1.3 Patch Notes

AI and Combat

• Made mutants movements during combat smoother.
• Improved the reaction of NPCs to the sound of footsteps.
• Polished ambush behavior for mutants, when Player is hiding behind or on top of props.
• Fixed an issue where mutants didn’t attack other NPCs once Player was in the safe zone.

Balance

• Archiartifacts rebalance:
  
  • Weird Water: decreased radiation protection.
  • Weird Nut: increased bleeding degeneration speed, further slowed down healing with equipped artifact.
  • Weird Flower: Increased smell masking effect.
  • Weird Ball: increased stamina gain, increased maximum weight of the artifact, but slowed down weight gain when being shot.
  • Weird Kettle: Debuff received from consuming food is now not random, and corresponds to specific type of food.
  • Non-Stop Limited Edition energy drinks now have an additional special effect when used with Weird Kettle.
• Made A-life encounters a bit more rare on average.
• Nerfed base anomaly damage protections for “combat” armors
• Buffed anomaly damage protection for “science” suites
• Slightly reworked anomaly damage for different anomalies
• Increased damage from destructible explosive props.
• Fixed an issue where the Weird Flower artifact was initially in a dried state instead of an active one after being picked up.
• Increased overall durability for unique weapons found during missions.

Bug Fixes, Crashes, and Performance

• Fixed a bug that could let players permanently stack the effect of unequipped artifacts.
• Fixed a bug that could prevent players from being able to use sprint after chaotic movement.
• Fixed an issue that caused some psy-phantoms of blind dogs to have misleading trails.
• Fixed the crash caused by zombification of NPCs.
• Fixed an issue when looting some story NPCs could block the mission.
• Fixed an issue when players could be locked inside the Ranger Station.
• Fixed an issue that could permanently keep visual effects of sleepiness if the save was made during a Main Quest line.
• Fixed issue with light from the flashlights in cutscenes.
• Fixed an issue where high ranked NPCs were able to spawn at Rookie Village location.
• Phantom stalkers that appear under the influence of Psy-effect no longer can damage other NPCs by throwing grenades.
• Fixed an issue where the HUD would sometimes appear transparent after closing the inventory or finishing a cutscene.
• Fixed visual bugs on character costumes (texture stretching caused by awkward animation poses).
• Fixed memory leaks issues when navigating inventory/looting menus (e.g. opening Player stash at Rostok).
• Resolved issues where NPCs got stuck in one place and obstructed player movement.
• Fixed the issue when the output device was resetted after restart of the title.
• Fixed an issue where a guide NPC was missing at Yaniv hub after unlocking Prypiat region.
• UI Update: Fixed localization issues, improved stability, resolved visual bugs in widgets, corrected text corruption, and SFX for a smoother experience.

Also, almost 100 crashes and EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION errors were fixed.

Main and Side Quests, Open World Encounters

• Fixed an issue where player could not complete Escape from the Cage mission via the stealth path due to NPCs with high perception level.
• Fixed an issue where the player could destroy the Jammer before the start of the In the Name of Science mission.
• Fixed an issue where the Escape from the Chemical Plant objective did not complete if the call from the Strelok or Scar was interrupted by a loudspeaker during the Escape from the Cage mission.
• Fixed an issue where no new journal objective appeared and Dark Times mission was stuck after killing Jarl NPC.
• Fixed an issue with Eye of the Storm mission not progressing after reaching the Generators.
• Fixed an issue where side mission A Big Score was not progressing if emission happened while Player was at the Car Park.
• Fixed an issue when Player is not able to loot Faust’s body after receiving a call from Scar during Visions of Truth mission.
• Fixed an issue where Foma NPC could become invincible during the Chasing Ghosts mission.
• Fixed an issue where an encounter mission with Headlight NPC near Bulba Arch anomaly was not starting after completion of Nightingale’s Hunt mission.
• Fixed an issue where Yaryk Mongoose was hostile to the player during the For Science! mission.
• Fixed an issue when the Snork collar was not counted as collected if snork was killed not by a player character during the “In the Name of Science” mission.
• Fixed an issue where Korshunov could disappear at the start of 2nd phase of bossfight during the “Down Below” mission.
• Fixed an issue where All That Is Left mission didn’t cancel after Mateus death, resulting in redundant markers on artifact location.
• Fixed an issue where Akopyan was non interactable at the car park during A Big Score mission.
• Fixed an issue where plank bridges leading to Faust cell were collapsed for Players first arriving at Noontide base during Hot On The Trail mission.
• Fixed an issue where a Chemical Plant encounter mission with wardens shooting fleshes was stuck after luring mutants out.
• Fixed an issue when Jumper and Bluish sometimes was dead during Hot on the Trail mission.
• Fixed an issue when the door to forestry was locked during Extreme Simplicity mission if Player was encountering the emission while leaving the swamps.
• Fixed an issue when a quest NPC was able to be distracted by A-life enemies during the Three Captains mission.
• Fixed an issue where the bayun in collar was at the Detention Center instead of the Boathouse location during the A Minor Incident mission.
• Fixed an issue where the player could not progress through the mission if Heart of Chornobyl artifact was looted directly to the artifact slot from the Strelok’s body.
• Fixed an issue where Richter could be non-interactable at the Slag Heap location during the Back to the Slag Heap mission.
• Fixed an issue where Doctorant Shcherba could be dead for some players during the In Search of Past Glory mission.
• Fixed errors with some mission markers being not displayed correctly.
• Fixed an issue that could stop the progression of Escape the Chemical Plant mission.
• Fixed an issue that made players able to sell the key from the Northern Checkpoint which makes it unavailable to pass through.
• Fixed issues with Help Solder and Talk to Solder mission objectives.
• Fixed an issue where interaction prompt for dialogue with Richter could be missing after defending Yaniv during the The Boundary mission.
• Fixed an issue when Richter stops at the beginning of the path through the river during the Through the valley of the shadow of death mission.
• Fixed an issue where the doors to underground tunnel and Location D could be closed during the Once More unto the Breach mission.
• Fixed an issue where the player could stay in a closed location after a cutscene in the Dangerous Liaisons mission.
• Fixed an issue where the dialogue with prof. Ozersky was unavailable if the player killed Spark NPCs during the A Minor Incident mission.
• Fixed an issue where Dalin could be missing at the infirmary at the Chemical Plant location during the Escape from the Cage mission.

Technical Updates

• Added multiple new death screens that vary based on the cause of the death.
• Improved facial animations in the mainline.
• Improved audio obstruction for mutants’ sounds.
• Improved the positioning of various sounds.
• Added a new night music theme for Slag Heap.
• Added music for the elevator in SIRCAA.
• Added missing localizations for tutorials.
• Added descriptions that explain what is the difference between armor-piercing and expansive ammo.
• Improved some bullet-caused decals.
• Improved the visibility of enemies at nighttime by increasing the intensity of the NPC flashlights.
• Improved the shadows cast by the player’s flashlight.
• Several attachments and upgrades have been moved from “point of no returns” end game sequence to Prypiat stashes.
• Updates and fixes of NPC movement and shooting animations.
• Added option to change Melee weapon attack button in control settings.
• Added additional idle animations for NPCs with weapons drawn.
• Added new VFX animals and a new type of a visual anomaly.

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The second half of March is upon us, which means it’s time for Xbox Game Pass to unveil more new additions to the game subscription service. As previously revealed, Xbox Game Pass got some exciting day-one releases already this month, including today’s 33 Immortals game preview. Now, we’ve got the list of what’s coming on March 19th and beyond, and the list is shaping up to be a good one. There’s another big day-one title, plus a few phenomenal cozy games coming to Xbox Game Pass in the last half of March 2025. Here’s the full list:

• March 19th – Octopath Traveler II (Xbox Series X|S) now through Game Pass Standard
• March 19th – Train Sim World 5 (Console) now through Game Pass Standard
• March 20th – Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island (Cloud, Console, and PC) through all tiers
• March 25th – Blizzard Arcade Collection (Console and PC) through all tiers
• March 27th – Atomfall (Cloud, Console, and PC) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

Clearly, the big ticket item here for many gamers will be the day-one Xbox Game Pass release of new survival-action game Atomfall. This highly-anticipated post-apocalyptic game is giving Fallout vibes, but with a real historical twist, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to jump in right at release.

That said, there’s plenty else to love in the new additions. Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is a beautifully designed cozy from publisher Whitethorn Games, while Octopath Traveler II is a solid JRPG from Square Enix. Blizzard fans will be excited to see the opportunity to revisit some past console games with the Arcade Collection, which includes games like Blackthorne, The Lost Vikings, and Rock N Roll Racing. You can also take a virtual trip to the Blizzard Arcade Collection Museum to get more in-depth info about these retro games.

Even More Yakuza Games Leaving Xbox Game Pass This March

Of course, alongside the news of exciting additions to Xbox Game Pass, we’ve also got to say goodbye to some great games. The first half of March was already quite a blow, with some great games headed out. If you thought losing Yakuza 5 and Yakuza 6 was bad enough, the list of March games leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of the month might be a little hard to handle. Here’s everything departing the service on March 31st:

• MLB The Show 24 (Cloud and Console)
• Lil Gator Game (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Open Roads (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Yakuza 0 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Yakuza Kiwami (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Yakuza Like a Dragon (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Lamplighter’s League (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Monster Hunter Rise (Cloud, Console, and PC)

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Just Got Worse for Sega Fans

Clearly, Yakuza fans have a busy few weeks ahead if they want to wrap up their playthroughs with four more titles headed out. It’s also bad news for Monster Hunter Rise, which no doubt saw an uptick in interest with the recent release of acclaimed Monster Hunter Wilds. Even so, there’s plenty of new games coming in the latter half of March to help soften the blow.

What new Xbox Game Pass entries are you looking forward to the most in the second half of March? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Xbox Game Pass Reveals More New Games for March appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass just got worse for Sega fans. The last several years Sega has been experiencing a bit of a resurgence. Between the Sonic the Hedgehog movies finding massive box office success, Persona slowly establishing itself as a mainstream IP, an Yakuza continuing to find steady success with a global audience, Sega is in a great place. Speaking of Yakuza, Xbox Game Pass recently shed two Yakuza games. This also means the 20 percent discount while purchasing these games is no longer available to Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

The first of the two games is Yakuza 5 Remastered, a 2020 remaster of Yakuza 5, which hit Japan back in 2012, but didn’t come west until 2015. Upon release on PS3 and PS4, the original garnered an 82 and 83 on Metacritic, respectively. Meanwhile, the other Yakuza game that has now departed Xbox Game Pass is its follow, Yakuza 6: The Song of Life, which hit PS4 in 2016, but only in Japan. It took two years to come west in 2018. As for its Metacritic scores, they range from 82 to 87, varying from platform to platform.

When either of these games will return, remains to be seen. Plenty of games leave Xbox Game Pass and never come back, especially older games like these two. To this end, if these two do return in the future it will likely be as part of a bundle that brings the Yakuza series back to Xbox Game Pass after most of it or all of it is gone. This could particularly happen when a new mainline game is released.

Yakuza 5 Remastered:

About: “In December 2012, Kazuma Kiryu left his past as a “”legendary yakuza”” and his place of peace in Okinawa. He now spends his days as a cab driver in a corner of Fukuoka’s red-light district, hiding his true identity. All for the sake of fulfilling the ‘dream’ of an important person. However, a disturbing atmosphere begins to drift through the supposedly well-balanced society of the Kanto and Kansai yakuza, emerging as a plot to drag all of the yakuza organizations in Japan to war. In order to protect the “”dreams”” of his loved one, Kiryu is drawn into the vortex of battle once again. This is the story of four men and a girl chasing their “”dreams”” in five major cities in Japan, presented on the largest scale of the series yet. Complete The Dragon of Dojima’s journey.

Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

About: “In Yakuza 6, Kazuma Kiryu will find out exactly how much people are willing to sacrifice for family – be those ties through blood or bond – when he investigates a series of shadowy events that involve the ones he holds closest to his heart. Fresh out of a three-year prison sentence, an older and weathered Kiryu comes to find out that his surrogate daughter, Haruka, has gone missing from the orphanage he looks after. The trail leads him to his old stomping grounds in Kamurocho, where he discovers that she has been struck by a car and now lies in a coma. To make matters worse, Kiryu learns that Haruka now has a son that he must look after. With baby in hand, Kiryu journeys to the seaside town of Onomichi, Hiroshima to unravel the truth about Haruka, her son, and a sinister secret that the Hiroshima yakuza are harboring.”

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The Microsoft Store has one of the best games of all time available for just $1.99 for Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series x users, however, the deal is only available for two days. In addition to this, the Microsoft Store also has the game’s critically acclaimed predecessor on sale for just $0.99. This means Xbox users can pay just $3 and play two hall of fame-level games on any of the Xbox consoles above.

For Xbox users, this pair of deals are exclusive to the Microsoft Store, and thus are digital only deals. Those who prefer physical Xbox games consequently will find nothing of interest with these deals. Those that don’t mind digital copies can get one of 2016’s best games and one of 2010’s best games for almost free.

Back in 2016, games like Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Overwatch, Battlefield 1, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Titanfall 2, Doom, Dark Souls III, Pokemon Go, Gears of War 4, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine, Stardew Valley, and Inside headlined the year. These are all great games, but only one of them is $1.99 on the Microsoft Store until March 18, and that is Inside.

Developed and published by Danish studio Playdead, Inside released to a 93 on Metacritic and is often cited as one of the great games of all time, especially within the puzzle platformer genre. It is notably the follow-up to 2010’s Limbo, which is the $0.99 game on the Microsoft Store, and consequently the cheapest game on there. This deal is also only available for the next 48 hours.

Those that decide to check out Inside should expect a tight game that is about three to four hours long. Perhaps unsurprisingly, its predecessor, is the exact same length. Unfortunately, neither are very long and neither offer replayability, but both are some of the best examples of their genre.

For those that don’t know, Inside is typically $20 while Limbo is typically $10, so this represents a savings of $27. Consequently, this the cheapest both games have been on the Microsoft Store.

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

The post Xbox Makes One of the Best Games Ever Just $2 For Two Days Only appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Xbox Series X console giveaway gives Xbox fans the opportunity to land the new Xbox console for free. The Xbox Series X has been out and available for five calendar years. And during this time, it has struggled to keep pace with the PS5. In fact, the PS5 is obliterating the Xbox Series X, and this is with the ultra cheap Xbox Series S bolstering the sale numbers of the Xbox Series X. Consequently, this also means many still don’t own an Xbox Series X, and now there is a chance to remedy this without putting forth a single dollar. If you aren’t a WWE fans though the console’s design may not be to your liking.

The Xbox Series X launched back in 2020 at the price point of $500, however, it can be regularly found for cheaper. For example, right now the Xbox Series X – 1TB Digital Edition is available for $427. And of course, with deals throughout the year the console gets even cheaper than this. Still, this giveaway is an opportunity to save hundreds of dollars.

The giveaway specifically comes the way of the WWE 2K25 page over on X, and is of course to promote the release of the new 2K game, which releases today on both Xbox One and the Xbox Series consoles, alongside other platforms as well.

It’s unclear if Visual Concepts and 2K designed the console or someone at Xbox, but the end result is a one-of-a-kind purple console featuring The Undertaker, one of the most famous pro wrestlers of all time.

To enter the free giveaway, Xbox fans interested need to first follow “WWEGames” on both Instagram and X. From here, they need to tag two friends in the replies to the post about the giveaway. And then they need to complete the requirements by resharing the post, tagging “WWEGames” and using the following hashtags: RomanReignsDay, WWE2K25, and Giveaway.

The giveaway is notably limited to the United States and participants must be at least 18 years old. Those interested in knowing more can find the rules here.

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

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Starfield is the latest title from Bethesda, a legendary studio for cranking out iconic and epic RPGs. With titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion under its belt already, Starfield had quite a reputation to live up to. Reception to the game was mixed, with some praising it while others felt it missed the mark. With its Xbox exclusivity, a portion of the potential player base was unable to play, and PlayStation users have eagerly been awaiting the day when Starfield comes to PlayStation 5. With so many of Microsoft’s exclusives coming to PlayStation, it seemed inevitable that Starfield would join as well, and it seems that may be happening soon.

A recent discovery by fans points to Starfield coming to PlayStation 5, and it has the community expecting an announcement from Microsoft and Bethesda soon. But the discovery didn’t come in an official form, instead, it derived from the Creation Club.

RELATED: Starfield Dev Teases New DLC & Big 2025 Updates for Space RPG

A Ship Decals Creation Club item for Starfield was discovered to show the PlayStation logo, leaving fans to believe Starfield would be released on PlayStation soon. A port was expected, but no timeline was given for when it could be expected, but this seemingly points to happening.

Many believe Bethesda is in the testing phase of Starfield for PlayStation 5, and ensuring the Creation Club functions properly. This would be a logical conclusion based on the Ship Deval Starfield creation. The actual mod posting doesn’t mention anything about PlayStation 5, only that it is a work in progress.

There is no guarantee that this means Starfield is coming to PlayStation 5 soon, but it seems likely. Microsoft confirmed it wouldn’t be an exclusive forever, and many of its titles are coming to both PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2.

Bethesda has been the target of rumors and leaks lately, with some pointing to a soon-to-release remake of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. If true, Bethesda has certainly been busy. Other titles from Microsoft have been rumored to be coming to PlayStation 5, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Starfield come sooner rather than later.

Starfield has often been hailed as Skyrim in space, and the two do bear many similarities. Both feature open worlds and allow players to role-play their ideal fantasy, whether they prefer a fantasy adventurer or a daring space explorer.

Starfield recently released the Shattered Space DLC, which was received poorly and has a Mostly Negative rating on Steam. Bethesda has shared its plans to release another paid DLC, and many wonder if this will be a partnership with a PlayStation 5 release.

Only time will tell if Starfield comes to the PlayStation 5 soon. Those looking forward to its Sony debut are hoping for cross-save or save data transfer, but Bethesda has not commented on this feature. Regardless, Starfield fans can at least expect more updates for the game, even if it stays on Xbox and PC for a while longer.

The post Starfield Discovery Points to PS5 Version appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox has supposedly begun revoking access to a major game that was free for a limited time. We live in a time where gaming is extremely accessible thanks to cloud streaming, cheaper consoles like Xbox Series S, and services like Xbox Game Pass. On top of that, there are a ton of free games, both through limited time deals and service games like Fortnite and Warzone. It’s a great time to be into gaming and there are so many ways to jump in and out of the medium at a very low investment. Of course, we also live in a very digital world where we own very few of our games.

The lack of ownership is sort of the trade-off for convenience, but thankfully, it’s not super common for a platform like Xbox or PlayStation to take advantage over the lack of that ownership. Unfortunately, some Xbox players did get burnt this week. Last month, Alan Wake Remastered was available on Xbox completely for free. All players had to do was redeem a free trial for Alan Wake 2 and then they’d get entitled to a free copy of the remaster. It seemed like a great marketing move for those who haven’t played the series before and are interested in playing the acclaimed Alan Wake 2, but it may not have been on purposeful.

Xbox Revokes Free Copies of Alan Wake Remastered

As reported by Wario64, Xbox has revoked all copies of Alan Wake Remastered from players who acquired it for free last month. While errors do happen and prompt companies to cancel orders/revoke access, it usually happens within 48 hours or so. It’s rare to see it take a month, which is plenty of time for someone to not only beat a game like Alan Wake, but also 100% it and its DLC. You can read the message Xbox users were sent if

“You recently acquired a version of Alan Wake Remastered that was not intended to be available. Therefore we are cancelling your order, refunding any payments made, and removing it from your “My games & apps” list. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

While some folks almost certainly took advantage of this period, it’s a bummer for those who weren’t able to make time for it or maybe only played some of it and didn’t get to finish it. It’s not a super expensive game, so fans can pick it up at a fair price if they want to keep playing it or never got the chance to start it. It also frequently goes on sale, so there are many opportunities to get it without dropping a ton of cash on it.

Both Alan Wake games are some of the best survival horror games out there, so I highly recommend checking them out. While it took over a decade to get Alan Wake 2, Remedy Entertainment has promised that the wait for Alan Wake 3 won’t be nearly as long. So, don’t let this sit on your backlog for too long, because the inevitable threequel might just sneak up on you before you’re ready for it.

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While consumers remain skeptical about all things associated with AI, technology companies have wasted no time incorporating it into just about everything. You can’t type out a paragraph in a Google Document without Gemini offering some “assistance,” and Microsoft’s Copilot is being similarly integrated into all of its products. Today, the company announced Copilot for Gaming, which will see the AI helper integrated into Xbox games. Microsoft’s vision for Copilot for Gaming is to have it help with things like recommendations that are personalized to the user, assistance with game setup, and recaps that remind the player what they were doing last time they played.

So far, the big idea behind Copilot for Gaming is in-game assistance. The idea is that players can use Copilot if they get stuck in a game. Fatima Kardar is Xbox’s corporate vice president of gaming AI, and in an episode of the Xbox Podcast, she offered some examples of how Copilot will be integrated. One example showed Minecraft, with the player asking Copilot what to do with wood in the game. Another example showed Overwatch, with the player asking for a character recommendation that fits with the team composition. Xbox has noted that these are “product concepts only,” so the actual implementation of Copilot for Gaming could be significantly different from what was showcased. According to Kardar, the goal is to integrate the option in a way that is both helpful and natural.

“It’s not just about AI showing up to help you, it’s about AI showing up at the right moment,” said Kardar. “We really have to think about the experience we’ve built, it cannot be intrusive.”

Microsoft says that “player feedback is crucial” to ensuring that Copilot for Gaming becomes a beneficial tool. The company plans on testing this feature through the Xbox Insider Program, first through mobile devices, before offering it on additional platforms. Xbox Insiders could help to shape the program, and make it more efficient over time. Microsoft already seems to be aware of the potential hurdles, and the company’s blog post notes that it wants to make sure that “AI solutions developed are truly aligned with player needs and preferences and don’t disrupt your flow.”

RELATED: Director of Cancelled Xbox Exclusive Still Wants to Finish the Game

Already, reception to the concept has been generally poor. News of the venture was shared on Bluesky by @Wario64, and gamers wasted no time sharing their thoughts. Some are hoping that there’s an option to disable Copilot on Xbox platforms, while others have derisively compared it to Clippy, the old Microsoft Office assistant. Some also pointed out that this is technology in search of a purpose, as players can get more accurate results through a search engine. Clearly, selling players on the concept of Copilot for Gaming is going to be a tall task, and Microsoft is going to have to work hard to disentangle the program from all of the negative associations that already surround AI.

How do you feel about Copilot for Gaming? Do you think this feature will become obtrusive? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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A new report from Windows Central makes it clear that Microsoft is not planning to abandon making Xbox gaming hardware anytime soon. In fact, its renewed efforts will begin with an Xbox-branded gaming handheld sometime later this year. Then, the next generation of Xbox hardware is reportedly targeting a 2027 release.

That report outlines that Xbox’s plans start with a branded gaming handheld codenamed “Keenan.” Microsoft apparently won’t be manufacturing this device itself; instead, it will work with an original equipment manufacturer (which is, as of now, unknown) to create a handheld that will “look unmistakably Xbox” and feature “an official Xbox guide button, and Xbox design sensibilities.” Think of it as a Steam Deck with Xbox branding.

While that is more of an Xbox-branded portable PC, Windows Central explained that Xbox is still planning to internally create a handheld in the future. It will allegedly be part of Xbox’s next-generation gaming efforts, which the report claims CEO Satya Nadella has approved. Windows Central believes the next generation of Xbox hardware will launch in 2027 and include a premium console like Xbox Series X, an Xbox gaming handheld, and new Xbox controllers.

This information should all be exciting for Xbox fans to hear, as this has been an odd console generation for Microsoft. Although the Xbox Series X and S are solid pieces of gaming hardware, their sales have lagged behind the likes of PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Recently, Microsoft has committed to a multiplatform strategy that mostly rids its own hardware of exclusive games. Games like Sea of Thieves and Age of Mythology: Retold have already come to PS5, while PS5 ports of critically acclaimed Xbox exclusives like Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are on the way.

This change in release strategy made some fans worry about the future of Xbox as a gaming hardware brand, but this new report gives us some renewed faith that Xbox will stick around for at least another console generation. If Windows Central’s report is accurate, we’re months out from getting an Xbox-branded portable PC and just over two-and-a-half years away from a brand-new Xbox console.

Until then, there are plenty of first-party Xbox games to look forward to. South of Midnight, The Outer Worlds 2, Towerborne for console, and Ninja Gaiden 4 are all slated for a 2025 release, while Fable will arrive sometime in 2026. Games like Clockwork Revolution, Contraband, Everwild, Gears of War: E-Day, OD, Perfect Dark, and State of Decay 3 are all in development for Xbox Series X|S without a release date too. Hopefully, they all arrive before the next generation of Xbox begins.

The post Xbox Handheld Reportedly Releasing Later in 2025, Next-Gen in 2027 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users can currently buy one of the best trilogies in video games for just $6 thanks to a 90 percent discount. Normally the Xbox game costs $60, so this represents a savings of $54. As for the deal, it comes the way of the Microsoft Store, and is consequently for a digital copy of the Xbox game. That said, the deal is only available for a limited time. More specifically, it is only available until March March 18.

At $6, each game in the trilogy is effectively just $2. More than this, $2 for each game and all DLC for each game, which in the case of two of the three games, is a substantial amount of DLC.

As for the trilogy, it got its start in 2007, a year headlined by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, BioShock, Halo 3, Portal, Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, The Witcher, Rock Band, Skate, God of War 2, Super Mario Galaxy, Team Fortress 2, Metroid Prime 3, Assassin’s Creed, Crysis, and Mass Effect. As this list conveys, it was a legendary year for gaming.

The best game from this list is naturally a debate, but many would say Mass Effect. Even more would say this about Mass Effect 2 in 2010. And the same applies to Mass Effect 3 and 2012. Those that have never experienced this legendary RPG trilogy, whether at all or to completion, now have the chance to remedy this because it is the Mass Effect Legendary Edition that is currently $5.99 on the Xbox Store.

This 2021 release doesn’t just feature all three games, but all of the DLC content released throughout the trilogy, which is some of the best content in the trilogy. More than this, all of the content has been remastered and brought closer to modernity.

“One person is all that stands between humanity and the greatest threat it’s ever faced,” reads an official description of the collection on the Microsoft Store. “Relive the legend of Commander Shepard in the highly acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. Includes single-player base content and over 40 DLC from Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and Mass Effect 3 games, including promo weapons, armors, and packs – remastered and optimized for 4K Ultra HD. Experience an amazingly rich and detailed universe where your decisions have profound consequences on the action and the outcome.”

RELATED: Microsoft Finally Addresses Major Issue With Xbox Controller

Those on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X that decide to take advantage of this Microsoft Store deal should expect a series that, at minimum, will take 60 hours to complete. However, completionists will want closer to 140 hours with the sci-fi RPG trilogy. Meanwhile, to download the BioWare and EA trilogy, Xbox users will need to be prepared to make room for a 93.83 GB download.

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

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PlayStation fans on PS5 have been left impressed by the latest Xbox game just released on the PlayStation Store this week. As Xbox transitions from console exclusivity to publishing its games on all platforms — including PlayStation platforms — the mystical quality of seeing an Xbox game on the PlayStation Store starts to fade. While the big Xbox IP still haven’t found their way on the PS5 yet, this will change this April when Forza Horizon 5 comes to the PS5. Before this though, another Xbox game, albeit one less synonymous with the brand, is now on the PS5 as of this week.

The Xbox game in question was released back on September 4, 2024 by developers World’s Edge and Forgotten Empires. Meanwhile, it was published by Xbox Game Studios, which owns the former. And it is actually, and technically, a remaster of a 2002 PC classic.

The new PS5 release from Xbox, for those that have not connected the dots yet, is Age of Mythology: Retold, a real-time strategy game and a remaster of Age of Mythology. At release, the game was only available on PC and Xbox Series X where it boasts an 83 and 79 on Metacritic, respectively. Now it is also on PS5 though, and PlayStation fans on the PS5 Reddit page are enjoying it.

“Age of Mythology is very good,” reads a post on the PS5 Reddit page. “Playing on the PS5 Pro: great graphics and frame rate and lots of fun! The interface takes a little while to get used to but it actually does a very good job”

The popularity of the post and the comments it attracted echo this sentiment. One of these comments calls the game “great” while another thanks the poster for bringing the release to their attention as they had missed it. And considering this second comment is the most popular, this is seemingly the case for many.

“From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history into a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide,” reads an official description of the game on the PlayStation Store for those unfamiliar with it. “Experience an immersive real-time strategy game with an epic campaign, cooperative and competitive multiplayer, and the all-new Arena of the Gods game mode. Secure your domain, command legendary monsters, and call upon the power of the gods to achieve victory. Will you become Mythic? ”

RELATED: New God of War Announcement Disappoints PlayStation Fans

Those interested in checking out Age of Mythology: Retold on PS5 will need to fork over $29.99 to the PlayStation Store. This is just for the Standard Edition. The Premium Edition runs at $49.99.

For more PlayStation 5 coverage like this — including everything between the latest official PS5 news and deals to the latest unofficial PS5 rumors and leaks — click here.

The post PS5 Fans Praise “Very Good” Xbox Game Just Released on PS Store appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The standard Xbox controller used by many on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X has a sundry of issues. One of these issues has finally been addressed by Microsoft, however, it doesn’t have a fix for Xbox fans. It is working on a fix for said issue, but right now the official Microsoft guidance if the problem persists is to revert to a previous Xbox controller update so it goes away. Of course, this is an inelegant solution because it means losing everything else said update did and improved.

Using social media platform X, Microsoft noted that the latest Xbox controller firmware update has affected Bluetooth connectivity for some users. This has also led to performance issues. However, it notes this is only the case with “older non-Xbox devices.” To this end, those having Xbox controller issues while using their various Xbox consoles are experiencing a different, unrelated issue

“The latest Xbox controller firmware update may affect Bluetooth connectivity and performance with some older non-Xbox devices,” claims Microsoft. “If your controller is having Bluetooth-related issues after a firmware update, you can choose to revert your controller to an earlier firmware version to correct the problem.”

Microsoft only suggests this solution for those having “frequent problems.” Further, it also notes “some older model controllers” don’t have this option at all. Unfortunately, this is the extent of specificity it provided.

Last week, we relayed word of many users on Xbox consoles experiencing substantial and varied Xbox controller issues. Microsoft has not addressed or even acknowledged these issues though.

RELATED: First Next-Gen Xbox Game Reportedly Revealed

For those interested in attempting the revert update trick, you will need to use the Xbox Accessories App on PC. Console users can do it right from the machine. First, press the Xbox button to open the guide and then go to Profile & System, then Xbox Support, then Get Help, then Help Topics, then Hardware & Networking, and then Controllers. From here, select “My Xbox Controller Has Connection Issues After The Last Update” and then select Check Your Controller’s Firmware.” And at this point it is just a matter of following instructions.

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

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Gears of War fans are finding themselves frustrated by the latest rumor tied to the franchise that has appeared online. Since first debuting back in 2006 on Xbox 360, the Gears of War series has consistently been praised on multiple fronts. Not only has the throughline story and campaign of each individual entry been popular with players, but the multiplayer and Horde modes found in many installments have been arguably just as popular. Now, in the wake of recent rumors suggesting that a Gears of War collection of entries from the past would be coming to Xbox and PS5 later this year, it sounds like this bundle might not come with everything that was found in the older games.

In a rumor coming by way of user @DetectiveSeeds on X, it has been said that this upcoming Gears of War collection will be out in August. Beyond its release, though, the rumor claims that there will be no multiplayer game modes from any of the Gears of War games included. This would instead put the emphasis on the campaigns from each GoW title, with Horde mode and Beast mode’s inclusions still being unknown.

To add further credence to this rumor, reporter Jez Corden said that he has also heard that the upcoming Gears of War collection won’t feature PvP multiplayer. While he did note that multiplayer should be present in the form of campaign co-op, it doesn’t seem like PvP is something that will ever be added.

As you might expect, this rumor has greatly upset many Gears of War fans who were growing excited about the prospect of returning to the multiplayer components of these older titles. Perhaps more than any other Xbox franchise outside of Halo, Gears of War has always had a thriving multiplayer community. With the original Gears of War trilogy now almost 15 years in the past, though, it has made it difficult to revisit each game’s multiplayer, even if the servers are still active.

What still remains a mystery is whether or not Horde mode and Beast mode will be in this collection. Horde mode was introduced in Gears of War 2 and has since become a staple of the series. Beast mode was then added to Gears of War 3 and is essentially the inverse of Horde as it allows players to control the Locust rather than humans. Given that both game modes are more co-op in nature, it sounds like they have a good chance of appearing in the Gears of War collection whenever it comes about. Still, Xbox could choose to make this bundle exclusively tied to the campaigns, which would be an even greater disappointment.

How do you feel about the prospect of this rumored Gears of War collection not shipping with multiplayer? Will this sway your decision to purchase the game if it is released later this year? Let me know for yourself down in the comments section.

The post New Gears of War Rumor Angers Longtime Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new month has begun, and for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, that always means a new batch of games has been revealed. The first 2 weeks of March will see 2 titles returning to the Xbox Game Pass library, the first of which will be arriving today. After an exciting conclusion to February with the arrivals of both Avowed and Balatro, the start of March is looking pretty quiet by comparison. However, as Xbox has shown in the past, we could still see some surprises announced. The current list of games slated for the start of March can be found below:

• March 4th- Monster Train (Console, PC, Cloud) through all tiers
• March 5th- Galacticare (Xbox Series X|S) now through Game Pass Standard
• March 6th- One Lonely Outpost (Console) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• March 11th- Enter the Gungeon (Console, PC, Cloud) through all tiers
• March 13th- Mullet Madjack (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud), through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• March 18th- 33 Immortals Game Preview (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

As can be seen from the list, there isn’t a whole lot to write home about. While there isn’t anything that really stands out, there are still some fine titles to be found, and there’s a good amount of variety on display. Xbox Game Pass subscribers might be happy to see the return of Enter the Gungeon in particular; the game was very well-received upon its release, and is an easy recommendation for fans of bullethell shooters and roguelike games. Mullet Madjack is also action-oriented, but instead features first-person gameplay and a theme inspired by classic anime. If something a bit quieter is more your pace, One Lonely Outpost is more of a cozy farming sim, but with a sci-fi twist.

Probably the most notable inclusion this month is the Game Preview for 33 Immortals. While this is an early access game, it’s also a day one release. The game’s title comes from the fact that it features online co-op for 33 players at the same time. It’s easy to imagine that getting pretty chaotic, and it will be interesting to see how players feel once they’ve gotten a chance to experience the game for themselves.

RELATED: Director of Cancelled Xbox Exclusive Still Wants to Finish the Game

A few days ago, Xbox revealed several games that will be leaving Game Pass this month. Subscribers still have a little time left to play them, but the departures are pretty notable this month, including two Yakuza games, MLB The Show 24, and more. The list of games leaving Xbox Game Pass halfway through the month can be found right here.

Are you excited for anything coming to Xbox Game Pass in March? Which of these titles do you plan on trying out? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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A new rumor tied to Gears of War: E-Day has shed new light on the game’s release date, but it’s not what fans have hoped for. Upon its reveal this past year, Xbox and developer The Coalition didn’t provide a broad launch window for its new Gears of War game. However, in recent months, rumors have suggested that E-Day could be Xbox’s big title to release in tandem with the 2025 holiday season. Now, if a new rumor is more accurate, it sounds like this is no longer the case.

According to new info from gaming insider exTas1s, Gears of War: E-Day is currently targeting a release date in 2026. While it’s noted that this date could be moved forward into 2025 if E-Day is finished in time, this seems unlikely. As such, Xbox’s lineup for 2025 will instead center around games like The Outer Worlds 2, South of Midnight, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and others.

Fortunately, Gears of War fans might have something else to play this year while waiting for Gears of War: E-Day. Also mentioned in this rumor is that a remastered collection of older Gears of War games will be releasing in 2025. This collection has been rumored numerous times in the past, but it’s now said to finally be getting revealed later this year at the Xbox Games Showcase that will presumably take place in June. And perhaps most notable of all, this Gears of War bundle is said to be launching on PS5 in addition to Xbox and PC.

For now, all we truly know about Gears of War: E-Day is that it will serve as a prequel to the entirety of the Gears of War saga. The game will bring back original protagonists Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago and will tell centered around the titular event “Emergence Day”. Gameplay footage for Gears of War: E-Day has yet to emerge, but even if the game doesn’t release this year, it’s likely that we’ll see it in action in the months ahead.

How do you feel about Gears of War: E-Day potentially not launching until 2026? And will you replay some of the Gears of War games of the past if a new remastered collection does arrive? Let me know down in the comments!

The post Gears of War: E-Day Release Date Rumor Isn’t What Fans Want to Hear appeared first on ComicBook.com.

According to a new report, the next-gen Xbox console is releasing in 2026. Based on internal Microsoft documents, the next-gen Xbox console is expected to arrive in 2028 alongside the PS6, but these documents are a couple of years old and a new report alleges that these plans have dramatically changed. The report doesn’t dive into why plans have changed, but it is likely to due to underwhelming sales of the Xbox Series X, which is getting trounced by the PS5 even worse than the Xbox One got trounced by the PS4.

As for the next-gen Xbox game leak, it is not a product of Xbox Game Studios. In other words, it is not a new Halo game nor a new Gears of War game or a new Forza game. It’s also not coming out of the Bethesda arm of Xbox. Rather, it is coming from the Activision-Blizzard arm of Xbox. Microsoft shattered records to acquire Activision-Blizzard, primarily so it could get its hands on the Call of Duty money printing machine. And now it looks potentially poised to leverage Call of Duty to sell its next-gen console before the PS6 is even out.

The report comes the way of a well-known Call of Duty leaker that goes by The Ghost of Hope. According to the leaker, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is in active development at Infinity Ward, and scheduled to release in 2068. More than this, the COD leaker claims it is in development for not just the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X, but the next-gen Xbox, which will presumably release alongside the new COD next year.

The leaker claims Call of Duty: Modern Warfare will blend together what COD players saw from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in 2023 with what Call of Duty fans will be getting this year, which is reportedly a new and futuristic Black Ops game. In other words, it will be a blend of grounded Call of Duty with futuristic Call of Duty.

RELATED: Microsoft Makes Xbox Series X Controller A Lot Worse With New Change

The Ghost of Hope notes the Call of Duty game will ditch PS4 and Xbox One, which means it will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X, and this next-gen Xbox when it releases. How a game that has to run on Nintendo handheld will take advantage of next-gen hardware remains to be seen.

Of course, take everything here with a grain of salt. The Ghost of Hope is one of the best sources when it comes to Call of Duty, and they claim they keep hearing about the next-gen Xbox in relation to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IV; however, this is still not official information. Further, even if everything here is accurate, it is also subject to change that could render it inaccurate over time.

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

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It’s been more than 7 years since Scalebound‘s cancellation, but it appears the game is still on the mind of director Hideki Kamiya. Scalebound was originally in development at PlatinumGames, but Kamiya is now in charge at Clovers, Inc. This morning, the developer’s official X/Twitter account shared a video of Kamiya watching gameplay from the cancelled title with other staffers. Kamiya then told the team that he’d “love to make it again someday.” Following that, Kamiya shared the post from his personal account, saying “let’s do it, Phil,” in reference to Xbox boss Phil Spencer.

The concept of Scalebound has been on Kamiya’s mind since the founding of PlatinumGames in 2006. The game actually began development in 2013, with Xbox Game Studios handling publishing duties. PlatinumGames has long had a reputation for games that put an emphasis on action, but Scalebound would have instead been an action RPG. For multiple reasons, the game never actually came together, and ended up cancelled. However, Kamiya is clearly still proud of the work that the team accomplished.

The rights to the Scalebound IP are owned by Microsoft. Decisions about the game’s fate and any potential resurrection will have to be made by the company. It’s impossible to say how much (if any) of Scalebound‘s existing build could be salvaged, or if the game would have to largely start over from scratch. If the existing build could still be expanded on, it’s not implausible to think that Xbox Game Studios could revive the project.

It’s worth noting that Xbox is in a much different position now than it was in 2017. At the time, Xbox was still focused on competing with PlayStation and Nintendo. These days, the company is focused on bringing Xbox published games to multiple platforms. That has greatly changed Microsoft’s investment strategy, as there are more opportunities to recoup costs. While Scalebound would have been an Xbox console exclusive back then, Microsoft is now publishing games on Switch and PS5 as well. It might make financial sense to bring it back as a multiplatform release, considering how well some of those Xbox games are selling on other platforms.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Losing 8 Big Games in March

For now, a resurrection for Scalebound still seems somewhat unlikely. It’s unclear whether Xbox would have any interest in bringing back a game it previously cancelled, and then there’s also the fact that Kamiya is probably pretty busy right now; Clovers, Inc. is currently working on a sequel to Okami for Capcom, and development on the game seems to be in the early stages. For now, Xbox fans that were once looking forward to Scalebound‘s release should temper their expectations.

Would you like to see Kamiya and his team finish Scalebound? Do you think Xbox will respond to Kamiya’s request to bring it back? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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PlayStation Plus subscribers on PS4 and PS5 have roughly 24 hours to get a former and notable Xbox console exclusive. The free PS Plus download is available to all PlayStation Plus subscribers. This includes PS Plus Essential subscribers, as well as PS Plus Extra and PS Plus Premium subscribers. That said, once downloaded, the free game is only retained with an active PS Plus subscription. Once a PS4 or PS5 user’s subscription lapses, the free PS Plus game will be blocked in their library until they buy it as a regular purchase or resubscribe to any tier of PS Plus.

As for the free game in question, it was released back in 2022. And at release, it was only available on PC and Xbox consoles. It ended up being a major grab for Microsoft and Xbox Game Pass, the latter of which it was a day one release for. And upon release, it broke Xbox Game Pass records. Not only was it the biggest Xbox Game Pass release of 2022, but the biggest third-party Xbox Game Pass release of all time. It was also the biggest single-player Xbox Game Pass release of all time.

For those that have not connected the dots yet, the free PlayStation Plus game set to expire tomorrow is High on Life, a first-person shooter meets action-adventure game from Squanch Games, the studio of Justin Roiland, who also is credited as the creator of the game. Roiland is most notably the co-creator of Rick and Morty.

Right now, High on Life is free on PlayStation Plus alongside Payday 3 and Pac-Man World Re-Pac. The offer will expire tomorrow morning though as the games are replaced with March’s offer, which consists of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Sonic Colors: Ultimate, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection.

High on Life typically costs $39.99 on the PlayStation Store. Those that check it out for free via PS Plus should expect a game that is about 8 to 13 hours long with the variance taking into account skill level, playstyle, and completion rate. Those that want to 100% the game though will need closer to 20 hours with the comedic adventure.

“Fresh out of high school with no job and no ambition, you’ve really got nothing going for you until an alien cartel that wants to get high off humanity invades Earth,” reads an official description of the game on the PlayStation Store for those unfamiliar with it. “Now, you and a team of charismatic talking guns must answer the hero’s call and become the deadliest intergalactic bounty hunter the cosmos has ever seen. Travel to a variety of biomes and locations across the cosmos, go up against the nefarious Garmantuous and his gang of goons, collect loot, meet unique characters, and more, in the latest comedy adventure from Squanch Games!”

RELATED: The PlayStation Store Just Got a Little Better for PS5 Fans

Unlike some PlayStation Plus games that are limited to just PS5 and PS5 Pro users, this free PS Plus game is also available to PS4 and PS4 Pro users as well as the game is natively available on both generations of PlayStation consoles.

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

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has dropped to its lowest price so far in a deal that will end incredibly soon. Since its launch on Xbox Series X/S and PC in December 2024, the newest Indiana Jones game hasn’t been discounted much at all. Even when it has been hit with some price cuts, these past sales haven’t been all that noteworthy and have kept the title relatively close to its standard retail value. Fortunately, for those who have been waiting for a better discount to come about, an ongoing deal should be taken advantage of quickly.

As of this writing, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has received a 20% drop in price across Xbox and PC. This means that instead of being sold for $69.99, Indiana Jones is now going for $55.99. Although this cut in value might not be as vast as some would hope, this is still the best sale that the game has seen to this point. It’s also set to only last for a little more than 24 hours and will come to an end on March 3rd.

While this is a great price for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it’s obviously worth stressing that there is a cheaper way to play the game. That would be by subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which will allow you to download Indiana Jones (and a variety of other games) for the cost of $20 per month. Assuming that you could finish Great Circle in only a single month, this is the cheapest way that you could play the Indiana Jones adventure, but those who like to own their games outright may prefer buying it as part of this deal.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

“Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them – Indiana Jones. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.

Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.”

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February was a pretty strong month for Xbox Game Pass. The service saw the day one release of Avowed, which already seems like a pretty big hit, and Balatro also arrived late in the month, giving the service one of the most critically-acclaimed games of 2024. Unfortunately, Game Pass giveth, and Game Pass also taketh away; Xbox has revealed this morning several games that will be departing the service on March 16th. Every month sees older titles leaving the service, but this is a pretty notable set of games, and that’s sure to disappoint some subscribers. The following games are going away in 2 weeks:

• Evil West
• Lies of P
• MLB The Show 24
• No More Heroes 3
• Solar Ash
• SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated
• Yakuza 5 Remastered
• Yakuza 6: The Song of Life

Overall, these are some pretty significant losses. The departures of Yakuza 5 and 6 aren’t all that surprising, as we just saw Yakuza 3 and 4 leave the service at the end of February. However, the losses of Lies of P and MLB The Show 24 will likely disappoint a number of subscribers. MLB The Show 25 will be released on Xbox just two days later, but the game will not be arriving on Game Pass. Basically, if you want a baseball fix on the service, you’ll either have to purchase the current game (which is now discounted on the Microsoft Store), or pay full price for the new game when it arrives on March 18th.

As of this writing, Xbox has not revealed which games will be replacing these departures. The company usually announces its plans for the first half of a month on the first Tuesday, which means we can likely expect some announcements on March 4th. That also happens to be the day that Microsoft and Activision have a big Tony Hawk announcement in store, which seems to be a remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. Since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is not currently available on Xbox Game Pass, that might be a good day to add it to the service. However, that’s just conjecture for the time being!

RELATED: New Xbox Controller Similar to PS5 DualSense Leaks

Looking ahead to later in the year, Xbox Game Pass subscribers have some exciting stuff on the way. In the month of May, Xbox Game Pass will be getting at least two day one releases; DOOM: The Dark Ages arrives on May 15th, while To a T will launch on May 28th. To a T isn’t as well known as DOOM, but fans of the Katamari series might want to keep an eye on it, as the game is the latest from designer Keita Takahashi. Readers can learn more about the title right here.

How do you feel about these games leaving Xbox Game Pass? Are you planning to check out any of them before they leave? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Microsoft has made the Xbox controller worse with a recent update. Thankfully, it wasn’t the result of an intentional change, which means it can be fixed. The bad news is that it is unclear if Microsoft is even aware of the problem, let alone working on a fix. To this end, it is quite possible Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users may have faulty controllers for the foreseeable future.

Following a recent firmware update, Xbox users have begun to report issues with the Xbox controller. More specifically, stick issues and general “weird” stick behavior. And unlike common stick drift issues, which typically only impact one stick at a time, this issue seems to be not be a mechanical issue because it is impacting both sticks simultaneously. More specifically, the problem results in the controller sometimes ignoring stick movement on both the right stick and left stick.

“Anyone else having occasional weird right and left stick behavior since the latest Xbox controller firmware update,” writes prominent Xbox community member, Klobrille, in a recent post. “I’ve tested this on multiple controllers now. It’s definitely a firmware problem. Sometimes stick movement (left or right) gets ignored somehow.”

One look at the comments on the post suggests not only is the a problem other Xbox users are struggling with, but a problem many other Xbox users are being inflicted with.

“Finally someone talked about this problem, I have been suffering from it for about two weeks,” reads one of the comments. Another comment adds: “Three controllers, all from different production times. I assumed it was firmware because of the timing. Been playing some simpler games that don’t need the thumbsticks, I noticed it in menus and home screen seeing selections skip around like multiple inputs are in for directions.”

Judging by the same comments, the issue is not limited to just the sticks. Whatever the firmware update did to Xbox controllers, it has seemingly caused more than one problem. More specifically, other comments reveal the controller can randomly shut off now. Additionally, button inputs are reportedly inconsistent.

RELATED: One of the Best Xbox Games of All Time Now Lowest Price Ever

While there are many Xbox users reporting various issues with the Xbox controller, it is worth noting that some Xbox users haven’t experienced any issues at all, which is typical of firmware issues.

As alluded to, it is unclear if Microsoft is aware of these new issues with the Xbox controller and this is because it has not said anything about the matter. If this changes, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

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

The post Microsoft Makes Xbox Series X Controller A Lot Worse With New Change appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the greatest video games ever made and available on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X is currently its lowest price ever on the Microsoft Store for a limited time. In this case, “a limited time” refers to a four day window set to shut on March 4. When it does, the 75% off deal on the Xbox game in question will end, and it will return back to its normal price point of $59.99. Until then though it is $14.99, which isn’t the cheapest of deals on the Microsoft Store, but this specific game has never been cheaper on the Microsoft Store or anywhere else.

The game in question hails from 2018, and many consider it to be the best game from 2018, though it did controversially lose at The Game Awards that year to PlayStation’s God of War reboot. That said, where God of War has a 94 on Metacritic, it has a 97. Meanwhile, where God of War has yet to surpass 30 million units sold, it has sold 70 million units, making it one of the best-selling games of all time, in addition to one of the highest-rated and best games of all time.

For those that have not connected the dots yet, the mystery game is Red Dead Redemption 2 from Rockstar Games, a prequel to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption. While RDR2 is now seven calendar years old, it stills holds up better than any game. In fact, it remains the most impressive open-world and narrative-driven game to date in many measurements. And despite being technically an Xbox One game, it looks as good as any Xbox Series X game.

Those who have never played it can now right this wrong because it is lowest price ever on the Microsoft Store: $14.99. For just $15, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X get a game with about 50 to 85 hours of content, on average, with variance the result in playstyle, skill level, and completion rate. Meanwhile, those that want to 100% the game will need to closer to 180 or 190 hours with the open-world western.

RELATED: Xbox Series X Glitch Gives Users $60 Game for Free (Here’s How To Do It)

Meanwhile, those that go ahead and purchase Red Dead Redemption 2 on the Microsoft Store should expect to clear out 105.42 GB of space to download not just the campaign, but Red Dead Online, which comes with Red Dead Redemption 2. That said, Rockstar Games does not support Red Dead Online like it does GTA Online, which may make diving into it in 2025 not advisable.

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

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The floodgates have opened, and we should now expect previously Xbox-exclusive games to come to Sony’s PlayStation 5 in droves. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has made it clear in interviews that no game is off the table now. On March 4th, Age of Mythology: Retold will be released on PS5, while ports of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Forza Horizon 5, and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition are all arriving in the spring. These follow recent PS5 ports for Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Grounded.

Many ports are coming soon, and some upcoming games like The Outer Worlds 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Ninja Gaiden 4 are already slated for PS5. I wanted to look back and point out which important Xbox games, whether they be iconic to the brand or recent releases, should come to PS5 in the near future. Xbox’s multiplatform future is unavoidable at this point, so everything feels like fair game.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

The true ripping of the band-aid for Microsoft’s multiplatform strategy for Xbox will come once it decides to bring a Halo video game to a PlayStation console. Halo Studios could go for a more recent game like Halo Infinite or start bringing Halo to PS5 with the next new game release, but I think bringing Halo: The Master Chief Collection to PS5 would make a very bold statement. This remastered collection contains every mainline game in the series through Halo 4, so it’d make sense to release this on PS5 first to give PlayStation players checking out Halo for the first time a crash course on the series. It would create quite a bit of hubbub if this port were to happen, but I’m starting to feel like it’s a matter of when not if.

Avowed

Let’s not forget about Xbox and Obsidian Entertainment’s latest release: Avowed. This RPG is fantastic, taking the core of a game like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and stripping it back to a concise experience with excellent writing and exhilarating combat. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy RPG. Obsidian Entertainment seems committed to bringing its games to PS5; Pentiment and Grounded have already been ported, and The Outer Worlds 2 will be on PS5 at launch. That makes it a bit surprising that Avowed wasn’t ready for PS5 at launch, but it also increases its chances of eventually coming to Sony’s console.

Gears 5

Gears of War makes up the pantheon of great Xbox franchises alongside Halo and Forza. If the other two come to PS5, Gears of War should as well. As for which game The Coalition should bring over, Gears of War does not have a collection like Halo does; 2014’s Gears of War: Ultimate Edition also feels quite dated.

RELATED: Gears of War Remastered Trilogy Reportedly Coming to PS5

If Xbox doesn’t want to wait until the launch of Gears of War: E-Day to bring the series to PS5, or rumors of a new remastered trilogy prove to be untrue, it should bring Gears 5 to the console. Gears 5 was one of the best-looking games of the last console generation, and it’s still prettier than many native Xbox Series X games. As such, bringing Gears 5 to PS5 would show Microsoft’s technical prowess to PlayStation players.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Last November, Xbox released a new edition of the long-running Microsoft Flight Simulator series. While these games are mainly for very hardcore players who enjoy spending hours virtually flying from one airport to another, they’re also impressive in how they accurately map out the entire world for players to fly around. It makes sense for a simulator like this to be as widely available as possible, so Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 shouldn’t be stuck on Xbox Series X|S and PC only for much longer. While you might not be as interested in this game, a PS5 port of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will make certain people very happy.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

The final recent Xbox Series X|S exclusive that I want to make the jump to PS5 is Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. Ninja Theory’s latest is one of the prettiest games available on Xbox consoles, and its style of narrative-driven, third-person action is similar to exclusives PlayStation players love, like God of War Ragnarok. It came out on PC and Xbox Series X|S last May, just as this multiplatform effort by Microsoft was starting. As a result, it hasn’t made its way to PS5 yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it eventually does. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if most of the games published by Xbox in the past decade made the jump over to PlayStation.

The post 5 Xbox Exclusives That Still Need to Come to PS5 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Call of Duty players are furious over some news regarding the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game. Call of Duty is one of the biggest franchises on the planet and has released a game every year without fail since 2005. Good or bad, there’s a Call of Duty game on the shelves every holiday season. It’s reliable, it’s generally pretty consistent, but there have been calls from fans for a quality over quantity approach to the series going forward. Some feel like it’s treading water and not innovating enough after 20+ Call of Duty games, which is fair. Call of Duty has tried to go outside the box, but ultimately came right back to its traditional roots.

With that said, there has been one thing that’s been really holding Call of Duty back for years in the eyes of some players. Call of Duty is one of the biggest franchises that is still releasing on Xbox One and PS4 each year. Other big franchises have moved on in favor of actually taking advantage of the new hardware. Grand Theft Auto VI will not be available on last-gen consoles, which will likely cause millions of people to buy a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. College Football 25 also helped push players over to new hardware and that may continue this year with MLB The Show 25 and College Football 26. However, Call of Duty fans may be out of luck.

Call of Duty Will Reportedly Release on Xbox One and PS4 This Year

According to a new report from CharlieIntel, a reputable Call of Duty news account, Call of Duty 2025 is in development for last-gen consoles. Given we are five years into the console generation, some had hoped that this year’s game would finally leave last-gen behind, but that’s not the case. Naturally, Call of Duty fans being the calm, cool, collected bunch that they are reacted very intensely to this. While some fans legitimately did understand the decision given there are still so many people on older consoles to sell games to and Call of Duty is expensive to make, others feel it’s hurting the game.

The continued decision to make games for last gen results in a worse experience for everyone. For those on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, they get a game that is held back by last-gen. CharlieIntel speculates that Warzone is unable to have more than two large-scale maps at a time because of last-gen limitations, for instance. Given everything has to be scaled down to last-gen’s specs, it also means the game can’t be too intensive in terms of its size or graphics. For last-gen players, Call of Duty doesn’t look for easy on the eyes nor does it perform nearly as well as it could. It’s sort of a lose/lose for everyone involved.

Given a console generation only lasts about eight years or so these days, it would be shocking if Call of Duty 2026 was released on last-gen. It seems like it’s time to leave these machines behind, especially as more players get increasingly furious with the decision to keep supporting these older consoles. However, Xbox has also promised that Call of Duty will be on Nintendo platforms going forward… which means the game will have to run on a weaker machine regardless. It’s a tough battle for Call of Duty fans and one that may continue for years to come.

As for Call of Duty 2025 itself, the game is rumored to be a sequel to 2012’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. No details have been confirmed about the game, but all reputable rumors point to it being a near-future game set in the 2030s. Whether or not anything carries over from Black Ops 6 as it did with Modern Warfare 3 remains to be seen, but it wouldn’t be hard to imagine.

Do you want games like Call of Duty to ditch Xbox One and PS4? Let me know in the comments below!

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A new Xbox glitch is giving Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X users a free AAA anime game, however, the glitch only appears to work for those with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. Further, it remains to be seen if the implicated parties — Bandai Namco and Xbox — will honor those that take advantage of the glitch. History suggests the free game download will be revoked as that is typically what comes of glitches like this, however, in the past there have been examples that have been honored and the lucky Xbox users were able to keep their free game.

To grab the free Xbox game, first users will need to install specifically the Xbox One version of the game rather than the Xbox Series X version, and this needs to be done via the Free Play Days promotion. From here, Xbox users will need to launch the game on a console and then choose to upgrade the version of the game to the Xbox Series X|S version. Then exit the game and restart the console to verify the library. Upon doing all of this, Xbox users across Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X should find a free copy of Dragon Ball FighterZ in their libraries.

As Wario64 notes over on social media platform X, as well as the many comments on the post, this trick both works and is live at the moment of publishing. In other words, the glitch has yet to be closed, but it will likely be shortly once Xbox catches on. Whether it will remove the game from the libraries of those that exploited the glitch, remains to be seen.

Those that don’t have Xbox Game Pass but want to take advantage of this deal can always sign up for a one month subscription, and only pay $1 rather than the normal $14.99 thanks to a special promotional price. This is a small price to pay considering the game itself is normally $59.99.

As for what has triggered this glitch, we don’t know, but it is not the first Free Play Days promotion game to suffer this glitch. In other words, it is a reoccurring problem for Xbox.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Now Has Free Anime Movies

As for the game, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a 2018 release from storied fighting developer Arc System Works, which brought the fighting game to market with the help of Bandai Namco, who publishes all the Dragon Ball games. Upon release, the game garnered Metacritic scores ranging from 85 to 87, and as of May 2023, it has sold over 10 million copies, making it a substantial commercial success. It also notably won Best Fighting Game at The Game Awards that year.

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

The post Xbox Series X Glitch Gives Users $60 Game for Free (Here’s How To Do It) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Forza Horizon 5 has been an Xbox exclusive for several years now, but that will come to an end this spring. Xbox announced a PlayStation 5 version several weeks ago, but we haven’t known exactly when to expect it. Today, Xbox revealed that the game will be released April 29th on Sony’s system. This will mark the first time that the series has ever been on a PlayStation platform, and for those that have never experienced a Forza Horizon game, there’s never been a better excuse.

Forza Horizon 5 was released on Xbox platforms back in 2021, and the game won several awards that year. Notably, Forza Horizon 5 won Best Audio Design, Innovation in Accessibility, and Best Sports Racing Game from The Game Awards. Critics and audiences alike offered heavy praise for the game’s visuals and its take on Mexico, and it will be interesting to see if the PlayStation audience decides to give the game a chance. When Forza Horizon 5 is released on April 29th, it will cost $59.99. Pre-orders are available on the PlayStation Store right now.

For those that have never played a Forza Horizon game before, the series features open world environments. While Forza Horizon 4 took players to Great Britain, Forza Horizon 5 focused on Mexico. The country was selected due to its unique biomes, which offer players a chance to experience different weather patterns as they explore the country and find new races and challenges to take on. That makes it significantly different from the standard Forza series, as well as PlayStation’s Gran Turismo.

Now that Xbox has revealed a PS5 release date for Forza Horizon 5, hopefully we’ll find out soon when Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will make its debut on the console. The game is expected sometime in the first half of 2025 and, like Forza Horizon 5, it was very well-received upon its release last year. Prior to making their PlayStation debut, both games were 2 of the best reasons to own an Xbox console. While some Xbox fans are disappointed that they’ll no longer be console exclusives, putting them on PlayStation will greatly expand the potential audience. At the very least, that should help build interest in future Forza games.

RELATED: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Platforms Have Leaked

With Forza and Indiana Jones both coming to PS5 this year, it remains to be seen whether those games will also arrive on another platform. In addition to PS5, Xbox has been bringing games to Nintendo Switch over the last year. However, the Nintendo system’s limitations have prevented Microsoft from bringing over more technically demanding titles. With Nintendo Switch 2 set to arrive sometime in 2025, there’s a good chance we could see both Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle released on the new system.

Are you excited for the PS5 release of Forza Horizon 5? Will this be your first time trying this series? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Forza Horizon 5 Gets PS5 Release Date (and It’s Coming Soon) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Avowed update has been released by Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox via the PC, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. In addition to releasing a new update, the pair have also provided Avowed players with the patch notes of the update, which in turn reveal and detail everything new with the update. Unfortunately, the Avowed update — Update 1.2.4 — does not include any new content or any meaningful new features, but there are many improves and fixes.

While the aforementioned duo have provided the patch notes for Avowed Update 1.2.4, they have not provided any information about the file size of the update on any platform. However, it is safe to assume the file size will be on the smaller size considering the lack of new content and features.

Avowed Update 1.2.4 Patch Notes

Crashes & Major Issues

• Adjusted character settings so that unkillable characters will now respawn if they mysteriously die, preventing blocked quest progression.

Quests & Area Design

• Loot piles will no longer be placed in unexpected locations when created while the player is far away. Previously affected saved games will now have the loot pile back where the owning character died.
• Players who killed Kostya and destroyed Solace Keep will no longer experience a dropped conversation when speaking with the leaders of the Living Lands during The Siege of Paradis. (Players with affected saves can now simply walk in and out of the meeting space to retrigger the conversation.)
• Bounty Masters in Dawnshore, Shatterscarp, and Galawain’s Tusks now correctly allow players to turn in bounties, even if they have acquired more trophy items than expected.
• Vemas now allows players to turn in Debt of Blood, even if they had already spoken to him upon returning.
• The player will no longer become stuck with no objectives active during An Untimely End.
• Fixed an issue where the player could become stuck in the environment near Dehengen’s Cottage.
• Enemy loot will no longer disappear if the player killed Ygwulf and the assassins in the Cistern, saved their game, and then reloaded that save.
• Ambassador Hylgard can no longer die from drowning in The Strangleroot while following the player, which was preventing him from appearing at the embassy in Paradis.
• The player will no longer be blocked from finishing Ancient Soil if Fior mes Iverno becomes inaccessible.

Systems & Gameplay Improvements

• Godless chests and sarcophagi now have currency in their loot lists.
• Upgrade materials (metal, wood, leather) are now more consistently available across stores in each region.
• Upgrade materials now properly refresh when store stock updates.
• Autosave frequency has been changed from 5 minutes to 10 minutes by default. (This can still be adjusted in player settings.)
• Autosave slots increased from 3 to 5.
• The ability Bleeding Cuts now applies Bleed Accumulation more reliably.
• Logging into Xbox Network on Steam no longer resets the player’s selected language setting.
• Kai is now less likely to teleport inside a wall while using Leap of Daring.
• Companions now assist in combat more reliably.

Visual & Art Fixes

• Militia Guard patrolling Claviger’s Landing now has the correct neck texture.
• Adjusted health bar position for the enemy Putrid Skeleton Wizard.
• Fixed jittering of player hair and armor when afflicted by Poison Accumulation.
• Reduced opacity of a water fountain inside Ondra’s Temple.

User Interface (UI) & Controls

• Expanded controller rebind options:
  • Most controller inputs can now be rebound, except for UI Navigation, Pause Menu, and Ledger navigation.
• Companion abilities bound to the Quick Slot menu no longer become undone after reloading a save.
• Added new settings for controller users to adjust gamepad look acceleration strength and ramp-up time.
• Corrected typos in the Encumbrance tutorial and on the Compiling Shaders screen (now correctly states “a few minutes” instead of “a few moments”).

Miscellaneous

• Launching Avowed with DirectX 11 is now disabled, as the game does not support it.
  • Some players have been using a DirectX 11 launch parameter as a workaround for various crashes, performance problems, or compatibility concerns. However, this can introduce additional problems that we cannot troubleshoot or resolve, including unexpected visual or performance issues.

Avowed is available via the PC, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. For more Avowed news, as well as Avowed rumors and leaks, click here.

The post Avowed Update 1.2.4 Live, Here’s What It Does appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Obsidian Entertainment’s Xbox console exclusive RPG Avowed released just over a week ago and lets players explore several sections of the world of Eora. Based in the world of the developers’s critically acclaimed Pillars of Eternity series, players enter the Living Lands as the Aedyr Empire’s envoy set out to investigate the Dream Scourge plague. Before its release, the game’s scope was confirmed to be similar to The Outer Worlds which is a much more confined experience with side quests that extend play time. It seems that notion is true as some users have started finishing the game, and wondering why a New Game Plus mode isn’t available at launch.

In several recent Reddit threads, Avowed players are urging Obsidian Entertainment to add a New Game Plus mode. Similar to the mode present in many video games like Marvel’s Spider-Man and Batman: Arkham City, this allows players to take their character from their previous playthrough and take it to a brand new game with all their gear and upgrades available right from the start. Avowed is already a game that rewards replayability with its branching dialogue choices and flexible skill tree, but many players argue New Game Plus would have been an excellent addition on day one. Some even suggest they’ll be done playing the game after just one playthrough.

“Yeah no NG+ makes me done with the game after one playthrough,” says Reddit user lovagexo. “I would be interested in running through the game again to try different endings and builds.”

One reason Avowed players want a New Game Plus mode pertains to the game’s weapon drops. Specifically, players suggest many of the unique weapons and armor can be found in the latter half of the game. This means there isn’t much room for experimentation with some of the more powerful and interesting weapons and armor sets Avowed has to offer. Having a New Game Plus option would allow players time to find a build they like, and mow through enemies in the story once again.

“The amount of gear you unlock the last couple hours of play with interesting perks with virtually no time to experiment with is super deflating,” says Reddit user Cltxlv. “Without trying to spoil anything, the amount of upgrade materials you get in the final area is the perfect setup to carry you into a NG+ along with the billion different unique items you collected yet never used.”

RELATED: Avowed Is Missing Basic Features Games Like Skyrim Had a Decade Ago

Some users believe Obsidian Entertainment will add New Game Plus in the future. The developer doesn’t have much history with adding the mode to its games, but it isn’t unrealistic to think it could come. After all, the studio did add the mode to its survival game Grounded. This has given some players hope that Obsidian will add the mode at a later date. Some even suggest just waiting to replay the game when the mode releases.

“I would honestly just wait before replaying it on Path of the Damned,” says Reddit user Alilatias. “I’m nearing the end of my blind Path of the Damned difficulty run, and I imagine the devs are going to patch the game up with a bunch of stuff including NG+ that would make another playthrough more enjoyable. As it currently is now, some weapon types don’t get anything fun in regards to unique effects until over halfway through the game.”

Do you think Avowed should add a New Game Plus mode? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

The post Avowed Players Really Want a New Game+ Mode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox and Playground Games have delayed the upcoming RPG Fable into 2026. When Fable was most recently shown off at last summer’s Xbox Games Showcase, it also came with a broad 2025 launch window. Given that other Xbox games like Avowed, South of Midnight, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and The Outer Worlds 2 were also planned for this year, it seemed like 2025 could end up being one of Xbox’s biggest years ever. And while this might still be the case, Fable will no longer be arriving alongside these other titles.

In a new episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Craig Duncan, the head of Xbox Game Studios, confirmed that Fable would now be launching in 2026. Duncan said that this delay is simply being done to give Playground Games more time to work on Fable. While he acknowledged that this news might be disappointing to some fans, he firmly believes that pushing the game back will make it far better in the long run.

“We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time and it’s going to ship in 2026 now,” Duncan said. “While I know that’s not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it’s definitely worth the wait. And I just, I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team.”

In many ways, it’s not a shock that Fable is getting pushed back further. For starters, the game isn’t necessarily needed in 2025 given how stacked Xbox’s lineup already is on paper this year. As a result, Xbox can afford to give Playground more time to ensure that Fable will be a hit.

Outside of this, though, the previous instances in which Xbox has shown trailers for Fable have left fans with more questions than answers. To this point, we still haven’t seen live gameplay footage of Fable which has many wondering how the game will even play. Because so little has still been shown, it’s hardly a surprise that it’s now getting bumped into the next calendar year.

Regardless of when Fable does release in 2026, it’s planned to come to Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC platforms. Additionally, since it’s a first-party title from Xbox, it will be joining Xbox Game Pass the moment it arrives. Whether or not it will also come to PS5 on a long enough timeline remains to be seen, but previous rumors have suggested that it will hit PlayStation hardware.

The post Xbox Delays Fable to 2026 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Gamers are used to servers going down. It’s an unfortunate reality of the modern gaming industry, and it can be pretty frustrating when you want to sit down and play something but can’t do so. That’s exactly what happened to Marvel Rivals players last night, who found that the game couldn’t be accessed for several hours. Developer NetEase has managed to fix things, and there shouldn’t be any further issues. However, the team is giving everyone a little gift for their troubles in the form of 200 Units. It’s a nice freebie, and all accounts should be able to grab it right now.

“Hey Rivals, Servers are back up! Sorry for the inconvenience. As a token of our appreciation for your patience, we’ve credited your account with 200 units as compensation. Please make sure to log into the game and claim your compensation item from your in-game mail by March 12, 2025, 00:00 UTC+0,” a post from the game’s official X/Twitter account reads.

Units are the in-game currency used in Marvel Rivals. Players will need a lot more than 200 if they want to purchase anything from the in-game store; the cheapest skin you’re going to find right now is the Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 costume, which is currently available for 1,400 Units. However, it’s always nice to get something extra, and it seems like a lot of people are happy about the compensation. Several Marvel Rivals players have already thanked NetEase, and have said that other developers could stand to be a little more generous in that regard.

As noted in the post from NetEase, this compensation won’t last forever; it can only be claimed through March 12th. Marvel Rivals players have been advised to reach out to NetEase through the company’s Discord channel if they encounter any additional server issues. Thankfully, the game seems to be working just fine at the moment. That doesn’t mean things can’t change, but hopefully we won’t see additional problems anytime soon. Server downtime is always a pain, but at least this happened on a random weeknight, rather than on the weekend when a lot more players would have been inconvenienced!

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Mantis Actress Was Told Not to Use the MCU for Inspiration

Marvel Rivals players can put those free Units towards some new skins coming to the game later this week. Yesterday, NetEase revealed two new costumes that will be launching in the game on February 27th. The costumes include the Punk Rage look for Hulk, and the Punkchild design for Magik. As the names imply, these new costume designs give the heroes punk inspired redesigns, which could be tempting for those who main either character. Some fans might prefer designs that come straight from the comics or other games, but it’s nice to see Marvel Rivals offering totally original ones as well.

Are you happy about this compensation from the Marvel Rivals team? What skins do you plan on buying? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Marvel Rivals Servers Are Back Up Now, and All Users Are Getting a Nice Freebie appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been a big day for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Following today’s announcement that To a T will be coming to Game Pass in May, LocalThunk has revealed that Balatro will be available on the service at some point today. As of this writing, Balatro does not seem to be up on Xbox consoles; a search on Xbox Series X|S and the mobile app only brings up the Microsoft Store and the game’s $14.99 price point. Hopefully it won’t be too much longer before it becomes playable. In addition to the news of Balatro‘s Game Pass arrival, LocalThunk has pulled back the curtain on Friends of Jimbo (Pack 4).

The new Balatro update will contain collaborations with several different games. Players can expect to see Assassin’s Creed, Bugsnax, Slay the Princess, Fallout, Dead by Daylight, Rust, and more represented. This might be the most high-profile Friends of Jimbo update so far, and it’s a testament to Balatro‘s massive popularity. The new update will be available today on all of the game’s current platforms, including consoles, PC, and mobile. A trailer featuring the new card options can be found below.

The release of Balatro on Xbox Game Pass is a pretty big deal. The game released in February 2024 to rave reviews, and won numerous awards throughout the year. Most notably, Balatro received five nominations at The Game Awards, including overall Game of the Year. Balatro came up short against Astro Bot, but it did manage to take home the awards for Best Independent Game, Best Debut Indie Game, and Best Mobile Game. For those that didn’t give it a try last year, or somehow weren’t aware of it, its availability on Xbox Game Pass should open up Balatro to a new audience.

One of the greatest things about Xbox Game Pass is that it gives subscribers an excuse to try something they might not have otherwise. The service isn’t perfect, but it does help build a lot of awareness around games, and that can often lead to interest even on non-Xbox platforms. It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone that isn’t aware of Balatro at this point, but the game’s card based gameplay might have made some potential players hesitant to spend the money on it. Now that it’s included in Game Pass subscriptions, there’s really no excuse not to see what the fuss is about.

RELATED: New Xbox Controller Similar to PS5 DualSense Leaks

Following Balatro‘s release, there’s just one more game left to arrive on Xbox Game Pass in the month of February. On February 25th, Watch Dogs: Legion will be released on console, PC, and cloud, through Game Pass Standard, Ultimate, and PC. Though February is quickly drawing to a close, we can probably expect to hear next week about the Xbox Game Pass lineup for the first half of March.

Are you excited about Balatro coming to Xbox Game Pass? Have you been looking for an excuse to try the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Balatro Gets Surprise Release on Xbox Game Pass, Reveals New Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

March isn’t even here yet, but Xbox Game Pass has revealed a game that will be coming to the service in May. This morning, Xbox and Anna Purna Interactive announced a May 28th release date for To a T. At this time, we don’t know if the game will be available through cloud streaming, or if it will be on PC Game Pass (though it is coming to Steam). However, we do know it can only be installed to Xbox Series X|S, and not Xbox One. We can probably expect to learn a lot more as the release date approaches.

For those unfamiliar with To a T, the game is the latest from designer Keita Takahashi. Takahashi is best known as the director of Katamari Damacy, as well as We Love Katamari. Like those games, the concept for To a T is fairly unique. The game centers around a teenager named Teen that has arms that stick out to each side, forming the shape of the letter “T.” Teen does not know or understand why his arms are in this position, only that the people in his life tell him that he’s the perfect shape. In the game’s debut trailer, Teen reveals that “the little things are hard for me.” That trailer can be found below.

To a T is being made in collaboration with the AbleGamers charity. Among its many goals, AbleGamers seeks to offer greater representation for those with disabilities. Given that, there’s a lot we can interpret about To a T and its overall themes. As players explore the game’s world, they’ll have to accomplish tasks in ways that are different from everyone else. While Teen’s mom and dog often have to help him with certain tasks, it appears that the shape of his body will give him the ability to spin like a propeller and fly in the sky.

Details about To a T are pretty slim at the moment, but the game already seems to have a lot of anticipation surrounding it. Takahashi’s previous games have earned a lot of praise over the years, and To a T already looks promising from both a concept and design standpoint. Hopefully the game’s presence on Xbox Game Pass will convince subscribers to give it a chance, even if they might not have otherwise.

RELATED: New Xbox Controller Similar to PS5 DualSense Leaks

For those that have never played any of Takahashi’s past works, We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is currently available on Xbox Game Pass. To a T looks a lot different from the Katamari games, but it should give players a better idea of Takahashi’s style, and help them kill some time while we’re all waiting for the designer’s latest to arrive on Xbox Game Pass.

Are you excited to play To a T when it’s released on Xbox Game Pass? Have you played any of Keita Takahashi’s previous games? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Wario64]

The post Xbox Game Pass Day One Game To a T Has a May Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Xbox controller is apparently in the works at Microsoft. According to leaker eXtas1s, evidence for a new Xbox controller has been discovered in Cloud Gaming files. If real, the controller will feature several changes over the current design, including some that fans have been requesting for years now. Notably, the controller will borrow elements from the PS5 DualSense, including haptic feedback. In addition, it seems that Xbox is finally planning to abandon traditional batteries in favor of a rechargeable battery built into the controller itself. Lastly, there will be an option to wake the controller using a gesture.

As with any rumor, readers are encouraged to take this with a grain of salt, pending an official announcement. That said, an Xbox controller that uses haptic feedback is one of the worst kept secrets in gaming. Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been praising the DualSense since 2020, noting that the company would have to keep an eye on innovations like that and gauge developer expectations. A few years later, documents were accidentally leaked during the FTC v Microsoft case in 2023, revealing plans for an Xbox controller that integrated haptic feedback. Basically, we know Xbox likes the technology and has been working on adding it to their own controllers, so this leak isn’t too surprising. The difference is, eXtas1s is now suggesting that we could see it soon, rather than having to wait until the release of the next Xbox console.

The addition of haptic feedback to Xbox controllers could convince more developers to take advantage of the option. A common complaint from PS5 owners is that developers haven’t truly embraced the DualSense’s technology. It’s possible this is because developers don’t see it worth their time to add a feature that can only be used by players on a single platform. If Xbox adds it, this could actually work out in everyone’s favor, becoming more commonly used throughout the video game industry. That would also kind of line up with what Spencer has said in the past.

While both Nintendo and PlayStation controllers use rechargeable batteries, Xbox has been hesitant to do the same. Xbox users can purchase a rechargeable battery for the controller, but it uses two AA batteries by default. In the past, Xbox has suggested that this decision was made to please both fans that prefer traditional batteries, and those that want a rechargeable option. There are people that prefer having the option to easily swap out batteries, as it makes it more likely that the controller will last far into the future. However, it’s possible that Xbox no longer thinks it’s worth catering to fans with that preference.

RELATED: Xbox Wants to Use AI to Preserve Video Games, and Fans Already Hate the Idea

Between the recent leaks shared by eXtas1s and those leaked internal documents from 2023, it’s a pretty safe bet that haptic feedback is coming to Xbox platforms at some point in the future. How long that might take is anyone’s guess, but hopefully an official announcement comes sometime soon.

Do you want to see an Xbox controller that features haptic feedback? What do you think about these potential improvements? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New Xbox Controller Similar to PS5 DualSense Leaks appeared first on ComicBook.com.

This week, Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox released Avowed on PC and Xbox consoles. It is unclear how well the new RPG is selling or how many Xbox Game Pass subscriptions it is driving, but it does currently boast an 80 on Metacritic, a very solid score. That said, some dated aspects of the RPG have come into question and earned criticism online. To this end, it is missing some fairly basic RPG features that RPG fans have been enjoying for many years. In particular, it has drawn comparisons to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, largely due to the fact both are fantasy RPGs doing similar things, but also because it is a comparison that highlights just how bare bones Avowed is in parts. More than this, it doesn’t even compare to some previous Obsidian RPGs.

For comparison, there is no crime system in Avowed like there is in Skyrim. More than this, you can’t even attack people or creatures if they are not marked as enemies. You can physically do it, but the NPCs will not respond. Both of these things of course erode at the immersive quality of the game.

What is perhaps more damning though is that NPCs are completely stationary with minimal movement. They don’t freely walk around or even have routines. And it gives the game a very dead feeling. And it has not gone unnoticed.

For Avowed to be lauded as a great RPG of this generation while it is a regression from RPGs that are over a decade old shows how far the standards have slid. This same studio was making Fallout: New Vegas in 2010, 15 years ago. Obsidian Entertainment was not just making better RPGs 15 years ago, but in some ways, more technically impressive RPGs 15 years ago. How did this happen?

What the budget of Avowed was, we don’t know. Obsidian Entertainment is not a small studio, but it is also multi-project studio, so it is tough to gauge what resources were dumped into this project. However, it does have Microsoft money flowing through it, so the game was certainly not on a shoestring budget.

While there is no doubt Avowed is a decent game, there is also no doubting it is a little shallow in places, at least set to the standards of RPG greats. And some fans have certainly noticed this. There are many posts on X and elsewhere similar to the one above. That said, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Are RPG fans being too harsh on Avowed?

The post Avowed Is Missing Basic Features Games Like Skyrim Had a Decade Ago appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users have a AAA Xbox game to download for free for a limited time. Once downloaded, the free Xbox game is free to keep perpetually. That said, the free offer is only available until March 20. After this, the AAA game in question will revert back to its normal price. As a 2019 release, the Xbox game is technically an Xbox One game, but it is playable on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X via backward compatibility. Meanwhile, this is the first time the game has ever been made free on Xbox, excluding Xbox Game Pass.

The 2019 game specifically comes the way of Bethesda. While Bethesda is best known for series such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, it is also responsible for many other popular series in gaming such as DOOM, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Prey, Quake, Rage, and The Evil Within, as well as some notable one-offs like Hi-Fi Rush, Ghostwire: Tokyo, Starfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Wet, and Deathloop. It is specifically the Wolfenstein series that has provided the new, free Xbox game.

Even more specific than this, Wolfenstein: Youngblood is currently free for some Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users. For those unfamiliar with it, the Wolfenstein series debuted all the way back in 1981. Not ONLY is it a pioneer in the first-person shooter space, but a pioneer in video games, especially in the PC space. That said, Wolfenstein: Youngblood is actually the latest installment in the series having released in 2019 as a spin-off to 2014’s Wolfenstein: The New Order and 2017’s Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. And not only is it nowhere near as pioneering as some previous games in the series, it may have killed the franchise.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood was notably one of the biggest flops of 2019, as evident by its Metacritic scores in the 60s, which is 20 points lower than the aforementioned duo. In other words, it is not worth its normal asking price, but those with a lingering interest or who want to complete the series, can currently grab it for free on the Microsoft Store via Prime Gaming, aka with an Amazon Prime subscription. Similarly, those on PC can also grab the game for free via Prime Gaming. Typically, Prime Gaming only deals in PC codes, so the fact it has a free game for Xbox users is a rare occurrence.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Now Has Free Anime Movies

For those unfamiliar with Prime Gaming, it is part of an Amazon Prime subscription and dishes out free games every month. Typically, the free games are PC games spread across various storefronts, but on occasion console games are offered. Unlike a subscription service like Xbox Game Pass, which is just a glorified rental, games downloaded with Prime Gaming are retained regardless of whether or not an active subscription to Amazon Prime is maintained.

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

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Now’s the best time to return on Indy’s adventure. Today, Bethesda and MachineGames released the long-awaited Update 3 patch notes for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which was teased earlier this week. The new update brings a lot of bug fixes and issues with the audio and graphics. Plus, it adds a new quality-of-life feature, as repair kits can now be used in the inventory screen rather than just in-game. However, one of the key assets of Update 3 is the support of NVIDIA DLSS 4, which also brings ray-tracing and upscaling.

Released in December, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle made quite a splash with critics and fans. It already became Xbox Series X|S’ best-rated exclusive of 2024, which is a feat as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 came out and received rave reviews. While the game is currently available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, it will launch on PlayStation 5 in Spring, though no specifics were given. Still, these changes do hold well for that release, at least with the bugs (and thankfully no snakes).

RELATED: Disney Reportedly Wants More Indiana Jones Games

As mentioned before, Update 3 of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle brings support for NVIDIA DLSS 4, as well as Intel XESS 1.4 upscaling and AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling and frame generation technology. This is no doubt good news to those who use them, as they can play Indy’s best-reviewed journey the best way possible. Plus, the team promises to add more support, as well as community-requested features like the repair kit fix previously mentioned. With bugs, many of them deal with minor spoilers of the narrative, so if you have yet to dive into the adventure, be warned!

The patch notes for Update 3 of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle can be found below:

New Features

NVIDIA DLSS 4

• Update 3 brings support for NVIDIA DLSS 4: a suite of rendering technologies that boosts framerates, increases performance, and improves image quality! – Players using supported NVIDIA hardware can enable Multi Frame Generation (3x, 4x) using the new transformer-based model – Ray Reconstruction increases the clarity and stability of ray-traced images – DLAA and DLSS Super Resolution have also been updated to the transformer-based model. These options when enabled enhance native and upscaled image quality, respectively

Ray-Traced Local Lights

• For players who have Path Tracing enabled, this update includes a new option for ray-traced shadows to include all light sources, which significantly increases the quality of shadows in interior locations. (Players can also choose to keep the previous setting, which provides ray-traced shadows from the sun only.)

Path Tracing (Full Ray Tracing) Support for AMD and Intel Graphics Cards

• This update brings Path Tracing to supported Intel and AMD GPUs. To use Path Tracing, your Intel or AMD graphics card must support Hardware Ray Tracing and have at least 16GB of VRAM. Please make sure to download the latest drivers from your GPU manufacturer! Note that in foliage-dense locations, such as Sukhothai, reducing Vegetation Animation Quality below the “Ultra” settings can reduce the occasional shadow “popping” that may be seen on all graphics cards using Path Tracing.

FSR 3.1, including Frame Generation

• Update 3 adds support for AMD FSR 3.1 upscaling and frame generation technology.

Intel XESS 1.4

• Update 3 also adds support for Intel XESS 1.4 upscaling.

Quality of Life Updates

• Repair kits can now also be used by selecting them directly from the inventory (Rather than only by selecting your broken weapon or tool!)

Bug Fixes — Minor Spoilers Ahead!

General

• Fixed an issue where players would be unable to use ladders, squeeze through walls, or climb vines in Sukhothai; particularly during the Blessed Pearl mission
• Fixed an issue that could prevent players from picking up certain medicine bottles in the Vatican
• Fixed an issue that could temporarily stop you from being able to punch or block if you had picked up an item while the game was saving
• Fixed an issue where the camera could be stuck in third person when backing out of certain third-person interactions
• Fixed an issue where the player and enemies might take damage while walking through an open doorway after restarting a checkpoint
• Fixed issue where notes might clip through the front of the screen when inspecting them
• Fixed an issue where players could accidentally drop their Camera or Lighter while inspecting items for purchase
• Fixed an issue that could make items disappear if players tried to pick up objects while vaulting over objects
• Fixed an issue where inspectable items could be lost if picked up at the same moment an enemy punched you
• Fixed an issue that could make the “Restricted Area” HUD marker to be offset after restarting a checkpoint
• Fixed an issue where camera shake would permanently occur when revisiting Gizeh
• Fixed an issue where a bullet could be seen in the Luger chamber even when the gun is empty
• Fixed an issue where players could pour wine from their Camera in the Five Sacred Wounds puzzle
• Fixed an issue where the player’s view could be tilted after being released from a whip pull by Voss
• Fixed an issue that caused enemy soldiers leaning on objects to spin unnaturally when alerted by the player

Graphics

• Fixed remaining issues where animation update rate was inconsistent in some cutscenes, causing visible shaking or stuttering
• Fixed issue where the pouring water streams were not visible during the initial collapse of the Ziggurat in Sukhothai
• Fixed an issue that let players see out of world in the Vatican Dig Site

Missions and Quests

• Fixed an issue where players could not take a photo of Uncle Sunan when revisiting Sukhothai, or after skipping a cutscene between Sunan and Pailin
• Fixed an issue that could prevent collecting the ‘Fried Egg’ Field Note in Sukhothai, and the Ostracan Shard in Gizeh after restarting checkpoints
• Fixed an issue that could prevent players from being able to turn in Radio Frequencies at the radio stations when revisiting Sukhothai (since Gina would not be present)
• Fixed an issue where players could not unlock the “Shadows out of Time” achievement if they had any Ancient Relics placed in the Puzzle Boards in Iraq. (I.e. if you did not have all 50 Relics in your inventory.) For players who have already completed the puzzle, simply revisiting Iraq will now unlock the achievement
• Fixed an issue where collecting the last ancient relic for “Riddles of the Ancients” did not update the counter in the UI, giving the impression there was still another to collect. Also fixed issues where this mission had no description on your map information, and certain Ancient Relic markers did not appear on the Sukhothai and Vatican maps
• Fixed an issue that could prevent the players from re-collecting Khmer Cogs if they changed the puzzle difficulty after solving the Khmer Gate puzzle
• Fixed an issue where the player could obtain the rebreather in Sukhothai before ever getting the objective to talk to Tongdang, preventing the player from getting the next mission objective
• Fixed an issue where Field Notes could still be tracked even when all notes had been collected
• Fixed several issues where an unneeded note marker would appear under the world
• Fixed an issue where Adventure Books were not shown on the map after acquiring the Ziggurat Guide in Iraq
• Fixed an issue where Ability Book and guide markers appeared on the Sukhothai map before players acquired the guides from Tongdang
• Fixed an issue where certain map markers near the end of the Vatican level did not appear on the main map, but only on your local map
• Fixed an issue where taking photos of the monkey posters in Sukhothai did not remove their in-world markers
• Fixed an issue where the cogwheel markers might not appear if players purchased the map information pamphlet after a certain point in Sukhothai
• Fixed an issue where the main Sukhothai main map could be lost if you put it down after inspecting it (instead of collecting it)
• Fixed an issue where Gina would not leave Wat Si Sawai if you left the temple while she was talking with Aran
• Fixed an issue that could prevent the desk drawer being opened in the poker tent in Gizeh
• Fixed an issue where Gina could open the cavern door in Iraq by herself, leading to the cavern being empty of all enemies
• Added additional voice lines to help the player understand that they should run away from the Nephilim in the dream sequence in Sukhothai, rather than fight
• Fixed an issue where players could not pick up the Priest outfit from Antonio if they tried to do it too quickly
• Fixed an issue that prevented players from getting into the boat in the escape from the Hotel sequence in Sukhothai if they pushed the interact button too many times
• Fixed an issue where players could spawn inside the ground when revisiting Sukhothai
• Fixed an issue where the last objective of a mission was still displayed on the HUD after all Adventures and Field Work were completed in a level
• Fixed an issue where the World of Knowledge quest could complete when arriving outside the Vatican for the first time
• In Marshall College, we increased the visibility the outlines of the cat mummy photo and gramophone record (in Indy’s office) from further away

Audio

• Fixed an issue where Indy would repeat his line about, “The Yeak in the water,” whenever surfacing from a dive in Sukhothai
• Fixed an issue where Indy would repeat dialogue about Voss’s gold stash in Sukhothai (“Well you’re not bribing anyone with this, Voss”), long after having completed that mission
• Fixed an issue where Gina would repeat her lines from the ambush (“That was too close”) while you are in the boat. Please note this will, unfortunately, not correct the issue for players who are currently experiencing the bug, but it will prevent it from happening again
• Improvements to combat and stealth music transitions, to make them more seamless
• Added sound for heavyweight enemies breaking out of a clinch
• Raised the volume of the enemy mounted machineguns in Sukhothai hotel shootout
• Corrected the sound type when walking on the boat near Forrestal’s camp in Peru
• Fixed Annika Lund’s effort voices in Sukhothai when she is traversing objects
• Updated Indy’s effort voices when sliding
• Added sounds for when Indy pushes the dragon statue at the Fountain of Sacrament
• Fixed Indy repeating the same VO line when picking up recipe note in Borgia Tower
• Fixed issues where environmental sounds disappeared or were incorrect in several locations in the Vatican and Sukhothai
• Fixed an issue where voice reactions to getting hit from a dart in Peru would get cut off prematurely
• Added voice lines when photographing the sewer bridge and Great Tower Hall in the Vatican
• Stopped Indy from repeating his voice lines when returning to speak to Aran, or when cancelling your interaction with the Prayer Wheel in Sukhothai
• The music during the game loading sequence is now affected by the overall volume setting

Stability

• Fixed a freeze that could occur when skipping the credits at the end of the game shortly after loading a save
• Fixed several crashes that could occur in very specific circumstances in the following states:
  • While writing out a save game
  • When picking up and interacting with objects
  • When updating hints while using Indy’s camera
  • After updating gamepad bindings and then moving to a new location
  • When inspecting Laura’s journal in Voss’ office in Gizeh
  • In certain UI states

PC Specific Fixes

• Fixed an issue that could cause the game to crash at startup with some graphics cards
• Many fixes and improvements have been made to environment lights, to present a more natural appearance when Path Tracing is enabled
• Fixed an issue where Nvidia Low Latency mode would cause inconsistent frame rates
• Fixed issue where Nvidia Frame Generation became disabled when HDR was toggled on
• Fixed an issue that could prevent Xbox Cloud saves from being loaded on the Steam release of the game
• Fixed an issue where game did not render correctly if using DLSS at 3440×1440 resolution in Widescreen picture framing
• Fixed an issue where players could be partially control locked when opening and closing the Game Bar overlay
• Fixed an issue where Indy’s hair was missing in reflections when using Path Tracing
• Fixed some issues with light leaks in underground locations in Gizeh when Path Tracing is enabled

Xbox Specific fixes

• Fixed an issue where some lamps / light sources would flicker or turn off, depending on viewing angle.

Localization

• Many text corrections and updates to menu text and subtitles across all languages
• Various fixes to voiceover localization in many languages
• Fixed some errors on stone tablet inscriptions in Gizeh and in Marshall College
• Fixed some errors in the street and shop signage in Shanghai

The post Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Releases Update 3 Patch Notes appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Looking for a new gaming controller? SCUF Gaming has got you covered. Today, the company revealed its next controller, the SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller. Made for Xbox and PC, the controller takes a lot from its collaborations with esports talent and more, though welcoming to all gamers. At $99.99, it makes for a less expensive option for those who want to get the most out of their experiences playing their favorite titles. Even more so, the controller is available now to purchase, so those interested can purchase it right away.

In terms of specs, the SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller delivers a cutting-edge experience for gamers of all types, especially competitive ones for games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Marvel Rivals. A variety of features are included with the controller, from remappable paddles and anti-drift Hall Effect thumbsticks to ultra-fast polling rate response time and audio controls. It’s available in four different colors: steel gray, black, white, and smoke. With SCUF Gaming’s decades of experience in the gaming business, you can rest assured that it is held to high standards and meets the requirements of the fanbase. In fact, the design of the controller was made with that in mind, being more compact and comfortable while keeping the signature Xbox style. 

RELATED: Scuf Gaming Launches New Scuf Instinct Controllers for the Xbox Series X|S

Speaking on behalf of SCUF Gaming, General Manager Aron Drayer said,

“Experienced Xbox and PC gamers are looking for a controller that can deliver the highest possible performance for their favorite games. The SCUF Valor Pro Wired takes more than thirteen years of SCUF knowledge and expertise in design to deliver the ultimate in control, speed and customization.”

As mentioned before, there are some interesting features available with the SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller. One is back paddles, which map to buttons so you can easily access and use them without much movement. This controller allows you to map them however you want, so if you want to map the jump function in a game to one, you may. Meanwhile, one of SCUF’s signature features is the Anti-Drift Hall Effect Thumbsticks. Using magnets, the thumbsticks will feel more responsive while reducing drift that may happen, enabling precise aim for those who want it. 

While the SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller does help gamers who play competitively, it does seem like those who don’t will still find it useful for games. For example, with the many first-person titles on the market like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Avowed, being able to play however you want and feel comfortable doing so is a pretty nice deal. Plus, with the upcoming releases of DOOM: The Dark Ages and Atomfall, it seems it may be a good controller to try out for those.

The SCUF Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller is available now at select retailers like Amazon and at SCUF’s website and costs $99.99.

The post SCUF Gaming Reveals New Valor Pro Wired Performance Controller appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Avowed has a small, but very useful feature that players think should be a standard for future RPGs. Video games are constantly moving forward at a rapid rate and every studio is learning something from each other. It’s a very innovative industry and one that is also often chasing trends. Things like live service games, battle royale titles, and hero shooters are some of the most iterated types of games out there, it seems like every video game publisher wants one of those things under their belt. However, there are also much smaller ways to learn from each other that can make all the difference.

Avowed is the latest release from Obsidian, one of the most renowned RPG developers in the world. The studio was acquired by Xbox in the late 2010s and was seen as a sizable acquisition and one that would prove valuable for the gaming giant. Now, Obsidian has released its first brand new game that was completely conceptualized and developed under Xbox. While there has been some contention over its quality among gamers, Avowed has been a hit with critics thus far and continues Xbox’s recent stellar exclusive line-up following Stalker 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. It’s largely seen as a successor to Skyrim as it lifts a lot from the beloved Bethesda RPG in terms of gameplay and overall aesthetic, but Obsidian did toss in one small feature that really sets it apart from other games.

Avowed’s New Lore Feature Should Be in More RPGs

Avowed has a feature that essentially allows you to view a glossary for key phrases pertaining to the game’s rich lore. During conversations with characters, Avowed will highlight key words that may not immediately make sense to players. You can then open up a menu within the dialogue tree to quickly read a quick definition/description of what these words mean. It is immensely helpful to quickly understanding what people are talking about without disrupting gameplay. Of course, Avowed isn’t the first game to have lore dumps or anything like that, but those are usually buried deep in the menus with lengthy walls of text.

This particular feature is much more easy to grasp and allows you to access it to help inform how you respond to characters in Avowed. I have personally used this menu a lot while playing Avowed and can vouch for how useful it is, especially as someone who hasn’t dabbled in Pillars of Eternity – the universe that Avowed is set in. It was one of the key points I cited in my review for Avowed as to why the game is so great. Other seem to think so as well as members of the Avowed subreddit speak highly of it, noting that they’ve appreciated it since its inclusion in Pillars of Eternity.

Whether someone like Bethesda will take advantage of this feature in The Elder Scrolls VI, especially since they are colleagues with Obsidian as Xbox studios, remains to be seen. Either way, it’s nice to see a studio not compromising on crafting rich lore for its game, but also making sure there are ways for players to easily digest it. Players have been praising Avowed for its beautiful world since its early access release and even discovering fun secrets, such as an Avatar: The Last Airbender Easter egg.

The post Avowed Players Say This Feature Should Be the “New Standard” for RPGs appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Video game preservation has been treated as a major priority for Xbox over the last few years. The company’s efforts with backwards compatibility are far superior to anything seen from competitors like Sony and Nintendo, and Xbox Series X|S users have benefitted as a result. There has been a lot to celebrate when it comes to Xbox’s preservation efforts, but fans aren’t too impressed with the company’s latest idea. Today, Xbox shared its vision to use its generative AI model Muse for multiple purposes, including game preservation. Naturally, this is already raising some eyebrows.

“Today, countless classic games tied to aging hardware are no longer playable by most people. Thanks to this breakthrough, we are exploring the potential for Muse to take older back catalog games from our studios and optimize them for any device. We believe this could radically change how we preserve and experience classic games in the future and make them accessible to more players,” writes Fatima Kardar, corporate vice president for gaming AI at Microsoft.

The blog post from Xbox has already resulted in a lot of backlash from users online. Many have pointed out that emulation of older games already exists, and does not have the same ethical, environmental, or financial costs that are associated with AI. Others have pointed out that many of the games that are missing on modern platforms have issues related to licensing. AI isn’t going to solve that, so no one knows what this technology will actually be used for. Some fans are already sharing concerns that this could be a way for Microsoft to make inferior remasters of older games.

“A classic game recreated in AI is no longer a classic game,” writes Bluesky user Mike Leiderman.

“Great idea MS, just take beloved classics and run them through the Slopmatic9000. I’d love to play versions of my faves that look like Fortnite and retain none of the intelligent design of the original creators,” writes Bluesky user Jay-RPG.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Reveals Final Games for February

It remains to be seen whether Microsoft can come up with an application for Muse that will actually win over Xbox users, but this story distills one of the biggest complaints about AI: it seems companies are desperate to find an application to the technology to justify the billions that are being invested. There are countless teams in the video game industry working to preserve video games and bring them to modern platforms, not only at Microsoft, but also at companies like GOG. Can AI offer remasters that look as good as Square Enix’s HD-2D remakes, or feel as faithful as GOG’s Resident Evil games on PC? Gamers are very skeptical, and they’re totally justified in feeling that way.

How do you feel about AI being mixed in with video game preservation? Do you think this will result in poorly created remasters? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Wants to Use AI to Preserve Video Games, and Fans Already Hate the Idea appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Earlier this week, pro skateboarder Tyshawn Jones made headlines when he revealed that he’ll be appearing in a remaster of an existing Tony Hawk game. While Activision remains quiet about its plans for the beloved series, rumors have started to circulate about the remaster, and when it will be released. According to leaker eXtas1s, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be getting a shadow drop this June during an Xbox Summer Showcase event. While that means the game will be released on Xbox Series X|S, eXtas1s says the remasters will also be made available on PC and PS5.

As with any leak, readers should take this one with a grain of salt. That being said, eXtas1s has shared some accurate leaks in the past, typically related to Xbox. Over the summer, he accurately revealed the release dates for multiple additions to Xbox Game Pass, including Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. That gives the leaker a bit more credibility, especially when it comes to Activision games.

If Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 really is coming this summer, that would be cause for excitement. Rumors about a remaster of the two games have been circulating ever since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was released back in 2020. It’s been a long wait, but clearly something is in the works. In fact, the comments from Tyshawn Jones wouldn’t be the first time we’ve gotten a leak about something Tony Hawk related in the works from Activision.

Back in September 2024, Tony Hawk himself appeared as a guest on Mythical Kitchen. In the episode, Hawk confirmed that he’d “been talking to Activision again” and that “we’re working on something.” The legendary skateboarder did not offer any additional details at the time, but it suggested that a remaster was in the works, at the very least. Hawk’s comments came just a few months after it was reported that Activision had shot down a remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, with the developer being assigned to work on Call of Duty instead.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Reveals Final Games for February

A lot has changed in the video game industry in the 5 years since Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2‘s release. Activision is now owned by Microsoft, and the latter company has shared a lot of enthusiasm about dusting off dormant franchises. Given the sheer popularity of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater franchise, it would come as no surprise if that series is being seen as a priority for Microsoft. Clearly something is in development, but whether it’s actually Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 will remain a mystery until we get some kind of an official announcement.

Would you like to see a remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4? Did you play those games when they first got released? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Gaming Leaks and Rumours]

The post Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 Remaster Rumor Reveals Platforms and Release Window appeared first on ComicBook.com.

RollerCoaster Tycoon fans got to revisit the classic joy of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 when the Complete Edition launched for PC and Nintendo Switch back in 2020. However, gamers who preferred other consoles were left waiting in line… until now. Atari has just announced that RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is making its way to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles next month. The Complete Edition brings together the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 along with two expansion packs, giving players the full coaster-building, water-park running experience.

Many coaster-creating fans consider RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 to be one of the best in the franchise. The remaster received mixed critical reviews when it released for Nintendo Switch and PC, but the player reception has largely been positive. Though not a perfect port thanks to somewhat baffling controls, the transition from PC to handheld was handled relatively well. Though it may take some getting used to, the port succeeds in giving players a portable version of the iconic RollerCoaster Tycoon title. Its appeal is largely for the nostalgia of returning to a beloved game in an iconic franchise, with all the bells and whistles available for a game that’s now headed for its 21st anniversary.

The Complete Edition brings together the original RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, plus the game’s two DLC, Wild! and Soaked! As their names suggest, these DLC let you create a mini-zoo and water park within your amusement park. This makes the possibilities for creating a chaotic attraction pretty expansive, offering hours of entertainment for fans of the franchise. With the release on Xbox Series X|S and PS5, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition will be available to pretty much anyone who wants to give the game a spin.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition PS5 and Xbox Release Date

The RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 remaster will release for Xbox and PlayStation 5 on March 20th. The game is already available to preorder on both platforms, with a price of $29.99. That’s comparable to the Nintendo Switch port, though a bit of a heftier price tag compared with the Steam version of the game. That’s likely to do with the changes necessary to convert the classic PC game to a console format. At the time of the pre-order announcement, Xbox is running a sale offering the game at $6 off. For PS Plus subscribers, a similar deal is available via the PS Store. Both discounts are available up until the game’s launch on March 20th.

RELATED: Planet Coaster 2 Roadmap Confirms Plans for Next Updates

Although the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise continues to put out new releases, many fans prefer sticking to the classics. Newer entries, such as the mobile RollerCoaster Tycoon Puzzle, switch up the genre in ways that might not suit everyone looking for that classic coaster-building feel. The mobile game, for instance, is a tile-matching game rather than a true coaster builder. Before that, RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures attempted a modernized version of the game without much success. Many fans and critics alike felt the newer entry to the series lacked the challenge and quirkiness of the original franchise.

So, for many gamers, remasters like RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition remain the best way to enjoy what they love about the RollerCoaster Tycoon franchise. With the games arriving on two new consoles this March, fans are getting another option for returning to the classics.

Are you planning to revisit RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 when the Complete Edition comes out for PS5 and Xbox? Let us know in the comments below!

The post RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition Coming to Xbox and PS5 Consoles appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Avowed has scratched an itch for me that few other RPGs have been able to scratch in recent years. That’s not to say that I haven’t enjoyed recent RPGs like the absolutely stellar Baldur’s Gate 3, but sometimes you are looking for something hyper-specific. I have been yearning for a game like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for years but no other studio makes RPGs quite like this besides Bethesda. That is until Obsidian stepped up to the plate with Avowed, a brand new fantasy RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe that clearly takes a lot of inspiration from the highly respected Elder Scrolls franchise.

Now, that doesn’t mean you should go into Avowed expecting Skyrim 2, but it’s a nice appetizer while we all wait with bated breath for The Elder Scrolls VI. Truthfully, I had low expectations for Avowed. Xbox has let me down a lot this generation with its first-party offerings and this game has been gestating for quite some time. As a result, a piece of me was prepared to be left with lukewarm feelings, but my experience was quite the opposite. 

Avowed sees players filling the shoes of an envoy sent by the Aedyr Empire to deliver a message and investigate a plague infecting a region known as the Living Lands. However, nothing is remotely simple. Within the opening hours of Avowed, your ship crashes into a hostile fortress, there are multiple coordinated attempts on your life, and you cross paths with plenty of non-violent characters who would rather you swim back to wherever you came from. It’s a story that immediately sinks its hooks in you and pulls you in closer with each new revelation.

On top of all of the political intrigue in the Living Lands, your custom created character is also a Godlike, which is someone who was personally touched by the gods before their birth and grants them special powers. This introduces a layer of divinity to Avowed as you learn more about the spiritual piece of this universe. Where things get really interesting is when you connect with some higher, almost cosmic power that is called “The Voice”, which is presented as this trapped being in some kind of spirit world. Like a genie in a bottle or a devil, it frequently presents you with tough choices. It may offer you something incredibly irresistible or lucrative, but now you are indebted to The Voice and must carry out its bidding.

You are frequently unsure of whether The Voice is actually a force for good or evil, which creates compelling situations where you hover over your dialogue options weighing out the potential consequences in your head. It’s impactful and even if certain things don’t ultimately lead to anything earth-shattering, what matters the most is that you feel like your decisions are important in the moment and you put thought into everything you do. Of course, your choices aren’t just limited to your interactions with The Voice, but that’s where you will see a lot of the heaviest choices.

Of course, like any good RPG, you also meet a colorful cast of characters along the way. All of the different party members in Avowed can benefit you in different ways thanks to their varied combat abilities, but I often chose them based on nothing more than their personality. I want someone who is going to keep me entertained more so than have my back. It’s more interesting to have someone like Kai, a character who is clearly well-known throughout the Living Lands, but typically not for good reasons. Seeing the small tiffs he has with others is always a treat, but he’s also someone who is interesting to learn about when you have downtime at your camp.

However, this is where one of Avowed’s downsides lies as well. A lot of RPGs suffer from extensive conversations with characters where everyone stands there stiff as a board. It may not be unique to Avowed, but it’s one of those things that can wear on you after many hours of play. It’s hard to sit there and look at someone talk for extended periods of time while they barely emote or move. It’s hard and likely totally unfeasible to animate that many dialogue scenes to make it feel more dynamic, but sometimes it feels easier to just read the dialogue and skip to the next line to speed the process up. As much as I enjoy learning about a character like Kai, sometimes I don’t even bother going through all of the dialogue options because I quickly become disengaged by the dry and stilted conversations.

Avowed’s conversations do have one thing worth praising, though. This is a very lore-heavy game and almost immediately, I felt incredibly confused with all the vocab words that were being thrown at me. However, there’s a whole glossary of keywords that you can view in the dialogue menu. It only allows you to see the notable words that were spoken during that conversation, so you don’t have to dig endlessly. I have personally never seen that in a game, but it’s a handy tool that allows you to easily keep up with the lore and understand what people are talking about.

When you aren’t idly standing around talking to someone, it’s incredibly easy to become swept up by Avowed’s world. The world feels incredibly hand-crafted with lush, green pastures and forests, frosty snow regions, and cities with all kinds of events happening around you. There are abandoned houses to raid, caves to explore, and waterfalls with secret treasures behind them. It’s a game that wants you to discover all its nooks and crannies as it’s made to be explored and you’re frequently rewarded for doing so. You can stumble upon crime scenes, inspect civilians’ cargo for contraband (and then decide whether you snitch or not), and of course, meet people who give you interesting side quests. 

One side quest early on in Avowed has you going off to clear out monsters out of a person’s house. When you arrive, you quickly realize things aren’t as malicious as they seem to be and this person has a special connection to these creatures. It’s then up to you to talk to the person and help her determine whether or not these creatures are worth killing or if she should try to leverage her unique connection. It’s the kind of sharp RPG writing that once again emphasizes a degree of choice and makes you want to seek out other side quests to see what other absurd, whimsical stories exist within this universe.

Avowed’s other big strength is its combat. I was really surprised by how much nuance there is to combat and how much thought was put into designing how you can fight. For starters, you can dual wield just about anything unless you have a two-handed weapon like a big axe. If you want to have a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, you can do that. If you want to dual wield a wand and a gun, you can do that too. On top of that, you can have two loadouts that allow you to quickly switch to another set of weapons. So, you could have one loadout be more close-quarters-oriented while another one focuses more on ranged combat. Or maybe a loadout designed for stealth and another that’s not. The choice is yours.

Avowed really puts a focus on combining different aspects of combat. You can use your magic to freeze someone and then pull out a gun to shatter them to pieces. It’s incredibly satisfying to chain a bunch of different attacks together and use all of your resources to take down your foes.

I really enjoyed this level of freedom, but it also made me realize how you need to be a bit more thoughtful about it. I expected to absolutely slaughter everyone with a sword and a gun, but realized not having a shield was allowing me to get destroyed. I didn’t really use shields in games like Skyrim, but it’s something that is constantly in my loadout rotation in Avowed. 

Enemies are pretty determined when it comes to taking you down and will toss projectiles at you, attack you head-on with light and heavy attacks, and so on. To help with this, Avowed lifts a pretty interesting element from another genre of games to make its combat more engaging. In games like the Batman Arkham and Marvel’s Spider-Man series, there will usually be a colored flash above an enemy’s head to warn you of an attack so it can be countered. Avowed has the exact same thing, telegraphing moments when you should block or dodge. The Batman Arkham games helped create a rhythm to its combat with this and Avowed benefits from that just the same. Each blow feels impactful, you have a greater degree of awareness, and it rarely feels like anyone got a cheap shot on you. 

That’s not to say Avowed doesn’t have a few areas where it can improve its combat. For starters, stealth feels a bit underbaked. I figured if I used a bow early on, I could pick enemies off with ease. However, even a well-placed headshot from the shadows didn’t kill an enemy and would sound the metaphorical alarm on nearby foes. Of course, you can probably upgrade the bow to be much more powerful to achieve that, but I didn’t even bother to do so because it was so disappointing off the bat. There are some takedown moves as well, but they were pretty repetitive and it felt more interesting to just charge into battle instead.

Guns and bows also don’t have any kind of ammo counter. You can fire your gun seemingly forever and the only downside is it takes a few seconds to reload. I wish there was more thought into making a gun feel like a limited resource rather than something you can use as much as you want, as it makes it feel less impactful as a weapon. They are still fun to use, but it would be more interesting if there was a higher trade-off for using them.

Avowed may not be the most advanced RPG in the world and there may be games that offer unparalleled levels of depth by comparison, but that doesn’t stop Obisidan’s new fantasy game from being great. It offers a dense world bursting at the seams with beauty, compelling characters, consequential choices, and gripping combat that rewards players for being creative. It’s one of my favorite RPGs in quite some time and is one that I am going to continue enjoying for the foreseeable future. If you have Xbox Game Pass or have some money to put toward a new game on PC, I encourage you not to sleep on Avowed.

Rating: 4/5

An Xbox review copy of Avowed was provided by the publisher.

The post Avowed Review: Skyrim’s Spiritual Successor appeared first on ComicBook.com.

February is swiftly coming to an end, and Xbox Game Pass has now revealed what games will be released to close things out. We already knew about Avowed of course, but Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have 3 more releases coming beyond what was announced at the start of the month. Unfortunately, Game Pass Standard tier subscribers have just 1 game to look forward to. However, with March coming up pretty quickly, we should have another batch of games in about 2 weeks. The final Xbox Game Pass games for February can be found below:

• February 18th- Avowed (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• February 20th- EA Sports F1 24 (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• February 20th- Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass
• February 25th- Watch Dogs: Legion (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard, Game Pass Ultimate, and PC Game Pass

Avowed is arguably one of the biggest Xbox releases for the year, so there should be a lot of anticipation surrounding that game’s day one arrival on Game Pass. The review embargo for the game was lifted last week, and it seems reception is largely positive so far. As of this writing, Avowed holds a score of 80 on Metacritic. That’s a pretty impressive number, and it could convince some people to try the game out if they weren’t planning to otherwise. Of course, that number could change as more people get a chance to experience Avowed and make a judgement for themselves.

It’s possible Xbox front loaded this month’s releases to give Avowed a bit more room to breathe. The rest of the Game Pass offerings for this half of the month are pretty minor, or somewhat niche. EA Sports F1 24, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, and Watch Dogs: Legion all received mostly mixed reviews at launch, and probably won’t have broad appeal for most Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Hopefully we’ll see a bigger start to March, especially with some major games set to leave the service at the end of February.

RELATED: Xbox Isn’t Trying to “Move” Everyone to Their Consoles Anymore

In today’s update, Xbox also announced that more games are being added to the “stream your own game” collection. The option was added last year, with a smaller library of games available at the start. Unfortunately, the official Xbox blog post does not offer any kind of information about what games will be added in the near future. Being able to stream games that you own is pretty convenient, and a nice option to have, especially once a game has left Xbox Game Pass. Hopefully we’ll see the option continue to expand in a meaningful way!

Do you plan on checking out any of these new additions to Xbox Game Pass? Which of these titles most appeals to you? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Game Pass Reveals Final Games for February appeared first on ComicBook.com.