A massive wave of 4,800 layoffs hit Microsoft on Monday morning this week, with 3,200 of the cuts aimed at Xbox specifically for a "reset" of the firm's gaming business. The restructuring has seen countless game developers let go as well as four studios divested from Microsoft, and individuals working on the Xbox platform itself have been affected as well.

One such staffer is Kevin LaChapelle, Microsoft's vice president of Xbox Platform In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday morning, LaChapelle shared that "I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox," bringing an end to his lengthy 37-year tenure at the company.

LaChapelle has overseen development of Xbox platform software "across cloud, console, and PC" since 2023. Before that, he led the creation and advancement of Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming service (previously known as xCloud), and before that he led the team of engineers that built the fan-favorite Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program.

Ever since it was unveiled at E3 2015 during what I'd say is indisputably one of the best moments in Xbox history, Xbox Backwards Compatibility — a feature that lets you play hundreds of Xbox 360 games and even some original Xbox titles on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S through an emulation layer — has been a colossal hit with fans.

At the time of its release, it also gave the fairly unpopular Xbox One a notable edge over Sony's PlayStation 4 at a time when it sorely needed one. Longtime Xbox gamers were still able to enjoy a rich library of titles from past systems on the latest console natively, whereas the PS4 was incompatible with games made for older PlayStation consoles.

I can't stress enough that the impact LaChapelle has had on Xbox has been huge — and that makes the news he's been laid off all the more upsetting to hear, especially since the Backwards Compatibility Program he led has been revived this year, with many speculating the feature will be overhauled to work with Microsoft's upcoming PC-console hybrid system Project Helix.

"I will add my name to the list of people who were laid off today at Xbox. This ends my 37 years at Microsoft. I have worked in many different parts of the company, and I will say my fondest memories are of leading the team of very talented engineers who built the Xbox Backward Compatibility program," he wrote in his post. "Sitting in the auditorium when [Phil Spencer, former Xbox CEO] announced the program at E3 2015 was incredible. The audience's reaction was unbelievable."

"I followed that with leading the team who created our Cloud Gaming product. I am a firm believer that all entertainment will eventually become streamed to you wherever you are," LaChapelle added. "I look forward to watching how Xbox evolves going forward and I wish the team nothing but success."

Ultimately, I'm very sad to see LaChapelle cut from Microsoft and Xbox, and I hope that he's able to land a new position somewhere soon. I extend that sentiment out to everyone impacted by these mass layoffs that have added to an already-devastating total that's been growing since 2022.

How important is the Xbox Backwards Compatibility Program that LaChapelle led the development of to you? What about Xbox Cloud Gaming? Let me know in the comments, and vote in our poll as well.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox's "Stream your own game" feature continues to expand, recently adding more than 32 games to the service. The latest additions were highlighted by @redphx on X (formerly Twitter), and there are some gems among the list.

There's obviously the highly-rated 007 First Light, which is also an Xbox Play Anywhere title, but seeing games like Bastion added is a nice surprise, alongside Untitled Goose Game and My Time at Portia.

Stream your own game does exactly what the name suggests, letting you stream titles that you already own across supported devices without needing to install them, whether it's your phone, tablet, PC, or even a compatible TV. The feature is over a year old now, with hundreds and hundreds of games available.

• ABZU
• Arcadia: Find The Differences 3D
• Axiom Verge
• Axiom Verge 2
• Bastion
• Beyond Blue
• Bright Paw: Definitive Edition
• Children of Zodiarcs
• Downward: Enhanced Edition
• 007 First Light
• Dragon Spira
• Ghostrunner
• Guess the Flag! - World Flags Quiz
• Messy Up
• My Time At Portia
• PBA Pro Bowling
• Petey Pedro unBEETable Adventure
• Pizza Tycoon
• Potionomics: Masterwork Edition
• Railway Empire
• Railway Empire 2
• Recipe of Love
• River City Girls
• River City Girls 2
• SUDOKU CHAMPIONS
• Spiritfall
• Stable Stories - Forest and Meadow Ride
• Turbo Overkill
• Untitled Goose Game
• Where Is Billy
• Yoku's Island Express

Over 1,000 games is a lot, and the list of available games is growing all the time. While it's not a feature I personally use very often, I can definitely see the appeal for those who do.

With all that said, let me know your thoughts on Xbox's feature. Do you use it, or is it something you've never really touched? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox is expanding its Stream Your Own Game library with nearly 70 more games this month, bringing quite an extensive list of additions. For those who don’t know, Xbox’s Stream Your Own Game program allows you to use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream your owned Xbox games across devices.

Before we continue, though, allow me a small tangent here. Do we type XBOX now, or do we type Xbox? For my own sanity, I’ll stick with Xbox, but do let me know which you prefer amid Xbox’s big bold refresh.

Anyway, back to the games. Shoutout to TrueAchievements for compiling the list, as I’ve nabbed it from them, so here’s the full lineup:

It’s quite the list. Of course, we have titles like Forza Horizon 6, which has just been released today and, as expected, is shaping up rather well among critics and fans. Something even I myself have jumped into after skipping the series for quite a while.

The Stream Your Own Games list is always growing, and I’d love to hear what games you’d like to see make their way to the service next. Personally, I can’t really think of many myself, but then again, I don’t do much cloud gaming these days as I’m still not particularly fond of it yet. That’s not to say I don’t think the technology is impressive, because it absolutely is, but latency still remains a big issue for me.

Let me know your thoughts and what games you’d like to see added and as always be sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Via a new report from Tecnoblog, a Brazilian website that appears to have shared the first look at a new Xbox controller designed specifically for Xbox Cloud Gaming. The controller itself looks like a smaller, squashed-down version of the Xbox controller we’ve all come to know, and honestly, I kind of like it.

In the report, Tecnoblog revealed documentation it allegedly obtained, which included the following details:

“The controller will come with a 500 mAh battery, and that, in terms of connectivity, it uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6 (restricted to 20 MHz band). The chip used for this is Realtek's RTL8730E, with two 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex-A7 cores.”

The most interesting detail here is the Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, giving the controller direct-to-WiFi functionality. Essentially, this cuts out the middleman, which would usually be a console, PC, or phone, potentially allowing for lower latency, easier switching between devices, and a much better experience for cloud gaming.

Now, direct-to-WiFi is actually something we’ve reported on before. In my colleague Jez Corden’s “Xbox in 2026” report, he discussed how Microsoft is expected to feature this functionality in its next-generation controllers in an effort to eliminate Bluetooth latency for cloud gaming.

With this controller now seemingly out in the wild, it appears what Jez was told seems to be pretty accurate. While this is just one controller, it would make sense for Xbox to support this functionality across future controllers moving forward, given their cloud gaming efforts.

Currently, we aren’t sure when this controller could be released, and, as Tecnoblog states, there’s currently no evidence of the device appearing at the FCC, meaning there are no public regulatory filings for the controller yet, so, despite the images, take this controller with a pinch of salt.

I, for one, am all for this little controller (depending on the price), though I would’ve loved to see it launch alongside the now-canceled Project Keystone device we heard about years ago that never materialized. For those unfamiliar, Keystone was reportedly a small set-top box that would essentially function as a cloud-based Xbox for streaming games.

What do you think of what I’ll dub the “Micro Xbox Controller” for now? Do you like it, or are you not a fan?

Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll above!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox fans with an Apple TV have something to get excited about, at least in a somewhat limited way, as some fans have taken it upon themselves to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to Apple TV, and it actually looks fantastic.

I say "limited" because the setup process is not as simple as installing an app from the App Store. Instead, it requires Xcode, meaning you have to build it yourself and effectively sideload it onto your Apple TV.

With that in mind, however, Stratix is a native Apple TV app that brings your Xbox Cloud Gaming subscription to the device. It is built in Apple’s Swift language and gives you full access to your Xbox cloud library.

What's most interesting about this app is just how clean it looks. This genuinely puts what Microsoft makes to shame, and it is easily a better implementation than existing Xbox Cloud solutions on Apple TV.

Not to throw shade at OneCast, as it is currently the best solution available on the Apple TV App Store, but Stratix looks like something Apple could have made itself, and it fits the Apple TV aesthetic far more naturally.

It is unfortunate that the installation process is not as straightforward, though. That said, the developers provide a full guide, and they are open to feedback as the app is still in an early public alpha.

Stratix supports Remote Play from your console, sign in via a QR code, profiles, and achievements, etc., but there are still limitations. The app does not yet support multi-account use or party and invite features. That said, these issues are known, and the team is upfront about them.

Personally, I hope Xbox itself sees this app and potentially even decides to fund it, bringing a full Xbox Cloud Gaming experience to the Apple TV ecosystem. It would be a great way to secure another win, especially as Xbox has been on a strong run lately.

If I still had my Apple TV, I would be installing this right after finishing this write-up. Unfortunately for me, I gave it to my parents. Whoops.

Let me know your thoughts on Stratix, whether you would use it or not, and why. And as always, make sure to take part in our poll!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox’s cloud gaming hours from Game Pass subscribers are up 45% year over year. Console players are also spending 45% more time using cloud streaming, with an estimated 1.7 billion hours streamed in 2025 alone.

It’s no surprise, then, that Xbox continues expanding its “Stream Your Own Game" catalog, letting players stream titles they already own via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

That includes recent additions like Marathon, Crimson Desert, and more, so let’s take a look at the 40-plus titles added this past month.

Over 45 games join xbox stream your own game

There’s over 45 games here, so if you wish to see the full list, I recommend clicking here for the full catalog. Instead, I’ll highlight a few standouts, including when they were released or when they're going to be, so without further ado, here you go:

Stream your own game is a feature that often flies under the radar. It launched in 2024 with around 50 games but has quickly expanded and now likely sits in the 300+ range of streamable titles. So long as you own the game.

It’s also interesting to see Marathon enter the list, especially as it is a Sony-published title. That said, Helldivers 2 made a similar move, but I’m still praying for a true Xbox app release and Play Anywhere support for both titles.

Still, seeing major titles like Crimson Desert alongside releases like Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a strong sign of how quickly the library is growing.

Stream your own game is available for all Xbox Game Pass subscribers, which includes Essential, Premium, and Ultimate tiers.

🎮 Do you use Xbox's Stream your own game feature?

I can’t say it’s a feature I use much. I’m generally not that into cloud gaming, as my experiences with it haven’t been ideal.

That said, I do appreciate Xbox’s efforts to offer more ways to play, I just prefer using actual hardware over streaming.

Let me know your thoughts on Xbox’s Stream your own game feature. Do you use it, or not? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox Wire has dropped its latest blog post outlining new updates across Xbox consoles, the ROG Xbox Ally, and more, detailing a wave of new features and quality of life improvements.

Kicking things off, console players can now enjoy 1440p streaming on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One X, and Xbox One S. It is genuinely impressive to see hardware this old continue receiving meaningful upgrades, especially one that enables higher resolution cloud streaming for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members.

So what else is changing? Let’s take a closer look at the rest of the updates below.

Xbox PC App updates

We actually covered this previously, but Xbox is now highlighting it properly in their latest blog.

The Xbox PC app has added new UI navigation sounds when using a controller, making the Xbox App feel more console-like by using the same UI noises that Xbox consoles use.

These can be toggled on or off in Settings > Audio within the app.

Xbox Ally updates

This is something I can get behind. As an Xbox Ally X owner myself, these are genuinely useful updates.

Removable storage formatting has been improved, making it easier for those who prefer installing and running games from microSD cards. More importantly, the new Advanced Shader Delivery Indicator lets players know whether a game’s graphic shaders were pre-compiled, which should mean smoother first launches for supported titles.

Xbox also says it has made several additional improvements based on user feedback. However, at the time of writing, I have not been able to find detailed patch notes beyond those published in November 2025.

Other updates across Xbox

Xbox is also highlighting its new Postgame Recaps feature, which is now available to Insiders. We covered this when it was first announced earlier in the month, but it essentially gives you a clean summary of your gaming session once you are finished, which is a pretty neat addition.

We also get another small look at the updated Xbox Cloud Gaming web experience currently being tested in public preview. We covered that in more detail previously, but it offers a noticeably improved user experience and could hint at the direction Xbox is taking its UI for future hardware.

It's not the biggest of updates, but some nice features for people who use Xbox hardware, devices, and apps.

🗨️ What do you think of Xbox's February Xbox update?

Are these upgrades meaningful for you, or just nice-to-haves? We’re curious how this February update actually lands in the real world — whether 1440p cloud streaming and the other tweaks change anything in your day‑to‑day gaming, or if it all feels more like background noise.

Drop your thoughts below, especially if you’re still rocking an Xbox One. Tell us what’s working, what’s not, and what you want Xbox to tackle next.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Alinea Analytics, for those unfamiliar, is a data analytics company focused on the gaming industry. It provides insight into everything from sales performance to player engagement.

This week, it has published a closer look at Xbox Game Pass, highlighting just how powerful the service can be when it comes to getting players to try new games.

The firm analyzed some major additions from last month, including: Star Wars: Outlaws, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and Death Stranding. All three joined recently, so how are they performing? Things are looking good.

Game Pass delivers a major player boost

It’s no secret that Game Pass drives players to try new games.

What people have questioned, though, is just how much of a difference it really makes. If Alinea Analytics is right, the impact is quite significant.

According to the firm, Star Wars: Outlaws saw the biggest boost. Around 595,000 players checked it out across PC, console, and cloud, with 100,000 jumping in on day one alone.

Considering the game’s underwhelming launch, it’s encouraging to see so many players willing to give it a shot through Game Pass.

Next up is Warhammer: Space Marine 2. This is one I’ve personally been playing with friends thanks to Game Pass, so seeing 544,000 players dive in across PC, console, and cloud isn’t surprising.

Before joining the service, the game had already surpassed 1 million sales on Xbox, according to Alinea Analytics. It was also maintaining roughly 30,000 daily active users, showing it already had a solid base.

The data also highlights an interesting overlap. About 57% of Space Marine 2 players had previously played Gears 5, which tells you a lot about the kind of audience it’s attracting.

Close behind those two is Death Stranding Director's Cut, bringing in 512,000 new players. Then there’s Resident Evil Village, which saw around 500,000 total players jump in and also gained Xbox Play Anywhere support at the same time.

For Village, Alinea Analytics mentions that the game performed even better on PlayStation Plus Extra, where it reached 852,000 players after being added on the same day. Of course, PlayStation does have a larger install base, which likely played a role in that difference.

Lastly, Ninja Gaiden Ragebound, the 2D retro-inspired title that was added into Game Pass last month as well, saw 102,000 players check it out.

I must admit I'm surprised by some of the games here that saw a spike, mainly Star Wars: Outlaws, but more people checking out games is never a bad thing.

Passing it over to you!

Are you one of the players who jumped into any of these games through Game Pass, or did you already own them? Let us know in the comments and make sure to take part in our poll below:

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is already awesome, but it just got a whole lot more awesome.

Last year, Microsoft removed the beta tag from Xbox Cloud Gaming, as it geared up for the prime time. The service is now available on all tiers of Xbox Game Pass, not just the most expensive tier, and there are strong rumors that it will get a free ad-supported free tier at some point this year.

For those using Game Pass, you only get access to the games available within that tier's library, but you can also bring your own digitally-owned games to the service too. The list of games is constantly expanding. Right now there's over 1,000 titles to buy and stream in Xbox Cloud Gaming, and a bunch more just got added.

Shared by Better xCloud creator RedPhx, the list of Stream Your Own titles just expanded a fair bit, including some personal favorites and heavy hitters.

Rimworld in particular is a great addition to this list. The survival strategy simulation game is monstrously addictive and has some of the best gamepad controls for a game of its genre. In Rimworld, you're tasked to survive on a frontier planet with little by way of resources and technology. Alien threats, roaming bands of raiders, natural disasters, and other horrible fates await your colonists, and its your task to steer them off planet.

Blasphemous is another huge get, although you'll want to play this on a very stable connection if you try it via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Blasphemous is one of this generation's best and probably most overlooked metroidvania titles, and for me is up there with Hollow Knight and Silksong in quality. It's probably lesser-known owing to its brutal souls-inspired difficulty, but it's worth the punishment and pain. Stick with it. The precise combat might not be the best experience on Xbox Cloud Gaming though, at least until we get those long-rumored Wi-Fi direct controllers.

Finally, Divinity: Original Sin II is an ideal option for those excited about Larian's recent Divinity reveal. This turn-based CRPG walked so Baldur's Gate 3 could run, offering some of the best gameplay depth the genre has to offer on Xbox. Its turn based nature makes it a great shout for latency-susceptible connections.

Microsoft has been working hard to improve Xbox Cloud Gaming. I already mentioned the rumored ad-supported free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier is on the way, and the service also got a 1440p, boosted bitrate option for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members.

However, Microsoft is also testing a totally new Xbox Cloud Gaming interface, shown above, which brings it closer towards 1:1 parity with the Xbox Series X|S console dashboard experience. You can see it in action at the video above. It's very impressive.

Xbox Cloud Gaming still has a ways to go before truly finding a big mainstream audience though, I find. It comes preinstalled on Samsung TVs, has a partnership with LG in some territories, and also is available via Amazon Fire Stick as well.

However, Google and Apple both are blocking a native app on mobile devices, despite court losses in the European Union and United States designed to force the anti-competitive duopoly to open up.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said Xbox Cloud Gaming had seen record usage hours in the firm's recent quarterly meeting with shareholders, but it doesn't seem to be accelerating user base growth as much as I imagine Microsoft would like. Perhaps the kids only care about Roblox all up now.

It'll be interesting if Microsoft's upcoming ad-supported free tier can move the needle further for Xbox Cloud Gaming. But for existing Xbox ecosystem users and Game Pass subscribers especially, it's pretty fantastic.

The new Xbox Cloud Gaming experience includes updated visuals for Xbox achievements. The redesign offers a glimpse of what achievement notifications could look like in the future, even as broader changes to the system itself remain the subject of long-running speculation (via TrueAchievements).

That speculation is worth adjusting, though. According to our sources, there are no immediate plans to overhaul Xbox’s achievement system, despite assumptions circulating online following the Cloud Gaming UI preview.

Still, it is interesting to see Microsoft experimenting with how achievements are presented. The updated visuals feel cleaner and more modern, and are arguably a much-needed refresh for a system that hasn’t felt as impactful since the Xbox 360 era.

What’s changed with Xbox achievement notifications

Xbox has rolled out a surprise refresh to its Xbox Cloud Gaming experience, bringing it closer to a more console-like interface. The update has already sparked some hope that elements of this design could eventually make their way to PC, particularly as the current Xbox full-screen experience on handhelds still leaves a lot to be desired, at least to me anyway.

Alongside the Cloud Gaming refresh, TrueAchievements has spotted a visual update to Xbox achievements. The changes improve how rarity is displayed, though the feature remains firmly in preview and appears unfinished.

As noted by TrueAchievements, the experience is currently inconsistent, with limited animation, missing achievement descriptions, and some audio issues. That makes it clear this is still a work in progress, but it is encouraging to see Microsoft paying attention to how achievements are presented again.

As exciting as a visual refresh may be, fans have long called for a deeper overhaul. PlayStation’s trophy system currently offers more versatility, despite Xbox being first to market with achievements, they are currently being beaten out by PlayStation, which offers a more distinct rarity system and Platinum system that rewards players for 100% their games.

For now, that broader refresh will have to wait. Our sources tell us there are no immediate plans to upgrade Xbox’s achievement system beyond what is currently being tested.

What do you think of Xbox’s updated achievement visuals, and would you like to see this design roll out more widely across PC and console? Let us know by commenting and taking part in our poll below:

Rumored for a hot minute, Xbox Cloud Gaming now has a shiny new interface, but it could be hiding an even bigger secret.

Revealed by dataminers a short while back, Xbox Cloud Gaming has a new preview dashboard you can access via play.xbox.com, to help Microsoft test the next phase for the service.

Xbox Cloud Gaming shed its beta tag a few weeks back, expanding to new markets, and gaining new capabilities with Xbox Game Pass. Now, users on any tier can access Xbox Cloud Gaming with supported games they own, and Xbox Cloud Gaming Ultimate users get access to 1440p streams on top.

Microsoft is also gearing up for an ad-supported "free" tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming, set to launch in the first half of this year according to our sources. The service represents a big effort on Microsoft's part to find new users, in a world where tariffs and RAM shortages have made traditional console gaming less attractive than far-cheaper, more accessible alternatives. Games like Roblox and Fortnite have become utterly dominant, partially because they're free, but also because they're ubiquitous. Xbox and other traditional console experiences require a beefy upfront cost. Xbox Cloud Gaming is aiming to eliminate that barrier.

Whether or not the strategy works (or indeed, is even viable economically) wholly remains to be seen, but it won't be for lack of trying.

To that end, Microsoft just debuted its shiny new interface for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and it's rather good.

The new interface is very close to a traditional Xbox Series X|S console experience, complete with modern Windows 11 fluent design elements. It has icons across the top just like on console, and the library, filters, sorting options, and guide menu all are impressively familiar for anyone who has used the console experience.

The new Xbox Cloud Gaming experience comes in two flavors. There's a TV and handheld-optimized mode, with large UI elements ideal for smaller screens or sofa play. There's also a desktop-optimized mode, which makes use of the screen real estate more effectively.

I have to say, I'm very impressed by what's on offer here. I find it to be much better and more usable than the current Xbox PC app all up, owing to its boosted speed and cleaner interface. The UI is arranged in a more controller-friendly way, making it much better than the Xbox Full Screen Experience on devices like the Xbox Ally. Unlike the Xbox Full Screen Experience, the Xbox Cloud Gaming dashboard doesn't lock up either, with inputs rubber banding your cursor off the screen.

I suppose a big design challenge Xbox is facing right now is unifying its disparate experiences. Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Series X|S all have slightly different interfaces, which can make it frustrating for users trying to navigate Microsoft's "Xbox Everywhere" strategy. The new Xbox Cloud Gaming interface is a lot closer to the console experience while also retaining some of the cleanliness of the PC app, which is a step in the right direction.

I hope Microsoft brings some of this design direction to the Xbox PC app and Xbox Ally in the future, because as powerful as the Xbox Ally X is, its the Xbox PC app that primarily still lets it down in some ways.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

Xbox has officially unveiled its new Cloud Gaming web experience, and at first glance, it should feel familiar to anyone who has used an Xbox console. The layout closely mirrors the console interface, making it immediately approachable, and eager-eyed fans may notice it resembles the datamined UI that leaked a couple of months ago.

That said, this is a public preview, and things could change. Even in its current form, it represents a clear improvement over the existing web experience, both visually and in how it flows, which makes it an encouraging step forward.

Here’s how you can try it for yourself right now, along with a closer look at the new experience

A noticeable improvement

When accessing Xbox’s cloud gaming experience before, it kinda felt a bit like opening the Xbox app. That familiarity is not always a good thing (I'm not a fan of the Xbox app), and it has often left the web version feeling clunky and dated in my experience.

With this new public preview, users can switch to a far more console-like experience. The interface is cleaner, more structured, and much closer to what you would expect when powering on an Xbox.

To access the new experience, follow these steps:

1. Go to xbox.com/play in your browser of choice and make sure you’re logged into your Xbox account.
2. Once logged in, go to settings in the top right corner by clicking on your profile.
3. Select the Settings option from the drop down menu.
4. Here under Account, toggle the option Preview Features and select Yes when asked.
5. You’ll then have to wait as the features are enabled, which may take up to 10 minutes.
6. Once done, visit play.xbox.com in your browser of choice to experience the new cloud UI.

Glimpse into the future of Xbox UI?

After spending some time with it while writing this, it feels like a meaningful step forward for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Navigation is clearer, the layout feels more intentional, and it is simply more pleasant to use overall.

There are still bugs and rough edges, which are expected in a public preview. Even so, the experience already feels like a noticeable improvement, and it naturally raises questions about where this approach could appear next across future Xbox experiences.

A more unified UI across devices would be a welcome change. I am very much looking at you, Xbox Ally, because the Xbox app just is not cutting it on the Xbox Ally X for me. A more console-like experience would be a clear step in the right direction.

If you do try it out for yourself, Xbox has pleaded with users to provide feedback, so make sure to check the full Xbox Wire article on just how to do that.

Cloud gaming may not be everyone’s daily driver yet, but this redesign makes it a lot easier to imagine a future where it is. Now, Xbox just needs to keep the momentum going.

Have you tried the new Xbox Cloud Gaming web experience yet, and does it feel like a step forward compared to the current interface? Let us know in the comments or by taking part in our poll below:

During Microsoft's Xbox Developer Direct of January 2026, the famous studio behind the legendary Pokémon franchise, Game Freak, appeared to show off Beast of Reincarnation, a new action-RPG coming to Xbox later this year during the Summer.

The game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Japan in 4026. In this era, a grand majority of humanity has been wiped out by a parasitic plant called "Blight," and most of Earth's wildlife has been mutated into horrifying monsters called Malefacts.

You play as Emma, a young woman who has somehow managed to seal the "blight"'s infection and has gained powers to help her combat the Malefacts.

Together with her mysterious "blighted" canine companion, Koo, Emma must travel the world to defeat the titular Beast of Reincarnation before it can destroy one of humanity's last safe havens, the Capital, and find a way to destroy the "Blight" for good

On the gameplay side, Beast of Reincarnation is an action-RPG where you explore massive environments, using Emma's "Blighted" powers to traverse precarious terrain and fight hordes of dangerous Malefacts.

Combat will allow the player to defend themselves with sword combos, defensive parries, and slow down briefly to prepare devastating attacks called Blooming Arts, similar to the combat system of Final Fantasy VII Remake.

You can also use this time slowdown mechanic to command Roo to bind enemies or fire off area-of-effect attacks to clear out groups to give you some breathing room.

You will need to master these abilities quickly, as this game will pit you against challenging Malafact bosses called "Nushi".

These are massive beasts that can manipulate the ecosystem around them and will require careful strategies and aggression to defeat and obtain new powers from them.

Will you save the world from the Blight?

Emma and Koo will also encounter hostile Golems, friendly human survivors named Brad and Kagura, and a rival swordswoman named Kunai who is somehow allied with a Malefact on their adventures.

If you wish to help Emma solve this mystery and save her world, then check out Beast of Reincarnation when it drops in the Summer of 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Windows and Steam.

It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass (Day One), PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, and will support Xbox Play Anywhere.

So what do you think of Beast of Reincarnation? Does its premise and gameplay look enticing, or do you need more gameplay trailers and deep dives before deciding to play it?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, let us know in the comments below.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake has been a sore point for many a' Xbox fan for over half a decade, but the pain ends on January 22nd, 2026.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake has finally shed all forms of exclusivity, and hits Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming via Xbox Play Anywhere this week. Also on Xbox Ally. Whew, that sure is a lot of Xbox.

I've been lucky enough to get early access to the game thanks to Square Enix, and I'm happy to report that the port is rather excellent.

Final Fantasy holds a special place in my heart. Final Fantasy 7 was probably the first game I truly connected with on a deeper emotional level as a sprog. I have to thank the un-named Electronics Boutique employee who begged me not to buy "Men in Black" for PlayStation 1, and instead buy Final Fantasy 7, for having a disproportionate impact on my life trajectory.

I reviewed Final Fantasy 7 for Android Central back when they experimented with PlayStation coverage, and it remains my only PS4 review to date. My thoughts on the game remain the same after completing it on PS4, Steam Deck and my PC, and soon, once again on my Xbox Ally and Xbox Series X. What I've been impressed by here is just how well optimized it is on handhelds, how playable it is on Xbox Cloud Gaming, and how now this is quite easily the definitive version of the game. It was worth the wait.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox is the definitive version

I began my new journey with Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Series X, where the game truly shines. It comes with performance and quality modes, trading resolution for frame rate, but both versions offer a decent experience based on your preferences. The quality mode is a stable 30 FPS, offering sharper picture quality and boosted visuals. If you want a smoother experience, you can trade some resolution for frame rates, nabbing 60 FPS instead.

The story is similar on the Xbox Ally, which despite being a PC, sports console-like simplified graphics options with some additions on top. It has the quality and performance modes I mentioned earlier, but it has frame rate caps running all the way up to 120 FPS. You can achieve more frames by having your Xbox Ally plugged in and using turbo mode, but honestly, what impressed me was how it runs on the Xbox Ally's low-power silent mode.

I'm someone who likes to try and maximize my Xbox Ally's battery life as much as humanly possible. I tend to look for games that can take advantage of the lower watt modes without massive visual compromises, and Final Fantasy 7 absolutely fits the bill.

The game runs very smoothly on high graphics on Xbox Ally X, at 1080p, 30-50 FPS or even higher even on the lowest power settings. I was able to comfortably play for over 3 hours without plugging in, and probably could've gone further with resolution compromises, lowered brightness, or hard frame rate caps. The base Xbox Ally is a similar story too, although with some additional compromises to reflect the Z2A's power over the Xbox Ally X's more potent Z2E. It's still impressively playable at 30 FPS, and offers good battery life on top.

It's perhaps to be expected that Final Fantasy 7 would perform so admirably after over half a decade of optimizations, but it's to Square Enix's credit that they stuck with the game for so long — and long enough to build an Xbox development pipeline that takes advantage of the ecosystem so nicely.

The fact you can take your save file to so many different form factors within the Windows and Xbox ecosystem so seamlessly here, with a single purchase, single save file — Final Fantasy 7 Remake has become a quintessential example of Microsoft's vision for the Xbox platform. I just hope we see more of it soon, too.

Square Enix is back on Xbox with a vengeance

Final Fantasy 7 Remake joins a long list of great Xbox Play Anywhere games from third-party publishers. Resident Evil 8: Village just hit Xbox Play Anywhere as well, Death Stranding finally got fixed up and optimized for Xbox Ally and Xbox PC, and has rejoined Xbox Game Pass to celebrate.

Square Enix has been aggressively pursuing Xbox Play Anywhere with its new CEO, with Final Fantasy 16 hitting the platform last summer, complete with similarly impressive optimizations. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is rumored to hit Xbox this year as well, raising hopes that Final Fantasy 7 Remake's third part will hit Xbox day and date, eschewing the exclusivity periods of the previous titles.

Last Christmas, I spent pretty much my entire holiday playing through Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection via Xbox Play Anywhere, spent the summer playing Final Fantasy 16 across multiple Xbox platforms, and spent most of the Autumn playing Final Fantasy Tactics via Xbox Cloud Gaming. There was a point in history where long-suffering Final Fantasy Xbox fans never thought this day would arrive.

Final Fantasy has had a chequered history with Xbox, but those times are firmly behind it. Is it too little too late? It's possible. I purchased a PS4 Pro just for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and played through the game again when it hit PC. I suspect the vast majority who want to play Final Fantasy 7 Remake already did so on other platforms. But if, like me, you love the game enough to run through it a third time — I would argue that Final Fantasy 7 Remake on Xbox Play Anywhere is quite easily the best version.

I'm not a huge fan of some of the high-level story changes Square Enix made with Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and I wish it had a "hard" difficulty mode out of the box, rather than mountains of "easy mode" options. But, these gripes don't detract from the overall package, and I'm cognizant that my nostalgia is coloring my bias a bit here.

If you love slick hack n' slashery with an edge of classic time-stop strategizing, big bombastic cinematic boss battles, anime-styled dramatic flair with unapologetic comedic highs and despair-inducing emotional lows ... look no further, Final Fantasy 7 represents one of the best "remakes" of all time.

Despite its 50% price increase drama last year, Game Pass continues to assemble a fairly compelling line-up. Xbox has framed the higher cost as a way to support more frequent day one releases, particularly within the Ultimate tier, while also extending Xbox Cloud Gaming access beyond its previous limits.

That expansion does come with some compromises, with Microsoft set to introduce advertising to Xbox Cloud Gaming later this year. Still, the more immediate focus for subscribers is what Xbox Wire has just revealed, and there is plenty for Game Pass fans to look forward to as January 2026 continues.

The second half of the month is shaping up particularly well, with Death Stranding Director’s Cut leading the charge when it arrives on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on January 21, 2026. While it may not be for everyone, fans can expect the familiar Hideo Kojima spectacle, built around deliberate traversal, striking visuals, and a world that rewards patience as much as progress.

Here’s a full rundown of everything coming to Xbox Game Pass and when:

Looking ahead to the end of January, the Game Pass line-up leans heavily into variety, with several very different games landing in quick succession. Death Stranding Director’s Cut is the obvious headliner, arriving on January 21 across Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. It remains a divisive game by design, but for those who connect with Hideo Kojima’s slower, more deliberate approach, this is still one of the more distinctive worlds you can explore on Xbox.

That same day also brings Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a side-scrolling revival of the classic series from the team behind Blasphemous. It looks set to appeal to players who miss tightly designed, punishing action games, while RoadCraft goes in the opposite direction with a slower-paced construction sim focused on rebuilding disaster-stricken environments, either solo or in co-op.

Things continue to pick up later in the month with The Talos Principle 2 on January 27, a thoughtful follow-up that expands on the original game’s puzzles and narrative themes. January 28 then adds Anno: Mutationem and Drop Duchy, offering a mix of cyberpunk action RPG combat and roguelite strategy, respectively.

Perhaps most exciting for me, even though I already own it, is Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, which arrives on January 29. It is easily one of the strongest games on the list, bias fully acknowledged, and its addition to Game Pass makes it far easier to jump into co-op with my friends, which is where the game truly shines.

Other little tidbits

Xbox Wire also highlights a few additions that some players may have missed, including Quarantine Zone: The Last Checkpoint, which is available today on PC Game Pass. The game places players in charge of a checkpoint during a zombie outbreak, tasking them with inspecting survivors and preventing the infected from slipping through.

Grounded 2 fans can also look forward to a new update on January 27, with the Garden update introducing a Community Garden biome packed with new areas to explore.

Alongside new additions, several games are set to leave Game Pass on January 31. These include Shady Part of Me, Starbound, Lonely Mountains Snow Riders, Paw Patrol World, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap.

Overall, the late January line-up does a good job of showcasing the breadth of Game Pass, blending high-profile releases with smaller titles that cater to very different tastes.

Don’t forget, Xbox has their developer direct on January 22, which will showcase upcoming releases this year, including Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Beast of Reincarnation, and maybe more, so make sure to keep your eyes out for that.

Which of the late January Xbox Game Pass additions are you planning to try first? Share your picks in the comments below or vote in our poll:

Xbox has been on the back foot in some ways in the wider games industry, but cloud gaming is arguably not one of them.

Xbox Series X|S sales haven't set the world on fire. Complications from tariffs, the rise of easy-access "everywhere" free PC / mobile games like Roblox and Fortnite, and competition from other casual forms of entertainment like TikTok continue to hinder traditional gaming companies. Nintendo's stock is down 30% over the past six months as DRAM price hikes spook investors, and PlayStation has also seen hardware declines this year as well.

Despite all the macroeconomic challenges faced by some of the traditional platforms, Steam and PC gaming has continued to rise. Cornering the old-school variety core gamer market, Steam and PC gaming in general has seen disproportionate growth over the last year. Younger cohorts with growing purchasing power seek to emulate streamers and access modding tools, Steam sales, and other PC-oriented benefits.

Microsoft has been seeking its own growth on PC too via Xbox Game Pass and the Xbox PC store, alongside OEM PC Xbox devices like the Xbox Ally. Another weapon Microsoft has in its arsenal is cloud gaming, which has become increasingly viable over the last few years. Xbox Cloud Gaming has gotten rather good over the last couple of years, and it could be slated for an even bigger expansion in the coming weeks or months ahead.

Last week, users began to spot that while launching games on Xbox Cloud Gaming, a new message pops up. "1 hour of ad supported play time per session."

Some began wondering if this meant that all tiers of Xbox Cloud Gaming are slated to receive ads, but our sources suggest this message is in error.

As I reported last year, Microsoft has been exploring ads for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and while seeking clarification about this message, it was confirmed to me that the ads will appear separately on Xbox Cloud Gaming, for those who have purchased Xbox games digitally, but don't have Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft has hundreds of games available to buy via Xbox Cloud Gaming, but as of writing, you need at least one tier of Xbox Game Pass to access them. This session-based ad-supported access tier will change that.

Xbox Cloud Gaming has been something of a hot topic as of late, given that AI demand is blowing up prices of components traditionally used in local gaming hardware, such as DRAM, and even SSDs and other parts. Many manufacturers have been increasing prices of components and pre-built gaming devices too, such as the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch.

Cloud streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and NVIDIA GeForce Now have been eyed as a potential panacea for users priced out of local hardware — but it's not as if these services are insulated from price increases too. Cloud gaming costs money to sustain and run as well, and uses all of the same parts and components. However, during periods of low use, compute from cloud gaming servers can also be adapted for other uses, such as AI and other enterprise grade processes.

The worst thing in the world of cloud economics is idle compute. If your servers are sitting there doing nothing, you're wasting money — so opening up Azure to free Xbox Cloud Gaming services, delivered via ads and the like, is potentially another way of insuring Azure inference remains high and consistent. It helps justify further data center expansion, and also anchors Xbox's future in a universe where cloud and AI is dominating Microsoft's thinking.

It remains to be seen exactly when this will roll out, but I'm told it's coming "this year."

Xbox Cloud Gaming has seen double digit growth for Microsoft, and has been particularly strong in regions where tariffs, taxes, and other economic factors make traditional gaming hardware purchases prohibitively expensive. Microsoft expanded Xbox Cloud Gaming to India late last year, and has its eyes on other regions in both Asia and Africa for the tech. On the high end, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream some games with boosted bitrates, at 1440p resolution.

It's Xbox's 25th anniversary this year, and it's starting on a bit of a sour note for many. And really, it shouldn't be.

Xbox had a fantastic 2025 on paper. Xbox first party shipped more games than ever. Xbox Game Pass arguably had its best sprint of high-quality games ever too, with Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Oblivion Remake, and many more hitting the service. We also saw a huge Xbox partnership with ASUS for the Xbox Ally gaming handheld, which puts Xbox Play Anywhere at the forefront. Microsoft also announced a big partnership with AMD for next-gen consoles ... alas.

That's not what Xbox's 2025 will be remembered for, sadly. Microsoft has been working overtime to sink its image, injecting AI slop into every product it has, laying off thousands while bragging about how much of its code is written by AI, and hiking prices of products to uncomfortable levels. Xbox Game Pass picked up a 50% price hike on the highest tier, and Xbox Series X|S hardware has become prohibitively expensive, leading to free-fall sales declines.

The drama led to a barrage of headlines questioning whether or not Xbox would even still exist to see its big 25th anniversary, slated for November 15, 2026.

I suspect Xbox will want to put the negativity of the past year firmly behind itself, but it finds itself in a confluence of challenges both internal and external. The storm will pass for the vast majority of Xbox gamers unnoticed most likely, but for the wider audience, Xbox remains firmly under a microscope.

The four horsemen return, anniversaries abound

One thing we know for certain is what to expect from Microsoft's first party in 2026. At least generally speaking. Microsoft has a lot in the chamber it can fire off potentially in the coming months, but the headliners are set: Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, Halo Campaign Evolved, and Forza Horizon 6. Microsoft often jokingly refers to the line-up as the "four horsemen" internally, representing what are arguably the four most iconic Xbox franchises.

Microsoft will show off at least some of these at the January Xbox Developer_Direct show, which has become an annualized tone-setting event for Xbox's yearly line-up. While I'm not sure exactly what will be shown there this year (yet), it seems the four pillar franchises seem highly likely — although I have heard one of Microsoft's more intrepid teams may be ready to show off what it has been baking.

Some have been wondering if a mysterious countdown on the Fallout TV show's Amazon Prime website is hinting at a shadow drop for a new Fallout game or remaster. I'm told this is not the case. However, we are eventually getting a Fallout 3 remake in the vein of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, as well as Fallout New Vegas on top. I'm told Obsidian of Grounded, The Outer Worlds, and Fallout New Vegas fame has four new projects, some big some small — Fallout co-creator Tim Cain also joined the studio a short while ago. I'm not sure if any of these projects are Fallout-related, but either way, it shows Xbox isn't taking its foot off the pedal when it comes to content.

On the topic of Fallout, we are of course also eventually getting Fallout 5, which I understand to be greenlit. Bethesda's Todd Howard noted in a previous interview that Fallout is receiving a ton of investment right now. It could be a while before we see the fruits of that labor — but perhaps we could see them teased at an upcoming show.

After all, 2026 marks several major "anniversaries" for Xbox and some of its subsidiaries. Xbox is having its 25th anniversary, Blizzard is having its 35th, and Bethesda is having its 40th. Microsoft and its teams are planning a variety of events and announcements to celebrate these milestones.

At Blizzcon 2026, I thoroughly expect to see new expansions revealed for Diablo IV, alongside World of Warcraft's "The Last Titan." We should also get major updates for Overwatch and Hearthstone, and potentially other new mobile game reveals. There has been long-held rumors of an Overwatch mobile game on the horizon, for example, and I've heard another Warcraft mobile game project is in gestation. The headline for Blizzcon 2026 is most likely going to be StarCraft. It was previously reported that StarCraft is getting the third-person shooter treatment, and I confirmed these rumors true via my own sources a while back.

For Bethesda's 40th, could we catch a glimpse at id Software's next title? It has been rumored for an incredibly long time that id could return to Quake or Hexen, now that all the rights fully exist within the Microsoft umbrella. Machine Games' is also thought to be working on a Rainbow Six Siege-like multiplayer title, although I've heard that Wolfenstein III is also on the cards to coincide with the upcoming Wolfenstein Amazon TV show.

Perhaps some of these games will break cover at Bethesda's Quakecon event, but big reveals are often reserved for the Xbox Showcase. As usual, Xbox will hold an event in June to coincide with Summer Game Fest and the post-E3 summer marketing blitz. It's here where we should see glimpses at 2027 titles, which could include games like inXile's Clockwork Revolution, Undead Labs' State of Decay 3, Arkane's Blade, and perhaps other hitherto unknown titles.

I've heard Ninja Theory's next game will be more combat-involved and interactive than Hellblade 1 and 2, while retaining the cinematic excellence the studio has come to be known for. We'll also catch a glimpse of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 undoubtedly here, with Activision eager to reconnect with fans after Black Ops 7's controversial delivery. Call of Duty will also drop onto Nintendo Switch 2 this year as well, fulfilling Microsoft's promises to regulators. There are strong rumors that Age of Empires will return with a new title in the future too, powered by Unreal Engine. And we could see more of Hideo Kojima's mysterious "OD" horror project this year.

There's also plenty of unknowns. Xbox Publishing still has plenty of secret projects. Xbox's large stable of service games will doubtless get major updates this year, including Minecraft, Grounded 2, Fallout 76, Elder Scrolls Online, and the King mobile franchises. Could we see Toys for Bob's long-rumored Spyro this year? What is the mysterious and oft-overlooked Elsewhere Entertainment Xbox team working on? Perhaps we'll find out in 2026.

A plethora of PC platform updates

I already wrote an article detailing what the Xbox Ally update roadmap looks like in 2026, but we should see some of those new features sooner, rather than later. Even if you're not an Xbox Ally owner, you should probably keep an eye on how development there is going — the Xbox Ally experience is essentially the next-gen Xbox experience too.

I reported last year that the next Xbox will run full bore Windows, and that is still the plan. In partnership with AMD, the next Xbox will utilize the Windows 11 "Full Screen Experience" with the Xbox PC app to deliver its console interface. Microsoft is working on major updates to the Xbox PC app to accommodate this, bringing it more closely in line with what Xbox console players will expect when engaging with a device on their TV, rather than at their desk.

Where it diverges with a traditional PC is in its ability to actually run games compatible with Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft announced that it's partnering with AMD to enable Xbox games on this PC-like device. Existing Xbox console users' libraries will come forward with them to the new Xbox, as Microsoft continues to commit to backward compatibility in a big way.

I suspect we'll hear more at GDC 2026 about how Xbox plans to modernize its publishing practices to accommodate this new more "open" strategy. Developers shipping on Xbox PC already enjoy a more generous cut of the revenue than they do on console, but Microsoft still has a huge issue getting developers to organically support Xbox PC. Moving the platform to console will help here, but there will at least be a few years where Xbox Series X|S remains the primary development platform for most, I suspect.

Microsoft has already signalled that it plans to make Xbox publishing more open and Steam-like, lifting the NDA on some of its publishing rules last year. Microsoft still has a long way to go to improve discoverability for quality Xbox games on its PC store, though. The more "open" nature of the Microsoft Store results in mountains of shovelware hitting the platform, and discovering quality titles remains oddly difficult. Improved community tools such as reviews, comments, curation, and interactivity would help improve discoverability algorithms, so hopefully we see some of those kinds of features materialize this year.

I'm told we should also see some new Xbox hardware this year. I suspect we'll finally see the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 break cover in 2026, and perhaps even other controller revisions. I'm told Microsoft's next-generation Xbox controllers all support direct-to-WiFi connectivity, eliminating Bluetooth latency from cloud gaming scenarios.

There's always the chance we'll see more "Xbox" branded OEM hardware, taking advantage of the Xbox Full Screen Experience on Windows, similar to the Xbox Ally. I've been working through some credible rumors that we could see an OEM "Xbox" PC in 2026, but time will tell whether or not that one pans out.

A ton to look forward to, with caution

On paper, everything is looking up for Xbox as an entity, but challenges remain. Xbox Series X|S hardware sales are in free-fall decline, although existing users are sticky and remain heavily engaged. Despite PlayStation's vastly bigger install base, some games such as Helldivers 2 and Arc Raiders over-index on Xbox systems, delivering disproportionate engagement for publishers. There's still a ton of money to be made on the Xbox ecosystem, which is why we haven't seen publishers pull out of the platform despite the decreased amount of new users coming in.

Where Xbox is seeing success is on Xbox PC. I'm told Microsoft may begin reporting its Xbox PC stats as part of Microsoft's quarterlies, reflecting its growth. The addition of benefits in games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Valorant has helped Xbox PC win itself an alternative audience to that of Steam, although organic support still seems to be a challenge for titles shipping outside of Xbox Game Pass.

People will continue to view Microsoft under a microscope, and for good reason. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has not been shy about the company's awkward obsession with AI technology, regardless of how well it actually performs for the end-user. "Microslop" has been trending as a result.

There have already been rumors of mass Microsoft layoffs in January 2026, although I'm told these are false (at least with regards to Xbox). The DRAM price glut is something Microsoft and other companies will not be able to escape, though.

Practically anything powered by a computer is likely to see price increases this year, as OpenAI and other companies buy up all the components chasing increasingly-insane compute demands. Will that further impact prices for console, PC, and even game prices? Xbox won't be the only one impacted by this macroeconomic instability, but Xbox's reputation has already been on shaky ground.

There has been a ton of negativity and angst about Microsoft's direction and corporate-level commitment to gaming, and for good reason. But, I am hopeful that Xbox can fully turn a corner this year and begin to show that it, and its ecosystem, are truly here to stay.

Xbox Game Pass is trucking along, despite last year's drama.

In case you missed it, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate grabbed a hefty 50% price hike a few months ago, leading to widespread condemnation. In compensation, Microsoft included Fortnite Crew and 1440p, boosted bit-rate Xbox Cloud Gaming to the highest tier, but people weren't pleased, as you can imagine.

2026 will be the first full year that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate sports the boosted price rate. It'll be interesting to watch how the price hike shakes out. Will it lead to boosted revenue, or just a gradual wave of expiring subscriptions? Will the boosted revenue be used to add more high-quality games, or simply go to pad Xbox's reportedly ambitious profit margins? Time will tell. At least for now, we have some juicy new games to look forward to in January.

Today on Xbox Wire, Microsoft revealed the latest round of Xbox Game Pass titles for January, and they include some solid titles. The headline act is arguably Resident Evil Village, which was quite easily among the best games of its launch year. Wrapping up Ethan Winters' story, Resident Evil Village plays almost like a homage to the variety of gameplay styles Resident Evil has espoused over the years, with deep survival horror segments, more action-oriented areas, complete with an iconic cast of mad mutants that stalk your every turn. Here's the run down on the games heading to the program, and when.

Resident Evil Village is hitting Xbox PC, Game Pass Premium, and Ultimate, which begs the question — will it gain Xbox Play Anywhere status? One weird thing about the Resident Evil franchise as of writing is the inconsistency by which Capcom has supported Xbox Play Anywhere. Resident Evil 7 and Resident Evil 2 both support Xbox Play anywhere, making them decent games to play on your Xbox Ally. However, Resident Evil Village currently does not support Play Anywhere. There's no word on whether or not the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem will support it either.

It's fun to see other Xbox Play Anywhere additions here, including Atomfall and Little Nightmares. Both titles run incredibly well on the Xbox Ally, as well as the Xbox Series S. Atomfall is a STALKER-like set in an alternative British history examining the real-world, little-known UK nuclear Windscale disaster. Little Nightmares is a horror-twinged puzzle-platformer, similar in vein to games like Limbo or Inside. I can't recommend that one enough.

In any case, let us know what upcoming Xbox Game Pass additions you find compelling. You can grab Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from Amazon for the old price of $20 still to this day, I suppose while stocks of the cards last.

Microsoft has a big Xbox Developer Direct show coming in January, which is widely expected to offer glimpses at upcoming games like Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, Forza Horizon 6, and possibly Halo Campaign Evolved. Microsoft has dozens of games in development, including State of Decay 3, Blade, Clockwork Revolution, and many more. Microsoft has also cancelled many games, including Perfect Dark, Everwild, and Contraband.

Microsoft's Xbox brand has been fraught with doubt over the past year, but hopefully 2026 will be a tad more positive.

On January 5, 2026, Microsoft announced that it will be partnering with Hisense to bring the Xbox App to Hisense and V homeOS-powered Smart TVs sometime during 2026.

With this software enabled for Hisense's TVs, gamers who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass, regardless of whether they're on the Essential, Premium, or Ultimate tiers, can stream hundreds upon hundreds of Xbox titles via Xbox Cloud Gaming on them.

These streamable titles include the likes of Hollow Knight: Silksong, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Arc Raiders, Fallout 4, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, just to name a few.

According to Xbox Wire, Microsoft says that it will share more details about how the Xbox App's integration with Hisense TVs will work in the coming months, so you will need to stay tuned to Xbox Wire and Microsoft's social media platforms for further updates.

With controversial price hikes for Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S consoles costing more due to the RAM crisis, and $80 AAA Xbox titles driving players towards cheaper budget titles, people are looking for ways to enjoy their favorite Xbox games without breaking their bank.

With this in mind, Xbox Cloud Gaming is fast-becoming one of the most affordable methods for gaming in 2026, whether people like it or not.

This is because you don't need an Xbox console to use Xbox Cloud Gaming, as you can access it on your phones, laptops, Smart TVs, desktop PCs, or any other device capable of connecting to the internet and running an internet browser.

Now that Xbox Apps are coming to Hisense TVs, this will open up a new, cheaper avenue for people to play Xbox titles if they can't afford an Xbox Series X|S.

However, the quality of which you will be able stream games via Xbox Cloud Gaming will depend on your Xbox Game Pass subscription. Essential and Premium subscribers will be able to stream games at 720p or 1080p resolutions, whilst Ultimate subscribers will be able to stream games at 1440p.

Will this partnership with Hisense help Microsoft convince more people sign up for Xbox Game Pass and experience the Xbox's vastly Cloud gaming ecosystem? We'll have to wait to find out.

So what do you think of Xbox App coming to Hisense TVs? Will this convince you to embrace Xbox Cloud Gaming, or will you stick to playing games locally without reliance on internet connections or Xbox Game Pass subscriptions? Let us know in the comments below.

It's tough to be a PC gamer. In the last few years we've had the pandemic and the ensuing chip shortages, we've had crypto bros scooping up every GPU that wasn't nailed down, and now, AI needs for all the RAM.

RAM is going up in price astronomically, and, unfortunately, it's a key component of any PC. But it's not worth buying when it costs what it does right now.

I've probably blown this trumpet before, but I'm going to do it again. Cloud gaming is the answer. Or rather, it might have to be the answer for many, whether we like it or not. If we can't build our own gaming PCs, then we can at least turn to someone else's.

Cloud gaming doesn't require a powerful PC. Or a PC at all.

The major benefit of cloud gaming is that you don't need much of a PC to take advantage of it. You don't actually need a PC at all.

RAM prices are, you would imagine, going to catch up with every aspect of the PC market before too long. If the prices don't settle, it will be inevitable that laptops, handhelds, pre-built desktops, even consoles and smartphones, could start to see related increases.

Cloud gaming takes that worry away somewhat, because you don't need new hardware. You can play on your current phone, your smart TV, your existing laptop or desktop, anything with a web connection and a browser.

Consider also, in some cases the cloud could actually be giving you an upgrade. NVIDIA's top tier of GeForce Now gives RTX 5080 level graphics performance. If you don't have one of those already, you can borrow theirs.

Xbox Game Pass has also upped its cloud game of late. If you're an Ultimate tier subscriber, you now get "high quality" streaming options at 720p and 1080p, alongside a 1440p "max quality" setting.

My colleague, Jez Corden, recently took a closer look at 1440p cloud gaming on Xbox Game Pass and the results speak for themselves, even if it looks like a carefully staged rollout.

While Xbox Cloud Gaming is geared primarily at Game Pass subscribers, it does also boast a growing "stream your own game" catalog. NVIDIA GeForce Now is entirely this model, buying a game on a supported platform and streaming it to your device.

The RAM crisis is going to make 2026 miserable

The problem with the RAM crisis is that everything needs RAM. Phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, handhelds, NAS enclosures, the humble Raspberry Pi. If it does computing of any kind, it needs some RAM.

So this isn't just going to affect the PC gamer wanting to build or upgrade a shiny desktop tower. It's going to affect everything.

We're yet to really see just how bad it's going to get. Obviously, buying sticks of DDR5 RAM right now is the biggest one we've seen. PC maker Maingear is now advising customers to bring their own RAM to the systems it builds to try to mitigate costs somewhat.

Likewise, Framework, known for its modular systems, has already issued multiple updates to pricing based on how expensive RAM is getting. It's doing a better job at keeping prices down than Apple (who's really surprised), but this is going to start affecting every company making hardware.

Keeping your existing hardware and using the cloud looks like making the most sense

2026 really doesn't look like being a fun time for anyone who wants a new PC. Especially if you want a PC for gaming. Already expensive hardware has the potential to skyrocket, and that's no fun for anyone.

What it means is that hanging onto whatever hardware we currently have looks like making the most sense. Fortunately, with the advances in cloud gaming technology in recent years, for many, this looks like being a good alternative.

I've been using cloud gaming for years now, and was one of those particularly aggrieved when Google shut down Stadia. Even back then it was genuinely impressive and at least console-quality.

NVIDIA and Microsoft are the best bets in the space right now, with options on both to stream Game Pass games and ones you buy. In NVIDIA's case, even with the impending 100 hours per month cap, you're going to get access to a better gaming PC in the cloud than most of us have at home.

At the very least, it's going to be worth trying. Both can be used now without paying for their respective top tiers, so you can at least get a feeling for it before committing.

Sure, it won't be the answer for everyone. You still need a reasonably good internet connection to get the best experience. But given the costly alternative, we might not have much choice in the coming year.

2025 was an absolutely insane year for games.

Whether you're on Xbox, Windows PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch, or PlayStation, one thing unites all platforms: there was a seriously huge amount of high-quality games to play this year.

The bangers came in all shapes and sizes. Whether it was the huge AAA budgeted dozens-of-hours behemoths from the mega-publishers, or small and scrappy teams with viral indie hits — the backlog is absolutely real.

As we head towards 2026 and start giving 2025 a wave goodbye, the team here at Windows Central decided to come together and rank our favorite Xbox and PC games of 2025, chosen wholly unscientifically and ranked based on votes.

What were your favorite games of 2025? Do hit the comments too, and let us know!

Ranking our favorite games of 2025!

This year saw mountains of high-profile games of all types and genres. We don't have a very big team here at Windows Central, so don't be mad if we missed out on your favorite game here. Drop your favorites in the comments below, and let us know what your ranking would've been here.

We've also added some more honorable mentions further below for games that don't quite fit the bill (either because they were remakes, DLC, or ones that didn't get enough votes from the whole team).

10. Silent Hill F

Silent Hill F is an amazing return to form for a franchise that has been practically dormant for over a decade. Set in 1960s Japan, Hinako carves a bloody path through an all-too-familiar nightmare, warped by her familial trauma and relatable school problems.

The twists are extreme, the combat is satisfying, and the atmosphere is on point. Konami has proven that it can still deliver strong games in 2025, and we're here for it. — Jez Corden

9. Elden Ring: Nightreign

FromSoftware is known for its grand, highly structured, methodically paced action RPG adventures, so Elden Ring Nightreign — a co-op roguelike spinoff with an emphasis on zipping around a shrinking map and taking out camps of enemies and minibosses to get as many randomized upgrades as possible — is a hugely experimental departure from that norm. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it when it came out, but my friends and I quickly fell in love with its distilled focus on fast-paced "Soulsborne" combat.

Nightreign combines Elden Ring's refined mechanics and 10 different playable characters (two from the new The Forsaken Hollows DLC with new bosses and a second map as well) that each cater to specific playstyles with different abilities and stat spreads. I'd enjoy greater enemy and boss variety, but all in all, Nightreign is an excellent idea from FromSoftware that is executed well, and is a must-play for any Soulslike fan. — Brendan Lowry

8. Hollow Knight: Silksong

Years in the making, Hollow Knight Silksong took the world by storm this past summer, dropping straight into Xbox Game Pass and launching alongside the Xbox Ally handheld.

This hardcore metroidvania pulls no punches, wears its soulslike inspirations on its sleeve, and isn't afraid to make you rage with its difficulty. From its stunning environmental art, fantastic soundtrack, evocative storytelling, and tight combat, Hollow Knight Silksong is an instant classic and a must-play for fans of the genre. Just take it slow ... — Jez Corden

7. Arc Raiders

I don’t know if it’s because I grew up in the era when DayZ was the game everyone played on PC, but ARC Raiders hits a similar nerve for me. The level of player choice, and the unpredictable people you meet along the way, is something I haven’t felt since DayZ in 2013.

DayZ constantly made you question whether you could trust someone or not. Seeing that kind of tension become more mainstream again is great, and it pulls me back to moments from over a decade ago. ARC Raiders reminds me of the Xbox 360 era of multiplayer gaming, and it definitely carries the same spirit that made DayZ so special. It almost makes me wish DayZ had received the same spotlight ARC is getting now. — Adam Hales

6. Battlefield 6

After a couple of misfires from the only credible alternative to Call of Duty, EA's beleaguered Battlefield franchise came out of the gate swinging this year and was big and bold enough to put a serious dent into Call of Duty for what feels like the first time.

A return to truly grounded warfare, Battlefield 6 offers everything modern Call of Duty doesn't, and players rewarded EA heavily for it this year. — Jez Corden

5. Ball x Pit

It feels like our entire team was addicted to this one this year. Ball x Pit came out of nowhere over the Q3 period and took the world by storm, balls in hand.

Ball x Pit combines classic gameplay from the likes of DX Ball and combines it with the auto-battler addictiveness of titles like Vampire Survivors. Fight waves of enemies with cascading and mutating power-ups in what might be the most addictive game of 2025. — Jez Corden

4. Hades 2

Supergiant Games already delivered a masterpiece with the original Hades, setting the bar extremely high for the studio's first-ever sequel. Launching and updating through early access, the team once again knocked it out of the park with a bigger, grander roguelike experience that merges gorgeous artwork and frenetic gameplay with a fascinating take on Greek myth.

I absolutely adore the new protagonist, Melinoë, who earns her place alongside her brother and the rest of the cast of this imposing tale. No two runs are ever the same, and it's ever-satisfying to build up your godly strength as you tackle the Titan of Time and his menagerie of lieutenants.

Topping it all off is a killer soundtrack, once again composed by Supergiant's Darren Korb. Hades 2 easily stands as one of the best games in an impressive year. — Samuel Tolbert

3. Blue Prince

When thinking about my favorite games this year, I hesitated to include Blue Prince. Its impact on me was unmistakable, but I had such a love-hate relationship with how completely it consumed my brain and broke my spirit on multiple occasions — yet I still went crawling back for more.

Earlier this year, I wrote that I was quitting before I lost my mind, and then, of course, I promptly went back for another 20 hours of punishment. The mansion is a puzzle, and within it lies a myriad of other puzzles, and just when you think you’ve solved one, the mystery continues to unravel.

It’s refreshing in the sense that you need to keep a pen and paper on hand to make notes, and infuriating because solutions often come to you in the middle of the night when you’re trying to sleep. It’s maddening to spend a week trying to figure something out only to realize the solution was staring you in the face all along.

Blue Prince was also an unexpectedly fantastic co-op experience as I compared notes with friends playing the game and pieced clues together. It’s rare for a game to be this clever, and rarer still for me to love something that seems intent on destroying my sanity, but Blue Prince is unforgettable and an absolute must-play for any puzzle and/or roguelike fan. — Jennifer Young

2. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is my pick for Game of the Year, and edges out the juggernaut that is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for me.

Warhorse Studios' colossal medieval open-world RPG is an incredible achievement, with some of the most reactive and dynamic systems I've ever seen in a role-playing experience, alongside terrific combat informed by realistic techniques from the era and a nuanced armor system that factors locational damage against every layer of cloth, chainmail, and plate.

The story, too, is amazingly well-written and fun to engage with, as are the 120+ hours of side quests and activities that flesh out this rendition of medieval Bohemia wonderfully. And the cherry on top? KCD2's gorgeous visuals bring that world to life in stunning detail, as does its grand orchestral soundtrack. I cannot recommend this game enough. — Brendan Lowry

1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a revelation for a variety of reasons. Sandfall Interactive emerged from the minds of ex-Ubisoft vets, tired of the bureaucracy that prevented true creativity from flourishing.

A single vision: create an homage to JRPG greats of the past, albeit with evolving modern flair, visuals, atop a uniquely French setting.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 went on to be one of this year's most successful and most renowned games. It gave long-suffering Final Fantasy fans the spiritual successor to AAA JRPGs that Square Enix inexplicably refuses to offer, while also offering a genuinely unique spin on the formula. It helps that the game's twist-laden story is as evocative as it is relatable, despite its dark and fantastical setting that is as bleak as it can be uplifting.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is our Game of the Year for ascending despite the odds, and standing out from the crowd despite wearing its inspirations on its sleeves. Pure unfettered creativity, and a strong, important reminder of what truly drives the industry forward. — Jez Corden

Honorable Mentions

For games that didn't quite get enough votes to make the top 10, or simply weren't truly full new games that launched in 2025, we've rounded up some honorable mentions here. What would've been some of yours? Let us know in the comments!

Atomfall

Atomfall is the very definition of AA, but developer Rebellion has proven that it's no one-trick pony with this one. Known for the Sniper Elite franchise, Atomfall is a uniquely British shooter set in a gorgeous, hand-crafted Cumbrian countryside. It celebrates all the quirks and weirdness of Britain, warped through the lens of a lesser-known real-world nuclear disaster that took place in the North of the country.

Despite its title, it's less Fallout and more STALKER, where exploration, stealth, and open-endedness rise to the fore in a fantastic way. — Jez Corden

Dying Light: The Beast

I feel like Dying Light: The Beast unfairly flew under the radar. It launched during a very busy time, and I also feel like its name created some confusion. This is essentially Dying Light 3, and I feel like Techland was a bit shy of using that moniker since it started life as a DLC. It grew, and grew, though, and became its own thing, with a new map, new features, new systems, and a new story.

Following Kyle Crane from the original game, Dying Light: The Beast changes things up by allowing Crane to transform into a hulk-like mutant, punching zombies to death with sublimely satisfying blood-soaked melee. If you loved any of the Dying Light games, don't overlook this one. It's arguably better than Dying Light 2, and the beast mode is infectious. Literally. — Jez Corden

DUSK

This gets an honorable mention purely for the Xbox version. DUSK is the progenitor of the boomer shooter genre, reviving the classic fast-paced FPS format typified by the likes of DOOM. The retro-stylings, masses of secrets, and hyper-violence make Dusk's 2025 arrival on Xbox one of my favorite games of 2025, as someone who missed out on it until now. It's also fantastic on the Xbox Ally. — Jez Corden

The Alters

The Alters is another game that flew under the radar a bit, and I'm a tad frustrated that Jan Dolski's voice actor, Alex Jordan, was overlooked at The Game Awards for his stellar performance here.

Indeed, in The Alters, you don't play as a singular Jan. You play as several incarnations of Jan, cloned and implanted with memories to aid with the maintenance of a giant roaming space station. You're stranded, oxygen and supplies are running low, and you need to rendezvous at an extraction point before the planet's sun turns you into a radioactive crisp.

The game's tense management gameplay and unique and emotional storytelling will be familiar to anyone who played This War of Mine. This deserves your consideration in 2025. — Jez Corden

Keeper

I played dozens of games in 2025, and I only awarded three a perfect 10/10 score — Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Alters, and... Keeper.

Years of waiting and building up excitement for Double Fine Productions' next game after Psychonauts 2 didn't dull Keeper's edge at all; if anything, Keeper still managed to exceed my lofty expectations for Xbox's most creative first-party studio.

You can reduce Keeper down to "You're a literal lighthouse that became sentient, grew legs, and went on a rather long walk with your dinosaur bird friend," and every part of that description screams "Double Fine," but Keeper is so much more than that.

This game is devastatingly beautiful, with the most intense, impactful, and imaginative art direction I've seen all year. It's also riveting, weaving an epic tale of history, purpose, and family that will keep you engaged from the opening cinematic to hours after the closing credits roll. — Zachary Boddy

Silent Hill 2

Here's another honorable mention specifically for its Xbox version. Silent Hill 2 launched a while ago on PlayStation and PC, but with the Xbox version finally here, I felt it deserved a mention. It is without a doubt one of, if not the best, Xbox games that launched in 2025 in my view. Bloober Team absolutely killed it here.

Silent Hill 2 is a legendary survival horror franchise that emphasises claustrophobic, exhausting atmospherics atop stressful gameplay and clever puzzling. Its mysterious story, uncanny dialogue delivery, and legendary soundtrack made Silent Hill 2 a timeless and iconic game that has few peers even today. Bloober Team did the franchise and its legacy incredibly proud with this remake, and it's up on Xbox now. — Jez Corden

Dispatch

Hailing from veterans of Telltale Games' first iteration, AdHoc Studio has made a noteworthy first impression with its debut game, Dispatch.

Merging corporate office banality with the quirks of free-spirited antiheroes, Dispatch easily banishes notions of superhero fatigue through awesome character work and some genuinely funny scenes. Tying it altogether is the incredible voice cast, which includes Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) and a large chunk of Critical Role.

Dispatch earns its place alongside The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us as an icon of narrative adventure games, and I already can't wait for a second season. — Samuel Tolbert

Cronos: The New Dawn

I wanted to give another overlooked banger this year a shoutout, and it's a double whammy for Bloober Team. Bloober Team's first home-grown survival horror title is Cronos: The New Dawn, combining gameplay similar to the likes of classics among Resident Evil, The Evil Within, and Dead Space, wrapped in a uniquely Polish sci-fi setting.

In a bleak and lonely apocalypse, you're the mysterious Traveller, exploring past timelines to figure out just what ended the world. The twists and turns are strong, the combat is stressful, and the environmental design is top-shelf. Bloober Team delivered a banger here, and hopefully, we'll see more from this universe in the future. — Jez Corden

WH40K: Rogue Trader — Lex Imperialis DLC

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader hits a special place in my heart as it's not only the first CRPG I've played and completed, but also loved it so much that it became my favorite WH40K game.

The Lex Imperialis DLC managed to take what I already loved about the game and dial it up to 11 with new character Archetypes to experiment with, new weapons to discover throughout the entire game, massive balance changes to every class, more replay value as there's lots of new cutscenes and story-decisions throughout the whole game to discover, and of course, cool new adventures where we get to purge the enemies of the Imperium with the the new Judge Dredd-inspired Arbites companion and Character origin. — Alex Cope

Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2

I played the original Monster Hunter Stories back on the Nintendo 3DS in 2021, and I loved every minute of it as it perfectly captures the mainline Monster Hunter game's mechanics in a turn-based environment without being a Pokémon copycat.

Fast forward a few years, and I now get to replay it on the big screen through an HD Remaster (along with the Xbox version of Monster Hunter Stories 2), and it's just as fun as I remember it (while including some extra post-game fun the 3DS version didn't have).

It rekindled my love for Monster Hunter after it was briefly snuffed out by how disappointing Monster Hunter Wilds was, and I can't wait to see where this spin-off series will go next when Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection comes out on March 13, 2026. — Alex Cope

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

In an age where games are becoming too scared to drive away audiences if they're even remotely challenging, I'm pleased to see the Ninja Gaiden series stick to its roots of old-school difficulty with Ninja Gaiden Ragebound.

It's brutal from start to finish (to the point where it even injured my wrist with how fast I had to parry incomings), but the levels of satisfaction I gained from understanding the complex level design, mastering the varied combat mechanics, unlocking secret levels, and conquering the tough-as-nails bosses were SO worth the effort.

This game was so much fun and gorgeous to look at, it made me a Ninja Gaiden fan after avoiding the series for decades, and I'm now interested in going back to play previous games to see what I missed out on all these years. — Alex Cope

Happy Holidays from the Windows Central Gaming Team!

That's a wrap on our favorite games for 2025.

This year was a bumper year for game releases, with everything delayed out of the pandemic launching almost back to back at a breakneck pace over the past couple of years. By all accounts, 2026 is set to be absolutely no different, with high-profile games like Fable, Halo Campaign Evolved, Gears E-Day, and much more emerging from Xbox Game Studios. The headline act is, of course, Grand Theft Auto 6, which is slated to drop just shy of a year from now (if it isn't delayed again, that is.).

What games did you love the most in 2025? What games are you most excited for in 2026? Hit the comments, and if you're celebrating, have a Merry Christmas!

Surprise! Metal Gear Solid 3 remake is now available on Xbox Play Anywhere.

Metal Gear Solid 3 is a legendary stealth action game, and for many (myself included) the apex of the Metal Gear Solid franchise. Developed by the legend himself Hideo Kojima and Konami, Metal Gear Solid 3 takes place during the Cold War, and follows the early days of Big Boss' career, codenamed Snake.

The prequel contains huge revelations about the overarching conspiracy that made Metal Gear a legend in its own right, and has existed on modern systems as part of HD ports and PC versions.

Last year, we exclusively reported that Konami was gearing up to re-build faith in its handling of the Metal Gear franchise, following a high-profile falling out with series creator Hideo Kojima. Since, we've had a re-release of the original Metal Gear Solid as part of the Master Collection, and now, a full remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, named Delta. Built by Konami and port maestros Virtuous, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a to-the-pixel remake of the original, albeit with modern graphics. And now, modern cross-buy features too!

Spotted by our pal HazzadorGamin, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater has now joined the Xbox Play Anywhere program. Similarly to Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill ƒ, Metal Gear Solid Delta hit the Xbox PC store without the Xbox Play Anywhere tag, making fans wonder if it wouldn't join the program. Thankfully, it arrived later, and is now available to buy cross-platform on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming on a single purchase.

Xbox Play Anywhere has over 1,000 games as of writing, which is particularly great for users of devices like the Xbox Ally. With one purchase, you get access to a variety of endpoints for your license, notably including Xbox PC and Xbox Series X|S consoles, but also often Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming is part of Xbox Game Pass, and lets you run intensive games on phones and TVs that typically aren't capable of running these types of games natively.

PlayStation is thought to be gearing up for a similar cross-buy program for PS5 and PC, although it remains to be seen if it materializes in reality.

More good news for Xbox Play Anywhere, and the Xbox Ally initiative

Since the advent of the Xbox Ally, I've become something of a handheld-first gamer. My Xbox and my TV is at my work desk, so being able to take the Xbox Ally downstairs to a comfy (warm) sofa or wrap up with it in bed has really boosted my playtime hours.

The Xbox Ally works really well with Xbox Remote Play if you have a strong home Wi-Fi set up, but being able to play natively adds a ton of value in scenarios where powerful Wi-Fi might not be available. Every time a game hits Xbox Play Anywhere it immediately makes me far more likely to actually pick up and play the game.

Microsoft has been advertising Red Dead Redemption on the Xbox PC store as of late, but it is, frustratingly, not Xbox Play Anywhere. Games that aren't part of Xbox Play Anywhere typically have a (PC) tag in brackets.

Microsoft's big uphill battle is convincing the big AAA studios to join Xbox Play Anywhere. Japanese developers like Sega, Square Enix, and Konami have been really strong supporters here, but western publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and Take-Two have been utterly ambivalent.

The next Xbox is expected to be PC-first, which will add more headaches to the equation potentially, with games launching on the Xbox Series X|S development platform without Xbox Play Anywhere will end up being locked to past-gen hardware. With Microsoft moving its users to Xbox PC over time, grabbing more high-profile games like Metal Gear Solid Delta into Xbox Play Anywhere is becoming paramount.

Whether it's Xbox stock supply issues or tariffs triggering price hikes, Xbox Series X|S hardware can't catch a break.

When the United States President Trump kicked off a trade war with China, it caused massive price increases across a variety of products. One business particularly hard hit has been video game consoles — which do not enjoy the same exemptions as other electronics. The United States exempted Apple's iPhones from tariffs for example to protect one of its top national tech businesses. But, it did not extend the same courtesy to the only U.S.-based console player still going: good old Xbox.

Since the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch, Microsoft was strong out of the gate, even beating the PlayStation 5 in U.S. dollar sales (via The Verge and Circana) for a few months. But then, PS5 supplies began surging ahead. Xbox hasn't been able to keep up ever since, with hardware declines posted nearly every quarter for the past couple of years. To make matters worse, it was forced to raise prices a few months ago, making the Xbox Series X, and in some cases, the less powerful Xbox Series S more expensive than some PS5 models. Tariffs have played a huge part in making Xbox Series X|S less competitive.

To avoid these types of price increases, manufacturers like Sony PlayStation and Nintendo have moved some of their hardware production out of China, which has been disproportionately targeted in Trump's tariff blitz. One country that has benefitted from this is Vietnam, which has increasingly started to assert its position in all types of electronics manufacturing. The country can now count Xbox among those.

In a new report from Reuters, electronics manufacturing heavyweights Foxconn and Luxshare have submitted planning proposals to local authorities, aimed specifically at growing their video game console footprint.

Fushan Technology, part of Foxconn, is seeking production permits specifically for Microsoft Xbox gaming devices, the report claims. Fushan aims to scale up to 4.8 million additional Xbox gaming devices as part of the permit, which likely includes Xbox Series X|S consoles, official Xbox controllers, accessories like the official Xbox headset, and possibly even Xbox Cloud Gaming server tech. Do note that this wouldn't include the Xbox Ally handheld — which is produced by ASUS, not Microsoft, despite the branding. China's Luxshare-ICT has also posted proposals to expand its own console manufacturing operation by an additional 4.5 million units per year.

Microsoft has been dividing its Xbox Series X silicon between retail Xbox Series X consoles and Xbox Cloud Gaming servers as it expands capacity in countries like Brazil and India, which also suffer disproportionately from tariffs and taxes inflating Xbox local hardware prices. Microsoft recently said its Xbox Cloud Gaming use had seen a 45% growth rate year-over-year, even as Xbox Series X|S supplies decline.

Xbox is still in the game

One thing I am constantly asked about on social media is whether or not Xbox is "exiting" console hardware. Microsoft has reiterated plans to build a next-gen Xbox console, which is set to be more PC-like than ever with the capability to run Steam and other Windows PC apps and gaming platforms. Another reason people often think Xbox is leaving hardware is Xbox Series X|S stock supplies, which are often difficult to find stocked up in some regions.

Indeed, Microsoft didn't do any Xbox Series X|S deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, owing to the stock shortage. Diversifying its supply chain will hopefully help boost Xbox Series X|S production in what could be a pretty huge year for the platform. Although, DRAM supply constraints and price hikes into 2026 could frustrate those efforts for everyone involved.

RELATED: Is this a new Xbox dashboard? 🤔

For millions of Xbox users still on Xbox One X and Xbox One S consoles — Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely catalyse upgrades in a way not seen since the Xbox Series X|S launched in 2020.

Microsoft can't afford to not have stock available for this rare gaming event, particularly since Grand Theft Auto 6 will be available only on Xbox Series X|S and PS5 at launch. Xbox Series S could be the "cheapest" way to access the game — but only if you can actually find one to purchase.

Microsoft is investing a ton in Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox PC right now, and we might've just gotten a small glimpse at the future.

Microsoft is repositioning Xbox as an "everywhere" platform, where players can expect to purchase content and then run it effectively across any device. It's essentially a strategy inspired by the likes of Minecraft, which has found its way to global domination by being literally everywhere — with content you can bring with you. An entire generation expects gaming to work this way now, and Microsoft is aiming to accommodate with devices like the Xbox Ally and the more Steam-like next-gen Xbox console.

However, in this very heavily digital-first future, purchase and ownership confidence needs to be at the absolute forefront. And there's a snag there potentially.

Redphx, developer of the excellent Better xCloud app, has been following Microsoft's moves on the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform quite closely. He tracks games that are hitting the service, either via Xbox Game Pass or Xbox "Stream Your Own Game," but also for the first time recently, games that are actually being removed from the service.

Microsoft seems to have lost the distribution rights for Dragon Quest Builders 2, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, and Mechstermination Force.

Up until now, the only other game Redphx was able to track as being removed was ElecHead, which was later reinstated.

It's unclear why games might be getting removed from Xbox Cloud Gaming this way. It could be that Microsoft added them by mistake in the first place, having not properly acquired the rights to distribute them this way. First I thought it could be due to particularly low usage, but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense given how many other games are being added there.

Either way, it's problematic if a user has specifically purchased a game for cloud gaming, only to find it later removed. Regions like Brazil and India are becoming major cloud-first markets for Microsoft, so guarantees games you purchase will actually remain available seems to be incredibly important. If you did purchase these games digitally, they would still be available to play on an Xbox Series X|S console, but that doesn't help if you don't actually own one — and Microsoft keeps telling us everything is an Xbox these days.

We'll ask Microsoft to comment on the situation, but they're currently operating on reduced staffing for the holiday period.

UPDATE: Sources familiar with the situation tell me that this is an exception, rather than the rule. I'll see if we can get something concrete from Microsoft itself.

Microsoft now has over 2,000 games in Xbox Cloud Gaming as titles you can buy digitally specifically for cloud. The vast majority of them are indie-styled games, but there are a variety of very big names available on the service too, including The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Microsoft is also rolling out upgrades to 1440p streaming for specific titles on Xbox Cloud Gaming, for users with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

But wait, there's more!

Redphx also uncovered another interesting morsel of news from Xbox Cloud Gaming recently, though, which might hint at a broader redesign for the interface.

Redphx found a promotional video and a URL that activates a new interface for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and there's also a promo video that contained a brief flash of what the layout might look like. Part of me has been wondering if this interface might not simply be for cloud, but Xbox PC in general.

Right now, the Xbox PC app interface is eventually going to be the interface for the next-gen Xbox console, using the Windows 11 Full Screen App experience seen on the Xbox Ally and other devices. The Xbox PC app right now is simply a big advertisement for Xbox Game Pass, but that would have to change a fair bit if it eventually comes to encompass everything your console is and does.

In the screengrab from the promo image above, you can see the layout actually looks a bit more similar to the Xbox PC app, rather than Xbox Cloud Gaming. There's also the back button, as well as the large feature content panels on the right — other aspects present on Xbox PC, but not Xbox Cloud Gaming. Instead of Xbox PC app icons on the left, we now have two new panels. One for friends by the looks of it, as well as another for your play history.

Microsoft added play history to Xbox PC and Xbox console over the summer. It brings in all of your recent games regardless of platform, as long as they're compatible. It's a useful tool for those who jump from platform to platform (as I do), making it quick and painless to access recently played games without having to jump through hoops.

A significant investment Microsoft is pushing forward for Xbox revolves around the idea of "play anywhere," whether it's cloud, PC, TVs, phones, or Xbox consoles. Unifying the interfaces between Xbox cloud, PC, and consoles is doubtlessly on the agenda, making me wonder if the above screencap isn't just intended for Xbox Cloud Gaming, but perhaps all of Xbox all up. If I had to guess, it was probably the latter.

Typically I'd just assume it was concept art, but considering it was found alongside the ability to "upgrade" to the new interface ... I'm guessing it's more than that. I'll keep digging for some hard confirmation, so hang tight.

UPDATE: Sources familiar tell me that this indeed representative of efforts to converge Xbox Cloud Gaming's interface and the Xbox PC app interface to match each other. There's a chance elements of this might extend to Xbox Series X|S as well. The digging continues. 🤔

I recently spoke to Falconeer developer Tomas Sala and New Blood Interactive's Dave Oshry on how Microsoft can improve the Xbox experience for devs and players alike. ID@Xbox chief Chris Charla said the firm is taking feedback to heart as it moves towards a more Steam-like platform for the next Xbox.

The Xbox Ally PC gaming handheld is the testbed for all of this stuff, and if the above interface is indeed a hint at the future of Xbox PC, we should see it on the Xbox Ally in early 2026 alongside the promised docking update.

Remember Microsoft's Mixer platform? I sure do.

I loved streaming on Mixer. I used to have a fun little morning show with former Xbox alumni-turned-YouTuber RobeyTech. Microsoft purchased Mixer (then Beam) for an undisclosed amount of money back in 2016 . Later, it spent, reportedly, tens of millions acquiring talent like Ninja and Shroud into exclusivity contracts, pulling major talent away from Twitch and other competing platforms in attempts to find growth. Sadly, it was not meant to be.

Mixer shut down in 2020 releasing the big partners from their contracts and ushering people over to Facebook Gaming, which now too, is defunct. Mixer struggled to find an audience during the pandemic, which Microsoft execs took as a sign that it would potentially never work.

In 2025, we only really have Kick, Twitch, and YouTube Gaming as credible streaming platforms, with a variety of smaller upstarts battling for financial viability in a competitive landscape.

But, what if things had been different?

One of the biggest streamers in the world, Shroud, recently mentioned Mixer on a stream while playing ARC Raiders, and what he said resonated with me so hard I had to write it up.

Chatting on stream, Shroud noted how things might've been different, had Microsoft stayed the course with its nascent streaming platform.

"Mixer came too early man I'm telling you. If Microsoft did Mixer now? They would be hot sh--, not in a bad way."

When asked if he thought Microsoft would have to keep paying people, Shroud instead inferred that, now owning the likes of Call of Duty, it could've banked on innovation and integration incentives instead.

"No, because they're big enough to work with people, right? The only way to make a streaming platform work is to do what Kick does and pay everybody a bunch of money, or you provide insane incentives. Microsoft could've worked with game studios, and all of the companies they own, to make some badass sh-- happen. It just came too early."

It's a fun thought experiment. Microsoft, now armed with Activision-Blizzard, would've had the perfect vector for integrations for all sorts of products, games, and services. It could've baked Xbox Cloud Gaming directly into Mixer. It could've integrated World of Warcraft into Mixer, Call of Duty: Warzone, and various other products and services. Hell, you could even add "gaming" Copilot AI in there somehow if you want (shudder).

Yes, it would've taken a ton of investment, ingenuity, and risk — but it's hardly as if Microsoft is struggling for cash. The only issue is CEO Satya Nadella, in my view, who is unfortunately anti-innovation, and consumer-ignorant.

Microsoft CEO complained about social video eating gaming, without providing a solution

In a recent interview, CEO Satya Nadella lamented how video platforms and short-form media like TikTok and YouTube Shorts was eating into playtime hours. His admission really irked me. As the leader of one of the biggest companies in the world, this defeatist view represents the focal point of everything wrong with Microsoft all up right now — reacting to global trends, rather than creating them.

Had Microsoft stayed the course with Mixer, working to integrate it, develop it, and curate it — it would've been the perfect platform it needs to combat the so-called competition from things like TikTok. Having no video or social media platform to speak of is doing untold amounts of damage to Microsoft's consumer efforts. Its lacklustre integration efforts with Copilot have so far been a total dud, representing an endemic ambivalence towards consumer innovation.

Everyone hates how Microsoft is forcing Copilot into everything, but "fun" integrations seem to be one of the only ways AI has found even vaguely compelling use cases. If Microsoft had kept Mixer alive, it's not hard to envision a variety of ways gaming agents could've intersected with user interaction features therein, perhaps appearing inside games like Minecraft themselves.

What if players could spawn agentic AI mobs directly into Minecraft using prompts in Mixer, for example? "Spend Mixer points to spawn a giant purple creeper in Jez's game, and chase him relentlessly until you explode" or something like that. That's the lowest hanging fruit I came up with caffeinated at 8 AM.

And this is even before you consider games like World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, Fallout 76, hell, even Candy Crush itself — Microsoft owns all of these properties. It would've had endless amounts of opportunities to integrate them into Mixer, creating a dynamic ecosystem that, as Shroud says, would preclude the need to throw cash around to get people to use it.

Then, you build up an Bing video ads platform, create a clips ecosystem to take on TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and oh wow, maybe you actually have the basis of the social network Satya Nadella wishes he could just materialize into existence.

Yes, I'm grossly oversimplifying. It's easy to do the "coulda shoulda" from a keyboard. But, Microsoft is one of the most prolific and privileged companies in history. Nadella's defeatism over Xbox and gaming vs. social media is painfully reminiscent of the way Windows Phone died.

Achieving all of this would've take real work, real innovation, and real ingenuity — something Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella seems to despise these days if he can't just buy it ready-cooked. Alas, what could've been if Microsoft wasn't so terminally short-term.

More Black Friday 2025 | Quick Links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that we personally picked
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

This past summer marked Xbox Cloud Gaming shedding its beta tag finally, hitting version "1.0." With that came a barrage of changes.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate notoriously picked up a huge price increase around this time, leaping 50% — eliminating years of good will overnight. The price increase overshadowed the fairly major Xbox Cloud Gaming news, which saw access expand beyond Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. If you're a cloud-first user, this equated to a price decrease potentially, as cloud gaming was only available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate previously. It sounds as though the swap over has led to a huge increase in usage, who'd have thought.

In a blog post, Microsoft waxed lyrical about Xbox Cloud Gaming, describing its ascent: "Players are streaming their games more than ever — cloud gaming hours from Game Pass subscribers has increased 45% compared to this time last year," Microsoft said. "And, console players are embracing flexibility, spending 45% more time cloud streaming on console and 24% more on other devices."

Microsoft recently expanded availability in Central and South American markets, while also opening up Xbox Cloud Gaming in India for the first time. India represents the world's 7th biggest market for gaming spend, and crucially, it's typically a mobile and PC-first market, where consoles have seen limited distribution and availability.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is now live in 29 markets across the globe, although Microsoft highlighted Argentina and Brazil as showing "double digital growth" in players and playtime alike. Microsoft expanded Xbox Cloud Gaming to LG TVs and Amazon Fire TV sticks in these regions recently, joining Samsung TVs on top.

Microsoft's spotlight on Xbox Cloud Gaming is telling, as competitors start to get more serious about its potential.

Why Xbox Cloud? Let's read between the lines a bit.

With DRAM costs skyrocketing, cloud gaming has the potential to improve access to games on existing hardware solutions. Xbox Series X|S consoles have ballooned in price over time. It's all thanks to the artificial intelligence bubble "boom" vacuuming up all types of components and silicon. Backed by nation states under the guise of "national security," companies like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are vacuuming up DRAM orders from the very limited range of manufacturers to power their meme-creating mistake-machines and dementia-inducing chatbots.

But wait, Xbox Cloud Gaming uses DRAM too, right? Yes, but during periods of low use, i.e. at night, Microsoft allocates Xbox Cloud Gaming compute to AI and other Azure workloads, solving two "problems" with one server stack. Those server-hooked Xbox consoles don't simply sit idle when they're not being used for actual gaming, potentially offering a variety of ways to pump revenue back into Xbox beyond gaming itself. Microsoft arguably contributed to the DRAM price problem, but is also selling back the solution via "cheaper" access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. "Smart" ... right?

For better or worse, tying Xbox and gaming to Microsoft's current shareholder fads has helped Xbox navigate c-suite scepticism, with CEO Satya Nadella previously notoriously exploring killing Xbox entirely in years past. With Xbox now tied up to cloud and providing value beyond gaming itself, the business segment has become biggest than Windows itself for Microsoft in some quarters.

For gaming, the 45% "growth" year-over-year in playtime hours doesn't mean much without a frame of reference. Microsoft has stated in previous years that Xbox Cloud Gaming enjoys "tens of millions" of hours of playtime use per month — so you'd have to presume adding India, boosted capacity, and cheaper access via Xbox Game Pass Essentials has led to significant growth either way. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also now offers boosted resolution and frame rates in some games on top, making it potentially a better experience on older devices like the Xbox One than actually playing games natively. Microsoft is also expected to ship a free Xbox Cloud Gaming tier supported by ads in 2026, joining NVIDIA GeForce Now and other smaller cloud providers.

Microsoft has over 2000 games you can buy to stream outside of the Xbox Game Pass library on top, but PlayStation caught up rapidly adding almost 3000 "bring your own games" to PlayStation's own cloud gaming service. NVIDIA GeForce Now also remains the performance-target to beat — but Xbox's latest upgrades are rapidly closing the gap.

Black Friday 2025 | Quick Links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Black Friday deals:
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17

It has been an incredibly busy year for Xbox Game Pass, and it can be awfully difficult to choose which included game you should play next. So, I'm back with another spotlight for one of the smaller gems on Game Pass that I wholeheartedly recommend.

This is Winter Burrow, a short, cozy survival game following the adventures of a young mouse as they return to their old familial home and learn to survive the harsh, endless winter of the forest.

If you're looking for a relaxing journey to usher in the winter months, this adorable indie game is a great place to start. It's less than ten hours in length, supports Xbox Play Anywhere across the entire Xbox ecosystem, and shows once again why ID@Xbox is so important for giving us more awesome games.

Finding friends hidden in the snow

You're a mouse, and you were raised in the forest by your parents and aunt. You loved the wilderness and were slowly learning to fend for yourself when the winters began to grow longer and harsher. Desperate to keep you safe, your parents fled with you to the city, leaving their burrow behind.

Poor living conditions and dangerous jobs whittled your parents down to nothing in the following years, however, and in the end, you were alone, left with nothing but a burning desire to return to the winter-enclosed forest of your childhood and the aunt who never departed it.

That's the basic premise behind Winter Burrow, an ambling survival adventure that tasks you with restoring your familial home while reconnecting with your aunt, learning to survive, and making some new friends along the way.

Gameplay-wise, Winter Burrow is straightforward. There are multiple semi-open areas to explore, each with unique resources, secrets, and creatures to scavenge, discover, and battle. You can use everything you collect or find to repair structures, build furniture, craft tools and items, and cook recipes.

You need to keep a close eye on your health, hunger, stamina, and especially your warmth — just being outside becomes dangerous over time, and the time of day, weather effects, and areas can affect how quickly you succumb to the cold. That constant threat puts a persistent timer on every adventure, but Winter Burrow is hardly an unforgivingly challenging survival game.

The greatest challenge comes not from the cold or various creatures you may have to battle, but from simply learning how to progress. There are no maps or objective markers; you need to become familiar with each area, especially as you discover other animals living in the forest that need your help. Simply paying attention to the footprints you left behind during previous adventures can be a massive help.

It's easy to become uncertain at times about how you're supposed to find something specific, be it resources, secrets, or even missing friends and family. I actually enjoyed this approach to game design, though, especially when Winter Burrow's scavenging, crafting, and combat mechanics are incredibly simple to understand.

A little too short, but still a Game Pass gem

As temperatures decline and reasons to go outside dwindle, Winter Burrow has offered me a handful of hours of peace and relaxation while wrapped in a cocoon of fuzzy blankets. It really embodies the "cozy survival" description, but the journey is rather short-lived.

Rebuilding your burrow, reuniting with your family, making new friends, and assisting everyone you've met while upgrading your gear and decorating your home doesn't take quite as long as I would've liked. I 100% the game and all its achievements in less than 10 hours, highlighting Winter Burrow's general lack of depth.

You're given lots of recipes for furniture, but little reason to actually go out of your way to craft any of it. You can technically customize your mouse, but really just by going up to one of the next three tiers of clothing. Most of your "reason" to play Winter Burrow is simply to explore and progress through each supporting character's unique questline (giving you five stories in total).

Winter Burrow ends quite abruptly, too, launching into the credits immediately following an anticlimactic conversation with your aunt. Honestly, I just wanted a little more from Winter Burrow — mostly, more depth to the gameplay that would make me want to keep revisiting even after the story is over.

Still, I really enjoyed my time with Winter Burrow. Developer Pine Creek Games truly nailed this aesthetic, and the narrative is sweet and often sorrowful — but ultimately heartwarming. If you're interested, Winter Burrow is now available across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and gaming handhelds, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and (of course) Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is Microsoft’s cloud-streaming service, allowing players to stream from a large library of Game Pass titles or a select number of games they own digitally. It lets users access their games across phones, PCs, tablets, streaming sticks, and more, and the service is available to all tiers of Game Pass, including Ultimate, Premium, and Essential.

The service currently supports 29 markets after recently arriving in India. Now it expands to more devices in Brazil, a key market for gaming.

Xbox Cloud Gaming offers a large library of games without needing to download or install them to your device. It lets players access games across multiple devices, giving flexibility on how and where they play, as long as the internet connection is strong enough.

What does Xbox Cloud Gaming offer?

With support for Bluetooth game controllers, including Xbox controllers and PlayStation’s DualSense, players can make the most of select LG Smart TVs and use Xbox Cloud Gaming directly on the television.

To use the Xbox app on LG Smart TVs, you will need webOS 24 or above, which includes some 2022 OLED models and 2023 models that received a firmware update.

Players in Brazil can also use the Xbox app on an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or another compatible Fire TV device. Both LG TVs and Fire TV devices only require a Bluetooth controller to start playing, and you can find the full list of compatible devices here.

A future without consoles?

This rollout gives players in Brazil more freedom to jump into games without needing extra hardware, and it shows how Xbox is continuing to push cloud access on everyday devices.

Being able to play through a TV or streaming stick keeps things simple, and it highlights how Xbox is focusing on convenience rather than relying only on traditional consoles.

Following the rollout of the Xbox Fullscreen Experience (FSE) to all Windows 11 PCs, another welcome update has just been pushed in the latest preview build.

Players can now see the save data status of their Xbox Cloud Gaming titles before launching them on different devices, adding a much-needed layer of reassurance to the cloud gaming experience we've been crying out for.

With this new quality-of-life feature, users are shown the exact date and time their game last synced with Xbox Cloud Gaming. This may sound like a small change, but in practice, it is a massive improvement that addresses one of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of cloud saves.

You'll now see the date and time of the last sync to Xbox Cloud Gaming

Previously, players had no clear way to know whether their most recent progress had uploaded successfully, which often led to overwritten saves and lost progress (I swore many a time during my Pentiment playthrough).

In many ways, this change brings Xbox Cloud Gaming more in line with the save indicators already available on competing platforms like Steam. Combined with the existing update, which gives a progress bar during in-game cloud uploads, this new pre-launch timestamp offers a clearer and more reliable picture of exactly where your save data stands at any given moment.

This latest improvement is in a long line of broader enhancements to Xbox Cloud Gaming. The service has recently introduced support for 1440p resolution as well as 60 frames per second gameplay, and higher bitrates. Albeit these came at an extra cost, as the improvements were accompanied by a price hike to Game Pass Ultimate.

These upgrades make cloud streaming feel far closer to native console gameplay. Additionally, Xbox continues to expand its “Stream Your Own Game” library, steadily adding more supported titles.

At the moment, we don't know when this update will be available to everyone. Right now, it’s only showing up for Windows Insiders using the latest preview build, so most players will have to wait a little longer.

As mobile gaming controllers go, Backbone is up there with the best. And for fans of Xbox Cloud Gaming, this new one is a perfect fit.

I recently wrote about how Xbox Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate got a big boost. 1440p resolution and a vastly improved video encoding algorithm delivers performance closer to NVIDIA GeForce Now, as Xbox Cloud Gaming sheds its beta tag finally after years of testing. The service also just launched in India for the first time, as Microsoft continues its global expansion to new regions.

You can play Xbox Cloud Gaming on practically any device, including via touch, but the best experience comes when you pair a controller. Many games on Xbox Cloud Gaming do not support touch as of writing, but devices like the Backbone make touch gameplay unnecessary.

Today, Backbone unveiled a brand new Xbox Edition of its Pro range, bringing some nostalgic green translucency to what is arguably one of, if not the best Xbox Cloud Gaming controller on the market. Here's what's new.

The Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is an "Xbox you can take anywhere"

Announced today, the Backbone Pro is the firm's "next gen" mobile controller designed for players who switch devices frequently. Connectivity includes Bluetooth as well as USB-C, with inserts and a telescopic clamp that support a huge range of phones and other types of devices.

Backbone says it ran over 30 user research studies and went through over 9000 (Vegeta?!) part iterations, specifically targeting boosted ergonomics and balance. It sports Hall Effect triggers, and is one of the "lightest" controllers of its type out there, coming at a mere 199 grams.

It sports USB-C connectivity, either docked inside the controller or via a wire, as well as wireless Bluetooth connectivity.

In wired or docked handheld mode, it eliminates that sliver of latency that Bluetooth injects for a console-like experience, pairing well with the recent Xbox Cloud Gaming latency enhancements currently rolling out across the service.

Bluetooth makes it a good option for playing on cloud-enabled devices like Samsung TVs, the Meta Quest VR headset, Amazon Fire sticks, tablets, and other screens that won't fit into the device itself. In wireless mode, you're also looking at up to 40 hours of battery life too.

What seals the deal is Backbone's capable app, which remembers previously-paired devices and makes it easy to switch between platforms without the hassle of constant re-pairing. As someone who has been driven to despair by how clunky pairing current-gen Xbox controllers can be across devices, this is great to see.

The app also sports shortcuts to popular services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Remote Play, PlayStation Remote Play, Steam Link, and even native mobile games like Minecraft and Fortnite.

The Backbone Pro comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate so you can test it out before dropping the $30 per month, although Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on the more affordable tiers too (with a rumored free tier coming in 2026 on top). Xbox Remote Play is of course free, but requires a pretty solid network environment at 5 GHz Wi-Fi to run well, as well as an Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One console.

The Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is available today

Similar to the Backbone Pro Xbox Edition on Amazon, the regular black Backbone Pro is available now to buy from Amazon at $169.99. The Backbone One Xbox Edition is cheaper, at $119.99, but doesn't come with Bluetooth support. You can also get a non-Xbox version without Bluetooth for $99.98.

I have the regular Backbone Pro and it's quite easily the best Xbox-style mobile controller I've used, with tight ergonomics, reassuring construction, and a svelte profile. It isn't cheap, of course, but it'll last longer and offer a better experience over long periods for those who plan to do a lot of multi-platform cloud gaming.

You can grab it via Amazon or via the link below, and let us know in the comments if you plan to grab it. For more details, be sure to read our full Backbone Pro review.

Original article:

If you've been waiting for Xbox Cloud Gaming to go live in India, you might be in luck.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is Microsoft's subscription based game streaming service, allowing you to play a large variety of games remotely from Microsoft's Azure cloud.

Different tiers of Xbox Game Pass give access to different tiers of Xbox Cloud Gaming. Essentials gives you basic access, with a couple of dozen games and lowest queue priority. Premium gives you some more games, and boosted queue priority, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you hundreds of games, as well as 1440p resolution, boosted bitrate, and day one Xbox games like Call of Duty.

The service is currently officially supported in 28 regions. Many of the world's biggest gaming markets are omitted, however, including the likes of China. One of the world's fastest-growing gaming markets may be looking to join the party, though.

Spotted by Better XCloud developer RedPhx, Microsoft appears to be inserting Xbox Cloud Gaming into servers across India, whose gamers currently rank around 7th in the world for gaming spend.

The new Xbox Cloud Gaming stacks have appeared in the Central India Azure data center located in Pune, Maharashtra, and the South India data center, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Central India sports Microsoft's most advanced data center in the region, although its South and West India data centers are also expanding.

Xbox Cloud Gaming recently picked up some of its most impressive upgrades yet, with 1440p resolution and boosted bitrate actually taking it further than Xbox Series X|S console remote play in terms of quality. The amount of games that support this new boosted resolution is relatively low, but it will grow rapidly over time. Microsoft's "Stream Your Own Game" feature on Xbox Cloud Gaming rolled out a few months ago, but already boasts over 2100 titles from Xbox's extensive console game library.

Today, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available in 26 regions, including: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. It works on any modern web browser via xbox.com/play with an Xbox controller, and also on Samsung TVs, any Windows 10 or 11 PC, Amazon Fire Stick TV dongles, and much more.

Microsoft is in an increasingly competitive space, as players like NVIDIA GeForce Now and Sony PlayStation continue to vie for the top spot in this nascent market.

NVIDIA GeForce Now leverages its industry-leading GPUs to provide what is arguably the best resolution and streaming experience, although its UX across devices can be a bit iffy. Xbox Cloud Gaming is catching up to NVIDIA GFN in terms of quality, but is arguably the most user-friendly of the three, while also sporting Xbox's massive content library.

PlayStation Plus is no slouch, though. Powered by its Gaikai acquisition a few years back, Sony remains a pioneer in the space. They've become the first of the traditional console makers to release a dedicated cloud gaming handheld with the PlayStation Portal, although you do still need a PS5 console to perform the initial set up (at least as of writing).

All three services are bottle necked in different ways by Apple and Google's draconian mobile stores, sadly, but Xbox does have a capable web app, and thanks to Azure, a global expansion advantage as we might be seeing here in India. However, it might be a bit too early to celebrate, given that Xbox Cloud Gaming was also activated in Chile back in the summer, but has yet to materialize as an officially supported region.

We've reached out to Microsoft to see if they can give us any more details on India joining the us in the xclouds. Watch this space.

UPDATE: Confirmed, Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available in India. Head over to Xbox.com/Play to get started.

Mini PCs are exactly what they sound like: smaller versions of the traditional Windows desktop towers that you might be used to. Some shrink down to pint-sized cubes, while others retain a more familiar, albeit suped-up, shape with gamer aesthetics. Then, there's the unusual (but technically accurate) subcategory of PC gaming handhelds; miniature PCs with a twist, and all the more capable.

Even if you have heard of them, mini PCs are often mistaken for being entirely low-power devices with no real chance of handling any PC gaming. That isn't the case, and even in those examples, you can fall back on modern, low-latency cloud gaming if your home Internet connection is up to the task. We've tested our fair share, and these are the best mini PCs to consider if you're interested in gaming.

Quick list

Get the mini PC that fits your gaming needs best

Some of the best gaming laptops and desktops are expensive, but you can significantly reduce device costs by going with a reliable mini PC. As with any computer, you'll just want to make sure the device you purchase meets your specific use cases.

If you want to save a lot of money, you can get a relatively simple Windows mini PC, like the Beelink EQR6. It can run graphically simple games like some 2D platformers and some pixel art games. You can also play more graphically demanding AAA games on it via cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Meanwhile, if you're more interested in a compact computer with a powerful GPU that can play AAA games locally, devices like the HP Z2 Mini (G1a) and the ASUS ROG NUC (2025) make for some of the best mini PCs that suit your needs. Note that dedicated gaming mini PCs tend to be expensive, but part of what you're paying for is the compact form factor in addition to the solid gaming performance.

Of course, if you want a device that you can play on the go, the Xbox Ally X is the device to consider. It's basically a Windows 11 mini PC that has a 7-inch display, built-in controllers, and a battery. If you don't mind having a less powerful option that may or may not play every AAA game, the Steam Deck OLED is another handheld to consider.

Towards the end of the summer, Microsoft dropped a nuclear bomb on the Xbox Game Pass faithful, revealing a steep, 50% price gouging. The internet reacted quite poorly, as you might imagine.

Almost everything seems to be getting more expensive, whether it's electricity bills or basic groceries; the elites running the mega corps seem hellbent on vacuuming up every cent. After Xbox's recent financials, revealing a continued downward trajectory, it offers a hint as to why.

Xbox hasn't been doing that well as of late. Hardware sales have crumbled, and growth seems relatively anemic. As Microsoft focuses on everything except its home-grown Xbox console, CEO Satya Nadella has blamed short-form video like TikTok for eating into the game industry's ability to hold your attention — which is at least partially true.

Free, instant access coupled with addictive and interactive social feedback loops that come with things like TikTok and Instagram Reels doubtlessly hold some blame for the flat growth of the overall gaming industry. What if gaming platforms could deliver their content without expensive upfront costs like gaming PCs or consoles?

Well, that's at least one reason why Microsoft has been investing heavily in Xbox Cloud Gaming. It has steadily improved, but it has never really offered a 1:1 "console-quality" experience, especially on large-screen TVs. That is, until now.

Finally delivering the "console quality" promised for years ...

Yes, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate nabbed a 50% price hike, but the news overshadowed some positive benefits for the lower tiers. Essential and Premium plans now include Xbox Cloud Gaming for the first time, at no added cost, and Ultimate now includes 1440p resolution, 60 FPS, and boosted bitrates.

As of last week, it does seem as though the improvements have gone fully live now, although sources suggest to me that the delivery of the new streams will roll out on a per-game basis, based on usage. So far, the only games I could find that support the new delivery mechanism are Fallout 4, Cyberpunk 2077, and The Witcher 3.

As you can see in the video above, the new video encoding is immaculate. Previously, in 3D games, spinning the camera around would result in waves of pixelated artifacting and after-imaging, but now it's as crisp as it would be playing natively. The frame rate is also totally locked at 60 FPS, and the latency between controller and stream is almost imperceptible. When Microsoft releases its next-gen Xbox controllers, I'm told they will come with Wi-Fi Direct, bypassing the connection to the device hosting the stream, which should shave off that remaining bit of latency on top.

It's unclear which games have this new "next gen" cloud access right now, but I presume Microsoft's plan is to eventually roll it out to every 3D game. I tried playing Dying Light: The Beast on this service, and sadly, it fell back on the old system, running the Xbox Series S version at a painful 30 FPS with poor bitrate. It was playable from a latency perspective, but after experiencing the Witcher 3 and Fallout 4 on the new system, crisp as hell, it was genuinely difficult to go backward.

For the video component of this article, I wanted to present the "both sides" situation for cloud gaming. I have ideal conditions streaming to an Xbox Ally, with 1GB internet, 5GHz Wi-Fi 6E, and I was sitting right next to the router. I have good mesh extenders, too.

So, I decided to showcase how "poorly" it would run on 5G, which gives me 1-3 bars if I'm lucky on my phone. The nearest 5G mast is anywhere between 200 and 300 meters away, and has to penetrate thick British insulated walls to reach me in here. However, I was shocked to discover the new system still ran incredibly well, on a relatively unstable 50MB 5G data connection. No lag, good bitrate, and good frame rate.

This is the experience Microsoft has been promising for years, and it's finally here. But is the market for this actually viable?

... but is there actually a big market for this?

I don't think playing games like The Witcher 3 on a tiny phone screen is going to be a big, popular way to play Xbox games in the future, but direct-to-TV might be.

Microsoft doesn't give hard figures, but cites Xbox Cloud Gaming as a growth vector for the Xbox platform, even in an era where hardware sales continue to shrink. Samsung TVs have Xbox Cloud Gaming built into them, and more LG TVs are picking it up, too. The new Xbox controllers with direct Wi-Fi connectivity will eliminate more gaps that exist for cloud gaming today, both in terms of access and latency. Microsoft sources tell me the firm is also working on a free tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming, similar to NVIDIA GeForce Now, funded by ads.

But the cloud is expensive to run. Data centers aren't cheap, and Microsoft ends up paying the electricity costs for gaming that you would otherwise do via systems in your own home. I have no idea what the business model looks like there.

Xbox Game Pass' revenue funds things like content for native play on console and PC, but presumably, there's also a charge back for running all those cloud servers too. If more and more people play on cloud, does that reduce the fund for new content for Xbox Game Pass? I just wonder how much of a loss leader Xbox Cloud Gaming is today, and whether or not it's at risk of going the way of Google Stadia, and more than likely Amazon Luna in the future. Will this actually bring in truly new users, or just recycle existing Xbox users?

I think Xbox Cloud Gaming helps with the ease of access issues gaming has historically had, but it certainly doesn't solve them. It might take a "killer app" like Grand Theft Auto 6 to truly mainstream tech like this, but how much would a licensing deal for something like that cost even as a "stream your own game" outside of Xbox Game Pass?

Xbox Cloud Gaming has shed its beta tag finally after years of testing and improvements, and it certainly seems to be on an upwards trajectory. The upgrades are immense, but where it'll fit into the overall gaming business as a medium remains to be seen.

FAQ

The news has come in a little later than usual, but we now have our second wave of Xbox Game Pass arrivals for Oct. 2025... and the first few days of November.

It's another diverse list, but the flagship Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is definitely getting most of the love this time around. At least one of these games is going to take up a lot of my time, though, so I'm feeling pretty good about this list.

You can check out the original post at News.Xbox.com if you'd like, but you'll find everything you need right below — including a surprise addition not included in the original announcement from Xbox.

Added Oct. 22

• Commandos: Origins — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Added Oct. 23

• Bounty Star — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)
• Pacific Drive — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate on day one)
• PowerWash Simulator 2 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Coming Oct. 24

• Super Fantasy Kingdom — Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one in Xbox Game Preview)

Coming Oct. 28

• Halls of Torment — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate)

Coming Oct. 29

• The Outer Worlds 2 — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

Coming Nov. 4

• 1000xRESIST — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (Premium, PC, & Ultimate on day one)
• Football Manager 26 — Xbox on PC (PC & Ultimate on day one)
• Football Manager 26 Console — Xbox Series X|S Optimized, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, & Xbox Cloud Gaming (PC & Ultimate on day one)

I'm already playing The Outer Worlds 2 (it's awesome)

Out of this bunch, my most anticipated is easily The Outer Worlds 2 — and I'm already playing it (courtesy of a code from Xbox Game Studios). I'm already loving this sci-fi RPG sequel from Obsidian Entertainment, and I'm fairly certain it'll end up being one of my favorite games of the year.

In our full, in-depth The Outer Worlds 2 review, my colleague, Samuel Tolbert, said:

"The Outer Worlds 2 doesn't reinvent the wheel, but delivers a more refined version of a formula that worked. Better exploration and combat buoy a tight role-playing experience that feels crunchy and isn't afraid of cutting off branches depending on player skills. The overarching story is a bit more self-serious than its predecessor, but the numerous side quests still lean comedic. A few bugs aside, it's not a game to miss."

Apart from The Outer Worlds 2, we're also getting the immensely satisfying PowerWash Simulator 2 (releasing today) and Football Manager 26 (coming in early November). As an added surprise, Pacific Drive just landed on Xbox alongside a new expansion, and it rolled onto Game Pass at the exact same time. Nice!

I think it's a solid list for Xbox Game Pass, but it's definitely not quite as impressive as what we got in the first half of October. You can keep up with all the recent and upcoming Xbox Game Pass arrivals right here on Windows Central.

If you're looking to re-up your Game Pass subscription and want to avoid the recent price hikes (we all do), you can currently get 3 months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just $54.99 at Amazon.com right now — giving you a full month and some change for free.

FAQ

Video games have maintained a high level of quality this last year, with major publishers delivering some stellar titles. As we near the end of 2025, though, my favorites still remain those games with more focused scopes, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and The Alters.

Now, a third title is completing the trilogy, directly targeting my personal tastes in games with such absurd creativity that I could never guess quite what would happen next. This is Keeper, and its synopsis is deceptively simple: you are a lighthouse, and now you're alive, accompanied by a grateful bird, and intent on taking a walk.

If you're intrigued, I recommend playing Keeper with as little knowledge as possible; it's on Xbox Game Pass, too. I'm not naive enough to hope Keeper will become a resounding mainstream success for Xbox, and I'm confident reviews will be varied (as they often are for unique indie-style games), but that won't stop me from defending and recommending this game endlessly.

This review was made possible thanks to a review code provided by Xbox Game Studios. Double Fine Productions and Xbox Game Studios had no input nor saw the contents of this review prior to publication.

Go into Keeper as blind as possible

To call Keeper creative would be a wild understatement. Even its foundational premise is the kind of absurdity many can only expect from the developers at Double Fine Productions, which finally returns after 2021's Psychonauts 2.

That virtual insanity is best experienced unspoiled, and while I'll be very careful to avoid such spoilers in my review (as I always am), I still recommend skipping the reviews and diving straight into the game.

For those who need a basic understanding of a game before deciding if it's worth the time spent buying and downloading it, Keeper can be described as a puzzle-adventure game.

You'll explore a diverse world swimming in alien life and vibrant colors, searching for the way forward, while also slowly learning more about this mysterious world (if you care to look for those secrets).

I honestly expected a 3-4 hour adventure, like a lot of indie games, and instead enjoyed an 6 hour journey across realms. Keeper is a slower burn, but it does a brilliant job evolving as you progress, keeping the game fresh and interesting as your mind is blown all the way to the credits rolling.

Strictly from a technical perspective, Keeper is impressive, but not astoundingly so. Performance was impeccable apart from brief stutters during a late-game cinematic, and there were occasional (brief) loading screens when transitioning between major areas. I didn't encounter any noticeable bugs or breaks during my play through.

Keeper is Double Fine at its absolute finest, but it's also not like any other Double Fine game I've ever played.

This is Double Fine at its finest

Double Fine has never been "normal," and they've also been one of my favorite studios for years. No correlation, I'm sure. Like with Keeper, you can always count on Double Fine to keep you guessing at what's coming next, with some of the most unique worlds in all of gaming under its belt.

Where most Double Fine games tend to be straight up goofy, or cover devastating topics with a disarming layer of Double Fine-brand humor, Keeper is somber and serious throughout. It's a very different experience compared to other Double Fine games, especially since a single world is never spoken.

The story of Keeper is told entirely through the world itself, either through the strange life occupying its regions, the mysterious ruins of some long-gone civilization, crumbled statues hinting at a disastrous history, the constant threat of an enigmatic decay seeping through every crack, even your own inscrutable actions as a sentient lighthouse with a clearly set goal that may not be clear to you at all.

What is immediately obvious, though, is that Double Fine has truly outdone itself with Keeper's art direction and visual style. It's difficult to capture in words just how beautiful this game is, and it's remarkable how it continuously impresses you in new ways as you progress. Most of my images are from the beginning chapters to avoid spoilers, so you'll just have to trust me when I say Keeper gets wild.

The color palette, the environment and character models, the smooth and intricate animations for everything, the relentlessly cinematic camera (which, admittedly, is sometimes frustrating to wrangle) — Keeper is special, and it all serves to support the story being told. I can say the same about the gameplay, which starts out simple: you can walk, and you shine a light.

As you progress, though, Keeper slowly adds new features, changes existing mechanics, and even occasionally throws everything away to give you something completely different. At first, I wondered how Keeper would keep me entertained for its entire runtime — by the final act, I was left stunned by how skillfully Keeper evolved its gameplay to keep me engaged and further strengthen the unspoken narrative.

If there's one area where Keeper may fall short, it's the soundscape. The audio design and soundtrack are fine, and there are absolutely powerful moments, but audio in general lacked the impact of the visuals. If I hadn't been spoiled by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 earlier this year, though, I probably wouldn't feel as strongly about it.

Keeper review: My final thoughts

✅You should play this if ...

• All you needed to hear was "new Double Fine game."
• You love immensely creative games with stunning visuals.
• You were looking for a new, low-energy puzzle-adventure game.

❌You should not play this if ...

• You only play games with high-octane gameplay or spoken stories.
• You bizarrely hate lighthouses, specifically, and can't stand to play as one.

After Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and The Alters, Keeper is my third 5/5 game of 2025, and my second favorite title overall (I don't see anything beating Expedition 33 for me, honestly).

It's easily my favorite Xbox Game Studios release this year, and I'll be shocked if The Outer Worlds 2 manages to impress me to a similar degree (although I'm still very excited to begin playing it next). I simply adore this game, and I'm ecstatic to know that Double Fine is currently working on multiple new projects.

Instead of formulaic remakes and sequels, major publishers need to embrace sheer creativity with more games like Keeper (but not at all like Keeper, you know what I mean). Sadly, I've lost faith in Xbox to keep investing in games that aren't easy wins — after the latest round of cancellations and full-blown studio closures, I've been constantly afraid Double Fine might find itself on the cutting block next.

So, I'll do my part and tell you to go play Keeper. It's perfectly priced for what it is ($29.99 at Xbox), and it's available on Xbox Game Pass from day one. Keeper is a work of art that deserves to be experienced by as many people as possible, especially if it means the studio that made it happen can keep exploring the outer reaches of creativity with future games.

The Xbox Ally is here, and it's pretty good (especially the Xbox Ally X).

Microsoft's cross-device gaming ecosystem is still technically in its nascency, although it has taken us years to get even here. The Xbox PC store has long been the subject of criticism (and ridicule), but things have gradually improved. Microsoft's efforts in gaming handhelds went from almost non existent to all-hands-on-deck, with a range of improvements that have appeared first in the new Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X handhelds.

The thing that connects all of these efforts, between Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the Xbox Ally handhelds, is Xbox Play Anywhere. Xbox Play Anywhere is a feature that synchronizes your purchase entitlements between Xbox consoles and PC, also cloud where available. This is a heavily underrated feature that is often overlooked by critics who have no interest in the Xbox ecosystem, given that well over a thousand games on Xbox Series X|S can also be played on any PC, and vice versa, with the same save state.

A big gap in this functionality is how cloud saves actually work, though.

Steam has a cloud save sync indicator, rapidly uploading your save file to its cloud system for synchronicity between devices like the Steam Deck and your main PC. Xbox, however, has no such indicator.

Microsoft says that it is working to bring a cloud save state upload indicator in early 2026, in a rare bit of roadmap transparency. In the current Xbox Insider Program, we might now have the first glimpse of how this works. Although, it doesn't yet work very well.

I've been trying to diagnose and work around a Death Stranding Director's Cut save file bug as of writing. Death Stranding on PC Game Pass, sadly, straight up doesn't work on the Xbox Ally right now. Save files roll back inexplicably, and part of me is wondering if there's some kind of issue with local saves conflicting with Xbox Cloud Saves on the fly, and vice versa. Although, it does seem like the save bug is also impacting the Epic Game Store version of Death Stranding Director's Cut, so perhaps it's just a case of 505 and Kojima Productions abandoning this likely under-used version of the game.

Either way, the weird save bug with Death Stranding helped me catch a glimpse of the way Xbox Series X|S will display cloud save synchronicity when conflicts arise. This has actually been live for a while when save files haven't synced, but it's the first time I've seen it come with a progress bar as well.

Unfortunately, my Death Stranding Director's Cut save file is, for whatever reason, not uploading from the Xbox Ally — stuck at 50% for the past 30 minutes. But hey, at least we're getting somewhere, right?

The problem with Microsoft's current "Everything is an Xbox" strategy is that it highlights everything competitors do better at its own game. Steam has decades of polish under its belt, but it's hardly Valve's fault Microsoft decided to join the PC gaming party so late in the game.

Steam's cloud save indicator works flawlessly and has never given me an issue moving save files between a Steam Deck, my main PC, or NVIDIA GeForce Now. Microsoft and Windows 11 naturally offer a more open and accessible experience over Steam OS on handhelds (complete with native anti-cheat and so on), but many aspects of the overall execution are years behind the curve. If it's not the Xbox PC store itself throwing out bugs, it's the games, as developers abandon their own titles on the Microsoft Store likely due to low use.

Microsoft is in a chicken and egg situation here, much like it was with Windows Phone, where low users means apathetic developers, and apathetic developers means low users. The underlying platform itself needs to be at least on par with Steam, otherwise why would anyone use it?

At least we're heading in the right direction, gradually, and slowly. Much like this Death Stranding save file that seemingly refuses to sync up. (Update: It finally finished syncing after about an hour!)

The ASUS Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X are an Xbox fan's best friend.

These handheld gaming consoles combine the sheer horsepower of the ASUS Ally and ASUS Ally X with the power of Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere, so players can enjoy hundreds of Xbox titles on the go with the best framerates and resolutions out there.

However, they have one crucial drawback, and that is storage space. With only an internal SSD of 512GB for Xbox Ally and 1TB Xbox Ally X, modern AAA games will eat up storage in no time, leaving little room for anything else.

To prevent this, it is vital to upgrade these handhelds' storage spaces with microSD cards, and we've scoured the internet to find the best ones out there.

We will be spotlighting microSD cards that offer tons of storage space, and ones that trade space for faster reading speeds for players who want to squeeze the best loading times and framerates out of their games as much as possible.

Upgrade your Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X with more space

Trying to manually replace a ROG Ally/ROG Ally X's internal SSD can be an extremely complicated, costly, and risky way to upgrade an Xbox Ally or Xbox Ally X's storage space that could backfire badly, especially if you don't know what you're doing.

By contrast, microSDs are far easier to install more space as you simply need to insert them into an Xbox Ally/Xbox Ally X's dedicated microSD card slot, and don't require skills in dismantling machines. Not to mention, microSDs are cheaper than buying new internal SSDs.

Furthermore, microSD cards aren't just for increasing a gaming handheld's storage capacity. They can also help boost a game's performance if they have a high transfer reading/writing speed by increasing their framerate to make it feel nicer to play and cut down on loading times to quicken their pacing.

When it comes to the best microSD memory that achieves a perfect balance between transfer speeds and storage size, our vote goes to the SanDisk Extreme microSD.

It lives up to its name of being extremely reliable with a superb transfer reading speed of 190MB/s that can be found in its 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB variants.

If you wish to forgo storage space and want to boost your games' performance, then we recommend the USH-II Lexar Professional Gold microSD Memory Card. They have the fastest transfer speeds on the market (up to 280MB/s), and their storage spaces range from 128GB to 256GB.

If you want to upgrade your Xbox Ally/Xbox Ally X with the most storage space possible, then we recommend the 1.5TB PNY PRO Elite Prime UHS-I microSD or the 2TB SanDisk Extreme microSD, whichever you can afford.

With this wide selection of microSDs available, along with SanDisk's homemade Xbox Ally microSDs, you will have no shortage of methods to upgrade your Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X's storage unit and enjoy installing dozens of your favorite games onto them without running out of space anytime soon.

Xbox Ally microSD FAQ

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

The Xbox Ally is on the horizon, and you're probably wondering what games you should play on it first.

If you want my recommendation, I would go with Monster Hunter Rise, one of the craziest co-op action games built for hunting on the go with friends online. Especially now that it's on sale for a cheaper-than-dirt 75% discount on Loaded, taking its $39.99 MSRP down to $10.89.

Why should you should you get Monster Hunter Rise?

Monster Hunter Rise is a co-op action-hunting game where you hunt giant monsters and use their parts to craft gear that will help you protect your home, Kamura Village, from being destroyed by an unnatural disaster called the "Rampage".

It's one of the more arcadey entries in Capcom's Monster Hunter series for eschewing the franchise's grounded approach to combat for insane aerial mobility and introducing mounts to the series.

While it's a big departure from the norm, Monster Hunter Rise ended up being one of the more exciting entries in the series.

Its combat system had cool mechanics that made you feel unstoppable, the new Japanese-inspired monsters were fun to fight, and even the tower-defense style Rampage events were a fun deviation once you understood how they worked.

The Xbox version in particular is fantastic as it features all the performance and resolution improvements of the PC version, with the bonus of Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform support with Xbox-compatible hardware.

In addition, the Xbox version comes packed with all the post-launch title updates, so you will have plenty of endgame content to indulge in after the primary campaign is over.

This makes Monster Hunter Rise an ideal game for the Xbox Ally as you will be able to play it on the go with fellow Xbox players online who are playing it on Xbox consoles or Windows PC.

Not to mention, it will run smoothly at high framerates and resolutions as the Xbox Ally features powerful hardware on par with the Steam Deck.

So if you want an enjoyable co-op action portable Xbox title, then I highly recommend Monster Hunter Rise, which is now on sale for $10.89 at Loaded.

FAQ

Mobile and cloud gaming have become an integral part of the industry. So people have been turning to 3rd-party accessories like the Razer Kishi Ultra to turn their mobile devices into fully fledged gaming handhelds.

This critically-acclaimed controller with precise controls and advanced features normally runs for a high mark-up price of $149.99. Yet, Amazon has managed to put together a generous 30% discount for it, taking the controller's premium price tag down to $104.99.

Why should you buy the Razer Kishi Ultra?

What makes the Razer Kishi Ultra worth your money is that it essentially takes the Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma, one of Razer's best Xbox controllers, splits it in half to fit mobile devices between it, and applies its outstanding controls and build quality for mobile and Cloud gaming.

It can connect to a wide range of mobile cases without taking them out of their cases and use pass-through USB charging, so you can charge your phone without removing the Razer Kishi Ultra.

Its controls are excellent with form-fitting ergonomic placement, satisfying click actuation, and laser-accurate input detection with Hall Effect triggers, so you can make precise and fast headshots while playing shooting games.

The Razer Kishi Ultra also sports audio-based universal haptics, which add immersive, dynamic vibrations while playing Android and PC games, optional RGB lighting, and built-in Nexus software that will allow you to remap the controller's buttons, joystick, triggers, and touch screen's functions.

The only real problem this mobile controller had was its premium MSRP of $149.99, which many people thought was too high for such a device.

Thankfully, this steep price has been mitigated by Amazon with this sweet 30% discount, so it's now $104.99 for a limited time.

So if you want one of the best Xbox accessories to help you better play your favorite Xbox Game Pass titles on the go via the Cloud with traditional controls instead of touch-screen control, then now's the perfect time to acquire a Razer Kishi Ultra.

FAQ

The shake-ups at Xbox are continuing, but this time, there's the possibility of something free on the way, with an ad-supported tier of Xbox Cloud Gaming coming at no cost.

That's according to a report from The Verge on Friday, which claims that this tier is currently in testing internally at Microsoft. In its current iteration, this free Xbox Cloud has players watch two minutes of ads before having access to play for an hour, with up to five one-hour sessions available in a month.

Players using free Xbox Cloud will be limited to select games they already own, titles that are free to play during a particular weekend, and Retro Classics.

The report adds that Microsoft plans to announce a public beta soon before fully rolling the feature out, which lines up with how the company usually allows members of the Xbox Insider Program to test various features ahead of a full launch.

Windows Central can corroborate this report, with sources confirming that the system will have an ad come up while players are in the queue to play.

Back in July, executive editor Jez Corden wrote about how Microsoft was exploring cheaper tiers for Cloud gaming, with the possibility of a free tier that is supported by ads.

Xbox Cloud is now available across most Xbox Game Pass tiers, but...

"Stream Your Own Game," the feature that allows players to stream Xbox games they buy, rolled out late last year as a part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Initially launching with 50 games, it's grown rapidly, with newer titles like Gearbox Software's Borderlands 4 and even PlayStation Studios' Helldivers 2 supporting the feature.

As part of the recent Xbox Game Pass shake-up, Stream Your Own Game has been expanded (alongside Xbox Cloud support in general), bringing the feature to the Essential (formerly Core) and Premium (formerly Standard) tiers of the service at no extra cost.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is still the best way to play, of course, providing 1440p streaming for titles where available, as well as the widest library for games that players don't already own.

Unfortunately, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was also subject to an enormous price hike, rising by 50% in the U.S. to $30 a month. There are other improvements meant to justify the increase, such as the inclusion of Ubisoft+ Classics titles, as well as the Fortnite Crew perk (which gives the Fortnite Battle Pass and some V-Bucks) that'll begin in November, but it's nonetheless been the center of a social media storm.

Personally, I'm pretty curious to see how many users end up trying out this free Xbox Cloud tier on a regular basis. From there, will the limitations on available games (as well as the time restrictions and presence of ads) push those players into subscribing to a paid Xbox Game Pass tier? It'll be interesting to watch it all unfold.

Elsewhere, I recently wrote about how what Microsoft is trying to do with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Fortnite actually does make sense, but the massive price hike means it isn't likely to work.

Nowadays, a lot of the games I complete are pulled from the ever-evolving Xbox Game Pass library. If recent reports are to be believed, I'm one of many Game Pass subscribers discovering a lot of games through the service.

High-profile additions to Game Pass may attract the most attention, like Hollow Knight: Silksong or upcoming launches like The Outer Worlds 2, but it's the indie games like Herdling that make me appreciate the popular subscription service the most.

After finishing The Alters (another phenomenal Xbox Game Pass title that we loved in our review), I was in need of something a little less heavy. Herdling felt perfect for the job, and then it ended up helping me relax through a rather rough day. If you have five hours of free time and want something soft, Herdling is my current recommendation.

Leading your furry friends home

You wake up alone in the slums of a rundown city. There is no guiding voice, no clear direction for your life to take. All you have? A mysterious urge to befriend and aid the fluffy creature trapped nearby.

Herdling's narrative is as soft-spoken as its gameplay. You will travel great distances, rescuing and taming these "Calicorns" as you go. Each will have a unique name, a unique appearance, and a unique personality — but all are seeking the same place of safety, and they trust you to guide them.

It's never made completely clear why you were chosen for this task or even how you know what to do; all that matters is your quest. With spirited gestures and brisk whistles, you can command your herd of Calicorns to march, stampede, or stop, and it's up to you to navigate them past any dangers you may encounter.

You will encounter danger, too. Herdling takes you through some of the most breathtakingly gorgeous vistas I've seen in a video game, with verdant forests dense with trees, barren glaciers torn by windstorms, sweeping countrysides painted in colorful flowers — all dotted by strange ruins and enigmatic paintings that hint at past journeys not alike your own, a troubled history for the peaceful creatures you guide, and a very strange power that borders the magical.

As beautiful as the surrounding landscapes are, though, you will have to take care of your Calicorns. They will need food, affection, and even stimulation, but they will also need guidance to avoid pitfalls and predators — with each new region introducing fresh hurdles. It takes care to avoid losing a Calicorn, and even more so if you wish to find all the Calicorns waiting for their shepherd to rescue them.

There are certainly tense and emotional moments to be discovered in Herdling, and while each journey a player takes will follow the same path, it'll ultimately tell a different story.

A lovely way to spend an afternoon

Allow me to introduce you to my herd: Appa, Momo, Pabu, Cabbage, Naga, Oogli, Ori, Caterpillar, Foofi, Bumbli, and Balto. Yes, I personally named each one (you can probably guess the theme), and I did so based on their appearance and the circumstances of our meeting.

I'm also proud to say that I didn't lose a single one of my furry friends to landslides, glacier crevasses, or angry bird monsters (I won't say any more than that), but I sadly failed to find every Calicorn in need of rescuing (I'd wager I missed three, but I'm not sure exactly how many there are).

Each Calicorn is visually distinct and boasts subtly different personalities, and you can even find decorations and harnesses to further personalize them along the way. It took me around five hours to complete Herdling in a leisurely fashion (you could finish the game in three if you wanted), and I still managed to become attached to every single Calicorn I tamed.

In a short period of time, I became engrossed in this world. It eased the sorrows and tensions of a very long day out of my shoulders and head — despite the cryptic secrets entwined within the story and the homebound path fraught with peril for my furry friends.

The ending left me wholly satisfied, content I had found a home for me and my Calicorns free from those challenges at the end of the treacherous road that seemed to have brought many others there before me. My personal tragedies of that day were embellished by a rather persistent storm outside my windows, but I still felt the warmth of the final campfire I lit for my herd.

Herdling is only $24.99 at Xbox.com, but you don't even need to pay that if you're looking for a slower game to occupy a few hours. It's on Xbox Game Pass, and it's also part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program. I actually installed Herdling on my ASUS ROG Ally X with intent to play it during my upcoming business trip, but ended up finishing the game before I even packed.

Forza Horizon 6 is real. We all knew that, really, and I even covered rumors leading up to the announcement (which ended up being true). It still feels great to write it, though — Xbox unveiled Forza Horizon 6 at the Tokyo Game Show.

We only have a short teaser trailer to slake our Forza Horizon thirst right now, but it still confirms that fans are finally getting the location we've requested since the first Horizon game released back in 2012.

Japan is the setting of choice for FH6, and all the ingredients are here for this to possibly be the best open-world racing game of all time. I'm getting ahead of myself, though — here's what I want to see, and everything we already know about Forza Horizon 6.

I can't help but get excited over a teaser

You can check out the Tokyo Game Show 2025 teaser trailer above, but there isn't a ton to see at this point. The trailer takes us through the history of Forza's most popular series, starting with Colorado and heading to Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and finally ending with the latest destination.

Then, subtlety be damned, the camera sweeps up, and we're met with a gorgeous vista featuring one of the most distinct natural landmarks in the world. It's Mount Everest! No, wait, this is Mount Fuji in Japan.

That's honestly not a lot to go on, but it's enough to get me on board the hype train. Forza Horizon 6 will take us to Japan on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox on PC via Xbox Play Anywhere, Windows PC via Steam, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Game Pass sometime in 2026, and we'll be learning more about the game starting early next year.

We didn't even see any cars, so I can't start on my next-gen Forza Horizon car list. So, why am I so excited? Because I know how seriously developer Playground Games takes adapting a real-world location to the fictional Horizon Festival, and there's a reason Japan has been so highly requested by the Forza community for years.

It's not just the sweeping landscapes and diverse rural areas, or the bustling urban environments packed with decades of history — it's Japan's rich car history, which could shape Forza Horizon 6 into a very different game than we've seen before.

There's a reason our first dive into the world of FH6 is this interview with the game's Art Director and Cultural Consultant at News.Xbox.com. I'm already impatient to see more.

I have big hopes for Forza Horizon 6

I love Forza Horizon 5, but I'll be the first to admit I haven't properly sat down to play it for a long while. I'm ready for the next chapter in the Forza Horizon series, and while we still have months (at least) to wait, I already know some of what I want to see in the next game.

It helps that Playground will be supported by Turn 10 Studios (of Forza Motorsport fame), which should help make FH6 the biggest and most ambitious of the series so far.

• Improved driving & world physics. This one is basically a given, thanks to the new ForzaTech engine that Forza Horizon 6 will undoubtedly be built on, but I still want to see proper upgrades to the driving physics and depth of environmental details.
• Deeper car customization. If Forza Horizon 6 is really going to embrace Japanese car culture, more options to customize our vehicles is a must. The Forza Horizon series' car customization has been a little lackluster for years now, so this is Playground's chance to completely change things up and give us more ways to flex our style.
• A different live service model. One of the reasons I stopped playing Forza Horizon 5 as much is how it felt like I was logging in every week just to complete a checklist and leave again. The weekly Festival Playlist had a tendency to become monotonous and repetitive, and FH5's monthly updates often failed to bring any meaningful changes or new content beyond a handful of new vehicles. I'd like to see Playground get more creative here, even if it means updates take a little longer to arrive.
• Three DLC expansions. I know I'm jumping way ahead of myself here, since we know nothing about FH6 and whether it'll get expansions at all, but previous Forza Horizon games have gotten two expansions and then nothing but cars and free updates after. It has never felt like quite enough, and I'd like to see Forza Horizon 6 push the bar even higher with a third beefy expansion after launch.

When it comes to the campaign, online content, driver progression, and the car list... I'll wait until I see what Playground has been cooking up. This game is bound to be massive, and should keep me pretty busy in the coming months as Playground and Xbox drip feed us information leading up to release.

Here's everything we know so far

While there aren't really any hard official figures, it's no secret that Xbox has become a broadly digital platform.

In decades past, we loaded up video games on cassettes, cartridges, CDs, and eventually Blu-Ray discs. Around the advent of Blu-Ray, though, something changed.

Cloud storage and digital delivery became a lot faster and a lot cheaper. As such, platforms like Steam very rapidly devoured the market for physical PC discs. Coupled with digital rights management (DRM), the very idea of a "physical" PC game seems almost like an alien concept, outside of a few occasional limited releases.

Today's PCs and laptops rarely even ship with a disc drive at all, and the same is about to happen to the traditional consoles, too, most likely.

A variety of factors are putting an end to the very concept of disc-based games. More and more games ship digitally only, particularly in the PC / Steam era, and more and more consoles are shipping without disc drives. Both PlayStation and Microsoft have discless digital versions of their console range, with PlayStation's financials pointing to a trend away from physical copies at an increasing pace.

This trend has been more rapid for Xbox.

The death of the physical Xbox game

Microsoft was the first of the big console platform holders to offer direct digital downloads for games, and the first to launch a discless console. Microsoft also incentivizes users switching to digital with its push towards device-agnostic play, which depends on the licenses being digital. Xbox Game Pass is also at the forefront of the Microsoft gaming ecosystem, and naturally, it's all based on digital DRM. And, you can't play your physical discs in the cloud, via Xbox Play Anywhere, or on an Xbox Series S. Most of the paths into the Xbox ecosystem these days are simply digital-first.

On Amazon Store listings for games, the firm often offers both an Xbox Series X|S digital key, alongside the Xbox Series X disc-based version. To complicate matters, there's also now a discless Xbox Series X as well. For massive online retailers like Amazon, none of this has presented much of an issue. But the market of addressable users wanting Xbox discs has shrunk to such a degree that many traditional retailers have stopped stocking Xbox discs altogether.

Microsoft has yet to offer a USB-based disc drive attachment for any of its consoles, and there's honestly no reason to think it will. The upcoming Xbox Ally handheld will naturally be digital-first, although, as a Windows PC, you could plug a disc drive in via its USB ports. But at least for gaming, there's almost no reason to do so. When was the last time you purchased a physical PC game? I can't even remember; it has been literal decades. But not everyone is happy with it.

Companies like Limited Run Games have been absolutely fantastic at providing physical versions of various games, with an emphasis on console games. LRG is by far and away the frontrunner here, but despite its fame, even it has struggled to find a real return on investment for creating Xbox versions of some titles.

Speaking to a user on X, Josh Fairhurst described why it has not created Xbox versions for some upcoming Konami Limited Run Games. "[Our] physical releases on Xbox — even of major, substantial games — rarely top 2,000 copies sold," Fairhurst said frankly. "We wouldn't be able to make our investment back. Unfortunately, Xbox is a very digital heavy platform." Fairhurst explained that when they've entered into deals purely for physical royalties, the Xbox volume simply isn't there to justify the stock allocation, essentially.

"Yes, a port [to Xbox] will cost us about $50K on average, and physical releases on Xbox generally only make us about $30K after costs and partner royalties. We count on digital to make up the slack, but on some projects we have no share or only a tiny share in the digital earnings."

Limited Run Games typically deals with indie titles and games that have a smaller footprint, but even bigger companies like Square Enix, of Final Fantasy fame, have given up on launching physical games on Xbox. Final Fantasy 16, 7 Remake, and Final Fantasy Tactics — all direct-to-digital on Xbox.

Microsoft's reputation as a game preserver has been questioned

I haven't purchased a physical Xbox game since the Xbox 360 era, so I'm very much part of the trend that has created this situation. However, I do have fond memories of collecting games as a kid, back when I was less storage-conscious. For those with the space and time, it's a great hobby, and one I wouldn't like to see disappear.

Microsoft has positioned itself as pro-game preservation — but digitally so. Thanks to Xbox's very excellent backwards compatibility program, Xbox is ironically the only place where you can play every single mainline Final Fantasy game on a single device, given that some never launched on modern PlayStation or PC platforms. The downside is that, of course, it depends on Microsoft's continuing support for the Xbox platform ecosystem.

Disc-based games that fully support offline play are the only real guarantor of preservation further into the long term. Microsoft has shown itself to be a non-committal company, changing its priorities on a dime to chase shareholder bucks. For many, that lack of confidence in Microsoft's priorities creates a great deal of anxiety over its commitment to gaming — which would naturally lead to a preference for discs, or perhaps leaving the platform entirely.

Surely there's more Microsoft could do here to create a win-win situation for all gamers in its ecosystem, and not just the ones who have gone fully digital.

It would be awesome if Microsoft could partner more closely with Limited Run Games to help subsidize or offset some of the costs. There's no real reason I can see why Microsoft couldn't also create a cheap external USB disc drive for its Xbox Series S or X digital consoles, even if all it was for in the short term was license validation. USB read/write speeds may preclude modern games from running fully from the disc, but perhaps the next-gen Xbox consoles will have more modern ports. Microsoft could keep stocks low and build carefully based on demand, at least to help users who have amassed large libraries of physical games.

Indeed, the next Xbox is widely expected to be more PC-like than ever, running full Windows 11 (or maybe Windows 12?). This would potentially make it the most compatible console in history, if indeed it has the full range of legacy APIs that Windows proper has. In partnership with AMD, Xbox is building chips that support both PC games and traditional Xbox console games, and Microsoft President Sarah Bond oversees an internal game compatibility task force dedicated to this effort.

Perhaps in that universe, just any standard USB Blu-Ray disc drive would be able to carry your disc-based Xbox library forward, but that might be wishful thinking.

Microsoft is typically a company that identifies trends and leans into them — and is rarely one willing to fight against them. Microsoft sees digital delivery as the ultimate form of preservation and compatibility, which naturally benefits it, since you'd need to be in its ecosystem and cloud to access it.

For those who simply enjoy collecting physical games as part of the "fun" of the hobby, Microsoft's utilitarian attitude towards gaming will perhaps run in opposition. But, even Nintendo and its partners have been criticized for releasing Switch games that don't actually contain a cartridge.

Perhaps the "convenience" current is just too strong to swim against here. What do you think?

In a pivotal move for Xbox's growth, Mena Sato Kato has ascended to Managing Director of Xbox Asia, aiming to transform the gaming landscape in Japan and beyond, as Microsoft seeks to bridge gaps with elusive local publishers and emerging markets.

Historically, Xbox has struggled incredibly hard in Japan. That was, until 2023.

In 2023, Microsoft appointed former PlayStation exec Mena Sato Kato to lead the charge rebuilding Xbox's footprint in Japan, which remains one of the world's most lucrative and important gaming markets. Japanese publishers of all shapes and sizes have been finding increasing success both at home and in the West, thanks to new franchises like Elden Ring and big staples like Resident Evil.

One thing that remained consistent was Microsoft's dire struggles to not only win interest from Japanese gamers but also court favor from Japanese publishers, many of whom sought exclusivity deals with PlayStation over publishing on Xbox. Times have changed significantly since then, and Mena Sato Kato has been cited as a big reason.

Leveraging her industry contacts and wealth of experience, Mena Sato Kato helped bring various Japanese publishers back into the Xbox fold, including, most notably, Square Enix. Final Fantasy went from being among the least published prolific Japanese franchises on Xbox to one of the most published. In fact, Xbox is now the only platform where you can play every classic Final Fantasy game, thanks to Xbox backwards compatibility. Square Enix has also pledged to bring Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth, and the third instalment on Xbox day one. And not only that, Square Enix is one of the few publishers that has fully pledged to support not only Xbox Cloud Gaming, but also Xbox's buy-once licensing model, Xbox Play Anywhere.

Mena Sato Kato's success has been heavily recognized by Microsoft in a new promotion, which she shared on LinkedIn this week.

Mena Sato Kato is now Managing Director, not just of Xbox Japan, but all of Xbox Asia. There's an absolute mountain of opportunity for Xbox in the region, particularly as PC gaming becomes increasingly prevalent. Steam is poised to become a China-first platform in demography, and Xbox PC has solidified its place as the second-place PC gaming storefront thanks to PC Game Pass.

There's a ton of work still to be done, of course. There are still many Japanese publishers unwilling to work more heavily with Xbox. Nihon Falcom, known for the "Trails" RPG franchise, is notoriously absent from Xbox in near totality. Konami has also taken exclusivity deals with PlayStation for Silent Hill 2 Remake, despite bringing Silent Hill F to the Xbox ecosystem on day one (complete with Xbox Play Anywhere, I might add). Microsoft also notoriously fumbled both Black Myth Wukong and Stellar Blade, which were announced for Xbox but later took exclusivity deals with PlayStation. It hasn't all been bad on Microsoft's end there, though — the ID@Xbox team did land viral Japanese hits like Palworld exclusively previously.

Capcom has also offered mixed support for Xbox, with its big heavy hitters like Resident Evil Requiem skipping Xbox Play Anywhere, despite previous games like Resident Evil 2 joining the program. Capcom has also dragged its feet bringing some of its legacy ports to Xbox, such as Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2, despite pledging 3 earlier this year.

Microsoft is going to showcase its Japanese and wider Asian partners at the Tokyo Game Show later this month, with an Xbox showcase to celebrate. There, we're expecting to see Forza Horizon 6 revealed, potentially with a Japanese setting, as well as new showcases for Ninja Gaiden 4 made with Japan's Team Ninja, under Koei Tecmo.

Both China and Korea are increasingly pumping out AAA bangers that are finding huge success in the West. Wuchang Fallen Feathers and Black Myth Wukong have been incredibly popular among new Chinese teams. And Korea's Pearl Abyss, KRAFTON, and Neowiz have found a lot of success via Xbox as well. Neowiz's Lies of P, in particular, found an instant audience via Xbox Game Pass in previous years.

Microsoft's expansion into Asia comes at a crucial moment, as tariffs and other factors make it harder for the firm to win over new players in its traditional markets. Selling Xbox hardware and services in countries less impacted by tariffs, especially in regions where the products are actually being manufactured, could represent a significant opportunity for Microsoft. Emerging gaming regions like India, too, which have been traditionally mobile-first, are increasingly crucial on PC and particularly cloud as well.

The world's gaming landscape is ever shifting, thanks to U.S. tariffs, changing demographics, and generational shifts. Many AAA publishers have resigned themselves to desperate service game trend chasing, as Asian developers and Western indie developers deliver more traditional core gaming experiences. It'll be interesting to see how Mena Sato Kato and Xbox Asia navigate some of these new realities.

We're halfway into September 2025, and as such, Microsoft has recently announced( via Xbox Wire) the next batch for this month's line-up of Xbox games coming soon to Xbox Game Pass. Twelve have been revealed for this batch, and some of them are worth keeping a major eye out for as they're regarded as some of the most critically acclaimed of modern gaming.

These include, but are not limited to: Supergiant Games' award-winning roguelite Hades, Square Enix's newest entry in its Mana series, Visions of Mana, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the latest installment of Call of Duty's best-selling Modern Warfare sub-series.

Here is the full list of Xbox games coming and leaving Xbox Game Pass for the second half of September 2025. Don't forget to check out the first half of Xbox Game Pass' new titles for September 2025 if you missed them already.

Games coming to Xbox Game Pass

September 16, 2025

• RoadCraft (Xbox Series X|S and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard

September 17, 2025

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (Console) – Game Pass Ultimate
• For the King II (Console) – Game Pass Standard
• Overthrown (Game Preview) (Xbox Series X|S) – Game Pass Standard
• Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

September 18, 2025

• Frostpunk 2 (Xbox Series X|S and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate
• Wobbly Life (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

September 19, 2025

• Hades (Console, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

September 22, 2025

• Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview) (PC) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

September 23, 2025

• Sworn (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

September 25, 2025

• Peppa Pig: World Adventures (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
• Visions of Mana (Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

September 30, 2025

• Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (Console, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

October 7, 2025

• Sopa – Tale of the Stolen Potato (Console, PC, and Cloud) – Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

New games coming to Xbox Game Pass Core in October

On the first day of October, three games will be added to Xbox's Game Pass Core tier program. These titles are:

• Cities: Skylines – Remastered
• Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Games leaving Xbox Game Pass

Here is list of titles leaving Xbox Game Pass on September 30, 2025. So be sure to get your playtime on these games before they're gone from the library.

• Ninja Gaiden Sigma (Console, PC, and Cloud)
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 (Console, PC, and Cloud)
• Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor’s Edge (Console, PC, and Cloud)
• Terra Invicta (Game Preview) (PC)

Time to play Hades on Xbox Game Pass an appetizer for Hades 2

This next batch of Xbox Game Pass titles is a solid line-up to close out September.

We have Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, a title we gave a glowing 4-Star review to for its well-executed single-player campaign, satisfying gunplay, wide variety of old and new multiplayer maps, and entertaining Modern Warfare Zombies mode.

Then there's Visions of Mana, a charming action-RPG that has helped Square Enix's colorful Mana franchise gain mainstream popularity for its action-packed gameplay and fantastical world.

Finally, we have Hades, one of the most critically acclaimed action-RPG roguelites in recent memory. This game won accolades for its unique take on Greek mythology, addictive combat system, endless replay value thanks to its roguelite elements, and its brutally challenging boss fights.

With its sequel, Hades 2, leaving early access soon as it approaches its September 25, 2025, release date, Hades 1 coming to Xbox Game Pass a few days prior makes it the perfect time for longtime fans to start another playthrough or new fans to experience it for the first time.

I'm of the latter, as I never played the original Hades when it first came out in 2020 due to my life being completely taken over by Monster Hunter World at the time.

Now that it's coming to Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, it's time for me to see what I missed out on when Hades joins Microsoft's vaunted subscription service on September 19, 2025.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is good, but it could be better.

Microsoft's gaming platform previously revolved entirely around Xbox console hardware, but those times are gone. Now, Microsoft has been hard at work to expand Xbox's footprint to third-party PC hardware, such as the Xbox Ally. Microsoft has also been bringing Xbox games to PC via Xbox Play Anywhere, but the tip of the spear for truly "new" users might be cloud.

Xbox Cloud Gaming currently has a beta tag, but I've been told that it could exit beta later this year as Microsoft preps it for the prime time.

A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming will be coming to more Xbox Game Pass tiers, making it cheaper and more accessible for those who don't need or want full-fat Xbox Game Pass. But for many, price isn't the main issue.

Xbox Cloud Gaming on paper should be equivalent to NVIDIA GeForce Now for latency, but in practice public perception places NVIDIA GFN at the top of the cloud gaming pile — at least for raw performance. NVIDIA's highest tiers offer sharper resolutions and higher bitrates than what Xbox Cloud Gaming offers today, giving an experience that is closer to native playback. But, perhaps the gap is about to shrink a little more.

@RedPhx who develops Xbox Cloud Gaming enhancement tool Better XCloud recently noticed new performance tiers for Microsoft's service.

The new resolutions are 720HQ, 1080HQ, and 1440, joining the existing 720 and 1080 streams available today.

The implication here is that the 720 and 1080 "HQ" modes will potentially provide higher bitrates, and thus sharper picture quality. The 1440 mode should also provide a cleaner, sharper experience on larger TVs and monitors, although it doesn't seem to have its own "HQ" mode as of writing.

To speculate, Microsoft may be exploring providing quality modes on higher Xbox Game Pass tiers, similarly to how NVIDIA GeForce Now subscriptions work. I could see 720 and 1080 resolutions being offered on the lower tiers of Xbox Game Pass, while the HQ modes and 1440 mode runs exclusively to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Obviously, higher resolutions and bitrates mean more power consumption, and thus, more costs on the platform holder.

Lower tiers of Xbox Game Pass, namely Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard, don't include the full library offering that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate does. What it does do, however, is allow you to buy cloud games to own permanently, similar to Google's dead Stadia platform. Xbox calls this feature "Stream Your Own Game" (no points for catchiness), and it already contains dozens upon dozens of games you can buy and then play on any device.

A much, much needed quality boost

Microsoft has partnered with the likes of Samsung and LG to pre-install Xbox Cloud Gaming onto TVs. Microsoft also brought Xbox Cloud Gaming natively to Windows 11 via the Xbox app. There are third-party Xbox Cloud Gaming devices and attachments out there like the Logitech G Cloud and the Razer Kishi V3 Pro. And Microsoft even announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to cars today via LG's WebOS platform. But, it doesn't quite seem like Xbox Cloud Gaming has become much of a mainstream hit yet.

Microsoft faces significant barriers to adoption. A de-facto ban on the service is currently being enforced by both Google and Apple, who want to prevent Microsoft and NVIDIA from offering a new point of sale from within their mobile ecosystems. Microsoft responded by building out a big custom Xbox.com/play web app instead, which is very good, but likely suffers heavily in terms of visibility.

Microsoft also previously planned to make an Android-based Xbox Cloud Gaming console called Project Hobart, which never materialized due to costs.

Without app store access, Xbox Cloud Gaming has to rely on word of mouth to find crucial new users, but it doesn't seem to be blowing up as much as Microsoft would probably like.

With improvements to bitrates and resolution, more affordable access, and a previously-promised expansion to new markets, Xbox Cloud Gaming still has a lot of potential.

I suspect finding adoption through Gen-Z and younger cohorts will revolve primarily around content, rather than more affordability, though. Call of Duty would have been a vehicle for this in decades past, but games like Roblox have now captured the attention of younger audiences now, and many of these types of games already have native mobile versions.

Xbox Cloud Gaming will likely function primarily as a complementary service for people already present in the Xbox ecosystem. There are markets where taxes and tariffs might make cloud gaming a more affordable alternative than traditional console gaming, but Microsoft hasn't shown itself to be particularly good at penetrating consumer markets outside of its Anglo-centric home turf.

Hopefully, we'll get an official announcement on the new resolutions and bitrate options soon. I'll be sure to let you know the details when we do.

Have you ever been riding along on a road trip, stuck in the back seat of a car with LG electronics inside, and thought, "Man, I wish I could play some games via Xbox Cloud Gaming right now"? If so, Xbox's latest partnership was made for you. Specifically you.

Xbox has announced that the latest expansion for the Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) program is a collaboration with LG Electronics to bring the game streaming service to select internet-connected vehicles.

The collaboration between Xbox and LG Electronics utilizes LG's webOS Automotive Content Platform to launch a native Xbox app so that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can stream and play games. Xbox first-party titles like Gears of War: Reloaded and Forza Horizon 5. Even upcoming titles, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and The Outer Worlds 2, are included.

In a blog post, vice president of Xbox Marketing Christopher Lee wrote of the partnership: "Our work with LG is the latest example of Xbox expanding to new places, building on partnerships that already bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to mobile devices, PCs, and TVs. By adding vehicles to the mix, we’re giving players more choice than ever in how they enjoy their games."

There are some limitations to the collaboration, however. Customers who want to play games while in their car will need to have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription in order to access Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). An automotive data plan and a compatible Bluetooth controller are also required to be able to stream games via the service.

Because the collaboration is in partnership with LG Electronics and not the car manufacturers, the vehicle in question must be ready for internet connectivity and feature an LG infotainment system powered by WebOS. Only passengers' infotainment systems are capable of streaming Xbox games via the cloud.

Launching Cloud Gaming is easy, as the Xbox is natively available on the internet-connected, in-vehicle infotainment system. Connect a compatible Bluetooth controller and launch the Xbox app. Upon logging in, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate catalogue's streamable offerings can be found in the app.

A growing array of Xbox titles can be streamed via Xbox Cloud Gaming, even if they are not a part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service. These titles must be purchased separately, but can also be found within the native Xbox app. Some titles included in the streaming catalogue include Don't Starve, Mafia: The Old Country, and Bugsnax.

All services operate in compliance with driving safety regulations, so you will not be able to chip away at that persistent boss in Hollow Knight: Silksong while you're sitting at a red light.

Xbox did not release a list of the vehicles that are capable of using the feature, however.

Growing Xbox Cloud Gaming as console sales shrink

Xbox has had a history of collaborating with LG Electronics, so while "cars with LG infotainment systems are now Xboxes" may sound like an odd sentence to utter at first, it makes perfect sense for the current Xbox marketing strategy.

Microsoft leadership confirmed during the Xbox vs FTC hearing that a growing population of the next generation of gamers prefer to be on mobile devices rather than at home with a console or PC. Collaborations like this one with LG (and previously with LG and Samsung TVs) give Xbox the opportunity to bring games, both first-party and more, to potential customers by meeting them where they are — on their phones, on the couch, at a desk, or in the car.

Not only does a partnership like this expand Xbox's access to potential new subscribers, but it does so without any cost burden from selling hardware. Consoles are notoriously sold at a loss, with the hopes that a new customer will stick with the ecosystem and make enough purchases in the long run to balance the books. But expanding access to the Xbox ecosystem by turning as many screens as possible into Xbox gateways eliminates the risk of loss found with consoles.

At the end of the day, expanding access without requiring an extra investment in hardware is a pro-consumer move that pays off in spades for Xbox overall.

Members of the Xbox Insider Program subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Standard will now be able to stream some games through Xbox Cloud Gaming, as well as access PC versions of titles, where possible.

As shared on Wednesday via Xbox Wire, it's some great news for Xbox Game Pass users who aren't subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the highest tier of Microsoft's gaming subscription service.

Both of these features were previously unavailable for Xbox console users on these tiers, with Xbox Cloud and (additional) access to PC games being limited to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

This new access for Cloud gaming on these two tiers includes Game Pass titles as well as games in the "Stream Your Own Game" library, the latter of which has greatly expanded over the last few months.

Cloud Gaming is available across numerous devices, including Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, select Smart TVs, Meta Quest 3 headsets, and web browsers via Xbox.com/play.

If you aren't currently a part of it, you can sign up to join the Xbox Insider Program, which allows you to test new and upcoming features, providing feedback before they roll out across Xbox consoles and the Xbox PC app.

Xbox Game Pass breakdown, as it stands

Up until this latest update for Xbox Insiders, the Xbox Game Pass tier breakdown was as follows:

Xbox Game Pass Core, available in the U.S. for $10 a month, includes online multiplayer and a small library of console games. Meanwhile, Xbox Game Pass Standard adds on a far, far larger library of games for $15 a month, but does not include day one releases.

PC Game Pass (geared exclusively toward PC players) includes a large library of PC titles, including day one first-party games, as well as an EA Play subscription, all for $12 a month.

Finally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes day one first-party games, Xbox Cloud Gaming, an EA Play subscription, and a large library across console and PC, all for $20 a month.

Day one access to first-party games is by far the biggest selling point, giving subscribers the ability to play titles like Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2 when they all launch in October.

Outside of that, another big point is that if you wanted to play across console, PC, and Cloud, then you had to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate...at least, until now.

Again, this feature expansion is just for Xbox Insiders at the moment; however, when it eventually comes to all Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard users, it'll give them new ways to play and benefit from other parts of the ecosystem.

In particular, the ROG Xbox Ally X and ROG Xbox Ally devices may become somewhat more attractive, as these handhelds are running the PC versions of games, meaning access to PC titles is imperative for something that intends to use them.

Now, for players that buy all of their games, Xbox Play Anywhere will obviously be the main selling point, but for a Game Pass subscriber that isn't on the Ultimate or PC tiers, this new feature is interesting to consider.

The Xbox Ally devices are both slated to launch on Oct. 16, 2025. There's no price point yet, but leaks point to $899 and $599 for the higher-end and lower-end systems, respectively.

I'll be extremely curious to see if this latest feature has left Xbox Insider testing and is widely available by the time these devices launch.

I've only played one Prince of Persia game, so I don't have the storied history that many others do — particularly with the 3D action-adventure entries. I adored Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown when I reviewed it, though, and now I suddenly have another intriguing Prince of Persia game to play.

The Rogue Prince of Persia is a brand-new 2D roguelite with fast-paced combat and platforming gameplay. It already spent over a year in early access, but ultimately flew under my radar entirely — now the full game is very suddenly very here, shadow dropping onto Xbox, PlayStation, Windows PC, and... Xbox Game Pass.

I didn't need to see much of this game to add it to my backlog, and the fact that it's a surprise day-one addition to Game Pass makes it all the more interesting. If you need any more convincing than that, the launch trailer should do the trick.

Stuck in a time loop with only one way out

The Rogue Prince of Persia tells a time loop story, a common setting for roguelite games. You are a Prince beset by the mistakes that led to the destruction of your people and kingdom, and even in death, you were unable to find freedom.

Now, you must explore your crumbling city and fight back the corrupt enemies that occupy it, with every life you live (and die) providing new information to empower your next attempt. You won't just take knowledge with you through lives, either, as you can rescue people from the time curse and gain new abilities and options through those connections.

In typical Prince of Persia fashion, gameplay is fast-paced and hectic. This Prince of Persia is incredibly agile, able to chain together dodges, parries, wall runs, acrobatic flips and jumps, lightning attacks, and more to traverse the deadly, trap-laden environments and dispatch the diverse and deadly opponents.

You can also adapt that dextrous gameplay to your own style with over 100 unique weapons and medallions. I think the gameplay looks awesome, and I'm excited to dive in for myself.

An exciting (and surprising) new Prince of Persia arrival

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was a ton of fun as a platforming-heavy Metroidvania, and I'm honestly stoked to see a new 2D Prince of Persia game in a parallel (but distinct) genre.

I can still expect plenty of difficult platforming and challenging combat, but I'm really interested to see how the roguelite elements develop over consecutive loops, and what unique directions you can take your build. More than anything, though, I'm in love with this art style and how it flows when in motion.

The Rogue Prince of Persia isn't entirely new, seeing that it spent over a year in early access on Steam, but I don't think anyone expected it to fully arrive quite as suddenly as it did — especially not on multiple platforms, and especially especially not on Xbox and PC Game Pass.

Ubisoft did provide a review code to me, too, and I'll definitely be seeking to play this game before the year is out. I'm told it should take around 15-20 hours to complete, if you're curious about length, with that variation dependent on your familiarity and skill with roguelite games.

I still have a lot of other 2025 games I want to play, though, including The Alters, Ruffy and the Riverside, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Eternal Strands, and Heretic + Hexen.

It really has been a busy year for gaming already, and there's still so much on the horizon, like Keeper and The Outer Worlds 2. It'll be tough to find the time to hit The Rogue Prince of Persia, but I think it'll be worth the effort.

If you agree, you can now play The Rogue Prince of Persia across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Game Pass. I also hear a Nintendo Switch version is in the works for release later down the line.

Today, Microsoft uploaded a new official Xbox Podcast show detailing the near and long-term future of the Xbox platform. Microsoft is undergoing something of a transformation with gaming.

First-party content has overtaken third-party for revenue, and Xbox Game Pass is reshaping how users engage with the platform. Microsoft has opened up its software to third-party stores more than ever, including PlayStation, and Sony has even reciprocated with Helldivers 2 heading to Xbox in the coming weeks.

VP of next-gen Jason Ronald and VP of Xbox Platform Jason Beaumont caught up with the dashing Mixer alumnus Ethan Rothamel of Xbox's social team to discuss the future of Xbox as we know it.

"It's the hardest I've ever seen the team working, there's just so much going on," says Beaumont. "On the console, a lot of what we're working on is under the hood. When we release something that's for PC or for cloud gaming, or for mobile, we want that feature to go everywhere. So that's a lot of the investments we're making. Jason mentioned the Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X. We've been working gangbusters to get that released in time for this holiday."

VP of next-gen Jason Ronald chimed in, "When we think about the future of the Xbox, we think about how we put the player at the center of the experience. The vast majority of players play across multiple devices."

"There's a bunch of games I would start playing on the Xbox Ally, and now I want the full fidelity on my console on my big-screen TV. We're focusing on how we evolve the Xbox ecosystem to allow players to play the games wherever they want to play them."

Ronald emphasizes that Microsoft wants to continue building devices that are dedicated to gaming, including the upcoming first-party Xbox next-gen console.

Beamont and Ronald recapped many of the recent additions made to Xbox PC, including a unified library, storefront aggregation, handheld scaling, and more, while hinting vaguely that even more features will be coming soon for Xbox Insider Program members on PC.

On Xbox Cloud Gaming: More regions, and a cloud-only subscription?

Throughout the podcast, the team at Microsoft discussed a variety of topics, from Xbox Cloud Gaming to next-gen and beyond.

Jason Beaumont hinted that Microsoft is working to expand the availability of Xbox Cloud Gaming to new countries, while spinning up even more servers to "meet demand."

"You're going to see us continue to invest in this area. This includes adding new [cloud] servers to meet the growing demand. We're also exploring innovative ways to reach more players wherever they are. Our goal is really simple; we want to bring more games to more people. Cloud is great at that. We want to expand Xbox Cloud Gaming to more countries around the world, so people can play games they love no matter where they are."

Jason Ronald hinted that Microsoft is exploring "new ways" to access Xbox Cloud Gaming, following our previous report that Microsoft is working on cloud-only subscription tiers for Xbox Cloud Gaming. Perhaps Microsoft is also exploring bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to Xbox Game Pass Standard with a smaller library, or just the ability to play 'stream-your-own' cloud games.

"One of the things that we see is that there's a lot of players who use Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to access the cloud. Whether it's the primary way, or additional way to play when you're on the go. I think for us, it opens up the opportunity to make it more affordable, and make it more accessible to more players. Whether that's new regions, or new ways to access [Xbox] cloud."

"We want to add more value for our most dedicated players. Whether that's things like adding new first or third-party day-and-date titles, the ability to stream your own games, or even things like adding new free-to-play game benefits. We want to add as much value as we can."

On next-gen, Xbox Game Pass growth, and new hardware experiences

Jason Beaumont emphasized the growth of Xbox Play Anywhere, noting that Xbox transactions even outside of Game Pass are growing by "double digits." "We're seeing a strong alignment with developers, for titles that support Xbox Play Anywhere, they're seeing more play, because the game is available on many more screens. When I think about Xbox Game Pass, we had record Game Pass revenue, and we had our all-time high in Xbox Game Pass payouts to developers."

"In addition, we're also seeing double digit growth in both first and third-party transactions as well. So whether your game is in Game Pass or not, there are many more opportunities for developers to reach players within our community."

The podcast team shifted to discuss Xbox's next-gen, known to be in development in partnership with AMD. Jason Ronald hinted at new AI-powered rendering techniques, while also unifying storefronts from Steam to Xbox to GOG, all on one box. "Xbox and AMD have had a decades-long partnership, innovating in driving the next-generation in gaming. We're excited to continue that relationship as we look forward to the future of Xbox."

Jason Ronald noted that the "silicon innovation" coming out of AMD will revolve around unifying storefronts across multiple platforms on a single device. It's widely believed the next Xbox will be able to incorporate Steam, GOG, and indeed any Windows app potentially — while also supporting your existing Xbox console library.

"We're deeply focused on hardware and silicon innovation and how we can push the boundaries beyond the current generation of devices. This is grounded in the work we're doing to build a unified platform across devices in new ways. It's about ensuring gameplay is not locked to an individual device or storefront. We built our libraries across a whole set of different services, we want to put that experience front-and-centre."

"Together with AMD we're developing dedicated silicon to power the next-generation of gaming experiences. We're developing next-generation rendering technologies, including neural rendering. It's about deepening the immersion. We're investing in dedicated silicon to develop the next-generation of AI experiences, which will be transformative in how you experience gameplay."

"It also provides a new surface that developers can take advantage of, delivering new kinds of experiences that they weren't able to deliver before. All of this starts this year with the Xbox Ally X, because it has a dedicated NPU that allows us to experiment with some AI-powered experiences before we get to our next-generation console."

Ronald emphasized how, going all the way back to the original Xbox, Microsoft innovated with a long-term vision about where gaming was going. Despite 56K modems being standard, Microsoft would still bet on a future where internet speeds would accommodate a full Xbox Live platform, for example.

"This reminds me a lot of the early days of the original Xbox. We had a vision of where the Xbox console could go. We had this notion of connecting gamers across the world, and ultimately that became Xbox Live. From a hardware perspective, we knew early on we had to invest in things like, a hard drive, an ethernet port."

"At the time, people were gaming on 56K modems. It was out of left field for us to invest in this hardware. We believed in our vision. So for us, it's about betting on the future, rather than against the future. We want to go where players are going, and build the right platform to allow developers to build on their creative vision."

A glimpse into the future of Xbox

Throughout the rest of the podcast, Jason Ronald and Beaumont offered some insights into the design of the Xbox Ally, the development of Xbox's PC offering, including offline play, while emphasizing Xbox Play Anywhere, too.

Of course, developers have to opt-in to Xbox Play Anywhere, and many seem sceptical about the idea of "giving away" multiple licenses for free. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, for example, was revealed as Xbox Play Anywhere, but then it was taken away. Resident Evil 7 was Xbox Play Anywhere, but Resident Evil Village was not.

It's not all bad news, though: Ready or Not didn't have Xbox Play Anywhere at launch, but it was added later, and some publishers have supported Xbox Play Anywhere incredibly strongly, including Square Enix — although even then, the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics remaster is not Xbox Play Anywhere.

I think well and truly, the only way Microsoft can deliver on its vision is via silicon compatibility. There's far too much content on the Xbox legacy library that won't run on a Windows PC, including games from Microsoft itself.

Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 are notoriously not included in Xbox Play Anywhere, and it's hard to envision how PC-first games like Heroes of the Storm or World of Warcraft would function on console without significant gameplay reworks. It'll be interesting to see how Xbox delivers here.

Be sure to watch the full Xbox Podcast episode here, and let us know what you think.