Microsoft’s Xbox has been around since 2001, and over that time the gaming brand has given us huge hits like Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and more. Today, the Xbox brand covers consoles like the Xbox One, PC gaming, and has even expanded to other platforms. You can play Minecraft on everything from a computer to an iPhone to a Nintendo Switch. Along the way, Microsoft has pioneered modern services like Xbox Live and Game Pass, introducing new ways to play games. And with Project Scarlett on the horizon, the Xbox looks to have a bright future.
Unknown World’s spooky-ass ocean game is getting a direct sequel. Subnautica 2 debuted during today’s Xbox partner preview. Judging by the announcement trailer, the game is, once again, making a strong case for why we don’t belong in the ocean. Not ours, and especially not an alien planet’s.
That’s director Mike Kayatta describing the just-revealed Control spinoff that’s being billed as Remedy’s first multiplayer game. We know the studio has big plans for the franchise, and the new game is a three-player co-op FPS that’s due out in 2025.
Even after watching the trailer for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii during Xbox’s partner preview, I still have no idea why Majima Goro, the best character in the Yakuza series, is a pirate and honestly, I don’t care. It’s Majima Goro in a pirate hat, commanding a customizable pirate ship, and engaging in naval warfare. Some things don’t need explanations.
The viral co-op horror game has been a hit on PC, and it’s getting a very timely release for those on Xbox and PS5: October 29th.
Here’s a new look at Mouse: P.I. For Hire, a first person shooter that asks a question we’ve all thought about: what would happen if Mickey Mouse picked up a gun?
During the Xbox partner preview, Bloober Team showed off its next game, Cronos: The New Dawn. During the trailer, one moment features individual kitted out in astronaut gear, exploring a dilapidated house overrun by monsters. And in the next, they’re playing an increasingly bloody game of chess with a sweet old lady who is definitely hiding a secret. Cronos: The New Dawn is set to release in 2025.
One of the year’s best, and most perplexing, games is getting a surprise Xbox release. Get ready to lose yourself in a very strange and cryptic world.
Well bad news, because the tactical shooter Blindfire is designed around limited light and visibility. It’s an interesting concept, and you can check it out in early access starting today.
Here’s another look at the Lake House expansion for Alan Wake 2, which drops on October 22nd. It looks delightfully creepy — and perfect for Halloween.
The developer behind the Better xCloud script has found that Microsoft is already adding references to “stream your own games” to Xbox Cloud Gaming. I’m expecting to see this debut initially to Xbox Insiders next month, allowing you to stream your existing library of games to mobile devices, Amazon Fire TV sticks, and much more.
Microsoft is holding a new Xbox Partner Preview stream on Thursday, which will include more than a dozen new trailers, new game announcements, and even a first look at Alan Wake II’s next expansion, The Lake House. The 25-minute stream kicks off at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM UK on October 17th, and you can watch it live on YouTube or Twitch.
I don’t know who needs to hear this, because that era of 3D platformers haven’t necessarily aged well — but I’m feeling some nostalgia well up anyhow! The three-game Tomb Raider collection is coming February (trailer below), while Jedi Power Battles (trailer here) is coming January.
With the latest iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia updates, wired gaming with an Xbox controller is now supported, even for devices with Lightning ports (using an adapter), MacRumors reports, giving Xbox-preferring gamers a way around latency and wireless interference.
Apple devices had previously supported PlayStation controllers but not Xbox, which MacRumors notes use a proprietary USB protocol, so support for it needed to be custom, as well.
Last year’s “Tatanka” rumor of a technology switch is confirmed, with these clips from a new “research project” dubbed Project Foundry and a new studio name.
According to Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze, the UE5 move “allows us to put all the focus on making multiple new experiences at the highest quality possible,” while this preview shows what to expect in future projects.
The game already kicked players into a third-person mode when wielding big machine guns — and a modder extended that to the whole single-player game in 2022 — but this November it’ll be an official multiplayer mode at minimum.
Curious if they’ll balance the rocket launcher and sniper rifle. In first-person mode, they’re partially balanced by how much the weapon blocks your view.
Journalist Jason Schreier discusses his new book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment.
Before launching a slimmed-down Flight Simulator 2024 next month, leader Jorg Neuman talked to Polygon, saying the game’s core business is still PC players who buy it outside of Game Pass.
Also, on the Bing Maps link:
Half the cities that we’re making [in our regular World Updates]? I currently have planes [gathering data] in Africa, South America, and Asia. I’m flying those planes because flight simmers want [those areas]....So I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m flying to Brazil. You want those?’ They’re like, ‘Yep!’
