15 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Xbox

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.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Hell is expanding this fall.

Diablo IV’s next major expansion, Vessel of Hatred, now has a release date: it’s launching on October 8th. And naturally, we have a dark and gruesome cinematic trailer to go with the news.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Welcome to the Age of Mythology.

Retold, which serves as a definitive edition of the classic RTS, finally has a release date: it’ll be hitting PC and Xbox on September 4th.

Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
The next phase of World of Warcraft starts soon.

Microsoft announced that the MMO’s next expansion — which is called The War Within and kicks off a major new arc for the game — will launch on August 26th. In the meantime, here’s a classic Blizzard cinematic.

Tom Warren
Tom Warren
State of Decay 3 gets a teaser trailer.

State of Decay fans have been waiting for this one. Microsoft just teased State of Decay 3 during its Xbox Games Showcase. We have no idea on a release date just yet, but Undead Labs originally revealed the game was in early development in 2020.

Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Xbox execs are up on stage.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer, Xbox president Sarah Bond, and Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty are all on stage talking to the crowd that’s in Los Angeles to watch the Xbox Games Showcase. We’re around 5 minutes away and Xbox has a lot to prove this year and some big game announcements on the way.

Photo by Ash Parrish / The Verge
Wes Davis
Wes Davis
A little Blade Runner, a little Bioshock.

Critical Hit Games’ Nobody Wants to Die got its first gameplay trailer during the Summer Game Fest’s Future Games Show.

A neo-noir, time-controlling detective story, Nobody looks like a slick. moody blend of Bioshock, Blade Runner, and maybe even The Fifth Element. So I’ll be buying it, no matter what reviewers say. It’s out July 17th on Steam, Xbox Series X / S, and PS5.

Ash Parrish
Ash Parrish
2024 is the year of Shadow (the Hedgehog.)

Sonic Generations was a good-ass game and I’m excited for its darker, edgier sequel Sonic x Shadow Generations. Just in time for the Sonic 3 movie, Sonic x Shadow Generations adds a gaggle of new levels to play as Shadow the Hedgehog — but let’s not get our hopes up that Keanu Reeves will make an appearance in this one. Sonic X Shadow Generations launches on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation October 25th.

What’s next for Xbox and HaloWhat’s next for Xbox and Halo
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is coming to Xbox One and PS4.

Rumors suggested that the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launch would appear on previous-gen consoles, and now we have confirmation from Microsoft. A new Xbox store listing for Black Ops 6 lists that the game is playable on Xbox One. We’ll learn a lot more about the game on June 9th after the Xbox game showcase.

Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Microsoft just accidentally made a big Call of Duty announcement.

The Xbox Game Pass app on iOS and Android has been blasting out notifications to let people know “Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is coming to Game Pass on day one later this year!” It looks like someone at Microsoft pushed the notification too early because it links to an article that doesn’t exist yet. Activision will debut a Black Ops 6 live action trailer at 10AM ET / 7AM PT / 3PM UK today.

iOS and Android users have spotted a key notification.
iOS and Android users have spotted a key notification.
Quentyn Kennemer
Quentyn Kennemer
“The legend of Erdrick draws near.”

A short video from Square Enix reveals that Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D, a remake of the 1988 RPG, will come to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Square Enix first announced it in 2021 alongside Dragon Quest 12, and we could soon get a release date. The charming art style is reminiscent of Octopath Traveler, which uses the same engine.

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
The next Doom may be called “The Dark Ages.”

That’s according to Insider Gaming, which says the game will show up at Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase on June 9th. The site says the game has been four years in the making, and will be set in a “medieval inspired doom world.”

Until then, might as well relive 2016’s Doom and its sequel, Doom Eternal.

Hellblade II: headphones on, heart rate up

If you can, play Hellblade II with headphones to fully experience the depth of the game’s unique storytelling.

Ash Parrish
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
EA Sports brings college football back to game consoles on July 19th.

After plenty of teases and licensing news, EA is showing off the official covers for its NIL-enabled College Football 25 game, which is returning after a decade-long break. Even if they don’t have the backup QB from Texas, EA has signed the starter, as its cover features Quinn Ewers alongside Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, and Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter.

Cover art for two editions of the EA Sports College Football 25 game showing Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, and Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter.
Image: EA
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Activision’s new Elsewhere Entertainment studio is working on a new IP.

Headquartered in Poland, Elsewhere Entertainment — an all-new internal studio at Activision — is working on a new “narrative-based and genre-defining AAA franchise.” Elsewhere includes developers credited on The Last of Us, Uncharted, Destiny, Cyberpunk, and more. Activision’s new studio announcement comes just a week after its parent company, Microsoft, closed three Bethesda studios. It also follows job postings about a new Activision IP.

Elsewhere Entertainment has been working in stealth.
Elsewhere Entertainment has been working in stealth.
Image: Activision
Ash Parrish
Ash Parrish
Not with a Rush, but a whimper.

Despite the upsetting news that Xbox is shutting down Hi-Fi Rush studio, Tango Gameworks, there is still some time before the lights go out for good. The developers at Tango are using that time to finish some last minute projects including working with Limited Run Games to release a physical version of the game and one final patch that’s scheduled for today.

Update: And here’s the final patch notes.

Umar Shakir
Umar Shakir
Windows 11’s settings menu will soon include a Game Pass ad.

Announced in an April Beta release, the new recommendation card is moving forward, and now showing up in the latest Developer channel build, XDA Developers reports. It’ll appear for users with Windows 11 Pro and Home versions who are also logged into a Microsoft account — and only targeted to those who play PC games and aren’t already subscribed.

settings menu in windows 11, showing cards for cloud storage and recommended settings, and now xbox game pass
Does this count as an ad?
Image: Microsoft