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Forza Horizon 6, Subnautica 2, and Mixtape Headline Wave 1 of Game Pass in May
Microsoft's Game Pass is adding several new titles in May, including Forza Horizon 6, Subnautica 2, and Mixtape. Other notable additions include Final Fantasy 5, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Elite Dangerous. Some games will be leaving the service on May 15th.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is Coming to Consoles Before PC to Serve “Core Audience” First, Says Take-Two CEO
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch on consoles first to prioritize the "core audience," a strategy consistent with Rockstar Games' past releases. This decision is not due to any deals with platform holders like Sony or Microsoft. The company acknowledges the immense pressure and high expectations surrounding the game's November 19th release.
Call of Duty 2026 is Not Coming to Previous-Gen Consoles, Ending 12-Year Streak
The next Call of Duty title, rumored to be Modern Warfare 4, will not be developed for the PlayStation 4, ending a 12-year streak of cross-generational releases. This marks the first time since Call of Duty: Ghosts in 2013 that a new entry will be exclusive to current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Xbox is Exploring “a Range of Options” to Reach 30 Percent Profit Margins by 2030 – Rumor
Xbox is reportedly exploring various strategies to achieve a 30 percent profit margin by 2030, including potential cost-saving measures and a shift towards being more software-focused. These efforts are influenced by pressure from Microsoft and a desire to capitalize on upcoming hardware sales, such as for Grand Theft Auto 6. The company has also adjusted its Game Pass strategy, with new Call of Duty titles no longer launching day one on the service.
6 months after Windows 10 was put to pasture, over a quarter of Steam users are still on the dying OS
Despite Windows 10 reaching its end of life six months ago, over a quarter of Steam users are still running the older operating system. Windows 11 adoption on Steam is also lagging, with only 67.74% of users on the newer OS. Linux usage saw a slight dip in the latest Steam Hardware Survey.
The Steam Controller + Zach Cregger's Resident Evil Movie | Kurt & Lucy Gotcha Covered
This article touches on various gaming-related topics including the Steam Controller, a potential Resident Evil movie directed by Zach Cregger, and a discussion about Xbox's future strategy. It also mentions trailers and announcements for games like Subnautica 2 and Star Wars: Galactic Siege.
Forza Horizon 6 best pre-order deals and how to get early access
Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with a PlayStation 5 version to follow later in the year. Players can get early access starting May 15 by pre-ordering the Premium edition, which includes additional content and expansions. Various retailers are offering pre-order discounts on the standard edition, and limited edition controllers and headsets are also available.
The Next Call Of Duty Won't Be On PS4, Says Activision
Activision has officially denied rumors that the next Call of Duty game will be released on PlayStation 4, confirming it will not be developed for the last-generation console. This marks the first time since 2013 that the franchise will skip the PlayStation 4, and likely the Xbox One as well, as developers move towards newer hardware.
Games Inbox: What’s the best video game to play when it’s sunny?
Readers discuss their favorite games to play during sunny weather, with Super Mario Sunshine being a nostalgic pick despite its European release date. Other topics include potential Star Wars Jedi 3 announcements, the feasibility of a large-scale Lord of the Rings RPG from Warhorse Studios, and the challenges of making retro games appealing to modern audiences. The discussion also touches on the Resident Evil movie's accuracy, Microsoft's shifting stance on exclusives, and Roblox fans' rejection of AI graphics.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars in your pocket
ArenaNet announced a mobile port of Guild Wars Reforged with cross-progression, coinciding with the game's 21st anniversary. This week also saw Final Fantasy XIV patch 7.5, Pearl Abyss selling EVE Online studio CCP Games to its management, and Star Wars The Old Republic revealing the planet Ryloth for its 8.0 update.
Microsoft Gaming Branding Was “A Temporary Legal Thing” for Activision Blizzard Acquisition – Rumor
A rumor suggests that Microsoft's rebranding of its gaming division to Microsoft Gaming was a temporary legal measure to facilitate the Activision Blizzard acquisition. The company has since reverted to the Xbox branding, with executives Asha Sharma and Matt Booty discussing future plans and a new logo. The initiative aims to refocus on console experiences and deliver great games.
Halo 2 and 3 Remakes are "definitely happening", claims leaker
A leaker known as Rebs Gaming claims that remakes of Halo 2 and Halo 3 are in active development by Halo Studios. While the remakes are reportedly in early development, the leaker suggests that elements from these games will be present in upcoming prequel missions. The report also mentions other Halo projects, including a new multiplayer title and the next mainline game, are seemingly in development.
Sunday Tech Bits
The Intel Arc Pro B70 32 GB GPU has been tested in gaming scenarios, showing significant performance gains over the B580. It achieved up to 40% faster rasterization and 65% faster ray tracing performance. Microsoft's workflow tools were also mentioned as being free.
Project Helix Will Receive a “Closer Look” Next Week
Microsoft will host an Xbox Game Dev Update on May 7 to provide a closer look at Project Helix, a next-generation console designed to play Xbox console and PC games. The console will feature a custom AMD chip with enhanced ray tracing capabilities and is expected to ship Alpha test kits to developers in 2027. Additionally, Xbox Mode will be integrated into Windows 11 in April, offering a controller-optimized experience.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Achieves 250,000 Sales in Less Than 24 Hours - GameHaunt
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has achieved remarkable success in its early access launch, selling 250,000 copies within approximately 16 hours on Steam and the Microsoft Store. The game, priced at $39.99, has garnered a 91% "Very Positive" rating on Steam and is also available on PC Game Pass. This strong performance marks a significant return for the classic turn-based strategy franchise after a decade-long hiatus.
Xbox has only two options for the future and Microsoft won’t like either of them - Reader’s Feature
A reader suggests Microsoft has only two viable options for the future of Xbox: either transition to a third-party developer model releasing games on all platforms, or sell off its gaming division entirely. The author argues that the Xbox hardware experiment has failed due to declining console sales and the inability of recent acquisitions to significantly boost market share.
Blood pressure too low? Try our quiz about the most freakishly out-of-touch things tech CEOs have ever said
This article presents a quiz featuring controversial and out-of-touch quotes from various tech and gaming CEOs. It highlights statements on topics ranging from game pricing and AI's impact on jobs to corporate responsibility and the nature of development.
Saturday Safety Dance
Microsoft and CISA have issued a warning regarding a critical vulnerability affecting millions of systems running major Linux distributions. The article also briefly mentions an FCC vote to ban Chinese labs from certifying electronics sold in the US due to national security concerns.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 631
Several Push Square staff members share their gaming plans for the weekend, with titles like Saros, Replaced on Steam Deck, and Killzone: Mercenary on PlayStation Vita being mentioned. Other staff are diving into NTE, updating Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PlayStation VR2, and playing Vampire Crawlers.
Evening Tech Bits
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella acknowledged that Windows 11 has strayed from its intended path and pledged to "win back fans." Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook does not anticipate the current RAM memory shortage to resolve soon.