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The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 airs in June and will be followed by a 'deep dive' into the Gears of War franchise with the E-Day Direct — here's when you can tune in and what to expect
Microsoft will host the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026, featuring new gameplay and announcements from first-party and third-party studios. Immediately following, the Gears of War: E-Day Direct will offer an in-depth look at the upcoming prequel, including new gameplay and insights from developer The Coalition Studio. The event will also celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary with a look back and forward.
Next-gen kan vänta – konsolerna är bra nog
The current generation of consoles, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, are performing well enough that the need for next-generation hardware is diminished. Despite rising production costs and inflation leading to price increases for current consoles, the author argues that the existing machines offer sufficient performance for gaming. This strong performance may pose a challenge for the adoption of future, potentially much more expensive, consoles like the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix.
Game Pass Is Adding A New Bonus Soon
Microsoft is adding new perks for Wargaming's free-to-play titles to Xbox Game Pass subscribers over the next 12 months. These bonuses will be available for games like World of Warships, World of Tanks: Modern Armor, and World of Tanks Blitz across PC and Xbox platforms, starting April 9 with World of Warships.
Halo Campaign Evolved Has No In-Game MTX Shop, So You Need To Drink Soda To Get Master Chief DLC Apparently
Halo: Campaign Evolved will not feature an in-game microtransaction shop, according to Halo Studios community director Brian Jarrard. However, a special "Fantastic Spartan Armor" skin for Master Chief will be available through a promotion involving purchasing Fanta soda. This re-release of the original Halo game is launching for PC, Xbox, and notably, PlayStation 5, marking the series' debut on a PlayStation platform.
Could the new Gears of War game arrive on PlayStation at the same time as Xbox?
Speculation is mounting about whether Gears of War: E-Day could launch simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, despite Microsoft's historical focus on exclusivity. While a same-day release seems unlikely given the current market dynamics and Microsoft's efforts to reassure players about the Xbox brand, the possibility of a future PlayStation release is being discussed. The article also touches on the impact of rising console prices on the gaming market.
Bethesda, Epic, Microsoft, and Ubisoft unite in this new Humble Bundle with games under $3 each
Bethesda, Microsoft, Epic Games, and Ubisoft are participating in a new Humble Bundle offering eight games for $18. Several other publishers and developers are also included in the sale, with individual games priced under $3.
Eidos-Montréal announces 124 job cuts; studio head David Anfossi departs after 19 years at developer
Eidos-Montréal has announced a workforce reduction affecting 124 employees, with studio head David Anfossi departing after 19 years. The decision is attributed to changing project needs and impacts across production and support teams. This follows previous layoffs in December and March, with the studio reportedly focusing on co-development projects like Microsoft's Grounded 2 and Fable.
Donkey Kong Bananza has a big-brained approach to asset recycling
Rumors suggest Microsoft is considering a new tier for Xbox Game Pass that would focus on a catalog of first-party games. The article also briefly mentions Donkey Kong Bananza's approach to asset recycling.
Iconic Devs Say the Industry Feels 'Crashier' Now Than the Actual Video Game Crash of the 80s
John and Brenda Romero, founders of Romero Games, believe the current state of the video game industry is more challenging than the 1983 crash. They cite difficulties in securing funding and widespread layoffs, even at successful studios like EA's Battlefield division, as evidence of the industry's instability.
A $1,000 PS6 And Xbox Helix Are Dangerous For The Future Of Gaming
This article discusses concerns about the future of gaming, particularly regarding potential high-priced next-generation consoles like a hypothetical $1,000 PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix. It touches on the anticipation for upcoming titles like Halo, The Elder Scrolls VI, and Gears of War: E-Day, while also noting the current perceived lack of major first-party releases from PlayStation compared to Xbox.
How to Stay Safe While You Buy Games Online
This guide provides advice on how to safely purchase video games online, emphasizing the importance of reading terms, checking sellers, and using familiar payment methods with a clear transaction history. It highlights the differences in refund policies across major digital storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop, and stresses the need for account security measures like two-step verification to prevent fraud.
How to Stay Safe While You Buy Games Online
This guide provides advice on how to safely purchase video games online, emphasizing the importance of reading terms, checking sellers, and using familiar payment methods with a clear transaction history. It highlights the differences in refund policies across major digital storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, and Nintendo eShop, and stresses the need for account security measures like two-step verification to prevent fraud.
Morning Tech Bits
Microsoft has pulled its latest Windows 11 update due to a critical error causing installation failures and missing files. Separately, Linus Torvalds commented on the perceived calm surrounding Linux 7.0.
New Game Pass Subscription Tier Seemingly Spotted Online
A new, lower-priced Game Pass tier codenamed 'Triton' has been spotted in data files, reportedly intended for first-party Xbox Game Studios titles. This potential tier would include games like DOOM Eternal, Gears 5, and Halo 5. Microsoft is also reportedly exploring combining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, with potential price increases across tiers.
Super Meat Boy Flops into 3D: A Dimension Too Far... | TAG
Several gaming updates are covered, including the "fine" but uninspired port of Kena: Bridge of Spirits to Nintendo Switch 2, speculation surrounding a God of War Trilogy Remake by Sony Santa Monica, and a critical review of Super Meat Boy 3D's transition to 3D platforming. The article also highlights a sale on the Lovecraftian TTRPG Trail of Cthulhu, financial dealings related to a potential EA buyout, the upcoming Truxton Extreme shoot 'em up, and Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase featuring Gears of War: E-Day.
Microsoft's research assistant can now use multiple AI models simultaneously
Microsoft's Copilot research assistant now integrates multiple AI models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude, through its new Critique feature. This enhancement aims to improve factual accuracy, analytical breadth, and presentation quality for complex research tasks. An alternative feature, Model Council, offers side-by-side responses from both AI providers for comparison.
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 Followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct Airs June 7 – Xbox Fanfest Returns
Microsoft announced the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 and a Gears of War: E-Day Direct for June 7, alongside the return of Xbox Fanfest. The article speculates on the future of Xbox exclusives potentially releasing on PlayStation, citing examples like Forza Horizon 5 and Helldivers 2. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on rising game development costs and the potential benefits of broader platform releases.
Xbox adding Copilot AI to consoles is "horrible in so many different ways," says former Valve dev who worked…
Former Valve developer Chet Faliszek has criticized Microsoft's upcoming Copilot AI assistant for Xbox consoles, calling it "horrible in so many different ways" and unnecessary. He argues that the AI removes the social aspect and community-driven problem-solving that makes games engaging.
Xbox Games Showcase in June to be followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct, promising a "deep-dive" into the publisher's return to the franchise after 6 years
Xbox will host its annual Games Showcase on June 7, followed by a dedicated Gears of War: E-Day Direct. The latter will offer a deep dive into the upcoming prequel, which is slated for a 2026 release and marks Xbox's return to the main Gears of War franchise since 2019's Gears 5.
Xbox summer showcase will include deep dive on new Gears Of War
Microsoft has announced its annual Xbox Games Showcase for June 7, which will feature a deep dive into the upcoming Gears Of War prequel, Gears Of War: E-Day. The presentation will also include first gameplay looks and major news on other titles from Xbox's first-party studios and third-party partners. New Xbox president Asha Sharma confirmed the event, which will be followed by a dedicated segment for Gears Of War: E-Day.
