Xbox Game Studios
Xbox Game Studios business and news from across the web.
Former Perfect Dark Design Director is Now Working on Blizzard’s StarCraft Shooter – RumorA rumor suggests that Drew Murray, former design director for Perfect Dark at The Initiative, is now working at Blizzard Entertainment on a rumored StarCraft shooter. Murray's LinkedIn confirms his employment at Blizzard as an associate design director. The project is reportedly in early development and may utilize Unreal Engine.
Amazon Luna Pulls the Plug: Cloud Gaming Service Shuts Down Store, Leaving Families in Gaming LimboAmazon Luna is shutting down its game store on April 10, 2026, and all purchased games will become unavailable by June 10, 2026. This decision impacts families who relied on the service for shared gaming experiences, raising concerns about digital ownership and the future of cloud gaming. Amazon is pivoting to a new initiative called GameNight, but the closure has eroded trust within the gaming community.
Review: South Of Midnight (Switch 2) - A Port That Compromises What This Enjoyable Game Did BestThis review of South of Midnight on Nintendo Switch 2 highlights the game's enjoyable narrative and Deep South folktale-inspired setting, but criticizes the port for significant compromises. Issues like texture pop-in, frame drops, and visual fuzziness detract from the game's otherwise strong presentation and atmosphere, leading to a less immersive experience than on more powerful platforms.
"It's a sea change": Forza Horizon 6 is leaving the Xbox One behind, and it's a better game because…Forza Horizon 6 will exclusively launch on current-generation platforms, leaving the Xbox One behind. This decision allows Playground Games to leverage the full power of systems like the Xbox Series X and PC, enabling significant advancements in visual fidelity, urban environment scale with the new Tokyo City map, and new gameplay features like Aftermarket and Treasure cars. The developers believe this focus on newer hardware is a 'sea change' that will lead to a better overall game.- Game Pass Hidden Gem: Towerborne 💎Towerborne is highlighted as a hidden gem available on Game Pass, offering a fun online fantasy beat 'em up RPG experience. The game features extensive character customization with various classes and skills, alongside modern 3D visuals and RPG mechanics. Players can engage in cooperative multiplayer for up to four players, with numerous unlockables and cosmetic items to personalize their warrior.
During a memory crisis do you really need fast memory for PC gaming? No, no you do notThis article analyzes the impact of DRAM speed on PC gaming performance, concluding that slower DDR5 memory is generally acceptable for most users, especially when the GPU is the primary bottleneck. While some games like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Counter-Strike 2, Spider-Man Remastered, and Hogwarts Legacy show performance differences, the impact is often minimal or can be mitigated by adjusting graphics settings, making it a viable cost-saving measure for budget-conscious builders.
Kiln: Double Fine Shares Their Favorite Pots as Open Beta Goes LiveDouble Fine's pottery brawler, Kiln, has launched its Open Beta Throwdown on Steam, allowing players to participate until April 11. The game, which features online multiplayer where players inhabit and battle with crafted clay pots, is set to officially release on April 23, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5, and Steam, launching day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Forza Horizon 6’s map preview has arrived, and there’s some real-world inspiration on itXbox Game Studios has revealed the map for Forza Horizon 6, which appears to be inspired by the Greater Tokyo area and other regions of Japan. The map features dense urban environments, snowy mountains, and coastal areas, with discussions ongoing about its scale compared to previous titles. The developers have highlighted the map's verticality and density, promising a new level of detail for players.
I am in love with Forza Horizon 6's Nissan SilviaForza Horizon 6 offers an arcade racing experience set in Japan, featuring a vibrant open world with dynamic events like launching rockets and passing bullet trains. The game emphasizes accessibility with extensive options and a welcoming atmosphere, while still providing a challenging driving model that punishes errors, even in its demo build.- Forza Horizon 6 gives would-be racers another gorgeous open world to exploreForza Horizon 6 offers a visually stunning open world set in Japan, featuring detailed environments and weather effects. The preview highlights exploration, various racing activities, and new additions like aftermarket sales, while also noting the continuation of accessibility features from its predecessor. The game is set to release on May 19 for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Xbox Cloud, with a PlayStation 5 version to follow.
Fuelled by Playground's "relentless pursuit of excellence", Forza Horizon 6 is set to become one of the best racing games of the generationForza Horizon 6 aims to build upon the success of its predecessor with a more detailed open world set in Japan and refined driving mechanics for its 550-car roster. Developer Playground Games is focusing on "vibe driving" by introducing new systems that reward exploration and casual play, ensuring a richer experience for all player types.
Forza Horizon 6's Japan map is the series' best yetA preview of Forza Horizon 6 highlights its expansive Japan map, featuring detailed recreations of Tokyo and diverse countryside regions. While the core gameplay loop of racing and earning XP remains similar to Forza Horizon 5, the new map offers a more dramatic and varied driving experience on Xbox Series X.
Forza Horizon 6 Preview: Collectibles, Seamless Races and Open World Design Make for the Most Explorable Adventure YetForza Horizon 6 will feature a vast, explorable open world set in Japan, emphasizing player freedom and discovery over linear progression. The game introduces new mechanics like a "fog of war" map, "Aftermarket Cars" found in the world, and customizable garages, all designed to encourage exploration and player agency. It launches May 19, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Cloud, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass.- Forza Horizon 6 ‘Prologue’ gameplayXbox Game Studios and Playground Games have released a six-minute "Prologue" gameplay video for the upcoming Forza Horizon 6. The video showcases early gameplay elements of the anticipated racing title.
Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios had a Crimson Desert-like game in the works but "every publisher just shut the door"Avalanche Studios, known for the Just Cause series, had a fantasy open-world game called AionGuard in development that shared similarities with Crimson Desert. Co-founder Christofer Sundberg revealed that the project was canceled after a publisher withdrew support, and subsequent attempts to announce it independently led other publishers to refuse involvement. The studio eventually moved on to other projects like Mad Max and Rage 2, with their co-op sandbox game Contraband also being canceled.
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Kiln, Hades II, Vampire Crawlers, and MoreHades II is launching on April 14 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, available day one with Xbox Game Pass. The title will be an Xbox Play Anywhere game, allowing players to switch between console and PC. This early access release builds upon the foundation of the original Hades.
Towerborne Review | TheXboxHubTowerborne, developed by Stoic and published by Xbox Game Studios, has officially launched after a period in Game Preview. This side-scrolling action RPG features a hand-drawn art style, deep combat mechanics with multiple classes, and robust multiplayer options. While the lack of voice acting is a drawback, the game offers engaging gameplay and a flexible character progression system.
"We're not doing zombie animals", says State of Decay 3 studio head, but you can turn a tea kettle into an undead-attracting bombUndead Labs studio head Philip Holt confirmed that State of Decay 3 will not feature zombie animals, contrary to its initial reveal trailer. He explained the trailer represented an early concept and that the game now focuses on crafting improvised weapons and devices from scavenged materials. The studio is researching detailed crafting mechanics, such as turning a tea kettle into a zombie-attracting explosive.- State of Decay 3 visar livstecken – anmäl er till alfatesternaUndead Labs has announced that State of Decay 3 will begin alpha testing next month, with players able to register for participation. The tests will feature four-player co-op, new base building and resource management strategies, and combat. This marks the first significant update on the game's development in a while.
Super Meat Boy 3D Review | TheXboxHubSuper Meat Boy 3D offers a challenging 3D platforming experience that stays true to the original's brutal difficulty and core mechanics. While the transition to 3D is mostly successful, some levels suffer from awkward depth perception issues, particularly with obstacles perpendicular to the camera. The game features five worlds, unlockable characters, and a punishing 'A+' time system for mastery, making it a solid, polished jump into the third dimension for fans of the genre.