Grounded
News, coverage and analysis tracking Grounded across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Game Pass Starter Edition Announced, Here's What It's All About
Microsoft and Discord have partnered to launch Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition, available to Discord Nitro members. This new tier offers access to over 50 PC games and 10 hours of cloud gaming per month, with existing Discord Nitro benefits remaining unchanged.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – May 2, 2026 – nothing is stopping Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
The Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of May 2, 2026, show Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream retaining the top spot. New download-only titles like Elementallis and Monster Crown: Sin Eater also made appearances in the top 30.
Xbox games are making bank on PlayStation
Xbox games generated $667 million in gross revenue by being ported to PlayStation 5, according to a report by Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics. While some titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Sea of Thieves performed exceptionally well, others like Starfield and Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition also met sales thresholds. Sony, conversely, is not planning to port more PlayStation 5 games to PC, focusing on single-player exclusives for its console while live-service games will be multiplatform.
Xbox Games On PlayStation Have Made A Staggering Amount Of Money, Report Says
A report from Alinea Analytics indicates that Xbox games released on PlayStation 5 have generated over $650 million in gross revenue. Forza Horizon 5 led sales with over 5.8 million copies, followed by Sea of Thieves and Oblivion Remastered. This data suggests a significant market for Xbox titles on Sony's platform, despite ongoing discussions about the company's multiplatform strategy.
Proton Experimental and Proton 11 Beta updated to fix issues with the EA App
Valve has released updates for Proton Experimental and Proton 11 Beta, primarily to address issues with the EA App on Linux and SteamOS. The updates include a new version of Xalia, which should resolve lockups when interacting with the EA App. Numerous other game-specific fixes and improvements are also detailed, covering a wide range of titles and functionalities.
Xbox at Summer Game Fest Play Days 2026: Meet the Developers of This Year’s Featured Games
Xbox is showcasing a variety of upcoming games from developers worldwide at Summer Game Fest Play Days. Featured titles include Grounded 2, Aniimo, Grave Seasons, Gungrave Gore: Blood Heat, Valor Mortis, Erosion, Don't Fret, Way to the Woods, and My Arms Are Longer Now, with many offering playable demos.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – April 25, 2026 – Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream wins again
The Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of April 25, 2026, show Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream retaining the top spot. Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate follow in second and third place respectively, indicating a stable sales landscape.
Xbox leaders lay out new priorities for the company's future, and promise 'flexible pricing' and a focus on 'daily active players' by prioritizing 'hardware, content, experience, and services'
Xbox leaders Asha Sharma and Matt Booty have outlined new priorities focusing on 'daily active players' and a shift back to the 'Xbox' brand name. The company plans to offer 'flexible pricing' for its services and reevaluate its approach to exclusivity, windowing, and AI. This strategic shift aims to build a global platform connecting players and creators, with a strong emphasis on hardware, content, experience, and services.
Leak claims a new Xbox Game Pass tier called 'Starter Edition' that includes '50+ games' and more will be bundled with Discord Nitro
A leak suggests Microsoft is planning a new Xbox Game Pass tier called 'Starter Edition' that will be bundled with Discord Nitro subscriptions. This tier reportedly includes over 50 games, 10 hours of monthly cloud gaming, and Xbox rewards. This news follows recent price adjustments to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Leaked Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition looks to bundle a small library of games with your Discord Nitro membership
Leaked information suggests Microsoft is planning a new 'Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition' tier. This edition would reportedly bundle a selection of over 50 games with a Discord Nitro subscription, aiming to attract new users to Game Pass. The offering is expected to be similar to the current Game Pass Essential tier, including limited cloud gaming access and Xbox Rewards points, though pricing details are currently unknown.
"Game Pass Starter Edition" For Discord Nitro Members Leaks
A leak suggests that Discord Nitro members will soon receive a 'Game Pass Starter Edition' offering over 50 games and 10 hours of Xbox Cloud streaming per month. The leaked art also indicates titles like Gears 5, Dishonored 2, and Fallout 4 could be included. Microsoft has been contacted for comment regarding this potential new tier of Game Pass.
Bethesda showed the Fallout: New Vegas team a "powerpoint about all the things Obsidian did wrong," dev says:…
Former Fallout: New Vegas senior designer Chris Avellone revealed that Bethesda presented Obsidian Entertainment with a PowerPoint detailing the game's perceived failures. Avellone expressed that this presentation was demoralizing, despite Obsidian's efforts to keep the Fallout franchise relevant. Bethesda later took the series in-house for Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, while Obsidian moved on to other original IPs.
Proton Experimental upgraded to Proton 11 for better Linux gaming compatibility
Valve has updated Proton Experimental to align with the latest stable Proton 11 release, enhancing compatibility for Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This update includes fixes for various regressions and adds support for numerous previously unplayable titles, alongside improvements to graphics, audio, and controller functionality.
Nintendo Switch eShop deals – lowest prices ever for Plucky Squire, Team Sonic Racing, TMNT: Splintered Fate, more
The North American Nintendo Switch eShop is featuring new deals, including the lowest prices ever for games like Plucky Squire, Team Sonic Racing, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. The article lists a comprehensive selection of discounted titles available for purchase.
Nintendo Switch eShop charts – April 18, 2026 – Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream launches on top
The Nintendo Switch eShop charts for the week of April 18, 2026, show Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream retaining the top spot after its official launch. Several other popular titles like Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and various Pokémon games also feature prominently in the rankings.
Proton 11 Beta arrives to bring enhanced gaming compatibility to Linux / SteamOS
Valve has released Proton 11 Beta, an update to their compatibility layer for running Windows games on Linux and SteamOS. This version is based on Wine 11 and includes enhancements like NTSync for potential performance improvements, alongside an ARM64 build. The update brings numerous game-specific fixes and improvements, including better video playback, text-to-speech accessibility, and controller support for many titles.
Fable’s Development Was Helped by Blizzard’s Cinematics Team
Microsoft Gaming's chief content officer Matt Booty revealed that Blizzard's cinematics team assisted Playground Games with Fable's development. This collaboration is part of a broader initiative to foster synergy between Xbox Game Studios, with other examples including Compulsion Games using Activision's MoCap studio and Rare helping Double Fine with multiplayer features. Fable is slated for a Fall release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Blizzard is assisting with Fable's cinematics, while the Sea of Thieves team is lending its expertise to quirky pottery brawler Kiln
Xbox's studios are collaborating on various projects, with Blizzard assisting Playground Games with Fable's cinematics and Rare lending multiplayer expertise to Double Fine's Kiln. This cross-studio support aims to leverage unique strengths without compromising individual studio cultures, as explained by Xbox's chief content officer Matt Booty.
Rumour: Xbox Debating Whether to Make Its Games Exclusive Again
Microsoft is reportedly debating whether to revert to making its games exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC. This internal discussion comes as the company evaluates its brand strategy and the potential launch of 'Project Helix'. While releasing games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch has increased revenue, executives are considering the impact of exclusivity on their own platform's appeal.
Eidos-Montréal's latest round of layoffs reportedly follows the cancellation of an "almost complete" open-world game
Eidos-Montréal has reportedly laid off approximately 124 employees following the cancellation of an "almost complete" open-world game tentatively titled Wildlands. Studio head David Anfossi has also departed. The game, which had been in development since early 2019, reportedly suffered from numerous issues including engine changes, narrative conflicts, and an exploding budget.
