Game Pass
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Game Pass.
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Gears of War: E-Day review in progress — Good shooting, but the campaign's a slog
Gears of War: E-Day offers significantly improved gunplay and combat mechanics, making the core shooting experience more fluid and enjoyable than previous entries. However, the campaign is criticized for being overly long, repetitive, and lacking narrative justification, despite introducing some new weapons and enemy types. The review is in progress, with the final score pending a multiplayer evaluation.
Next Week on XBOX: New Games for September 28 to October 2
This weekly feature highlights new games coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC between September 28 and October 2. Titles include Minecraft Dungeons II, Gears of War: E-Day, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve, and a remastered The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, among many others across various genres.
No Man's Sky 10th anniversary update is here, and that means orbital bases, space station ownership - and yes, you can finally fly to the sun
Hello Games has released the 10th anniversary 'Cosmos' update for No Man's Sky, overhauling space with features like orbital bases, space station ownership, and alliances. Players can now build anywhere in space, purchase and customize space stations, and explore revamped asteroid belts. The update also introduces new points of interest, salvageable space hulks, and the ability to fly to the system's sun for the first time.
'No-one puts Double Fine out of business except me', says Tim Schafer on taking Double Fine independent:…
Double Fine has become an independent studio again after parting ways with Microsoft, a move initiated by new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's significant layoffs. Studio head Tim Schafer expressed that while the games industry has harsh realities, he is determined to keep Double Fine afloat and sees the transition as a creative awakening, despite having to lay off 23 employees himself.
Don't Nod might not have enough cash to make it through January 2027, and even if it does, pulling up could…
Developer Don't Nod is facing severe financial difficulties, with a material uncertainty about its ability to continue operating beyond January 31, 2027. Poor sales of recent titles like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, coupled with increased development costs for a Netflix collaboration, have led to a significant decrease in operating revenue. The company is undergoing a restructure in France that may involve up to 90 layoffs.
Quake gets a free new chapter promising "ferocious combat, labyrinthine level design, and nightmarish realms" to celebrate its 30th birthday
To celebrate Quake's 30th anniversary, Id Software and MachineGames have released a free expansion for the 2021 enhanced version, titled Dawn of the Machine. This new chapter introduces 19 new maps, new enemies like the Rocket Ogre, and weapons such as the Super Axe and Laser Cannon, all available on PC via Steam, Microsoft Store, and Game Pass.
How I smashed my target to complete one video game every month - Reader’s Feature
A reader details their goal of completing one video game per month in 2026, successfully finishing 11 games in the first half of the year. The feature highlights various titles across different genres and platforms, including "Dispatch," "Ghost of Tsushima," "Resident Evil Requiem," and "007 First Light," offering brief impressions of each.
GeForce NOW Sets Sail With ‘Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame’ Joining the Cloud
Nvidia's GeForce NOW cloud gaming service is adding several new titles, including Path of Exile: Curse of the Allflame and Battlefield 6 Season 4. Members can also revisit classic Capcom games like Breath of Fire IV and Dino Crisis, with advanced access for Halo: Campaign Evolved for Premium Edition pre-purchasers. The service emphasizes instant play across various devices without downloads.
Game Pass Adds A Fan Favourite As Eight Games Prepare To Leave
Xbox Game Pass is adding RV There Yet? and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 to its library across various tiers, including PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate. However, eight games, including Rise of the Tomb Raider and Slay the Spire, will be removed from the service on June 30th.
Wildgate ‘hasn’t found a large enough audience to sustain ongoing development,’ but it’s staying online
Moonshot Games, led by Dustin Browder, has announced that heavy development on their multiplayer extraction RPG Wildgate is winding down due to a lack of a large enough audience. While the game will remain online and receive occasional bug fixes and balance updates, major content patches will cease. The game is available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms.
Grab Your Squad – Abyssus Brings Brinepunk FPS Chaos To Game Pass And More
The co-op FPS Abyssus, developed by DoubleMoose Games and published by The Arcade Crew, has launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and is available day one on Game Pass. The game features a brinepunk setting where players explore a sunken city, battling corrupted monsters with brine-powered weapons. The launch coincides with the free 1.3 update, which adds new content and enables cross-platform play across all available platforms.
Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist Challenges Guide – Series 1 Spring
This guide details the Festival Playlist Challenges for Series 1 Spring in Forza Horizon 6, running from June 11th to June 18th, 2026. It provides recommended cars, tune setups, and tips for completing events like Photo Challenges, Treasure Hunts, and various Seasonal Championships to earn rewards such as new cars and credits. The article also explains the Festival Playlist system and highlights the easiest ways to earn points for players on PC and Xbox.
Fable – 30 Minute Gameplay Demo | Build An Extraordinary Life
A 30-minute gameplay demo for Fable showcases the game's emphasis on building an extraordinary life in Albion through relationships, family, and choices that impact the world and its inhabitants. The RPG, featuring a nuanced reputation system, is set to release on February 23, 2027, for Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, Steam, and PlayStation 5.
Night Shift Begins: Co-Op Detective Horror Shift At Midnight Launches This June
The co-op detective horror game Shift at Midnight, developed by Bun Muen and published by Kwalee, will launch on June 17, 2026, for PC and Xbox Series X|S. The game features online co-op for up to three players who must investigate customers, some of whom are doppelgangers, in randomly generated shifts at a gas station. A multiplayer demo is available on Steam with an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating.
25 '90s Games That Hold Up Perfectly Today (And Where to Play Them) | TAG
This article identifies 25 video games from the 1990s that remain enjoyable for modern players, distinguishing between titles that hold up with no caveats and those that require specific versions or adjustments. It highlights how 2D pixel art generally ages better than early 3D graphics and provides information on where each game can be legally played today.
The Abyss Awaits: FPS Action-Adventure Luna Abyss Out Now on PC & Consoles
The first-person action-adventure game Luna Abyss is now available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with a launch discount and a Deluxe Edition option. Players control Fawkes, a prisoner exploring a mysterious megastructure beneath a mimic moon, engaging in fluid platforming and bullet hell combat. The game is also available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, and via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Remnant 2, The Outer Worlds: Space’s Choice Edition, and More Coming to Game Pass
Microsoft is adding several new games to Game Pass throughout May, including Remnant 2, The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition, and Luna Abyss. Players can also look forward to Forza Horizon 6's full release and the debut of Echo Generation 2. Several titles will be leaving the service on May 31st.
6 Story Games for Players Who Don't Want to Talk | TAG
This article highlights six story-driven games that do not require dialogue choices or role-playing, catering to players seeking a narrative experience without conversational effort. Titles like Journey, Cocoon, Inside, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Outer Wilds are discussed for their unique methods of storytelling through environment, music, and observation, with many also being compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
First impressions of Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era’s early access build
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era, developed by Unfrozen and published by Hooded Horse, is set to launch into early access on April 30th. The game aims to return to the beloved mechanics of earlier titles in the series, particularly Heroes of Might and Magic 3, and will be available on Steam, the Microsoft Store, and Game Pass without requiring the Ubisoft Connect launcher. The developers have emphasized that the game's development is independent of Ubisoft's financial situation.
Monsters are Coming! The Road Since Launch
Monsters are Coming! has received its 'Road of Fortune' update, introducing new systems like Luck and Critical Hits, a new Hero, and Mobile Towers. Simultaneously, the game's first paid DLC, 'Power Corrupts,' has launched, featuring a new Corruption mechanic, a new Hero, and a new biome. The developers also announced that the game will be released on Xbox Series X|S later this year.
