Xbox Game Studios
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox Game Studios.
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Halo: Campaign Evolved struggles to sell in anywhere near the quantities the recent Black Ops revivals did, and the probable reason? Lack of multiplayer
Halo: Campaign Evolved, a remake of the original Halo campaign, has struggled to sell, with only 1.2 million copies sold across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox in two weeks. Analysts suggest the high price point and lack of multiplayer, a feature present in the cheaper Master Chief Collection and the successful Call of Duty: Black Ops ports, are the primary reasons for its poor performance. Despite being the first Halo title released on PlayStation, the campaign-only remake generated significantly less revenue than recent Call of Duty ports.
Halo: Campaign Evolved’s Biggest Competition Might Be Halo
Halo: Campaign Evolved has sold an estimated 1.2 million copies across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, generating around $67 million. Analysts suggest that Halo: The Master Chief Collection offers better value and is the primary competition, especially on PC where it has sold 8.5 million copies on Steam. Sales on PlayStation 5 are neck and neck with Xbox Series X|S, driven by a nostalgia-seeking older demographic.
Remedy Entertainment touts pricing Control Resonant 'attractively for an AAA title'
Remedy Entertainment CEO Jean-Charles Gaudechon stated that Control Resonant will be priced attractively at $60 for an AAA title, aiming to stand out in a competitive autumn release window. The company is self-publishing the game after mixed results with previous efforts and is facing financial challenges, with Q2 2026 revenue down 40 percent. Despite this, Remedy is confident in Control Resonant's potential, citing over 1.5 million wishlists and strong pre-order rankings.
HandyGames rebrands as THQ Nordic Mobile
HandyGames has rebranded as THQ Nordic Mobile, shifting its focus to bringing premium PC and console titles to mobile platforms, while its development studio continues as HandyGames. Separately, leaked emails reveal Blizzard Entertainment was Xbox's top-performing studio for FY26, driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch, marking its third highest fiscal year for revenue.
Leaked emails reveal Blizzard is Xbox's top-performing studio for FY26
Leaked internal emails reveal that Blizzard Entertainment was the top-performing studio within Xbox Game Studios for Microsoft's fiscal year 2026. This marks Blizzard's second consecutive year of growth, driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch, with FY26 being the studio's third highest fiscal for top-line revenue in its history.
Gears of War: E-Day's Steam player peak has already passed the series' all-time record, and it's still…
The beta for Gears of War: E-Day has achieved a new all-time concurrent player record for the series on Steam, surpassing 14,000 players. This peak occurred during the early access phase for pre-order customers and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, before the full open beta begins on August 13. The game is set to release on October 6 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Halo co-creator says the Campaign Evolved hate is overblown, even if some of its creative liberties "are absolutely…
Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo and designer of the original Campaign Evolved, believes the online criticism of the new remake is overblown. While acknowledging a few 'cringe' creative liberties in the overhauled cutscenes, he praises the upgrades to movement, cinematics, and visuals, finding the overall experience fun.
Halo and Black Ops sales on PS5 are shocking for very different reasons
Ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 have achieved significant sales figures on PlayStation consoles, with estimates suggesting millions of units sold. In contrast, Halo: Campaign Evolved has had a notably slow start on PlayStation 5, selling significantly fewer copies than its contemporaries and other Xbox titles on the platform. This disparity highlights differing market reception for remade or ported games.
We haven't needed motion blur in games for a long time, so I wish it would stop being the default
This article argues that motion blur in video games, particularly in titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved, is an outdated and often detrimental default setting. While acknowledging its historical purpose in masking low frame rates and mimicking film, the author contends that modern hardware and techniques like upscaling make it unnecessary. The piece advocates for motion blur to be an opt-in feature rather than the default, allowing players to experience games in their purest form first.
Age of Empires is doubling down on Vikings with a pair of new Norse expansions
World's Edge is releasing new Viking-themed DLC for Age of Empires 4 and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition by the end of 2026. Age of Empires 4 will introduce the Scots and Vikings with its 'Raiders of the North' expansion, while Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition's 'The Viking Sagas' will focus on Harald Hardrada and include the Danes, Varangians, and Saxons. Additionally, Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition will receive 'The Baltic Powers' DLC featuring the Danes and Poles, and a new bundle will include the base game with several previously released DLCs.
Why does nobody like racing video games anymore? - Reader's Feature
A reader explores the decline of the racing game genre, noting the shift from popular arcade titles like Need For Speed and Burnout to more niche simulators. While Forza Horizon remains a success, the author questions why the genre has lost mainstream appeal, suggesting it may be overshadowed by open-world games or a general lack of innovation.
Game of the Week – Halo: Campaign Evolved is a legendary FPS reborn for a new generation of players
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful remake of the original Halo: Combat Evolved, offering a well-paced FPS experience with memorable levels suitable for solo or co-op play. The game features updated visuals using Unreal Engine 5 and introduces new prologue missions, while retaining the spirit of the 2001 classic. It is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with the main campaign taking approximately 10-14 hours to complete.
How to complete the Forza Horizon 6 Hirosaki Castle photo challenge
This guide explains how to complete the Hirosaki Castle photo challenge in Forza Horizon 6 for the Italian Exotics Festival Playlist Series. Players need to drive a Classic Sports Car and take a photo with the castle, located in the eastern Takshiro Region, north of Soni Circuit. Completing the challenge rewards players with two Festival Playlist points and a White Suit for their Drivatar.
How to find the Forza Horizon 6 winter Treasure Hunt in Hokubu
This guide details the location of the Forza Horizon 6 winter Treasure Hunt in the Hokubu region, specifically within the Shikisai-No-Aka flower fields. Players can find the treasure chest in a car park near a small garage building, offering 100,000 Credits upon destruction. The challenge is part of the limited-time winter Festival Playlist and must be completed before August 6.
Is Gears of War E-Day on PS5?
Gears of War E-Day will not be released on PlayStation 5 at launch, with Microsoft confirming it as an Xbox and PC exclusive. While recent Xbox titles have seen PlayStation ports, E-Day's availability on PS5 in the future is uncertain and not guaranteed.
Forza Horizon 6 Festival Playlist Challenges Guide – Series 3 Winter
This guide details the Festival Playlist Challenges for Series 3 Winter in Forza Horizon 6, which runs from July 30th to August 6th, 2026. It outlines the various events, point rewards, and specific cars needed to unlock seasonal rewards like the 1982 Lancia 037 Stradale and 2020 Ferrari Roma. The guide also offers tips for quickly earning Playlist Points by prioritizing challenges like the Photo Challenge and Treasure Hunt.
Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Details
Xbox Wire has released a new Official Multiplayer Reveal Trailer for the upcoming prequel Gears of War: E-Day. The trailer offers an in-depth look at the multiplayer component of the third-person shooter.
Gears of War: E-Day's new Horde may be the game's most interesting mode, but it left me with more questions than answers
Gears of War: E-Day's new Horde Siege mode offers a more engaging and revolutionary take on the classic survival mode, featuring open-world maps, multiple objectives, and an extraction mechanic for weapon upgrades. While preview event technical issues limited playtime, the mode's evolution from asset reuse to a standalone experience with elements of extraction shooters and MOBA-like progression was evident, with Boss Invasions and a faster Blitz variant also highlighted.
Gears of War E-Day's Horde Siege shines when squads collide in its dense city, but sags when they're apart
Gears of War: E-Day's new Horde Siege mode offers an ambitious co-operative experience where three squads of four players battle Locusts across large city districts. While the mode shines when squads converge and objectives intersect, it can feel less engaging when players are isolated. The game is set to release on October 6, 2026, for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Gears Of War: E-Day multiplayer preview – the once and future Xbox exclusive
Gears of War: E-Day, a prequel set 14 years before the original game, focuses on its competitive multiplayer modes for longevity. The game introduces enhanced parkour abilities and a refined active reload mechanic, set in the war-torn city of Kalona. While the multiplayer offers an entertaining experience with solid movement and impactful weaponry, the game's core cover-based shooter mechanics, while refined, add little new to the established genre.
