Xbox Game Studios
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox Game Studios.
Forza Horizon 6 Guide – The Top 10 Fastest Cars And How To Get ThemThis guide for Forza Horizon 6 lists the top 10 fastest stock cars available in the game and details how to acquire them. While tuning can significantly alter performance, the guide highlights vehicles like the Aston Martin Valhalla Concept Car and Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro Forza Edition that excel in speed straight from the factory.
Xbox CEO says Game Pass price cuts are "a good first step" but the company has a lot more to doXbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that recent price cuts for Xbox Game Pass are a positive initial step towards restoring durable growth for the division. She acknowledged that subscriber growth had slowed and retention decreased after previous pricing changes, but noted improvements since the reductions. Sharma emphasized that further work and difficult choices are necessary to address the company's challenges.
Forza Horizon 6 fans are being terrorised by the AI equivalent of Freddy KruegerForza Horizon 6 players are reporting encounters with a mysterious and highly skilled AI racer known as 'bowie knife99' who aggressively rams opponents. The AI's frequent appearances and unknown origin have led to speculation, with theories ranging from a glitch to a deliberate inclusion by developer Playground Games to generate community discussion.
How to complete the Forza Horizon 6 Photo Challenge for Tokyo TowerThis guide details how to complete the Forza Horizon 6 Photo Challenge, which requires players to take a picture at Tokyo Tower. The challenge is part of the 'Welcome to Japan' Festival Playlist Series and will be available until June 4. Rewards for this specific challenge are minor, but it contributes to overall season progression.
Free Play Days – Gears of War Reloaded, Formula Legends, High on Life 2 and Dying LightXbox is offering Free Play Days for several titles at the end of May. Formula Legends and Dying Light are available for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members from May 28 to May 31. Gears of War: Reloaded and High on Life 2 are also free for all Xbox members to try during this period.
Modern Warfare 4 goes head-to-head with Arc Raiders and Escape from Tarkov as Call of Duty's extraction shooter…Activision is re-entering the extraction shooter genre with Modern Warfare 4, featuring an expanded DMZ mode described as the definitive Call of Duty extraction experience. The game is set to launch on October 23, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X, promising a living combat sandbox with shifting conditions and dynamic objectives. Infinity Ward aims to refine the extraction shooter formula based on lessons learned from the Modern Warfare 2 beta.
The free PlayStation Plus Essential games for June have been revealed — and they include an Xbox-published gameThe free PlayStation Plus Essential games for June 2026 have been revealed, including Grounded Fully Yolked Edition, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Notably, Grounded, published by Xbox Game Studios, will be available to PlayStation subscribers on both PS4 and PS5, continuing a trend of Xbox titles appearing on rival platforms.
Best Forza Horizon 6 cars for drifting and Drift ZonesThis guide provides tips and lists the best cars for drifting in Forza Horizon 6, focusing on achieving high scores in Drift Zones. It covers car tuning, manual upgrades, and basic drifting techniques, emphasizing practice and proper assist settings. Specific car recommendations include Formula Drift cars, the DeBerti Toyota Tacoma TRD, Lotus Evija Forza Edition, and Toyota Sprinter Trueno GT-APEX Forza Edition.
"Hoping we'll be spared" - The bowieknife99 saga in Forza Horizon 6 continues as the urban legend goes viral and Walmart bans the mysterious racerThe AI racer known as 'bowieknife99' in Forza Horizon 6 has become an internet phenomenon, with Xbox UK and other gaming accounts embracing the meme. This urban legend, based on real player data, has even prompted humorous reactions from other game franchises and a fictional ban from Walmart Canada Gaming.
Game Maker's Sketchbook announces selections for 2026 showcaseThe Game Maker's Sketchbook has announced its selections for its fifth annual showcase, highlighting concept art, environment art, character designs, and storyboards from games including Pragmata, Borderlands 4, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Monument Valley 3. The works are featured in an online gallery and will be exhibited at Summer Game Fest: Play Days in Los Angeles, with prints available for pre-order to support non-profit initiatives.
Escape Simulator Breaks Out On Xbox And Game PassEscape Simulator, developed by Pine Studio, has launched on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC with full Play Anywhere support, and is available on Game Pass. The game offers 28 official escape rooms and over 4000 community-created rooms, emphasizing online co-op gameplay.
Forza Horizon 6 players can’t escape Bowie Knife99Players in Forza Horizon 6 have developed a fascination with an aggressive AI driver known as Bowie Knife99, who is notorious for causing chaos and collisions in online races. Instead of frustration, the community now shares clips and stories of their encounters, with many looking forward to spotting the unpredictable AI, which is a result of Drivatar behavior modeling.
How to find the Forza Horizon 6 Hakone Nanamagari Touge RaceThis guide details how to find the Hakone Nanamagari Touge Race in Forza Horizon 6, located in the southern Nangan region of the Japan map. The race requires players to use the Toyota GR86 to complete a Gazoo Racing Weekly Challenge and offers tips for winning against opponent Scott Tyler.
PS Plus Esssential June Monthly Free Games Include Xbox TitleSony has announced the PlayStation Plus Essential free games for June 2026, featuring Grounded Fully Yoked Edition for PlayStation 5, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide for PlayStation 5. Notably, Grounded is an Xbox Studios title, making it a surprising inclusion for PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Forza Horizon 6 players are being tormented by 'drivatar' bowieknife99, but the real racer behind the bot remains a mysteryPlayers in Forza Horizon 6 are encountering a mysterious and unusually aggressive AI opponent known as 'bowieknife99'. This 'drivatar', which is based on a real player whose profile is private, has been exhibiting unpredictable behavior, ramming opponents and driving off-road. The community is actively investigating the identity of the player behind this notorious bot.
Fable Has Been Rated for Release in South Korea, AustraliaFable has received ratings in South Korea and Australia, suggesting a release in late 2024, potentially September or October. These ratings indicate mature content including language, violence, and criminal acts. Playground Games is continuing to recruit staff for the title, which is expected to launch before Grand Theft Auto 6.
Forza Horizon 6 Has Sold Almost 5 Million Copies – RumorAccording to estimates from Alinea Analytics, Forza Horizon 6 has sold approximately 4.9 million copies across PC and Xbox Series X/S, generating over $325 million in revenue. Despite being available on Game Pass, the game has seen strong performance on Xbox platforms and Steam, with a significant portion of players utilizing the subscription service. A PlayStation 5 release is anticipated later this year.
Forza Horizon 6 has its own community villain in the form of a driver who's griefing everyone across JapanA player known as bowieknife99 has become a notorious "villain" in Forza Horizon 6, griefing other players and manipulating races across Japan. This player's disruptive behavior has become so widespread that they have achieved internet myth status within the game's community, with viral clips showcasing their antics.
Great moments in PC gaming: Stealing and selling someone else's treasure in Sea of ThievesThis article reflects on a memorable moment in the pirate sandbox game Sea of Thieves, where another player stealthily stole treasure from the author's crew. The author praises the bold move, highlighting the thrill of player-driven interactions and thievery as a core element of the game's appeal, even when it happens to them.
Forza Horizon 6 gives a glimpse at what Xbox should’ve been - Reader's FeatureA reader's feature discusses how Forza Horizon 6, despite its critical and commercial success, highlights Xbox's struggles in the console market. The author argues that while the game is excellent, its multi-platform availability prevents it from being the system seller Xbox desperately needs, contrasting it with past console-defining exclusives.