Xbox Series S
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox Series S.
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Famitsu sales (10/19/26 – 10/25/26) – first week sales revealed for Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Final Fantasy Resonance
Famitsu has released its latest Japanese hardware and software sales data for the week of October 19-25, 2026. Nintendo Switch 2 led hardware sales, while Nintendo Switch Sports Resort and Final Fantasy Resonance topped the software charts across multiple platforms.
Rayman Legends Retold Will Have Astro Bot Easter Egg
Ubisoft announced that Rayman Legends Retold, launching December 3, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and other platforms, will feature an outfit for Rayman inspired by Astro Bot. This collaboration is a mutual tribute, with Rayman having previously appeared in Astro Bot. The teams collaborated to blend Astro Bot's futuristic design with Rayman's organic style.
Xbox revenue falls 2% in first results since layoffs as decline narrows from 10%
Xbox's revenue saw a 2% decline in the July-September quarter, marking its fifth consecutive decrease, though the drop is less severe than in previous periods. While console sales and Game Pass subscriptions continue to shrink, Microsoft is anticipating stronger growth during the holiday quarter. The company's content and services business experienced a smaller 1% slip when currency changes are excluded, exceeding Microsoft's own forecasts.
GTA 6's PS5 install size is so big you could store 3500 copies of Balatro inside
Grand Theft Auto 6 is reportedly set to have a massive 210 GB file size on PlayStation 5, significantly larger than Red Dead Redemption 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. This large download size highlights ongoing concerns about storage space on modern gaming consoles and PCs, especially for players with limited internet bandwidth.
The Walking Trade: How I Built a Shop Simulator Without Ever Playing One
The Walking Trade, a store management game set in a zombie apocalypse, has launched on Xbox Series X|S. Developed by a solo creator who drew inspiration from tycoon games rather than playing shop simulators, the game challenges players to stock shelves, set prices, and defend their store from zombie hordes. The narrative also features a survivor named Robin, who is based on the developer's son and has become a fan favorite.
'At some point we did have a small rhythm game, but it didn't exactly match the feeling that you're promoting a show' — Stranger Than Heaven director says the showbiz system was 'a real challenge' and inspired by musicians with an 'antenna' for music
Mikinobu Abe, director of Stranger Than Heaven, discussed the challenges RGG Studio faced in designing the game's Showbiz system. He explained that the team researched the role of a promoter and experimented with different mechanics, including a rhythm game concept, before settling on the current system that emphasizes inspiration gathering and production planning.
'Historical accuracy wasn't the goal from the very beginning' — Stranger Than Heaven director says while research for its era-spanning game was 'really difficult,' the cities will still have 'a lot of fiction'
Mikinobu Abe, director of RGG Studio's upcoming game Stranger Than Heaven, discussed the extensive research involved in depicting multiple cities across five decades. While historical accuracy was not the primary goal, the team aimed to capture the essence and atmosphere of the eras through creative liberties and inspiration from period art and equipment. The game is set to release on January 15, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Nacon announces the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition, a new Hell Is Us-inspired Xbox controller offering 'joystick tension adjustment, Hall Effect sensors, and micro-switch combine technologies'
Nacon has launched the Revolution Pro X – Special Edition, an officially licensed Xbox controller inspired by the game Hell Is Us. Priced at £109.99 / $129.90 / €129.99, it features Hall Effect joysticks, micro-switch triggers, adjustable joystick tension, and programmable buttons for PC, Xbox, and Smart TV users.
Stranger Than Heaven director says 'it was really important' for RGG that 'the player experience the whole life of a man' and that the story's 50-year timeline was essential to depicting how a yakuza organization is built
Mikinobu Abe, director of Stranger Than Heaven, explained RGG Studios' decision to tell the game's 50-year yakuza story within a single title. He emphasized that depicting the entire life of the protagonist, Makoto Daito, was crucial for conveying how such an organization is built, making a multi-game approach unsuitable.
Stranger Than Heaven director says the game's combat was inspired by old 'Ninkyo' Yakuza movies because the 'raw and gritty' action scenes fit Daito's character as an inexperienced fighter — 'We felt that atmosphere was what made those genres special'
Mikinobu Abe, director of Stranger Than Heaven, revealed that the game's combat system draws inspiration from classic Ninkyo yakuza films, emphasizing their raw and gritty action scenes. This approach aligns with the character development of Makoto Daito, who begins as an inexperienced fighter and evolves throughout the narrative. The game is set to release on January 15, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and PC.
AMD's FSR 4.1 upscaling is coming to Xbox Series X|S
Microsoft and AMD have announced that AMD's FSR 4.1 upscaling technology will be coming to Xbox Series X|S consoles soon. This machine-learning-based temporal upscaler renders games at a lower resolution and reconstructs them at a higher one. While FSR 4.1 will also support various PC hardware and handhelds, its implementation on Xbox Series X|S will require developers to patch their games, and gains may not match dedicated hardware like the PS5 Pro.
Stranger Than Heaven director says Makoto Daito's life story is 'not just entertainment' and hopes it will break the barriers of racism — 'I hope that Makoto’s life journey really speaks to people around the globe who have had similar experiences'
Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe emphasizes that the game's narrative, focusing on protagonist Makoto Daito's life journey and experiences with racism due to his mixed heritage, is intended to be more than just entertainment. Abe hopes the multi-era story will resonate with players globally who have faced similar discrimination, highlighting how music served as a key element for Daito to break down barriers.
Stranger Than Heaven director says RGG 'intentionally' forgot about Yakuza to create 'something new' — 'Every single aspect of it, we started thinking about it from scratch, just to suit the style of Stranger Than Heaven'
Mikinobu Abe, director of Stranger Than Heaven, stated that RGG Studio intentionally distanced the game from its Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchises to create a distinct experience. The team started development from scratch, rethinking every aspect from maps and UI to narrative and cutscenes, to suit the unique style of Stranger Than Heaven. The game is set to launch on January 15, 2027, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Xbox follows in PlayStation's footsteps, introducing AMD FSR 4.1, targeting better graphics and performance on Series X/S
Microsoft announced that AMD's FSR 4.1 image upscaling technology will be coming to Xbox Series X and Series S consoles, as well as handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally. This AI-driven technology renders games at a lower resolution and upscales them for improved visuals and performance, potentially extending the life of current-generation hardware. The move follows Sony's recent introduction of its own upscaling technology, QSSR, for the PlayStation 5.
Microsoft is encouraging Xbox owners to sell their consoles in bizarre promotion
Microsoft is reportedly emailing lapsed Xbox owners, encouraging them to trade in their consoles to Best Buy for up to $375. This promotion, aimed at boosting active player numbers and Game Pass subscriptions, has been met with criticism for its optics and the current low sales of Xbox consoles in the US.
AMD FSR 4.1 is Coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Ally in October
AMD has announced that its FSR 4.1 update will be released in October 2026 for the Xbox Series X|S and ASUS ROG Ally. This update aims to enhance gaming performance and visual fidelity through advanced upscaling technology. The company also mentioned FSR Diamond support in Project Helix for future consoles.
Next Xbox Console Planned for Holiday 2028, “Next-Generation Handheld” Coming in 2027
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has revealed that the next Xbox console is planned for a Holiday 2028 release, with a "next-generation handheld device" set to launch in Holiday 2027. The next-gen console is projected to cost between $1,200 and $1,800. Plans for a revamped Game Pass subscription service with tiered features are also in development.
'Haven't Played Your Console in a While?' Trade It in, Xbox Tells Customers Amid Stock Shortages
Xbox is encouraging customers to trade in their underutilized Xbox Series X and S consoles, citing ongoing stock shortages. The company is reaching out via email to prompt users to consider trading in their devices.
Rockstar artists have been working on GTA 6 for 11 years to plan out the map, co-head says roads are narrower than GTA 5's, which had a 'ripple effect' as the studio had to add even more buildings — 'All these things sort of come to bite you later'
Rockstar Games has reportedly been working on Grand Theft Auto 6 for 11 years, with artists beginning map planning in 2015. Development co-head Aaron Garbut noted that the game's narrower roads compared to Grand Theft Auto 5 created technical challenges, requiring more detailed surrounding buildings. The game is set to launch on November 19 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Series S.
Helldivers 2 Introduces Easy Anti-Cheat, Balance Changes and Fixes for Bugs, Crashes in New Update
Arrowhead Game Studios has released a new update for Helldivers 2, introducing Easy Anti-Cheat and additional security tools to improve game integrity. The patch also addresses numerous bugs and crashes, enhances stability with DirectX 12 support, and implements significant balance changes to weapons and stratagems based on community feedback. Performance optimizations for CPU and GPU have also been included.
