Xbox Series S
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox Series S.
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PS6, PS6 Handheld and Project Helix Still on Track for Holiday 2027 Launch – Rumor
A new report suggests that Sony and Microsoft are still on track to launch their next-generation consoles, including a PlayStation 6 handheld, in Holiday 2027, despite global memory shortages. Xbox vice president Jason Ronald confirmed that alpha test kits for Project Helix will ship next year, detailing its custom AMD chip with significant improvements in ray tracing and efficiency.
Crimson Desert Pre-Loads Begin on March 17th, Global Launch Timings Revealed
Crimson Desert's pre-load will begin on March 17th in Western regions and March 18th in Eastern regions, with a global launch set for March 19th at 3 PM PDT. Developed by Pearl Abyss, the single-player action-adventure game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The story follows mercenary Kliff as he navigates political intrigue and seeks to reunite his separated group.
Silent Hill 2 Remake Has Surpassed 5 Million Players Worldwide
Konami announced that the Silent Hill 2 remake has surpassed 5 million players worldwide across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. This figure includes sales and subscription service plays as of the end of January. Bloober Team discussed respecting fan theories during development and overcoming public skepticism.
From GDC: Building the Next Generation of Xbox
The author expresses optimism for the future of Xbox under new leadership, particularly regarding Project Helix, and compares its exclusive release cadence to PlayStation 5. The piece also touches on perceived media hypocrisy regarding console versus PC gaming and the historical lack of support from previous Xbox leadership.
New PS5 Game in Beloved RPG Series Announced With Exciting Features
Natsume, Inc. has announced Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea, a new entry in the long-running RPG franchise, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game will feature traditional farming and relationship mechanics alongside new exploration abilities like jumping and climbing, an animal companion system, and wilderness survival elements.
Valve's Steam Machine launches in 2026: Everything we know so far
Valve has announced a new home console, the Steam Machine, set to launch in 2026 as a successor to the Steam Deck. The device will feature semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPUs and RDNA3 GPUs, 16GB of RAM, and options for 512GB or 2TB of storage, aiming for 4K 60FPS gameplay with FSR technology. While pricing is not yet confirmed, it is expected to be competitive with self-built PCs and potentially higher than current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X due to component costs.
Outbreak: Shades of Horror Devours XPA with Cross-Platform Multiplayer
Dead Drop Studios has launched Outbreak: Shades of Horror with Xbox Play Anywhere support and cross-platform multiplayer. The Spring seasonal event introduces the new Sakura Ridge map, unlockable cosmetics including masks, and new gameplay systems. The game blends retro survival horror mechanics with modern features and is available on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with cross-save support.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault Receives First Big Early Access Update
Digital Sun and 11 bit studios have released a significant update for Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, currently in Steam Early Access on PC. This update introduces a new combat path called HEX, new equipment like the Blo-Blitz dual guns, expanded perk sets, new shop cosmetics, and a wave-based Greed Colosseum challenge mode. The full 1.0 release is planned for later in 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Crabwave Review | TheXboxHub
Crabwave is a path-making puzzle game for Xbox, PC, and PlayStation where players swap and rotate tracks to guide crabs home. While not groundbreaking, it offers a polished and accessible experience with helpful tools like undo and hint systems. Despite some minor presentational issues with visual clarity, the game provides around thirty minutes of enjoyable puzzling.
Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch Gets Fitting Release Date
Interabang Entertainment and Digital Eclipse announced that Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch will be released on April 20 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. This side-scrolling beat-em-up allows players to switch between Jay and Silent Bob and features combat that rewards mastery. Kevin Smith expressed excitement for the game's release, noting the significant effort and artistry involved.
Next-gen Xbox Project Helix dev kits won’t start arriving until 2027
Microsoft has revealed details about its next-generation Xbox, codenamed Project Helix, confirming that dev kits will be available in 2027. The new console will feature a custom AMD SOC with enhanced ray-tracing and machine learning capabilities for rendering and upscaling, and will support both Xbox and PC games. This hardware is expected to launch around 2028.
Battlefield 6 dev director Anna Norrevik is to headline NG26 Spring
Battlefield 6 development director Anna Norrevik has been announced as a headline speaker for Nordic Game Spring 2026, a B2B games conference taking place in Malmö from May 26-29. The event focuses on the business and development aspects of the gaming industry.
Sumo partners with Arm to test AI-powered neural graphics tech
Sumo Group is partnering with Arm Holdings to test AI-powered neural graphics technology. The article discusses the current console generation, noting that Xbox Series X offers a strong game lineup despite PlayStation's slower exclusive release cadence. It also touches on past leadership issues at Xbox and the potential for PC games to be playable on future Xbox consoles.
Outersloth shares contract terms and game funding lessons
The author expresses optimism for Xbox's future under new leadership, noting the strong game library available on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. They discuss past perceived lack of support from Xbox compared to PlayStation and suggest that Xbox's openness to PC games could be a significant advantage going forward. The piece also touches on perceived hypocrisy in gaming media regarding console versus PC gaming.
Highguard (XS) Review | VGChartz
Highguard is a rewarding hero shooter that blends various personalities, though its identity conflicts with player engagement. Despite an unrealized roadmap, the game offers a compelling experience that encourages players to continue for 'just one more game'.
New Yankee: Through the History Mirror Collector's Edition Review | TheXboxHub
New Yankee: Through the History Mirror Collector's Edition offers a generous amount of content and engaging resource management gameplay, reminiscent of series like Gnomes Garden. However, the game is significantly hampered by numerous bugs, including a critical Quick Resume corruption issue and a non-controller-compatible jousting minigame, alongside dated visuals and unclear on-screen prompts.
Highguard (XS) Review | VGChartz
This review of Highguard criticizes the disproportionate amount of hate directed towards games, particularly live service titles, by players who claim not to care. The author argues that this negativity, seen across both single-player and live service games, has a more detrimental impact on the industry than developers creating more live service games.
Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Is Natsume’s New Game
Natsume has announced Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea, a new entry in the farming simulation series. The game is confirmed for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, though a release window has not yet been provided. Players will explore multiple villages, interact with guardian spirits, and manage crops, animals, and relationships.
Alex the Rabbit Review | TheXboxHub
Alex the Rabbit is an endearing indie platformer that struggles to innovate beyond familiar tropes, failing to meet the standards set by games like Super Mario. While featuring colorful visuals and a unique human-in-a-costume protagonist, its gameplay is hampered by an unnecessary stamina bar for running and an exceptionally slow crouch mechanic. The game offers little challenge for the first three worlds, making it too benign for children, but then abruptly spikes in difficulty with a horror-themed final world, failing to find a consistent audience.
Project Helix alpha development kits to ship in 2027; Xbox mode coming to Windows 11 in April
Microsoft Gaming announced that alpha development kits for its next-generation 'Project Helix' hardware will ship in 2027, featuring custom AMD technology for enhanced ray tracing and performance. Additionally, an Xbox mode will be integrated into Windows 11 in April, allowing for a seamless transition between productivity and gaming.
