Xbox
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox.
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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has seen a surge in players due to Nolan film
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Odyssey has experienced a significant increase in daily active players, reaching 233,000 across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms shortly after the release of Christopher Nolan's film 'The Odyssey'. This surge, a 90% increase from July 17, is largely attributed to subscription services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, with player counts on PlayStation and Xbox more than doubling.
Where to find Hirosaki Castle in Forza Horizon 6
This guide explains how to find Hirosaki Castle in Forza Horizon 6, located in the northeast of the Takashiro region. Players need to photograph a classic sports car outside the castle to complete a specific challenge, earning Festival Playlist points and a clothing item.
Truxton Extreme launches today, bringing the classic shmup series back after 38 years
Truxton Extreme has launched today on PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC, marking the first new entry in the arcade shooter series in 38 years. Developed by Tatsujin and published by Clear River Games, the game features fully rendered 3D graphics, multiple game modes including cooperative play, and several difficulty options. The standard edition is priced at $24.99, with a Digital Deluxe Edition available for $29.99.
Analyst data: Assassin's Creed Odyssey experiences surge in daily active users following Christopher Nolan film
Following the release of the Christopher Nolan film 'Odyssey', Assassin's Creed Odyssey saw a 90% increase in daily active users across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms. Engagement surged from 122,000 to 233,000 users within ten days, with Xbox showing the largest increase. Analysts attribute this spike to the game's availability on subscription services like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.
Xbox Was Microsoft’s Biggest Weak Spot Last Quarter
Microsoft's gaming division, primarily Xbox, experienced a significant revenue decrease of $1.7 billion last quarter, despite overall company profits rising. This decline is attributed to lower sales of Xbox hardware, services, and content, with hardware revenue dropping by 29%. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged the business did not grow with its audience and aims for growth by the end of FY27, while CEO Satya Nadella expressed confidence in Xbox's IP and studios to drive future revenue increases.
Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Hands-on Preview - Horders
Gears of War: E-Day introduces a revamped Horde Siege mode, expanding on the classic defense formula with mini open-world maps, side objectives, and 12-player co-op. The Versus multiplayer modes offer familiar Team Deathmatch and Conquest, with updated movement mechanics enhancing combat fluidity. The game is set to launch in October, with an early access multiplayer beta available for pre-orders and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in August.
How Long Is Palworld 1.0? Real Playtimes for Busy Gamers | Two Average Gamers
Palworld 1.0, released on July 10, 2026, offers a significantly expanded experience compared to its early access version, with playtime estimates ranging from 30-40 hours for a rushed playthrough to over 150 hours for full completion. The game's main story and leveling are now intertwined, requiring players to reach the level cap of 80 to see the ending. Pocketpair has introduced customizable world settings, allowing players to adjust experience gain, capture rates, and other factors to tailor the playtime to their preferences.
Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer – The First Preview
A preview of Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer, based on approximately 10 hours of beta gameplay, suggests the series is implementing smart gameplay changes. The article focuses on the multiplayer aspects of the upcoming shooter.
SpinBet Login on Mobile and What Should Work Before the First Spin
This article discusses the critical importance of a seamless mobile login and account management experience for gaming platforms like SpinBet. It highlights common pitfalls such as slow loading times, confusing navigation, and poor error handling, emphasizing that a smooth user journey is essential before gameplay even begins. The piece also touches on security aspects like password management and the need for clear, linear processes to prevent user frustration.
"Our business did not grow with our audience": post-layoffs, Xbox execs are trying to sell a gaming division bounce back by summer 2027
Xbox executives Asha Sharma and Satya Nadella are outlining a strategy to return the gaming division to financial growth by Fiscal Year 2027, following recent mass layoffs. Despite an increase in players, business revenue declined, prompting a focus on investing in player value and leveraging existing intellectual property and studios.
Xbox hardware revenue fell by $1.7 billion during fiscal 2026
Xbox hardware revenue saw a significant decrease of 7%, approximately $1.7 billion, in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. This decline is attributed to reduced console sales and a 5% drop in Xbox content and services revenue, despite growth in Xbox Game Pass. Microsoft also faces ongoing challenges with component shortages and has implemented mass layoffs across its gaming division.
Xbox reports 10 percent drop in revenue across content and services following mass job cuts and studio offload
Microsoft's Xbox division reported a 10 percent decrease in revenue from content and services during the last financial quarter. This decline follows significant layoffs and the divestment of several development studios. CEO Satya Nadella indicated that necessary decisions are being made to reset the business for long-term growth, with a projected return to growth in fiscal year 2027.
Redtail Relic Rush Swings Onto Xbox – And Afil Games Is Trying Something A Little Different
Afil Games has released Redtail Relic Rush on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC as a single Xbox Play Anywhere package. This action platformer features a red panda protagonist with a grappling hook, offering fast-paced gameplay across 30 levels. The new release model allows for cross-platform play and shared progress with a single purchase, a departure from the publisher's previous strategy of offering separate console and PC versions.
Evening Reading - July 29, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several gaming industry updates, including a sequel in development for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers and a DLC release for Pokemon Pokopia. Financial reports from Capcom, SK Hynix, Electronic Arts, Facebook, and Microsoft are highlighted, with EA CEO Andrew Wilson's compensation increasing due to Battlefield 6's success. Additionally, Facebook's Reality Labs reported significant losses, while Silent Hill: Townfall is noted for its innovative use of outdated technology. The article also touches on streaming events and new content for Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
Games Inbox: Are user reviews for video games reliable?
Readers discuss the reliability of user reviews for video games, with many expressing skepticism due to fanboyism and review bombing, favoring curated professional reviews or Steam's larger user base. The letters also touch on game release schedules, the evolution of game development timelines, the importance of modern-day storytelling in the Assassin's Creed series, and the business practices of companies like EA.
PlayStation ditching physical games is "a bridge across the bad years" of high hardware costs, analyst says, but it means "casuals and youngsters will drift off to mobile, PC, and free-to-play even faster"
Industry analyst Rhys Elliott suggests Sony's decision to phase out physical PlayStation games by 2028 is a short-term strategy to offset high hardware costs. While it may improve margins during a difficult period, it risks alienating budget-conscious and younger players who might then drift to mobile, PC, or free-to-play markets.
Xbox says game discs should have worked during its outage
Xbox's chief technology officer stated that game discs should have functioned during a recent service outage. A fix for the error preventing this is expected to be released soon.
Xbox just had its worst quarter in years
Microsoft reported a significant 10% decline in Xbox content and services revenue for its fourth fiscal quarter, marking the worst quarter for Xbox revenue since Q1 2024. Hardware revenue also saw a 13% drop, contributing to a total Xbox revenue of $4.983 billion. The report also mentions severance expenses due to layoffs, partially offset by other cost-saving measures, while the company's overall revenue was boosted by AI investments.
Halo: Campaign Evolved On PC Has A Hidden Feature You Need A Mod To Access
A new mod for Halo: Campaign Evolved on PC restores the missing split-screen co-op feature, which is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox. The mod, however, is limited to two players and controller input, and may not work for PC Game Pass or Microsoft Store versions. The game's ending also hints at a potential Halo 2 remake.
Xbox content & services revenue decreased 10% YoY in Microsoft (MSFT) Q2 2026
Microsoft reported a 10% year-over-year decrease in Xbox content and services revenue for Q2 2026. This decline was partially attributed to severance expenses and impairment charges related to recent layoffs and reorganization within the Xbox division under CEO Asha Sharma. Despite the drop in Xbox revenue, Microsoft's overall financial results for the quarter exceeded expectations.
