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Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox.
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Games Inbox: Are people still excited for Tomb Raider games?
Readers discuss the declining popularity of the Tomb Raider series, questioning if remakes can revive its former glory. Other topics include the potential of ad-based game streaming, the perceived lack of excitement for the Switch 2's second year lineup, and the business decisions behind game pricing and remakes.
Xbox Console Sales Jumped 86% In June, So Everything Is Saved Now
Xbox console sales saw an 86% increase in June, though this is largely attributed to a comparison with a significantly weaker sales period in the previous year. While this represents an improvement, the long-term outlook for the platform remains uncertain.
The new 'backward compatible' Xbox games on PC run on an OG Xbox emulator inside an Xbox 360 emulator, and…
New original Xbox games available on PC through backward compatibility utilize a complex emulation system. These games run on an Xbox 360 emulator, which in turn runs an original Xbox emulator (XeFu). Independent developers have already leveraged these emulators to run other original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles on PC, showcasing the intricate engineering behind Microsoft's backward compatibility efforts and raising discussions about game preservation.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Review – The Legend Lives On
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a successful remake that updates the classic Halo: Combat Evolved with modern mechanics and graphical enhancements, including a new movement system and improved vehicle handling. While it omits competitive PvP, the addition of new campaign missions, randomized gameplay options, and extensive Skull modifiers offer significant replay value. The game performs well on PlayStation 5, with its SSD ensuring fast load times, though some minor frame rate drops were noted in intense scenes.
The MOP Up: Warframe recaps the reveals of TennoCon 2026
Digital Extremes has released a recap of TennoCon 2026, detailing new reveals such as the Origin System and gameplay in the Tau system. The article also rounds up other recent MMO news, including updates for Pax Dei, The Planet Crafter's console launch, Fortnite's new skin, and content additions for Myth of Empires, Mu Online, EVE Frontier, MechWarrior Online Legends, The Finals, Crimson Desert, Orna, DayZ, and Scars of Honor.
Ascend to ZERO Review | TheXboxHub
Ascend to ZERO is a Roguelite with RPG elements that distinguishes itself with a unique time-based survival mechanic where runs end when the clock hits zero. Despite a slow start and minor issues with dialogue and music, the game offers an incredibly engaging gameplay loop with deep progression systems and high replayability. It is available on Xbox and PC via Game Pass.
Welcome to Kowloon Review | TheXboxHub
Welcome to Kowloon is a short horror adventure game set in a building within Hong Kong's historic Walled City. The game focuses on atmosphere and environmental storytelling, offering a claustrophobic experience with impressive visuals and sound design for its budget. While controls and camera sensitivity could be improved, the game successfully delivers tension and occasional scares within its approximately one-hour playtime.
The 10 best Arcade Archives games on modern consoles - Reader's Feature
A reader shares their top 10 favorite Arcade Archives titles available on modern consoles, highlighting how these classic games can be enjoyed affordably. The list features iconic titles from the 80s and 90s, including Ridge Racer, Contra, and Double Dragon, emphasizing their enduring charm and gameplay.
Shigeru Miyamoto believes that people “are no longer just looking for specs” with gaming systems
Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto believes players are prioritizing unique gameplay experiences over raw hardware specifications when choosing gaming systems. He cited the success of the Wii and Nintendo Switch as examples of consoles that offered innovative playstyles despite not being the most powerful on the market. Miyamoto emphasized Nintendo's focus on creating exclusive gameplay and efficient development environments.
Palworld Review | TheXboxHub
Palworld has officially launched its 1.0 update after an early access period, offering a blend of survival, base-building, and creature-collecting mechanics. Players capture creatures called Pals to fight and work alongside them, utilizing both primitive weapons and firearms. Despite minor issues with base area limitations and Pal pathfinding, the game provides a deep and engaging experience with numerous Pals to collect and explore.
Wall World 2 Review | TheXboxHub
Wall World 2 returns players to the massive wall from the original game, tasking them with piloting a Spider mech to explore, mine resources, and fight off monsters called Zyrex. While featuring roguelite elements like upgrades and resource gathering, the game's rigid mission-based structure and the need to balance temporary in-mission upgrades with permanent progression make the gameplay loop feel tedious at times, failing to fully realize its potential as a true roguelite experience.
Dodo Duckie Released
Dodo Duckie, a single-player adventure game, has been released for PC (Windows and Linux) and Xbox. Players control a duck named Dodo in this new title available on Steam.
Game History and Preservation
Microsoft has included a native Xbox 360 emulator with its recent backwards-compatible PC releases. Modders have reportedly managed to run Xbox 360 games on PC with minimal adjustments, highlighting advancements in game preservation and emulation technology.
Mastering Path of Exile Xbox Risk and Reward Mechanics
This guide details the risk and reward mechanics in Path of Exile for Xbox players, focusing on the Atlas of Worlds endgame. It explains how currency, map tiers, modifiers, and defensive layers contribute to a player's success and the high cost of death. The article also touches on Atlas specialization and the game's unique crafting item economy.
Xbox releases four original console games on PC thanks to Backwards Compatibility, but they chose the wrong ones
Microsoft has released four original Xbox console games on PC via backwards compatibility, including Fuzion Frenzy, BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Conker: Live & Reloaded. The article criticizes the selection of games and the lack of achievements at launch, suggesting more popular titles like Halo: Combat Evolved or Jade Empire would have been better choices.
Evening Reading - July 24, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming news items, including the announcement of Forza Horizon 6 and updates for games like 007 First Light, Marvel Rivals, and Disney Dreamlight Valley. It also highlights ongoing sales for PlayStation and Xbox, PC download deals, and a Hades 2 cover song. The article also mentions Shacknews's collection of video game maps and a segment on former President Obama playing WNBA games.
Kids don’t like video games and that’s a massive problem - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses concern that children are not developing a healthy relationship with video games, often preferring mobile titles like Roblox and Minecraft over traditional console games. The author argues that parents' lack of engagement and introduction to age-appropriate titles leads children to associate gaming with low-rent, free-to-play experiences, potentially harming the future of the industry. This trend is seen as a contributing factor to publishers' focus on live service games over single-player experiences.
Evening Consolidation
The PlayStation Network experienced an extended outage, preventing users from accessing digital games for several hours. Meanwhile, Xbox announced new game releases for the week of July 27 to July 31.
Xbox tests a new deal: watch ads to stream games you’ve already bought
Microsoft is testing a new feature for Xbox Insiders that allows players to stream owned games for up to one hour after watching advertisements. This optional program is being presented as a way to offer more affordable access to games, despite recent price increases for Xbox consoles. The company states that ads will not interrupt gameplay and will be held to a high quality standard.
Resident Evil 4 made Capcom another $560 million and became the best-selling remake of the generation, analyst says, more than tripling sales of Oblivion Remastered and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
The Resident Evil 4 remake has sold 16.8 million copies, generating $560 million in gross revenue for Capcom and becoming the best-selling remake of the current console generation. This figure significantly surpasses other remakes like Ark: Survival Ascended, The Last of Us Part I, Oblivion Remastered, Dead Space, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Silent Hill 2. Analyst Rhys Elliott attributes its success to the game's revered status, age, and Capcom's effective pricing and sales strategies, particularly on PC.
