Xbox
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox.
Latest coverage
Nitro City Racing Review | TheXboxHub
Nitro City Racing is a retro-inspired driving game that focuses on avoiding crashes rather than traditional racing. While it offers a sense of speed and sharp presentation, the repetitive mission structure and random traffic placement lead to frustration. The reviewer suggests playing classic arcade titles like Outrun instead.
PS5 network goes down just before weekend and as usual Sony is saying nothing
The PlayStation Network experienced a significant outage on a Friday, impacting PlayStation 5 users and preventing access to online services, the PlayStation Store, and PlayStation Plus. Sony faced criticism for its delayed communication regarding the issue, which coincided with the open beta for Marvel's Tōkon: Fighting Souls. The outage has also raised concerns about Sony's future plans for digital-only games.
Pair of PlayStation 4 Games Might Be Removed From Player Libraries
PlayStation 4 adventure games Creepy Tale 1 and 2 may be removed from players' libraries due to a dispute between developer Creepy Brothers and publisher No Gravity Games. The publisher allegedly failed to pay royalties, leading to the games being delisted from the Xbox Store and potentially soon from the PlayStation Store. Players who have the games installed can still access them.
Game Hubs and Progression Menus Are Shaping New Zealand’s Online Casino Experience
Online casinos in New Zealand are adopting game design principles like intuitive navigation and progression systems to improve user experience. This shift mirrors how modern video games, such as those on Xbox, organize content to help players find what they want quickly. As the New Zealand online casino market grows, especially on mobile, clear menus and player-focused features are becoming crucial for engagement.
Amazon Prime adds free streaming video games for no extra charge
Amazon has integrated its cloud gaming service Luna into Prime Video, making it a free addition for Prime subscribers. This move aims to increase user engagement with Luna, which has struggled to gain traction as a standalone service. The company believes this integration will help reach a broader audience that may not own traditional gaming consoles or PCs.
Lanseringstrailern för Halo: Campaign Evolved är här
The launch trailer for Halo: Campaign Evolved has been released, showcasing the polished campaign, split-screen and online co-op, and a third-person mode. While the Premium edition allows early access, some players experienced issues with upgrade purchases, which have since been resolved. Initial reviews are mixed, with Opencritic giving it an 83, but Steam reviews are only 67% positive due to performance and technical problems.
Saudi-led EA buyout receives EU approval, Xbox trials ad-supported game streaming, and Poinpy is eternal - Patch Notes #62
The European Commission has approved the Saudi-led buyout of Electronic Arts, while Xbox is trialing ad-supported game streaming for select titles. Separately, the mobile platformer Poinpy has returned, and news emerges about a revived Kinect game, scrapped Pokémon designs, and legal disputes involving Nintendo and Bethesda employees.
Xbox is testing ads on streaming video games you already own
Xbox is testing advertisements within its cloud streaming service for owned games, offering hour-long sessions with ads before gameplay begins. This initiative aims to potentially lower access costs for players, though similar attempts by other companies like EA have faced significant backlash. Microsoft is also reportedly planning to increase the price of Xbox consoles.
Xbox rolls out ad-supported game streaming test for its insider programs, as hardware supply and affordability crisis rages on
Microsoft's Xbox is testing an ad-supported game streaming service for its Insider program, allowing users to play select games for free for one hour with ads before sessions. This initiative aims to improve game accessibility for players with less powerful or unavailable hardware, especially amidst ongoing hardware supply and affordability issues exacerbated by the generative AI boom. The company emphasizes that this is an optional feature designed to lower access costs and expand player bases, though the implementation of external advertising at the start of gameplay sessions is a notable departure from traditional in-game ads.
Grand Vegas Casino Review | TheXboxHub
Grand Vegas Casino offers a visually attractive simulation of casino games like Roulette, Poker, Blackjack, and Slots for Xbox, with ports also available on PlayStation, Switch, and PC. Despite its polished presentation and low price point, the game lacks depth, meaningful progression, and multiplayer options, ultimately failing to provide a compelling reason to keep playing beyond initial exploration.
What Makes a Multiplayer Game Suitable for Esports?
A multiplayer game requires more than just a large player base to sustain a professional esports scene; it needs technical reliability, audience engagement, strategic depth, competitive integrity, and long-term support. Games like Halo, Rocket League, Call of Duty, and Rainbow Six Siege demonstrate key qualities such as clear objectives, high skill ceilings, spectator-friendly features, and developer backing. Factors like randomness, visual clutter, weak anti-cheat, and pay-to-win mechanics can hinder a game's esports potential, while strong community and developer support are crucial for long-term success.
The Best Underrated Indie Games on Xbox You May Have Missed
This article highlights several underrated indie games available on Xbox that players may have missed, emphasizing their unique mechanics, art styles, and storytelling. It discusses why indie games thrive on Xbox, mentioning factors like creative freedom and support from platforms like Game Pass. Featured titles include Tunic, Signalis, Death's Door, Planet of Lana, and Nobody Saves the World, each offering distinct experiences.
Microsoft starts testing ad-supported game streaming on Xbox
Microsoft has begun testing ad-supported game streaming for Xbox Insider Program members, allowing one-hour free sessions supported by advertisements. This initiative aims to provide more affordable access to games on existing devices. The company believes that well-implemented advertising can lower access costs and expand player audiences.
Grim Dawn - Fangs of Asterkarn Released
The Fangs of Asterkarn DLC for Grim Dawn is now available on PC and Xbox. Developed by Crate Entertainment, this new content adds to the action RPG's existing offerings.
Business and Finance
A judge has extended an emergency order that pauses the potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Separately, Xbox console sales have doubled year-over-year, though overall US hardware sales have seen a significant decline.
Subscriptions, Clouds, and Streams
NVIDIA announced new games coming to GeForce NOW, including an expansion for Path of Exile. Separately, Xbox and Meta are expanding ways to enjoy Xbox Game Pass, highlighting the growing trend of subscription services and cloud-based gaming.
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain says Morrowind on Xbox changed everything for console RPGs: "It stunned me"
Fallout co-creator Tim Cain stated that The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind's 2002 release on the Xbox was a pivotal moment for console role-playing games. He explained that Morrowind felt like a PC game on a console, bridging the gap in complexity and features that previously separated the two platforms. Cain believes this marked the beginning of greater parity between PC and console RPG development.
Xbox Is Putting Ads Before Games, And It Feels Gross
Xbox is testing an ad-supported model for cloud gaming where players can watch ads before playing owned games for an hour. While optional and intended to add value, the author argues this move crosses a line for the industry, potentially leading to more intrusive advertising and broken promises from Microsoft.
Xbox is asking players to test advert supported game streaming
Microsoft is testing an ad-supported game streaming channel for Xbox Insiders, allowing them to stream owned games for free with ads before sessions begin. This initiative aims to explore the viability of ad-supported subscriptions and provide more affordable access to games, with ads intended to add value without interrupting gameplay.
How to use free cam - Halo: Campaign Evolved
This guide explains how to use the free cam mode in Halo: Campaign Evolved, allowing players to explore missions from various angles. The article details the button inputs for PC, Xbox, and PlayStation to activate and control the camera, noting that the player character can still take damage while in free cam.
