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Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox.
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Tiny Bookshop Review | TheXboxHub
Tiny Bookshop is a charming simulation game where players manage a mobile bookshop by the sea. The game features a watercolor art style, warm-hearted characters, and engaging gameplay mechanics that involve stocking books based on location preferences and customer requests. Despite its cozy nature, the game offers surprising depth in its systems, making it a highly addictive experience.
Best Sports Games On Each Xbox Console
This article looks back at the best sports games released on each generation of Xbox consoles, from the original Xbox to the Xbox Series X/S. It highlights ESPN NFL 2K5 for the original Xbox, College Hoops 2K8 for the Xbox 360, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 for the Xbox One, and College Football 25 for the Xbox Series X/S.
Xbox exec who brought Bungie into Microsoft says it's "weird" to see Sony own the creators of Halo: "It was so weird to launch Marathon and see a PlayStation logo"
Former Xbox executive Ed Fries expressed his surprise at seeing Bungie, the creators of Halo, now owned by Sony and developing the game Marathon for PlayStation. Fries, who was instrumental in Microsoft's original acquisition of Bungie 26 years ago, found it surreal to play Marathon on his Xbox and see a PlayStation logo. He admitted he would not have believed this trajectory for Bungie if told 25 years prior.
Get Graveyard Keeper for Free
Graveyard Keeper, a management simulation game, is currently available for free on Steam for PC, macOS, and Linux. The article also mentions that PlayStation and Xbox versions are available, though not specified as free.
Mongil: Star Dive Reveals Monster Collection Systems and Post-Launch Plans Ahead of April Release; PS5 and
Netmarble has revealed new details for its upcoming monster-taming action RPG, Mongil: Star Dive, ahead of its April 15 global launch on PC and mobile. The game features a Monsterling Collection system for capturing and synthesizing creatures, real-time combat with a three-character party, and manual control mechanics. Post-launch plans include an expansion to a Far East setting and a console release for PlayStation 5 and Xbox platforms.
Death By Scrolling Launches on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch April 16
Death By Scrolling, an action roguelite set in Purgatory Inc., is launching on Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch on April 16. This console release will coincide with a major update for the PC version, introducing new content and improvements. Players navigate a vertically scrolling environment, fighting monsters and collecting gold to escape Purgatory.
Pine Studio Acquires Inked Developer Somnium Games; Expands Team to Drive Escape Simulator Multi-Platform Growth
Pine Studio has acquired fellow Croatian developer Somnium Games, expanding its team to 28 members. This acquisition aims to drive the multi-platform growth of Escape Simulator, with console and mobile versions in development. To celebrate, a free update for Escape Simulator featuring the art style of Somnium's Inked is now available on Steam.
1000xResist creator: the game industry needs a universal video codec for FMV games
Remy Siu, the creative director behind the acclaimed game 1000xResist, is facing technical challenges with video codecs for his upcoming full-motion video game, Prove You're Human. Siu advocates for a universal video codec standard across all platforms to simplify development and improve the quality of FMV games. He highlights how the current need to support multiple codecs can lead to larger file sizes and compromises in video quality.
Lovecraftian Days Returns to Steam with Premieres, New Releases, and Showcase Highlights
The annual Lovecraftian Days event is live on Steam, celebrating cosmic horror with discounts, demos, and reveals from Fulqrum Publishing. Highlights include the premiere of Inquisitor Simulator, new releases like The Occultist and Abject Abyss, and console launches for Viscerafest. Several upcoming titles received release dates, including Call of the Elder Gods and Cosmic Fear.
NETMARBLE UNVEILS CORE CONTENT IN MONGIL: STAR DIVE ONLINE SHOWCASE AHEAD OF GLOBAL LAUNCH
Netmarble held an online showcase revealing core content for its upcoming monster-taming action RPG, MONGIL: STAR DIVE, ahead of its April 15 global launch. The showcase detailed the "Monsterling Collection" system, party-based combat, and plans for ongoing events and post-launch content, including console expansion to PlayStation 5 and Xbox. The game is built with Unreal Engine 5 and is a sequel to the 2013 mobile title Monster Taming.
Vague Patch Notes: No, Epic Games is not the bellwether of the game industry
This article critiques the notion that Epic Games is a bellwether for the game industry, arguing that its success is primarily tied to the battle royale mode of Fortnite, a cash-in on a trend rather than a creative vision. The author contends that Epic's over-reliance on Fortnite and the underperformance of the Epic Games Store, coupled with questionable business strategies, led to recent layoffs, contrasting this with more diversified companies like Blizzard and Square Enix.
Cyberpunk 2077 Is Now Utterly Essential on PS5 Pro
The discussion centers on Cyberpunk 2077's essential status on the PlayStation 5, comparing its sales performance across various platforms including PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox. While acknowledging Xbox's smaller market share, the author notes that even a 10 percent increase in sales is significant for a studio like CD Projekt Red.
Why Star Wars Episode I: Racer Is Still One of the Most Fun Star Wars Games Ever
This article discusses the enduring fun of Star Wars Episode I: Racer. A user comments on the pricing of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions, noting a significant increase from $60 to $9.99 per month, suggesting this is a strategy to encourage adoption of the more appealing Game Pass service.
Xbox co-creator says "it's just not true" gaming is on the decline despite layoff apocalypse
Former Xbox executive Ed Fries argues that the video game industry is not in decline, citing PC game growth and the increasing importance of global markets like China. Despite widespread layoffs and studio closures, Fries believes the industry has historically experienced cyclical swings and continues to show potential for significant growth.
Did your Xbox controller recently ship without a battery included? Microsoft has finally acknowledged the issue and is compensating players with a 'one-time offer' — here's how you can claim yours
Microsoft has acknowledged that a limited number of Xbox wireless controllers have shipped without batteries since December. The company is now offering affected players a one-time offer to claim a free Xbox Rechargeable Battery + USB-C cable through the Xbox support website by registering their device.
Galaxies Spring Showcase: how to watch and what to expect
The Galaxies Spring Showcase 2026 will take place on April 16, 2026, featuring over 50 games and seven world premieres. Hosted by Jane Douglas, the 60-minute event will include updates and trailers for titles like Sword Art Online JRPG Echoes of Aincrad, Atomic Heart's DLC Yerba Buena, and MOUSE: P.I. For Hire. Chris Thomas, Galaxies Founder, stated the event aims to give gamers a reason to be excited by showcasing a diverse range of titles.
Morning Consolidation
The open beta for the game Invincible is set to begin tomorrow. Further details about what players need to know before it launches are available on Xbox Wire.
How PUBG is trying to win back the West
Krafton is implementing a two-pronged strategy to revitalize PUBG: Battlegrounds' appeal in Western markets, aiming to transform it into a content platform and a cultural icon. This involves expanding gameplay with new modes and user-generated content, alongside collaborations with Western artists. The company is also focusing on rapid prototyping for new games in the PUBG universe, learning from early access experiments.
Huge changes are coming to Xbox Achievements, including new visuals, 'more control over how your accomplishments are presented', and the ability to highlight your 100% completed games
Xbox is implementing a significant overhaul to its Achievements system, introducing refreshed icons, animations, and more customization options for players. The update allows users to hide specific games from their profile and highlights 100% completed games, offering greater control over how accomplishments are presented.
PS5 Fans Want Trophy Upgrades After Xbox Improves Achievements
PlayStation 5 fans are expressing a desire for upgrades to Sony's Trophy system, drawing comparisons to recent improvements made to Xbox's Achievements. While the PlayStation Trophy system has been a core part of the experience since the PlayStation 3 era, it has seen minimal changes, especially since the PS5's launch. Fans are hoping Sony will introduce features like highlighting 100% completion games and pinning difficult Trophies, similar to what Xbox is testing.
