Xbox
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox.
Latest coverage
ID@Xbox Showcase Returns in October With 20 Games
IGN and Xbox are collaborating to host the ID@Xbox Showcase on October 20, featuring 20 upcoming games for Xbox and PC. The event will include exclusive reveals, trailers, and gameplay, with confirmed appearances from The Wolf Among Us Remastered and Critical Reflex Games. The showcase will be available on various IGN platforms and partner sites.
Fight or Kite: Trove’s September PvP update was a step in the right direction, now it needs a leap
This article analyzes Trove's recent September PvP update, which introduced Capture the Flag, Team Deathmatch, and Deathmatch modes alongside the existing Bomber Royale. Despite the expansion of options, the author found the implementation lacking, citing issues with a single queue for all modes, difficulty finding matches (especially on Xbox, which appears to lack crossplay), and the controversial decision to allow player character stats and gear to carry over into PvP, creating an uneven playing field. The author concludes that the update was a disappointment and recommends players, particularly on console, avoid PvP until significant improvements are made.
Xbox Is Testing A New Streak Feature That Could Make Gaming Feel (More) Like A Chore
Microsoft is testing a new 'streak' feature on Xbox consoles for users in the Insider program, which tracks consecutive days of console usage. This feature, which could be tied to Xbox reward points, aims to increase user engagement but may become irritating if notifications are intrusive.
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival learned the wrong lesson from Resident Evil 7
This article critiques Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, arguing that its first-person perspective, inspired by Resident Evil 7, detracts from the game's potential as a third-person action title. While praising its gore and atmosphere, the author finds the perspective choice disorienting and detrimental to both character immersion and combat mechanics.
Fresh Tracks Review | TheXboxHub
Fresh Tracks is a rhythm action roguelite that blends music with skiing gameplay on the Xbox. Players navigate snowy trails, hitting beats to dodge obstacles and defeat enemies, with a brilliant soundtrack guiding the experience. The game offers significant replay value through its progression systems, multiple modes, and challenging boss encounters.
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Dragon Pearl of Destruction's lunchbox is as '80s as a collector's…
Limited Run Games is releasing a collector's edition for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction, a Streets of Rage-style brawler developed by Bitmap Bureau in collaboration with Mattel. The $99.99 edition includes a nostalgic '80s-style lunchbox, a mini Power Sword, an acrylic standee, a pin set, a mini comic book, and a physical copy of the game with an alternative steel case. Pre-orders are open until November 22.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Is The Series At Its Best
Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is hailed as a new high for the series, synthesizing its best elements into a cohesive and fantastic experience. The game features a sprawling map, joyous traversal, a compelling story with creative characters, and exceptionally refined combat. The innovative tarot card system elegantly fuses disparate gameplay elements, serving as mission signposting, puzzles, lore, and spell progression.
Dari Bayang-Bayang ke Dunia Terbuka: Bagaimana Assassin’s Creed Mengubah Arah Genrenya
This article analyzes the evolution of the Assassin's Creed franchise, tracing its shift from a stealth-focused, urban-based experience to a modern open-world action RPG. It highlights how Ubisoft's bold design changes, including the introduction of RPG mechanics and vast exploration, have successfully broadened the series' appeal and financial reach, while also acknowledging the community's debate over the loss of original stealth elements.
Evening Reading - October 12, 2026
This Evening Reading from Shacknews rounds up recent gaming news and features, including previews for Mina the Hollower and Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, reviews for Valor Mortis and Gears of War: E-Day, and discussions on the potential for a Scream video game adaptation and the impact of AI on the internet. The article also highlights Shacknews's commitment to human-created content and its staff.
Bully Was Hard to Make Because “Take Away The Cars, The Guns, What is the Game?”, Says Dan Houser
Former Rockstar Games VP Dan Houser discussed the challenging development of Bully, noting the team's initial uncertainty about its concept without typical open-world elements like cars and guns. He also touched upon the controversy surrounding the game and its impact on promotion, contrasting it with the success of the Grand Theft Auto series.
Max Payne 3 Writer Says He Got it “Completely Wrong”, Considers it His Failure
Former Rockstar Games writer Dan Houser reflects on Max Payne 3, considering it his personal failure and the studio's biggest miss. He acknowledges that the game's shift towards high-octane action and away from the original neo-noir style alienated fans, despite its critical acclaim for gameplay and narrative elements.
No Man's Sky is somehow coming to mobile, and Hello Games says it's partly thanks to Light No Fire
Hello Games announced that No Man's Sky will be released on iOS devices, including iPhone and iPad, on October 28th. The studio revealed that the development of its upcoming game, Light No Fire, has contributed to performance improvements that benefit all platforms, including the mobile version.
Aream & Co: Games industry M&A generates $57.8 bn in Q3, including EA's $55bn leveraged buyout
Investment bank Aream & Co reported that the games industry saw 54 M&A transactions totaling $57.8 billion in Q3, including Electronic Arts' $55 billion buyout. Public market revenue increased significantly, while console segment revenue experienced its steepest drop in two years across all platforms.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 pre-orders now include early DMZ access
Activision is offering early access to the DMZ mode for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 to players who pre-order the game. This incentive aims to boost pre-order numbers following the negative reception of Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7. The DMZ mode, returning from Modern Warfare 2, will be available three days before the full game launch on October 23.
Gear.Club Unlimited 3 Review | TheXboxHub
Gear.Club Unlimited 3 attempts to challenge the dominant Forza series on Xbox with a Japanese setting, but is plagued by numerous issues. While the car selection and club management offer some depth, the repetitive gameplay, frustrating AI, inconsistent difficulty spikes, and technical problems like framerate drops and audio stuttering detract significantly from the experience. The lack of online multiplayer is a major missed opportunity, making this a decent single-player racer that desperately needs polish.
Hidden Dogs Review | TheXboxHub
Hidden Dogs is a charming hidden object game for Xbox that stands out by focusing on finding dogs, a rarity in the genre. The game features a meta-plot where dogs want to create their own hidden object game, adding an endearing layer. Despite some fuzziness in the art, the quaint English countryside setting and characterful pups make it an enjoyable experience that can be completed in a couple of hours.
Deadlock surpasses Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player count peak as it adds a chess wizard
Valve's new MOBA, Deadlock, has surpassed Team Fortress 2's all-time concurrent player peak with 262,145 simultaneous players during its invite-only test. The game's recent addition of a new hero, Solomon the chess mage, is credited with contributing to this surge. The article also touches on the challenges of breaking into the MOBA genre and Valve's approach to game development.
Gears of War: E-Day Launch Shows the Limits of Sales Counts
An analysis of Gears of War: E-Day's launch figures reveals approximately 1.7 million players accessed the game via Game Pass, with an estimated 230,000 copies sold separately across Steam and Xbox platforms. The report highlights the distinction between subscription reach and direct sales, noting over $37 million in estimated revenue including premium upgrades.
Gears of War: E-Day Estimated Sales Reach Just 230,000 in First Week, Analyst Says
Gears of War: E-Day, an Xbox console exclusive, has reportedly sold an estimated 230,000 copies in its first week. This figure suggests a soft launch for the highly anticipated title.
This Week in Switch 2 - Nintendo Switch Sports Resort preview, Arjun in SF6 & Xbox not for sale
This Week in Switch 2 covers a preview of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, where Donovan shared his impressions. The episode also touches on recent gaming news, including advice for the Xbox CEO regarding false reports from games journalists. Shacknews also highlighted its free interactive maps for various games.
