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Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for Xbox.
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New Game Pass Subscription Tier Seemingly Spotted Online
A new, lower-priced Game Pass tier codenamed 'Triton' has been spotted in data files, reportedly intended for first-party Xbox Game Studios titles. This potential tier would include games like DOOM Eternal, Gears 5, and Halo 5. Microsoft is also reportedly exploring combining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, with potential price increases across tiers.
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 Followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct Airs June 7 – Xbox Fanfest Returns
Microsoft announced the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 and a Gears of War: E-Day Direct for June 7, alongside the return of Xbox Fanfest. The article speculates on the future of Xbox exclusives potentially releasing on PlayStation, citing examples like Forza Horizon 5 and Helldivers 2. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on rising game development costs and the potential benefits of broader platform releases.
Grind Survivors Review | TheXboxHub
Grind Survivors is a visually impressive roguelike action RPG that excels in its core gameplay loop and extensive meta-progression systems. However, the game suffers from a lack of variety in enemies, levels, and unlocks, making the titular 'grind' feel more like a warning than a selling point.
Xbox adding Copilot AI to consoles is "horrible in so many different ways," says former Valve dev who worked…
Former Valve developer Chet Faliszek has criticized Microsoft's upcoming Copilot AI assistant for Xbox consoles, calling it "horrible in so many different ways" and unnecessary. He argues that the AI removes the social aspect and community-driven problem-solving that makes games engaging.
Xbox Games Showcase in June to be followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct, promising a "deep-dive" into the publisher's return to the franchise after 6 years
Xbox will host its annual Games Showcase on June 7, followed by a dedicated Gears of War: E-Day Direct. The latter will offer a deep dive into the upcoming prequel, which is slated for a 2026 release and marks Xbox's return to the main Gears of War franchise since 2019's Gears 5.
Wolf Pack - Howling Spirits Review | TheXboxHub
Wolf Pack - Howling Spirits, developed by EpiXR Games, is a deeply flawed game with numerous issues including a typo on the title screen, an unusable camera, and poor level design. The game's narrative and music are also criticized, with suggestions that parts of the content may have been generated by AI. The reviewer concludes that the game is not ready for release and is the worst reviewed game of 2026.
Xbox Games Showcase And Gears of War: E-Day Direct Announced For June 7 | Console Creatures
Xbox has announced its annual showcase will take place on June 7th, 2026, featuring announcements from first and third-party studios. Immediately following the showcase, a dedicated 'Direct' presentation will provide a deep dive into the upcoming prequel Gears of War: E-Day, including new gameplay details.
GTA 4 Dev Kit, Complete With Unfinished Zombies Mode, Reportedly Sold Out Of Car Trunk
A development kit for Grand Theft Auto 4 on the Xbox 360, reportedly containing an unfinished Zombies mode, was discovered and sold at a car boot sale in Edinburgh. The buyer acquired the kit, which includes hardware from Rockstar North, for approximately $6.59. The contents of the dev kit have been shared online, offering new details about the game's development.
Death Howl Review | TheXboxHub
Death Howl is a challenging deckbuilder that blends Soulslike difficulty with turn-based strategy elements. Players take on the role of Ro, a shamanistic woman on a quest to revive her son, navigating a macabre Spirit World. While praised for its artistic direction and satisfying gameplay loop, the game's harsh punishment for failure and reliance on grinding may not appeal to all players.
Halo: Cryptum – Book Review
This review discusses Halo: Cryptum, the first book in The Forerunner Saga by the late Greg Bear, published by Titan Books. The novel delves into the history of the Forerunners and their eventual decline, offering deep lore connections to the Halo video game universe. While initially slow to engage, the book's rich detail and character development ultimately provide a compelling narrative that sets up future events.
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 promises "huge" game news and a dedicated Gears of War: E-Day segment
The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 is scheduled for June 7, featuring "huge" news from first-party studios and an extended look at Gears of War: E-Day. New Xbox leadership, Asha Sharma, is expected to outline her vision for the brand, potentially including new hardware codenamed Project Helix.
This year's Xbox Games Showcase is set for June 7
Microsoft has announced that the Xbox Games Showcase will take place on June 7, followed by a deep dive into Gears of War: E-Day. The event will feature updates on Fable, Minecraft Dungeons 2, Halo: Campaign Evolved, and other upcoming titles. Microsoft is also celebrating the Xbox brand's 25th anniversary with an in-person Xbox FanFest event in Los Angeles.
Xbox Summer Show and Gears of War: E-Day Direct Date Set
Xbox has announced that its summer showcase will take place on June 7th, followed immediately by a dedicated "Direct" presentation for Gears of War: E-Day. The main showcase will feature news on upcoming Xbox titles and first gameplay looks, while the Gears of War segment will provide new details and insights for the highly anticipated game.
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 and Gears of War: E-Day Direct taking place June 7th
Microsoft announced the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 will take place on June 7th, featuring new information from first-party and third-party studios. Immediately following the showcase, a Gears of War: E-Day Direct will provide deeper insights into the upcoming origin story for the Gears of War saga, developed by The Coalition. The event will be broadcast globally in multiple languages.
Truxton Extreme Returns After 38 Years, Launching July 30, 2026 | Invision Game Community
Clear River Games and Tatsujin have announced that Truxton Extreme will launch on July 30, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC. This marks the first new entry in the shmup series in 38 years, featuring music and design by original creator Masahiro Yuge and a story-driven comic narrative by Junya Inoue.
Xbox Games Showcase 2026 Followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct Airs June 7 – and Xbox Fanfest Returns
Xbox will host its annual Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, featuring new titles from first-party and third-party studios. Immediately following, a "Gears of War: E-Day Direct" will offer a deep dive into the upcoming origin story of the Gears of War saga. Xbox FanFest will also return to celebrate the Xbox 25th anniversary.
New Xbox CEO reveals why she axed 'This Is An Xbox' ad campaign
New Microsoft Gaming CEO Asha Sharma has reportedly shut down the 'This Is An Xbox' advertising campaign, stating it 'didn't feel like Xbox'. The campaign, which promoted playing Xbox games without a console, was seen as confusing and potentially damaging to the brand. Sharma is leading a brand reset, with speculation of a return to exclusives.
GTA 4 "ditched" ferries because there were "too many issues," former Rockstar lead explains after a development build surfaces online from someone who accidentally bought it at a car boot sale
A former Rockstar North lead explained that ferries were cut from Grand Theft Auto 4 due to anticipated issues with collision and AI for pedestrians and vehicles. This revelation comes after a development build of the game surfaced online, reportedly purchased from a car boot sale. The build, found on an Xbox 360, is now being offered for sale by its owner.
Crimson Desert gets a new patch to start the week – here’s what it brings with it
Crimson Desert has received a new patch, version 1.01.01, primarily focused on bug fixes and gameplay smoothing for the Steam version of the PC client. The update addresses issues with mounts, enemy behavior, abilities, and UI quirks, with console and other PC platform patches to follow at a later date.
Unity sees growth in engine revenue, shuts down IronSource ad network in favour of Vector AI user-acquisition platform
Unity is shutting down its IronSource ad network and plans to divest its publishing arm to focus on its AI-powered Vector platform. This strategic shift aims to simplify the business and capitalize on growth in AI-driven user acquisition. The company also reported growth in its engine revenue despite increased competition from Unreal Engine and Godot.
