All articles tagged with #xbox
Microsoft’s Xbox is testing nostalgia-driven updates for current-gen consoles, including selectable startup animations from different generations (We Are Xbox, Xbox One, Xbox One X, and Series X|S) and an option to mute boot sounds, alongside improvements like a local search for games/achievements, profile badges, higher-bitrate Remote Play, and continued background downloads during Cloud Gaming.
Microsoft’s latest Xbox Series X|S update, currently rolling out to Xbox Insiders ahead of a wider year-end release, adds several quality-of-life features: start-up animation customization across generations, support for up to five profile badges with the option to hide badges, improved local search with access to club and achievement histories, expanded Remote Play to 1440p and higher bitrates, and cloud-play improvements that allow background downloads while streaming, plus a new Voice Clarity option to reduce background mic noise.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is launching a candid, 'clarity is kindness' plan to fix Xbox, confronting declining revenue, weak Game Pass growth, and a strategic reset aimed at returning the brand to profitability next fiscal year.
A weekly Next Week on Xbox feature previewing a broad slate of titles arriving Sept 14–18 across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Game Pass, including free-to-play and discounted releases, optimizations like Play Anywhere and Smart Delivery, and a mix of genres from racing sims to cozy puzzlers and open-world adventures.
Sony PlayStation pulled funding for Hideo Kojima’s Physint, citing budget, profitability, and exclusivity concerns along with missed deadlines, and Kojima Productions said it would seek a new partner. Kojima later said Physint would be published with Microsoft’s Xbox, with Xbox planning PC and Xbox releases and exploring film/TV rights, signaling a strategic pivot as Sony tightens its big‑budget single‑player plans and Kojima expands partnerships beyond PlayStation.
Xbox has stepped in to publish Kojima Productions’ stealth espionage game Physint after PlayStation ended its collaboration; announced in 2024, Physint features a cast including Charlee Fraser, Ma Dong-seok, and Minami Hamabe. The game is positioned after Kojima’s OD horror title for Xbox’s next‑gen Project Helix, with release likely several years away (Kojima stated in 2025 Physint could be 5–6 years from release). The publishing shift underscores Kojima’s multi‑platform, cross‑media ambitions, with Xbox hinting at broader collaboration beyond games.
Xbox will publish Physint, Hideo Kojima’s upcoming game, after Sony canceled the project. Kojima praised a shared vision with Xbox, which is already set to publish Kojima Productions’ next game OD and is pursuing cross‑media projects beyond games. Physint is described as a genre‑defining action‑espionage title but isn’t expected to launch until at least 2030, with no date yet for OD.
Xbox will publish Hideo Kojima’s Physint after Sony canceled the project, marking a major shift as Kojima Productions continues development with Microsoft and expands plans into TV and film under the broader Xbox partnership.
Microsoft confirms it will publish Hideo Kojima’s PHYSINT, the action-espionage title originally announced for PlayStation. Sony reportedly canceled the project, and Kojima Productions has chosen Xbox as its publishing partner, with cross‑media collaboration in the works. The move represents a high‑profile win for Xbox in attracting top-tier AAA development and expanding Kojima’s projects beyond PlayStation.
Microsoft is testing Xbox Insider features including selectable boot animations from past consoles (Original Xbox One, Xbox One X, and Xbox Series X/S, plus the new 'we are Xbox' boot), a local search for games and achievements, improved Remote Play up to 1440p, background cloud downloads, and clearer voice chat.
Ubisoft has started participating in Microsoft's Xbox Disc-to-Digital program, enabling digital licenses for disc-based games by inserting the disc into an Xbox console; Ubisoft titles such as Far Cry Primal, Far Cry 4, Assassin’s Creed entries, and Trials Fusion have gone live in the Alpha/Alpha Skip-Ahead testing, reversing earlier doubts about publisher support. Microsoft says the program is still in testing and notes that other publishers, including Square Enix, are expected to join as contracts are finalized, signaling a broader push to preserve access to physical games through digital rights and potentially shape future disc-free strategies.
The Verge reviews SteelSeries’ Aeon Pro wireless controller for Xbox and PC, priced at $259.99, highlighting its on-device OLED screen for switching between Xbox, PC, and Bluetooth, genre-based presets, and remapping via the controller or GG PC app. It also features a swappable-battery system with a wireless base station that can automatically swap sources, plus Hall-effect joysticks, mechanical switches, two-position trigger stops, and four rear paddles. However, the high price, absence of a zip-up case, and availability of cheaper, capable alternatives (Steam Controller, DualSense Edge, 8BitDo Ultimate 3E) make upgrading counterintuitive for most buyers.
Ubisoft and Square Enix are reportedly not participating in Microsoft’s Xbox Disc to Digital rollout, with users seeing a “Digital license unavailable” message when inserting their discs. The program, which began to roll out to Xbox Insiders on Aug. 31, aims to blend physical copies with digital features, but several major publishers appear to be opting out and neither company has commented on the absence. The situation underscores ongoing debates about which games are supported and what the program means for the future of physical versus digital gaming acquisitions.
Xbox will add 25 new games across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC next week, with a Game Pass title among them. Highlights include Halloween: The Game and Mewgenics on Sept 8, Hot Wheels Infinite Rush and The Royal Writ on Sept 10, and NHL 27 closing the week on Sept 11, along with dozens of other titles and features like achievements, wishlists, and preorders via the Microsoft Store.
Microsoft will bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to TCL TVs, expanding access without a console, but starting November imposes strict monthly playtime caps across all Game Pass tiers (Ultimate 15 hours, Premium 10 hours, Essential 5 hours), a move Microsoft argues is necessary for profitability and cost control. The cap narrows the cloud gaming window even as industry watchers note the potential of cloud gaming amid rising hardware costs, with Take-Two CEO predicting broader adoption in a few years.