Tag: xbox

Once Human Console Open Beta: Join the Supernatural Survival World on XBOX Series X|S

Posted on by faz_business


The apocalypse is calling! The wait is nearly over, Metas. Before the official launch, we are thrilled to announce the final Console Open Beta for our weird and wonderful supernatural survival game, Once Human.

Prepare to experience the apocalypse like never before. With the leap to the big screen, you can expect deeper immersion, stunning visuals on your XBOX Series X|S, and pure, unfiltered survival. More players, more chaos, and more fun await! Here is everything you need to know before you step into the supernatural monster world.

Experience the Apocalypse on the Big Screen

Survive in a supernatural apocalypse where reality has fallen apart. As a Meta-Human, you will explore a vast, Stardust-infected open world where monsters are both a threat and the key to your survival. Every expedition carries risk, but yields vital resources. Gather materials and build your ultimate territory, but be prepared to defend your home against relentless sieges.

In this world, your enemies are your greatest asset. You can capture Deviants—bizarre entities that can automate your base, gather resources, and fight by your side. Push your evolution further by hunting powerful anomalies for Mutagens. Fuse with them, mutate your body, and harness their grotesque abilities to crush anything that stands in your way. In Once Human, survival is more than just staying alive. It is about turning the unknown—and the monsters themselves—into your own power.

During this Open Beta, you’ll have access to multiple scenarios and seasons to fit your playstyle. Whether you want to learn the ropes or dive straight into hardcore challenges, the choice is yours. Available scenarios include:

  • Novice Scenario
  • Manibus
  • Endless Dream
  • The Way of Winter
  • RaidZone

(Note: Players in all scenarios except RaidZone can also experience Visional Wheel S3: Aberrant Progeny!)

Reach Level 20 & Earn Exclusive Rewards

As a massive thank-you to everyone participating in this final test, we are giving away exclusive rewards that you can bring with you into the official launch!

Reach Level 20 with any character during the beta to earn a Cosmetic Selection Crate and a Weapon Skin Selection Crate. (Note: If you only play in the RaidZone, you will need to accumulate more than 3 hours of playtime to be eligible).

Cosmetic Options (Choose 1 of 3):

  • Abyssal Dragon Set
  • Noise Manifesto Set
  • Wasteland Sheriff Set

Weapon Skin Options (Choose 1 of 3):

  • Dragon Dance – KAM
  • Reconstructed Matrix – AWS.33
  • Gem Symphony – MG4

Will my progress carry over? This Open Beta is a wipe test, meaning most of your character progress will be reset before the official launch. However, you won’t leave empty-handed! The following will permanently carry over to the full release:

✅ All earned Starchrom

✅ All cosmetics and outfits obtained

✅ Up to 6 collected Deviants

How to Join the Beta on XBOX Series X|S

This test is open globally, but spots are strictly limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the user cap is reached, the download channel may close, so be sure to secure your spot early!

To join on XBOX:

  1. Turn on your XBOX Series X|S and open the XBOX Insider Hub app (download it from the Store if you don’t have it).
  2. Navigate to the “Previews” section.
  3. Search for “Once Human” and click “Join”.
  4. You will be directed to the store page to install the game.

(If you participated in the previous Closed Beta and still have the game installed, you will receive an automatic update. If you deleted it, you can simply re-download it from your game library without needing to re-register).

Test Schedule & Important Info

Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a second of the action:

  • Pre-download Opens: June 17 at 5:00 PM PT
  • Servers Go Live: June 17 at 7:00 PM PT
  • Beta Concludes: July 8, 11:59 PM PT

A note on Cross-play: While cross-play with PC and Mobile players is not supported during this test, the console servers are unified! XBOX and PlayStation players will be able to team up and survive the apocalypse together.

We Want Your Feedback!

This final beta is crucial for us to polish the console experience before launch, and your feedback is incredibly valuable. If you run into bugs or have suggestions, please use the in-game Feedback & Customer Support menu. You can also join the dedicated tester-feedback-submit channel on the official Once Human Discord.

Gather your friends, grab your weapons, and get ready to survive the weirdness. We’ll see you in the monster world on June 17!

How to Watch the XBOX Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct on Sunday

Posted on by faz_business


This Sunday, June 7, our yearly double feature returns, offering you a look at what’s next from XBOX and our incredible partners across the world. The XBOX Games Showcase 2026 kicks off at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK, immediately followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct – presented by The Coalition, creators of the next mainline entry in one of XBOX’s most iconic franchises.

This year marks 25 years of XBOX, and this Showcase is poised to be a true celebration, offering world premieres, new gameplay, fresh updates and more for a swathe of projects we cannot wait to share. We invite you to watch live: here are all the details you need to know ahead of Sunday:

What time does XBOX Games Showcase begin? The Showcase will take place on Sunday, June 7, beginning at:

  • PDT: June 7, 10am
  • EDT: June 7, 1pm
  • BST: June 7, 6pm
  • CEST: June 7, 7pm
  • JST: June 8, 2am
  • AEST: June 8, 3am

What time does Gears of War: E-Day Direct begin? Immediately following the XBOX Games Showcase.

How do I watch the XBOX Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct? The XBOX Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct will be streamed live on official channels, including the below:

The show will also be streamed simultaneously on regional XBOX and Bethesda channels around the globe, as well as on Steam. It will also air on China’s Bilibili platform.

Is the event available in languages other than English? The XBOX Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct will be streamed live on YouTube.com/xbox with English captions, and our other live languages will be available via regional XBOX channels.

The languages we will support live on our XBOX channels are: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish and Turkish. Following the broadcast, we will add additional languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Canadian French, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Persian (Farsi), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swahili, Swedish, Thai, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. The easiest way to find your preferred language is to go to your region’s XBOX page, or by viewing on the official XBOX YouTube channel at YouTube.com/xbox and clicking the gear icon in the lower right corner.

Is XBOX Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the XBOX YouTube channel, American Sign Language (ASL) on XBOX’s YouTube channel and the /XBOXASL Twitch channel, and British Sign Language (BSL) on XBOX On’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/XBOXOn.

I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? As the broadcast runs, we’ll be publishing detailed blog posts for key announcements right here on XBOX Wire (with localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese to follow).

A full show recap will be published here on XBOX Wire immediately following the end of XBOX Games Showcase, and a separate article for Gears of War: E-Day Direct will go live after the double feature ends. Plus, stay tuned to XBOX Wire in the days following the broadcast for more deep-dives into games from the show.

Will XBOX be releasing post-show content? During the week of June 9, the Official XBOX Podcast will be airing special episodes offering deeper dives into announcements featured during XBOX Games Showcase. These shows will be published on XBOX’s YouTube channel and podcast services.

Notes for co-streamers and creators: We at XBOX greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream. For those planning to create full post-show breakdowns of the XBOX Games Showcase and/or Gears of War: E-Day Direct in the form of video-on-demand coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

We can’t wait for you to join us for the XBOX Games Showcase, followed by Gears of War: E-Day Direct on Sunday, June 7 – whether that’s online, or in-person as part of our returning FanFest event in Los Angeles!

Xbox Game Pass gets a price cut, but loses its biggest flex

Posted on by faz_business


If there’s one thing the gaming industry loves more than hype cycles, it’s a good ol’ value shake-up. And right now, Xbox Game Pass is right in the middle of one. Microsoft has officially cut prices across Game Pass tiers, making the service easier on the wallet at a time when subscription fatigue is very, very real. But, as always, there’s a twist. And it’s a big one.

The price drop that comes with a twist

Let’s get the numbers out of the way first, because they’re genuinely compelling. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has dropped from $29.99 to $22.99 per month, while PC Game Pass now costs $13.99 instead of $16.49. That’s not pocket change. Over a year, that’s a noticeable saving, especially for players juggling multiple subscriptions.

Game Pass Ultimate has become too expensive for too many players. Starting today, we’re dropping the price from $29.99 to $22.99/month.
Future Call of Duty titles will no longer join Game Pass Ultimate on day one. They will join this tier the following holiday after launch (about…

— Asha (@asha_shar) April 21, 2026

But here’s the catch. New entries from Call of Duty are no longer launching day one on the service. Instead, they’ll arrive much later, roughly a year after release. Just to be clear, older Call of Duty titles aren’t going anywhere, so the back catalog remains intact. What’s gone is the instant access to one of gaming’s biggest annual releases, which, let’s be honest, was a huge part of Game Pass’s flex.

The community is… conflicted

The reaction? Exactly as chaotic as expected. There’s a sizable chunk of genuinely relieved players. You see, not everyone subscribes to Game Pass for Call of Duty, and for those users, this feels like getting a discount without losing anything meaningful. If COD wasn’t part of the weekly rotation anyway, the lower price is a straight-up win.

Then there’s the other side. For a lot of players, Game Pass built its reputation on the idea of “pay once, play everything day one.” Losing a flagship franchise from that promise feels like a crack in the foundation. It’s not just about Call of Duty; it’s about what this could mean going forward.

Microsoft just lowered Game Pass prices while quietly removing Call of Duty Day One launches.

They’re charging you less for a worse product and calling it ‘a response to feedback’.

Don’t fall for the trap.

It’s a downgrade disguised as marketing. pic.twitter.com/xn7dFQmcvw

— Yorch Torch Games (@YorchTorchGames) April 21, 2026

And then comes the third wave of takes, arguably the most interesting. Some fans are now asking if Microsoft should go even further and start trimming other bundled perks like EA Play or Fortnite Crew to reduce prices even more.

The thinking is simple. If removing one expensive piece lowers the cost, why not customize the whole thing?

Why Microsoft drew the line here

Here’s where the conversation shifts from emotional to practical. Call of Duty isn’t just another title in a catalog. It’s a yearly blockbuster with a massive, loyal player base that often buys the game regardless of subscriptions. That creates a strange value mismatch. Either players were going to pay for it anyway, or they didn’t care about it much in the first place.

Xbox gave up more than $300 million in sales of Call of Duty on consoles and PCs last year – Bloomberg

From Microsoft’s perspective, that makes it an incredibly expensive inclusion with limited upside. Worse, it likely eats into direct sales, turning what should be a revenue driver into a cost center. And while some fans are calling for more cuts, like removing EA Play, it’s not so simple. Game Pass thrives on being an all-in-one ecosystem. Start unbundling too much, and it risks turning into a fragmented, pick-and-pay service that loses its identity.

With Microsoft even exploring bundling services like Netflix into Game Pass, stripping away more perks would start to chip away at its whole “all-in-one” appeal. At that point, it’s not a powerhouse bundle anymore; it’s just a menu with items missing.

The End of “Too Good to Be True”?

For years, Xbox Game Pass felt like a cheat code. Day-one AAA games, a massive library, and a price that almost didn’t make sense. But eventually, reality caught up. Keeping a giant like Call of Duty in that mix from day one was always going to be expensive, and more importantly, unsustainable.

Characters from some of Xbox Game Pass' featured games.
Microsoft

And honestly, this change feels like Microsoft finally admitting that. Instead of hiking prices even further, they’ve trimmed one of the costliest perks and made the service more accessible again. It’s not perfect, and sure, some fans will miss the old days, but this feels less like a downgrade and more like a smart reset. Not as flashy, but a lot more built to last.

Nomori’s Ghibli-Inspired Aesthetic Belies a Mind-Bending Portal Puzzler

Posted on by faz_business


If you love games that challenge your perception and reward thinking outside of the box, upcoming physics puzzler Nomori may be right up your alley. At the recent ID@Xbox event at GDC, I was able to play through the demo and chat with Studio Director Marnix Licht, who leads Enchanted Works’ small remote team distributed across the Netherlands.

In Nomori you play Kiko, a young girl who, in classic folktale form, gets sidetracked on the way to her grandmother’s house. Soon she finds herself lost in a whimsical spirit world of floating islands populated with friendly mushrooms, giant talking cats, and the like. It’s all drawn from Japanese folklore, particularly via the beloved work of animation legend Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, like “Spirited Away” and “Princess Mononoke.”

Nomori screenshot

That extremely cozy and inviting surface belies a much trickier puzzle design, however. Licht told me that one of their core observations at the start of development was that often a game with gentle vibes has similarly gentle puzzle mechanics. They supposed that many people might like a game with a cozy aesthetic, but far trickier and more nuanced underlying gameplay, akin to Portal, which is a comparison that will shortly become obvious.

Initially the challenge is simple navigation and platforming, making your way across a series of floating islands that are connected by fixed portals. The first twist comes when you find that portals maintain orientation, so the direction of gravity when you enter will be the same for you wherever you exit. So, for instance, you can step through a portal at the bottom of a cliff face and emerge through a perpendicularly oriented portal onto that cliff as your new ground.

“If Portal is all about conservation of momentum, Nomori is about conservation of orientation,” Licht told me. He also brought up the work of surrealist illustrator M.C. Escher as a big and obvious inspiration for this relativistic relationship to space.

Nomori screenshot

The next major element introduced is a large, friendly gelatinous cube with bunny ears called a Slimebun. You can pick it up and telekinetically move it around with your Wind Grasp ability to use as a mobile platform and as a key to open the door to the next island. Invoking Portal again, Licht called it “the ultimate companion cube.” Eventually, you can also reverse its direction in time, scrubbing it back and forth along its previous path like with Link’s Recall ability in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, creating a moving platform for your traversal.

The moment that really made me lean forward and recognize what this game has cooking was when Kiko could start rotating the portals in 90-degree increments, changing the orientation at which you came out (and thus the direction of gravity when you did). I’d been breezing through the introductory puzzles to this point, but suddenly I had to start rotating the space in my mind like a Rubik’s Cube and just ended up doing a lot more experimentation.

Nomori screenshot

The Slimebun has a sloshing layer of liquid on its bottom and bunny ears on top, which are important cues for making its orientation obvious. This is crucial because Wind Grasp lets you send it through portals without you, bringing it out nearby with a different direction of gravity than you, for instance turning it falling down into your elevator ride up. This gets even more complicated with moving it back and forth in time, since its path (helpfully represented in the world with a dotted line) retains orientation to the Slimebun and not the environment, so you can use that in conjunction with rotating portals to do some tricky things.

By grounding the world in consistent (but interesting) physics and giving you a growing array of open-ended tools, Nomori increasingly allows for multiple solutions to its problems as it goes on and grows in complexity, which can give you that delicious feeling that you’ve outsmarted the game for coming up with something that doesn’t seem intended. Licht and team have rewarded this directly by placing Kodamas (collectible spirits) based on spots their playtesters have managed to reach that they hadn’t initially intended to be accessible.

Nomori screenshot

Nomori is charming and thoughtful, and I’m now very excited to see all the directions its relativistic portal puzzling goes across the whole game when it comes to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC later this year, with support for Xbox Play Anywhere.

Official Xbox Podcast: GDC Indie Games Deep Dive

Posted on by faz_business


The post Official Xbox Podcast: GDC Indie Games Deep Dive appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox’s leadership shakeup and Samsung’s Galaxy S26

Posted on by faz_business


This week, we’re diving into the big changes at Xbox and what it all means for Microsoft’s gaming future. Phil Spencer, the longtime face of Xbox, announced he’s retiring last week. He’ll be replaced by Microsoft’s former CoreAI CEO Asha Sharma, instead of his longtime deputy Sarah Bond, who plans to leave the company. Will this change actually help the beleaguered Xbox division, or is it another example of Microsoft shoving AI into everything?

Also, Samsung held its latest Unpacked event this week to announce its new Galaxy S26 family. They look pretty much the same as last year, but the Ultra model includes a unique privacy feature that can instantly make the screen unreadable to bystanders. It’s one of those features we expect to see in every phone eventually.

Subscribe!

Topic

  • Xbox leadership falls apart. what happens next with Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond out? – 1:53

  • Samsung Unpacked: Privacy display on the S26 Ultra looks amazing – 27:27

  • U.S. Defense leadership gives Anthropic a Friday deadline to let it use Claude as it sees fit – 42:38

  • MrBeast editor accused of insider trading on Kalshi – 50:40

  • Discord delays age verification program after user revolt – 54:09

  • Around Engadget – 1:04:04

  • Pop culture picks – 1:08:21

Credits

Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Igor Bonifacic
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien

Overwatch: The New Year-Long Narrative, Explained

Posted on by faz_business


Summary

  • Overwatch narrative lead Miranda Moyer tells us more about The Reign of Talon: the first complete, year-long story arc for Overwatch. 
  • The new narrative launches with immediate global conflict as Talon challenges Overwatch, and will introduce 10 new heroes, each woven directly into the unfolding story. 
  • Get ready for an Overwatch story that keeps you at the edge of your seat, with non-stop action, evolving characters, and plot twists. 

Today, Blizzard’s Overwatch Spotlight announced the start of an exciting new story‑driven era for Overwatch, highlighted by a year-long narrative arc called The Reign of Talon, all‑new UI/UX design, and much more. Be sure to check out the full video for all of the details. As an extra treat, we’re joined by Lead Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer to dive deeper into what this new story‑driven chapter means for Overwatch. 

For the first time in Overwatch’s history, we’re telling a complete story.   

I don’t say that lightly. Over the past decade, Overwatch’s narrative has been about possibility – introductions, hints, and setups. We’ve met heroes, discovered conflicts, and learned just enough to know there was something bigger happening beyond the edges of the screen. But this year, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: telling a story with a clear beginning, middle… and yes, an end.  

That means things move. When something happens in the world of Overwatch now, it doesn’t sit untouched. Objectives are set, and met. You’ll see outcomes unfold across seasons. We’re finally seeing payoff for parts of the Overwatch world that you’ve maybe wondered about for years. This evolving story will be brought to life through a variety of mediums – including Hero Trailers, motion comics, and more – so you can experience each chapter in unique ways. All these pieces will be available on our dedicated narrative viewer, organized in chapters that guide you through the year’s epic narrative.  

Overwatch Concept Art

At the center of this year’s Overwatch narrative is a global conflict that’s impossible to ignore. Vendetta has seized control of Talon, overthrowing Doomfist and rejecting the clandestine nature in which he operated. Where Talon once skulked in the shadows, Vendetta believes in acting loudly, decisively, and without restraint. Her goal is explicit: she wants the world, and she believes Overwatch is the only force standing in her way. Because of that, we’re not winding up to conflict: we’re starting with it. Talon strikes early, attempting to remove Overwatch from the equation.

What’s fresh about the way we’re telling this story is how deeply our heroes are embedded in it. Every new character plays a direct role in the narrative. Those new faces are also a great vehicle to continue the stories of established ones. We’re touching so many parts of the world of Overwatch, and the more stories we develop, the more opportunities we’ll have to progress the journeys of heroes both new and longstanding.

One of the biggest highlights for Overwatch this year is the introduction of 10 new heroes. In Season 1, which begins February 10, you’ll meet five of them at once: each with their own narrative thread which helps set the tone for what’s to come. 

  • Domina operates on the edges of Talon’s chaos, not publicly aligned with Vendetta (for fear of unsavory headlines), but more than willing to profit from the destruction she causes.
  • Emre is caught in a far more dangerous position, coerced into cooperation under the threat of catastrophic loss.
  • Mizuki finds himself torn between old obligations and the people who have become his family. 
  • Anran enters the fight on Overwatch’s side, driven and connected to the story in deeply personal ways.  
Overwatch Concept Art
  • And then there’s Jetpack Cat, a long-running meme turned mobile support. She’s worth keeping an eye on, both for the future of her curious tale (tail?), as well as to make sure she isn’t knocking anything off counters. 

This year’s narrative is about convergence—threads coming together, tensions peaking, and long-running questions colliding in ways that matter. Both established and new heroes will see movement in their stories, evolving amid this conflict. For Overwatch, this is the most ambitious narrative we’ve taken on. Each piece builds on the last, pushing characters and conflicts forward. 

Join us on this new journey, and jump into Season 1 on February 10 and see it unfold for yourself. 


Overwatch® 2

Overwatch® 2

Blizzard Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
2000

★★★★★

Xbox One X Enhanced

Xbox Game Pass

Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

Overwatch 2 – Season 20: Vendetta

Give the Gift of Vengeance

Embrace the season in a flurry of festivity with a new DPS Hero, Winter Wonderland modes, holiday event, merry Mythics, and more!

Season 20 carves a cold path with Vendetta, the ruthless new melee DPS villain fueled by ambition and revenge. But it’s not all frosty edges—celebrate the holidays in the return of Winter Wonderland! Make some merry Mischief & Magic on a whimsical new wintery map, with a midway mode twist where the props fight back in Mischief & Magic Wonderland. Earn Winter Tokens through the Winter Wonderland event to unlock festive holiday skins for Tracer, Junkrat, and Torbjörn, then step into Stadium for a fresh map with new Heroes, updates, and prizes. Top it all off with Mythic Divine Desperado Cassidy and Orisa’s Mythic Capsule Cannon packing a cascade of cheer, plus more frosty skins as you jingle all the way through Battle Pass tiers. ‘Tis the season to deck your enemies’ halls, claim your vengeance, and unwrap your rewards!

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, and More

Posted on by faz_business


Welcome to the new year, friends! Happy to be back with more games and more fun. Let’s get to it!

Available Today

Brews & Bastards (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Brews & Bastards is an intoxicating, twin-stick shooter, overflowing with action-packed combat, potent brews and outlandish bosses. Select from a group of inebriated heroes and descend, drink, and destroy your way through hordes of drunken demons in search of the stolen Brew Stone.

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Rediscover the dark whimsical tale of Little Nightmares, now enhanced in stunning 4K and 60 FPS. Play as Six, a lone child trapped in The Maw, a massive vessel inhabited by monstrous, distorted versions of adults. Sneak, hide, and survive in a world where your childhood fears come to life.

Coming Soon

Atomfall (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England. Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die blends dynamic real-time action, tactical combat, and risk-reward dice mechanics for thrilling second-to-second battles. Unravel an original stand-alone story as Queen Aleksandra, the once great ruler of Random on a mission for vengeance and redemption.

Rematch (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

Step onto the pitch in Rematch, a third-person, team-based football game where every pass, volley, and tackle matters. Designed for 5v5 online play, Rematch puts you in full control of one athlete, with no offsides, no fouls, and no downtime. Pass smart, play with purpose, and win together.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enhanced for a new generation, this edition brings quality of life and graphical improvements.

Final Fantasy – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – January 8
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

“Earth, fire, water, wind… The light that once shone within the four Crystals was lost. Become the Warriors of Light, restore power to the Crystals and save the world.” A remodeled 2D take on the first game in the world-renowned Final Fantasy series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. All the magic of the original, with improved ease of play.

Star Wars Outlaws Key Art

Star Wars Outlaws (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game, set between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 15
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Take the magic of friendship to new heights in a mystery adventure for one or two ponies. Playing as Sunny, Hitch, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp, or Misty, use your special abilities to stop the unstable magic that’s sending Zephyr Heights out of control! And have tons of fun with hilarious minigames and countless pony customizations. 

Resident Evil Village Key Art

Resident Evil Village (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 20
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in the Resident Evil series. Set years after Resident Evil 7 biohazard, players follow Ethan Winters into a haunting European village, fighting for survival against brutal enemies as danger and mystery lurk around every corner.

MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 20
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.

Leaving January 15

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to tie up any loose ends, or save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!

  • Flintlock The Siege of Dawn (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
  • Neon White (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
  • Road 96 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
  • The Ascent (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
  • The Grinch Christmas Adventures (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)

I hope your last year treated you well with lots of high scores, achievements unlocked, and GGs. We’ll be back soon with even more games so keep it tuned here, or with us on social for Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. Talk soon!

Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.



From Our Worlds to Yours: Thank You for an Incredible 2025

Posted on by faz_business


What would you like to say to your players after releasing Ninja Gaiden 4 this year?

Our deepest thanks to everyone who has played the game, from the Master Ninjas who have been supporting the series for a long time, to those who are playing the series for the first time! Our days were spent developing the game so that players can enjoy the series’ signature intensity and a variety of actions to overcome difficult situations, so I’m happy if you experienced even a bit of the game! I think the flavor of the action really comes through the more you play it, so please continue to enjoy the different characteristics of the two Master Ninjas, Yakumo and Ryu! – Hirayama

To everyone who has supported Ninja Gaiden over the years, and to those how have started playing the series from this entry, thank you for playing the game. I enjoy watching your gameplay videos and comments on social media every day. In this game, we aimed for the revival of pure action that transcends time, and the three companies put everything into developing it. The action is really exciting and it’s a stoically made game, so those of you who have played the game please continue to thoroughly study it… and those who haven’t played it yet, I’ll be thrilled if you give this feel good slash action a try! – Nakao

How does it feel to have the game out there after development?

First of all, to be able to deliver a new numbered title in the series after 13 years is something that our entire team is truly happy about. We continuously debated and adjusted the game towards its launch, and once it was released it felt like it passed in an instant so I didn’t feel anything immediately, but as I saw social posts and videos being posted every day, little by little I began to feel joy. – Hirayama

For our development team, there are many members who, during the golden age of slash action games, were players or were involved as developers. So, while we had confidence in the game itself, I felt more nervous and excited than I have ever been before. And my current feeling is of relief, since the action has been well received. – Nakao

Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?

For a long time, we were in the dark while developing this game but seeing everyone playing and reacting to it at gaming events was a big driving force in development, and we made use of it in the final adjustments towards launch. Thank you again for your support! Post-launch, we are checking every single piece of feedback, so please look forward to future in-game updates! – Hirayama

Although I’ve mentioned it several times, we’ve been receiving a lot of feedback that, “the action definitely feels good!”, and it’s the part we’ve put our most effort into, so I am extremely happy that everyone is pleased with it. In this game we’ve taken the big challenge of mixing the best parts of Ninja Gaiden with the best parts of PlatinumGames’ action, so nothing makes me happier than hearing everyone enjoying the action. – Nakao

What is your studio most looking forward to in 2026?

We are really looking forward to everyone playing “The Two Masters,” the additional content currently in development! In addition to new weapons for Yakumo and Ryu, we are planning on an additional story and other replayable content. We’re working hard to deliver it as soon as we can, so please wait a little bit longer! – Hirayama

There are many games coming out next year, and as always, several action games will be released, so as an action game maker we are looking forward to seeing these games. For us, in 2026 we are planning to release additional content for Ninja Gaiden 4, “The Two Masters,” which we are currently hard at work developing. Not only is there content such as a new story, but above all the new weapons for each character will provide a new play experience unlike any of the previous weapons, so we hope you look forward to it! – Nakao

[Back to Top]


NINJA GAIDEN 4 Standard Edition
Xbox Play Anywhere

NINJA GAIDEN 4 Standard Edition

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
447

★★★★★


$69.99

$48.99

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.

Return of the Legend
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.

Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.

An Ancient Enemy Returns
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.

Lords of the Fallen II: Introducing the Bosses Revealed in the First Ever Gameplay Trailer

Posted on by faz_business


Summary

  • Lords of the Fallen II revealed its first gameplay trailer at The Game Awards 2025.
  • Find out more about three new bosses included in the trailer in our article.
  • The final major patch for Lords of the Fallen (2023) is also now live, bringing major updates – including a new Veteran Mode.

The next chapter in this dark fantasy saga is gathering strength. Revealed today at The Game Awards, we unveiled the first ever gameplay trailer for Lords of the Fallen II, the long-awaited new soulslike RPG, arriving in 2026.

The trailer offers a first glimpse at three colossal bosses, a host of new foes, refined combat, and story-driven moments that pull players deeper into the battle-scarred land of Axiom. Cinematic glimpses of torment are woven with brutal combat, giving a glimpse of the merciless journey ahead, in a world sharpened by suffering, shaped by ruin, and ready to strike back.

Bosses are a huge part of Lords of the Fallen II so, once you’ve watched the trailer, join us as we break down the Heartroot Warden, Koydreth, and Lingao, the Souring Storm, as well as some of the smaller enemies you’ll meet in between.

Strange New Foes

The trailer opens with the Dark Crusader stepping toward a four-armed horror with a hollowed head and a chest glowing with an eternal flame. This creature is the Ashen Skin Stealer, a new Rhogar foe born for dueling. These inhuman hunters carve and collect human skin as treasured trophies, though none know where this grotesque ritual began. They fight with single minded ferocity and take pleasure in the slaughter of their enemies.

Moments later, a knight in horned armour hurls himself across the arena with crushing force. This is a Heartroot Warden, the first of the three bosses revealed. His attacks are relentless and heavy, driven by a chain-wrapped great sword that punishes hesitation. Only the most honoured Trelisi warriors were chosen for the sacred rite that twisted them into these undying guardians, their bodies fused within enchanted armour and stripped of humanity.

Through trickery and evasion, a winged figure slips through a rune etched mirror. This is Koydreth, once the respected leader of the Crescent Host. He is the second boss introduced. Cursed for a sin so grave it reshaped him in body and spirit, he now rules the skies with a monstrous elegance. He moves like a predator, both majestic and savage.

The Dark Crusader then stands before a vast draconic head. Lightning splits the air as its jaws descend. This is Lingao, the Souring Storm, the third and final boss revealed. Lingao commands the fury of the skies, wielding wind and lightning with terrifying speed. His massive frame sweeps across the battlefield, attacking from every direction.

Elsewhere we witness the player fire a crossbow bolt into a frenzied attacker. This is the Man of Letters, once a scholar, now a feral shell consumed by Umbral corruption. They charge with no thought for survival, driven only by blind hostility.

Then emerges the Hysteric, wearing a wicked grin and carrying twin axes in elongated arms. Wild, erratic, and constantly shifting their style, they keep players guessing with every strike.

These foes are only the beginning. Each is bound to the histories, cultures, and tragedies that have shaped Axiom. With Lords of the Fallen II, the team at CI Games has pushed enemy design further than ever before.

Lords of the Fallen: New Veteran Mode

Today, Lords of the Fallen also receives its final major update, Version 2.5. This patch introduces extensive behavior upgrades to bosses, mini bosses, and enemies throughout Mournstead across both Normal and the new Veteran Mode. Veteran Mode heightens the challenge further, granting bosses new attack patterns, swifter transitions, and far more unpredictable assault chains. Several boss weapons have also been reforged with new signature animations.

Coming Next Year

Launching in 2026, Lords of the Fallen II aims to deliver a darker, more demanding experience than anything we’ve made before. With evolved combat, fearsome new bosses, and a world swallowed by ruin, the sequel promises to test the resolve of every player.

For Xbox fans, this marks a powerful evolution of the franchise. Greater threats, deadlier encounters, and more strategic combat await those willing to brave the horrors rising within Axiom.


Lords of the Fallen II

Lords of the Fallen II

CI Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Realm by realm, nation after nation, the Umbral darkness consumed all in Her path. Now, over 1,000 years later, only one Kingdom remains; a sacred land, shrouded by an ancient force. Or so it was…

Stolen by the Gods themselves, mankind is left forsaken, defenceless against the darkness. Unless this force is restored, the shadow of death will devour all. But how do you kill… an immortal?

A hero must rise, for a God to fall.

Explore a Broken World
Journey across a vast, war-torn kingdom crumbling from within, as the realms of living and dead begin to bleed into one. From moonlit citadels to time-ravaged temples, tread carefully, for each step forward may well be your last.

Master Tactical Combat
Engage in intense, soulslike battles where every strike counts thanks to a fast, fluid and aggressive combat system. Whether steel or sorcery, melee or ranged, experiment with countless builds to overcome each unique enemy encounter before delivering an arena-drenching execution.

Battle Monstrous Bosses
Confront colossal abominations forged in a world without hope and void of mercy. Each distinct showdown will prove a brutal test of skill, grit, and unyielding will. Though aid is at hand, should you seek it…

Harness the Umbral
As bearer of the Umbral lamp, you have the ability to pass between the realms of the living and the dead, each with its own pathways, treasures, and of course, nightmarish creatures. But even greater, darker powers await you on this journey…