Latest news with #GamePass
Geek Culture
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Founding Xbox Member Says Company's Hardware Ambitions Are "Dead"
Laura Fryer, one of the original founding members of Xbox, has reflected on her time with the company and lamented its current roadmap, claiming that its hardware ambitions are 'dead'. In the latest video on her YouTube channel titled 'The Future of Xbox', Fryer spoke on her years at the company shipping the original 2001 Xbox console and 2005's Xbox 360, and reflected on Xbox's latest hardware collaboration, the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally gaming handheld, questioning the appeal of the device and what this means for the future of the company. 'There is literally no reason to buy this handheld,' she remarked, 'Obviously, as one of the founding members of the Xbox team, I'm not pleased with where things are today. I don't love watching all of the value that I helped create slowly get eroded away. I'm sad because, from my perspective, it looks like Xbox has no desire – or literally can't – ship hardware anymore.' 'So, this partnership is about a slow exit from the hardware business completely. Personally, I think Xbox hardware is dead.' Fryer then touched upon Xbox's current focus, its Game Pass subscription service, which provides gamers with an extensive library of titles for a monthly fee. Xbox has seemingly doubled down on this service, with recent big-name releases like Doom: The Dark Ages , Indiana Jones and the Great Circle , and even highly anticipated upcoming titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 or Wuchang: Fallen Feathers due out day one on Game Pass. 'Maybe it will work,' Fryer added, questioning what the company's long-term strategy is, 'Xbox has a deep portfolio… they can continue to outsource that work to external companies and make a lot of money releasing their older games – older games from an era when Xbox knew how to build them. But what is the long-term plan? Where are the new hits? What will make people care about the Xbox 25 years from now?' 'Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the Xbox, and I'm sure that they will have some big announcements and plans for honouring the milestone. Maybe next year is the year. Maybe next year is the year that the fog will clear, and all of us will see the beauty in these latest announcements. I guess we'll just have to wait and see…' And wait and see we shall, as the future of Xbox isn't looking too bright at the moment, with the company slowly losing console game exclusives in favour of moving to a multiplatform format, such as releasing its games on the Nintendo Switch 2, further reducing the appeal of buying an Xbox especially considering recent price hikes for its consoles and games. True to Fryer's words, Xbox seems to be focused on hardware collaborations at the moment rather than first-party devices, as apart from the ROG Xbox Ally, the company also recently released the Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition VR headset, so it remains to be seen if this will be their strategy moving forward, or if Xbox is just biding time until the next major console announcement. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. game pass ROG Xbox Ally Xbox
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Pick Your Lane': Former Xbox Execs Question Its Current Strategy
Xbox The industry is bracing for a number of reported, upcoming Xbox layoffs, coming in the wake of enormous transformations for the brand, many of which may not be panning out as anticipated. All these changes and the current state of Xbox have caused a few former executives to chime in about the situation. The first is Laura Fryer, who posted a 13-minute video titled 'The Future of Xbox' talking about the issues. Fryer is a former Xbox executive and part of the team that made the original Xbox console. Here's what she said about hardware specifically: 'It's one year from the 25th anniversary of the Xbox, and it looks like they're abandoning pretty much everything that made the Xbox brand great in the first place,' said Fryer. 'Let's start with the handheld announcement. I've seen mixed reactions and that has me really puzzled because I don't see any reason why anyone would buy this piece of hardware. Just like the original Xbox, it's built on Windows, a slimmed-down version of Windows, but it's still Windows. So, this isn't something new.' 'There is literally no reason to buy this handheld. Obviously, as one of the founding members of the Xbox team, I'm not pleased with where things are today. I don't love watching all of the value that I helped create slowly get eroded away. I'm sad because, from my perspective, it looks like Xbox has no desire or literally can't ship hardware anymore. So, this partnership is about a slow exit from the hardware business completely. Personally, I think Xbox hardware is dead. The plan appears to be to just drive everybody to Game Pass.' FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder Within a day, the former corporate VP of Xbox and ex-Activision Blizzard head Mike Ybarra also chimed in on Twitter: "Tough to see Xbox confused about who it is and what it should be. Some great people there still. They have to figure out what needs to change …. and fast. I'm a big fan and will always bleed green. Cheering the team on from the sidelines. Pick your lane and stick to it." Then, responding to a fan about the 'everything is an Xbox' strategy: 'You're drinking the Kool-Aid. You ask anyone on the street what Xbox is and 99% of the time they say a video game console. That is the identity. Period.' Even current Xbox executives like Phil Spencer have said that Xbox has lost the console war, which is why they're pursuing these new avenues of cross-platform game distribution, cloud streaming and a fundamental push of Xbox Game Pass. But from the outside, it's easy to see all the holes in this, including the ones mentioned by Fryer and Ybarra. Microsoft has started branding non-Xbox hardware as Xbox-adjacent, like the handheld, and now a recent, temporary VR partnership. They rely on pushing the cloud streaming concept to other devices. They have jacked up prices of Xboxes so high in the wake of tariffs that it's almost like they don't want to move hardware. They maintain they will still make another console generation after this one and have already been teasing it, but other aspects of this strategy, giving most or all first-party games to PlayStation and pushing Game Pass eternally which is clearly running into a subscription ceiling, resulting in major problems that are easy to spot. But it's even more pointed if this is something if even former executives are calling this out. Hopefully these imminent layoffs are not going to be as bad as predicted, and it's clear something needs to change. Again. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
CNET
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Xbox Brought These Call of Duty and Warcraft Games to Game Pass in June
The Call of Duty franchise got its start as a first-person shooter set during World War II. Game Pass subscribers can now return to that war and take part in historical battles in Call of Duty: WWII. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a CNET Editors' Choice award pick, offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC or mobile device for $20 a month. A subscription gives you access to a large library of games, with new titles, including Doom: The Dark Ages, added monthly, plus other benefits such as online multiplayer and deals on non-Game Pass titles. Read more: Play Classic Games From the '80s and '90s on Xbox Game Pass Now Here are all the games Microsoft is bringing to Game Pass soon. You can also check out all the titles the company added to the service in May, like Metaphor: ReFantazio. Call of Duty: WWII Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play now. Land in Normandy on D-Day and battle across Europe in this Call of Duty game. You'll trade in some of the more modern gadgets and guns from the Modern Warfare and Black Ops games for grease guns and classic carbines in this game from 2017. You'll also experience the bonds of camaraderie, the unforgiving nature of war and more as you fight against the Nazis. Warcraft 1: Remastered (PC) Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. Microsoft Get ready to experience the war between orcs and humans that shook Azeroth more than 30 years ago. You decide whether to defend humanity or seek to destroy it playing this real-time strategy game. This version of the classic game features enhanced controls, widescreen battles and more updates so you can enjoy this game on modern hardware. Warcraft 2: Remastered (PC) Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. Blizzard After playing the original Warcraft game, you can hop into the sequel. You'll captain your own fleet and explore far-off lands for this real-time strategy game that delves even further into the war between orcs and humans. This updated version includes modernized controls, new visuals and more fresh features. Warcraft 3: Reforged (PC) Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. After playing the first and second Warcraft games, why not play the third installment? This game introduces two new races of armies to command: the Night Elves and the Undead. Build massive armies, relive epic battles and explore huge campaigns in this real-time strategy game filled with overhauled visuals and contemporary social and matchmaking features. Star Trucker New to Game Pass Standard. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have been able to play this interstellar hauling game since September, and now Game Pass Standard subscribers can enjoy it as well. Haul cargo, trade items with other truckers and explore the ultimate open road -- outer space. Take the driver's seat in a rocket-powered big rig and cruise the hyperhighways as you deliver cargo across the galaxy. Customize your rig, gossip on your CB radio with other truckers and enjoy your view of the stars. Wildfrost New to Game Pass Standard. Microsoft brought this to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in January, and now the company is bringing it to Game Pass Standard customers. An endless winter has blanketed the world and to banish it, you need to build the perfect deck to battle the evil forces across the cold land. You'll rescue and recruit frozen companions and uncover treasure in the frozen tundra. The deck you build is influenced by the path you take, so choose carefully. Rematch Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. Tackle, dribble and score in this team-based football game (or soccer, depending on your locale). This game was designed for 5v5 online multiplayer matches where players control a single athlete. That means you'll have to coordinate and plan with the rest of your team if you want to win. And with no player stats to give one person an advantage over another, coordination is the key to success. Volcano Princess Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can play now. This game is technically a social simulation game, but you can also call it a parenting game. You're the king of the Volcano Kingdom, and after your wife dies, you have to raise your daughter alone. That means it's up to you to ensure she has everything she needs to grow. You'll explore new hobbies with her, show her court etiquette and watch as she grows and matures. Against the Storm (console and cloud) Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play now. You have to rebuild civilization after apocalyptic rains brought it all down in this dark fantasy city builder. But instead of focusing on helping a single city or community, in this game, you must build a network of interconnected settlements made of different races to prosper. You'll need to figure out how to make the humans, beavers, harpies, lizards and foxes coexist, or they will all perish. Little Nightmares 2 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play on July 1. "Charming" and "horror" are not usually paired together to describe anything, but those two words work nicely to talk about Little Nightmares. You play as a little boy named Mono who finds a girl locked in a basement. The two of you will work together to open trapdoors, climb huge furniture and survive the terrors of the Pale City. Rise of the Tomb Raider Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass and Game Pass Standard subscribers can play on July 1. This one is returning to Game Pass a few months after Microsoft removed it from the service. This is the second entry in the Survival trilogy of the popular franchise, and it follows Lara Croft as she searches for the legendary city of Kitezh. You'll use stealth and your wits to traverse environments without being noticed by enemies on Croft's first tomb raiding expedition. Games that left Game Pass While Microsoft is set to add those games to Game Pass soon, the company removed six others from the service. So you will have to buy these games separately now if you need to finish your campaign or any sidequests. For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, read our hands-on review of the gaming service and learn which Game Pass plan is right for you. You can also check out what to know about upcoming Xbox game price hikes.
Digital Trends
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 new Game Pass games to play this weekend (June 27-29)
It may be hard to believe, but it is already the end of June. This was quite an exciting month, what with Summer Game Fest and the Xbox Games Showcase giving us a great look at some upcoming Xbox Series X games. Tons of those reveals are also going to be coming to Game Pass, but we're still a ways away from most of them. Never fear, though, because Xbox isn't slowing down the cadence of adding fresh new titles to the service for us to enjoy. This month, I think you'll be pleasently surprised by the variety of titles on offer. Whether you're an old-school gamer, indie lover, or want an addictive game to play with friends, I have the best new Game Pass games you should play this weekend right here. Rematch Coming from the team that brought us Sifu, Rematch might seem like a big departure for the studio. However, I find it perfectly lines up with its mentality of making simple but mechanically satisfying controls — only now you're playing soccer instead of fighting. There aren't a ton of moves or any crazy twists here, but that's what makes it so great. The handful of maneuvers you do get have hide a deceptivly high skill ceiling for players who want to master them. If you don't, that's no problem. It is a perfectly enjoyable soccer game to play casually with friends as well. This was a day one addition on Game Pass last week technically but I'm still hooked on it and had to give it a shoutout this weekend. Recommended Videos Rematch is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Warcraft I, II, and III Remastered I feel incredibly old saying this, but it is very likely that a lot of you out there never knew Warcraft before it was an MMORPG. But, over 20 years ago, this series was the king of the RTS genre and that classic trilogy has been fully remastered and are all now available to play on Game Pass. The first game is a bit archaic and clunky, even with the new coat of paint, but still a charming and fun bit of history to experience. The second and third games, though, are still masterpieces to this day. The campaigns are epic and filled with lore WoW fans may have only read about. Warcraft III: Reforged did launch in a rough shape for fans, but thankfully has been fully updated with improved graphics, UI, functionality, and more. Warcraft I: Remastered, Warcraft II: Remastered, and Warcraft III: Reforged are available now on PC. Volcano Princess If you're looking for a more chill vibe this weekend, I have just the game for you. Volcano Princess comes from a Chinese studio and tasks you with preparing the your child to one day rule the kingdom. You will build up her stats by getting her new hobbies, helping her study, train in combat, and interact with the townspeople. It has a disarmingly cute art style and characters and wholesome tone that will instantly grip any simulation fan. This game has already been out on PC for over 2 years now but this will be its console debute so any issues it may have had have already been ironed out. Nothing can prepare you for being a parent in real life, but this is a fun facimily. Volcano Princess is available now on Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Saudi Gazette
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
A new collaboration between Ubisoft and Xbox Game Pass to support Rainbow Six Siege X and BLAST R6 esports
The ES Times — Ubisoft has officially announced an exciting partnership with Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's popular subscription platform. This partnership spans the entire 2025 season and includes integrated support for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X and the BLAST R6 esports program. A strong start in Rio de Janeiro The partnership kicks off during Reload 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, the first competitive stop for Rainbow Six Siege X. From now on, fans can expect advanced integration of Game Pass into several key moments of the BLAST R6 season. Among these moments are the November Major and the Six Invitational 2026, where players will notice a distinct presence of the Game Pass brand. Community events and exclusive experiences Throughout the season, Ubisoft and Xbox Game Pass will offer special community activities and dedicated play areas during major esports tournaments. Additionally, players will be able to meet their favorite content creators through exclusive sessions and unique giveaways. As a player who has been following the series for years, I find these initiatives give us, the community, closer opportunities to interact and participate. Special benefits for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers Starting June 2025, Game Pass Ultimate members will receive unique benefits in Rainbow Six Siege X. New offers will also be released continuously throughout the season to celebrate major competitive milestones. While these benefits will launch with Ultimate subscribers, the plan is to expand this support to a broader segment of users in the future. Official statements confirm the importance of the collaboration. François-Xavier Daniel, Ubisoft's Vice President of Esports, said: "We are excited to work with Game Pass to enhance the entire experience within Rainbow Six Siege X. Thanks to BLAST's support, we have the means to deliver enhanced features and premium content to a global audience." Chris Lee, Vice President of Xbox, added: "Our goal is to deliver even more value to Game Pass subscribers around the world. Partnering with Rainbow Six Siege is a strong step in that direction." More details coming soon Additional content, new events, and in-game surprises will be revealed throughout the 2025 esports season.
