Latest news with #XboxGames
The Verge
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
The Outer Worlds 2 will no longer be Microsoft's first $80 Xbox game
Microsoft-owned developer Obsidian Entertainment is announcing a price drop for the The Outer Worlds 2 today. The game was originally supposed to debut at $79.99 in October, but it's now going back to the regular $69.99 Xbox game price. Microsoft announced earlier this year that it would be raising the price of new Xbox first-party games from $69.99 to $79.99, alongside increases to its consoles and controllers. The move to suddenly drop the price of The Outer Worlds 2 is a clear sign that preorders haven't gone too well and that gamers are rejecting Microsoft's initial move to $79.99 Xbox games. If you've already purchased the game then refunds will be handled by the Microsoft Store, Steam, PlayStation store or wherever you preordered The Outer Worlds 2. Other first-party Xbox games coming this holiday will also be sold at $69.99, instead of Microsoft's new $79.99 pricing. 'We're focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – in line with current market conditions,' says an unnamed Xbox spokesperson in a statement to IGN. It will be interesting to see whether Microsoft continues to push its new Xbox game pricing in the new year, or whether this is a sign that it's fully rethinking the increase to $79.99. Update, July 23rd: Article updated with Xbox statement. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Tom Warren Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Microsoft Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Xbox
Digital Trends
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 new Game Pass games to play this weekend (July 4-6)
Those of us in America have a nice, long weekend to kick off July thanks to the 4th of July holiday. While some of us may have plans for barbeques and fireworks watching in the evening, there's still loads of time to spare playing some awesome Xbox games. As luck would have it, Game Pass just added a ton of new additions to the service this week that are perfect for the extended weekend. We do have to wait until next week for the first major day one release, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, but there are still some great options to check out before that. I've included a fun party game for anyone hosting an event, a game with a short but powerful runtime, and a classic RPG to get lost in. Let's check them all out. Ultimate Chicken Horse With a name as wacky as Ultimate Chicken Horse, you can expect the gameplay to be just as chaotic. This is a competitive platformer with a simple but devious twist; players all place different platforms, obstacles, and hazards on the map between rounds to try and stop everyone else from reaching the end while still making it possible for you to get there. It is simple enough that anyone can hop in and play without feeling overwhelmed or at a disadvantage. Rounds go by fast and are full of laughs as people inevitably fall into their own traps or mess up a jump at the last moment. This is a great option for parties where you can play for a few minutes or a few hours. Recommended Videos Ultimate Chicken Horse is available now on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Little Nightmares 2 We're looking forward to the third entry in this unique horror franchise later this year, but you can get a taste of what's to come if you haven't tried Little Nightmares 2 yet. There is technically a connection between the first two games, but only if you dig deep into the lore. There's absolutely no issue if you start off with the second one. This game shrinks you down and presents you with a dark world filled with distorted giants and surreal landscapes that feel ripped right out of a child's nightmare. Mechanically, this is a 2.5D puzzle platformer with very light combat and stealth elements, which is a rare genre to blend with horror that is incredibly effective. If you get hooked, as I think you will, then you can count on completing the adventure before the weekend is done. Little Nightmares 2 is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC. Legend of Mana The Mana games often live in the shadow of bigger JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but are just as high quality. Legend of Mana is a remaster of one of the classic entries from 1999 that updates the visuals and adds some nice quality-of-life features. If you've never played a Mana game, they feature a neat real-time combat system where you build up a meter over time to unleash special moves. Beyond a traditional story and RPG systems, what Legend does that remains unique to this day is the Land Make system. This allows you to build out the world map yourself as you go to dictate how your adventure plays out. Legend of Mana is available now onPS4, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, and PC.
The Independent
09-06-2025
- The Independent
New Xbox handheld will launch later this year, here's what to know
Just days after Nintendo launched the new Switch 2, Microsoft has announced its own handheld games console, the ROG Xbox Ally. Available in two variants, the ROG Xbox Ally is due to launch later in 2025. Working in partnership with manufacturer Asus (and its gaming sub-brand, ROG), Microsoft revealed the two new devices at its annual Xbox Games Showcase. The ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X are souped-up versions of existing Asus ROG Ally handheld hardware, but rather than launching Windows when powered on, they boot into a dedicated Xbox app operating system to let you access your digital Xbox games or play Game Pass games via the cloud. As far as new hardware launches go, this is a low-risk move by Microsoft. The ROG Xbox Ally is essentially a rebranded version of an existing handheld games console, juiced up with some powerful new AMD processors and a dedicated Xbox button on the device. Because it's basically a portable PC in disguise, the ROG Xbox Ally will support third-party PC apps like Discord and even rival storefronts like Steam, Epic Games and GOG, so your entire PC gaming library will be playable on the new Xbox handheld. The more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X is designed for 1080p gaming and runs on the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The entry-level ROG Xbox Ally targets a more modest 720p and uses a new AMD Ryzen 2A processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Both use the same display found in the existing ROG Ally hardware, a 7in, 1080p screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support. As well as an Xbox button, the ROG Xbox Ally gets longer, contoured hand grips that more closely resemble the Xbox controller. It also gets the Xbox controller's impulse triggers, a pair of custom-built rumble motors located inside the shoulder buttons that deliver more realistic haptic feedback. Handheld gaming PCs have rocketed in popularity in recent years, with the Steam Deck among the most successful examples of the form factor. Like the Steam Deck, the ROG Xbox Ally promises better performance and efficiency by skipping the resource-gobbling Windows operating system and booting into its own dedicated interface. The redesigned Xbox app is more handheld-friendly and acts like a library for your entire PC games library, including games from other storefronts. Microsoft has yet to reveal prices for the new handhelds. The existing entry-level ROG Ally costs £449, while the more premium ROG Ally X is £799 – we'd expect the Xbox versions to land at around the same price when they launch later in 2025. The upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X is based on the current ROG Ally X from Asus, which you can buy right now if you don't fancy waiting around for Microsoft to stick a new button on it. One of the best handheld gaming PCs available today, it pairs a powerful AMD Ryzen Z1 processor with a whopping 24GB of RAM and an efficient cooling system to deliver high-end gaming PC performance in a portable form factor. As it's essentially a tiny PC, you can launch the Xbox app as you would on your laptop or desktop to access your digital games library and stream games via the cloud using your Game Pass subscription. Microsoft promises that the Xbox-branded ROG Ally X will deliver better performance and battery life thanks to its streamlined Xbox interface. Valve's portable is the best budget handheld gaming PC you'll find, untethering your Steam games library from the desktop to let you play anywhere you like. While more recent handheld gaming PCs have outpaced the Steam Deck in terms of specs, display and performance, the console's price drop to just £349 makes it hard to ignore. Still more than powerful enough to play older titles, mid-range and indie games, the Steam Deck can handle recent releases without too much choppiness. There's a newer model with an OLED display (£479, but the £130 premium places it in competition with more powerful handhelds like the ROG Ally.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Xbox owners handed free games worth £200 to play in event including latest Call of Duty game & Football Manager 2024
XBOX owners are being handed access to free games worth £200 as part of a special weekend event. Gamers using the Microsoft platform will be able to get their hands on a slew of games during the event this weekend. 4 The games will be free to access and play for Xbox owners between May 29 and June 1 as part of the Free Play Days event. It will include access to the latest Call of Duty and Football Manager 2024 as well as several other top rated titles. An Xbox game pass membership will be required to get access to most of the titles. Both the latest Call of Duty and Tom Clancy's The Division 2 will be available until June 3. Football Manager 2024, Killer Klowns From outer Space: The Game and ARK: Survival Ascended will all be available until June 1. Gamers can get access to the titles by hunting them down in the Xbox store. Installing them onto your device will require you to be signed in, from their you can install the titles with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. Downloading the titles on console will require gamers to click on the subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigating to the Free Play Days collection. Each of the titles available during the Free Play Days event will be available at a discounted price during the event. To keep the fun going gamers can purchase the titles at discounted rates and keep their achievements and Gamerscore earned during the free play event. Xbox has warned though that discounts, percentages and title availability may vary by region. Both the Xbox One and Xbox Series XS will have access to the Free Play Days event. 4 4 ARK: Survival Ascended, Football Manager 2024 and Killer Klowns from Outer Space are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members These titles will be available from Thursday May 29 until Sunday, June 1. Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is free for all Xbox members to try from May 30 until June 3 Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership not required for this title. Tom Clancy's The Division 2 is free for all Xbox members to try from May 29 until June 3 Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership not required for this title either. All points that are earned and downloadable content (DLC) that you bought during the event carries over if you buy the full game at the end of the free period.
