Xbox Game Pass has today added its biggest games to the service so far in 2025. After a rapid pace of new releases on Game Pass to close out 2024 that included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and STALKER 2, the early part of the new year has been pretty quiet for Xbox users. Fortunately, for those looking for some brand-new titles to check out on Xbox Game Pass, a couple of standouts have now landed on the platform.

As of today, EA Sports UFC 5 has made its way to Xbox Game Pass. Available only to those with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, UFC 5 is the latest entry in EA’s fighting game franchise that only just released a little over a year ago. For it to have now been added to Game Pass is a big boost to the service, especially for those who enjoy sports titles. UFC 5 can be played on Xbox Series X and S platforms only, though, as a PC version of the game does not exist.

Related: Microsoft Announces Changes to Xbox Game Pass Quests

Luckily, for those on PC who are looking for a new Game Pass game, a second title has been added to the service today. That game in question is Diablo, which is the original entry in Blizzard’s hugely popular action RPG franchise. While it’s a bit dated, Diablo is still a classic and is very much worth checking out if you’re at all interested in the roots of the series.

To learn more about both UFC 5 and Diablo, you can find descriptions and videos for each attached below.

UFC 5

“EA SPORTS UFC 5 is as real as it gets. Powered by Frostbite engine’s advanced rendering capabilities, your favorite fighters now have unparalleled character likenesses to complement next-level environment fidelity that’ll make their walk to the Octagon feel like a PPV main event.

The all-new authentic damage system brings the intensity and strategy of a fight to life, as cuts and strikes absorbed can affect mobility, defense, stamina, and more. Take too much damage, and the doctor will check to see if you’re able to continue.

For lovers of the ground game, the new Transition-Based Submissions make grappling feel more fluid and realistic than ever before. And if you like to admire your handiwork, new Cinematic K.O. Replays capture your fight-ending finishes in all their punishing glory. Plus, a completely revamped live service schedule builds exciting challenges around all PPV fight weeks. Bring the next evolution of the fight game home with UFC 5.”

Diablo

“Darkness stirs beneath the town of Tristram. A mad king, his missing son, and a mysterious archbishop are all pieces of the puzzle you need to hack through. You have journeyed to the source of this evil. A cathedral stands in Tristram, built over the ruins of an ancient monastery. Eerie lights and ungodly sounds echo through its abandoned halls. Tread softly, adventurer; for you tread on nightmares.”

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Last week, Xbox announced a Developer Direct presentation that will take place on January 23rd. In the announcement, Xbox said that viewers will “visit a surprise location to see another studio’s brand new game.” That generated a lot of speculation from fans, who wondered what the game might be. Following the initial announcement, insider Jez Corden teased that “the Xbox Developer_Direct is going to be a lot bigger than Microsoft is currently letting on.” Corden has now elaborated on his comments with a new post. While Corden has not explicitly said what the game will be, he has offered some hints in a new post on Windows Central.

“…I won’t spoil what it is, but our sources indicate that it is a new entry in a legendary Japanese IP which has decades of history, and should make a lot of fans happy. Indeed, Microsoft has won some strong support from the region lately from studios like Square Enix for Final Fantasy, HoYoverse for Genshin Impact, and Sega/ATLUS for Persona, and we suspect this new game will help further that trend,” writes Corden.

As with any rumor, readers are advised to take this with a grain of salt. It’s possible that Corden’s sources are incorrect, or that the reveal won’t deliver on the hype. Regardless, it’s pretty interesting that Xbox is keeping a tight lid on the game’s identity. Capcom or Konami would seem like the most logical choices, and both companies have plenty of “legendary” IP that would get fans excited. Capcom’s fans have been begging for new entries in the Mega Man and Dino Crisis franchises, and both would be a big deal. Konami’s Castlevania is another IP that is in desperate need of a new entry, and it would make sense given the company’s recent pushes with Silent Hill and Metal Gear; Castlevania is the biggest Konami IP unaccounted for in recent years.

Readers should keep in mind that just because the game will be appearing in the Xbox Developer Direct, it does not necessarily indicate that it will be exclusive to the platform or a game that will be published by Xbox Game Studios. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of three games confirmed to appear during the presentation, and that one is being published by Kepler Interactive, and has been announced for PS5. The other two announced games are Doom: The Dark Ages (also confirmed for PS5), and South of Midnight.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Report Says Premium Games on the Service Can Lose 80% of Sales

The Xbox Developer Direct already seems worth watching given what we already know; Doom: The Dark Ages could end up being one of the year’s biggest games. The announcement of a major new entry in a well-regarded series could make this even sweeter, but we’ll have to wait and see if the show can deliver on the hype.

Are you planning to watch the Xbox Developer Direct? What Japanese IP do you expect to see at the show? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is coming to modern platforms on January 23rd, including PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The original version came out more than two decades ago, but the new version will feature some improvements. Most notably, 13 additional playable characters are being added to the roster, including Rifle Droid, Staff Tusken Raider, Ishi Tib, Mercenary, and Jar Jar Binks. As the game’s release date approaches, ComicBook can exclusively reveal three more characters that will join the playable cast of characters.

Pilot Droid– The Battle Droids used by the Separatists were a massive part of the Star Wars prequels, and they came in a variety of flavors. While the Rifle Droid is great for attacking at a distance, the Pilot Droid is better for players that like to attack close up. The character has strong agility, allowing it to bring down opponents using kicks and punches.

Weequay– Like Ishi Tib, the Weequay species first debuted in Return of the Jedi, and have appeared in a significant amount of Star Wars fiction in the decades since. Most notably, the Weequay Hondo Ohnaka has been a major character over the last few years, and will be appearing in the DLC for Star Wars: Outlaws. In Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, Weequay will be a good fit for players looking for a shooter with tactical attacks.

Rifle Tusken Raider– As seen with the Battle Droids, some of the playable characters will be slightly different takes on one another. The Rifle Tusken Raider is ideal for players that want to play as one of the denizens of Tatooine, but would prefer to use a ranged weapon, as opposed to their classic staff. One of the most memorable scenes in The Phantom Menace centered on a Tusken Raider using its rifle to cause chaos in the Podrace, so this one seems like a nice fit!

Right now, it’s impossible to say how these new additions will handle in Jedi Power Battles. The original version of the game put a bigger focus on the Jedi themselves, with players being able to control characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, and Qui-Gon Jinn. Obviously those original options will still be available to players, but there’s going to be a much larger pool to choose from this time. That should make the game even more appealing to single players, as well as those that plan on tackling the game in two-player co-op.

RELATED: Skeleton Crew Further Proves Star Wars Is Better Under Disney

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles was one of several games based on the first entry in the prequel trilogy. The new version is being handled by Aspyr, who also brought Star Wars Episode I: Racer to modern platforms in 2020. There are still a number of other Episode I games that could get that treatment in the future, including well-regarded ones like Battle for Naboo. Star Wars fans will have to wait and see what comes next, but hopefully more classic games will get a similar treatment in the future!

Are you planning to check out Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles? What do you think of these new playable characters? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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It’s only been a few days since Doom Match was added to Marvel Rivals, but a leak may have revealed another new mode in the works. According to the Rivals Leaks account on X/Twitter, a source told them “they had experienced a PvE mode in the game.” This information was provided “some time ago,” and nothing had been heard about it since. However, the Rivals Info account also received a tag about a possible PvE (Player vs. Environment) mode. At this time, none of this information has been confirmed, but the existence of multiple sources could add a little more credibility to this whole thing.

As with any rumor, readers are encouraged to take all of this with a grain of salt. That said, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if NetEase is testing or considering ways of expanding Marvel Rivals. The game has found huge success since launching last month, and new modes are a great way to lure in players that might not otherwise be interested in the main game. It’s possible the PvE mode could just be a limited time addition, or something a little more substantial.

How exactly a PvE mode would work in Marvel Rivals remains to be seen. Replies to the post from Rivals Leaks have shared some interesting ideas. X/Twitter user @Thisesportslife suggested this could be a way for the game to bring in Ultron, who has been leaked as a playable character, but not officially announced. Having players take down swarms of Ultron’s robotic drones could be a great way to introduce the Avengers villain, while also adding some fanfare around his addition to the game. By the same token, a mode where players have to take down swarms of vampires could also make sense, given the current season’s theme.

Whatever the case might be, it will be interesting to see if this rumor pans out. Marvel Rivals Season 1 just began last week, bringing in the Fantastic Four and Dracula as new playable characters. While Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny all leaked ahead of time, Dracula’s announcement seemed to come completely out of nowhere (though vampires had been established in the game’s narrative). It’s certainly not implausible that this mode leaked well ahead of an official announcement, but there’s simply no way of knowing how far along PvE might be, or when we might see it.

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Devs Shut Down Requests for Role Queue

Thankfully, Marvel Rivals players should have plenty to keep them busy in the game, regardless of whether this rumor pans out. Live service games can be quickly abandoned by players if they don’t get enough support, but it seems NetEase has ambitious plans for the coming months, including several more playable characters. The Marvel Universe has no shortage of content for the developers to mine, so we’ll have to see if the game can maintain its current momentum.

Would you like to see a PvE mode in Marvel Rivals? Have you been enjoying the game so far? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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It has been over a month since Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was released on Xbox and PC, but despite this, a major game-breaking bug is still present in the action-adventure title. Generally speaking, it’s not a shock for just about any game nowadays to release with some bugs or other issues present. More often than not, though, any errors that prevent players from being able to see through a game to completion are squashed before release as these bugs are found during the QA process. As such, it’s pretty baffling to see that numerous Indiana Jones players are still running into a problem that is preventing them from rolling credits.

As reported across Reddit and other platforms, this bug in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle that seems to be giving players fits is tied to the quest “The Blessed Pearl”. This mission, which is one of the last ones in the game, requires players at certain points to climb ladders or shimmy through narrow gaps in order to advance. However, for one reason or another, Indiana Jones himself isn’t able to perform these actions, which leads to players being completely stuck and unable to progress.

Strangely, the way that this bug seems to be activated in the first place is tied to the character/NPC Sunan. Some players have found that approaching Sunan in the village area of Sukhothai and spamming the action button can fix the error. Still, others can’t even get back to this point because they’ve found themselves soft-locked in certain parts of the game.

This issue is one that was reported very quickly after Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launched, but it’s still plaguing players at the time of this writing. The way that I know that this bug is still an issue is because I’ve recently run into it myself. After playing Indiana Jones for nearly 30 hours and doing just about everything that the game had to offer, I decided to finally finish up the main quest only to find that I simply couldn’t. Instead, I’m now completely stuck in the final part of The Blessed Pearl. It’s been a demoralizing bug that has completely soured me on Indiana Jones after I had previously greatly enjoyed my time with the game.

Related: Indiana Jones Actor Loves How Much You Hate His Character

For now, developer MachineGames hasn’t announced when the next update for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is expected to go live, although it has acknowledged that it’s looking into this problem. Hopefully, for my own sake and that of others, a new patch for Indiana Jones will roll out sooner rather than later.

The post Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Still Has a Major Game-Breaking Bug One Month After Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A few days ago, Xbox announced a Developer Direct livestream, which will take place on January 23rd. So far, three games have been confirmed for the presentation: Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight. Viewers are going to get a chance to check in on the developers of these games, and we’ll get a better idea of how far along they might be. There’s even a chance we could learn a release date or two. That alone would be pretty big news, but Xbox has also teased a fourth game that will be shown off.

At this time, there’s no telling what this fourth game might be, but Microsoft says the Developer Direct will “visit a surprise location to see another studio’s brand new game.” Following that announcement, Jez Corden of Windows Central took to Bluesky to share some of his thoughts. Corden has something of a history as an Xbox Insider, and his comments raised some eyebrows from fans. Corden said that “I think the Xbox Developer_Direct is going to be a lot bigger than Microsoft is currently letting on.”

Unfortunately, Corden has not elaborated on that statement, and readers should take his comments with a grain of salt. While Corden has been a reliable source for Xbox rumors in the past, his use of “think” might suggest that this is merely his opinion, and not based on any insider information. One problem that a lot of insiders have shared over the years is that their teases and thoughts can get jumbled up by fans and misconstrued. It’s possible Corden is just optimistic about the upcoming show, and he doesn’t have any idea how things will play out later this month.

At this time, we do not have any idea what this mystery game might be. It’s possible that it’s a game that has already been announced by Xbox, or it could be something that we’ll be seeing for the very first time. The company has a number of huge games in development from various studios, from 2025 games like Fable, to later releases like Marvel’s Blade and Hideo Kojima’s OD. There are also games we know to be in development, such as a mystery title from developer Toys for Bob. Fans think the studio could be working on a new Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, but there’s no way of knowing for sure.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Report Says Premium Games on the Service Can Lose 80% of Sales

Since the Developer Direct was first announced, Xbox fans have guessed pretty much every single possibility for that fourth game. Given that, some viewers are bound to be disappointed, but hopefully the livestream will help to build anticipation for Xbox games in 2025. It’s no secret that this has been a rough console generation for Xbox, but the future is looking a little bit brighter. This livestream could be Xbox’s way to start off 2025 on a high note.

Are you planning to watch the Xbox Developer Direct? Do you think it will be “bigger” than Microsoft is letting on? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One users can currently fork over $2 — or more specifically $2.49 — to the Microsoft Store and get one of the best RPGs ever released in return. The deal is only available for a limited time though as it’s part of a new sale on the Microsoft Store only live until January 14. After this, the 75 percent discount expires. Until then though, the game is dirt cheap. In fact, this is the cheapest the Xbox RPG has ever been on the Microsoft Store.

One of the reasons the RPG is so cheap is it because it’s not very new, but rather from 2008. That said, while aspects of it don’t quite hold up in 2025, it is still one of the best RPGs of all time. In fact, it is widely considered one of the best games of all time across any genre, and this is evident by its 93 on Metacritic and its inclusion in Wikipedia’s best video games ever made list.

In 2008, there were a few notable RPG releases, including Persona 4, Fable 2, Tales of Vesperia, and Valkyria Chronicles. None were more notable at the time than Fallout 3 though. The third major installment in the Fallout series, and the first from Bethesda after it acquired the rights of the IP, Fallout 3 was notable for many reasons. One, it’s very good. Two, it took the series from 2D to 3D. And three, it was an introduction to the series for many, as it was previously quite niche and locked to PC. To this end, it was a pioneering RPG on console.

Right now, on the Microsoft Store the Xbox 360 classic is only $2.49. Of course, while it is an Xbox 360 game, it is playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X via backward compatibility.

“Vault-Tec engineers have worked around the clock on an interactive reproduction of Wasteland life for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own vault,” reads an official description of Fallout 3 for those unfamiliar with the RPG. “Included is an expansive world, unique combat, shockingly realistic visuals, tons of player choice, and an incredible cast of dynamic characters. Every minute is a fight for survival against the terrors of the outside world — radiation, Super Mutants, and hostile mutated creatures. From Vault-Tec, America’s First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation.”

Those on Xbox dying to play play Fallout 3 will likely never find it cheaper than this. That said, a remaster/remake is rumored to be in development. Of course, when and if this version releases, it won’t be $2, but it will obviously be an upgraded version in comparison.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most iconic games of all time, outshining games even years after its original PlayStation release and maintaining its legacy. While the original game still holds up today, and some fans prefer the turn-based gameplay, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth have brought even more attention to the game. Both remake titles launched on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but have made the jump to PC. Sadly, Xbox and Nintendo players have been unable to enjoy the two modern titles, but recent leaks show that this may be changing soon.

According to NateTheHate!, Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be coming to Xbox. Final Fantasy 7 Remake will supposedly be ported in 2025, while Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will join Xbox in 2026. Fans have long been requesting and speculating about an Xbox release for the remake chapters of Final Fantasy 7, but Square Enix has been silent about the possibility for years.

RELATED: Final Fantasy Fans Surprised With New Freebie

As these are leaks and rumors, it’s important to be skeptical. There is no guarantee Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will come to Xbox. That said, Final Fantasy 7 Remake was released on PC in 2022, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be released on PC on January 23, 2025. So a port is not out of the question, but Square Enix has long had a PlayStation exclusivity for many of its games. Square Enix has already confirmed the third chapter in the remake series for Final Fantasy 7 will launch exclusively on PlayStation.

Whether Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth release on Xbox, or even the Nintendo Switch 2, remains to be seen. For now, fans will either need a PlayStation 5 or PC if they wish to play the remade titles. Square Enix has not made any announcements to support these leaks, and it’s doubtful anything will come until at least after the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC release. Microsoft and Nintendo have also not made any supporting announcements.

Some rumors suggest Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and the third chapter in the remastered series will be released on other platforms once the third and final chapter is released, likely as a trilogy. This is also a rumor and should be taken with a grain of salt, but it does have the potential to be true. Regardless of when the remastered Final Fantasy 7 series comes to Xbox, fans will be delighted at finally having a chance to play these reimagining’s of one of gaming’s greatest games.

Both Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth feature enhanced graphics, real-time action gameplay, and a slight twist on the iconic story from Final Fantasy 7. Fans will still feel right at home with Remake and Rebirth but should expect a different experience than they did on PlayStation many years ago.

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Hellblade 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice caught many gamers’ attention when it released in May 2024. The game largely stood up to expectations, earning a Very Positive overall rating on Steam and a respectable 81 on Metacritic. Like many big titles these days, however, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 initially released as a console exclusive, available only on Xbox Series X|S consoles. While the game is also available on PC via Steam or Game Pass, many players want to know if and when Hellblade 2 will be available on the PS5.

As the gaming industry navigates financial challenges, many companies are taking a second look at their console exclusive policies. While releasing hot titles like Hellblade 2 on a console like the Xbox Series X|S is meant to drive fans to buy the system so they can play the game, fewer people have the extra income to do so. Instead, they just don’t play the game, hoping it might one day arrive at the one console they do have. It looks like 2025 might be ripe for several games headed to a broader release across consoles, potentially including Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.

As we head towards the next Xbox Developer Direct, many people are curious about Microsoft’s future plans for upcoming games and existing titles. This first direct of 2025 will focus largely on upcoming titles like Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight. However, it’s likely a few additional surprises are in store, and that may include more information about Microsoft’s efforts to give its games a wider audience. After all, Xbox is expecting some pretty big titles throughout 2025, and those without an Xbox or beefy gaming PC may miss out on the action if upcoming titles continue to be Xbox exclusives.

Rumors Suggest PS5 Players Will Get Hellblade 2 in 2025

Those who enjoy some Xbox properties but don’t necessarily want to shell out for an Xbox console will no doubt be waiting to hear more about Microsoft’s efforts to release their games on additional platforms. A recent rumor suggests a few titles that might make the leap sooner rather than later, including award-winning Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. Though the game has received positive reviews from those who’ve played it, its sales numbers have been a bit underwhelming, which may suggest its fanbase is better found beyond the Xbox console.

RELATED: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Review: Immersion You’ll Have to Hear to Believe

According to Windows Central, rumors suggest that Hellblade 2 is one of the games Microsoft wants to bring to a broader release. Given that the studio allegedly considers the decision to make it an Xbox exclusive a mistake, it’s not surprising this title is one on the list for multiplatform consideration. In fact, they suggest that Hellblade 2 may even come to PS5 this year, meaning PlayStation gamers could enjoy the story in just a few short months. As for Nintendo Switch, it’s harder to say which games Microsoft might want to transfer over those lines given that a new console is anticipated to be announced soon.

Along with Hellblade 2, a few other big games might be making their way from Xbox over to PS5 this year. Other rumored cross-console releases include Age of Mythology and Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, along with Halo: The Master Chief Collection. While Microsoft has not formally announced any of these plans, the rumors are supported by multiple sources, suggesting that we may well see at least some of these games coming to PlayStation in 2025 or shortly after.

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Gears of War is one of Microsoft and Xbox’s biggest and most well-known series ever since the original Gears of War was released on the Xbox 360 in 2006. Since then, numerous sequels and spin-offs have been released, including an announced Gears of War 6, but the recently announced Gears of War: E-Day has captured fans’ attention. Gears of War: E-Day returns to the beginning of the saga, making it a prequel taking place at the beginning of the events that led into Gears of War and the rest of the franchise. While it was announced, no official release date was given, but fans may have determined when Gears of War: E-Day will be released thanks to a rumor.

According to leaks, Gears of War: E-Day will be released during the holidays in 2025. This makes sense for multiple reasons. Holiday releases are common and a great way to move a title because fans are buying the game for themselves or others. Secondly, fans put together a release pattern showing Gears of War games are typically revealed about a year before release, at least since The Coalition took over as developer.

RELATED: Gears of War 6 Still Being Planned Despite E-Day Announcement

Both Gears of War 4 and Gears of War 5 were revealed and then released about a year later. While there was a long gap between Gears of War 5 and Gears of War: E-Day, there is no reason to believe that The Coalition would deter from this pattern. That said, this is a leak and rumor, which means there is no guarantee this is true. As much as fans want to believe a 2025 holiday release for Gears of War: E-Day, they need to keep their hopes in check until an official announcement is made.

The official announcement trailer for Gears of War: E-Day was beautiful and nostalgic, showing a younger Marcus Fenix facing for his life against a Locust Grub. Though it was a cinematic trailer. In the end, Marcus manages to stab the Grub with the Lancer, the pre-chainsaw version, and blow its head off. Unfortunately, an Emergence Hole opens up, nearly killing Marcus. But Marcus’ best friend, Dom Santiago, shows up just in time to save him.

The trailer was full of details showing the setting and period of Gears of War: E-Day. From the Lancer that only had a bayonet to an intact city, fans immediately knew Gears of War: E-Day was a prequel. The name also gives it away, as E-Day is the day the Locust emerged from underground and attacked humanity. E-Day takes place after the Pendulum Wars, so sadly fans won’t be able to play through that era of the Gears of War history.

Gears of War: E-Day does not have an official release date, and is only listed as coming soon. If the leaks are true, fans can fight for humanity’s survival on E-Day, fourteen years before the events of Gears of War. The thought of returning as Marcus and Dom, an iconic duo, and once against playing this tactical cover-based third-person shooter has many fans excited.

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For Disney fans, getting to hang out with their favorite characters is one of the primary draws of Disney Dreamlight Valley. Since launch, Gameloft has added a ton of fan-favorite characters to the game, building on original classics like Mickey, Donald and Goofy to bring in characters from newer properties like Frozen and Encanto. As we enter a new year, we’ve got a few hints about new characters in 2025, but plenty of room for more announcements. Despite a long list of villagers to recruit and befriend, there are many Disney characters we still want to see make their way to Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Kronk

Is Kronk officially the main character of The Emperor’s New Groove? No. But does he totally steal the show with his spinach puffs? Yes. Side characters getting added before the main heroes of a franchise is fairly common in Disney Dreamlight Valley, so it’s not ridiculous to hope that Ymza’s hilarious sidekick will make an appearance in the Valley even if Kuzco doesn’t. Plus, with his ability to communicate with squirrels and love of cooking, he’ll fit right in with several potential quests that basically write themselves.

Aladdin

Jafar was the star of the Rift in Time Expansion Pass, yet Aladdin still hasn’t made his Disney Dreamlight Valley debut. Getting villains from a franchise first is fine and all, but we’d love to see this street rat and his adorable monkey companion, Abu, in the Valley. With a teaser featuring Aladdin’s hat and Jasmine’s crown in the content roadmap for sometime in 2025, it’s basically confirmed that Disney fans will get this wish in the coming year.

Megara

Hades made his Disney Dreamlight Valley debut last year as part of the Storybook Vale expansion. Now, fans are even more eager to meet the rest of the iconic characters from Hercules. Sure, the titular character is fine I guess, but really what we need is a damsel in distress who can handle it. Megara needs to make her way to the game as soon as possible, if for no other reason than to help us keep Hades in check.

Cinderella

Frankly, it’s a little bit wild that Cinderella isn’t in Disney Dreamlight Valley yet. Though we can meet her Fairy Godmother, this early Disney princess still hasn’t made her way to the Valley. As much fun as it is to see newer characters in the game, we can’t forget to add in the classics for that extra dash of Disney nostalgia.

Alice

Another character that might actually happen in 2025 is Alice from Alice in Wonderland. The 2025 content roadmap teases the Chesire Cat, so it’s likely we’ll see him in the game – but might he come with Alice in tow? With her curious nature, Alice could get up to some interesting antics in the Valley, making her a refreshing addition to the game. And just think of the tea parties!

Lady & The Tramp

Dog lovers agree that Lady and the Tramp need to arrive in Disney Dreamlight Valley as soon as possible. This adorable duo could hang out at Remy’s, sharing spaghetti to recreate that iconic moment. There are quite a few non-human Disney favorites in the Valley already, and this two would be a worthwhile addition.

Snow White

The very first animated Disney princess still has yet to make her Disney Dreamlight Valley debut, and that is frankly shocking. In fact, we don’t have any characters from Snow White, so adding this princess feels like an obvious choice for rounding out the slate of classic Disney favorites. Plus, it would be interesting to get more of a sense of her personality, since she’s a bit flat in the original movie.

Tarzan

You know who needs to swing into the Valley? Tarzan. That movie is a Disney classic, and the spinoff video games were frankly fantastic. We’d love to see Tarzan up to his old antics again, bringing a little loveable chaos – and vine swinging – to Disney Dreamlight Valley.

The Incredibles

Does Gameloft usually add entire families to Disney Dreamlight Valley at once? No. But with this superhero family, we would love to see them make an exception… or at least bring someone from these amazing superhero movies to the Valley. Heck, why not let us help Frozone track down his supersuit?

Winnie the Pooh

For many, Winnie the Pooh is a beloved comfort character from childhood. He’s also made appearances in previous Disney-inspired videogames, with a notable role in Kingdom Hearts. So, he and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood crew have basically already auditioned for a home in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

The post Disney Dreamlight Valley Still Has 10 Disney Characters We Can’t Wait to Meet appeared first on ComicBook.com.

After weeks of rumors, an Xbox Developer Direct has now been confirmed for the month of January. The presentation will take place on Thursday, January 23rd at 10 a.m. PT. This time around, the Developer Direct will focus on Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and South of Midnight. In addition to those three games, Xbox is teasing that viewers will “visit a surprise location to see another studio’s brand new game.” That’s pretty vague, but it should give Xbox fans some incentive to tune in, even if the other three games might not appeal to them!

While the year is still very early in, all signs are pointing to a promising year for the Xbox brand. The company has a number of high-profile games that are currently slated to release in 2025; in addition to the three that will be shown during the Developer Direct, there are also big games like Avowed next month, and Fable sometime this year. Delays are a harsh reality of the video game industry, and it’s entirely possible that some of the games that are currently planned for 2025 could slip to 2026, or even beyond. Hopefully 2025 is the year we can expect to see a lot more reasons to buy an Xbox.

Out of the three games announced for the Developer Direct, Doom: The Dark Ages is probably the biggest. The game will act as a prequel to the 2016 Doom, and features more of a fantasy setting than we’ve seen in past titles. The game was one of the biggest highlights of the Xbox Games Showcase last summer, and there seems to be a lot of anticipation surrounding it. Xbox has already confirmed that Doom: The Dark Ages will be released on PlayStation 5 in addition to Xbox platforms. That’s not too surprising given the multiplatform strategy we’ve been seeing from Microsoft over the last year, but it also makes sense. After all, the previous two Doom games were released on PlayStation prior to Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, so there’s an established player base on the platform.

RELATED: Microsoft Announces Changes to Xbox Game Pass Quests

Leaks in the video game industry are a pretty common thing, so it will be interesting to see if Xbox manages to keep a lid on the fourth game that will be featured during this month’s Developer Direct. That mystery game is sure to pique the curiosity of a number of Xbox fans. It’s possible this could be a completely new IP, or something related to one of the many dormant franchises owned by the company; perhaps it’s already time to see what Toys for Bob has been working on over the last year! With the Developer Direct just two weeks away, we won’t have to wait long to find out.

Are you planning to watch the Xbox Developer Direct? What do you think we’ll see as the fourth game featured? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Developer Direct Event Announced for January appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The video game industry has evolved a lot since its inception many decades ago. Not just in terms of gameplay and graphics, but also with how we consume games. I am a huge fan of some of these innovations, such as being able to play games on Xbox Game Pass, via handhelds like Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, or even playing a console game on my iPad via the cloud. However, the industry has also evolved in some ways that really irk me.

The thing that has gotten me really fired up lately is the ongoing trend of paying to get video games early. I’m not talking about people who slide an extra $40 to the guy behind the counter at a mom and pop shop to get an early copy of a game under the radar. I’m talking about the trend of video game publishers charging $20 – $30+ to play a game a few days before its “official” release date. It’s scummy and it’s more or less just really creative marketing, because you’re not getting anything “early,” you’re just paying more for it.

One of the first big examples I can remember for an “early” video game release goes back to 2014 (though there may have been others prior to this). In the lead up to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Activision announced that anyone who pre-ordered the game would get upgraded to the “Day Zero” edition, which allowed players to play it on November 3rd instead of its worldwide release on November 4th, 2014. It didn’t cost anything extra, but it did incentivize people to pre-order.

However, when you make it so easy to get the game this way, it’s not really an “early” release, is it? That just becomes the new release date for the game. I am sure there were many cases of people walking into GameStop stores that day and just buying a copy off the shelf without having pre-ordered. Anecdotally, I had no trouble getting pre-order bonuses for games I didn’t even pre-order by simply asking the GameStop employee. I can’t imagine this would be any different so long as there were extra copies, which there probably were for a big release like Call of Duty.

Sports games like NBA 2K and Madden would copy this tactic in the following years with the former doing an “early tip-off” weekend, giving players who pre-ordered four days of early access. However, Madden NFL 18 allowed players to pay $79.99 (an extra $20) to play three days early via its “GOAT Edition.” The following year, 2K stopped being so nice and made it so NBA 2K19 players could only gain that four days of early access by buying the game’s $99.99 special edition. Since then, these sports games have made it a tradition to offer early access through these more premium versions of the game.

As you might expect, this proved to be extremely popular for the long-awaited EA Sports College Football 25 last summer. EA reported it had pulled in 2.2 million players during the game’s early access period, which was gatekept to the game’s $99.99 deluxe edition. Of course, it should be noted that these premium early access periods are offered in addition to a bunch of in-game goodies too, but the early access is certainly the biggest selling point.

This has stretched beyond sports games, though. It’s a big part of major releases nowadays. Hogwarts Legacy, Starfield, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Star Wars Outlaws are just some of the games to recently release with premium early access. Assassin’s Creed Shadows also planned to have this as well, but dropped it after delaying the game.

So, what’s the big deal? Well, it’s all very artificial. It’s squeezing extra money out of people who are really excited for something. As already noted, you’re not really getting the game early. You’re getting it the day it releases and paying more for it. It just becomes cheaper a few days later. There’s a stark difference between the early copies reviewers get and the ones consumers are paying for.

A reviewer might get a game a couple of weeks early and sometimes the game isn’t technically “done.” I have gotten hundreds of games before release for review and many times, I have been playing the game before a day one patch which can fix some glaring issues. The review copy I played for Days Gone was a night and day difference from the game people played at launch because they got a big day one patch that fixed some glaring problems with the game. A lot of times publishers will even send you a list of problems they are aware of and plan to fix before the game comes out so you can try and account for it in your coverage.

That generally isn’t a factor for the premium early access releases. Those are typically the “finished” game and will often be the same exact game the people who buy the standard version a few days later play. There are exceptions to this, of course, as games are launching in broken states with or without early access somewhat frequently, but the point stands. You are getting the intended product, one way or another.

In the case of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Starfield, it’s even more scummy. Xbox is fully aware the vast majority of players are going to play the game through Xbox Game Pass and won’t buy a copy. That’s the business model they’ve created. However, they’ve realized they can get Game Pass players to cough up an extra $30 or so to play these games early. They purchase an upgrade to the premium edition for a game they don’t even own just so they can play it early through Game Pass. It’s just a way for Xbox to get some extra money out of these people without them even having to own the game.

Some have speculated that Rockstar Games will charge a premium price for GTA 6 due to its high development cost and the fact that people would probably pay for it because they’re so excited. I personally don’t think that will happen because it’s going to make billions no matter what and GTA Online will be heavily monetized, but I wouldn’t rule out a special edition with three days of early access for $100.

It’s a trend that needs to stop and ideally, that starts with the consumer. Have some patience and wait a few days to play the game without paying the extra money. It can be a bit frustrating to watch others having fun with the game before you, but the less people do this, the more of a message it will send. The one possible good thing that comes out of this trend is that it slows down the publisher’s need to raise prices on games, but they already have tons of other ways to monetize games with things like battle passes, skins, and DLCs.

I hope we can pump the brakes on this soon and stop tricking people into thinking they are actually getting something early. I have gotten to see movies like Top Gun: Maverick, The Batman, and Joker: Folie a Deux at early “fan screenings” and those were actually early, because they were just a single showing a week before release. And better yet, they didn’t have any kind of premium upcharge associated to them because they were early showings. It would be nice if the gaming industry wasn’t so obvious with its greed sometimes, but maybe that’s too much to ask for.

The post I’m Tired of Paying to Get Video Games Early appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The first season of Marvel Rivals is around the corner, launching on January 10, 2025. Fans are excited for the addition of the Fantastic Four, notably Mr. Fantastic and The Invisible Woman who will be joining the roster at the start of the season. A new map and game mode have also been revealed, but while players are excited about the new content, one of the most anticipated things was balancing. Thankfully, NetEase has released the upcoming balance changes for Marvel Rivals season 1 ahead of launch.

Thankfully, there were a lot of buffs for characters that desperately needed it. Likewise, heroes like Hawkeye and Hela were nerfed accordingly. Here is the full list of balance changes for Marvel Rivals season 1.

Duelist

Black Panther

• Reduce the additional health provided to self after refreshing Vibranium Marks with Spirit Rend from 40 to 30, and the upper limit of additional health provided from 120 to 75.

Black Widow

• Increase the range of the first effect of Edge Dancer from a 3-meter radius to a 5-meter radius.
• Reduce the time required for Fleet Foot to recover from 0 stamina to full from 12s to 4s.
• Reduce the time required for Electro-Plasma Explosion (ultimate ability) to reach maximum power from 1s to 0.6s.

Hawkeye

•  Slightly reduce the spread angle between every two Blast Arrows.
• Reduce the triggering distance of passive ability Archer’s Focus from 60 meters to 40 meters. Reduce the maximum additional damage of the passive from 80 to 70.

Hela

• Reduce base health from 275 to 250.

Magik

• Increase Umbral Incursion damage in Darkchild form from 115 to 135.

Moon Knight

• Increase the number of talons generated by Hand of Khonshu (ultimate ability) from 10 to 14.
• Increase the explosion radius of each talon from 4 meters to 5 meters.

Namor

• Adjust the throwing feel of Monstro Spawn and Frozen Spawn. Now, Namor can more accurately throw them to the desired location.

Psylock

• Now Dance of the Butterfly (ultimate ability) will check for barriers (including Magneto’s Metal Bulwark, Hulk’s Indestructible Guard, etc.).

The Punisher

• Slightly reduce the spread of Deliverance and Adjudication.

Scarlet Witch

• Increase Chaos Control’s fixed damage from 50/s to 60/s. 
• Reduce the percentage damage per second from 5% to 3%.
• Increase Chthonian Burst’s projectile damage from 30 to 35.

Storm

• Increase Wind Blade projectile speed from 100m/s to 150m/s and left-click damage from 50 to 55.
• Increase Bolt Rush damage from 70 to 80.
• After releasing Omega Hurricane (ultimate ability), the bonus health provided for herself will be increased from 350 to 450. Moreover, following its conclusion, the extra health will no longer vanish instantly but will instead diminish at a rate of 100 per second.

Squirrel Girl

• Addition of a new effect to the Unbeatable Squirrel Tsunami (ultimate ability): the squirrels will rush towards the nearest enemy after bouncing instead of bouncing randomly.
• Reduce the squirrel tsunami health from 600 to 300.

Winter Soldier

• Increase the bonus health provided by Bionic Hook and Tainted Voltage from 30 to 40.
• Increase Roterstern’s projectile damage from 70 to 75.
• Reduce the area damage from 70 to 65 and reduce damage decay from 65% at 40 meters to 60%.
• Increase base health from 250 to 275.

Wolverine

• Increase base health from 300 to 350.
• Reduce the damage reduction ratio provided by Undying Animal from 50% to 40%.

RELATED: Marvel Rivals: The Epic Story Explained

Vanguard

Captain America

• Reduce the delay time for shield restoration after releasing Living Legend from 3s to 2s.
• Reduce Liberty Rush cooldown from 12s to 10s.
• Increase base health from 650 to 675.
• Reduce the energy cost for releasing Freedom Charge (ultimate ability) from 3400 to 3100
• Reduce the additional health provided per second to self after releasing it from 110 to 100.

Doctor Strange

• Add damage falloff to Maelstrom of Madness and Gamma Maelstrom. Starting at 5 meters and reducing to 70% at 8 meters.
• Slightly decrease the shield value recovery rate after releasing Shield of the Seraphim from 80/s to 70/s.

Thor

• Increase base health from 500 to 525.
• Added immunity to control effects during God of Thunder (ultimate ability).

Hulk

•  Reduce the Indestructible Guard gamma shield value for Hero Hulk from 250 to 200.

Venom

• Increase the Symbiotic Resilience bonus health ratio gained per lost health point from 1 to 1.2.
• Increase the base damage of Feast of the Abyss (ultimate ability) from 40 to 50.

Strategist

Cloak & Dagger

• Reduce Dagger Storm cooldown from 15s to 12s.
• Increase the number of dashes in Eternal Bond (ultimate ability) from 3 to 4.

Jeff the Land Shark

• Adjust It’s Jeff! (ultimate ability) range from a 10m sphere to a 10m radius, 5m high cylindrical spell field.
• Increase the healing of Joyful Splash from 140/s to 150/s.

Luna Snow

• Increase the interval for switching between healing and damage in Fate of Both Worlds from 0.1s to 0.5s.

Mantis

• Reduce Nature’s Favor (passive) movement boost from 2.5m/s to 1.5m/s.

Rocket Raccoon

• Increase the healing of Repair Mode from 60 per/s to 70 per/s.  

RELATED: Marvel Rivals: Who Is Galacta?

Team-Up Abilities

Hawkeye – Black Widow

• Reduce Hawkeye’s season bonus from 20% to 15%.

Hela – Thor – Loki 

• Reduce Hela’s season bonus from 20% to 15%.

Luna Snow- Namor

• Increase Frozen Spawn damage from 25 to 27.
• Increase Frozen Spawn slowing effect applied to hit enemies from 25% to 30%.
• Increase berserk state Frozen Spawn damage from 16 to 18.

Rocket Raccoon – The Punisher – Winter Soldier

• Reduce the cooldown of Ammo Invention from 45s to 40s.

Scarlet Witch – Magneto

•  Increase Metallic Fusion projectile damage from 55 to 60.
• Increase Metallic Fusion spell field damage from 30 to 35.

Thor – Storm – Captain America

• Reduce the cooldown of Charged Gale from 20s to 15s.
• Increase the damage of Charged Gale from 50 to 55.

The post Marvel Rivals Season 1 Balance Patch Notes Revealed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It appears that a new mode will be coming to Marvel Rivals with the launch of Season 1. While developer NetEase has yet to make any kind of announcement, multiple streamers have gotten a chance to test out some of the new additions that will be arriving in the game. In a new video shared by the @RivalsLeaks account on X/Twitter, Felix “xQc” Lengyel can be seen on Twitch playing what appears to be an unannounced free for all mode. For fans that have wanted to tackle Marvel Rivals solo, this new mode could be an exciting addition!

The new season of Marvel Rivals will see the arrival of several new playable characters, including Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, the Thing, and Dracula. In the video, xQc can be seen using the Invisible Woman in her new Malice alternate skin, which was officially announced by NetEase yesterday. The clip shows xQc battling other players, including one using Mr. Fantastic. Video can be found in the post embedded below.

The map played in the mode is the Sanctum Sanctorum, which will arrive with the start of Season 1. The home of Doctor Strange will include several references to the comics and films, and will have portals that transport players to different areas around the map. In the Marvel Rivals narrative, the Sanctum Sanctorum will offer a refuge for the heroes as they attempt to regroup from the assault of Dracula and his vampire forces. The Sanctum played a pretty sizable role in the recent Blood Hunt comic crossover, which seems to be the basis for this new season.

Now that the mode has been unofficially revealed, it will be interesting to see if NetEase decides to make an announcement. The official Marvel Rivals social media accounts tend to update frequently, and it’s possible we could get some details about free for all ahead of the new season’s release. Some clarity on the new mode would be nice, and give us a better indication of whether this is going to be a permanent addition to the game, or simply a limited time mode for players to check out.

RELATED: Marvel Rivals Devs Shut Down Requests for Role Queue

Even if we don’t see an official announcement from NetEase in the next day or two, we won’t have to wait much longer. The new season of Marvel Rivals will begin on Friday, January 10th. It will be interesting to see how fans react to the new season once it goes live, and if it will be able to maintain the game’s current momentum. NetEase and Marvel Games have clearly found something that has appealed to a lot of players, but maintaining the game’s popularity could prove challenging. Thankfully, the developers have no shortage of characters and storylines to pull from!

Are you excited about this new mode for Marvel Rivals? Do you plan on checking out the new season when it releases later this week? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Marvel Rivals Leak Reveals First Look at New Game Mode appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For years now, there has been some debate on the impact Xbox Game Pass has on software sales. Xbox has put all of its eggs in the Game Pass basket, allowing subscribers to access all of the company’s first-party games for one fee each month. That has clearly had an impact on the actual sales of these games, though it’s difficult to say by how much. In a new Q&A from InstallBase, industry analyst Christopher Dring touched on that impact, while also addressing the future of video game subscription services. Dring noted that sales of the company’s “premium” games have taken a huge hit as a result.

“Anecdotally, games that are in Game Pass can expect to lose around 80% of its expected premium sales on Xbox. That’s the figure that gets thrown around. It’s less if it’s a big mainstream release, but generally… look at how low Hellblade 2 charted. Or where Indiana Jones came. Or even Starfield. Game Pass clearly hurt sales of those titles on Xbox,” writes Dring.

While that sounds like a pretty negative answer, Dring went on to say that the actual impact on sales can vary. A game getting attention because of Xbox Game Pass can have a positive impact on that title’s sales on PS5. Those who subscribe to Game Pass for bigger titles like Call of Duty could also end up trying a smaller game that they wouldn’t have otherwise. In Dring’s own words, “subscription gets games in front of lots of people.”

As Xbox continues to embrace multiplatform releases for its first-party games, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact Xbox Game Pass has. While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sales might have taken a hit thanks to the game’s presence on the service, the positive word of mouth generated by subscribers could bring a big boost when it drops on PS5 later this year. In that regard, sacrificing sales on one platform could benefit another. Whether that trade-off proves worth it is difficult to say, however.

RELATED: Microsoft Announces Changes to Xbox Game Pass Quests

Dring closed out his response by talking about the future of game subscription services. While everything seems to have a subscription service these days, Dring seems hesitant to believe that they will play a major role in the video game industry’s future. The reality is, free-to-play games have taken up a huge chunk of the spending money of gamers. While Xbox Game Pass could continue to find success, it’s unlikely we’ll see a huge influx of similar subscription services from companies.

“In a world where the biggest games are free, and hundreds of hours long, the idea that the majority of gamers will be accessing their games via a subs service seems fanciful,” said Dring.

Are you surprised by the impact that Game Pass has on software sales? Do you buy fewer games as a result? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: Video Games Chronicle]

The post Xbox Game Pass Report Says Premium Games on the Service Can Lose 80% of Sales appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox fans on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X have 24 hours with their Avatars before they are gone forever. Avatars debuted all the way back on November 19, 2008 via the Xbox 360 included in the “New Xbox Experience,” a major update to the Xbox console at the time. And during the Xbox 360 generation, Avatars were extremely popular and a core part of the user experience on Xbox.

This didn’t continue with the Xbox One generation, which is perhaps why Microsoft issued a major update to Avatars on November 12, 2015 with the “New Xbox One Experience” update. Then it updated Avatars again in 2018, and this update introduced the “next-generation” version of Avatars. These two subsequent updates didn’t salvage anything though. By 2018, in just 10 years, Avatars went from a core part of the Xbox experience to an afterthought. And this is why Xbox is shutting down Avatars, or at least somewhat.

In 24 hours — or in other words, starting on January 9 — the Xbox Avatar Editor app will no longer be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, or Windows devices. As a result, Xbox users will no longer be able to access this app, which includes the Avatars within and any purchased Avatar items. Where things get a little confusing though is this is not the case with all Xbox Avatars.

RELATED: Missing Xbox Exclusive Returns With New Tease: “Stay Tuned in 2025”

According to Microsoft, this shutdown will not affect the Xbox Original Avatars, which will continue to work in supported Xbox 360 games. And you will be able to edit these Xbox Original Avatars from the Xbox Original Avatars app on both Xbox consoles and Windows devices. Xbox Original Avatars refer to the Avatars introduced back in 2008 that have been carried through to modern machines via the Xbox Original Avatars app. How long this app will be available, Xbox doesn’t say. There’s currently no plans to shut it down, or at least none that have been disclosed. As long as this app remains up, all Xbox Avatar-themed profile picture changes will need to be made via this app.

Those set to lose access to cosmetics they bought will get a refund, but only for purchases between November 1, 2023 and January 9, 2025. Anything purchased before this date will not get refunded in any capacity.

Microsoft does not dive deeply into explaining this change, which has upset some Xbox fans. According to it though, the closure is simply down to “low engagement.”

“Microsoft is dedicated to delivering great experiences for players, including a variety of options to personalize their gaming experience with Xbox,” says Microsoft. “Due to low engagement and our shift in focus towards delivering other player experiences, the Xbox Avatar Editor app will no longer be available starting on January 9, 2025.”

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox deals — click here.

The post Xbox Fans Have 24 Hours With Their Avatars Before They Are Gone Forever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Titan Forge Games has announced that Smite 2 will be going free-to-play later this month. The wait is nearly at an end, as the free-to-play launch will take place on Tuesday, January 14th. On that day, Season 0 will officially begin, following a week-long preseason that begins today. On the day before the free-to-play launch, Smite 2 will be adding a new playable character. The latest god to join the roster is Aladdin. From everything revealed thus far, Aladdin will have an acrobatic play style, and he’ll use the powers of his magic lamp to send out a genie to attack foes.

Smite 2‘s alpha was announced last January and launched in August on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The only way to access the alpha was to pay $29.99, or to have grabbed it one of the times that access was offered for free. However, soon the game will be opened up to all interested players. It was always the plan that the game would be free-to-play, similar to the original Smite. There has been a significant amount of negativity towards the alpha, with the game currently holding a “mixed” rating on Steam, and a two-star rating on Xbox. Basically, the consensus seems to be that Smite 2 wasn’t worth paying for, and it will be interesting to see if opinions improve once the game is free.

It’s clear that a lot of people have been waiting for Smite 2‘s open beta to begin, and we could see a large influx of players next Tuesday. Whether that will be enough to counter the cynicism surrounding the game remains to be seen, but there are some fans that believe the game is already dead on arrival. That seems a bit hyperbolic given the popularity of the original Smite, but we’ve seen a lot of live service games die over the last few years. Once the free-to-play period begins, we’ll have a much better idea of the level of interest, and we can probably expect a lot more players will give the game a chance.

RELATED: One of 2024’s Biggest Reveals Is Skipping the Nintendo Switch Due to Power Concerns

While the free-to-play launch should help give Smite 2 a boost over the current alpha’s numbers, it remains to be seen how things will play out. The reality is, there is a lot of competition when it comes to free-to-play games. One area where fans have been frustrated with Smite 2 is the lack of marketing that has surrounded the game. It’s possible we could see a much bigger push now that the free-to-play launch has been officially announced, and that will be key to building awareness. Hopefully the free-to-play launch will prove successful, and give Smite fans reason to feel optimistic about the future.

Have you been waiting for the Smite 2 open beta to begin? Do you think it will improve perception around the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Smite 2 Announces Free-to-Play Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

We’re officially one week into the month of January, and Xbox Game Pass has now pulled back the curtain on its new releases for the first half of the month. We’ve known about the arrival of Road 96 for more than a month now, and it will be available on Xbox Game Pass standard starting today. However, there are a bunch more games to expect over the next week or so, the majority of which will be available through the standard tier. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have one game of their own, while PC Game Pass subscribers have a pretty big addition. The full list can be found below:

• January 7th- Road 96 (Console, PC, Cloud) through Game Pass Standard
• January 8th- Lightyear Frontier Game Preview (Xbox Series X|S) through Game Pass Standard
• January 8th- My Time at Sandrock (Console) through Game Pass Standard
• January 8th- Robin Hood – Sherwood Builders (Xbox Series X|S) through Game Pass Standard
• January 8th- Rolling Hills (Console), through Game Pass Standard
• January 14th- EA Sports UFC 5 (Xbox Series X|S, Cloud) through Game Pass Ultimate
• January 14th- Diablo (PC) through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass

So far, this list has resulted in a collective yawn from Xbox Game Pass subscribers. All of the games that are being added to the standard tier are currently available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so for those that subscribe to the higher price version of the service, UFC 5 is the only actual new announcement for consoles. It’s possible the second half of the month will have a lot more to celebrate, but for the time being, subscribers can’t be blamed for feeling less than enthused.

The weak January lineup for Xbox Game Pass is all the more glaring when you consider the number of games that are leaving the service next week. As revealed earlier this month, six games will be removed from the service on January 16th, with the biggest one being Capcom’s Exoprimal. EA Play will also be removing at least two more games in the month of February, when Madden NFL 23 and F1 22 are both dropped from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

RELATED: Xbox Reveals Two Incredible Squid Game Controller Designs

While the “new” Xbox Game Pass titles aren’t anything to write home about, and we’ve got a bunch of games leaving the service, it’s not all bad news. Today will see the debut of the revamped Xbox Game Pass Quests. Improvements have been made to Quests to make them more streamlined, and there have been changes made to which users can access them. PC Game Pass subscribers will now be able to take advantage of Quests, and earn points towards Xbox gift cards. However, users under the age of 18 on both console and PC will no longer be able to access Quests, following these changes.

How do you feel about the additions to Xbox Game Pass in January? Are you disappointed by the current lineup for the month? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Game Pass January Additions Include Diablo and UFC appeared first on ComicBook.com.

According to a reputable Xbox insider, there is no new Xbox console planned for 2026. Xbox is one of the big three gaming giants out there next to PlayStation and Nintendo. It has carved out a healthy piece of the industry for itself and has continued to push against norms for a while. For a decade or two, many saw Xbox and PlayStation has near identical machines where the only difference was the exclusive games they offered. Now, the two are doing pretty different things despite having somewhat comparable hardware and it is creating a fairly unpredictable industry after years of very structured generations.

For a while, you’d get a console, support it for a few years, release a mid-gen refresh with a new console that was typically smaller and offered quality of life improvements, and then release a new generation of consoles a few years after that. Things have gone a bit differently this generation, though. People are still playing on consoles like PS4, PlayStation did release a PS5 Pro, but Xbox hasn’t even teased any kind of mid-gen refresh. Instead, Xbox seems to be focused on expanding itself in other places such as the cloud gaming arena where Xbox games are available without a console on things like tablets, TVs, and more.

However, there was a rumor floating around that Xbox is gearing up to have a new next-gen console in 2026 called Xbox Prime. The original leak came way of TheGhostofHope on Twitter, a notable Call of Duty leaker who has accurately leaked things related to the FPS franchise before. His information likely came from someone working on the Call of Duty franchise, as the series and its developers is now owned by Microsoft. As such, Microsoft would likely want to ensure that its biggest franchise can be used to heavily promote any upcoming hardware and developers would be in the loop.

Unfortunately, noted Xbox insider Jez Corden stated that there is no such thing as an Xbox Prime coming in 2026. He disputed the information, but also said there’s always a chance he looks silly come next year if such a machine is announced. Both are pretty trustworthy sources, but Corden is extremely well-connected when it comes to Xbox. Of course, given these are unconfirmed reports either way, it’s always worth taking with a grain of salt. Xbox hasn’t indicated that it is ready to kick off the next-generation quite yet and it would be pretty early.

While there have been generations that only last five or six years, the Xbox 360/PS3 and Xbox One/PS4 generations both lasted about eight years. As consoles become more powerful and expensive, users stay attached for much longer and demand them to stay relevant as long as possible. It would be a bit surprising if Microsoft would be interested in ditching the Xbox Series X|S after just six years.

That said, Xbox does seem to be interested in changing how we think about generations. Instead of just abandoning a console, it’s possible there are just more powerful variants of hardware like a phone or a computer. Games could still feasibly be released on Xbox Series X|S, but those looking for more power could get it from something like an Xbox Prime if it were to exist. Games are still releasing on the PS4 over 11 years after its initial release, so it’s not like developers aren’t willing to put games where the players are at the cost of scaled power.

Either way, it’s likely going to be a while before we hear about any plans for a new Xbox. Even if there’s something coming in 2026, we likely won’t hear about it until next spring at the earliest. If there isn’t a new console coming next year, we may be waiting another three or four years before hearing any kind of news on the next Xbox or PlayStation.

The post New Xbox Prime Rumor is “Not True,” Says Insider appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It turns out, it costs a lot of money to make a Call of Duty game… like an absurd amount of money. It’s no secret that Call of Duty is one of the biggest entertainment franchises of all-time and has managed to become an industry juggernaut. Every single year, without fail, Activision delivers a brand new Call of Duty game that brings in billions of dollars. It’s a cash cow that continues to generate money via in-game transactions for months on end. It’s a very well oiled machine that has something for everyone thanks to its blockbuster campaigns, replayable Zombies modes, and the tried and true multiplayer.

Call of Duty has routinely set records for selling ludicrous amounts of copies every single year. It’s a big part of why Microsoft acquired Activision, the company that owns and publishes the shooter franchise. Microsoft shelled out $70 billion for Activision Blizzard + King, Activision’s mobile operating arm. Call of Duty has already been a great investment for Xbox as it allowed the gaming giant to leverage the IP for Xbox Game Pass. In 2024, Xbox made Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 a day one Game Pass title which resulted in both Call of Duty and Game Pass shattering all kinds of records. It’s likely this will only continue in the coming years with more Call of Duty games, especially with another Call of Duty: Modern Warfare on the way.

However, for a while, Activision has guarded both the hard sales numbers and the budgets of its Call of Duty games. We haven’t gotten firm sales data on a Call of Duty game since Call of Duty: Modern Warfare in 2019, which was a massive hit for the series. Now, thanks to a court filing spotted by Game File, we have some concrete numbers for three Call of Duty games. Activision confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War cost over $700 million to develop, meaning this doesn’t even include the tons of money invested into advertising the blockbuster title. It sold 30 million copies total.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) cost $640 million to develop and sold 41 million copies while Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 cost $450 million to develop and sold 43 million copies. That means the budget for a Call of Duty game nearly doubled in just five years. Of course, it should be noted that Black Ops Cold War had a unique development. It was originally a Vietnam/Cold War game by Sledgehammer Games, but Activision pulled Sledgehammer off the project a year before release and assigned Treyarch to turn it into a Black Ops game.

It’s possible that whatever Treyarch was making was combined with Sledgehammer’s title, causing an inflated budget. Nevertheless, this makes Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War officially the second most expensive game of all-time behind Genshin Impact at roughly $900 million. It’s possible there are more expensive games, like GTA 6, but those numbers have not been officially declared. Given Call of Duty is worked on by multiple studios comprised of thousands of employees across three to four years, it’s easy to see how fast a budget can rise on a game like Call of Duty. Everyone has to be paid, technology has to be invested in, and there’s likely all kinds of licenses that need to be acquired for music and the big crossover content as well.

It’s a rare and fascinating insight into how expensive a game can be. Rarely do these companies offer up these financial details, but every now and then they slip out. It was mistakenly revealed in a court document in 2023 that The Last of Us Part 2 cost about $220 million and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was leaked to be over $300 million. Needless to say, it takes a lot to bring these playable worlds to life.

The post The Absurd Cost to Make a Call of Duty Game Revealed by Activision appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Some major changes are coming to Xbox Game Pass later this week. This morning, Microsoft announced that it’s overhauling Xbox Game Pass Quests, in several different ways. The most significant change will be an expansion of Quests, which will be available to PC Game Pass subscribers. The program will expand to PC Game Pass starting on January 7th. Just like on console, players will earn points, which can then be redeemed for Xbox gift cards. On top of the expansion to PC Game Pass, subscribers can expect to see several quests streamlined, and made simpler.

Every day, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can get 10 points for playing any game for 15 minutes or more. There will also be streak bonuses. Subscribers that play five days a week for 15 minutes or more each day will earn a streak bonus. Those streak bonuses will multiply if players can keep them going. After two weeks, the bonus increases to 2x on points, 3x after three weeks, and 4x after four weeks. Anything beyond four weeks will retain the 4x bonus. Players will also be rewarded for playing multiple games in the Game Pass catalog. Playing four games for 15 minutes or more each month will earn players the monthly Monthly 4-pack bonus, while playing eight or more for 15 minutes or more will earn the Monthly 8-pack bonus. A video showcasing the changes can be found below.

Another major change announced today is that Game Pass Quests will no longer be available to users under the age of 18. According to Xbox, this decision “aligns more closely with our continued commitment to foster positive, age-appropriate gaming experiences.” Users under 18 won’t lose any of the points that they’ve previously obtained, and they’ll still be able to earn points through “parentally approved purchases of eligible items on the Microsoft Store, eligible searches on Microsoft Bing and other non-gameplay activities, such as completing the Microsoft Rewards Daily Set.” That’s sure to disappoint some younger users, but hopefully it won’t have too much of an impact.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Losing 2 More Games

These changes will go live this week in all of the regions in which Game Pass Quests are currently offered. The program will also be expanding to Japan on October 7th. There are still a lot of countries that don’t have Game Pass Rewards just yet, but this could be a sign that the program will continue expanding to new markets. For the time being, however, fans will have to settle for the currently offered one. The changes to Quests will coincide with the arrival of the next game on the Xbox Game Pass standard tier, which is Road 96. If subscribers are looking for a title to start earning points, that might be a worthwhile candidate!

How do you feel about all of these changes to Xbox Game Pass Quests? Have you been taking advantage of the rewards? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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According to a new rumor, the next-gen Xbox, possibly called Xbox Prime, is going to release in 2026 and have a new Call of Duty game from developer Infinity Ward at launch. Previously, leaked Microsoft documents suggested both the PS6 and the next Xbox would release in 2028, so for this new rumor to be true plans would have had to change. That said, with Xbox and the Xbox Series X|S losing this generation badly to PlayStation and the PS5 — at least in teams of hardware numbers — it wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft was keen to call an audible and switch up its approach. The last time it got out ahead of its competitor, it released the Xbox 360 a year earlier than the PS3, which proved to be a successful move by Xbox as the Xbox 360 is by far it most successful console to date.

The new rumor comes from a well-known Call of Duty leaker who has likely heard this information in relation to a new Call of Duty game, hence why the information is bundled together. More specifically, the information comes the way of The Ghost of Hope on social media platform X.

“I’m hearing that the next Xbox console is still coming in 2026 and will be called ‘Xbox Prime.’ Still unclear if it’s a code name or the actual name. I’ve heard Infinity Ward’s next Call of Duty is still being considered a day one release for this.”

The rumor continues: “I know people don’t believe it but Xbox next console being in 2026 is pretty much an open secret within the industry. Seems early but I think it makes sense with where Xbox is headed. Name sounds corny but it fits if there’s a big push for day one games on Game Pass right away and they get jump on PS6. Big risk but huge rewards if it pays off.

RELATED: Missing Xbox Exclusive Returns With New Tease: “Stay Tuned in 2025”

The Ghost of Hope cautions to take this information with a grain of salt, and there is clearly also a level of uncertainty about whether or not Call of Duty 2026 is going to be a launch game or not. To this end, take this information with a grain of salt as recommended.

Interestingly, The Ghost of Hope says he’s tried to corroborate the information with others who may know about the next console but has been unable to corroborate the information or debunk it. Whenever the next Xbox console releases — and whatever games it releases with — it sounds like it will be with a fancy new controller with considerable upgrades and a major improvement to backward compatible games.

At the moment of publishing, Xbox has not commented on this rumor or the speculation that has come with it. Considering the rumor deals with new Xbox hardware — and considering Xbox rarely comments on rumors to begin with — we do not suspect this will change, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

For more coverage on all things Xbox — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox deals — click here.

The post Next-Gen Xbox Rumored to Release in 2026, New Call of Duty at Launch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A few days ago, Microsoft revealed a handful of titles that will be leaving Xbox Game Pass on January 16th. We’re still waiting to find out which games will actually be added to the service this month, but it seems at least two more departures have now been revealed. Electronic Arts has an Online Services Shutdown page, which details when games will lose their online features. It also details games that are being removed from EA Play, and thus, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. According to the site, Madden NFL 23 will be removed on February 15th, while F1 22 will go away on February 28th.

It should be noted that these departures only apply to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, and won’t be felt by those that pay for the core or standard tiers. At least in this case, we’re learning about the loss of Madden NFL 23 and F1 2022 well ahead of time. Usually, subscribers have just two weeks to play games before they’re removed. This time, there’s more than a month’s notice, giving everyone ample time to enjoy these games before they’re gone. It’s also worth noting that Madden NFL 24 and F1 23 are both playable on Xbox Game Pass, so it’s not like this is a huge loss. If players desperately want to play the older versions, they’re not available on the Microsoft Store anymore, so you can’t just go buy them. However, physical copies can be found very cheap on sites like eBay, with shrink-wrapped new options available for around $10.

With all of these games leaving Xbox Game Pass lately, hopefully January will have plenty to celebrate. Departures are a reality of subscription services, and it’s just how these things work. We should know what to expect in terms of arrivals in the next few days, but the only remaining game currently confirmed is Road 96, which is coming to Xbox Game Pass standard on January 7th. That’s actually a pretty notable arrival, as the game currently holds a “very positive” rating on Steam. For those that have never gotten a chance to play it, this should be the perfect opportunity.

RELATED: Secret Level Could’ve Had a Halo & Doom Crossover Episode

From everything revealed thus far, 2025 should be a pretty big year for Xbox. The company has some major first-party games that are set to be released this year, all of which will arrive day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Titles like Avowed, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Fable could make this a huge year for Xbox owners, especially those who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass. It remains to be seen whether all of these games will actually release this year, as some could end up delayed. Hopefully we won’t see too many games slip!

Are you disappointed about these Xbox Game Pass removals? What games are you hoping to see added to the service this month? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: True Achievements]

The post Xbox Game Pass Losing 2 More Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Backward compatible games on Xbox may be getting a major upgrade with the next-gen Xbox console. The next Xbox console — based on leaked Microsoft documents — is expected to release sometime in 2028. And based on a new patent, it is going to release alongside a new Xbox controller set to close the gap between the current Xbox controller and the PS5 DualSense controller. According to the patent, one way Microsoft is set to close the gap is with the implementation of haptic feedback, something the PS5 DualSense controller makes great use of unlike the current Xbox controller.

Where do backward compatible games come into the equation? Well, the controller patent — which reports claim is for the next-gen Xbox controller — detail the haptic feedback can be tuned to mimic the haptic feedback of a legacy device. In other words, provide the same feedback the user would have gotten playing the original Xbox game or the original Xbox 360 game on each of their respective controllers. This would, of course, provide a much more authentic experience when playing backward compatible games.

“The device can be tuned such that one resonance peak simulates haptic feedback of a legacy haptic motor of a legacy device (e.g., an Eccentric Rotary Mass (ERM) motor that vibrates at 20 Hz in a legacy game controller),” reads the patent.

RELATED: Missing Xbox Exclusive Returns With New Tease: “Stay Tuned in 2025”

Xbox’s investment into backward compatibility has been considerable recent years. In fact, backward compatibility is one place Xbox has the edge compared to PlayStation and Nintendo. That said, take this patent with a grain of salt. Even if it is related to a new next-gen Xbox controller, as some have claimed, there’s no guarantee this specific aspect of the patent will be realized in the final product.

If there is something to this patent, then this seemingly rules out Xbox going down the Nintendo route of re-releasing old controllers to supplement its backward compatible games. There are always third-party options for those interested in this though.

At the moment of publishing, Xbox has not commented on this new patent and the speculation it has created. It’s never commented on patents and it doens’t comment on speculation, so there’s no reason to expect this to change, but if it does we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more coverage on everything Xbox — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest speculation involving Xbox — click here.

The post Next-Gen Xbox Leak Reveals Game Changer for Backward Compatible Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

An upcoming PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X game — a console exclusive for Xbox — has returned with a new tease that Xbox fans looking forward to it should “stay tuned in 2025.” The Xbox console exclusive in question was announced back on June 13, 2021, and quickly grabbed the attention of Xbox fans with a high-quality and promising trailer.

The Xbox exclusive was slated to release in 2022, but then was delayed to 2023. And then it was delayed again, this time to 2025. And now it looks poised to finally release. This time there is not word of another delay, but a tease of more to come this year.

The Xbox game, for those that have not connected the dots, is Replaced from developer Sad Cut Studios. Taking to social media platform X, Sad Cat Studios wished everyone a happy new year before teasing to “stay tuned in 2025.” This is accompanied by a new GIF of the game. Of course, if the developer is teasing the game like this, it seemingly locks in that the game is still on schedule to release this year as you wouldn’t tease like this just to follow it up with word of a third delay.

RELATED: Xbox Series X Users Warned Not to Miss Out on Free Money

Unfortunately, this is the extent of the tease. There is still no word of a precise release date or when the next trailer will drop. The two will likely unveil alongside each other.

Replaced is set to release sometime in 2025 via PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. When it releases, it will be available for standard purchase as well as available via Xbox Game Pass. It will release alongside the likes of a few notable exclusives, including Fable, Avowed, South of Midnight, and Gears of War: E-Day.

“Replaced is a 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer where you play as R.E.A.C.H.—an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Replaced combines cinematic platformer, pixel art, and free-flow action combat with a deep engaging dystopian story set in an alternative 1980’s. Explore and uncover the mysteries in and around Phoenix-City from the perspective of R.E.A.C.H. who is learning how to be human in a society that has taken a turn for the worst. Everything is ruled by corruption and greed. The ones in power see humans and their organs as nothing more than just currency.”

The post Missing Xbox Exclusive Returns With New Tease: “Stay Tuned in 2025” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass is reportedly set to get one of the best PS1 games ever released in the near future. Unfortunately, the new addition is supposedly going to be limited to the PC version of the subscription service, leaving those subscribed on Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X out in the cold.

The potential new Xbox Game Pass addition hails from 1997, though it didn’t come to PS1 until 1998, a year after its original PC release. 1997 was notably a landmark year for gaming. The likes of Final Fantasy 7, GoldenEye 007, Grand Theft Auto, Gran Turismo, Fallout, Star Fox 64, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, and many other great games all released.

In 1997, RPG fans were also introduced to Diablo, a series that continues to the present, where it is still very relevant and popular. The original Diablo never came to anything but PC, PS1, and Mac. In other words, it has never come to Xbox consoles. And this explains why it is supposedly coming to Xbox Game Pass, but only via the PC version of the subscription service. In order for it come to the console version it will need to come to Xbox consoles first.

The new rumor comes the way of Xbox insider extas1s, a fairly reliable source. According to the leaker, the first Diablo game is coming to Xbox Game Pass on PC sometime this month. A specific date has not been provided though.

Released on January 3, 1997, the first Diablo game — made by Blizzard North — is widely considered one of all time great games, as evident by its 94 on Metacritic. It notably got an expansion in the same year, Diablo: Hellfire. The leak makes no mention if whether or not the expansion will be included in the Xbox Game Pass PC version.

“Darkness stirs beneath Tristram,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “An ancient evil sweeps across the land, plunging it into civil war and terrorizing the populace. A mad king, his missing son, and a mysterious archbishop are all pieces of the puzzle you need to hack through. You have journeyed to the source of this evil. The town of Tristram – now inhabited only by a handful of survivors, broken and twisted by the madness that has befallen them. A cathedral stands there, built over the ruins of an ancient monastery. Eerie lights and ungodly sounds are heard echoing through its abandoned halls, and that is where you shall venture. Embark, if you dare, on a quest to destroy The Prime Evil…”

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Users Praise New Free Game: “Best Game I’ve Played This Year”

For more Xbox Game Pass coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Game Pass news, all of the latest Xbox Game Pass rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Game Pass deals — click here.

The post Xbox Game Pass Reportedly Adding One of the Best PS1 Games Very Soon appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new month is upon us, and for Xbox Game Pass users, that always means new games coming, and some old ones going away. While Xbox has yet to reveal the Game Pass lineup for the month of January, we now know what games will be leaving the service as of January 16th. At least six games will be leaving the service on that day, so hopefully Xbox will have some high-profile options to fill the gap. The full list of games leaving this month can be found below:

• Common’hood
• Escape Academy
• Exoprimal
• Figment: Journey Into the Mind
• Insurgency: Sandstorm
• Those Who Remain

The biggest of these departures is arguably Exoprimal, a third-person shooter developed by Capcom. The game features multiplayer teams competing to finish objectives as they wipe out hoards of dinosaur foes in a futuristic setting. While Exoprimal is an original franchise for Capcom, the publisher has offered collaborations with several of its older, more high-profile series. Since launching in July 2023, these collaborations have included content based on Street Fighter, Mega Man, and Monster Hunter. Capcom has no shortage of great franchises to draw from, so it will be interesting to see if that number grows in the future.

As is usually the case with games departing Xbox Game Pass, subscribers can save up to 20% off on all of these games through the Microsoft Store. It’s not as convenient as having them available through Xbox Game Pass, but it’s a nice way for players to stick with something that they’ve been enjoying without having to pay full price. In the case of Exoprimal, the game is currently priced a lot lower than 20% off, with the base game being offered for $14.99.

One of the nice things about the advance warning is that some players that have been putting off playing these titles now have a perfect excuse to play them. In fact, subscribers shouldn’t have much trouble finishing a game or two before the January 16th deadline. It seems that both Those Who Remain and Escape Academy can be finished by most players in 10 hours or less, so if you’re looking for a shorter experience, those options might be worth checking out.

RELATED: Disney Reportedly Wants More Indiana Jones Games

As of this writing, we don’t know exactly what games to expect from Xbox Game Pass in January, and a full announcement should be coming sometime in the next week. That said, last month’s December update did reveal a pair of games that will be added to the service this month for Game Pass Standard subscribers. The games in question are Carrion, which was added today (January 2nd), and Road 96, which will be arriving on January 7th.

What do you think of these Xbox Game Pass departures? Do you plan on trying any of these games before they leave the service? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox Game Pass Losing Exoprimal and More in January appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Black Myth: Wukong released on PC and PS5 back in August, and the game has managed to sell million of copies worldwide in that short amount of time. While the game has proven quite successful, one platform’s users have been left waiting on a release. For months now, there has been talk about a version for Xbox Series X|S, but the game remains MIA. There have been many rumors about why that might be, from timed exclusivity deals with PlayStation, to a memory leak bug. However, the game’s director has now offered an explanation, and it’s one that shouldn’t be too surprising for Xbox users.

In a January 1st post on Weibo, Black Myth: Wukong director and Game Science CEO Feng Ji talked about the game’s recent success at the Steam awards. In that post (translation provided by Google Chrome), he also took the opportunity to address the missing Xbox version, specifically the problem of “10G of shared memory.” Feng Ji states that “it’s really impossible to get it without several years of optimization experience.” In other words, the smaller size requirements of the Xbox Series S are causing headaches for the team at Game Science.

As a rule, Microsoft requires that games released on the Xbox Series X are also released on the Xbox Series S hardware. On one hand, this requirement has given players a much lower cost of entry into the Xbox ecosystem, with potential buyers not having to worry about games not being playable on the cheaper hardware. Unfortunately, that requirement has caused a lot of issues for third-party developers over the last few years. It’s widely assumed that the requirement pushed back the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox, a situation that wasn’t resolved until developer Larian was able to make a compromise with Microsoft that saw splitscreen co-op dropped from the Xbox Series S version.

It’s unclear whether a similar deal can be struck to speed up the process of getting Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox platforms. The game was one of the most high-profile releases of 2024, and these are lost (or at the very least delayed) sales for both Game Science and Microsoft; the situation has to be a frustrating one for everyone involved. At the end of the day, it makes sense that Microsoft wants to avoid making Xbox Series S feel like an inferior option compared to the Xbox Series X. However, Series X customers are having to wait much longer to get specific games when compared to those on PS5 or PC.

RELATED: Xbox’s OD Gets New Update from Hideo Kojima

For the time being, Xbox users that want to play Black Myth: Wukong are just going to have to wait patiently. The post from Feng Ji doesn’t make it sound like we’re any closer to an Xbox release, but these types of public statements from third-party developers have had some success at reaching Phil Spencer. Hopefully the situation is resolved quickly, and users can get a chance to experience the game for themselves.

Do you think the Xbox Series S is more trouble than it’s worth for Microsoft? Are you waiting to play Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

[H/T: The Gamer]

The post Black Myth: Wukong Director Reveals Why the Game Isn’t on Xbox Yet appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It used to be that video games lasted pretty much forever. If you purchased a game, you could play it as many times as you wanted, and you could even come back to it decades later. Unfortunately, live service games have greatly changed the rules when it comes to what games we get to revisit, and which ones end up lost to time. The latest example is Friday the 13th: The Game. Gun Interactive’s take on the horror movie franchise was released back in 2017, and has suffered a long, and disappointing death. The game’s servers are officially going offline today, much to the disappointment of fans.

Friday the 13th: The Game was an ambitious take on the slasher franchise. An asymmetrical horror game, players could either control Jason Vorhees himself, or one of his would-be victims. The goal was to either kill all the counselors, or survive Jason’s wrath as long as possible. As in the movies themselves, Jason was a near-unkillable engine of destruction. The developers even let the villain warp around the map, which makes sense, given the fact that slasher movie villains tend to be much faster than a real-life person. Different counselors had their own strengths and weaknesses, and there was actually a way to bring Jason down, if players could pull it off.

It was a simple concept, and one that we’ve seen in similar horror games. However, it was the level of fan service that set Friday the 13th apart from other games in the genre. Unlike Gun Interactive’s own The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the company had the rights to all of the movies in the Friday the 13th franchise. As a result, the game featured unlockable skins of various takes on Jason, including the burlap mask from Friday the 13th Part II. The game even featured the likenesses and voices of camp counselors from past movies. Last but certainly not least was the virtual cabin feature, which was a place where players could chill between matches and read up on the lore of the series.

In all of these ways, Friday the 13th: The Game channeled the spirit of the movies. Like the source material, the game could be incredibly cheesy, but that added to the charm. Sure, it could be frustrating when Jason caught up to you, but it was hard not to laugh when Jason tossed your character into a fireplace and held you there with his boot. Getting chased through the woods by Jason while hearing music from Harry Manfredini? For many fans of the films, Friday the 13th: The Game was a dream.

Unfortunately, things were too good to last. Not long after the release of Friday the 13th: The Game, development on new content was forced to cease as a result of legal disputes over the overall franchise rights. The game was eventually delisted last year, though it remained playable through December 31st, 2024. Fans have tried to keep the game going, and there were even attempts to create some promising mods. Unfortunately, the game still ended up in the same place.

The disposable nature of video games has become a source of frustration for a lot of players over the last few years. Friday the 13th: The Game is just the latest example, and it comes in a year where Concord was available for less than a month before the plug was pulled. It often seems like there’s little incentive to get invested in live service games, knowing the fate they will nearly all, eventually, suffer. While this is typically a problem with live service games, they are far from the only casualties; Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle was also delisted last year as a result of the legal battles surrounding the franchise. Both of these games were far superior to the NES Friday the 13th from the ’80s, but at least fans can still track down a physical copy of that game and play it on the old hardware.

While Friday the 13th: The Game is officially dead, things might be turning around for the troubled franchise. The legal dispute that killed Friday the 13th was officially resolved in May 2024, and Horror, Inc. has announced plans for the a ton of new projects starring Jason. New games featuring the character have yet to be officially announced, but rumors suggest two new ones are in the works. If those rumors are to be believed, one of the games will be a new multiplayer title. Does that mean we could see something similar to Friday the 13th: The Game? Time will tell, but there will be huge expectations for whatever comes next.

RELATED: Friday the 13th: Here’s Why People Are Afraid of the Superstitious Day

Are you disappointed by the death of Friday the 13th: The Game? Are you hesitant to embrace live service games because of all the delistings? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post I’m Going to Miss This Horror Game Because Now It’s Gone Forever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been a little while since the last time we heard about OD, the Xbox game from Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele. However, Kojima offered a brief update on the game as part of a post on X/Twitter discussing 2024. While some progress was made on OD throughout the year, it appears that things came to a halt as a result of the SAG-AFTRA Video Game Strike, which began on July 26th. That strike is currently ongoing, so it’s impossible to say when work on the game will start back up.

“For OD, we developed the game and had actor and environment scanning. In the second half of the year, scanning and filming were suspended due to the SAG strike,” Kojima’s post reads.

Hopefully the strike will come to a positive resolution soon, and work on OD can resume. Without knowing much about the game, it’s very difficult to say how far along things are, or if any additional progress can be made by Kojima Productions outside of these parameters.

OD was announced at The Game Awards in 2023. The game debuted with a brief teaser trailer, which featured Sophia Lillis, Hunter Schafer, and Udo Kier. In the video, all three actors could be seen reciting a line about a “hungry purple dinosaur” eating “the kind zingy Fox, the jabbering crab, and the mad whale.” Each of these actors showed varying reactions while reciting the line, ranging from fear to anger. The reflections in each actor’s eyes offered some hints about what was happening off camera, and the teaser ends with an opening door reflecting off the eyes of Lillis, resulting in a scream.

Fans have been trying to decipher exactly what this means for over a year now, and we’re no closer to having an answer now than we were back then. Some fans have pulled out some unique theories, but Kojima and his team haven’t offered any clarification. One thing we do know is that the title itself stands for “overdose,” and the game will explore “what it means to overdose on fear.” Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele seem like the perfect pair to bring that concept to life, and it will be interesting to see if the two can deliver a horror experience that truly scares players.

RELATED: Hideo Kojima’s OD Gets Strange Trademarks

Since the game was announced, many fans have compared OD to PT, the playable teaser for Silent Hills. Kojima’s Silent Hills was cancelled by Konami back in 2015, and fans have spent nearly a decade wondering what could have been. Without actually getting to play OD, it’s hard to say how it might stack up with PT, but it’s easy to see how the horror vibes line up. Hopefully when the game does release, it will prove worth the wait!

Are you looking forward to the release of OD? Do you think Kojima and Peele will deliver a truly terrifying game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Xbox’s OD Gets New Update from Hideo Kojima appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox Game Pass is set to lose lose six games tomorrow on December 31, which means six games will not be carrying forward to 2025. Before this happens though, Xbox Game Pass subscribers interesting in owning or playing these games in 2025 or beyond can purchase each Xbox Game Pass with a 20 percent discount exclusive to subscribers. This discount is available until the moment each game departs the subscription service tomorrow.

When any of these games will return to Xbox Game Pass, there is no way to know. Once many game leave Xbox Game Pass leave they never return, but it does happen. Typically though, this is only happens with popular games with demand that warrants bringing them back. None of the six games in question really fit that billing though.

The six games specifically leaving Xbox Game Pass on December 31 are the following titles: Humankind, Close to the Sun, LEGO 2K Drive, Party Animals, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, and McPixel 3. Those interested can read more about each of these games and find official trailers for each Xbox Game Pass game as well.

Humankind

About: “Humankind is a historical strategy game, where you’ll be re-writing the entire narrative of human history and combining cultures to create a civilization that’s as unique as you are.”

Close to the Sun

About: “Journalist Rose Archer steps aboard the Helios in search of her sister Ada. She quickly discovers not all is as it seems. Grand halls stand empty. The stench of rotting flesh lingers in the air.”

LEGO 2K Drive

About: “Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world LEGO driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy!”

Party Animals

About: “Party Animals brings together a range of adorable animals from puppies and kittens to bunnies and duckies in the cutest cooperative brawler you’ve ever seen! Physics-based multiplayer hilarity ensues as these calamitous critters wrestle, punch, throw and tussle their way through a variety of task-oriented or competitive games in online or offline modes.”

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle

About: “The collision is inevitable. The impact will be unavoidable. An unrivaled clash of explosive proportions! The beloved BlazBlue franchise Crosses universes, Tags in fan favorites, and Battles it out in BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle!”

McPixel 3

About: “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It’s falling too fast to be either of those. It’s McPixel! A wanna-be hero who keeps getting mixed up in the most unbelievable situations you can imagine.”

The post Every Xbox Game Pass Game That Will No Longer Be Available in 2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Fans were hopeful to hear good news about State of Decay 3 after a trailer arrived in June 2024, but excitement gave way to dread in only a few short months. Speculation regarding a delay hit fever pitch in November. Now, they’ll be waiting even longer for a better look. The latest update on State of Decay 3 comes from insider Jez Corden, who says Undead Labs will be pushing the long-awaited survival game another year. This is just another tally on the delay board when it comes to delays for Undead Labs and the open-world Zombie survival game—but it’s not all sour grapes this time.

“I will say this, I did hear as well [Microsoft] were considering State of Decay 3 for 2025 as well. It’s closer to being finished than you would think, but I do think they’re going to let it slip to 2026,” Corden said on the XB2 podcast.

RELATED: State of Decay 2 Updates End as Undead Labs Shifts Focus to State of Decay 3

Undead Labs has been working on State of Decay 3 for years. Previous reports paint an ugly picture of its development. First revealed back in 2020, the team was reportedly still in the early stages of work when the first glimpse at the game was shown off. The first footage featured a harsh winter environment, and showcased infected wildlife as a terrifying new addition to the world. A Kotaku investigation into the studio reported the developers hadn’t even decided if that would feature would actually be in the game at that time, but the pressure to turn something in meant they rolled with the concept. Now, after battling a host of other problems (including internal studio issues) things have taken much firmer shape, even if it’s not quite ready yet.

This should be a net positive for the game. The team grew exponentially after the success of State of Decay 2. Expectations are higher than ever for the former indie. Each new glimpse at the game promises a more polished experienced than the previous two entries, and while they’ve certainly got the resources behind them to make that happen, that’s not all it takes to make something great. If Undead Labs can’t deliver on that expectation after all this time, fans would be right to worry about the future of the series. Especially given Microsoft’s recent track record of closing down entire studios.

All in all, the day one Game Pass launch will be a key factor for State of Decay 3. These types of online Survival titles need a big player base to be considered a success, and taking away the $70 barrier to entry opens the doors to far more players. As a longtime fan of the franchise, my fingers are crossed their gamble pays off. Nothing quite scratches the zombie game itch like this franchise, and even though my heart breaks every time I do something boneheaded and lose another survivor, I crave the devastation all the same.

The post State of Decay 3 Report Reveals Delay and New 2026 Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

An upcoming Xbox exclusive that hasn’t been heard from in years has finally received a new update to close out 2024. By all accounts, 2025 is going to be a pretty big year for Xbox fans. At this point, Xbox intends to release games like Fable, Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and South of Midnight, just to name a few, in the coming year. And while all of these games are ones that Xbox users eagerly want updates on, it’s instead a title that was revealed over five years ago that has now reemerged.

Coming by way of Rare, the studio behind Sea of Thieves, Banjo-Kazooie, and the original Perfect Dark, a brief tease of the developer’s upcoming game Everwild was provided. Shared in a post on X, Rare offered up a new glimpse of artwork from Everwild alongside a caption that wished fans a happy holiday season. No new information on Everwild and its launch was provided, but Rare seemed to tease that it might have more to say about the game in 2025.

“Happy holidays, whoever’s seeing this!” said Rare’s post. “Hope you’re closing the year out in style and, as it’s the day of fine gifts and finer food, here’s our offering – a delicious png for you to enjoy! Right, we’re off to eat a Patagotitan’s hypothesised weight in sweets. ‘Til 2025!”

To stress why this brief update for Everwild is important, it’s because the game hasn’t been heard from in any capacity for multiple years. Everwild was first announced all the way back in 2019 and has since reportedly had its entire development rebooted internally at Rare. This has led to lingering silence around the project for a prolonged span, which led some Xbox fans to believe that the game might have been outright canceled. Clearly, for Rare to now post this new image of Everwild confirms that the game hasn’t been scrapped and could be the first such indication of more to come in the months ahead.

Related: Disney Reportedly Wants More Indiana Jones Games

For now, all that’s known with certainty about Everwild is that it will be releasing for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC platforms at an undetermined time down the road. Hopefully, 2025 won’t be another year that comes and goes without anything new shown off for Everwild.

The post Upcoming Xbox Exclusive Gets New Update After Years of Silence appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Earlier this month, insider Daniel Richtman hinted that more Indiana Jones games are on the way following the release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. In a new episode of The Xbox Two podcast, co-host Jez Corden addressed that rumor, stating that he has heard similar reports about Disney wanting additional games starring the world famous archaeologist. How long that might take is anyone’s guess, but it seems the company is very happy with how the Xbox game turned out.

“A Disney insider suggested that there was gonna be more Indiana Jones. I will say on my end I’ve also heard that Disney picked up the phone and wants more Indiana Jones,” said Corden.

Corden’s statement led to some back and forth about what this might mean for the future of the Wolfenstein franchise. While neither rumor has outright stated that MachineGames will be the developer to continue on making Indiana Jones games, it seems like the thing that Disney and Xbox would want the most. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle managed to capture the tone and feel of the movie series, and shifting things to another developer might hurt a potential sequel. Corden noted that MachineGames will soon have a second studio, which is set to open in 2025. Given that, it’s possible the team could work on Indiana Jones and Wolfenstein “concurrently.”

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle takes place following the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and prior to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. It will be interesting to see if a potential sequel might take place after the latter film, or if MachineGames and Lucasfilm might continue to fill in the gap between those two movies. Raiders took place in 1936, Great Circle in 1937, and Last Crusade in 1938. It might be difficult to squeeze another story between the two movies, but it’s worth noting that, chronologically, the next Indiana Jones movie is Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which was set in 1957. There’s a much bigger gap there, and a lot of room in which MachineGames and Lucasfilm could reveal further Indiana Jones adventures.

RELATED: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Reveals Why Marion and Indy Broke Up

For now, Indiana Jones fans will have to wait to see what the future holds! While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is currently exclusive to Xbox Series X|S and PC, a PS5 version is in development, and will be released sometime in 2025. We also know that a DLC expansion is on the way, titled The Order of Giants. At this time, a release date for that expansion has not been announced. Fans will have to wait and see where things go from there, but it seems like there’s a bright future ahead for Doctor Jones!

Would you like to see more Indiana Jones games from MachineGames? Do you think the developer will be able to work on Wolfenstein at the same time? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Disney Reportedly Wants More Indiana Jones Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users are receiving free money from Microsoft for doing absolutely nothing as part of end-of-the-year celebrations. Gaming is an expensive hobby, and gaming on Xbox is no exception. Even with Xbox Game Pass, costs still quickly add up.

Those without any money to spend on Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, Xbox Series S, or Xbox Series X should check their Message Requests, because there is a chance free money has been provided by Microsoft. More specifically, Xbox users across console generations are reporting that a message from Microsoft was sitting in their Message Request inbox, complete with a free gift card.

The gift cards appear to all be limited to $5 and must be redeemed before January 31 and then spent within 30 days of redemption.

Right now, the giveaway seems to be random, though not that limited because multiple users on just the Xbox Reddit page have reported being on the receiving end of this free $5. To this end, there doesn’t appear to be any requirements or criteria to meet. The giveaway appears to be completely random, though there is no way of knowing this for sure.

RELATED: Next-Gen Xbox Controller Leaked, Copies PS5 Controller

Of course, if you don’t check your Message Requests ever you will potentially miss out on this free offer. More than this, you need to be mindful of the time requirements above or you will also potentially miss out on this special promotion that Xbox typically only does once or twice a year at max.

While $5 isn’t a ton of money, it buys the following discounted and noteworthy games right now from the Xbox Store: Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Firewatch, Gris, Okami HD, Darkest Dungeon, Axiom Verge, Axiom Verge 2, SteamWorld Dig 2, Civilization VI, The Last Campfire, Tails of Iron, What Remains of Edith Finch, Paradise Killer, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil, Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 6, Cloudpunk, Burnout Paradise Remastered, Mortal Kombat 11, Turok, Mega Man, and much more.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

The post Xbox Series X Users Warned Not to Miss Out on Free Money appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new, next-gen Xbox controller has leaked, and apparently Microsoft has been looking at Sony and what it has done with the PS5 DualSense controller for inspiration. When the PS5 and Xbox Series X released back in 2020, there wasn’t — and still isn’t — much different about the two consoles. Finding differences is often splitting hairs. While the consoles are very similar, the difference between the controllers is substantial. While some may prefer the ergonomics and layout of the Xbox Series X controller, there is no doubt the PS5 controller has more tech in it. For example, it has haptic feedback, something Xbox controllers are missing, though it looks like Xbox is determined to remedy this.

A new Xbox controller patent from Microsoft has surfaced online, and according to a new report, it sheds light on what Xbox is planning for its next-gen Xbox controller. Spotted by Tech4Gamers, the patent is not specifically for a controller, but a device within a controller designed to generate haptic feedback.

“A device configured to generate haptic feedback is disclosed,” reads the patent in question. “The device includes a housing, a connector, and a haptic motor. The connector includes a mount end coupled to the housing and a distal end spaced away from the mount end. The haptic motor is coupled to the distal end of the connector. Activation of the haptic motor causes the haptic motor to move relative to the housing to generate the haptic feedback.”

RELATED: GameStop Holiday Deals Let You Get 3 Xbox 360 Games for $4

Whether the implementation will be exactly the same, it appears Xbox is working on matching the PS5 DualSense controller. That said, according to a new report this work will not be realized during the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S generation, but alongside the next Xbox console. This report comes the way of Windows Central, a fairly reliable source. It is claimed in their report this is the previously leaked “Sebile” controller, which we found out about during the Activision-Blizzard acquisition hearings.

As you may remember, these same hearings relayed word that the next Xbox — and the PS6 as well — are aiming to release in 2028. If this is true, and this new controller is a next-gen piece of hardware, then it will be a little while before we see anything come of this patent and the accompanying report.

All of that said, remember to take everything here with a grain of salt. None of this is official information. Meanwhile, for more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox deals — click here.

The post Next-Gen Xbox Controller Leaked, Copies PS5 Controller appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Christmas may be over, but the holiday season is still in swing and so are GameStop’s holiday deals. While more stores close down, GameStop has some big discounts on a wide range of Nintendo Switch games, PS4 and PS5 games, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games. It even has deals on games from older console generations, such as Xbox 360 games.

To this end, it currently has two popular Xbox 360 games on sale for just $1.99 each and another two for $2.99 each. Combine this with its buy two get one free pre-owned sale, and Xbox fans can nab three Xbox 360 games for just $4, paying essentially $1.33 per game.

How long the Xbox 360 games in question will be this price, and how long the buy two get one free sale will be live, is unclear. Right now though, Xbox fans can grab Battlefield 4 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel on Xbox 360 for $1.99 each. Meanwhile, coupling this Borderlands 2 on Xbox 360 is $2.99 on GameStop, as is Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood.

Unfortunately, there is no option for brand new copies, not at these prices. Further, the buy two get one free sale is limited to pre-owned copies. That said, with GameStop there is a guarantee pre-owned games work just like brand new copies or your money back.

Borderlands 2

About: “A new era of shoot and loot is about to begin. Play as one of four new vault hunters facing off against a massive new world of creatures, psychos and the evil mastermind, Handsome Jack. Make new friends, arm them with a bazillion weapons and fight alongside them in 4 player co-op on a relentless quest for revenge and redemption across the undiscovered and unpredictable living planet.”

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood

About: “Live and breathe as Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, in his enduring struggle against the powerful Templar Order. He must journey into Italy’s greatest city, Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire Brotherhood who will rally to his side. Only by working together can the Assassins defeat their mortal enemies.”

Battlefield 4

About: “Battlefield 4 is the genre-defining action blockbuster made from moments that blur the line between game and glory. Fueled by the next-generation power and fidelity of Frostbite 3, Battlefield 4 provides a visceral, dramatic experience unlike any other.Only in Battlefield will you blow the foundations of a dam or reduce an entire skyscraper to rubble.”

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel

About: “Discover the story behind Borderlands 2 villain, Handsome Jack, and his rise to power. Taking place between the original Borderlands and Borderlands 2, the Pre-Sequel gives you a whole lotta new gameplay featuring the genre blending fusion of shooter and RPG mechanics that players have come to love.”

The post GameStop Holiday Deals Let You Get 3 Xbox 360 Games for $4 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Recently, multiple issues have been plaguing the Xbox version of Stardew Valley. Players have encountered several problems following the latest Xbox patch, and Eric “ConcernedApe” Barone is well aware of the problem. In a post on X/Twitter, Barone told fans that an emergency patch is currently in the works for the Xbox version, and it will be released “ASAP.” The most recent update came from Barone on December 24th, and nothing has been heard just yet, so we’ll have to see how long it takes for a resolution.

Thankfully, it seems Stardew Valley fans have been pretty understanding about the situation, especially with it being the holidays. In fact, many fans have encouraged Barone to take a little time to rest and spend time with his loved ones! It’s pretty rare that gamers do that sort of thing, and it says a lot about the game and its community. A lot of Stardew Valley fans really appreciate all the work that Barone puts in, and they don’t seem to take the creator for granted. There’s something genuinely wholesome about seeing so many fans telling Barone to enjoy the holidays and not stress about getting a new patch out.

As far as the Xbox issues are concerned, Barone has not specifically mentioned which elements aren’t working right now. However, Stardew Valley fans seem to have nailed down some of the problems that are occurring. Players have mentioned issues with dehydrators, kegs, preserve jars, raccoons, Willy’s Shop, honey, fish smokers, and more. Apparently, players that encounter these issues are seeing the game crash altogether. As of this writing, it’s impossible to say how widespread these issues might be, but it seems like all of these have been common problems for those playing on Xbox.

Presumably, Xbox users can expect a Stardew Valley fix soon. Barone tends to be very much on top of bug fixes and patches, and he’s an open book when it comes to speaking with the community. That’s one of the reasons the developer has earned such a large (and understanding) fan base; over nearly 9 years, players have learned that Barone isn’t going to let issues last for too long, and he’s going to address the community to let them know what’s getting fixed, and how long it might take to get resolved.

RELATED: Stardew Valley: Symphony of Seasons Announced

With 2025 around the corner, it will be interesting to see what Barone has in store for his fans. In addition to working on Stardew Valley, Barone has been developing a brand-new game called Haunted Chocolatier. Development on the new game was taking a backseat to Stardew Valley‘s 1.6 update, but it seems Barone has been making some progress recently. At this time, Haunted Chocolatier does not have a release window, so there’s no way of knowing if we might see it in 2025.

Have you been having issues with Stardew Valley on Xbox? Are you eager to see these problems resolved? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Stardew Valley Creator Addresses Crash Issues on Xbox appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Before it even released, the Marvel Rivals battle pass structure had already won players over thanks to the fact that items from the passes could be earned even after a season ended and the game moved onto the next battle pass. That part’s not changing, so Marvel Rivals players won’t have to worry about missing out on the contents of a battle pass if they want to play something else for awhile, but as expected, there are some caveats to how Marvel Rivals battle passes work which, in the words of the developers themselves, make things “a bit complicated.”

Marvel Rivals developer NetEase penned a post this week talking about the battle pass setup and how it’ll work from one season to the next. The complicated part mostly deals with Chrono Tokens, the currency used to purchase items from the battle pass. Chrono Tokens can be earned one of two ways: by purchasing them with the game’s premium currency, Lattice, or by earning them through natural progression such as missions and achievements.

If you’re earning them through just playing the game, those Chrono Tokens will expire at the end of each season, so don’t expect to carry earned Chrono Tokens over to the next battle pass. For ones you acquire via Lattice, however, there’s a rule in place that’ll allow you to keep “a portion” of them in the next season.

“The specific amount retained will be the lesser of the remaining Chrono Tokens and the total Chrono Tokens you bought with Lattice in the current season,” the post explained.

NetEase further elaborated by providing an example. If you were to spend 1,000 Lattice to get 1,000 Chrono Tokens, but you end up with 1,500 Chrono Tokens by the end of the season, the 1,000 you purchased will be what carries over to the next season. If you don’t use those Chrono Tokens then, they’ll carry over to the next season and so on until you do use them.

“We hope this clears things up a bit,” NetEase said in conclusion. “It’s a bit complicated, but we wanted to give you all as much info as possible to address your concerns.”

The good news is that for the Chrono Tokens you earned via normal progression that’ll expire at the end of a season, you don’t have to worry about missing out on those entirely if the end date for a season slips your mind. For Chrono Tokens that would expire at a season’s end, those will be auto-redeemed for items in the current battle pass. You of course won’t have a say in what you get at that point, so it’s better to spend them yourself before the end of the season, but it’s at least a safeguard in place to make sure you’re not totally wasting them.

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Other games like Helldivers 2 and Fortnite use stars, tokens, and other currencies similar to Chrono Tokens to unlock battle pass items, and those are hardly ever carried over from one pass to the next, so it’s not surprising that Chrono Tokens will work this way even if the carryover math does make things a bit more complicated. The first “season” in Marvel Rivals was always supposed to be a shorter one, however, with the first real season starting in January, so we’ll see next month how players feel about the battle pass progression once we get a better look at a complete season.

The post Marvel Rivals Battle Passes Just Got “A Bit Complicated” appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In 2020, Fortnite revealed a sleek matte black design for Halo’s Master Chief, which was exclusive to those who played a match on Xbox Series X|S. At the time, Epic Games said that there would be “no time limit for unlocking the style.” Well, Master Chief is back in Fortnite this week, and Epic Games seems to have gone back on their word. In a post on X/Twitter, the company stated that the style can no longer be obtained. No reason has been given for this sudden change, but a lot of fans aren’t too happy with the situation.

“The Matte Black style for The Master Chief is no longer unlockable. This style is limited to players who purchased the outfit and played on an Xbox Series X|S prior to December 2024,” the company’s X/Twitter post reads.

A number of fans have replied with anger and frustration about the sudden change in language, and there’s even a Community Note on the current post. The situation is all the more glaring considering that the Fortnite Status account quoted the original Tweet, in which it outright says that there is no time limit. Some have tried to explain away the language, claiming that there is no time limit for those that purchased the Master Chief skin in the first place; the idea being that if you bought it on Xbox One four years ago, you can still unlock the matte black version if you upgrade to an Xbox Series X or Series S. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Basically, if you unlocked it before December 1st, you’ve got it forever, but if you didn’t, there’s no longer a way to obtain it.

For understandable reasons, Fortnite fans are really unhappy about this! In replies to the post, some even tagged the account for the Federal Trade Commission, arguing that the sudden reversal in language should be looked into. The lack of explanation is also part of the frustration, and has led to speculation from players. Some are wondering if this decision was made to keep the skin “rare” and placate players that like having something that can no longer be obtained by the rest of the community. Others think that this might have been part of the contract between Xbox and Epic Games, but it seems odd that the former company would have signed off on Master Chief’s return, but not on the matte black skin coming back. It’s possible we could get an explanation at some point, but for now, no one knows what the deal is.

RELATED: Fortnite Rumor Says Splinter Cell Is Coming to the Game

To the credit of Epic Games, the company is accepting refunds for new purchases of the Master Chief skin in Fortnite, and it won’t cost players a return ticket. That should make people feel a little better if they spent money thinking they were going to be able to use the matte black version. It’s not as good as getting the skin you were hoping to buy, but at least it’s something.

Did you purchase the Master Chief skin in the hopes of using the matte black version? Are you frustrated over how this situation was handled? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Fortnite Players Upset After Rare Master Chief Skin Is Locked Away appeared first on ComicBook.com.

At The Game Awards earlier this month, fans got their first chance to see The Witcher 4, which made its debut with a stunning new trailer. The announcement was one of the night’s biggest, and it might have convinced some fans to check out the previous game to see what they missed. If you haven’t played The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, there’s never been a better time to do so, as the complete edition of the game has been marked down to just $9.99 on the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store for a limited time.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition normally costs $49.99, so the current deal is 80% off the standard price. The discount ends on different days depending on the platform, but the earliest the sale should be ending is on January 3rd on the Microsoft Store. It should be noted that this deal applies to the complete edition, which includes both the base game and all of its DLC. That’s the best deal overall, as players are getting both the Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine expansions. Those two expansions significantly boost the amount of content available, giving players access to a new region to explore, new contracts to complete, and more.

Those that want to try The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for a little bit cheaper can do so on certain platforms; both Steam and the Microsoft Store offer the base game for purchase on its own, which is currently on sale for $7.99. Readers should be advised that the lower price point does come with some trade-off, and that’s the fact that you don’t get any of the DLC. Obviously, that’s a worse deal, as CD Projekt Red estimates that players get an extra 50 hours of gameplay through those expansions. You might as well spend the extra $2, but if you’re strictly hoping to try the base game and want to save even more money, that option is available.

RELATED: The Witcher Finally Reveals Geralt’s Age

Unfortunately, there is one platform that got left out of this deal, and that’s Nintendo Switch. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt: Complete Edition has been discounted on the platform, but the price point is significantly higher than every other platform. As of this writing, the game is priced at $20.99, down from its usual $59.99. That’s still a lot cheaper than normal, and you’re getting what’s often considered one of the greatest video games of all-time. However, in addition to costing more money, the Switch discount is live for a shorter amount of time; the discount will come to an end on December 27th at 2:59 a.m. ET. If you get an eShop card for the holidays, it might be worth using!

Do you plan on taking advantage of this discount on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt? Have you ever played the game before? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and All DLC Less Than $10 Following Witcher 4 Announcement appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has only been out for a few weeks now, but it seems fans of the whip-cracking archaeologist have more to look forward to in the near future. In a vaguely worded post on X/Twitter, insider Daniel Richtman wrote “looks like we’re getting more Indy games,” along with a pair of emoji eyes. Richtman tends to have a lot of scoops when it comes to movies, so it’s possible this bit of information is coming from the Disney and Lucasfilm side of things. Unfortunately, Richtman did not offer any elaboration, leaving fans to speculate.

Following the post from Richtman, fans began to question whether these new games will see the involvement of Bethesda and developer MachineGames. A direct sequel to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would make the most sense, but could take a while given the development time we’ve come to expect from AAA titles. That said, Lucasfilm Games has recently touched on the possibility of more games like Great Circle. In an interview with Variety earlier this month, Lucasfilm Games vice president and general manager Douglas Reilly told the outlet that “there’s a lot of space in between the films where we could tell more and more Indiana Jones stories that I think would be super interesting.”

Where things go from here is difficult to say. As of this writing, Xbox has not offered any information regarding sales, and there have been no details about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s success on Xbox Game Pass. It’s possible sales numbers could be held closely until after the game’s launch on PlayStation 5 next year, once a greater number of gamers have had a chance to experience it. It will also be interesting to see if a version of the game ends up being released for Nintendo Switch 2, to further boost sales. Xbox has not been shy about bringing games to Nintendo’s current handheld, but it’s likely some games are being held until the latter company’s next system.

A sequel to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would make a lot of sense from Disney’s perspective. The game has seen widespread critical praise, which is more than can be said about the last two Indy movies. Indiana Jones games are a great option for Disney to keep the franchise alive and popular with younger fans, without having to make new films. That’s certainly a cheaper option for the company, and it helps them avoid dealing with a potential recast of series star Harrison Ford.

RELATED: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Reveals Why Marion and Indy Broke Up

As with any rumor, readers are encouraged to take this with a grain of salt. A lot can change in the video game industry in a short amount of time, and until we hear something official about a sequel to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it’s best to not get too excited. Hopefully we’ll hear more about the future of the Indy franchise, and developer MachineGames, in the near future!

Do you want to see a sequel to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle? Would you like to see more games based on the franchise? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users can now download a AAA Xbox game for free, however, this offer is only available until December 24. In other words, it is only available for about one day. Once claimed though, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users can keep the game and play as much as they want. This is a free download for the entire game, and once in your library it will stay there. In other words, this is not a free trial or a free demo.

The reason it is only available for some Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X users is because only those with an EA Play or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription can claim the game. That said, unlike the EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate libraries, which only allow you to play the games included as long as you maintain an active subscription, this free download will stay in your library even if your subscription to either of these subscription services ends. This is to say, this doesn’t work like the standard Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or EA Play game, which require an active subscription at all times.

As for the free game in question, it hails from 2019. In the likes of 2019, major and notable releases included Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Apex Legends, Death Stranding, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Gears 5, Borderlands 3, Kingdom Hearts 3, Metro Exodus, Days Gone, Pokemon Sword and Shield, The Outer Worlds, Disco Elysium, Untitled Goose Game, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Control, and Resident Evil 2 Remake. These were the highlights of what was a pretty notable year for video game releases.

BioWare’s first new IP since Dragon Age, aka Anthem, also debuted in 2019, and while it was as anticipated as any game above it unfortunately did not deliver on these expectations, which is why it is not included in the list of games above.

Support and development ceased for the game back in 2021, but it is still operating. Those who never checked it out, can remedy this if they want, at no cost, because it is the aforementioned free game.

RELATED: Xbox Game Pass Users Praise New Free Game: “Best Game I’ve Played This Year”

Those that decide to check out Anthem now that it is a free download via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play should expect a game that is about 14 or 15 hours long if you decide to mainline it. To experience the main campaign plus side content, you will need about double this. Meanwhile, completionists will need closer to 55-60 hours with the BioWare game.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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Slitterhead has been out for more than a month, but those that haven’t given the game a chance now have an opportunity to do so for free. The game’s developers have released a Slitterhead demo, which should be available on all of its current platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The timing actually couldn’t be better, as it happens to coincide with a 30% discount that’s also live, as of this writing. That knocks the price down to $34.99, from its usual $49.99.

Reception to Slitterhead has been pretty much all over the board since the game’s release. As of this writing, the game holds a Meta Score of 62, placing it firmly in the “mixed or average” category. However, users in general seem a lot more fond of Slitterhead than most reviewers were. On Steam, the game currently holds a “very positive” rating, with recent reviews being “mostly positive.” Slitterhead‘s fans have positively compared it to games released on past PlayStation platforms. One of the more frequent complaints about the game is that many players don’t feel like the price is justified; given the current discount, Slitterhead might be an easier sell!

The demo for Slitterhead gives players access to the first chapter and tutorial. One of the lone drawbacks about demos is that players tend to hate having to revisit areas that they’ve already played and finished. Thankfully, all progress from the Slitterhead demo can be carried over to the full version. Since there’s no cross-progression between versions, players will probably want to download the demo on the platform they’re considering buying the game on.

Given the wide range of opinions that have surrounded Slitterhead, the new demo seems like a perfect opportunity for players to see if the game will appeal to them. The reality is, there are a lot of great games out there, and it’s pretty much impossible to try everything. Demos make things a little easier for players, and it could help to grow Slitterhead‘s fan base.

RELATED: PlayStation Store Announces Massive Holiday Sale

Slitterhead is the latest game from director Keiichiro Toyama. Toyama has spent three decades in the video game industry, and has been responsible for multiple beloved franchises. Toyama is credited as the creator of the Silent Hill franchise, as well as Gravity Rush and Siren. Fans hoping for something like Silent Hill should not expect to find just that. While Slitterhead does feature a number of horror elements, it’s more of an action game. That might be the reason some players have been disappointed by the game, but the demo should help in that regard, as it will quickly clear up any potential misconceptions.

Do you plan on giving Slitterhead a chance now that there’s a demo available? Has a demo ever helped you decide to buy a game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp, on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users can now check out nearly 40 games for free, courtesy of a special new event. With the proliferation of Xbox Game Pass, the idea of downloading Xbox games at no extra cost is not as novel as it used to be. It remains novel for those without a subscription though. The new free downloads are not full free game downloads though, but free demos that allow Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S users the chance to try out any game included before committing to buying said game.

The new, special promotion is called Xbox Indie Game Fest Demo Event, and as the name suggests it is limited to indie games. Those after AAA or even AA games will not find any game below to their liking.

The event is set to run until December 31, which is currently still ten days out. During this period of time, the games should be directly accessible right from the Xbox dashboard where there will be a promotion for it.

As for the Xbox Series X|S games included, they are as follows: Aikyam, Anima Flux
Arctic Awakening, Big Helmet Heroes, Cats on Duty, Cosmorons, Dahlia View, Dreamcore, Escape from Ever After: Onboarding, GigaBash, Island of Winds, KinnikuNeko: Super Muscle Cat, Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, Lost Twins 2, Metavoidal, My Little Universe, Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island, Outbreak: Shades of Horror, Petey Pedro unBEETable Adventure, Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate, Potions: A Curious Tale, Preserve, Puzzledorf, Rhythm Towers, Robo Frenzy, RoboDunk, Robots at Midnight, Section 13, Seed of Heroes, Spiral, Steel Seed, STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator, Super Farming Boy, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, Turbo Overkill, Universe For Sale, Unwording, and Yet Another Zombie Survivors.

RELATED: One of 2025’s Best-Looking Games Is an Xbox Exclusive (And It’s Not What You Think It Is)

Nowhere does it say these games, or at least some of them, won’t retain their free demos beyond this event, but right now there is no guarantee of this or even reason to expect this. If this does happen, it will probably be down the line farther removed from the event, otherwise what would be the point of this special promotion.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox Series X news, all of the latest Xbox Series X rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox Series X deals — click here.

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A new, free Xbox Game Pass game is one of the best games of 2024, according to subscribers who have played it. The Game Awards happened earlier this month, and PlayStation’s Astro Bot took home Game of the Year. The November cut off of The Game Awards means December releases are not considered until next year’s awards. More often than not this is not that relevant as December is typically not littered with memorable releases as it is not an ideal window to release a major game for a variety of reasons.

This year we did get a major release in December. In fact, we got two. One of these games, Infinity Nikki, is not available on Xbox consoles. The other is though. More than this, it is currently an Xbox console exclusive and available via Xbox Game Pass. That game is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which if it released a handful of weeks earlier could have been in the Game of the Year conversation. It wouldn’t come out on top of these discussions, but it could have picked up a nominee and considerations at least. And that’s because by most accounts it’s a very solid game.

To this end, one of the the top posts on the Xbox Game Pass Reddit page this week is a post praising the game as the best game the poster has played all year.

RELATED: One of 2025’s Best-Looking Games Is an Xbox Exclusive (And It’s Not What You Think It Is)

Not only does the popularity of the post suggest there are others who think this, but some of the comments echo the sentiment as well. At the very least, it is among the best games many Xbox Game Pass subscribers have played in 2024.

“I’m still in the Vatican but I think I’m getting close to the next part,” reads one of the top comments. “I spent like 8 minutes last night whipping Blackshirts to death on the stairs leading up to Antonio’s library. They just kept coming. I wish I had utilized the whip more in combat before because it’s very funny. 10/10 game.”

Those interested in checking out Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on Xbox Series X|S via Xbox Game Pass will need to set aside about 15 to 25 hours to complete the game, with the amount of time fluctuating based on how much side content is engaged. Meanwhile, a completionist will need closer to 35-40 hours with the game.

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One of the best-looking games scheduled to release in 2025 is an Xbox exclusive, and it’s probably not the Xbox exclusive you are thinking of. The term “Xbox exclusive” doesn’t quite mean what it used to be mean. Not only because of PC releases but because more and more Xbox Game Studios’ games are coming to competitor machines like the PS5. To this end, perhaps the best-looking Xbox game releasing next year, DOOM: The Dark Ages, is going to be available on PS5 when it releases.

In an era of Xbox games spreading to other consoles, there are still some games slated to be Xbox exclusives, or at least Xbox console exclusives. Whether this will change over time, remains to be seen, but there are some prominent examples in 2025. The most notable and prominent examples include Avowed and Fable. And these games looking promising, or at least elements of them do. What looks even better though is a game flying under the radar.

The Xbox exclusive in question was announced back in June of 2021, and scheduled to release in 2022. It was then delayed to 2023. And then it was delayed again to 2025. Whether it will stick this release window, remains to be seen, but right now it is penned in for a release next year.

For those that have not connected the dots yet, the mystery Xbox exclusive is Replaced, which has been announced for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X. Developed by Sad Cat Studios and published by Coatsink, Replaced is actually set to be available via Xbox Game Pass when it releases. Whether it will come to other platforms, who knows, but right now it is an Xbox console exclusive. And it looks great. Meanwhile, unlike Avowed or Fable or South of Midnight — more notable Xbox exclusive drops next year — there are no detractors; everyone seems to agree it looks great.

RELATED: Xbox Report Reveals Major Xbox Series X Exclusive Delayed to 2026

“Replaced is a 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer where you play as R.E.A.C.H.—an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Replaced combines cinematic platformer, pixel art, and free-flow action combat with a deep engaging dystopian story set in an alternative 1980’s.”

The game’s official description continues: “Explore and uncover the mysteries in and around Phoenix-City from the perspective of R.E.A.C.H. who is learning how to be human in a society that has taken a turn for the worst. Everything is ruled by corruption and greed. The ones in power see humans and their organs as nothing more than just currency.”

As always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. What 2025 Xbox exclusive do you think looks the most promising? Meanwhile, and as always, catch all of our previous and extensive Xbox coverage by clicking here.

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Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series S users have 24 hours to grab a popular Star Wars game for free, however, those interested will need to meet some requirements. The new free Xbox game hails from 2017, a year where games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, PUBG, NieR Automata, Super Mario Odyssey, Persona 5, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, Resident Evil 7, What Remains of Edith Finch, Cuphead, Divinity: Original Sin II, Horizon Zero Dawn, Hellblade, Injustice 2, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Nioh, Pyre, Tekken 7, and Forza Motorsport 7 all released.

It was a pretty memorable year, which also treated Nintendo fans to the Nintendo Switch, complete with the best launch lineup in video game history. Meanwhile, 2017 even had something for Star Wars fans. In 2017, there weren’t as many Star Wars games releasing as there is now nor in the past. It was a slower time for Star Wars video games. In this slow time though, there was the revival of the Star Wars Battlefront series. The first game released in 2014, and was followed by Star Wars Battlefront II in 2017. And this game can be now be downloaded for free on Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.

As noted, there are some requirements to meet though. More specifically, those on any of these consoles will need either an EA Play subscription or an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. In addition to this, the offer is only available for 24 hours.

Unlike Xbox Game Pass games though, which are locked to an active subscription, this is a free game download. In other words, even if your Xbox Game Pass or EA Play subscription lapses, you will maintain your free access to Star Wars Battlefront II.

Developed by DICE and published by EA, Star Wars Battlefront II was a contentious release at the time due to its usage of loot boxes, which were a very hot button topic throughout the Xbox One and PS4 generation. Not only were there loot boxes, but unfair gameplay advantages to be had via loot boxes. Suffice to say, the game was not well received, as evident by its 66 on Metacritic. Despite this, it sold appreciably thanks to the power of the IP, which hadn’t been run into the ground by Disney yet.

RELATED: Star Wars Stellan Gios Lightsaber Hilt Replica Returns On December 19th

The free download on Xbox is specifically for the Celebration Edition of the game, which comes with the base game plus the following: more than 25 Hero Appearances, more than 125 Trooper and Reinforcement Appearances, more than 100 Hero and Trooper Emotes and Voice Lines, and more than 70 Hero and Trooper Victory Poses.

For more Xbox coverage — including all of the latest Xbox news, all of the latest Xbox rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Xbox deals — click here.

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The latest chapter in Senua’s journey received high marks from critics, but sales numbers seem to have missed the mark. There are no concrete metrics available, but what data is available paints a grim picture for the series. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice first launched on PlayStation 4 before eventually arriving on Xbox, but with Ninja Theory now a part of Xbox Game Studios, the plan was always to keep Hellblade 2 exclusive to Microsoft’s platform. Industry insider Jez Corden says Xbox now views that as a major misstep. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he writes: “I heard they consider Hellblade exclusivity a mistake.”

This comes as reply to a fan who asked why Xbox Game Studios has a seemingly mixed philosophy around its biggest titles. The Outer Worlds 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are two big hits for Xbox that are (or will be) available on PlayStation and other platforms, while South of Midnight (Compulsion Games) and Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment) will be exclusively on Xbox consoles.

[RELATED: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Review: Immersion You’ll Have to Hear to Believe]

2025 could be a make or break year for Xbox. While an out-of-context quote from studio head Phil Spencer about Xbox potentially “exiting the gaming market” in 2029 previously did rounds on social media, the company is not exactly on death’s doorstep. It’s no secret Xbox is banking on Game Pass being an even bigger success in the coming years. Though blockbuster titles like Avowed and Indiana Jones are a big part of the company’s strategy, so are technical and creative achievements like Hellblade 2, making it very unlikely Ninja Theory will see any real blowback for diminished sales.

In fact, Corden previously stated Ninja Theory will not go the same way as studios like Arkane Austin. He reported the studio’s next game had been greenlit by Microsoft back in May 2024. For those keeping track, this is not Project Mara that the studio announced in 2020, but a second new title that is reportedly in early development. No details are available about this new game just yet, but Corden has proven to be a reliable source many times over.

This is deeply reassuring for fans of both Hellblade and Ninja Theory. Xbox repeatedly used Hellblade 2 as a showcase piece throughout its development. It’s clear the company views the series as a standard-bearer for what Xbox is capable of, both in terms of console performance and creativity. Yet, Ninja Theory is much more than the Hellblade franchise alone. The often-beleaguered studio’s previous titles include Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, DmC: Devil May Cry, and Heavenly Sword. None of those games set the world on fire commercially or critically, but they did deliver some of the most pure hack-n-slash fun ever in gaming, and losing the studio behind them would be a crushing blow for an industry that has suffered far too many in the last ten years.

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