Latest Xbox Game News & Updates
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🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformGTA 5 For PS5 And Xbox Series X|S Will Be Free For Last-Gen Owners This Week
Ahead of GTA 6's release in November, Rockstar Games has announced that anyone who owns a digital copy of GTA 5 for PS4 or Xbox One will get a free upgrade to the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S version. The native versions for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S normally cost $40. They include better graphics and faster loading times, among other things. This starts on June 18, Rockstar said. The free upgrade offer is coming ahead of the release of GTA Online's next big update, The Kortz Center Heist, which releases in July. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-17-at-11.02.48-AM.png?w=1024) The Kortz Center. The Kortz Center Heist is a multi-stage heist where players will break into The Kortz Center(https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/KortzCenter) and steal works of art. "Now the time has come to raid this prestigious gallery’s esteemed collection for personal gain," Rockstar said. That's all Rockstar had to say about the upcoming expansion, but more information will be announced in the weeks ahead. GTA 5 and GTA Online have been enormously successful, with GTA 5 passing 230 million copies sold(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/top-10-best-selling-video-games-of-all-time/2900-4814/) and GTA Online staying strong with its ongoing updates. GTA 6 releases on November 19, and Take-Two's top boss recently re-committed to that date and explained why the game is taking so long(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-release-date-confirmed-again-by-ceo-who-also-explains-why-its-taking-so-long/).
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Multi-platformRockstar makes GTA 5 upgrade on PS5, Xbox Series X and PC free
Grand Theft Auto 5 players on PS4 and Xbox One can upgrade to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions completely free of charge, Rockstar announced.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformXbox Hypes Up Gamescom Return Amid Questions About Its Future
The summer of gaming is far from over, as following a week of showcases, the next big event is Gamescom in August. With the show drawing closer, more gaming companies are confirming that they'll be headed to Germany soon, including Xbox. Microsoft's gaming division will once again have a presence at the Koelnmesse, but it's pushing ahead with these plans while its future looks increasingly uncertain. For now, Xbox says that its Gamescom presence will be headlined by Gears of War: E-Day, which will be playable on the Gamescom showfloor. Typically, Xbox also holds a dedicated Gamescom showcase after Geoff Keighley's Gamescom Opening Night Live(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/gamescom-opening-night-live-2025-all-the-biggest-announcements-games-and-trailers/2900-6888/) event, dropping a new look at upcoming games. Since this takes place in the wake of the June Xbox Games Showcase, the broadcast is usually more of the same, with several Game Pass announcements mixed in. Gamescom's stomping grounds of Cologne, Germany, is also the first stop on the Xbox FanFest(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-fanfest-goes-on-tour-for-25th-anniversary-making-stops-in-7-countries/1100-6539175/) event--a global tour that celebrates Xbox's 25th anniversary--this year. While the external messaging around Xbox has certainly been positive throughout 2026, recent reports indicate that there's some major turmoil happening behind the scenes. https://bsky.app/profile/xbox.com/post/3moieyr267s2m Some analysts are claiming that upcoming Xbox exclusives like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are being sent out to die(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/upcoming-xbox-exclusives-are-being-sent-out-to-die-analyst-says-xbox-pushes-back/)--something Xbox has disputed--and reports say that Microsoft is preparing to lay off staff and close multiple development studios soon(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-apparently-already-knew-it-would-be-closing-ninja-theory-when-it-announced-senua/). Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has also alluded to upcoming changes(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/10/next-100-days-xbox-reset/) at Xbox, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says that Xbox needs to find a way(https://www.gamespot.com/?posttype=articles&p=1791631&preview=true&thumbnailid=1791632) to transform into a "sustainable" business for the company. While Xbox hasn't confirmed yet which of its other upcoming games will be at Gamescom, things do look dire for the studios that are making them. Compulsion Games, Double Fine, and Ninja Theory are said to be facing potential closures, but there might be hope for them to spin off from Xbox(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/). The news looks especially bad for Ninja Theory, as the studio has just announced its new game, Senua. According to Stephen Totilo's Game File(https://www.gamefile.news/p/xbox-studio-contraction), Microsoft was already planning to split from Ninja Theory, and the decision to reveal Senua during the Xbox Games Showcase was made to draw investor interest.
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCAll seeds in Grow a Garden 2
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/grow-a-garden-2-seeds.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Seeds are among the most important items you'll pick up in Grow a Garden 2. You'll need plenty of seeds in GaG 2 to not only start growing plants, but also to start earning as much in-game cash as possible. Not all seeds are created equal though, and the rarest ones will help you bag the greatest amount of cash when it comes round to harvesting. If you're not sure where to start, then our guide on all seeds in Grow a Garden 2 is here to help you out. We've rounded up every seed in GaG 2 below, including how many Sheckles it will cost you from the Seeds Shop, and we also explain what your chances are if you try your luck opening a Ghost Pepper seed pack. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/grow-a-garden-2-seeds)
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformMicrosoft Apparently Already Knew It Would Be Closing Ninja Theory When It Announced Senua
Earlier this week, it was reported that Microsoft was planning to close(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/), or spin out, Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and potential other studios as part of a round of layoffs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/) and studio closures. Now, a report suggests that Microsoft knew it planned to close Ninja Theory before the studio announced its new Hellblade game, Senua, during the Xbox Games Showcase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/) just ten days ago. According to Stephen Totilo's Game File(https://www.gamefile.news/p/xbox-studio-contraction), Microsoft "had already planned to sunset or split" with Ninja Theory by the time Senua's trailer debuted, thinking that a newly announced game would "draw investor interest." Totilo notes that it's unclear whether anyone in Ninja Theory's leadership team was involved with, or even aware of, that plan. The report follows a bumper interview that Xbox Wire(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/07/senua-ninja-theory-details-interview-action-adventure-xbox-games-showcase-2026/) published about Senua, in which it said, "The original Hellblade famously ended with the line, 'There are more stories to tell.' Senua feels like Ninja Theory has expanded that to a philosophy of, 'There are new kinds of games to make.'" Ninja Theory studio head Dom Matthews also noted that the gap between Hellblade 2 and Senua being small is deliberate. "It’s not about rushing something out the door--we would never do that--but we want to ship games." https://youtu.be/H2eP2xtTEzw It began with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's "reset" memo, which noted that Xbox has spent over $20 billion on ongoing investments, but that the annual revenue has declined almost half a billion in the same time. "Going forward, this cannot continue," Sharma said. That was followed immediately by Xbox Game Studios boss Craig Duncan stepping down. While Ninja Theory, Double Fine, and Compulsion are all reportedly in talks with Microsoft over potential buyouts, the studios will need investment to go independent if those negotiations are successful. Alongside those imminent threats, it remains to be seen whether Ninja Theory would even be permitted to take its Hellblade franchise with it wherever it goes. When Microsoft closed Lionhead, there was investment interest, but those talks didn't amount to anything since Microsoft was unwilling to let the Fable name go. It remains unclear what the future holds for the studios facing closure. There's a sliver of hope in the fact that Microsoft appears to be hoping for investors to buy the studios rather than shuttering them entirely, but only time will tell if that approach is successful.
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCWhat do Gnomes do in Grow A Garden 2?
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/gag2-gnome-gear.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Looking through Grow A Garden 2's Gear shop, you'll come across a suspicious character in the list of useable items: a Gnome. This mischievous red-eyed miscreant may seem like a menace, but he's actually a little saint. By placing him down, he'll act as a deterrent to any late-night visitors trying to yoink your best crops. If you want to know what exactly he does and how best to use him, we've put together a guide on how to use Gnomes in Grow A Garden 2, so you can keep your crops safe and make a mechanical new pal in the process. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/grow-a-garden-2-gnomes)
🖥 Xbox, PCForza Horizon 6's latest patch may have quelled Bowie Knife99's rage alongside making it easier for players to 100% regions
No more endless searching for lost roads.
🖥 Xbox, PCIt just keeps getting worse—Microsoft reportedly already had Ninja Theory in its crosshairs while pushing the announcement trailer for its next game
"Microsoft had already planned to sunset or split with the studio."
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCAnime Squadron codes
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/anime-squadron-0.webp?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Anime Squadron is a Roblox(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/roblox) tower defense game that’s packed with rare anime characters to collect. After summoning your dream team, you’ll upgrade their traits, take on quests, and work your way through challenging tower defense battles. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/roblox-anime-squadron-codes)
🎮 PlayStation, Xbox, Multi-platformWeeks After Launching A Great Game On Game Pass, Dev Lays Off Its Staff
Late last month, Kwalee Labs launched its first-person horror shooter Luna Abyss(https://www.gamespot.com/games/luna-abyss/) on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. But not even a day-one Game Pass release was apparently enough to save the jobs of the team that made Luna Abyss. Kwalee Labs CEO and production director Hollie Emery announced on her LinkedIn page(https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hollie-emery-074a625bhey-folks-i-have-some-sad-news-from-the-share-7472658276480946177-QHk2/) that she and the other eight members of Luna Abyss's development team were laid off earlier this week for undisclosed reasons. "Unfortunately as of yesterday, the entire team has been made redundant; a decision that was completely outside of our control," wrote Emery. "As a result, the entire team are available for work as of today." Emery also stated that she and the rest of her team were "enamoured by the love and support it received both by our industry and critically by journalists and media. Whilst we faced many challenges along the way, it has been the highlight of our careers--and we are incredibly proud that it has finally seen the light of day." According GameSpot's sister site Metacritic(https://www.metacritic.com/game/luna-abyss/), Luna Abyss had an 81% score and was largely received well by critics. While the title's Game Pass numbers aren't available, its peak concurrent players on Steam(https://steamdb.info/app/1933000/charts/) was 18,597 near launch. However, its most recent 24-hour peak was only 310 players, which marks a dramatic drop-off. Luna Abyss puts players in control of Fawkes, a woman who has been imprisoned on a moon called Luna and tasked to excavate and explore the deep passages beneath the surface while monitored by her A.I. prison guard, Aylin. As Fawkes uncovers the secrets of Luna, she's forced to fight for her life against cosmic horrors that defy description. Presumably Luna Abyss will remain available on its current platforms. The layoffs of Kwalee Labs' developers comes at a time when even prominent first-party studios at Xbox are currently negotiating with Microsoft(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/) to avoid being shut down. The final fate of those studios is currently unclear.
🟩 Xbox, Multi-platformOri Dev CEO Says Xbox Was Too Focused On Protecting Its Legacy To Build Its Future
Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler (Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and No Rest for the Wicked) has commented on the recent turbulence at Xbox. The Ori games were previously published by Xbox Game Studios, but Moon Studios remained independent and started work on No Rest for the Wicked shortly after the second Ori game was released. In his informed opinion, Mahler has claimed that Xbox’s troubles began years ago when it decided to focus on legacy IP instead of cultivating the next generation of games and developers. It looks like bad news for the studios that fall under Xbox's first-party developer umbrella. As part of its "reset" under new Xbox boss Asha Sharma, Microsoft's gaming division is reportedly planning to cut costs by laying off staff and closing studios(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/) like Compulsion Games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-closing-we-happy-few-south-of-midnight-developer-compulsion-games-report/), Double Fine, and Ninja Theory. While those studios might spin off from Microsoft(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/) and strike out on their own, one developer with a long history of working with Xbox says that he's not surprised by the recent turbulence occurring at the company. "Xbox has struggled for a long time to identify, empower, and protect the key creative people and teams who could have kept the brand at the top," Mahler wrote(https://x.com/thomasmahler/status/2066810669962330434?s=46). "Even when we were making Ori with Xbox, it was clear that the main focus was still Halo, Gears, and Forza--even though gamer excitement around Halo and Gears had already cooled heavily after Bungie and Epic moved on from those franchises. The newer installments simply didn't reproduce the same cultural impact those series once had." !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Ori-will-wisps.jpg?w=1024) Ori and the Will of the Wisps As Mahler put it, franchises like Ori could have helped kickstart a new era for Xbox, one that would include younger generations of gamers who could have grown into lifetime fans of the brand. And while it is true that Microsoft owns an impressive selection of video game franchises and intellectual properties, Mahler added that great games are made by people who love the medium and who know what it is that their audiences want. Mahler added that, were he in charge, he'd "slim down" Xbox and work to "bring back the passion for gaming." He said that Xbox leans heavily on nostalgia, not the people who make games. "Xbox should be one of the strongest publishers in the world," Mahler wrote. "With the brands Microsoft owns, that should honestly be fairly straightforward. But nostalgia alone is not enough. Nostalgia can get people to look in your direction, but after that, you still have to deliver the goods. You still have to make products that get players genuinely excited. Products that make gamers literally salivate. And to do that, Xbox has to bet on the right people. They need to find the Miyamotos, Tezukas, and Sakurais within their own ecosystem--the people who actually speak the same language gamers do--and then support them, protect them, and trust them." Mahler concluded that Xbox was more than capable of shipping better games than its competition, and it just needs the right people in charge of steering the ship. "It still looks like Xbox is sitting on an absolute goldmine," he wrote. "They just need to put the right people in charge of mining that gold." It looks like bad news for the studios that fall under Xbox's first-party developer umbrella. As part of its "reset" under new Xbox boss Asha Sharma, Microsoft's gaming division is reportedly planning to cut costs by laying off staff and closing studios(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-reportedly-planning-big-layoffs-for-next-month/) like Compulsion Games(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-closing-we-happy-few-south-of-midnight-developer-compulsion-games-report/), Double Fine, and Ninja Theory. While those studios might spin off from Microsoft(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/double-fine-ninja-theory-and-more-reportedly-trying-to-spin-off-from-xbox-game-studios/) and strike out on their own, one developer with a long history of working with Xbox says that he's not surprised by the recent turbulence occurring at the company. The Best Xbox Series X Games In 2026 !4412246-4410073-indy.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4412246-4410073-indy.jpg?w=1024) !4214719-4151108-alanwake2.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4214719-4151108-alanwake2.jpg?w=1024) !4623906-gamespotimagetemplate(9).jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1864/18643033/4623906-gamespotimagetemplate(9).jpg?w=1024) !4475838-avowed.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4475838-avowed.jpg?w=1024) !4638327-arcraiders.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4638327-arcraiders.jpg?w=1024) !4475834-blueprince3.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4475834-blueprince3.jpg?w=1024) !4405753-4392211-bo6launchlowtown01branded.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1585/15855271/4405753-4392211-bo6launchlowtown01branded.jpg?w=1024) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-xbox-series-x-games/2900-3818/)
🖥 Xbox, PCSubnautica 2: How to unlock all Tadpole upgrades
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/subnautica2-tadpole-scout-ray-chassis-1.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) The Tadpole in Subnautica 2(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/subnautica-2) is something you'll want to acquire as soon as possible. Instead of swimming around, learning how to get the Tadpole(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/subnautica-2-how-to-get-tadpole) is going to allow you to safely contain yourself from all the aggressive sea creatures littered around the world. But, acquiring it is just the beginning. You'll want to start unlocking the Tadpole upgrades pronto, so you can kit out your Tadpole to be the best little submarine there ever was. In Subnautica 2, there's two different Chassis upgrades you can find and craft and five separate Upgrade Modules. This will take a whole lot of searching, but fortunately I've put together exactly where you can find everything you need and what you'll need to craft them. You'll be spending a lot of time in the Alien Ruins for this one, so prepare yourself! Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/subnautica-2-how-to-unlock-all-tadpole-upgrades)