Latest Xbox Game News &amp; Updates

Studio Ghibli and Stardew Valley fans need to wishlist Xbox's Vivarium

The biggest cozy life sim reveal of Summer Game Fest and the 2026 Xbox Showcase deserves attention from anime fans

🎮 Stardew Valley

PolygonNews2 months ago

Xbox Clarifies Its Exclusivity Strategy Moving Forward, Wants You To Buy An Xbox

Today's Xbox Games Showcase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/) was the first under the leadership of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who has pledged to consider making changes to Xbox's exclusivity strategy(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-gaming-is-dead-to-be-replaced-by-return-to-xbox-branding-report/1100-6539586/). Now, another Xbox executive, chief content officer Matt Booty, has clarified Microsoft's position on exclusives going forward. He told Gamertag Radio(https://youtu.be/iWLmhs0nmyc?si=S8655ThWGMxq7Xu9), "Our big multiplayer games and live-service games are going to continue to be multiplatform." "We want people to have a reason to get on board with Xbox," he added. "We want them to have a reason to buy an Xbox." So why isn't Gears of War: E-Day going to be on PS5(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-version-canceled-report-says/), and is instead an Xbox console exclusive? The game has multiplayer, after all, and it's expected to get ongoing updates over time. Booty didn't say outright, but it might have something to do with how Microsoft never announced the game for PS5 in the first place. The game was reportedly planned for PS5, however, and was apparently canceled for Sony's console late in the game(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gears-of-war-e-day-ps5-version-canceled-report-says/). "If we promised something to players, we're going to honor that promise," Booty said. He added that when Microsoft announces a release date for a game, it will also announce the platforms, so players will "know what the choice will be." All of this being said, Booty suggested Microsoft is not settled in its thinking here just yet. "We're going to keep thinking about this going forward," he said, adding that Microsoft will take a case-by-case approach to its new releases and what platforms they show up on. The idea is to make the "right decision, not the fast decision," he said. If all of this sounds familiar, it's because former Xbox executives Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond said similar things. Addressing the exclusivity situation, they both said Microsoft would make decisions around exclusivity on a case-by-case basis. Bond, for her part, appeared on stage in 2021 in front a banner that said Starfield would be an "Xbox exclusive." In 2023, Bethesda's Todd Howard said Starfield was a better game because it's on Xbox and not PlayStation(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/starfield-is-a-better-game-because-its-exclusive-to-xbox-and-not-on-playstation-todd-howard-says/1100-6517512/). Then in April 2026, Microsoft released Starfield on PS5. This history has made some people question Microsoft's commitment to its statements. That's not out of the ordinary, though, as many companies regularly pledge to do one thing, then do another, in response to changing landscapes or for any number of other reasons. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-07-at-5.12.26-PM-1.png?w=1024) Things have changed at Xbox. At the Xbox Games Showcase this year, Microsoft announced that Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution would be exclusive on console to Xbox. No other games were announced as Xbox console exclusives, however. A blog post from Microsoft celebrating the Xbox Games Showcase touted a "return to exclusives."(https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/06/07/xbox-games-showcase-2026-recap-everything-announced/) The statement went on to stress that E-Day and Clockwork Revolution are not "timed exclusives," suggesting they may never come to any console platform other than Xbox. The statement went on, "Games already announced for multiplatform releases will stick to that plan--we’re committed to investing in and growing Xbox both on console and beyond." Sharma has said she wants to "reset" the Xbox business and that Microsoft "must" have exclusive content(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-must-have-exclusive-content-ceo-says/) to help revitalize Xbox. That all may be true, but Microsoft's messaging around exclusives is just confusing right now(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xboxs-showcase-wanted-exclusives-to-be-a-big-deal-but-made-everything-more-confusing/), as Alessandro Barbosa wrote for GameSpot.

Spyro Devs Don’t See Many Comparisons To Its Flying, Except Iron Man Or Flight Sims

The announcement of a new Spyro the Dragon game(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/spyro-the-dragon-returns-after-20-years-and-hes-finally-taking-flight/) in more than two decades during the Xbox Game Showcase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/) is aiming high with the confirmation that it will feature "true dragon flight" gameplay for the first time. Speaking of the challenge of introducing this mechanic to the dragon's core kit in an interview with GameSpot, the developers at Toys For Bob hint that it's unlike anything from any other game. "One of the big challenges was that, as we were thinking about what other games even broach this kind of verticality and this freedom of flight, there's not that many," Toys For Bob studio head Paul Yan said. "Maybe the ones that come closest to mind are flight simulators ... or maybe flying as an Ironman type of character, but it's very, very different than trying to get the physicality of a dragon, and also the nimbleness of a small but mighty dragon like Spyro." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYjMh8exEIQ T(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYjMh8exEIQ) "It's challenging and that there's nothing out there to compare against, but it's also a huge opportunity for us because this is a key differentiator for Spyro in this space and being able to move this way." Creative director Lou Studdert added that it was important that flying as Spyro felt like flying as a dragon. "He's not a jet. He's not a paper airplane. He is a dragon. It's wing flap. It's feeling the way you soar is very important to Spyro as a whole." Compared to past Spyro games that were primarily 3D platformers with gliding and a few linear flight levels, Spyro: A Realm Beyond is then promising the freedom of true flight, which means greater verticality in the level design. "It's opening up a new dimension to how we build the play space for Spyro," says Studdert. "It's really about making sure that the whole play space engages you with it, and it's engaging you to interact with it and to have that augment or sustain or boost your flight ... It's still going to be engaging on the ground, but it is now adding that additional dimension to it, and how we make sure that we sustain that fluidity movement that is so core to a Spyro experience." Spyro: A Realm Beyond also sees voice actor Tom Kenny returning to voice Spyro(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-the-new-spyro-is-handling-the-big-name-options-for-its-lead-voice-actor/) after the devs decided to reach out to the voice of Spongebob Squarepants himself. Spyro: A Realm Beyond will be coming in Spring 2027 to Xbox Series X/S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.

🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, PC

Gears of War: E-Day gets the official Cliff Bleszinski seal of approval

He sounded doubtful at first, but once the E-Day Direct got rolling, the Gears of War creator changed his tune.

🎮 Gears of War: E-Day

Pipes.exe is a co-op horror game about the world's favourite screensaver

No, not the flying toasters.

🖥 Xbox, PC, Multi-platform

Sega Confirms And Responds To Generative AI Content In New Crazy Taxi Game

!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/07/01814929/crazytaxi.jpg.webp) Crazy Taxi: World Tour was just announced at the Xbox Games Showcase(https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/crazy-taxi-and-the-offspring-are-back-in-world-tour-launching-next) and players were quick to notice that the game's Steam page(https://store.steampowered.com/app/2924540/CrazyTaxiWorldTour/) contained a generative AI disclaimer which reads, "At SEGA Corporation, we utilize generative AI as a support tool for developers, aiming to provide better content to our users and enable developers to focus more on creative tasks We have used such generative AI support tools during development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game." We reached out to Sega for confirmation and a potential response to the details on the Steam page. Many fans excited for the return of Sega's racing game have already expressed frustration(https://bsky.app/profile/gameovergreggy.bsky.social/post/3mnpulk7whk2f) over the use of generative AI assets. Below is Sega's response, which repeats some of the details on the Steam page: At SEGA Corporation, generative AI is available as an optional support tool for developers, enabling our teams to focus more on creative tasks and ultimately focus on what matters most: delivering better games to our consumers. Generative AI was used to support our teams during the development of background assets for ”Crazy Taxi: World Tour”. Assets generated were still subject to review by the development team. No AI was used in reference to the performers in the game. To learn more about Crazy Taxi: World Tour's reveal during the Xbox Games Showcase, head here(https://www.gameinformer.com/xbox-games-showcase/2026/06/07/crazy-taxi-and-the-offspring-are-back-in-world-tour-launching-next).

GameNews2 months ago

Fable’s Chicken Obsession Goes Even Deeper Than We Imagined

Microsoft and Playground Games have announced the preorder bonuses for the Fable reboot, and wouldn't you know it, one of the perks is a chicken suit. For anyone just catching up, the Fable franchise is basically obsessed wth chickens, so it's fitting that one of the preorder perks is a chicken suit. The "legendary" costume includes a beak, feathers, and "questionable dignity," according to the item's official description(https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/fable-pre-order-content-pack/9ND1BNR616JV/0010). In addition to the chicken suit, people who preorder Fable get the Wild Flower Bouquet to help with romantic endeavors, a toy chicken, and a picnic hamper. "Bestow them wisely to shape how others see your Hero, improve your reputation, and unlock relationships that may or may not end in true live," reads a line from the description of the items. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2026-06-07-at-3.53.39-PM.png?w=1024) The Fable reboot also continues the franchise's tradition of allowing you to kick chickens(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-fable-keeps-series-tradition-of-kicking-chickens-alive-and-youll-be-judged-for-it/1100-6537589/). Game director Ralph Fulton said if NPCs in the world see you kicking chickens, you’ll begin to earn a reputation as a “Chicken Chaser." Preorder Fable on Amazon(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H42LQ817/tag=gamespot-preorders-20?tag=gamespot-buybutton-20) However, different people will take this reputation to mean different things. “Kicking chickens isn’t objectively good or objectively evil in a way everybody will agree on,” Fulton said. “It comes down to the unique worldview of the NPC and what they think of you because of it.” !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/fablechicken.jpg?w=1024) As announced previously, Fable will also have giant, scary chicken enemies to fight, like the one in the screenshot above. Fable releases on February 23, 2027, but the premium edition unlocks five days earlier. A story expansion for Fable, Order of the Hero,(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fable-reboot-story-expansion-announced-8-months-before-the-game-even-releases/) has been announced and is coming sometime after launch.

Gears Of War: E-Day Is Drastically Changing Movement For The First Time In The Series

During the Gears of War: E-Day Direct, which took place after a packed Xbox Showcase at Summer Game Fest(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-game-showcase-2026-all-the-biggest-announcements-so-far/), we got a good look at some of the big changes The Coalition is bringing to the Gears of War formula established nearly two decades ago. In short: Marcus can jump. Gears of War has been defined by its big, brutish protagonists who look and walk like tanks. It was the series that helped define waist-high cover when cover-based shooters were taking off, and hasn't really strayed much from that. With Gears of War: E-Day, traversal is getting its biggest revamp yet, with different heights and types of cover, a new sense of verticality afforded by jumps, and much faster movement in and out of cover. If you were keeping an eye on the gameplay that opened the Xbox Showcase, you might have noticed that Marcus was able to take cover behind some upended tarmac on a street, nearly laying down to avoid bullets. This is one example of different types of cover you can now use. Later in the same demo, Marcus vaults over a shelf that is several meters taller than he is, again showcasing how much more choice you have when exiting cover. https://youtu.be/y85lNvF3kVQ?si=Hzu7MCcAwToTSgt In the Direct, The Coalition says that this will give you more choices to make during combat, and more ways to use the crumbing city around you to survive. Sprinting is still here, but can now be combined with a slide that can give you an advantage around corners, or allow you to slide beneath a small piece of cover (like below a truck) and surprise an enemy on the other side. These are drastic changes to Gears of War's standard sprint, cover, roll, and vault that have defined the feel of the gameplay throughout its history. These changes should provide more interesting ways to get around in the campaign, but will make the PvP multiplayer feel entirely new in some ways. Gears of War: E-Day launches exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on October 16, 2026.

🎮 Gears Of War: E-Day

Xbox's big pitch for the future sure involves a lot of going backwards

The recent Xbox Games Showcase was a parade of revivals seemingly hoping to stoke the flames of console rivalry.

🎮 Persona🎮 Halo

Get ready for more puzzles and no rats as Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy confirms its release date

Seriously, where are all the rats?

Empulse's frantic movement and giant mechs are giving me serious Xbox 360-era FPS nostalgia

This new wall-running shooter ends its trailer with a man belting a mech with a sledgehammer, and frankly I'm sold

Fable Reboot Story Expansion Announced 8 Months Before The Game Even Releases

Microsoft and Playground Games showed off the Fable reboot at the Xbox Games Showcase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fable-release-date-announced-with-a-look-at-new-and-old-villains/), but the event didn't include all of the big announcements. After the showcase ended, Playground announced(https://www.fablethegame.com/en-US/news/fable-order-of-the-hero) the game's first expansion, Order of the Hero. Described as a "story-driven" expansion, Order of the Hero will launch sometime after Fable releases, but a specific date was not confirmed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuJjIgntefE Order of the Hero takes players to a "brand-new region" of Albion where they will encounter "danger, wonder, and whispers of long-buried power." "As you explore, your deeds earn the cultist’s admiration, and you rise to become their latest (and greatest) celebrity overseer," reads a line from the expansion's description. It goes on: "With your newfound authority, you’ll guide their rituals and shape the cult into your own heroic vision, whether noble, nasty or just plain weird. But becoming the new boss does beg a darker question. If the cult has a vacancy for a new Heroic leader … what happened to the last one?" Order of the Hero is included with the $100 Fable premium edition. Presumably it will be available to buy separately as well, but pricing was not announced. The Fable premium edition also provides access to the game five days early, so people who pay more can start playing on February 18, while everyone else can jump in beginning February 23. The Fable reboot was originally lined up to release this year before Microsoft pushed it to 2027. It's coming to Xbox and PC, as well as PS5. At the Xbox Games Showcase, it was confirmed that Marvel actor Hayley Atwell will play the game's main villain(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fable-release-date-announced-with-a-look-at-new-and-old-villains/). The next gameplay reveal for Fable is coming on June 10.

🎮 Fable Reboot Story