Xbox

In the aftermath of rumours about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle coming to PS5 next year, former Xbox exec Major Nelson has defended Microsoft's Phil Spencer on the recent strategy change over at Xbox.

With Indiana Jones potentially being the next big Xbox-developed game to launch on other console platforms, fans have begun questioning Xbox's leadership - and the decisions that Phil & co. are taking right now. Major Nelson has responded to one of these questions on Twitter, simply stating that Phil is "running a business" for Microsoft, that's all.

I'm a huge proponent of all games being multiplatform. But I'm worried only Xbox is going to do it, then stop making hardware, and leave all of us die hard Xbox veterans with 15+ year accounts hanging out to dry because"business"...

Shattered Space, the highly anticipated upcoming DLC for Bethesda's Starfield, will officially be releasing on September 30.

The announcement was made today at gamescom Opening Night Live, where it was also revealed that a new vehicle, the Rev-8, will be made available in a free update tonight. We got to see the vehicle in action in footage unveiled at gamescom, showing off some fun world exploration.

Shattered Space, too, got a brief tease in the footage, although it didn't show too much outside of a darker tone, with much of the focus begin on the Rev-8.

Shattered Space got its first trailer back in June during the Xbox Games Showcase, and it'll focus on a mysterious new faction called House Va'Ruun. "Investigate a frightening cosmic threat, explore a new planet, and find unique weapons, spacesuits, and gear in this all-new adventure," Starfield's official website explains in a page dedicated to the Shattered Space expansion.

Bethesda confirmed it was working on the story expansion in 2023, but we've been waiting for a release date since then. It's set to arrive both on Xbox and PC.

We gave Starfield a 7/10 when we reviewed it last year, writing at the time that it "has a lot of forces working against it, but eventually the allure of its expansive roleplaying quests and respectable combat make its gravitational pull difficult to resist."

It's been two years since Mafia developer Hangar 13 confirmed it was working on a new entry in its open-world crime series, and the time has finally come for it to be revealed to the world. It's called Mafia: The Old Country and is heading to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC next year.

While 2016's Mafia 3 shunted the series forward in time to the late 60s (the first two games spanned the 1930s, 40s, and 50s between them), The Old Country is going backward, presenting players with a "gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily."

"Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era," teases the scant bit of blurb accompanying today's teaser trailer, "with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for."

It's back!

Today's Gamescom Opening Night Live pre-show kicked things off with a bang - it was announced that a brand-new game in the Sniper Elite series known as Sniper Elite: Resistance will be coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2025!

You can get a look at the debut trailer up above, and we'll throw more details down below.

Maybe it's true, maybe it's not.

The big Xbox story on social media right now relates to the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and it concerns a rumour that's been shared by content creator NateTheHate - who says the game is going to PS5 in 2025.

Specifically, it's mentioned that Indiana Jones will launch for Xbox and PC at some point this December, while the PS5 version will arrive in the first half of next year. Here's a look at the tweet that's causing all the fuss:

Read the full article on purexbox.com

We've got a bit more of a wait now until we can head to medieval Europe for the Kingdom Come: Deliverance II achievements, as Warhorse Studios has confirmed that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has been delayed from its 2024 release window until February 11, 2025 to give it a bit more time. Given all the major releases and upcoming Game Pass games, this delay will also no doubt give players a bit of breathing room...m

Огляд гри Starfield на Xbox Series S українською. Про сюжет, графіку, проблеми, моди, українську мова у Starfield.

We have a few ideas in mind.

The Xbox Store (or the "Microsoft Store" if you want to call it that) is a place that we're constantly browsing on a near-daily basis here at Pure Xbox, and it's obviously a crucial part of the console (and PC) experience for all players.

This is the place you go to buy new games, buy them on discount, check out the Free Play Days offerings every week, subscribe to the likes of Xbox Game Pass and Ubisoft+, download apps, look for free-to-play titles, and so much more.

There are a few surprising scores though.

Yes, we all know the score — Black Myth: Wukong was originally announced to be launching day one on Xbox before it got delayed indefinitely for Microsoft's consoles — and the release date is now just four days away for other platforms.

As we're so close, the first reviews have gone live today across the web, and unexpectedly they're pretty impressive on the whole. There are a few surprising scores as well though, with some not so keen on what it has to offer.

BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts debuted a new trailer on Thursday announcing that Dragon Age: The Veilguard will be released on Oct. 31. The Veilguard will be released on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Pre-orders are open now for standard and deluxe editions of the game, BioWare said.

The new trailer appears to be largely cinematic and shows Rook and companions heading off on an adventure to take on the Elven gods. It also includes some glimpses of combat, romance, and the big bads. And yes, there are dragons.

“As a character-driven RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers a crafted experience woven from the threads of rich storytelling and fantasy worldbuilding the franchise is known for,“ BioWare wrote in a news release. “In this bold, heroic adventure, players will experience expansive and dynamic stories that navigate love, loss and complex choices that affect relationships and the fate of each member of the Veilguard. In true Dragon Age fashion, these bonds of fellowship are the foundation upon which Rook’s journey is built, and it will be up to the player to determine how their personal story unfolds.”

On Wednesday, when BioWare announced the release date for the, well, release date, it also showed a roadmap for new reveals for The Veilguard. For the months of August, September, and beyond, BioWare will share new details about the game, be it full weeks worth of content on combat and companions, a developer Q&A, or a monthlong showcase on IGN.

It’s been 10 years since Dragon Age: Inquisition, so fans of the franchise are eager to see more from their favorite world. So far, BioWare has shown the companions that players will join on the journey — and given press a sneak peek at the first hour of Veilguard. Some version of the game began development in 2015, according to Kotaku, before staff was pulled off the project to work on Mass Effect: Andromeda. That team got back to work on Dragon Age after Andromeda shipped in 2017, Kotaku reported. That version of Dragon Age was scrapped in 2017, and a small number of developers started work on a new version of Dragon Age 4.

Through all of this, BioWare has faced several controversies, including 50 layoffs and a legal push for “adequate severance.” The studio also came under fire when Veilguard QA workers, contracted under Keywords Studios, were laid off. Staff turnover has reportedly been high, too: creative director Mike Laidlaw left 2017, producer Mark Darrah and general manager Casey Hudson left in 2020 (Darrah later returned in a consultant role), and writer Mary Kirby was laid off with 49 others in 2023.

Though The Veilguard’s first trailer left some players unimpressed, its gameplay impressed those who got an early look at the first hour. And with BioWare’s slate of announcement and reveals, it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of The Veilguard in the months to come.

Наскільки актуальний Xbox Series S в Україні у 2024 - Огляд українською. Я користуюсь цим дивом вже близько року і можу Вас запевнити, що ця консоль виправдовує не лише своє існування, але й здатна дати гравцю набагато більше, ніж він може собі уявити.

У цьому матеріалі я розповім Вам про те, чому приставка Xbox Series S - це дуже недооцінена консоль, для кого вона підходить найкраще та чому вкрай не правильно обирати ігрову платформу лише за кількістю терафлопсів та потужністю.

Читайте також: Помилка 0x87e00031 на консолях Xbox: чому виникає та як виправити?

It's been nearly five years since Borderlands 3 was released, and fans have been waiting to hear news about the next sequel. And since the Borderlands movie is out this week, gamers are once again looking for any word about the follow-up. The good news is that Gearbox Software has finally confirmed that the next game is in development.

During an interview with the Epic Games store, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford was specifically asked if the company was working on the sequel. Pitchford replied, "Of course we are. There's a moment when we're ready, and we can and will announce something because that's the moment to make a public promise. We're working on lots of Borderlands. We're working on lots of Brothers in Arms."

That was a more overt hint about Borderlands 4 than the previous update that Pitchford provided in July 2024 when he said are there are "so many great things coming with Borderlands." At the time, there also rumors about a sequel to the spin-off title, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. As for the next Brothers in Arms game, Gearbox conformed that title was in development back in 2021.

Since it arrived on PlayStation and Epic last year, The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria from Free Range Games and North Beach Games has amassed a dedicated following among survival game enthusiasts. Return to Moria allows players to become dwarven warriors and craftsmen who must reclaim the ruined mines of Moria. At long last, the game will finally arrive on Xbox Series S|X and Steam on August 27. That same day, the "Golden Update" will deliver cross-play co-op to all versions of the game.

As men just mentioned, the "Golden Update" will be included at launch in the Xbox Series and Steam versions of Return to Moria, and the update will hit PlayStation 5 and Epic at the same time. Here's an abridged list of the Golden Update's features:

Sandbox Mode: The full launch of Sandbox Mode allows players across all platforms to experience independent exploration and experimentation throughout the mountain. ... The game world is generated with a wide variety of random seeds, meaning each playthrough can vary significantly in layout and difficulty.

Crossplay: Exploring the Mines of Moria with friends just got easier! Any player on PC via Steam or EGS, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5 can now host games to be joined by any other player. Just like non-crossplay games, Steam players can host 8-player sessions, regardless of the platform the joining players are on.

New Weapons and Armor: Sandbox Mode brings with it recipes for 14 new weapons and armor... Though only discoverable in Sandbox Mode, players can bring new objects into Campaign Mode as long as their Dwarf is equipped with them when transferring over.

New Building Parts and Decorations: Players can spruce up their bases with over 100 new building objects. Building Improvements: Restoring Moria is now easier than ever with the changes made to the stability system as well as improved object snapping.

Single Player Pause: To improve the solo player experience, offline players can now pause the game by hitting “escape” on PC or by opening the settings menu.

Ambient Music: Due to popular demand, there is now an ambient music soundtrack to accompany the Dwarves’ ventures through Moria.

As far as co-op goes, it looks like console can host 4-player games, and PC players can host 8-player games. All versions are fully cross-play, so Xbox and PlayStation gamers will be able to join larger games if a PC player acts as the host.

Between the brutal combat and a lovingly crafted grimdark world, Space Marine 2 is shaping up to be the most authentic Warhammer 40K game ever.

UPDATE 2/8/24: Following rumours of a delay for Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed, Microsoft has now officially moved the fantasy action-RPG's release out of 2024.

Avowed will now launch for Xbox and PC on 18th February next year, as confirmed in an official infographic shared on social media. The image, featuring release dates and windows for all Xbox's currently announced games, confirmed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, plus Starfield's Shattered Space Expansion, are still expected to launch this year.

In text accompanying the graphic, Microsoft said it was moving Avowed's release to February 2025 in order to "give players' backlogs some breathing room." In a separate post, Xbox boss Phil Spencer wrote, "We're proud of what the Obsidian team have accomplished with Avowed and want to make sure they have the best launch possible."

Riot’s tactical 5v5 shooter is now free for all

Riot Games’ tactical competitive first-person shooter Valorant is now officially live on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, the developer announced Friday. Like the existing PC version of the game, Valorant is free to play on consoles. The console release of Valorant is currently available to players in the United States and Canada, Europe, Japan, and Brazil.

“We’ve received so much valuable feedback from players during Limited Beta, and feel confident to deliver on our gameplay promise for console players,” said Arnar Gylfason, production director of Valorant, in a news release.

The developer says that PC and console players will receive “simultaneous platform releases of all live patch balances, new agents, maps, premium content, and additional live service features.”

Riot launched the original version of Valorant in June 2020. It was the company’s second game, after releasing League of Legends in 2009.

Valorant takes inspiration from another tactical team-based shooter, Valve’s Counter-Strike, but adds unique Agents, each with their own special abilities and superpowers. In 5v5 matches, players pick from one of 24 Agents as they try to attack and defend against an enemy team in a variety of ranked and unranked modes.

Valorant launched with 11 Agents and four maps, and those numbers have more than doubled over the past four years, with new content coming over Episodes and Acts. Players get five unlocked Agents upon creating a Valorant account; the rest can be purchased by collecting an in-game currency, Kingdom Credits, that can be earned by playing games and completing tasks. Players can also unlock Agents with Valorant Points, a premium paid currency. On Xbox Series X and PC, Game Pass subscribers get access to all current Agents and day-one access to new ones as they’re released.

Valorant’s console versions have been playable in a limited beta since June 14 on both PS5 and Xbox Series X. While the console versions support crossplay between Sony and Microsoft’s platforms, players won’t have to worry about facing players on PC.

A brand-new Darksiders has just been revealed at the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase, and while we didn't learn much, we do know that we should all "be prepared to ride again..."

As detailed by PlayStation.Blog, the currently untitled Darksiders project was given a brief teaser trailer that takes place in a fiery "chamber impossibly old." In this chamber, there are "three colossal stone heads, suddenly set ablaze with otherworldly flames. The Charred Council awake, and roar a single word in unison: Horseman."

Darksiders fans will remember the Charred Council as a trio who keeps balance in the universe and prevents one being from becoming too powerful.

As those familiar with the franchise know, the Darksiders franchise stars the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. 2010's Darksiders starred War, 2012's Darksiders II featured Death, 2018's Darksiders III put players in Fury's shoes, and Darksiders Genesis let players control Strife (and War!).

Could this game bring all Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse together for one grand adventure? Or will this be another spin-off title like Darksiders Genesis? We shouldn't have too long to wait to find out, as THQ Nordic said it will have more to "share on where the world of Darksiders is going soon."

This new Darksiders project was just one of the reveals from the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase, and it joined an unannounced Tarsier Studios title, Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve, the Gothic Remake, Titan Quest 2, Wreckfest 2, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, Space For Sale, and The Eternal Life of Goldman.

Microsoft and Activision are reportedly forming a new team under the Blizzard umbrella to work on smaller games based on its popular series.

Before absorbing the publisher in an arduous acquisition, Microsoft Gaming President Phil Spencer previously said he wanted to chat with Activision Blizzard about "what could happen" with the company's "back catalog" post-buyout. As soon as the deal was finally done and dusted, Spencer didn't spare a second to publicly joke about a dormant magical FPS' return: "When's Hexen coming back?"

Windows Central now reports that Microsoft is making good on its promises, and has approved the creation of a brand new team that mainly consists of many former King (Candy Crush) staff. Windows Central sources claim that the "smaller" studio is tasked with creating AA games in pre-existing Blizzard series - which could be anything from Overwatch and Warcraft spin-offs, to some form of Starcraft revival - because Microsoft is apparently "increasingly concerned about the monstrously ballooning [AAA] costs."

Balatro, Palworld, and Manor Lords, as well as Microsoft's own Grounded, have been heavyweight successes despite being made by relatively lean teams, meanwhile, blockbuster game budgets can now exceed several hundreds of millions and barely scrape even.

Blizzard's new arm fits right into comments made by Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty, who said the company needed "smaller games that give us prestige and awards" - days after shutting down a Hi-Fi Rush makers Tango Gameworks and Prey engineers Arkane Austin, two teams that made relatively smaller, award-winning. Tango Gameworks did slot right in, according to Windows Central, but the richest company in the world apparently found "inter-studio collaboration logistically difficult"

The Orange Box shows as unavailable.

Activision has published a 25-page white paper exploring the impact of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) on its multiplayer lobbies, determining that SBMM is better for all players.

As spotted by indie game developer and consultant Rami Ismail, the report – which can be read in full on Activision's official website – outlines an "amazing A/B test" where Activision "secretly progressively turned off SBMM and monitored retention… and turns out everyone hated it, with more quitting, less playing, and more negative blowouts". Cover image for YouTube videoPlayStation live-service Concord won't sell you a battle pass - would it be better if it did? PlayStation live-service Concord won't sell you a battle pass - but would it be more successful if it did?Watch on YouTube

Activision announced plans to launch the series of white papers back in April, and has already considered the impact connections and Time to Match has on online play.

The most recent paper, however – entitled "Matchmaking Series: The Role of Skill in Matchmaking" – "shares a look at matchmaking inside Call of Duty multiplayer, including how we always work to create a balanced system for the benefit of all players. While skill is one of many factors in matchmaking; it is not the driving force behind Call of Duty’s matchmaking system".

"Playing a better opponent may push players to become more proficient over time, but being severely outperformed in their matches, our testing has shown, instead leads players to quit matches in progress or to not play multiplayer," Activision surmises.

It also confirmed that it whilst it was "considering a single core multiplayer playlist that does not use skill as a factor in matchmaking", Activision believes "historical testing reveals that low- and mid-skill players would be unlikely to participate in such a playlist. As a match can only be created from players actively searching for a playlist, the likely result would be matches composed solely of high-skill players."

The experiment, Activision opines, shows that the existing SBMM system allows a broadest range of players to participate in "all key parts of Call of Duty's game design in core multiplayer".

This "includes games where players can contribute meaningfully to their team, not only with wins, but for their own personal records and achievements".

"The system strives for team balance, where players are not consistently on the wrong side of blowout matches. Players who frequently experience blowouts are seen to quit matches in progress and the game itself, which negatively impacts the experience for players of all skill levels," Activision concluded.

"We will always strive to improve our approach to matchmaking to ensure that players of all skill levels are having the best possible experience. A healthy player population is good for everyone in the community."

Further research papers into ranked played and "experimental methods" are expected later this year.

GSC Game World has announced Stalker 2's delay from September 5 to November 20, to give its development team time to fix bugs.

Today, July 25, the Stalker 2 studio announced that its upcoming first-person shooter had been subjected to a two-month delay, pushing it out of releasing in just a matter of weeks on September 5. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl will now launch later this year on November 20 instead.

The shooter's delay is, quite simply, down to bugs. "We know you might be tired of waiting, and we truly appreciate your patience," Yevhen Grygorovych, game director at GSC Game World, says in a statement. "These additional two months will give us the chance to fix more 'unexpected anomalies,'" Grygorovych continues, adding that said "anomalies" are simply bugs.

However, there's good news today for patient Stalker 2 fans. On August 12, a deep-dive into Heart of Chornobyl will debut in collaboration with Xbox, featuring in-depth interviews with GSC Game World developers, new gameplay including fresh locations and cutscenes, and even a full gameplay walkthrough of one of Stalker 2's main quests.

This is, of course, far from the first time Stalker 2 has been delayed. It was originally set to launch in late 2022, but development was put on hold due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where GSC Game World is headquartered. Then, after being set to release in early 2024, Stalker 2 was again delayed to September 5, 2024.

Right now, though, we'll have to keep on waiting just a few months more for Stalker 2 to finally be here. For our take on what we made of GSC Game World's hotly-anticipated sequel when we played it for ourselves, head over to our Stalker 2 preview to see why it's shaping up to be the FPS we always knew it could be.