A new report claims that Xbox's "Positron" disc-to-digital program is a lot more seamless than expected.

A few months ago, code snippets appeared showing that Xbox is working on a disc-to-digital program, although details were thin on the ground. Now, we have a credible report detailing exactly how it could work.

It's a hot topic at present, given that PlayStation just announced it will no longer be supporting discs in any capacity from 2028, and that the PlayStation 6 will not support discs at all. For those with existing disc-based games, they're effectively sat hoping their PS5 will continue to work in perpetuity. But given that PlayStation just killed access to previously-purchased movies and is shutting down the digital stores on the PS Vita and PS3, people are more anxious than ever about forwards and backwards compatibility.

Xbox has been something of a pioneer in the console space here. Its backwards compatibility programs for the Xbox 360 and OG Xbox are industry-leading on console, and it has already pledged to bring everything that runs on Xbox Series X|S to the next-gen Xbox Helix. But a big question mark remains over disc-based games, more so than ever now.

When Positron was inadvertently revealed, many wondered if it would require some form of intermediary to function, such as taking a disc to a retailer or something. But The Verge is reporting that won't be the case.

Simply installing an Xbox game from the disc will attach it to your account and give you the full digital entitlements on your Microsoft Account. You'll be able to access it via Xbox Cloud Gaming, Play Anywhere on the Xbox Ally X, as if you fully owned the digital version of the game. You will reportedly only lose your digital entitlement on that game if you sell the disc or give it away to another Microsoft Account holder.

The Xbox One had a model similar to this in 2013, but the DRM was so aggressive that it required retailers to "unlock" the disc. It sounds like Microsoft has figured out a way to provide digitization at their end, attaching the discs' signature to your account. Although, Microsoft warned testers that some older Xbox One discs may "lack the features needed" to make the system work.

Indeed, this will only work with Xbox One discs and above, so those hoping to digitize Xbox 360 discs are out of luck. Still, if it all works as described here, that would be fantastic news for those who could be left out of digital features such as Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The Verge says that Microsoft hasn't finalized whether to include a disc drive or not on Xbox Helix, but our sources have been hinting at us for months that Microsoft is leaning away from including a disc drive in its next-gen console.

Given that PlayStation is exiting the disc-based market, I would bet money that even if Xbox hadn't already decided on dropping discs, they almost certainly have now. But Xbox's new Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball did say they're "rethinking" everything about Xbox Helix ... so maybe he's a big disc fan? Time will tell. I'm sure Xbox is also monitoring reactions to Sony's uncharacteristically pre-emptive and transparent announcement here.

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The legal troubles surrounding the venerated Grand Theft Auto studio, Rockstar Games, continue to pile up.

Several Rockstar employees (who wished to remain anonymous) stated in an interview with Game Developer that they accuse the company of failing to address gender-based pay inequity, encouraging "crunch culture" in the United Kingdom, using bonus payments against its workforce, and many more issues the company fails to address.

For starters, these employees claim that their compensation packages that Rockstar Games hands out change constantly with little to no justification. This lack of consistency means Rockstar Games' payment rates usually fall below the market rate when compared to other jobs.

The employees also stated the median wages for different genders have vastly widened, and plans to correct that imbalance have been cancelled.

Plus, they say Rockstar Games regulary shift goalposts whenever someone talks to the company about getting a promotion to make it harder for them, and that night shift workers no longer receive extra benefits when working during the late hours.

The anonymous employees say that these issues combined have created an "imbalanced and unjust" environment within Rockstar Games where people aren't getting rightfully paid for their hard work, especially for an upcoming, high-budget game like Grand Theft Auto 6.

To make matters more complicated, these anonymous employees informed Game Developer that RockStar Games has been attempting to normalize crunch culture by baking it into the contracts of its UK staff, forcing them to work many overtime hours for little reward.

Combine this with the potential threat of many Rockstar Games developers being laid off after Grand Theft Auto 6 launches, and union-busting allegations, and it's no wonder that its workers are attempting to unionize to protect their jobs.

When Take-Two Interactive, Grand Theft Auto's publisher, was approached regarding these unionization attempts, one of its spokesmen replied "We strive to make the best games possible by giving our talented teams world-class work environments and ongoing career opportunities. We have fostered a culture which is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness, and where we support and reward the team across all levels of the business through competitive compensation and benefits policies. We are proud that as a result, our employee retention is well above the industry standard. We have received a request from a union seeking to discuss voluntary recognition. We value an open and constructive dialogue with all stakeholders and will arrange to meet."

Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor for further developments regarding this chaotic shakeup within Rockstar Games and more news regarding Grand Theft Auto 6, which will be releasing on November 19, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.

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Many people raised their pitchforks believing that it would be Xbox that ultimately killed physical games. However, as Xbox and Sony continue to trade blows over who can make the most questionable decisions, Sony appears to have thrown Xbox a left hook.

In a new PlayStation Blog post, the company revealed that, and I quote, "physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles."

Ah, it's nice being the market leader. When you're in that position, you can make what I'd consider anti-consumer decisions, and realistically, there's not much anyone can do about it. Within the blog post, Sony explained its reasoning, stating:

"This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."

Personally, I think the bigger motivation is that digital gives Sony far more control over how players buy and access games. If physical releases disappear, the second-hand market largely disappears with them. That means if you've been waiting months for a game to become affordable, you can no longer pick up a used copy from a retailer or even borrow a game from a friend. Instead, you're relying on Sony deciding when, or if, to discount it on the PlayStation Store.

To add insult to injury, however, Sony is also closing digital storefronts for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in July 2027. Now, admittedly, Xbox had already closed the Xbox 360 store awhile back, and I was mad at that too.

All of this does raise the question of whether the next generation of consoles will even include a disc drive on the PlayStation 6, and I think it’s a pretty clear: no. As things stand, I'd be surprised if Sony even offered an optional external disc drive. As for Project Helix, our sources also suggest that Microsoft's next-generation console will drop the disc drive, too.

At least, if reports are true, Xbox are working on a disc to digital scheme which could help make the move to digital an easier pill to swallow (assuming it’s done well).

It's certainly a far cry from the days when PlayStation was mocking Xbox on how to share physical games with friends. Oh, and don't forget to pour one out for game preservation, as that's pretty much dead outside of certain Nintendo Switch 2 games.

Don’t worry though, guys; I’m sure good news is right around the corner and nothing bad is about to happen across the gaming industry. Which of course is sarcasm on my part.

Do let me know your thoughts on all of this in the comments and do be sure to take part in our poll below:

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If you’re at all into the Halo modding scene, you'll have likely seen RejectedShotgun on YouTube. They're well known for pulling off what I can only describe as feats of incredible ingenuity, creating mods that many, myself included, thought were impossible.

Before I dive into the details, it's important to mention that this is for Halo 3 on Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and the mod is accessible via Steam Workshop and isn't available on console.

From mods featuring more than 20 vehicles and brand new weapons to Ultimate Forge, which completely reimagines Halo 3's Forge mode with massive sandbox maps, Scarabs, AI spawning, and countless new tools, RejectedShotgun has consistently pushed the limits of what Halo 3 is capable of. Today, though, I'm highlighting their latest project, Permafrost.

Permafrost, to me, feels like a nod to Halo 5's best and only real contribution to the franchise: Warzone. It was a massive objective-based mode that blended Big Team Battle with AI enemies, bosses, and a progression system that made matches feel like they evolved over time.

Thankfully, this is Halo 3, so there are no microtransactions to get in the way. Designed for up to 16 players, Permafrost focuses on large-scale objective gameplay, with each team fighting alongside AI soldiers. It also introduces what creator RejectedShotgun calls a resource economy.

Teams capture plasma batteries scattered across the map to increase their power level, unlocking progressively stronger weapons, equipment, and vehicles as the match unfolds. Players can even call in weapon drop pods and vehicles, giving battles a constant sense of escalation rather than the static sandbox Halo is traditionally known for.

Probably the biggest highlight, though, is just how dynamic every match feels. This isn't a case of loading into a map where the objectives stay the same until someone wins. Teams can capture a teleporter to gain faster access to enemy territory, destroy the opposing team's spire with a MAC strike, and permanently change the battlefield in the process.

Once a spire falls, defenses disappear, objectives move, and the battle shifts into an entirely new phase. Throw in massive vehicles like the Mega Mantis and Pelican, AI battling across the map, and enough explosions to make Michael Bay blush, and it's honestly hard to believe this is all running inside Halo 3.

Now, I love Halo 3. It's my favorite game in the franchise, and I just wanted to highlight what I think is a pretty impressive mod. So, if it looks like something you'd enjoy, be sure to check it out, and as always, do let me know your thoughts in the comments and be sure to take part in our poll below!

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Each day I spend writing about the gaming industry, I find myself thinking, "Surely nothing can surprise me anymore." Yet almost every day, I'm proven wrong. Between soaring prices across the industry and now the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) making me scratch my head during a recent hearing on the Stop Killing Games movement.

For those unfamiliar, Stop Killing Games is a community-led movement that argues publishers shouldn't be able to sell games that later become completely unplayable once their servers are shut down. One recent example is Concord, which became inaccessible after Sony discontinued its online service. Instead, publishers should provide a way for players to continue to access the game, whether via community servers or other means.

During a California State Senate committee hearing on the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921), Minecraft and Call of Duty were both cited as examples of games that already have community-run servers. The idea is that these servers could help preserve games after official support ends. However, ESA representative Jennifer Gibbons pushed back, arguing that community servers are "illegal" and that the ESA considers them a form of piracy.

Gibbons stated:

"They're illegal, and they are not in any way affiliated with Microsoft... Microsoft for Minecraft has gotten a lot of criticism because of those community servers not employing the same safety standards that Microsoft does on their Minecraft servers."

It's a bizarre point to argue, and I am aware there are safety concerns, but as far as I'm aware, Microsoft has no blanket policy preventing community-run servers. In fact, for games like Minecraft, Mojang itself actually provides official usage guidelines that explain how community servers can operate, including rules around things like monetization and player safety, meaning community-run servers are well within the community's right to host as long as they follow those guidelines.

I also understand that Gibbons said these servers are "not in any way affiliated with Microsoft," which is true, but it still feels like a strange stance given Minecraft's long history of thriving community servers. But is there any substance to this take? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to take part in our poll!

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Perhaps David Gaider needs no introduction, but the former lead narrative designer and writer behind the Dragon Age franchise during his time at BioWare, who has since gone on to co-found Summerfall Studios, had some rather choice words for generative AI. They're words I'm sure many of us can agree with.

In an interview with our sister site GamesRadar+, Gaider pulled no punches when sharing his thoughts on generative AI, describing it as a "virulent plague." However, he also offers an interesting perspective, and one I think many people, especially executives, should pay attention to.

“I think the fact that generative AI is frequently trained on data regardless of whether creators or owners have agreed to have their data pillaged in this manner opens up any use of it to all sorts of future legal issues - even if one chooses to ignore the moral implications, which one really shouldn't.”

Ethical concerns surrounding how AI is trained have existed (and been studied) for quite some time. It's also true that many AI models have been trained on data that critics argue was used without permission. However, these aren't the comments I found most thought-provoking. Instead, it's Gaider's view of AI as a tool, and his belief that it's robbing people of valuable opportunities to learn and develop essential skills.

Gaider says:

“In all my time as a narrative designer I've never once encountered a situation where editing an inferior product took less time than simply throwing it out and redoing it would have or resulted in anything better than mediocre. And while there's potential for AI handling the drudgery, I also think we have to be very careful about not eliminating every task which is useful for training juniors. How are we going to train up the next generation of devs if we eliminate every entry-level task?”

That part in particular that resonated with me. I remember doing my Master’s degree around the time ChatGPT started to exist, and I remember sitting behind people in lectures watching them use it to answer questions. While I absolutely think AI can be a useful tool, it increasingly feels like it's being used to replace our ability to think critically and learn. Even something as simple as researching a topic and finding the answers yourself is beginning to feel like a lost art.

Now, I know Gaider's comments aren't necessarily about AI's broader use in education or everyday life, but it's hard, at least for me, not to draw those comparisons when reading what he had to say.

Gaider also expanded on his thoughts, stating:

“I can't even imagine using it for bigger tasks like programming. How does one bug fix 'vibe coding'? What's the point of creating prototypes with AI when the result is that nobody on the team has actually learned anything about how to make the final product? Why use AI to create concepts which are inevitably going to be soulless and contain errors and which aren't going to be something your own artists can replicate? Why have systems that nobody on your team really knows how they work? I could go on and on.”

Again, it echoes the same concern. If AI is being used in the way Gaider describes, people simply aren't learning. They could end up with a pile of code they don't fully understand, making it much harder to troubleshoot or improve later. I also think that idea extends well beyond programming. It can apply to almost any medium where AI is doing the work for you.

I'm guilty of it myself. I'll sometimes use AI to help me cook something new, and admittedly, I often leave the kitchen realizing I don't actually remember how to recreate the recipe on my own. That may simply be because I'm using it as a set of instructions rather than actively learning the process, but it's a loose comparison that came to mind while reading Gaider's comments.

I'll leave you with Gaider's most striking thoughts on how AI should be treated within the gaming industry: "It should be treated like the virulent plague it is."

I could rant even more given the current state of the industry, but alas, I'd definitely recommend checking out Gaider's last game, Malys. Let me know your thoughts in the comments; I'd genuinely love to discuss this one, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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I, like I'm sure many others were, wanted Valve's Steam Machine to hit the market at a price that shook up the old console space, but at over $1,000 it certainly won’t be doing that.

I'll admit, it's not Valve's fault that it hasn't. Companies like Microsoft and others have contributed to what I can only describe as an absolute f**kery of the memory industry, pushing prices to levels that analysts increasingly believe may never return to normal.

To be fair, though, we're not really here to talk about that. Instead, we're here to discuss the Steam Machine. While Valve initially marketed it as a 4K60 gaming machine, the company has now quietly removed those claims from the product listing page, replacing them with the far softer promise of "Up to 4K gaming with FSR 4.1, thanks to a discrete semi-custom AMD desktop-class CPU and GPU."

Previously the page stated the following:

"4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR, thanks to a discrete, semi-custom AMD desktop-class CPU and GPU."

I'm actually quite impressed by Valve's Steam Machine, but its 4K60fps claims were certainly short-lived once reviewers got their hands on it. Admittedly, Valve always advertised that 4K60 would be achieved with FSR, so it's not as though the company committed some cardinal sin of false advertising, more so they stretched the truth by a noticeable margin.

Based on hands-on testing from reviewers, the Steam Machine appears to have fallen quite a way short of consistently delivering that 4K60 target, even with FSR enabled.

It is, however, nice to see Valve mention FSR 4.1, which I believe is new? Don't quote me on that though. FSR4 is something I covered recently, as many people, myself included, hoped Valve's reference to it in a backend update meant it would eventually come to devices like the Steam Deck, giving its already aging hardware a little more life.

I won't be getting a Steam Machine, at least not until it reaches a price I think it deserves, around $500. At this rate, that might not happen for another decade, and I'll be pushing 40 by then, which is a slightly depressing thought.

But enough about me. What do you think about Valve quietly dropping its 4K60 claim? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and don't forget to take part in our poll!

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If you're anything like me, your immediate reaction to the Oblivion Remaster on Switch 2 might be, "Hmm... how... huh?" Of course, I'm referring to how, on God's miserable Earth, this is going to run on a Nintendo Switch 2.

To be fair, I recently covered comments from Digital Foundry, who spoke quite highly of the Xbox Series S and how it has served as a great piece of hardware for helping developers optimize games for the Switch 2. While performance isn't apples to apples, it's not exactly apples to oranges either. In testing, the Series S and Switch 2 perform surprisingly closely in some scenarios, largely thanks to NVIDIA's DLSS upscaling technology.

Now, I'm sure Oblivion needs no introduction. It's one of Bethesda's most beloved RPGs, and its remaster, which launched last year, surpassed 9 million players in its first three months. It's no surprise to see it making its way to the Switch 2. The console has performed well for Nintendo, and perhaps most interestingly for Switch 2 fans, it appears the physical cartridge contains the full game, something I'm sure collectors will appreciate.

We don't get many more details beyond what's included in each edition, but I am hopeful that the Switch 2 release also leads to improvements and fixes for the existing versions of the game. After all, the last update for Oblivion Remastered was back in July last year with update 1.2.

The lack of updates since release has been a sore spot for many fans, leaving some feeling abandoned while several issues remain unresolved. Fortunately, they won't have to wait long to see whether the Nintendo Switch 2 release also brings fixes to the existing versions. Oblivion Remastered launches on August 11, 2026, and will retail for $49.99 for the standard digital edition and $59.99 for the physical edition.

Let me know your thoughts on Oblivion Remastered coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. Are you planning to pick it up, or does the release not interest you? Share your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll below:

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Grand Theft Auto 6 has a chokehold on the gaming industry. Rival studios have completely avoided November launch windows to not compete against Rockstar Games' money-printing behemoth, and the recent launch of preorders for the game's upcoming release has resulted in a significant boost to Take-Two's stock prices.

Despite Grand Theft Auto 6's undeniable impending success, developers at Rockstar Games are trying to get ahead of the inevitable post-launch layoffs by locking down job security — and they're eyeing unionization to do it.

Alex Marshall, the president of The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB), issued a statement that alleges that Rockstar has already generated more than $3 billion in preorder sales for Grand Theft Auto 6, adding, "Rockstar bosses can easily afford to sit around the table with the people whose hard work created these games, and give them a meaningful voice in their workplace."

The games industry has come to see post-launch layoffs as simply 'par for the course'. Freelance developers, marketing interns, and a litany of other roles across the board are often hired on to help push a game across the finish line.

But once a game launches — successfully or otherwise — the demand for these roles takes a nosedive, and large-scale layoffs take effect in an effort to 'streamline' budgets and keep shareholders happy.

While layoffs are an issue in any line of work, the games industry is exceedingly beholden to this ebb and flow of employment. This has led to an increase in game developers seeking unionization as a means of securing protections and rights for workers.

ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, successfully unionized in October 2025, becoming the first studio in the UK to do so. Other game studios, like Microsoft-owned Call of Duty developers Raven Software, Blizzard, and id Software, have voluntarily recognized unionization through the Communications Workers of America (CWA) union. The CWA currently advocates for workers' rights of more than 4000 workers from Microsoft's game studios.

Some of those studios, including Double Fine, are currently staring down potential layoffs and closures as new XBOX CEO Asha Sharma attempts to achieve a corporate 'reset.'

Rockstar Games, however, has not yet formally recognized the union efforts among its own teams. Instead, the studio has faced accusations of 'union busting' activities, including the termination of more than 30 employees attempting to unionize in October 2025.

Rockstar Games has denied union-busting activities and alleged that the terminated workers had discussed confidential information about upcoming games via public forums, breaching company policy in doing so. The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) sees things differently, however, and has supported the dismissed workers in legal proceedings to determine if Rockstar's terminations were unlawful.

Earlier this month, an employment tribunal ruled against Rockstar Games, upholding the workers' right to allege that Rockstar has participated in blacklisting workers involved in union activity as part of its lawsuit against the studio.

It's worth highlighting that it is illegal under UK law to unfairly treat employees for union activities, just as every worker in the UK has the right to be a member of a trade union. A company, in this case Rockstar, does not have to recognize a union voluntarily, but certified unions can apply for statutory recognition if the organization meets certain criteria.

Rockstar's situation is a reflection of a broader reckoning unfolding across the games industry. Workers are pushing back against a cycle of boom-and-bust employment and looking to instead cultivate work environments that offer stability and fair employment terms.

"This fight has always been about more than just our own situation - it is about making sure workers across the games industry and beyond have the right to stand together, speak out, and organise for a fairer sector," said Ellie Dunstan, one of the employees previously terminated by Rockstar in October.

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IO Interactive has enjoyed a ton of success lately with its hit action-game adaptation of the James Bond franchise, 007: First Light, selling 1.5 million in 24 hours and winning the hearts of critics (including our Jez Corden, who gave it a perfect review of 5/5 Stars).

However, the good times have come to a screeching halt as IO Interactive announces on X that it is no longer working with an external partner that's been helping it develop its original IP, "Project Fantasy," which Windows Central exclusively revealed as Project Dragon previously back in 2021.

While IO Interactive didn't state who was publishing the game, we previously reported that it was indeed Xbox back in 2021. IOI changed the codename after its previous 2021 leak from "Dragon" to "Fantasy." An Xbox spokesperson talked to Bloomberg about the cancellation.

“We're not reducing our overall investment in games. We expect to invest about the same in content as we did last year. What's changing is where we're investing and the kinds of projects we're backing.”

The game also previously leaked during Microsoft's long court battle to acquire Activision-Blizzard in 2023.

It seems that despite losing the backing of Microsoft, IOI intends to soldier on with Project Fantasy. After the success of 007: First Light, I expect they won't have trouble finding a new suitor.

Given the recent rumors that several Xbox Games Studios developers are being gutted soon, third-party titles are being frozen for Xbox Game Pass, Arkane is being shut down along with their upcoming Blade game (as reported by The Verge), and State of Decay 3 could be cancelled, this official announcement of "Project Fantasy" losing Microsoft's backing is making these rumors more likely than ever.

Only time will tell what the extent of the damage to Xbox Game Studios will be.

What do you think about this announcement? Is it confirmation that Microsoft will purge more of its Xbox Game Studios in the future? Do you think 'Project Fantasy' will come to fruition?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit community.

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Before I continue, can we all just let out a collective sigh? Okay, now that's done, let's jump into it.

Just a week or so ago, I covered a few stories on Marvel's Blade. Todd Howard had recently seen the project and said it was progressing well, and the game's lead concept artist spoke on X regarding the game, both of which gave us a glimmer of hope that perhaps Arkane was safe and the game would eventually see the light of day.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news if this report from The Verge turns out to be accurate.

According to The Verge, Microsoft's next wave of Xbox layoffs is set for next week and could include studio closures or spin-offs, potential studio mergers, and canceled games. One of those games, according to the report, could be Marvel's Blade.

Now, it's important to mention that this is only something Microsoft is reportedly considering. The report also claims Xbox is exploring the possibility of selling Arkane.

In what is admittedly a bad situation all around, that would probably be the better outcome. I'd much rather see Xbox stick with the project and see it through, but Asha Sharma's reset appears to be focused on restructuring Xbox and returning the business to profitability.

The report also claims we could have seen Marvel's Blade as early as later this year before its internal release target reportedly slipped to late 2027. To me, that suggests the game may have been further along than many of us expected, although game development is unpredictable, so that's purely my own speculation.

I don't really want to drone on, because I think we're all painfully aware of what's potentially coming. It's going to be a difficult few weeks for Xbox fans, employees, and the wider games industry.

Gaming is supposed to be a hobby that helps us escape from everything else going on in the world, so it really does suck when those same problems keep finding their way into the industry we all enjoy so much.

With that said, I genuinely hope this remains something that's only being considered and that Arkane gets the chance to finish Marvel's Blade. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll.

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On June 30, 2026, the budding developer Eschatology Entertainment and publisher 4Divinity unveiled Guns of Eschaton, the world's first Soulslike First-Person Shooter coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

In this game, you will journey through an apocalyptic reinterpretation of the Wild West, battling demons and giant monsters in a grimdark world envisioned by Viktor Antonov, the late art director who helped create the iconic settings of Half Life 2 and Dishonored, to name a few.

In typical Soulslike fashion, the nightmarish abominations you face will be extremely difficult to take down due to their freakish strength, unfair tactics, and reality-warping powers that can kill you in the blink of an eye.

To combat them, you will need to study their weaknesses through a book called the Codex, craft mighty character builds using an assortment of firearms, armor, consumables, and occult talismans, and master the art of parrying, gunplay, and occult magic.

You can take on the horrors of this world alone or in two-player co-op with full campaign progression so you and your friends don't fall behind in the story.

Windows Central's Take

The idea of a Soulslike shooter isn't anything new, as seen in Remnant: From the Ashes and Remnant 2, but I've never seen an FPS Soulslike before, let alone one set in the Wild West.

As someone who's a fan of alternative Soulslikes like Lies of P and Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Guns of Eschaton has me intrigued with its gritty, old west meets the apocalypse setting, grotesque enemies, cool weapons, and co-op with full progression.

That last bit is particularly special because many Soulslikes force players to beat the same boss multiple times, as the campaign progression will only count for the player hosting the party group (I'm looking at you, Elden Ring and Dark Souls).

So if Guns of Eschaton can pull off that (as well as having a simple and intuitive co-op matchmaking system), this has potential to be a great co-op Soulslikes to play with your buddies on a weekend, provided the core gameplay is fun on its own merits for solo players.

Stay tuned to find out more as we keep an eye out for the release date for Guns of Eschaton, which is now available for wishlisting on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam.

What do you think of Guns of Eschaton? Do you think it looks cool enough to play, or are you passing up on it for the next big AAA Soulslike from FromSoftware?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit community.

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Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, and we've just got our first look from Ubisoft at what console players can expect in terms of performance. Honestly, it's looking pretty solid.

The Xbox Series X keeps pace with the PlayStation 5 in terms of resolution and frame rate, while the PS5 Pro gains the edge thanks to its enhanced PSSR upscaling. Series S fans, however, are a bit out of luck, and I'm a little disappointed to see it.

While the game does support ray tracing on Series S and is upscaled to 1620p, players are limited to a single 30 FPS fidelity mode, with seemingly no access to the other graphics presets. On Series X and PS5, players can choose between Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced modes, with Performance targeting 60 FPS and Balanced targeting 40 FPS.

It feels like a missed opportunity not to offer some kind of 60fps mode on Series S, even if that meant dropping ray tracing and reducing the resolution to 1080p. That said, I've actually picked the game up anyway, mainly for my dad, who's a big Assassin's Creed fan. Since we share games, I'll be playing it too. It is a shame, though, that the game doesn't support Xbox Play Anywhere.

We also already know the game's PC system requirements. For those wondering how demanding it is, the minimum specs call for a GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT, 16GB of RAM, and either an Intel Core i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 3600. That'll get you 1080p at 30 FPS using the Low preset with standard ray tracing.

I'm actually looking forward to this remake. I never really got into Black Flag back in the day because I'd just finished Ezio's story and had started to lose interest in Assassin's Creed. Despite that, I've always heard it's one of the best entries in the series, so I'm excited to finally experience it for myself when it launches.

With that said, let me know what you think about the console and PC performance in the comments below, and don't forget to take part in our poll below:

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In a new report from GameFile, it was revealed that Xbox had been funding 1666: Amsterdam, a new game from the lead creator of Assassin's Creed, Patrice Désilets. However, in a story I'm sure we're all too familiar with, Microsoft reportedly pulled funding, similar to reports surrounding John Romero's game, where Xbox had reportedly met with Romero just a day before deciding to cancel funding.

For those out of the loop, 1666: Amsterdam is still coming out, and it's shaping up to be a story-driven, third-person action adventure spanning multiple time periods. You can even play as a cat, which I can imagine my girlfriend being quite into, considering we have three ourselves.

The game also currently has a 30-minute demo available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. From what I could gather, though, reception to the demo has been a bit mixed online. Interestingly, on release, the game is currently only coming to PC, though I assume consoles will come later; whether that includes Xbox or not is a mystery.

It's hard to say whether Xbox funding and publishing this game would've paid off. The game isn't out yet, and Xbox is currently undergoing a plethora of changes since Asha Sharma became CEO. As I'm sure we're all aware, her first 100 days were largely about scoring wins with fans.

However, the 100 days after that seem as though they may be far bleaker, with a major restructuring looming on the horizon. The results of that restructuring are still unknown, but that hasn't stopped negative rumors from swirling around Xbox, with some being disproven rather quickly. However, it feels like the wave of negativity around Xbox is stronger than ever.

Back to 1666: Amsterdam, though. It'll ultimately be a wait-and-see situation as to whether Xbox made the right decision to pull funding. Given the mixed reception to the demo, they may have made the right call, but it's still a shame to see what feels like a genuine passion project lose backing from what is, ultimately, a company worth trillions.

But let me know your thoughts. Are you excited for 1666: Amsterdam? Let me know in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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Nearly a year after its debut teaser trailer, Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners 2, the long-awaited sequel to the popular anime spin-off of Cyberpunk 2077, has uploaded a new trailer showing fans what the show will look like, while confirming that it will air exclusively on Netflix during Fall 2026.

Much like its predecessor, Edgerunners 2 will be a self-contained story set within the world of Cyberpunk 2077 that will last for 10 episodes.

The YouTube video's description says that the story will be "a raw chronicle of redemption and revenge. In a city that thrives in the spotlight of violence, one question remains: When the world is blinded by spectacle, what extremes do you have to go to make your story matter?"

Windows Central's take

While I personally haven't seen the original Edgerunners anime (which I seriously need to fix in the future once my current Warhammer 40,000 obsession is over), even I can tell this show left a huge impact that is still being felt 4 years later.

People fell in love with Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners for its gripping story, intriguing characters, and bombastic animation and art direction that only Studio Trigger, the studio behind the show, can provide.

It attracted a whole new audience to the Cyberpunk 2077 video game during its rough early days and even convinced people who didn't like it at first to give it a second chance.

It even inspired CD Projekt Red when it was making the game-changing DLC, Phantom Liberty, to incorporate some of the anime's portrayal of Cyberpunk 2077's combat into the base game to make it feel faster-paced and have enemies be more threatening.

Judging from the look of this trailer, it looks like Edgerunners 2 is going to be even more gritty, crazy, and violent than the first Edgerunners, and I have no doubt fans can't wait to see when it goes live this Fall on Netflix.

What do you think of Cyberpunk 2077: Edgerunners 2? Are you looking forward to watching it when it comes out on Netflix? Does it make you want to watch the first Edgerunners or play the Cyberpunk 2077 videogame?

If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit community.

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Grand Theft Auto 6 is fast approaching, and the rumors are already in full swing. Unlike some of the recent, more upsetting Xbox rumors, this is one I'm genuinely hoping turns out to be true. The claim comes from the same source that reportedly leaked The Witcher 3 DLC ahead of its official reveal, which gives this rumor at least some credibility.

Of course, it's still just a rumor, so it's worth taking with a grain of salt. Here's what they had to say: “Xbox Series S is being locked at 30 FPS right now, but they’re fighting to get it to 60 FPS. From what I’ve learned, they’re not 100% sure yet whether 60 FPS will be available at launch.”

It continues with more hints: “A source close to Rockstar, but I emphasize that this is a single source, but a very reliable one. It’s very likely, and ultimately, according to the information I’ve received, there will be two graphical modes: 30 and 60 FPS on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.”

Interestingly, we could expect two graphics modes, which, I believe, might be a first for a Rockstar game (don't quote me on that). Many people, myself included, have expected Grand Theft Auto 6 to be capped at 30 FPS, and given the sheer scope of the game, that does seem believable.

Perhaps the most interesting part of this rumor, though, is the mention of a 60 FPS mode on Xbox Series S. While the report claims it's currently locked to 30, hearing that Rockstar is actively trying to get it to 60 is at least promising, at least to me.

The source also states that Microsoft is working with Rockstar on the Series S version of the game, so hopefully fans with a Series S do manage to see 60 FPS. Hopefully, we hear something official sooner rather than later, although there's a good chance we'll have to wait until much closer to launch.

As for me, I probably won't be picking up Grand Theft Auto 6 on day one. I've been a fan of the series from the beginning, but I grew a little tired of Grand Theft Auto 5, and I still prefer Grand Theft Auto 4. I'll be waiting to see how the game shapes up before deciding whether to jump in.

But let me know your thoughts. Would a 60 FPS mode make a big difference to you? Be sure to take part in our poll and leave a comment below!

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Correction: Today's Assembly layoffs were part of an agency-wide reorganization and were not related to Xbox ending contracts. People on the Xbox account were laid off but the agency is still continuing to work with Xbox, I'm told

— @jasonschreier.bsky.social (@jasonschreier.bsky.social.bsky.social) 2026-06-30T08:07:15.114Z

ORIGINAL ARTICLE CONTINUES:

Insert joke here about how Microsoft's layoffs are reportedly so big, they're impacting companies that aren't even part of Microsoft. Oh wait, that actually might be what's happening.

According to industry insider Jason Schreier of Bloomberg, Assembly, a PR agency whose biggest client is Microsoft, is laying off employees today.

In a post on Bluesky, Schreier says:

“The massive Xbox layoffs won't happen until after the fiscal year ends, but the company is already ending contracts and cutting vendors. So Assembly, Xbox's main PR agency, is laying people off today.”

Assembly appears to be responsible for quite a broad range of services, including media planning, communications, marketing research, and more. As for the full extent of its relationship with Microsoft, however, I couldn't find much publicly available beyond the comment above from Schreier.

Xbox is, however, undergoing a significant restructuring as CEO Asha Sharma attempts to make the business more profitable. According to Schreier, Microsoft is ending contracts and cutting vendors, which appears to have resulted in Assembly laying off employees due to a reduction in business.

It's hard to know what to say about layoffs, because I'm sure we can all agree they suck, regardless of the company involved. I genuinely hope those affected are able to land on their feet.

I'm also really curious to see what the next 100 days of Xbox look like. Rumors are everywhere at the moment, with recent reports even suggesting Undead Labs, the studio behind State of Decay 3, could be affected. If that were true, it would be a disastrous decision, especially considering the time and investment that's reportedly gone into the game and just how promising it's shaping up to be.

It's an exhausting time to be a fan of anything lately; skyrocketing prices are sucking the joy out of what would otherwise be fun hobbies. It's not to say that we can't still enjoy things like gaming, but egregious prices certainly put a damper on things.

With all that said, let me know your thoughts in the comments, because I'm honestly just tired of all the negativity surrounding Xbox lately.

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The death of trust at Xbox may be imminent, if this latest report is to be believed.

One of the most hotly anticipated upcoming Xbox games is State of Decay 3 from Undead Labs. State of Decay is a zombie apocalypse management simulation game, where players in small teams can develop settlements, fight against zombie hordes, and scavenge for supplies. The previous games had a variety of limitations, but many of these have been eliminated in State of Decay 3, which looks incredibly promising.

Despite having trailers at the previous two showcases and a well-received alpha test which boasted thousands of sign ups, Microsoft is exploring selling off Undead Labs and potentially cancelling State of Decay 3 if it can't find a buyer for the team. Given that State of Decay 3 is nearly finished, looks spectacular, and has had multiple trailers — this is one of the most self-immolating ideas I've seen of Xbox since I started reporting on it over a decade ago.

The report comes from GamesBeat, which lists studios having discussions with Xbox leadership. It coincides with information I received over the weekend. Indeed, Undead Labs could be among the studios Microsoft is looking to offload as part of its fiscal year end.

I'm told the cuts are being driven by Microsoft corporate CFO Amy Hood, who has demanded a variety of savings at Xbox to offset losses ... which were also a result of her previous 30% margin demands.

Microsoft has frozen discussions with third-parties for Xbox Game Pass deals (for now), and is exploring a range of measures, which could see Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Compulsion, and others shuttered if Microsoft can't find a buyer or pathway for them to go independent.

Xbox's administrative teams are working 7 day weeks to meet Microsoft's cutbacks, potentially saving studios with sales to third-party suitors or self-funded independence ventures. But for me, we shouldn't even be here.

At the end of the day, to run a business you need to be able to sell things. Some studios haven't sold products in years, eventually the math catches up. At the same time, Microsoft's gaming division had its most profitable year after in the previous fiscal, and Satya Nadella's compensation package was valued at almost $100 million last year.

Gaming is a risky business, and increasingly a luxury business for consumers (in part driven by the RAMpocalypse fostered by ... erm, Microsoft and its AI fad.) With gaming moving further and further into discretionary spending territory, I would argue trust and culture matter more than ever. Microsoft corporate either doesn't understand this, or perhaps more realistically, just doesn't care.

State of Decay 3 is clearly nearly finished. If that isn't safe, how is ANYTHING safe anymore? How can you trust ANY announcement Xbox will make in the near future? How is this not indicative of a Microsoft actively trying to set up Asha Sharma and her team for failure?

State of Decay 3 received multiple trailers. Undead Labs built up a passionate fanbase across decades, and was an early pioneer building games directly with fan-led feedback over the internet.

Microsoft's share price is imploding on fears that it missed the boat on the AI race (which let's be real, it has). And ... its response is to take an axe to one of its only businesses people actually like? Never change Microsoft. (Actually, change, change NOW.)

Are you looking forward to State of Decay 3? Let us know your thoughts on all of this in the comments.

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It was no secret that this year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 wasn't heading to Game Pass. It's a large part of the reason Microsoft was able to cut the price of Game Pass earlier this year, scoring Xbox a major win during Asha Sharma's first moves as Xbox CEO.

Now, while Sharma has scored some wins, we're all too aware of the concerns surrounding the next couple of months at Xbox, but I digress. What really caught my eye, however, is that Activision is now reportedly advertising Modern Warfare 4 online with a very specific message.

It states, and I quote, "NOT ON XBOX GAME PASS THIS YEAR," while urging people to pre-order the game, which also provides early access to the game's campaign.

I, myself, am actually fine with Call of Duty not being on Game Pass. As someone who didn't enjoy last year's Black Ops 7, even if I had, the money saved from the Game Pass price cut is enough to buy the game each year anyway, which is what I've typically done for my dad. This year, though, he's insisted on Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, despite my pleas to get 007: First Light instead, since we share games.

That said, Modern Warfare 4 does look pretty okay. It's still hard to say, as it does just look like another Call of Duty, but with promises to stay clear of goofy skins and the like, it's at least more promising than Black Ops 7 to me.

Despite it not necessarily being for me, I do still wish Activision the best. As someone who comes from a time when Call of Duty 4 dominated back in the Xbox 360 days, I hope a more grounded Call of Duty can help the franchise return to its roots, and a more grounded Call of Duty is definitely something I can get behind.

Maybe that's just me, though. Let me know your thoughts in the comments, and be sure to take part in our poll!

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