I'm just going to say it as plain as I can: Microsoft customer support really needs to improve. We have, of course, had the recent case where someone being locked out of their account went viral on social media, which seemingly magically prompted some action.
Now, over on the Steam Deck subreddit there's an exhausting tale of a player who has been locked out of playing Forza Horizon 6 for 70 days over an issue with cloud sync. And guess what? Xbox support apparently can do nothing to help.
The detailed explanation goes through the entire ordeal, but the problem boils down to an issue with Forza Horizon 6 syncing to Microsoft's servers, not Steam. The game crashed and appears to have created a server-side block on the sync completing, and now leaves the game unplayable as soon as it tries to connect.
I can already hear some that would point at the Steam Deck being the problem. But for starters, the game is Steam Deck verified, and user reports on ProtonDB for the game are pretty good. But games crash on Windows, too.
The alarming part here seems to be that what's happened could, in theory, happen to anyone who bought the game on Steam and doesn't have access to an Xbox to fix it.
Because the short end to the long story is that the final official support 'solution' is to use an Xbox console to delete the cloud save. Which is fine, if you have an Xbox console. Chances are if you bought Forza Horizon 6 on Steam, though, maybe you don't? Either that or you hate money since it's Xbox Play Anywhere through the Xbox App on Windows.
Part of the frustration seems to be that neither the Forza nor Xbox support teams can delete this data on a player's behalf. I find it very hard to believe that a company the size of Microsoft with such an intricate web of servers and cloud support wouldn't be able to do this. It is, however, more convenient to try and pass it down to us to sort out.
It also potentially highlights a weakness within the Xbox cloud system itself, but that's a discussion for another day. But it wouldn't be a stretch to hope that if a sync fails, the system just falls back to the last one that didn't rather than locking up entirely.
Reading this whole drama is just disappointing. Either there are fundamental problems with Microsoft systems that need addressing, or, and I feel like this is probably more likely, customer support just isn't up to scratch.
I've had my own issues over the years with other areas of customer support within Microsoft, so I definitely don't think it's new. And let's be real, the chances of support agents being replaced by AI loom ever larger.
A cloud sync issue should not be able to block a player from playing the game they paid for. (Image credit: Michael Hoglund)
Fortunately, there is a potential way out, but it's not exactly what you'd call a solution. Many on the Reddit thread have suggested signing up for Game Pass and trying to utilize Xbox Cloud Gaming to see if that can help unblock the cloud sync.
Without an Xbox console handy, this is probably the only thing that could be tried, and it sounds like it could work, but the OP hasn't yet come back with an update. Even if it does, it's still some added expense and effort that shouldn't be needed.
Trying to access the cloud storage via the Xbox web app hasn't seemed to work, either, as if the game hasn't been played through cloud streaming in the last 30 days, nothing appears. Likewise, the original poster hasn't had any joy using the Xbox App on Windows 11.
But it's yet another tale after years and years of tales of poor support from Xbox/Microsoft when it comes to technical issues blocking players from their content. It should not take someone going onto the internet and going viral to prompt action.
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Forza Horizon 6 in the Steam Store on a Steam Deck covered in a pink, purple, and blue skin in a dbrand Killswitch case.
Despite being bought from Steam, Microsoft's cloud sync has locked a player out of their game.
Xbox has been on a bit of a tear when it comes to new platform features lately.
Yesterday, Microsoft announced the latest build for the Xbox Insider Program, with a variety of new features big and small. The features included better management for Xbox cloud saves, better sorting of your games library, and other bits and pieces. The headline act, however, is voice clip recording on the Xbox Game DVR. This is a feature people have been asking Microsoft to add for over a decade, all the way back to the Xbox One era.
When you have an epic gameplay moment with friends, it would be awesome if you could also capture their reactions without having to use a complex capture rig. You'd need to use a streaming PC with StreamLabs OBS or a capture card like the Elgato 4K S to extract the audio alongside your Xbox gameplay.But yesterday's update has made it a million times easier.
Here's a clip from a quick gameplay session on Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 I had this morning, showing how the first iteration works.
Here's an example of Xbox's new voice capture in the Game DVR. It's early days yet (available on the Insider ring). It seems to freeze the game for a split second when you hit capture. Also as far as I can tell, there's no way to adjust audio levels. You can barely hear me in… pic.twitter.com/0wmR5id4KVAugust 6, 2026
As you can see (or ... well, hear) the audio levels aren't ideal out of the box. You can barely hear me in this capture over the audio of the game. You would have to lower the gameplay sound a fair bit in order to be able to hear me, but it would be ideal if Microsoft would add settings for this.
In order for this feature to work, users have to enable it in the settings. Only users who have enabled game or party chat audio capture will appear in the sound mix, giving you total control over whether or not your reactions are captured (potentially saving your more embarrassing gameplay moments from going viral.)
You can also set whether your voice is clippable in public audio settings too, such as lobby chat on Call of Duty (oh boy) or in proximity chat games like Arc Raiders and the like.
Head into preferences, then clip settings, and then voice in captures and live streams to access the above settings. As of writing, they're available to Xbox Insider Program users in the Alpha ring. (Image credit: Windows Central | Jez Corden)
Hopefully, Microsoft will add audio mix granularity sliders in the future, as it's far too quiet in my opinion as of writing. Additionally, capturing a clip seems to temporarily freeze a game for 0.2 seconds when you have voice capture turned on. I'm not sure if that's a consequence of the feature or an instability in the latest Alpha build, but I'm sure the experience will be improved before hitting general availability.
It's potentially exciting how this feature could evolve in the future. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is a former Meta executive, and likely has thoughts on how to leverage social media virality as a vector for growing Xbox's footprint. Perhaps there's a future where Xbox supports webcam picture-in-picture clipping too, and maybe we'll even get direct sharing to social networks back again some day on top. Perhaps even native Xbox Series X|S video editing tools will return as well, who knows?!
The Nintendo Switch 2 is now a little over a year old, but one game that a whole bunch of owners would have been hoping for an upgraded version of hasn't yet materialised. That game is Minecraft.
The good news is that will end fairly soon, as Microsoft's behemoth is almost ready for it. The Nintendo Switch 2 Minecraft upgrade is currently confirmed for October 27, 2026.
Obviously this is good news for Switch 2 owners, which includes my own impatient son. For existing owners a "digital upgrade path" will be available, with more information to come. It also doesn't say this upgrade will be free, and the wording definitely makes me feel like there will be some kind of cost attached. But I guess we'll have to wait and see.
The Switch 2 upgrade to Minecraft will bring it more in line with other platforms, with the new Vibrant Visuals experience being enabled as default.
"Let me unfurl this metaphorical scroll a little to remind you why we’re all so excited. First, the Nintendo Switch™ 2 renders the world of Minecraft to lush life with Vibrant Visuals – set as the default visual experience. This means enhanced lighting, shadow effects and more – and you can even enjoy Vibrant Visuals* enabled content across all the supported content in Minecraft Marketplace. "
This also extends to the exclusive Super Mario pack that's only available on the Nintendo version of Minecraft. It, too, will be given some Vibrant Visuals, so have fun with it.
If anything, I'm only surprised it's taken this long. Vibrant Visuals launched around the same time as the Nintendo Switch 2, and it'll be 16 months on when the upgrade is finally made available.
Minecraft has recently been brought directly under Xbox leadership and its CEO, Asha Sharma. It's reported she feels Microsoft has underinvested in Minecraft as a platform and wants to change that in the face of increasing competition from other game-as-a-platform titles such as Roblox.
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A photo of the Super Mario Pack for Minecraft being played on a Nintendo Switch 2 showing a giant Mario.
Minecraft on Switch 2, including the Super Mario pack, is getting an upgrade.
GTA 6 + Netflix. Just completely out of nowhere. But it's not a joke.
Announced today by its creator, Rockstar Games, is "Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look" and it will be premiering on Netflix on August 27 at 3pm Eastern.
If you're still at work or you don't subscribe to Netflix, don't panic, it will be added to YouTube later.
Netflix has an exclusive on probably the hottest show of the year, but not for long. Later the very same day, August 27, the same show will be uploaded to the Rockstar YouTube channel and the GTA 6 website at 9pm Eastern.
What are we actually going to see, though? That's still a secret. But since December 2023 we've only had two actual trailers, and neither of those has shown us any gameplay. Both were full cinematics showing off some of the characters and locations we can expect to see in Vice City.
So, surely you'd expect an "extended look" to at least show us some gameplay, right?
At this point, though, any information would be good information. We know nothing official about the story, the size of the map, any online plans, gameplay. It's the most hyped game of all time and we know essentially nothing about it.
We do know that it's currently scheduled to release on November 19, 2026, and that to play at launch you'll need to be on Xbox Series X|S or PS5. And that you can pre-order GTA 6 now.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
Grand Theft Auto 6 screenshot and logo
Lock in the date, this is what we've wanted to see.
Halo: Campaign Evolved launched just days ago, and it appears Microsoft is moving quickly to make cuts at Halo Studios now that the game is out. A number of developers who were previously employed at Halo Studios have posted on LinkedIn today confirming that some roles have been laid off. (via Insider Gaming)
Halo Studios producer Nick Treitman confirmed that he was impacted by the layoffs, stating that "after 6.5 years working on Halo and dodging just as many rounds of layoffs - it has finally caught up to me. I have nothing but love for Halo and the folks at the studio, this is just a tough reality in the gaming industry right now."
Paul Morris, listed as Scrum Master at Halo Studios, also confirmed that his role had been impacted by layoffs this week. "Today, I learned my time at Halo Studios will be coming to an end following the successful launch of our latest game, Halo: Campaign Evolved. I know this is one of the most challenging job markets our industry has seen, and I know the road ahead won’t be easy."
A number of other Halo Studio employees have updated their LinkedIn pages confirming that they are now available for work. The layoffs come as new reports claim Halo: Campaign Evolved's development was troubled throughout, taking up more resources than originally planned and causing other projects such as a Halo multiplayer game to be canceled.
Unfortunately for the studio, this led to development being more complex, with third-party studio Abstraction struggling to meet deadlines imposed by Halo Studios and being ultimately kicked off the project, forcing Halo Studios to scrap much of the work done by Abstraction and rebuild assets in the Blam engine instead.
If this story sounds familiar, that's because it closely mirrors the development of Halo: Infinite. That game also suffered from a troubled development cycle, with contractors struggling to meet deadlines and work in the Slipspace Engine (which was just the Blam engine with a new name.)
Now, with layoffs impacting Halo Studios, it's clear that Microsoft is moving forward with its confirmed 3,200 layoffs, 1,600 of which were already made back in July.
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Master Chief wearing green tactical armor and a gold visor, holding a futuristic assault rifle inside a glowing blue geometric corridor structure.
Master Chief wearing green tactical armor and a gold visor, holding a futuristic assault rifle inside a glowing blue geometric corridor structure.
Xbox has just announced on its website that it is rolling out new Xbox Series X|S console features for Xbox Insiders before sending them out to the general public, one of which has been requested by many Xbox players since the days of the Xbox One.
These new features include being able to have voice chat included in game captures, more options for viewing achievements, more control over Cloud save data, and improvements to Xbox wishlists.
Voice chat is now possible for recorded gameplay clips (Image credit: Microsoft)
The first and possibly biggest new feature of this bunch is allowing gameplay captures to include your voice and those of your chat party instead of just the gameplay audio alone.
Each player can choose if they want to have their voice included in the clip, and you can also choose to include in-game chat audio in your captures if you're not using the Xbox app's voice chat party feature.
This feature is now available for Xbox Insider users in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring.
New methods of viewing your Xbox Achievements
Viewing Xbox achievements just got easier. (Image credit: Microsoft)
Keeping track of your Xbox Achievements has now been made less of a hassle for Xbox Insider users in the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring.
In addition to the 'last played' view option, players can now sort games by title, completion percentage, Gamerscore earned, and the number of Achievements unlocked.
These options can also be sorted in ascending or descending order, whichever a user prefers.
Back up more Cloud data. (Image credit: Microsoft)
This feature is already available for Xbox Insiders, but starting next week, more Xbox players will have the option to restore previously synced cloud save data directly from their Xbox console with games that support it, starting with Forza Horizon 6.
This means that if you need to recover a precious version of your save, you can browse cloud save versions and restore it to an easier save file directly from your console instead of just the Cloud.
You can access this feature for Forza Horizon 6 by going into the Xbox console's 'Manage game & add-ons' options menu, going to 'Saved data', and then clicking 'Restore saved data'.
More Xbox games will support this feature in future updates.
Add More Games To Your Wishlist
Add more games to your wishlist (Image credit: Microsoft)
The final new feature announced is available for all Xbox users and it's a simple one.
Starting today, you can now add up to 1,000 Xbox games to your wishlist, instead of only 301, allowing you to keep track of more upcoming Xbox you're interested in playing and when they'll go on sale.
Windows Central's take
New console features are rolling out to XBOX insiders!💬Voice chat in game captures🏆 New ways to view achievements☁️ More control over cloud saves🎮 More games on wishlistRead more about these upcoming features: https://t.co/eBIUKNYxkoAugust 5, 2026
All these features are all fine and dandy, but the one me and my friends are hyped about mostly is the voice chat becoming available to be included in game captures.
Some of my favorite gaming moments have been listening to my friends freaking out being mauled by monsters in Monster Hunter, or screaming triumphantly after killing a boss I've been stuck on for hours in Elden Ring.
Yes, you can do this already if you're a livestreamer, but that usually requires going out of your way to purchase recording capture cards and learning how to stream, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
With this new feature, you can have your voice in gameplay clips with just your Xbox console alone; no capture gear or streaming knowledge needed, which is good for me, as I never want to become a streamer anytime soon due to stage fright.
But what about you? Are you happy that voice chat in recorded game clips is now possible? Are there any other features you want Xbox consoles to include?
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit page.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
An Xbox interface showing a central profile with three circular icons, a sound wave visualizer, and side menus for game lists and wishlist settings.
Voice chat in recorded gameplay clips is finally on Xbox.
Xbox is back with a flurry of updates for the Xbox Series X|S, including one headline act that I think will make many people very happy.
Today, Xbox revealed that it has acted on some of the top feedback requests from the Xbox Feedback site, including voice clip and party chat recording inside the Xbox game DVR. Recordings will now also capture your team mates' cries of valor or wails of defeat (if you enable it, that is), alongside other various Xbox system improvements.
Team is working on something for later this year!August 5, 2026
Speaking on X (Twitter), Xbox CEO Asha Sharma replied to a fan "team is working on something for later this year," when asked if Microsoft would implement "Platinum"-styled completion achievements.
Players have been pining for an answer to PlayStation's platinum trophy system, which rewards players with a trophy for achieving 100% completion rates in games. Xbox games typically come with 1000 gamer score to earn per title, but there's no reward for acquiring all of the achievements.
I suspect Xbox was probably working out some of the finer details about how it would work in continuity with gamer score. Many games receive extra achievements post-launch, which would obviously remove your "100%" completion status. Perhaps you get the platinum achievement simply for hitting the base 1000 gamer score in the title? Who knows. Either way, it seems that Xbox will have an answer for it later this year!
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Xbox achievement banner saying "Finally, we're getting platinum achievements"
Lenovo Legion Gogaming handhelds are reportedly being bricked by a BIOS update. According to reports, installing the N3CN42WW update results in a black screen and systems not booting correctly.
It's not clear how widespread this issue is, but I suggest holding off on installing a BIOS update on your Legion Go until Lenovo has clarified the situation.
The problem affects the original Legion Go (often called the Legion Go 1 by fans), including both the Z1 and Z1 Extreme models.
In some cases, the Legion Go failed to boot immediately after the BIOS update was installed. In other cases, the failure occurred later.
Several Legion Go owners have reported issues on Reddit. The mods at the LegionGo subreddit shared the following:
"It has come to our attention that some of the Z1E and Z1 versions are being bricked when updating to the latest BIOS that was released on June 17th, 2026.
Please do not update your devices unless you are willing to assume all risks. We the mod team are trying our best to understand and get help on this."
They also asked people to share if they've run into the same issue.
Reddit user mherold11said they reached out to Lenovo support to have their Legion Go repaired. They were told that fixing the gaming handheld would be a chargeable repair since the device was out of warranty. The quote for repair was €237.16 (roughly $273.81).
Other people in that same Reddit thread said their Legion Go gaming handhelds were repaired at no cost when still in warranty.
One Reddit user had luck performing their own repair, but that fix was complicated and is not recommended for general users.
This is a developing story and we do not know the extent of the issue. If you have a Legion Go and have been affected by the issue (or have upgraded and not run into the problem), please share with us through the comments below and reach out to Lenovo and the mods of the LegionGo subreddit.
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The Steam Machine has swappable faceplates, which is a genuinely good idea that Valve doesn’t appear to have fully exploited. The concept is essentially that the front panel of the console is a blank cosmetic slate, open to third parties and hobbyists to design around. So far, most of what’s been proposed has leaned on that word: cosmetic. Different textures, different graphics, different visual personalities for what is otherwise a matte black gaming cube.
This faceplate mod takes a different approach by asking what the panel could actually do. The result is a replacement front cover that integrates a charging cradle for the Steam Controller directly into the face of the console, turning what would normally be dead real estate into a functional docking station. Set the controller down, it charges. Pick it up, it’s ready. No separate charging puck dangling off to the side.
The charging mechanism uses the Steam Controller’s own wireless puck seated inside the faceplate cradle, with a USB cable routed discreetly around the inside edge of the panel and into one of the Steam Machine’s existing USB ports. It’s a routing solution rather than a rewiring one, which keeps the electrical side simple and reversible. The puck sits in the cradle, the controller sits on the puck, and the whole arrangement slots onto the front of the machine like any other faceplate.
What makes it more than a wall mount with ambition is the kickstand built into the rear of the panel. It folds out from the back of the faceplate, propping the cradle up at an angle, turning the entire assembly into a standalone desk dock that works independently from the Steam Machine. Take the faceplate off the console and prop it up on a table, and it functions as a charging stand on its own terms.
The inspiration came partly from Valve’s own demonstration of an e-ink faceplate, which showed that the panel slot was capable of doing more than holding a decorative cover in place. That demonstration didn’t ship as a product, but it established the idea that the faceplate system had functional potential beyond aesthetics. This mod picks up that thread and takes it somewhere more immediately useful for anyone who has both pieces of Valve’s current hardware sitting on the same desk.
Design files haven’t been released yet, and there are no confirmed plans to sell finished units. The prototype is out, it works, and it raises a question worth asking about Valve’s approach to the faceplate ecosystem: if a single modder can turn the front panel into a functioning charging dock over a weekend, what would a dedicated accessory program actually look like at scale?
One thing we haven't had so much of with the Xbox Series X|S compared to previous generations is limited edition consoles. There have been some, like the Halo Xbox Series X and some competition specials, but compared to the Xbox 360 and Xbox One especially, it's been a pretty dry time.
Some of the older limited editions command a pretty penny on the used market these days, and obviously there's a finite supply of them. But there are some real gems, like the Gears 5 Xbox One X (pictured above) or even the blood red Gears of War 4 Xbox One S. Later this year we'll also see the Xbox Series X25, with its classic translucent green shell. Though unfortunately, a vastly increased price, now.
But over on the Xbox subreddit there's a thread rolling right now where folks are talking about these consoles, so I thought I'd bring it on over here, too. So what's your favorite limited edition Xbox console of all time?
There are some incredible choices on the Reddit thread, from the classic Crystal Green OG Xbox through the Halo 4 Xbox 360, the Titanfall Xbox One, and some others that folks like myself based in the UK might not even have known existed.
I didn't know there was a Taco Bell Xbox One X, for example, nor a green Mountain Dew OG Xbox. Granted, neither of these were actually sold, but they still exist, and I'd definitely go for a Mountain Dew Xbox if I could get my hands on one without selling a kidney.
I've never actually owned a limited edition console myself. The closest I've come so far is the Project Scorpio launch edition Xbox One X, which I still have in my office looking pretty.
Does this one take the crown as your favorite limited edition? (Image credit: Microsoft)
If I had to pick, it'd be between two. The Xbox console I always coveted the most was the Crystal Green first-generation. I wish I'd chopped in my standard black console to get one, but given I'd already spent a whole paycheck from a part-time job on one at the age of 17, I decided against it lest I risk the wrath of the parents.
The other might be one most wouldn't pick given some of the wild designs, but as a massive fan of the franchise, I always wanted the blue Forza Edition Xbox One. It didn't help that a friend of mine actually had one, taunting me every time I went over.
So, those are my picks, but I'm more interested in yours. There's no shortage to choose from, so hit the comments below and share your own favorite limited edition Xbox console design from the last 25 years!
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A photo of a special edition Gears of War Xbox One X and matching controller with three Gears of War Funko Pop figures.
We used to get special edition consoles all the time, like this Gears of War Xbox One X.
To celebrate the occasion, Digital Sun and 11 Bit Studios are giving away the first Moonlighter game for free to keep forever via Steam between August 5, 2026, and August 9, 2026.
For those unaware, the Moonlighter series is a top-down, action-RPG with roguelite elements where you live the life of an adventurer-shopkeeper named Will.
The gameplay loop of this series revolves around exploring dangerous dungeons filled to the brim with ancient treasure guarded by deadly monsters.
You then sell whatever loot you find to help maintain your shop's profits while investing in other businesses to help the struggling town of Tresna thrive again and give you access to better equipment to help you survive more challenging dungeons.
Windows Central's take
We actually covered the Moonlighter series a couple of times at Windows Central. One of my colleagues, Brendan Lowry, reviewed the first Moonlighter, and while he praised it for having a unique premise, excellent presentation, and decent action-RPG gameplay, he felt there was much room for improvement in the story and combat department.
Dungeon crawling was more rewarding, combat was more varied and intense, and its merchant simulation gameplay has somehow made inventory management, which is usually a tedious task in most games, a fun activity in its own right.
I never played the Moonlighter series before, but with the first game now being free on Steam for a short time, I may give it a shot because the art style looks cute, and the gameplay looks fun while giving me nostalgic memories of classic top-down action-RPGs like The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
It would certainly be a good time to kill before the sequel leaves early access, while giving me much better appreciation for all the improvements it's made from the first game.
Dive deep into dark dungeons for ancient treasure, and risk your life to restore wealth to the ailing town of Tresna in Moonlighter: The Endless Vault.
My favorite Xbox feature is having a bit of a moment in the sun.
The Xbox ecosystem is a lot better than people give it credit for in my view. Xbox Game Pass is still a fantastic deal for those who want to graze a large library of content. Xbox Cloud Gaming is more viable than ever for single-player games, and things like cloud saves remain free, while paid on other platforms.
My favorite feature however is Xbox Play Anywhere. The ability to buy once, and take my games across Windows PCs, cloud, my laptop, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Ally X handheld is a cornerstone of how I want to access games now. It's a vastly underrated feature, and something I think Microsoft could do a lot more to promote.
Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the best RPGs of modern times. (Image credit: Larian Studios)
I sent Larian publishing lead Michael Douse a message and asked for comment on why Baldur's Gate 3 ended up hitting Xbox Play Anywhere, almost three years after its initial launch.
"We just did it because it's a pretty cool part of the Xbox ecosystem and it would mean a lot to the players who enjoy that ecosystem," Douse explained. "We had the resources & time and figured it would make a few folks happy."
Indeed, there's been a huge sprint of fantastic AAA games hitting Xbox Play Anywhere recently, including 007: First Light, Beast of Reincarnation, Hell is Us, Palworld 1.0, Dispatch, Subnautica 2, and many more. Upcoming we also have things like Blood of the Dawnwalker and Onimusha: Way of the Sword. Historically, games only hit Xbox Play Anywhere via Xbox Game Pass, but increasingly, developers are dropping Xbox Play Anywhere on a discretionary basis.
I also asked Sascha Reuter from Fullset about Project Neon, a classic SHMUP that originally launched on the Neo Geo. Project Neon has now been ported to Xbox Series X|S and other platforms, and is launching straight into Xbox Play Anywhere.
"We always love to give players as much bang for for their buck as we can," Reuter explained. "So adding all the versions was pretty much a no-brainer, so was to allow players to switch between their systems however they like."
Reuter told me that developing for Xbox Play Anywhere is as simple as "using a Dropbox folder," as developers can deliver app packages that target multiple platforms via Microsoft's developer back end. Reuter said that Xbox's API for designating a save folder is simple to set up for cross-platform saves, and prevents overwriting and handles syncing via Azure.
Increasingly, it feels like developers are actively opting into Xbox Play Anywhere by default, but challenges remain.
The future of Xbox is PC
Xbox Helix is set to bridge the gap between Xbox and Windows. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Microsoft is doing a lot of work to bridge the gap between its Xbox and Windows ecosystems. Xbox Play Anywhere helps developers target Xbox customers regardless of platform, and Microsoft has long suggested games with Xbox Play Anywhere see higher sales and boosted retention.
Still, it's difficult to retroactively set up Xbox Play Anywhere. If codebases diverge too much across separate versions, applying Xbox Play Anywhere can create errors when synchronizing progress. Games like Fallout 76 have never received Xbox Play Anywhere support for that reason — although it's not unheard of. Resident Evil 8 gained Xbox Play Anywhere support several years after launch too, just like Baldur's Gate 3.
Some publishers perhaps simply don't seem to see the value in it. Ubisoft has begun offering free versions of some of its PC games to owners who already own the Xbox version, but Xbox achievements aren't supported on PC. EA doesn't offer any form of synchronicity at all between its Xbox and PC versions either.
Players of Dovetail Games' popular train simulator, Train Sim World 6, on Xbox One and PS4 have unfortunate bad news to endure.
Currently the game and all DLC content have been made available on last-gen hardware, but that is now coming to an end.
The announcement was made on the developer's blog, alongside information on exactly what it means for players on Xbox One and PS4.
"Train Sim World titles and new TSW Add-on releases developed from this date onwards will only be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms (Steam, Xbox for PC and Epic Games).
This change is essential for allowing the teams that create TSW content freedom to take advantage of current-gen hardware, prioritising the best performance possible, and improving the visual quality as much as they can."
The good news is that this change doesn't affect content you've already bought up to now. It's still there, it's still playable, and it's still supported. The cancellation only applies to any further DLC content for Train Sim World 6 and for future games in the franchise. To play any of that, you'll need to be on PC, Xbox Series X|S, or PS5.
It's sad news for players still on the last-gen consoles, for sure, but credit to Dovetail Games for holding out as long as it has.
Xbox One players do at least have more options to carry on with Train Sim World 6. (Image credit: Dovetail Games)
Even Xbox has finally had to take the plunge with Call of Duty, with Modern Warfare 4 not releasing on Xbox One or PS4, either. It's particularly bad timing for those still holding onto their older consoles given that both Xbox and Sony have recently increased prices on the new consoles, too.
If you are on Xbox One with Train Sim World 6, you do at least have options. It supports Xbox Play Anywhere, for one, so if you can move to PC, you can take all of your existing content with you so long as you use the Xbox App. You can't transfer your content to Steam or Epic Games. Content does transfer between Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S as you would expect, and PS4 players can also carry over to PS5.
Train Sim World 6 is also supported by Xbox Cloud Gaming, so even though your console may not be up to scratch going forward, you can still keep playing through the cloud if you're unable to move natively to supported hardware. PS4 owners don't have that luxury, as cloud streaming on PlayStation is limited to owners of the PS5 version.
While the timing might not be great, it's understandable. Games are more demanding than ever, and ultimately no experience at all is better than paying for something and having a bad experience.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
A promotional screenshot from Train Sim World 6 showing a GWR train driving along the Devon coast.
From now on you'll need current-gen hardware to play future Train Sim World content.
Another month into the scorching summer season, and things have just heated up for Xbox Game Pass as we have a couple of major highlights coming in its latest batch of new games dropping in the first half of August 2026.
Some standout highlights include the cozy Power Wash Simulator 2, the hit open-world survival game Grounded 2, and the chaotic roguelike action game Ball x Pit.
However, the star of the show is the first Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta test, which is scheduled to run from August 6, 2026, at 12:00 pm PT to August 10, 2026, at 10:00 am PT for people who pre-ordered the game on Xbox Series X|S or Steam or people who are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Here's August's first wave of Xbox games coming to and leaving Xbox Game Pass.
Game
Date Available
Available on (Game Pass versions)
Monsters are Coming!
August 6, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld and PC (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass)
PowerWash Simulator 2
August 6, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Ultimate, PC Game Pass)
Bounty Star
August 11, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Date Everything!
August 11, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC(Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Grounded 2 (Game Preview)
August 11, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC(Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Ball x Pit
August 12, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC(Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Cricket 26
August 13, 2026
Cloud, Console, and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Mio: Memories in Orbit
August 13, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Sandustry (Game Preview)
August 13, 2026
PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Egging On
August 18, 2026
Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld and PC (Premium, Ultimate and PC Game Pass)
Games leaving Xbox Game Pass (August 15)
Menace (Game Preview) (PC)
Atlas Fallen (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Aliens: Firesteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Windows Central's take
To be frank, this isn't the greatest batch of new Xbox Game Pass titles in the world (unless you're really into Grounded 2 or PowerWash Simulator). It's quite clear that, right now, Xbox is dedicating all its marketing power to hyping Gears of War: E-Day by including its upcoming early-access multiplayer beta test in this line-up.
Which, to be fair, is totally fine with me because Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer looks insane. It features an epic 12-player PvE mode called "Siege Horde" where you must fight off never-ending waves of Locust grunts while completing objectives, and occasionally content MMORPG-style raid bosses that require every player to take down.
The classic PvP 4v4 Versus mode also makes a comeback, but with new match types, maps, and new weapons to help you rip and tear your enemies apart.
Additionally, you can also check out my colleague, Jez Corden's preview of Gears of War: E-Day's Siege Horde mode to see if its large-scale carnage and 12-player co-op insanity is up your alley and enticing enough to make you pick up the full game when it launches on October 6, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass (Day One), and PC via Windows and Steam.
Relive the tragic day that started the long, grueling war between the COGs and the Locust horde in the highly anticipated prequel of the Gears of War franchise, Gears of War: E-Day.
If you use a Steam Deck, then the first thing I would always recommend is to install Decky Loader. From there, one of the first plugins I'd recommend is SteamGridDB, because let's face it, the box art isn't always the best artwork you can have in your games library.
Now, though, SteamGridDB is also on Windows 11. We first covered SteamGridDB for Windows 11 a while ago, but until recently I hadn't really given it much notice.
I've started using the Xbox App on Windows 11 as my go-to launcher since I'm in there a lot for Game Pass games, anyway.
But while it's convenient having the Xbox App launch games also from Steam, Epic Games, Ubisoft, etc., one thing made me twitch; the artwork pulled in was awful. Low-res icons mostly rather than full artwork.
This is where SteamGridDB comes in. Just as on the Steam Deck, you can use it to select custom art for your games, and in this case, bring your non-Xbox titles up to the standard of those you're getting directly through the app.
Even older games will have at least something better than the stock icon. (Image credit: Windows Central)
SteamGridDB is not an app, as such, but instead a Game Bar widget. So to make your changes you have to go through Game Bar, but I actually think I prefer it this way. It can't hook into the Xbox App like it can hook into SteamOS, so it's probably the next best thing this way.
These days you can get it directly from the Microsoft Store, and once it's installed, you may just need to launch it from the Widgets Menu on the Game Bar.
But it's as simple as selecting a game, hitting the search icon, and compatible artwork will show up. The selections in my experience aren't quite as plentiful as they are on SteamOS, but there's not been a game I've come across where there isn't something that's a whole heck of a lot better than a crummy low-res icon.
Before: Terrible looking icons. Windows CentralAfter: Glorious artwork!Windows Central
Once you choose your artwork, the next time you go to your library in the Xbox App, it'll have been applied, and it won't make your eyes bleed any longer.
I'm using it on my desktop PC, but it's particularly useful if you're on a handheld gaming PC such as the Xbox Ally or Lenovo Legion Go series. Clean library, clean mind!
Game Bar is one of those features I use a lot without really exploring what it can do, and SteamGridDB is now a permanently pinned widget. It only takes seconds to make a change, and it's so worth it.
It's a must-have if, like me, you're using the Xbox App to launch games from elsewhere.
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A photo of the library in the Xbox App on Windows 11 using SteamGridDB artwork for games from Steam.
SteamGridDB will make sure your non-Xbox games have eyecatching artwork, too.
Mark Russinovich is the CTO of Microsoft Azure, and as it seems, a big fan of id Software's classic 1993 FPS, DOOM. I've seen the game running on practically every imaginable piece of hardware with a screen and any semblance of buttons, but I hadn't expected it to be playable inside Paint — until I installed it on my own PC earlier this morning.
"Playable" is being generous, because as Russinovich explains in his documentation for DoomPaint on GitHub: "Every frame is placed on the Windows clipboard and pasted into Paint's canvas as a genuine document edit", so Microsoft Paint is acting like more of a monitor than anything else, but it's still a sight to behold.
Performance ranges from quite smooth to snail's pace, but "the spreadsheet-tier framerate is part of the charm", and this is hardly the kind of medium I'd expect anyone to beat the entire game in. Nevertheless, it's real, and stands as the latest example of DOOM running in weird places. You'll need to install Python to run it, but that's all — alternatively, you could just watch my video.
It's a particularly bizarre crossover featuring two of my special interests, retro boomer shooters and classic Windows apps, with the icing on the cake being its creator. Sure, looking at the contributors section of DoomPaint shows generous commits from Anthropic's Claude and Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, so we're definitely dealing with a vibe-coded project here, but this is still a fascinating look into the downtime of a Microsoft executive.
Paint renders the game but does not compute it. Paint computes nothing. Paint has never computed anything. That's the joke.
Mark Russinovich, CTO and Technical Fellow for Microsoft Azure
Plus, there's working sound and music in this oddity, which is a step beyond what I expected from using Paint as a DOOM renderer. Again, though, this is more of a visual trick than an engine conversion, as Russinovich reiterates, "Paint renders the game but does not compute it. Paint computes nothing. Paint has never computed anything. That's the joke."
I've spent plenty of hours replaying the classics with source ports like UZDoom, and pulling a legitimate copy of its internal ".WAD" file will make variants like this playable with the complete selection of levels and weapons. If, somehow, you still haven't played DOOM in 2026, this could be one of the strangest ways to get started — but it's probably better to appreciate it from a distance.
I’m usually not one who likes to compare a new game to others, or someone who combines two games and calls it a “child” of the aforementioned counterparts. But I feel like I would be dishonest with the fans of specific games if I didn’t compare in this case.
Beast of Reincarnation is part NieR: Automata, a touch of Sekiro, with a semblance of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, all combined into a beautiful creation that makes me wonder what Game Freak could really do if they weren’t enthralled by the money they make with Nintendo off their Pokémon games.
The first time I saw the developer of Beast of Reincarnation listed, I was floored by what Game Freak could actually do. For years, they’d been on the receiving end of joke after joke for their lackluster open worlds in Pokémon on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2.
Let’s just say this: Game Freak is actually capable of some astonishing stuff. Beast of Reincarnation is proof that developers can sometimes become victims of their own success, bound to endless cycles of repeat games until they’re able to break free and direct something of their own.
This review was conducted using a pre-release code of Beast of Reincarnation provided to Windows Central by Game Freak. The company had no input or prior knowledge of its content.
Beast of Reincarnation: Story
If nothing else, Beast of Reincarnation is absolutely stunning. (Image credit: Windows Central)
The year is 4026, and the world as humanity once knew it is gone. Taken by what they call the Blight, the Earth has been largely replaced by some sort of forest-like organism that dominates the landscape and poisons the populace. Humanity still exists, whether as themselves or the husks of iron golems; the world's future hangs in the balance of one they call “Blighted.”
That person is Emma, an 18-year-old both gifted and cursed by the Blight. Known to the rest of humanity as a “Sealer,” Emma has the ability to use the Blight to her advantage. She grows and manipulates it at will to wreak havoc on those around her.
Koo is the goodest boy. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Alongside Emma is Koo, a dog who also suffers from the Blight. Together, Emma and Koo set out alongside a ragtag set of characters to free the land of the Blight by taking on the big bad, the Beast of Reincarnation. A creature that resurrects itself once every 100 years and must be defeated in order for humanity to survive.
To do so, Emma must go about collecting the powers held within the Nushi, boss-like creatures of massive zones Emma will journey to. Each Nushi collected will grant Emma a new power and further improve her strength and capability to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation.
The overall arc is well done and far beyond anything I've seen Game Freak make to date. While it's not on the same level as NieR: Automata or Pragmata in terms of Eastern-developed stories, it's nice to see them create something more than the ever-loving rival-driven Pokémon games.
Beast of Reincarnation: Gameplay and Combat
Hope you like swords. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Beast of Reincarnation comes labeled as an action RPG, but that term doesn’t really cover what kind of action the game entails. From Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Diablo 4 to Kingdom Hearts and The Witcher 3, the ARPG genre is very undefined in terms of what you can expect.
Which is yet another reason why comparing other games is such a compelling approach in this situation. As the combat reflects that of games like Sekiro and NieR: Automata, but it's nothing like something from Diablo!
Either way, what matters most is the answer to the age-old question, “Is it fun?” Yes! I had a blast playing Beast of Reincarnation.
The combat is a bewildering dance of enemy management. Engage foes when ready, keeping them at a distance, or sneaking up on a group to eliminate one before engaging the whole cohort. Balancing that alongside handling your companion, it might sound overwhelming, but it's not.
Finishing blows are a visual treat. (Image credit: Windows Central)
What I love most about Beast of Reincarnation is how intuitive the controls feel (at least on a controller). Your main weapon attacks, combos, and pet abilities are all within reasonable button combinations that create a sense of power.
I am always the shield or magic guy in Soulslike/ARPG games, so I was pretty terrible with the parries to start. I even gave up playing Sekiro at one point because it wasn’t clicking, and I’m a guy who’s beaten and replayed every other Dark Souls game.
Beast of Reincarnation felt different, or at least, things just finally clicked. After an hour, I felt like I knew what I was doing. A feeling a lot of players have when tackling some of these harder games.
And make no mistake, again, I love these games, but I’m trying to emphasize both the challenge of them as well as the ease of learning. One of the biggest gripes players have with harder games these days is the lack of accessibility or difficulty options, or how hard the games are.
Slice and dice attacks (Image credit: Windows Central)
I’ve never been one to believe that games like Sekiro or Dark Souls should have difficulty options, as that would alter the very core principles those games were built on. Beast of Reincarnation isn’t that, but it's also not a game that will hold your hand through every little niche or problem you come across.
Beast is a perfect reincarnation of the ARPG genre in the sense that it delivers a rewarding, challenging experience yet doesn’t punish the player with lost experience, loot, or something else upon death.
The rewards come in waves with a sense of accomplishment as well as wonder on screen as parries land and enemies fall. New weapons, gear, and other items that grant currency for upgrading both your gear and your home base.
Your main weapon is a samurai sword. Upgradable and interchangeable with other similar swords of varying effects you'll find across the landscape.
This animation is somewhat overused, to say the least. (Image credit: Windows Central)
What I found disappointing in terms of both weapons and combat is that over time it can feel very repetitive. Unlocking combos is a slow process, and weapons aren't all that varied either.
From boss to boss, they look gorgeous, but the combat itself is the general dodge and parry, followed by a finishing move. I find it more frustrating that it seems so much potential was left on the development floor. Even general enemy finishers are mirrored far too often, with every Golem seemingly getting the same backslash attack.
With great horizontal and vertical traversal mechanics, I felt "whelmed" by the combative options to make good use of them. The abilities eventually begin to flesh this out, but they take so long to unlock that by the time you do, you start to wonder if you even have enough time to have fun.
That's not to say it's horrid, not by any means. The combat is serviceable and genuinely fun at times, but the fact that much of the actual development for this game was given to external studios is shown as the entire puzzle doesn't feel as cohesive as it could have.
Walker
Not Texas Ranger (Image credit: Windows Central)
Speaking of which, the main base for player operations is known as the Cleanse Walker. This, straight out of Star Wars, metallic vehicle is a host for you and your party, as well as equipment benches, chicken farms, and even a shower for you and your dog, Koo.
Players can find items out in the world that will grant upgrades to these different little Walker areas, like different seeds to plant so your in-Walker cook can help create new dishes that will bolster your stats as well as keep Emma fed. Hitting a point of starvation will cause Emma to lose out on some of her strength, making a general return to your Walker something that will become habit-forming.
You can also increase bonds with other characters and Koo, which grant extra slots for abilities, or other things like new recipes, upgrade paths, etc.
Those abilities for Koo will be essential, as he adds a plethora of abilities that grant multi-target damage, blinding, and other effects. He can also carry healing items and other small-use gadgets that will help Emma in a pinch. Upgrading his bond with Emma will allow for more slots to become available to use. If he dies (not Emma), the slots reset, so be careful!
I actually quite liked these additions granted by the Walker, but as I said with combat, I just wish they'd have more impact on the overall game itself. Once again, it feels like the mechanic is there but never quite reaches its full potential.
Open world-ish
Areas are similar, but varied enough to feel fresh. (Image credit: Windows Central)
All of this comes neatly packed in a semi-open world. On your pilgrimage, Emma will come across multiple zones of varying size, all of which are open to the player to explore. Checking corners, while not necessary, will lead to treasure chests and Walker upgrade items.
Each new zone comes with a general collection of both corrupted and normal Golems to either fight or buy items from, as well as new enemies packed into different areas that will keep players on their toes, much like the second zone, which literally had me blowing up from self-destructing Golems.
A general Blight-infested look will dawn on each zone, but every one felt very different from the last. The first acting as a training ground of sorts, while leading into narrower, but more vertical areas like an entire city structure with its own underground tunnel system.
What you don’t find on your first go won’t be gone forever, as each zone can be revisited with a simple fast travel back. Meaning anything you might have missed is still up for collection.
The loot isn't game-changing outside of general Walker upgrade materials. What bothered me most was the lack of cool outfits to find! Armor isn't showcased either, as each new outfit
Beast of Reincarnation: Performance and graphics
Performance is a mixed bag. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Here’s where things get a little more complicated. Our main review rig was my Windows PC via Steam, where I run an RTX 5080, 9800X3D, and 64GB of DDR5 RAM. Needless to say, my rig can hang.
On Beast of Reincarnation, I had zero issues running it via my system at 4K with DLSS set to Quality. I was hitting frame rates well above 90, with all the settings maxed out, ray tracing included. When we hop over to Xbox, it’s a different story.
Our own Jez Corden was testing it on his Xbox Series X and reported to me that it was almost unplayable at times. I asked him what kind of frame rate issues he was running into, and in his own words he said, “from 60 FPS down to like 5 FPS,” when running around the open-world zones.
Curiously, I booted up my 4060m laptop, and over there, it ran surprisingly well. At 1080p, I was hitting over 100 FPS with most settings maxed and DLSS 3.5 set to Quality. So, for once, it doesn’t seem to be a bad PC port, but rather a potentially bog-water console port.
Post-launch patches should iron out the issues. (Image credit: Windows Central)
We’ve been told that issues will be ironed out come launch, but as of July 28, 2026, when we last tested the Xbox Series X version, it wasn’t doing so well. I can’t imagine the Series S version is much better!
So buyer beware; maybe check out a couple of day-one patches if you’re unsure about the experience you could potentially have playing on console. Sounds like it could be another Crimson Desert situation. Great PC performance, with a couple of patches needed before the game really shines on console.
You'd think as a result, the world would be jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but it's just okay, I guess? Don't get me wrong, the art direction is wonderful, and I do think the game is rather pretty to look at, but for the performance trade-offs we're currently seeing on console, it doesn't make a lot of sense.
Should you buy Beast of Reincarnation?
Explosion! (Image credit: Windows Central)
If you’re a sucker for the following titles, you should absolutely buy this game: NieR: Automata, Sekiro, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Pragmata, Horizon Zero Dawn, Shadow of the Colossus. You get the point.
I think once all the bugs are ironed out, Beast of Reincarnation will become quite a hit with a smaller audience. I don’t believe it’ll reach the heights of something like NieR: Automata, but it's something that I truly feel has the weight to capture said audience with its magic and majesty.
It's also a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, so if you're a subscriber to either, definitely add it to your list.
Beast of Reincarnation
If you’re looking for tight combat, well-done exploration, and another beautifully confusing story discovering the definition of humanity, do yourself a favor and pick up Beast of Reincarnation.
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A screenshot from Beast of Reincarnation by Game Freak
Beast of Reincarnation's creators are best known for Pokémon, but this is something completely different, and beautiful.
If, like me, you were wildly impressed by Gears of War: E-Day's insane multiplayer gameplay showcase and want to play it as soon as possible, then you're in luck. E-Day is holding two beta test weekends for players to try out its multiplayer modes and help the devs polish it ahead of its October 6, 2026 launch.
The first beta test will run from August 6, 2026, at 12:00 pm PT to August 10, 2026, at 10:00 am PT for players who pre-ordered the game on Xbox Series X|S or Steam, and/or subscribed to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
The second beta test will be open for all players on all eligible platforms and will run from August 13, 2026, at 12:00 pm PT to August 17, 2026, at 10:00 am PT, regardless of whether a player has pre-ordered the game or not.
To download the beta for the early access weekend, search for it on your respective platform's digital storefront or library for "Gears Beta" if you pre-ordered the game digitally, or redeem an email code sent to your account if you pre-ordered the physical edition.
Accessing the open beta test is easier, as you simply need to search for "Gears Beta" on the Xbox digital storefront, Xbox PC app, or Steam's storefront and download accordingly.
Xbox users will need at least an Xbox Game Essentials subscription to access the Gears of War E-Day multiplayer beta tests.
Steam users won't need an Xbox/Microsoft account to play the Gears of War E-Day multiplayer beta tests, but they'll need to link their Steam account to an Xbox account (which is done via the multiplayer beta test's main menu) if they hope to play with Xbox players via cross-play.
Multiplayer beta content
BOOM (Image credit: Microsoft)
Here's a list of what content you can expect from Gears of War: E-Day's multiplayer beta test versus what content will be available in the full version, sourced from the official Gears of War: E-Day page.
Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer content
Content
Beta
Launch
Horde Siege Maps
1 Map
3 Maps
Horde Siege Classes
4 Classes
4 Classes
Horde Siege Class Levels
Capped at Level 10
30
Invasion Events
2 Invasion Bosses
4 Invasion Bosses
Versus Modes
2 Modes
4 Modes
Versus Maps
2 Maps
6 Maps
Weapons
All
All
Medals
5
Over 80
Player Level
Capped at Level 50
Level 100 with Four Re-Ups
Customization
Limited Characters & Beta Rewards
Season One Content
Multiplayer beta exclusive rewards
Exclusive rewards for playing the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta tests (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Additionally, completing certain challenges within the beta tests will net you some exclusive in-game rewards you can use in the beta and in the full game, which include:
Epic Blast Damage Mags Character Skin – Hit Player Level 20
Rare Crush the Bug Weapon Skin Set – Extract from Horde Siege 8 Times on Infantry difficulty or higher.
Open Beta Medal & First in the Fight Title – Launch the Multiplayer Beta
PC spec requirements
PC Specs for Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
If you're planning on playing Gears of War: E-Day on PC, here is a list of recommended specs by The Coalition for you to determine if your rig can run it.
Do note that these specifications aren't reflective of the full game, and The Coalition will update this list with the final PC spec requirements ahead of the game's launch.
Also, make sure you update your NVIDIA Driver to GeForce Game Ready Driver 610.74 before launching the game; otherwise, it won't run.
Not to mention its story campaign, as shown in the Gears of War: E-Day Direct in June, which is also building up to a nostalgic thrill ride for players who grew up playing the original trilogy while also bringing in new newcomers with new mechanics and weapons to make it more fast-paced and brutal than previous titles.
Relive the tragic day that started the long, grueling war between the COGs and the Locust horde in the highly anticipated prequel of the Gears of War franchise, Gears of War: E-Day.
But what about you? Are you looking forward to playing the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta tests, or are you waiting until the full game comes out to play the campaign solo or with co-op?
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit page.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
A soldier in blue armor stabs a monstrous, grey-skinned creature in the chest with a combat knife, causing a violent spray of blood in a city ruin.
Larian Studios has announced a surprise update for the Xbox version of its critically-acclaimed CRPG, Baldur's Gate 3, despite currently working on the next Divinity game.
As of today, Baldur's Gate 3 is now an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning you can now play it on any platform within the Xbox ecosystem.
Take your adventure on the go with Baldur's Gate 3, now available on Xbox Play Anywhere!To ensure cross-play continues working as it should, all platforms will be receiving an update to support this 🦑 https://t.co/skkaOM8Ot2August 3, 2026
To celebrate the occasion, Larian Studios has also announced that the Xbox version of Baldur's Gate 3 is now on sale for a 30% discount for a limited time.
What's cool is that now that Baldur's Gate 3 is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, buying it on Xbox consoles means you don't have to buy it again on Windows PC and vice versa.
Now, personally I'm using the Steam version of Baldur's Gate 3 due to exclusive PC mods available on Nexus Mods, but I can't deny that Baldur's Gate 3 becoming an Xbox Play Anywhere title is a massive win for the feature.
I hope that this will convince Microsoft to invest in adding more games for Xbox Play Anywhere so we can play our entire library wherever we want on any accessible Xbox, PC, or handheld compatible within the Xbox ecosystem.
But what do you think? Are you excited that Baldur's Gate 3 is now an Xbox Play Anywhere title? Will this convince you to finally give the game a go if you somehow managed to avoid it for three years?
If you have any thoughts on the matter, please let us know through the poll, the comments section, or our Reddit page.
Embark on a grand adventure solo or with friends in online co-op to save the city of Baldur's Gate from evil, explore the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons, and find a cure to escape being turned into a soulless mindflayer in Baldur's Gate 3.
Despite the massive damage Xbox Game Studios took during its controversial 'reset', it's still alive and ready to continue celebrating the 25th anniversary of the original Xbox, which would help change the video game landscape forever.
Custom Xbox design by Ben Kenobi. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios | Ben Kenobi)
To start, Microsoft is partnering with two popular Xbox content creators, Klobrille and Ben Kenobi, to publish new gamerpics, backgrounds, and a dynamic theme for Xbox consoles custom-made by the Xbox community.
Additionally, Xbox is also willing to publish your custom-made Xbox designs if you send them on X and@XBOX with #XBOX25.
Speaking of Xbox customization. Starting today until the end of 2026, players who log into their Xbox account on console, PC, or the Xbox mobile app will obtain the Xbox 25th anniversary profile badge that they can put on their profile pics.
Xbox Game Pass
A selection of classic Xbox titles being curated for Xbox Game Pass. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Next up, Xbox Game Pass is curating a collection of classic Xbox games that helped define the brand on each console generation from the original Xbox all the way to Xbox Series X|S, all playable on console or PC.
Some of these iconic titles will include, but are not limited to: Fable Anniversary, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Fallout 4, Psychonauts 2, Grounded, and more.
Xbox FanFest Tour dates
Xbox FanFest Tour 2026 dates. (Image credit: Xbox Game Studios)
Finally, Microsoft has announced more dates for the Xbox FanFest Tour, which kicked off during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2026.
The Xbox FanFest Tour is a global series of events where Xbox fans come together to connect, play games, and have fun.
Here's where and when you can expect the tour to happen next:
Cologne, Germany — August 26, at gamescom
Tokyo, Japan — September 17, during Tokyo Game Show
London, U.K. — September 26
Mexico City, Mexico — October 17
Sydney, Australia — October 17
Toronto, Canada — November 6
Seattle, U.S. — More info coming soon!
Tickets for each stop of the tour will be handed out to people through city-specific sweepstakes.
If you wish to enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a ticket and keep up on all the news updates for this tour, you will need to visit the XBOX FanFest Tour webpage.
If you want to keep up to date on further announcements regarding Xbox's 25th Anniversary celebrations, products, and exclusive content, visit the Xbox 25th Anniversary webpage hub.
Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
The Xbox logo sits centrally, flanked by four circular panels showing a soldier, a red skull, a red sports car near a mountain, and a fantasy hero.