Timeline
YesterdaySat, 1st Aug 2026
Poll One Year Later, What Do You Think Of Xbox's Most Recent Gears Of War Release?
Reloaded came out in August of 2025
We're obviously all eagerly awaiting the release of Gears of War: E-Day later in 2026, but before we get there, we thought we'd take a quick look back at the most recent entry in the series - August 2025's Gears of War: Reloaded. In all honesty, we were a little underwhelmed by the idea of revisiting Gears of War...
Guide Xbox Game Pass: All Games Coming Soon In August 2026
All the confirmed reveals so far
Looking for a complete list of games coming to Xbox Game Pass in August 2026? It can be pretty difficult to keep track of all the comings and goings in the world of Xbox Game Pass every month, so we've put together this handy guide to provide an overview of what's coming to the service over the next few weeks...
Feature These 20+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (August 3-7)
Including a big Xbox Game Pass addition!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for August 3-7! The big release of the next few days is undoubtedly Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation, which just so happens to be releasing on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch, and there are plenty of other exciting new releases to look out for as well!...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (August 1-2)
Halo: Campaign Evolved on Game Pass?
It's weekend time! We've obviously got some big new Xbox Game Pass titles to check out including Halo: Campaign Evolved and Mistfall Hunter, and don't forget that the Xbox Ultimate Game Sale ends in just a few days. Here's what we're playing on Xbox this weekend: Fraser Gilbert, Editor: I'm actually just...
Friday31st Jul 2026
Pick One What Was Your Favourite Xbox Game Pass Addition In July 2026?
Halo? Hell Is Us? Buckshot Roulette?
As the final day of July falls upon us, it's only natural we cast our gaze to August and the next batch of Xbox Game Pass goodies. But before we do, let's take a moment to look back at what turned out to be a pretty good month in July. Adding a hearty mix of major first and third party titles to the service along...
News Waterpark Simulator 1.0 Is Out Now On Xbox, After 'Overwhelmingly Positive' PC Early Access
Well, well, well... water we got here?
We mentioned feeling wee bit jealous that viral hit Waterpark Simulator didn't include Xbox when it launched into Early Access last year. Well, with the arrival of version 1.0, it's finally time to grab your snorkels, speedos, and controllers, because Waterpark Simulator is now available on Xbox Series X|S!...
Guide Gears Of War: E-Day Open Beta Dates, Start Times & Xbox Game Pass Details
Everything you need to know about the Gears E-Day Beta
Gears of War: E-Day's Open Beta is officially upon us! Loads of players will be getting a chance to check out the new Gears multiplayer in just a few days' time, complete with some exclusive items if you pre-order the game as well. So, here's a look at everything you need to know about the...
News Xbox Cloud Gaming Arrives On Hisense & VIDAA TVs With Dedicated App
Which sort of makes it an Xbox?
Microsoft's flawed "This Is An Xbox" campaign may well and truly be retired, but that hasn't stopped Xbox from continuing to expand it's Cloud Gaming service, with support now being deployed to select Hisense and VIDAA OS-powered Smart TVs. If you're in possession of a Hisense/VIDAA 2024-2026 model, you might want...
News Corsair Cove Is Available Today With Xbox Game Pass, And Here's What The Reviews Are Saying
"Undoubtedly one of the best strategy games of recent years"
We've got our final Xbox Game Pass addition of the month today, and It takes the shape of Corsair Cove, which is joining PC Game Pass. To be completely honest with you, we didn't really know much about this one, other than it's a pirate-themed strategy game, and is only available to the...
News Xbox's Four Priorities Detailed By Asha Sharma After Major 'Reset'
Core, Content, Creation, and Connection
You've most likely heard all about the Xbox 'reset' that laid off of thousands of employees and divestment in studios that saw four of them part ways with the company. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has outline her plans to get the brand back on track. In a memo obtained by The Verge, she detailed four key priorities...
Thursday30th Jul 2026
Talking Point What Was The First Gears Of War Game You Ever Played?
Where you there when Carmine's gun jammed?
As we draw ever closer to the Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer Beta (August 6-10 for players who pre-ordered or subscribe to XGP Ultimate/PC, followed by the Open Beta from August 13-17) we thought now would be the perfect time to ask about your first experience with the series. For many of us who...
News Free Play Days: Try These Xbox Games For Free (July 30 - August 2)
Three games to play for free this weekend!
Where does the time go? It's Thursday again, which means we're back to share the next batch of Xbox Free Play Days titles for you to crack on with this weekend. Only three games up for grabs this time, so why don't you pull up a steel chair and get busy with WWE 2K26. If tussling around the ring with...
Roundup Here's What The Previews Are Saying About Gears Of War: E-Day
Horde Siege, PVP, and more
The first round of previews for Gears of War: E-Day have dropped and they're all saying the same time - Horde mode rocks. The Coalition's next game is a prequel to the original Gears of War, focusing on the iconic brotherhood between Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago. Set during the darkest chapter in Gears history,...
Preview We've Played Gears Of War: E-Day, And Can't Get Enough Of Horde Siege
It's fun, but is it Gears?
Gears of War is one-third of the Xbox holy trinity, and a series I've loved for almost two decades thanks to its unique cover-based brutality. No matter which entry you boot up, chainsawing through a shredded Locust simply never gets old. It's been a long six years since Gears 5, and whilst I've been champing at the bit...
News Mistfall Hunter Is Available Today With Xbox Game Pass, And Here's What The Reviews Are Saying
Available for Premium, PC, and Ultimate members today!
It's another day, and another brand-new addition to Xbox Game Pass! The dark fantasy world of Mistfall Hunter is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Cloud, and supports my favourite feature, Xbox Play
Wednesday29th Jul 2026
News Not A Good Look For Xbox As Halo: Campaign Evolved Plays Best On PlayStation
The grass is bluer on the other side
The clever clogs at Digital Foundry have released arguably one of the most awkward console comparisons in recent memory, putting Halo: Campaign Evolved under some heat. When you hear about Halo, you think Xbox - they've been synonymous for decades. Master Chief has long served as the poster boy of
News Dispatch Is Finally Available On Xbox, With Play Anywhere Support
Uncensored in all its glory
Xbox gamers, are you ready to finally play Dispatch?! Today is the day, as one of the best games of 2025 is available now to play on Xbox Series X and Series S with full Xbox Play Anywhere support on the Xbox PC app and handheld! Booya! If somehow you missed this one, Dispatch is a very good choose your own adventure...
PSA Xbox FanFest Sign-Ups Close Soon Ahead Of Gamescom 2026
Win tickets to Gamescom 2026 with a friend
All aboard folks, next stop on the Xbox FanFest Tour is Cologne, Germany, as the official community program heads to Gamescom 2026 - Choo choo! Xbox FanFest is a big in-person celebration
News Xbox Could Still Lose Money On Series X|S Console Sales Despite Price Hike, Sources Claim
And what does this mean for Project Helix?
Xbox's planned price increase for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles will come into effect on Saturday, August 1st, but it appears Microsoft could still end up selling its hardware at a loss. As seems to be the norm everywhere right now, rising manufacturing costs caused by the ongoing component...
News Former Xbox Studio Forced To Layoff 23 Employees To Ensure 'Survival Of Our Studio'
"The people we are losing were all important"
It's been just over three weeks since Psychonauts and Kiln developer Double Fine announced its independence from Xbox Game Studios, and the team has now been forced into letting go of 23 employees to avoid complete closure. Studio Head Tim Schafer confirmed the cuts on
News Xbox Announces Big List Of Games And Broadcast Schedule For Gamescom 2026
Get a proper look at upcoming Xbox games
With it being their 25th anniversary, Xbox is showing up in a big way at Gamescom 2026 - next month's big gaming mamma jamma taking place in the usual spot, Cologne Germany. This year the Xbox booth will feature 25 upcoming titles spread across 140 gaming stations, giving lucky attendees plenty of hands-on...
Tuesday28th Jul 2026
Poll So, What Do You Think Of Halo: Campaign Evolved?
Is this your first Halo game?
Halo: Campaign Evolved is finally out in the wild, and I can't get enough of it. Despite getting very early access weeks before launch, I still find myself hopping on to replay the campaign, remix levels, try out new Skull modifiers, and have a laugh with friends. It's such a blast! The remake feels like a proper...
Dun dun dun dun dunnnnnnn!
Halo: Campaign Evolved is officially available worldwide on Xbox, PC, and PS5. It's still so surreal seeing Halo on a Sony console, but better yet, It's available day one with Xbox Game Pass! Hooray, confetti and grunt brains everywhere! The Standard Edition of Halo Studios' breathtaking remake is out now for everyone...
News Last Chance To Bag A Bargain: Xbox Summer Sale 2026 Ends Tomorrow
Make the most of some MASSIVE discounts
The Xbox Ultimate Game Sale 2026 has been in full swing for the past couple of weeks, offering discounts of up to 95% across a whopping 2,000+ games. However, this year's massive sale is coming to an end late on Wednesday July 29, in other words, tomorrow! So, consider this a reminder to snag yourself...
News Xbox Owners Get Free PC Copies Of Select Ubisoft Games
Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and more!
Ubisoft is giving Xbox players free PC versions of select games they already own digitally on console, at no additional cost. Currently the offers extends to thirteen titles in total, all of which will be playable through the Ubisoft Connect app on PC. For most games, the specific edition and DLC content you may...
News 'We Must Do Better To Support You' - Xbox Exec Apologises For Xbox Server Outage
"This is an unacceptable situation"
Xbox Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet took to social media last night to apologise for the widespread outage that left some players unable to sign in, view game libraries, or, in the worst cases, launch either digital titles or physical disc-based games on Xbox. The server crash began in the early hours...
News Xbox Servers Were Down For 20 Hours, But Everything Should Be Working Now
Update: "Good news — the earlier Xbox issue should now be mitigated"
Last week, Xbox suffered an untimely server outage preventing players from accessing Halo: Campaign Evolved Early Access on the very same day it launched. Not great from Team Green, and to make matters worse, it looks like servers are playing up once again. You're not alone,...
Monday27th Jul 2026
Talking Point How Much Has The Xbox Outage Affected You?
Can you play anything yet?
Xbox servers have been down for most of the day (July 27), impacting thousands of players, myself included, and leaving me unable to play most of my games. Sifting through social media platforms for the general reaction whilst keeping an eye on the Xbox Status page for a miracle, continues to paint a bleak picture for a...
News Stalker 2: Cost Of Hope Gets August 2026 Release Date For Xbox, PS5 & PC
Launches alongside major 2.0 Unreal Engine 5 update
GSC Game World has just announced the first major expansion for Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to release on August 20, 2026. We got a new trailer for the upcoming DLC Cost of Hope, which introduces two new regions with plenty more "horrors and mysteries of the Zone" to encounter. The...
News Lara Croft Suffers Another Delay, Tomb Raider: Catalyst Pushed To 2028
Hopefully it's worth the wait!
Lara Croft can't seem to catch her breath, as it looks like Tomb Raider: Catalyst has been pushed back to 2028. The legendary adventurer has has suffered a rocky revival, with the reimagined version of her original adventure, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, becoming the first of Amazon's Lara Croft projects to...
News Halo: Campaign Evolved Legendary Ending Teases A Halo 2 Remake Is On The Way
*Minor Spoiler Warning*
Halo Studios has teased that a remake of Halo 2 is coming, and they've done it in the best possible way. Back in 2001, players who managed to complete the final mission of Halo: Combat Evolved on Legendary difficulty were treated with a secret ending. It wasn't anything major, just a fun cutscene featuring the UNSC's finest,...
Sunday26th Jul 2026
News Three Games Are Confirmed For Xbox Game Pass To End The Month (July 28-31)
Two of them being huge additions!
The final week of July is approaching! We've got three titles set to join Xbox Game Pass over the next few days, and considering they're spread out, we thought we'd round them up in this article to ensure you don't miss anything. Of course, Halo: Campaign Evolved is the big highlight - a game we've been having a...
Talking Point What Have You Bought In The Xbox Summer Sale 2026?
It ends in just a few days' time!
It's finally almost time for the Xbox Summer Sale 2026 to come to a close. The big sale with over 2000 discounts has been live since the middle of July, but it'll all be over by the end of July 29th. As you've probably seen, we've been putting together a bunch of guides for the Summer Sale over the past week-or-so,...
Feature 10 Games We'd Love To See Added To Xbox Backwards Compatibility On PC
Influenced by the latest Xbox Game Preservation votes
We're still feeling the hype of the Xbox backwards compatibility announcement for PC earlier this week, and it's got us thinking about all the games we'd love to play on PC natively from Xbox's back catalogue in the future! It's not just us, either - the folks over at Xbox Game Preservation have...
Saturday25th Jul 2026
Talking Point How Much Noise Do Your Xbox Consoles Make After All These Years?
Are they in need of a clean?
Over the past decade-and-a-bit, it feels like Xbox has done a really good job at creating consoles that barely emit any noise whatsoever - the Xbox One, Series X, Series S and even the ROG Xbox Ally have all been commended for it. The onset of time gets us all in the end though, and there's a good chance that at least...
Guide Xbox Game Pass Essential: Full List Of Games (July 2026 Update)
Here's everything you can play on Game Pass Essential
Back in 2023, Microsoft finally phased out Xbox Live Gold, replacing it with Xbox Game Pass Core as a new entry-level tier to its subscription service. Since then, it's been renamed to Xbox Game Pass Essential as of October 2025. Unlike Games with Gold, which
News Three More Games Have Suffered The Very Rare 'Hard Delisting' Treatment On Xbox
Apparently due to a developer-publisher dispute
We hear about games being delisted all the time on the Xbox Store, and the same goes for Steam, the PlayStation Store, the Nintendo eShop and other platforms. It's just a reality these days that games do get delisted now and again. When this happens though, you can normally still download them if you...
Feature These 30+ Games Are Coming To Xbox Next Week (July 27-31)
Including two huge Xbox Game Pass additions!
Welcome to your Xbox games roundup for July 27-31! We've got some really cool games coming to Xbox over the next few days including Forever Skies, Dispatch and Gothic Classic, while Xbox Game Pass is dominated by two massive "day one" additions in the form of Halo: Campaign Evolved and M
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (July 25-26)
How about some Planet Crafter on XGP?
Welcome to the weekend! As always, we've got loads of Xbox Game Pass titles to check out over the next few days, and let's not forget the early access for Halo: Campaign Evolved - now live if you bought one of the special editions! Here's what we're playing on Xbox this weekend: Fraser Gilbert, Editor: It's...
Friday24th Jul 2026
News SEGA & Ubisoft Leaders Share Their Thoughts On The Future Of Physical Games
"We are currently considering the important elements of digital media..."
We're still waiting to hear from Xbox on what their plans are for supporting physical games in the future, as we already know that PlayStation will be ditching them (at least in disc form) from January 2028. Interestingly, both the SEGA President and Ubisoft CEO were asked...
News Two Massive Sports Games Have Joined Xbox's Stacked Lineup For September
As if it wasn't busy enough
We've already seen so many games announced for September over the past few months as publishers desperately attempt to avoid GTA 6 in November, and we're continuing to get more announcements by the week. Two massive sports games, for example, have just slotted into that window. NBA 2K27 is coming to Xbox Series X and...
News Black Flag Resynced Tops The Xbox Charts As Ubisoft Says It's Massively Exceeded Expectations
3.5 million copies sold to date
It feels like it's been a rough period for Ubisoft over the past few years, but the company will be extremely happy with the results of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, which has already exceeded sales expectations for all of 2026! The game has sold 3.5 million copies across all platforms since it launched in...
News Here's A First Look At How Adverts Work With Xbox Cloud Gaming
As part of the new "free" test for game streaming
Yesterday, Xbox announced that it was introducing a new "free" way to access Xbox Cloud Gaming as part of an ad-based tier, which is currently available to test for various members of the Xbox Insider program. We've been intrigued as to how this works, and courtesy of a Brazilian user known as J
News It Sure Sounds Like Xbox 360 Games Are Coming To Backwards Compatibility On PC
Better get those wishlists ready
When Xbox backwards compatibility was announced for PC the other day, we were treated to four games from the original Xbox era in the form of Conker: Live & Reloaded, Crimson Skies, Fuzion Frenzy and Blinx: The Time Sweeper. However, it seems very possible we'll be getting some Xbox 360
News Hell Let Loose: Vietnam Is Free To Play On Xbox For The First Time This Weekend
The Crossplay Playtest begins today!
We covered all the games in this week's batch of Xbox Free Play Days titles yesterday, but there's also another free title to mention for the next few days that isn't officially part of the Free Play Days selection! Yes, the upcoming Hell Let Loose: Vietnam is also free to try as part of a Crossplay Playtest...
News Avatar Legends Delayed On Xbox Just Moments Before Launch
Due to 'unforeseen circumstances'
In a bizarre last minute decision, the developers behind Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game have been "forced to delay" the Xbox version until sometime before September 3. The announcement came via the game's official Twitter/X account in the early hours of July 23, just hours before launch. Addressing the Xbox...
Guide Two More Free Master Chief Skins Up For Grabs In Halo: Campaign Evolved
Looking slick, Chief!
Halo: Campaign Evolved is now officially available in Early Access, and we've got two more free armour skins to help your Spartan baddie look his best. If you missed our earlier guide on how to redeem Master Chief's 'Fanta-stic' new look, be sure to check out the article below. That way you'll send the Covenant packing as a...
Thursday23rd Jul 2026
Guide Halo: Campaign Evolved - All 13 Terminal Locations
We love a bit of lore
Good to see you, Master Chief, and welcome to our Halo: Campaign Evolved - all 13 Terminal locations guide. Here you'll find a video walkthrough, or if you prefer, screenshots and descriptions detailing the whereabouts of every Terminal tucked away throughout Halo. There is one Terminal per level across the main campaign and...
Roundup Here's What The Critics Are Saying About Halo: Campaign Evolved
The verdict is in
The Halo: Campaign Evolved embargo has officially lifted, and therefore we're seeing a massive number of reviews online for the latest first-party title in Xbox's lineup, including here at Pure Xbox where we gave it a 10/10 in our review! Does everyone else feel as strongly as us? We've had a quick browse around the web to see...
News Xbox Introduces Free Game Streaming With Ads, Outlines Five Principles They'll Adhere To
Rolling out now as a "test" for Xbox Insiders
There have been rumours for a while now that Xbox might be planning to introduce a form of ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and they've now announced that they're introducing the idea as a "test" with Xbox Insiders. Basically, the way it works is that you'll get a one-hour slot to stream "select...
