Xbox

Official blog post detailing Halo Infinite's new mode - their take on the classic search & destroy, complete with in-match economy.
This mode launches with 6 new Forged maps.

Hot on the heels of the layoffs that have swept through Xbox, the founder of Microsoft-owned Arkane Studios has hit out at Game Pass, whose subscription model he called “unsustainable.”

Raphael Colantonio, who founded the Dishonored and Prey developer and served as its president before leaving in 2017 to start Weird West maker WolfEye Studios, took to social media to ask: “Why is no-one talking about the elephant in the room? Cough cough (Gamepass).”

When asked to expand on his thoughts on Game Pass, which Weird West launched straight into as a day one title in March 2022, Colantonio said: “I think Gamepass is an unsustainable model that has been increasingly damaging the industry for a decade, subsidized by MS’s ‘infinite money,’ but at some point reality has to hit. I don’t think GP can co-exist with other models, they’ll either kill everyone else, or give up.”

Colantonio’s comment sparked a vociferous debate about the pros and cons of Game Pass in industry terms as well as for the customer. Microsoft's subscription service has been called many things over the years: the death of the video game industry; the savior of smaller developers who benefit greatly from payments made by Microsoft to secure their games; and everything in between. During the great Xbox FTC trial to decide the fate of Microsoft's $69 billion aquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, then PlayStation boss Jim Ryan claimed that he had talked to "all the publishers" and that, unanimously, they all hated Game Pass "because it is value destructive." He also said Microsoft "appears to be losing a lot of money on it."

Back in 2021, Xbox boss Phil Spencer countered Game Pass doomsayers, saying: "I know there's a lot of people that like to write [that] we're burning cash right now for some future pot of gold at the end. No. Game Pass is very, very sustainable right now as it sits. And it continues to grow."

That was four years ago. What about now, in the wake of cuts that have seen Rare's Everwild, the Perfect Dark reboot, and an unannounced MMO in the works at developer behind The Elder Scrolls Online all canceled?

Colantonio’s comments were backed by a number of industry peers, including the former VP of biz dev at Epic Games. Michael Douse, publishing director at Baldur’s Gate 3 developer Larian, said that the biggest concern right now revolves around what happens when all that money runs out. This, Douse added, is “one of the main economic reasons people I know haven't shifted to its business model. The infinite money thing never made any sense.”

(It’s worth noting that Baldur’s Gate 3 has so far not launched in Game Pass or PlayStation Plus.)

Colantonio then ridiculed Microsoft’s insistence that launching games into Game Pass did not impact sales, only to later admit the contrary.

Douse responded to to say he prefers the Sony way of doing things. Sony’s PlayStation Plus policy is to keep first-party games off the subscription service at launch, only adding them some time later. That’s why you won’t see this year’s Sony’s Ghost of Yotei launch straight into PS Plus, but you will see Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as a day one Game Pass launch.

“The economics never made sense, but at the same time I do recognize that for smaller teams with new or riskier IPs it helped derisk,” Douse said. “Much prefer Sony's 'lifecycle management' strategy.”

"Yeah, the only way GP can co-exist without hurting everyone is for the back catalogue," Colantonio concluded.

Reports have indicated that Microsoft’s layoffs were more about the company’s high-profile push into AI than any failing with the gaming business, but Colantonio suggested this was “a bs excuse.”

He then went on to insist that “the maths don’t work for most publishers/devs nor for Xbox once they stop investing.”

Colantonio was also asked why Microsoft would continue to push Game Pass if it were unsustainable, even now, eight years after it launched. He responded to say that Game Pass isn’t profitable, Microsoft is still in the "customer acquisition phase", and the company hopes that one day, subscription revenue will make its significant investment pay off.

Colantonio explained that Game Pass on its own cannot be considered profitable because you need to factor in the billions of dollars Microsoft has spent acquiring content for the subscription service, and he includes Bethesda owner ZeniMax and Activision Blizzard in that equation. “It’s a spreadsheet trick where they don’t put that detail in a profit and loss section, but instead in the amortization over time,” he claimed.

Game Pass is of course an incredible deal for the gamer that lets subscribers dip in and out of a long list of games for a fraction of the cost of buying those games standalone. Game Pass is often said to be too good to be true because of how cheap it is relative to what it offers. When you throw in every game Microsoft has on its books as a day one Game Pass launch (Call of Duty included), the deal feels even better.

For Colantonio, though, the Game Pass deal is “too good.”

“What might happen once MS has won: the games will start to suck and your sub will go up,” he added. “Why? Because the current amazing deal you have is subsided by MS bleeding money into it with the hope they’ll kill the competition, but once they manage to do it, things will get real.”

He added: “... it’s a long game that involves throwing a tsunami at the entire ecosystem of the industry. Only the gamers like it because the offer is too good to be true, but eventually even gamers will hate it when they realize the effects on the games.”

Microsoft does not report on the success of Game Pass either way in financial terms. Indeed, its reporting on its gaming business is vague at best. In its last financial report (for the quarter ending March 31, 2025), Microsoft said Xbox content and services grew 8% year-over-year, which was in part due to growth in Xbox Game Pass. PC Game Pass revenue increased 45% year-over-year. But we don’t have an updated figure for how many subscribers Game Pass has, nor how much money it brings in.

In an April interview with Variety, Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer was asked how he views Game Pass’s ongoing role in the larger Xbox business. Spencer replied to say he thinks about Game Pass as “a healthy option for certain people,” but admitted “it’s not for everybody.”

“Our biggest areas of growth right now are PC and Cloud, which makes sense, since consoles, all up, are a good business, they’re an established business, but they’re not really a growing segment in gaming," he said.

"So we’ve got good growth on PC, we’ve got growth on Cloud, in terms of users and hours. And console continues to be a really healthy part of Game Pass. But there isn’t a unique need for Game Pass to be the only way for people to play. If everybody who’s a Game Pass subscriber instead decided to buy their games, that’s good for the business as well.

“For me, I look at Game Pass as a healthy option for certain people. It’s not for everybody. If you play one or two games a year, Game Pass probably isn’t the right business model for you, you should just buy those two games, and that would make total sense. But I want you to have the choice. So we remain focused on everything that’s on Game Pass is also available to buy. We’re making those games available to buy in more places.

“And I look at the overall hours of people who are playing on Xbox, playing our games, and that’s a number that continues to grow fairly substantially, and that’s really the metric I think about for success. And Game Pass has been an important part of that, but I don’t try to solve for Game Pass specifically on its own. It’s kind of part of the equation for Xbox finding new players.”

Microsoft has laid off thousands of workers across its various divisions in the latest cost-cutting measures taken by the corporation, whose 2024 revenue exceeded $245 billion, a 16-percent increase over its 2023 revenue. Though the cuts have impacted several of the company's various divisions, Xbox appears to be hit particularly hard. This represents the fourth time in 18 months that Microsoft Gaming has laid off workers.

"We continue to implement organizational and workforce changes that are necessary to position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace," an Xbox spokesperson said in an official comment provided to Game Informer. Alongside the official statement, Xbox PR confirmed that less than 4 percent of Microsoft's global workforce was impacted. However, according to Microsoft's official reporting, the company employs 228,000 people worldwide, which means 4 percent of the global workforce accounts for more than 9,100 people. Xbox PR also confirmed to Game Informer that the gaming division is impacted, "but not the majority," and stopped short of providing any additional details. When I requested a percentage of Xbox-specific impact, PR could not provide additional context.

However, Variety and several other outlets obtained a memo to Xbox employees from Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer. Notably, Spencer says, "Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger," and "Simply put, we would not be where we are without the time, energy, and creativity of those whose roles are impacted." You can see that in its entirety below.

Today we are sharing decisions that will impact colleagues across our organization. To position Gaming for enduring success and allow us to focus on strategic growth areas, we will end or decrease work in certain areas of the business and follow Microsoft’s lead in removing layers of management to increase agility and effectiveness. Out of respect for those impacted today, the specifics of today’s notifications and any organizational shifts will be shared by your team leaders in the coming days.

I recognize that these changes come at a time when we have more players, games, and gaming hours than ever before. Our platform, hardware, and game roadmap have never looked stronger. The success we’re seeing currently is based on tough decisions we’ve made previously. We must make choices now for continued success in future years and a key part of that strategy is the discipline to prioritize the strongest opportunities. We will protect what is thriving and concentrate effort on areas with the greatest potential, while delivering on the expectations the company has for our business. This focused approach means we can deliver exceptional games and experiences for players for generations to come.

Prioritizing our opportunities is essential, but that does not lessen the significance of this moment. Simply put, we would not be where we are today without the time, energy, and creativity of those whose roles are impacted. These decisions are not a reflection of the talent, creativity, and dedication of the people involved. Our momentum is not accidental—it is the result of years of dedicated effort from our teams.

HR is working directly with impacted employees to provide severance plan benefits (aligned with local laws), including pay, healthcare coverage, and job placement resources to support their transition. Employees whose roles were eliminated are encouraged to explore open positions across Microsoft Gaming, where their applications will be given priority review.

Thank you to everyone who has shaped our culture, our products, and our community. We will move forward with deep appreciation and respect for all who have contributed to this journey.

Phil

Subsequently, The Verge acquired a memo sent by Xbox president of game content and studios, Matt Booty. In his memo, Booty confirms Xbox is closing down The Initiative, an all-new first-party studio founded by Xbox in 2018 in Santa Monica, California. In 2020, The Initiative revealed it was working on a new entry in the Perfect Dark franchise, which is now canceled as a result of this closure. Booty also confirms the Twycross, England-based Rare, which Xbox acquired in 2002 and has worked on titles like Sea of Thieves and Viva Piñata, has been impacted by this round of layoffs, and its new IP, Everwild, which was announced in 2019, has also been canceled. You can read his full memo below.

Following Phil’s note, I want to share more about the changes to the Studios business units.

We have made the decision to stop development of Perfect Dark and Everwild as well as wind down several unannounced projects across our portfolio. As part of this, we are closing one of our studios, The Initiative. These decisions, along with other changes across our teams, reflect a broader effort to adjust priorities and focus resources to set up our teams for greater success within a changing industry landscape. We did not make these choices lightly, as each project and team represent years of effort, imagination, and commitment.

Our overall portfolio strategy is unchanged: build games that excite our players, continue to grow our biggest franchises, and create new stories, worlds, and characters. We have more than 40 projects in active development, continued momentum on titles shipping this fall, and a strong slate headed into 2026.

For those directly affected, we are working closely with HR and studio leadership to provide support, including severance, career transition assistance, and where possible, opportunities to explore roles on other teams.

To everyone across our studios: thank you. Your creativity and resilience continue to define who we are. I believe in the strength of our teams and the direction we’re taking on the path ahead.

Matt

According to Bloomberg, Candy Crush developer King, which Xbox acquired in 2023 as part of the blockbuster $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard King deal, is cutting 10 percent of its staff, which amounts to around 200 jobs, and ZeniMax, which Xbox acquired in 2021 as part of its $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda, suffered losses. According to that same report, a new MMORPG that was in development at ZeniMax Online Studios, has also been canceled. Meanwhile, Bloomberg also reports Raven Software, which was acquired as part of the Activision Blizzard King purchase and has worked extensively on recent Call of Duty titles, is also impacted. The Verge also reports that Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios is also heavily impacted by these cuts, with more than 70 people reportedly laid off.

Microsoft has laid off thousands upon thousands of workers over the last 18 months, including 1,900 employees in January 2024. In May 2024, Xbox closed Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and Alpha Dog Games, and laid off several employees at ZeniMax, all of which were acquired alongside Bethesda in 2021.

Our sincerest well wishes go out to all those impacted by the latest round of cuts.

Update at July 2, 2025, 3:51pm CT:

Aftermath is reporting that Blizzard was also impacted by Wednesday's layoffs. According to an email from Blizzard president Johanna Faries that Aftermath viewed, the company is essentially moving Warcraft Rumble, the 2023 free-to-play mobile game, into maintenance/live-ops mode. This means that while the game will still be supported, no new content will likely be produced.

According to the email viewed by Aftermath, Faries reportedly stated that "several" of the Warcraft Rumble developers are transitioning to new projects, but some were affected by the layoffs. Faries also reportedly mentioned impacts to Blizzard's customer service and marketing departments. According to the report, the number of impacted Blizzard employees could reach as high as 100, with the Overwatch team appearing to escape unscathed this time around.

UPDATE 6:27pm UK: Chris Linn, senior producer at Zenimax Online Studios, has confirmed the cancellation of the unnanounced MMO on LinkedIn.

Linn wrote: "Hi everyone! Our amazing MMO project was just cancelled, I am starting to poke around for new remote work."

Executive producer Sean Dunn wrote his own statement about the cancellation on LinkedIn, stating: "Today was one of the biggest dissapointments of my 35 year long career in games. My dissapointment isn't primarily for myself, but for my team, and for players that will never get to play the amazing game we were building."

Dunn continues: "This team is one of the best groups of people I've been able to work with. They treated each other with kindness and respect on a daily basis. I fell so honored to have been able to help lead them. If you have open roles, please hit me up and I can guide you to the right folks on the team."

"To the team, I just want to say that I love you. You deserve better."

ORIGINAL STORY 6:21pm UK:

The reboot of Perfect Dark developed by The Initiative has been cancelled as part of the latest round of cuts at Microsoft, as well as a new MMORPG project from Elder Scrolls Online maker Zenimax Online Studios.

Earlier today, we reported another round of layoffs across Microsoft, which included job losses at King and Zenimax. Rare's Everwild has also reportedly been cancelled.

Eurogamer now understands Perfect Dark is also among the cuts, confirmed by Bloomberg Journalist Jason Schreier. In addition Bloomberg has reported the MMORPG - code-named Blackbird and in development since 2018 - has additionally been cancelled. Microsoft is yet to officially comment.

The reboot of Rare's series was first announced back in December 2020, and has been in development at new Xbox Game Studios developer The Initiative. After numerous setbacks, Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics was brought in to assist.

"How we make games is evolving," said Microsoft Studios' Matt Booty back in 2022. "The idea of a single team under one roof really doesn't happen that often anymore."

In May 2024, reports suggested "little meaningful progress" had been made since the game's unveiling and the reboot was in "a very rough state".

However, a first gameplay trailer for Perfect Dark was then shown in June 2024 at the Xbox Games Showcase. It showed protagonist Joanna Dark stealthily exploring a near-future Cairo in first-person, with plenty of parkour and spy gadgets.

No release window was given for the game and, now, it appears development troubles have continued, leading to its cancellation.

The original Perfect Dark was released on the N64 by Rare as a spiritual successor to its successful GoldenEye game. A second game, Perfect Dark Zero, was released on the Xbox 360 after Microsoft acquired the developer.

Rumors have been swirling for a while now that Xbox’s flagship series, Halo, might be making the leap to PlayStation in the near future. There have also been rumors about a remake of the OG game. Now, Halo Studios, formerly 343 Industries, has stepped forward to explain that it will provide actual information later this year.

Earlier this month, Xbox boss Phil Spencer ended the company’s Summer Showcase with a tease for what’s coming in 2026, promising a new Fable, a new Gears of War, the next Forza, and hinting at Halo by saying: “and the return of a classic that’s been with us since the beginning.” This followed reports that Halo would leap to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025. Gears of War is making that leap later this year, so it seems plausible Halo might do the same. The rumors and speculation have grown so large that Halo Studios has directly addressed them in a new blog post.

On June 30, Halo Studios Esports Lead Tahir “Tashi” Hasandjekic shared a blog post about the Halo World Championship happening in October and how people can buy tickets for the event. But the blog post also addressed all the speculation about Halo.

“Over the past few weeks, there’s been a fair amount of speculation about when and where more details might emerge about any of the multiple projects Halo Studios is actively working on,” said Tashi. “We don’t usually comment on such matters, but this time we want to enter the chat and share a little more perspective for Halo fans who might be on the fence about whether to attend this year’s event.”

Tashi explained that last October, during Halo WC, the studio unveiled “A New Dawn,” a short video revealing the news that 343 was becoming Halo Studios and shifting to Unreal Engine. He further explained that “A New Dawn” was “just the beginning” and that at this year’s Halo WC, the team “look(s) forward to continuing the conversation.”

“Speculation is always fun, but if you want the official scoop on what Halo Studios has been working on, you won’t want to miss this year’s Halo World Championship,” said Tashi. “We really hope you’ll join us in Seattle this October!”

So Halo might be coming to PS5. There might be a remake of Halo: Combat Evolved happening. There might be more to share beyond that. But we have to wait until October to find out. Ironically Tashi’s post, meant to address speculation, will likely lead to even more speculation and rumors appearing online. October can’t come soon enough.

A founding member of Team Xbox caused a stir on social media over the weekend after posting a video on YouTube criticising the state of the brand in 2025, and particularly the strategy over the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally handheld.

Laura Fryer, who worked as director of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group back in the 2000s (as well as being an executive producer on the likes of Gears of War and Too Human), spent much of the 12-minute video questioning why the ROG Xbox Ally exists when it doesn't play any exclusive games or offer anything particularly major to set it apart from Xbox consoles, PCs and even other existing PC handheld devices like the Steam Deck and standard ROG Ally.

As part of this, she claimed the "Xbox Anywhere" message will make the ROG Xbox Ally a hard sell:

"The Xbox Anywhere message sounds great on the surface, but in reality it's just marketing. It's style with no substance. Unfortunately, I don't think marketing is going to be enough. There is literally no reason to buy this handheld."

Fryer went on to explain that she's not happy with the way things are going at Xbox in 2025, particularly when it comes to hardware - and she even suggests Xbox's first-party hardware might be "dead".

Here's a bit more of her closing statement:

 "Obviously, as one of the founding members of the Xbox team, I'm not pleased with how things are today. I don't love watching all the value that I helped create, slowly get eroded away. I'm sad, because from my perspective it looks like Xbox has no desire or literally can't ship hardware anymore, so this partnership is about a slow exit from the hardware business completely. Personally, I think Xbox hardware is dead."

Not everything she says here is negative, but it's admittedly pretty brutal for the most part! Her more positive outlook centres around Xbox Game Pass, pointing out that it has great value, while also acknowledging that Xbox can make a lot of money from their "deep portfolio" - using remasters of titles like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion as an example.

And, with the 25th anniversary of Xbox coming up, she questions whether 2026 could "maybe" be the year that the "fog will clear and all of us will see the beauty in these latest announcements". Again here's a bit of what she says about this:

 "Next year marks the 25th anniversary of the Xbox, and I'm sure they will have some big announcements and plans for honouring the milestone. Maybe next year is the year? Maybe next year is the year that the fog will clear and all of us will see the beauty in these latest announcements. I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

So, there you go. The full video is at the bottom of the article if you want to hear Fryer's thoughts in full, and it's definitely an interesting watch. We're certainly more optimistic than she is right now, so here's hoping 2026 changes her mindset!

Personally, I can't agree that there's "no reason" to buy the ROG Xbox Ally handheld — it's going to be an ideal entry point for Xbox fans interested in PC handhelds, and potentially the best Windows handheld on the market in terms of performance and battery life — but I also understand her point about it lacking exclusive content.

In terms of other hardware, Xbox unveiled a next-gen console strategy just a couple of weeks ago, but it remains to be seen how much of this will be first-party rather than partnership-based devices like the ROG Xbox Ally.

Anyway, what about you? What do you make of these thoughts? Let us know down in the

Void Interactive has confirmed the console port of its violent shooter, Ready or Not, has been changed "as absolutely required by our first party partners", including tweaks to dismemberment/gore, nudity, mistreatment of children, and "explicit representations of violence". And in some instances, these changes may be applied to the PC version, too.

In an update posted to Steam, the team said that after some changes, the game secured a PEGI 18 / USK 18 / ESRB M-rating, and was "fortunate enough [...] to pass certification for the launch on our first submission". Void was now "relieved" to be finished with the console launch certification process and says any changes made "remain faithful to the original tonality of the game".

Ready or Not - Weight of the badge | Console Release Date Trailer

Ready or Not – Console Reveal Trailer (PS5/Xbox Series X | S).Watch on YouTube

"Maintaining multiple versions of the game with different assets and system mechanics increases the likelihood of bugs to occur in future updates, and subsequent challenges keeping the game updated across multiple versions," the team explained, justifying why it's had to tweak the PC version, too. "Think lighting or optimisation issues, for example (or any number of unexpected bugs from maintaining different versions).

"If the in-game assets were not the same, it would make crossplay unusable; the game content must be equal or basically equal for multiplayer to work. Different versions of assets affects multiplayer replication, which is the ability for the server to understand what’s happening in-game and host players in the same lobby/server."

Player-induced dismemberment "still has a large presence" in the game, "but is a little more limited as to when it occurs", and you can't, for example, keep dismembering an enemy once it's dead. Tangentially, character art "involving torture were turned down slightly to be less over-the-top". The team has also had to "cover up" some characters "a bit more".

"Although we already make a substantial effort to present mistreatment against children in the game in a responsible way, we made slight thematic expansions of this philosophy in order to better meet certification standards," the team explained when it came to violence against children. "For example, the child on Twisted Nerve has had an animation change to be unconscious/sleeping, instead of the previously convulsive animation from before that had a violent appearance.

"The changes with the console version are small enough that most people here wouldn't notice if we didn't say anything, but we want to be transparent. It's largely just evidence and nudity that's altered, and the texture changes don't affect the PC version." In-game evidence of "illicit child stuff" has also been censored, but only in the console version.

Some fans have responded to the changes by review-bombing the game on Steam, citing "cowardly" "censorship".

Ready or Not will release for consoles on 15th July, 2025.

Void Interactive lost the publisher for Ready or Not days after it confirmed the game would include a school shooting mission. The game was released in early access on 17th December, but in a statement on Twitter shortly afterwards, Void Interactive said it had parted ways with publisher Team17.

Though no reasons were given at the time, the change came shortly after a developer responded to a Reddit post about including a school shooting with the statement: "You better believe it's gonna". Ready or Not was also briefly taken offline in 2022 following a trademark dispute.

Players have hit out at The Alters developer 11 Bit Studios after AI prompts were discovered in both subtitles and flavour text in the game, intimating routine use of large language models (LLMs) without disclosure.

Since January 2024, Valve has required games that use pre- or live-generated AI to divulge this as part of the Steam Distribution Agreement. This includes art, code, sound, and more that have been created with the help of AI tools. At the time of writing, The Alters has made no such disclosure.

In one example, an in-game screen that's presumably there to look all sci-fi-y and scientific begins with: "Sure, here's a revised version focusing purely on scientific and astronomical data".

Another commenter who'd played through with subtitles on Brazilian Portuguese noted "several times the subtitles go crazy", which was later backed up with a screenshot that evidenced it. The subtitle read: "Sure! The text translated to Brazilian Portuguese is: Every conversation two people can have, right? So we-"

"The game is using AI-generated content without a proper Steam Page disclaimer!" said another player on Steam. "This is absolutely unacceptable. 11 bit studios has been caught using AI in The Alters without ANY disclaimer on the Steam page.

"Steam requires developers to disclose AI use for a reason. We have the right to know what we're buying. If you're going to use AI to create content, be honest about it instead of trying to hide it."

Not all players have taken umbrage, however. "You realise this is tiny text on a background prop, and only exists as a graphic and not as something you're expected to actually read," someone replied. "In the past things like that could have Ipsum etc stuff on it, or random gibberish. This isn't even slightly an issue.

"You may have a point regarding the translations, if those were indeed AI generated. But to use this screenshot as an example of AI generated content is a joke."

Game localisation specialist Lucile Danilov, however, had a different take.

"Look, I love The Alters. It's brilliantly written, and I was planning on leaving it a glowing Steam review once I was done. But this is a disgrace. Seriously, leaving parts of an AI prompt in the lockit?! Talk about spitting in the face of your international audience!

"According to the OP, some parts of the PT-BR translation are also riddled with errors and inaccuracies, which is appalling considering how the whole game revolves around an intricate narrative."

Danilov posited that the mistake was either the work of a "careless translator taking shortcuts", or it was "done by someone on the dev/publisher side who couldn't be arsed sending last-minute missing lines for translation and decided to throw them in a random LLM without oversight".

Handong Ryu, who handled the Korean translation for the game, replied: "I was responsible for translating the vast majority of the Korean version of The Alters. Unfortunately, the same issue exists in the Korean version as well, which makes it more likely that the second scenario you mentioned is closer to the truth. While no AI prompt has been exposed, I can confirm that the same section of the Korean localisation shows clear signs of having been run through an LLM without proper editing.

"There has been significant backlash from the Korean gaming community, and it has been really disheartening to witness, especially since the criticism stems from a part of the game I had no control over."

At the time of writing, 11 Bit has not publicly addressed the allegations or responded to player comments. Earlier this week, Jurassic Park Evolution 3 removed generative AI for scientists' portraits in Jurassic World Evolution 3, "following some initial feedback".

"There's something startlingly unique about what 11 Bit Studios does in its games, and the moral quandaries it puts us in, and this clone story in The Alters is no exception," Bertie wrote in Eurogamer's The Alters review, awarding it 4 out of 5 stars.

"It takes us to the strange places I hoped it would, and prods and probes and makes me think about what I value in life. It's uneven at times, and some ideas feel underdeveloped, but then, I remember, this merging of ideas is new, and that's what I like so much about it."

• Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Game Pass, Steam, and, for the first time, PlayStation 5 on August 12.
• This updated version includes graphical and gameplay additions, as well as an enhanced Photo Mode and developer commentary.
• August 12 will also see the game become Steam Deck Verified.

I was grinding Clair Obscur Expedition 33 all my characters to level 50. I guess I turned off my handheld too soon? All the saves were gone! It didn't make sense but it happened! (I tried all the suggestions and none worked.)

It took me so many hours and it just poof'ed.

I am going back to Steam.

Xbox GamePass tech team. Are you reading this?

This intentionally vague video is just tickling us with more confusion about what the future of xbox looks like.

There are no solid statements anywhere saying the Next-Gen Xbox will NATIVELY play PC AND Xbox games, or that PC will NATIVELY play Xbox games, although this is exactly what the video seems to be hinting at.

^^^ This right here is what is causing the most anxiety and confusion amongst Xbox players/fans. Not only because it is difficult to fathom a device that is versatile enough to play PC games in all the ways that people play PC games (different launchers, mods, streaming setups, speedrunning, emulation etc.), but also because of how the restrictions on the xbox library will transfer to a device that is also a "PC".

Will there be more DRM shoehorned into PC games on this new Xbox device(s)? Will this device only play games from specific storefronts or from specific eras of PC gaming? Will i be able to use this device as more than just a gaming console if it also plays PC games?

Are Streaming and Play Anywhere the only pitiful solutions you actually have to cross-compatibility between Xbox and PC???

The biggest question of all is of course about the money. Not about how much the device(s) will cost either, but...

How will subscriptions work?!?!

Is Xbox going to try to charge me money to play my multiplayer PC games online? Are they going to relinquish their death-grip on Xbox Live Gold(now Gamepass Core) and say goodbye to all of that subscription money? I wont hold my breath. Will they lock EVERYTHING behind a Gamepass Paywall?

I bet they learn alot of lessons and make alot of mistakes along this path, but I am very glad they are at least staring down the barrel and thinking about it.

Hopefully soon they can provide some more clarity about what this process will look like. We want to know how this will benefit us dedicated Xbox console fans, because right now it feels like we are getting the short end of the stick. Paying more and getting less.

Does anyone else have burning questions about the evolution of xbox?

Today, developer Game Science announced it will be launching its action role-playing game ‘Black Myth: Wukong‘ onto the Xbox platform on the 20th of August—with pre-orders beginning on the 18th of June. Devices are not fully confirmed as of this writing, but presumably the game will only launch on Xbox Series consoles.

Black Myth: Wukong is an action RPG rooted in Chinese mythology. You shall set out as the Destined One to venture into the challenges and marvels ahead, to uncover the obscured truth beneath the veil of a glorious legend from the past.

Have a gander below for more details on Black Myth: Wukong and its Xbox release. The game first launched on PC via Steam and PlayStation 5 consoles last year to sales acclaim, particularly on PC. In addition, a discount is set to go out for all platforms the 18th of June.

GameScience, the Chinese developer and publisher behind Black Myth: Wukong, today announced that its acclaimed ARPG will receive its first-ever discount across all platforms starting 00:00 CST (UTC+8) on June 18, 2025. On the same day, long-awaited Xbox pre-orders will open ahead of the console launch on August 20, 2025; pre-order pricing will match the promotional sale price. Full details on editions and purchasing options will be posted on the official website of Black Myth: Wukong when the promotion goes live.

Black Myth: Wukong was released on August 20, 2024 and received its first free DLC on December, adding an all-new combat challenge. According to official figures, the game sold 10 million copies across all platforms within its first three days. It also set the record for the highest concurrent-player peak ever achieved by a single-player title on Steam according to SteamDB.

Black Myth: Wukong combines rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and a unique take on the ARPG formula, utilizing frenetic combat and a robust upgrade system to create an unforgettable narrative-driven gaming experience.

Assume the mantle of the Destined One and brandish Wukong’s Jingubang to battle a legion of formidable yaoguais. Weave together a volatile arsenal of Spells, Transformations, and Vessels to forge a battle strategy perfectly attuned to your style.

Key Features:

Breathtaking Fusion of Eastern Myth & Visual Realism

Roam living tableaux where timeless legends meet a hyper-detailed art style—verdant forests, cloud-piercing peaks, forgotten temples, and shadowed caverns rendered with cinematic fidelity.

Mystical Beings — Intelligent and Formidable

Confront a host of entities inspired by Journey to the West—yaoguais, immortals, and more, whether vicious or benevolent. Each opponent arrives with their own lore, tactics, and surprises, turning every encounter into a fresh trial of insight and skill.

Dynamic Combat, Endless Strategy

Master staff techniques as you chain Spells, Transformations, and Vessels, sculpting a unique fighting style to outsmart even the fiercest adversaries.

Cinematic Storytelling & Complex Foes

Encounter adversaries whose ambitions, regrets, and rivalries drive the drama as much as their claws and steel. From the opening cut-scene to the last showdown, peel back the layers of each foe’s past and uncover the forces that set them on your path.

The discount campaign will begin rolling out on all platforms at 00:00 CST (UTC+8) on June 18, 2025. Exact start and end times may vary by storefront.

In North America, the Standard and Deluxe digital editions are priced at US$59.99 and US$69.99 on PlayStation®5, and PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store). During the 20%-off promotion, the Standard Edition drops to US$47.99, while the Deluxe Edition falls to US$55.99. For pricing in other regions, please refer to your local store.

Digital pre-orders for Black Myth: Wukong Xbox editions open at 00:00 (UTC+8) on June 18, ahead of its full release on August 20, 2025. Xbox pre-orders also benefit from the same 20%-off discount, available from 00:00 (UTC+8) on June 18 to 00:00 (UTC+8) on July 11.

Just because the latest games industry showcase has PlayStation at its core, that doesn’t mean there won’t be a bunch of Xbox Series X|S games at it. In fact, there were 12 big Xbox games at the Sony State of Play for July 2025 that you definitely want to keep your eyes on!

• 12 PS5 games shown off at the latest State of Play will also launch on Xbox

• These include massive titles such as Capcom's Pragmata and IO Interactive's 007 First Light

• Some titles may also be timed exclusives for PlayStation, like Lumines Arise

The big PlayStation State of Play 2025 event aired on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, and there were a lot of highlights! Some games sadly won't be coming to Xbox anytime soon — those lucky PS5-owning ducks will get to keep cool games like Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls and Nioh 3 all to themselves (and PC users).

Still, if we discount the old PS1 and PS2 games revealed for PS Plus during the showcase, the majority of titles revealed during State of Play are also coming to Xbox. Plus, there's every chance certain third-party games like Lumines Arise and Baby Steps will eventually come to Xbox Series X|S. So, even with this many games to watch out for, there might be even more tucked away in this showcase.

At any rate, check out the 12 State of Play games confirmed for Xbox Series X|S below.

007 First Light

• We can't wait to see how those 007 First Light achievements turn out

• Release Date: TBA 2026

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|Sm

We hardly need to dwell on it — 007 First Light was by far the best-looking game at this year's State of Play. How much of what we saw counts as gameplay aside, IO Interactive's "Project 007" promises an abundance of exciting Bond scenarios, and having cut their teeth on the brilliant Hitman series, we have every faith this is going to be a banger. It's coming to Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2026.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

• No waiting around for those Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles achievements!

• Release Date: September 30, 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Doth mine eyes deceive me? A Final Fantasy game announced at a PlayStation showcase that's also launching on Xbox the same day? It looks like Square Enix was true to its word when it said platform exclusive launches were a thing of the past. What a great title to help usher in this new era, too.

Originally released on PS1, Final Fantasy Tactics is often hailed as one of the greatest games of all time — a tactical strategy game with a story that's not to be missed. How it holds up by today's gaming masses remains to be seen, but the important detail here is that Xbox players will finally get to see what all the fuss was about after decades of PlayStation exclusivity.

Pragmata

• At long last, those Pragmata achievements might finally be coming to Xbox

• Release Date: TBA 2026

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

The white whale of current-gen gaming, Capcom's Pragmata was announced all the way back in 2020, and the last we heard from the title, it had been delayed indefinitely. Now, at Sony's latest State of Play, the title finally re-emerges with some cool third-person shooting gameplay and a return of the well-trodden daddy-daughter trope of the Xbox 360 era.

Capcom is reportedly looking to set this franchise up as one of its mainstays for the foreseeable future, so you have to presume its got some mind-blowing concepts tucked away in Pragmata. At any rate, we'll be able to find out for ourselves on Xbox Series X|S when this launches next year.

Romeo is a Dead Man

• Romeo is a Dead Man achievements are sure to be a little wacky

• Release Date: TBA 2026

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Looks like NetEase has gifted Suda51 and his studio Grasshopper Manufacture a sack full of cash because this game somehow looks more No More Heroes than even No More Heroes 3. The shifting art style, goofy humor, and action all signal a potentially great time. I'm excited to see more of Romeo is a Dead Man before it hits Xbox Series X|S next year.

Silent Hill f

• We got a release date for those Silent Hill f achievements

• Release Date: September 25, 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Easily the most exciting entry in the Silent Hill series for quite some time, Silent Hill f looks disgustingly tense every time we get a look at it. We already knew this one was coming to Xbox Series X|S, but we now know that it'll launch on Thursday, September 25, 2025. So, you can count down the last of your restful nights before this comes out and you start sleeping with the lights on.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement

• The new Castlevania returns next year with Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement achievements to unlock

• Release Date: TBA 2026

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Koji Igarashi's Castlevania successor Bloodstained is set to return, and I have to say, the sequel's looking much sharper visually than the first outing. It looks like that surprisingly late Bloodstained 1 multiplayer update was really just a test to ensure Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement launched with 2-player support on day one. It'll be out on Xbox Series X|S sometime in 2026.

Tides of Tomorrow

• Keep an eye on those multiplayer Tides of Tomorrow achievements!

• Release Date: February 24, 2026

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

This fascinating adventure game from the makers of Road 96 puts forth an interesting concept where you follow the story decisions of another real-life player, deal with their clumsy mistakes, and then presumably set the foundation for another player to do the same with your playthrough.

That intriguing idea mixed with a Waterworld-esque setting definitely makes Tides of Tomorrow an intriguing Xbox Series X|S game to watch out for.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

• Don't expect no escapin' apes with these Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater achievements

• Release Date: August 28, 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Now, while I have included the latest Metal Gear Solid Delta trailer above, please keep in mind that the Xbox Series X|S version will not have the iconic Ape Escape minigame which is teased at the end. Instead, it'll reportedly get something similar, with rumors suggesting Bomberman might be the Xbox replacement.

That said, the game is still looking shockingly faithful to the original Snake Eater, to the point where even I — an MGS Delta skeptic — have to admit it looks real good. It'll be out on Xbox Series X|S on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

• Those Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection achievements are sure to be a gory blast from the past

• Release Date: TBA 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

Digital Eclipse have been absolutely killing it with their recent string of documentary games. Atari 50, The Making of Karateka, Llamasoft, Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition, Tetris Forever — right now, no one is making video game preservation look nearly as effortless as this studio.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection will hit Xbox Series X|S later this year and bring with it the first four Mortal Kombat titles — including home console and arcade versions for each title. It looks like an absolute treasure trove for old-school fans and gaming history buffs alike, and I can't wait.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

• Digimon Story: Time Stranger achievements will make champions of you yet

• Release Date: October 3, 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Don't panic — the Persona title masquerading as a Digimon game is still absolutely coming to Xbox Series X|S. We learned at the State of Play that this new entry in the turn-based RPG side of the franchise will launch on Friday, October 3, 2025. I'm sure by then we'll know who these new characters are and what on Earth they're talking about.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

• We've got a release date for those Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound achievements!

• Release Date: July 31, 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One

In case you forgot, the excellent new 2D Ninja Gaiden game from Blasphemous developer The Game Kitchen is also coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One! Ragebound continues to look drop-dead gorgeous, and we now know it won't be long until it's on our screens — it launches Thursday, July 31, 2025.

FBC: Firebreak

• One last reminder for those upcoming FBC: Firebreak achievements on Game Pass

• Release Date: June 17, 2025

• Platforms: Xbox Series X|S

Making a very short appearance at Sony's State of Play was FBC: Firebreak — the multiplayer shooter from Alan Wake II's Remedy Entertainment. If you're an Xbox fan who saw the footage and got a little bit jealous, you absolutely should not be. This title launches day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, so you can dive in alongside all those PS Plus players.

With Microsoft being a little bit late with its first Xbox Game Pass roundup for June, we didn't actually know what was coming to the service today ahead of time - but evidently a couple of Baldur's Gate games were part of the plans.

Specifically, Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Editions have appeared today on Xbox Game Pass, available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox Cloud Gaming. You can play them right now! Two Baldur's Gate Games Have Quietly Appeared On Xbox Game Pass (June 5) 6

Both of these games have been released separately in the past, but they're combined for the Xbox port, meaning you only need to download the one file. As the name suggests, they're both "enhanced" versions of the original Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2 games from back in the late 90s / early 2000s.

We'll throw more details about these brand-new Xbox Game Pass releases down below:

"Gather your party: the RPG saga returns. Immerse yourself in an epic RPG series where every choice matters. Play over 100 hours of adventure in enhanced editions of Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II— plus the full Siege of Dragonspear expansion!

Explore a brand new chapter in the Baldur’s Gate Saga! Siege of Dragonspear is a full expansion to Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, with 25+ hours of adventure in the classic style of the original RPG."

With the launch of Call of Duty Season 4, Activision quietly put adverts inside loadouts for Black Ops 6 and Warzone, sparking a backlash in the process.

Activision already has a bad reputation for the aggressive monetization of the premium Black Ops 6 and its free-to-play battle royale Warzone, but this latest move may have tipped some players over the edge.

Following the launch of Season 4, adverts for weapon bundles can be seen in the build and weapon menus. These are unavoidable for players as they tinker with their loadouts.

Elsewhere, Activision has added bundle and Battle Pass advertisements to the Events tab, another controversial change that has caused complaints.

Here’s a snippet of the response, sourced from across Call of Duty subreddits, Discords, and social media:

• I wouldn't even be mad if this was just in Warzone, a free game, but putting it in a pay-to-play premium title, with how expensive they're getting? F**k off.

• This game is still 80€ I get that they make most of their money from the store, but I feel like the bare minimum for a premium product would be to not have ads clogging the menus right?

• At this point it really feels like opening up a mobile game with how much more you see an option to buy anything in this game.

• Anyone who wanted this bundle would've checked the store and bought it. Putting it here isn't gonna make more people buy it, its just annoying.

• Just wait until they add pop up ads for bundles while you are playing the game.

Call of Duty has had its monetization crises in the past, of course. Players are used to battle passes, premium battle passes, and even more expensive versions of premium battle passes on top of the $70 (soon to be $80) cost of entry. But there is a growing feeling that the franchise’s microtransaction strategy has become even more aggressive following Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

And it’s worth noting that earlier this month, Activision abandoned Warzone Mobile, the game that was meant to lead the battle royale into a new era, with an admission it had not met expectations.

IGN has asked Activision for comment.

The Witcher 3 is getting one more patch later in 2025, bringing cross-platform mod support to the game and making mods available on consoles for the very first time.

CD Projekt announced the patch as part of the celebrations of The Witcher 3’s 10th anniversary. It will introduce cross-platform mod support for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S later this year. “For the first time, creating, sharing, and enjoying mods for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will be easier and more accessible than ever,” CD Projekt said.

Cross-platform mod support will be released in a game update released later this year. You’ll need to have a mod.io account and connect it to your CD Projekt Red account in order to access cross-platform mod support. Existing modding services can still be used, meaning players do not need to use mod.io to upload and download mods for The Witcher 3. However, to access mods on consoles, mod.io is required.

It’s worth noting that while Xbox Series X and S and PS5 players can enjoy playing the myriad mods available through cross-platform mod support, mods must be created with a mod creator like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt REDkit on PC.

It’s a fantastic update for the 10-year-old game, which remains hugely popular and maintains a healthy number of players even now, a decade after launch.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now up to an incredible 60 million copies sold. The 60 million figure includes sales of the base game and the GOTY version, but excludes expansions sold separately. It’s close to overtaking the latest sales figure we have for Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. In a June 2023 interview with IGN, Bethesda development chief Todd Howard said Skyrim had sold over 60 million copies. So, we now have a potential tie for the best-selling role-playing game of all time.

Here’s Adam Badowski, joint CEO of CD Projekt, on The Witcher 3 sales milestone:

Without a doubt, the third part of Geralt’s adventures marks a pivotal point in our history. The game earned hundreds of awards and solidified our studio’s standing, but more importantly, it brought untold hours of adventures and emotions to millions of games the world over. I am proud to announce that since its release The Witcher 3 has sold over 60 million copies, securing a place among the bestselling video games in all history, and motivating us to carry on with intensive work on the next trilogy set in this universe. That’s a reference to The Witcher 4, which is currently in full production. 422 out of 730 developers at CD Projekt are working on the sequel, which won’t be out until 2027 at the earliest.

Microsoft has reportedly "sidelined" the development of its long-teased first-party handheld gaming device as it focuses its attention on third-party portable opportunities, including ASUS' Project Kennan, which is supposedly still due this year.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer first discussed an Xbox handheld back in 2017, when he revealed Microsoft had "roughly designed" one in the past, and it's a subject he's repeatedly returned to in recent years, fuelling speculation the project had been revived. Then, this March, Windows Central reported Microsoft had settled on a multi-pronged handheld strategy, and would be teaming up with a third-party to release an Xbox-branded portable gaming PC this year under the codename Kennan while it worked on its own internally developed device to release alongside an Xbox Series X/S successor in 2027.

Now, though, Windows Central claims Microsoft has had a bit of a strategic rethink, and development of its own handheld device has been "sidelined". According to the publication's source, the company has internally announced it'll instead "prioritise its teams to improve Windows 11 gaming performance, specifically for devices like the ASUS partner device Project Kennan" (NB. the site originally reported this under the name "Keenan" back in March, but has since updated its original story). It doesn't sound like Microsoft is completely abandoning its own handheld plans, however; Windows Central says the company "still has big ambitions and is investing heavily to deliver a native Xbox handheld", but third-party devices and Windows 11 improvements will be where it focuses its resources for now.

As for Project Kennan specifically, the website claims it's "essentially finished" on the hardware side, but that there's currently a "significantly boosted effort" between Microsoft's Xbox and Windows teams to "improve the experience on the software side". The plan, however, is that the Xbox-branded ASUS device will still launch "later this year".

Microsoft's decision to refocus on providing adequate infrastructure for Windows 11-powered third-party devices is perhaps not entirely surprising given increasing competition elsewhere; back in January, Valve announced it's been working to bring SteamOS, which powers Steam Deck, to third-party handheld gaming, and the operating system is now available on a variety of devices, including recently released official partner machine, the Lenovo Legion Go S.

Beyond its handheld plans, Microsoft continues to developed its Xbox Series X/S successor, which Xbox president Sarah Bond previously claimed would deliver "the largest technical leap that you will have ever seen in a hardware generation." According to Windows Central, there are currently "three prototype devices in development for Microsoft's Gen-10 effort", and the company is also said to be working on "next-gen Xbox cloud systems" to bring latency more in line with NVIDIA's GeForce Now service.

As for games, we'll know more about Xbox's future slate once this year's Xbox Games Showcase airs on Sunday, 8th June at 6pm UK time. Eurogamer will, of course, have news from that and more as the Summer Game Fest season gets underway next week.

This is going to sound like an advertisement, but for anyone streaming Xbox games to Apple devices, I cannot recommend OneCast enough.

Since Microsoft removed the remote play option from the official Xbox app on Apple devices, I’ve had no end of trouble trying to use their new web offering, with it constantly requiring me to sign back in to my Microsoft account when using an iPad.

I’ve had OneCast on my AppleTV upstairs for a long time since there’s no official way from Microsoft to stream from your Xbox or access cloud gaming there. Up until the last month or so, OneCast only supported remote streaming from your Xbox, but after a recent update the app has been overhauled and now allows you to play cloud gaming too. I’ve since put it on my other Apple devices because the experience vs the official “apps” is considerably better.

Combined with higher quality streaming, no performance issues, a simple interface, the ability to restart the Xbox remotely to resolve connection issues, and a consistent experience across iPhone, iPad and AppleTV, OneCast is incredible. While not free, the one-time lifetime licence is so much better than had they demanded a subscription for the app.

For info, my setup is a Series X wired to the router, and an AppleTV, iPad and iPhone on 5GHz Wi-Fi, with FFTP, and the experience is superb.

I have a very old external HDD I'm using to transfer games but it takes like 15 minutes for 75 GB game. It averages around 620Mb/s. And it's only 1tb

What is something you guys would recommend?

Also do you think it's worth spending money on the WD black card? Need a external for my laptop as well

Relic Entertainment is giving its much-loved real-time strategy game Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War a bit of modern day makeover for a Definitive Edition that's scheduled to arrive on GOG and Steam later this year. Additionally, a Space Marine 1 re-release is on the way.

Starting with Dawn of War, it originally launched in 2004, casting players (in the single-player campaign, at least) as the Space Marines' Blood Ravens 3rd Company, charged with defending the planet Tartarus from Ork invaders. But away from the campaign, players also got to test their skills controlling the Orks, Eldar, and Chaos. "It's a perfect gaming world," Keiron Gillen wrote in Eurogamer's 8/10 review back in the day, "being exploited perfectly, for the first time."

Skip ahead 20 or so years, and it's time to do it all again, thanks to the newly unveiled Dawn of War - Definitive Edition. This bundles together the base game alongside its three expansions - Winter Assault, Dark Crusade, and Soulstorm - all of which equates to "four Classic Dawn of War Campaigns, nine Armies, and over 200 maps", according to Relic.

And because it's now 2025 and computers have come on a bit since Eric Prydz's Call On Me was at number one, there's also 4K support, upscaled textures (4x the originals), an enhanced battlefield camera, "optimised" HUD and screen layouts for widescreen viewing, plus improvements to world lighting, units reflections, and shadows. Additionally, the Definitive Edition remains compatible with "over 20-years of lovingly crafted community mods".

Dawn of War's Definitive Edition - which doesn't have a release date yet - isn't the only Warhammer glow-up announced as part of today's Warhammer Skulls showcase. The original Space Marine is also set to return as an enhanced Master Crafted Edition, being handled by developer SneakyBox. This "thoughtful restoration" of the 2011 PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 shooter features 4K resolution support, modernised controls, an interface overhaul, improved character models, remastered audio, all previously released DLC, and more. It costs £34.99 and launches for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Game Pass on 10th June.