games Archives | Windows Experience Blog

Xbox Developer_Direct broadcast returns Jan. 22

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 17:29:56 +0000

To start off the celebration of Xbox’s 25^th anniversary, the fourth installment of the Developer_Direct broadcast airs Jan. 22. Game creators will once again deliver an inside look at games coming this year and the studios working to bring them to life. Playground Games will show a first extended look at Fable and the debut of gameplay for Forza Horizon 6. A new title also emerges from one of Japan’s most beloved studios, Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak. Find out more at Xbox Wire.

Shape the past and rewrite the future in Ara: History Untold’s free update

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:16:48 +0000

With the latest free update to Ara: History Untold, PC and console gamers can shape the past, influence the present and rewrite the future during the Mongol Invasion, Europe at the Crossroads and other pivotal eras. “How might history unfold if Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Elizabeth I led 18th-century Europe instead of Louis XIV, William III, and Peter the Great?” writes Brad Wardell on Xbox Wire. Version 1.4 of Xbox Game Studios' ambitious historical 4X strategy game is the first update designed and developed by strategy and simulation experts Stardock Entertainment, who assumed production leadership in April. Find out more on Xbox Wire.

DOOM: The Bark Ages supports animals and celebrates game

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Wed, 28 May 2025 16:00:59 +0000

In a nod to the launch of Bethesda and id Software’s newest game, DOOM: The Dark Ages, Xbox is supporting animal welfare organizations across the U.S. by raising awareness of their programs and fundraising through a T-shirt inspired by the demon-slaying franchise. (But it’s only available for a limited time, so get it while you can!) DOOM: The Bark Ages is the tongue-in-cheek initiative, which focuses on three nonprofits: Seattle Humane, Nebraska Humane Society and Montgomery County Humane Society in Maryland. Each offers various programs to help pets and their owners. Find out more about each of them via Source.

Towerborne celebrates Japan’s Golden Week holiday with special event

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 17:11:59 +0000

In Japan, it’s Golden Week, ushering in an uplifting season with a break from hectic lives. Towerborne launches on April 29 in tandem with that holiday with a new limited time event: Shiro’s Golden Journey. The event’s new content includes a new character, exclusive themed rewards and a new feature. “Players will team up with the mysterious, fox-masked NPC known as Shiro to complete a new questline. As they progress, they will uncover the story behind Shiro and earn a range of event-exclusive items inspired by traditional Japanese aesthetics,” writes Sebastian Yamaguchi, Xbox Wire Japan editor. Towerborne arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC via the Xbox app and with Game Pass through the Xbox Game Preview program. It is also available through Steam Early Access. Find out more on Xbox Wire.

Save the date: Annual Xbox Games Showcase livestreams June 8

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:37:32 +0000

Every year, the Xbox Games Showcase delivers a sneak peek at upcoming first-party and third-party partner studio titles. This summer, the show will be digital-only.

And, it’s going to be a double feature, with new gameplay, details, and developer

The post Save the date: Annual Xbox Games Showcase livestreams June 8 appeared first on Windows Experience Blog.

GDC 2025: Blizzard, King and Ninja Theory celebrate gaming and community

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:18:01 +0000

At this year’s Game Developers Conference, employees from Blizzard, King and Ninja Theory are presenting at the show. Among the many topics they’re talking about are: Candy Crush Solitaire, Candy Crush Soda Saga, accessibility, World of Warcraft, machine-learning models, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II and binaural recording. Find out more through a shortform story on Source.

Head of Xbox Game Studios shares updates in podcast interview

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 17:41:47 +0000

Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios, is the featured guest on the latest Official Xbox Podcast.

Host Tina Amini interviews Duncan, who shares updates on several games, including Avowed, South of Midnight and Doom: The Dark Ages.

Head over to

The post Head of Xbox Game Studios shares updates in podcast interview appeared first on Windows Experience Blog.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Sequel introduces new characters, stories and mechanics

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:22:01 +0000

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, a sequel to 2022’s Citizen Sleeper, is now available. “You don’t necessarily need to have played the first game, but it does help in understanding the nuance and complexities of the unforgiving, dystopian world that Citizen Sleeper is set in,” writes Xbox Wire’s Danielle Partis. “While the first game often felt like an isolated journey where helping yourself was often a zero-sum game, Citizen Sleeper 2 introduces a crew system, alongside some other clever new features, allowing your Sleeper to become the quirky, unappointed protagonist of your very own episodic sci-fi adventure.” In this role-playing game, you are a sleeper – a human mind housed in an artificial body, a fugitive from your makers and people who want to control you. Your future is yours to navigate, from commandeering a ship to building a network of allies and/or crew to executing contracts. Read more about it on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Wire kicks off 4-part series on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Wed, 15 May 2024 16:26:30 +0000

Seven years after Ninja Theory debuted Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, a sequel is about to launch. Leading up to the release of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Xbox Wire is kicking off a four-part series about it from the perspective of the studio, with stories and lessons from creative leads. Over at Xbox Wire, find out more about the evolution of this “special game,” which took the “brave leap” in crafting “a short, narrative experience revolving around mental health” and how the studio strives to make Senua the “most human character in gaming.”

Curator can help you with PC Game Pass picks

Athima Chansanchai, Writer — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:16:35 +0000

There are more than 100 PC games available through PC Game Pass, but where to start? To help players find the right game for them, Xbox tapped streamer Bruce Greene to pick some of his favorites from the PC Game Pass library. “I’ve been playing PC games for 25 years and I’m super impressed by what’s on PC Game Pass,” he says. “I picked like 40 or 50 cause like there were so many good games on there and I had to pare them down which is hilarious. Being a curator, it’s perfect for me.” Head over to Xbox Wire to see what he picked and why.