After a long wait, Final Fantasy VII Revelation was officially revealed for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Nintendo Switch 2 last month. Although the long showing did an excellent job teasing how the third entry in the series will perfect the formula introduced in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, it did not provide a precise release date besides a generic Spring 2027 window, suggesting the game could release in the tail end of the season, such as late April or even May. However, some recent statements from Naoki Hamaguchi suggest the game may launch as early […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/square-enixs-forecast-hides-final-fantasy-vii-revelations-true-2027-launch-window/

Onimusha: Way of the Sword is setting out to be the best comeback the CAPCOM series could have had after a 20-year long hiatus, but the playable demo released last month on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S left more than a few disappointed by the incredibly tame challenge level. While Producer Akihito Kadowaki confirmed the final game would hit harder than the demo, it wasn't specified how difficulty would actually be tweaked. However, it seems like players will have greater control on the game's challenge level with granular settings. "We’ve built this game with the […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/capcom-onimusha-way-of-the-sword-difficulty-backlash-granular-difficulty-sliders/

Following the appointment of Asha Sharma as the new CEO of Xbox, we’ve gotten a litany of pretty candid statements from the executive, with Sharma putting emphasis on the fact that Xbox is suffering from high manufacturing costs – partially as a result of the ongoing RAM crisis. While no concrete figures have been shared officially, according to insiders, Microsoft is losing around $150 for every Xbox Series X/S console being sold.

In a report by known Microsoft leaker Jez Corden, discussing the future prospects of Microsoft’s Xbox Helix and why having 3rd-party storefronts on the console “no longer makes sense”, the insider offered an interesting detail on the console maker’s current situation, claiming:

“I’ve been told Xbox is losing around $150~ per Xbox Series X|S sold right now even after the planned August 2026 price hike”. For the uninitiated, Microsoft announced last month that they would be increasing the RRP of their Xbox consoles in August, with the new prices landing at around $500 for the Series S and $800 for the Series X.

Assuming Corden’s report is true, then a 1TB Series X costs Microsoft as much as $950 to manufacture – an unsustainable amount of loss per-console.

What this means for the next-gen Xbox Helix, we will have to wait and see, but it’s safe to say that the industry is currently in a pretty bad state.

KitGuru says: What do you think of these reported costs? Can Microsoft recover? Does Xbox moving back towards exclusives make more or less sense with these costs in mind? Let us know down below.

By setting Grand Theft Auto VI for a November 19 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive forced every publisher to move their games as far as possible from this date, resulting in some of the most game-packed September and October of recent memory. Previously planned for a generic late 2026 release, GPTRACK50's Stupid Never Dies now joins a packed October release schedule, launching on the same day as Square Enix's Final Fantasy Resonance and close to other games with which it will vie for gamers' attention and money. The independent studio founded by […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/stupid-never-dies-takes-on-square-enix-final-fantasy-resonance/

In the first half of June, Windows Central's Jez Corden reported that, according to his sources, Xbox was losing "hundreds of dollars" on each Series S and X console sold due to massive +700% increases in component costs for memory and storage. Roughly two weeks later, Microsoft announced a $100 price increase for the Xbox Series S and $150 for the Xbox Series X, again due to rising RAM and storage prices. However, according to Corden, even after the announced price hike (which takes effect on Saturday, August 1), Xbox will continue to lose money per console sold to consumers. The […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/microsoft-still-loses-money-on-xbox-after-price-hikes-ram-spike-fall-2027/

Although Rockstar Games promised that GTA 6 marketing would ramp up during the summer, we're now close to August and both the developer and publisher Take-Two Interactive are keeping a rather tight lid on one of the most anticipated games of all time launching on November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. For some, this radio silence could be a sign of bad news, but it seems like worrying isn't warranted at all, as well-known insider Nate The Hate suggested that we should see plenty of the game next month. "I expect to see a fair bit of […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/gta-6-silence-delay-fears-august-showing/

With Final Fantasy VII Revelation bringing an end to the Remake series next year on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2, Square Enix fans are looking ahead at what's next for the publisher in terms of massive, AAA releases. Although what's in store for JRPG fans is still up in the air, it seems like remakes for games like Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy IX, if they ever get made, won't have the massive scope of the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, as Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida warned during this year's edition of […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/yoshi-p-warns-final-fantasy-vi-viii-and-ix-remakes-5-installments-tease-final-fantasy-xvii/

Following months of rumors and speculation, it was confirmed last month that GTA 6 won't launch on disc on either PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S, as all retail copies of the game will be a download code, with the status of an actual disc release still uncertain. As if this decision couldn't get even more controversial, Rockstar Games provided a clarification on how the download code for the game works, a clarification which delivers a rare win for Xbox Series X|S users, which won't have to worry about anything other than pre-loading the game ahead of its November 19 […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/playstation-5-gta-6-download-codes-region-locked-xbox-no-restriction/

With Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, director Naoki Hamaguchi and his development team took everything that made Final Fantasy VII Remake great and upped it to eleven to deliver one of the best entries in the entire series. Topping the second entry in the series will be extremely difficult, but it seems like publisher Square Enix is attempting to do the impossible, and improve the one element of the game which can be truly considered perfect with Final Fantasy VII Revelation launching during Spring 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2: the hybrid combat system. "I […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/square-enix-attempts-impossible-final-fantasy-vii-revelation-improves-rebirths-perfect-combat/

In the age of (primarily) digital gaming, having solid download speeds is vital, especially as games continue to grow in scope and size. While there are tons of different factors which can lead to slow speeds, Microsoft is trying to alleviate issues on their end – announcing a new Xbox system update which optimises “game install and update speeds.”

As part of the latest Xbox Firmware update (available to those signed up to Xbox’s Insider program), Microsoft is introducing a new system which should make game download speeds smoother and more consistent, writing:
“Users will experience a new feature to optimize game install and update speeds by introducing a smart download client.”

Explaining how it functions, they continued, “Shortly after your game download begins, the client will check which content servers are available for the install or update. It will then test the connection speed to each server pool and select the fastest available connection for that install. The speed test will rerun periodically during the install or update to ensure that the client continues using the fastest available connection.”

Reactions to the update have been mixed so far, with some users lamenting the fact that server pool switching wasn’t already being used – while others claim to have never had any issues with downloads in the first place.

As mentioned, downloads speeds are a fickle thing, with countless factors going into the experience. That said, it is welcome to see Microsoft attempting to make the whole process a little bit easier on their end. Hopefully this change does have a notable impact.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Are you part of Xbox’s Insider Program? Have you tried to download anything since the update? If so, have you noticed a difference? Let us know down below.

Although CAPCOM is going through a new golden age releasing high-quality new entries in beloved series like Devil May Cry 5, Resident Evil Requiem, Street Fighter 6, and Monster Hunter Wilds as well as new IPs like PRAGMATA, the Japanese publisher went through some rather dark times during the PS3 and Xbox 360 era, requiring a publisher-wide reset to return to the glory days. This reset, and the RE Engine which powers all modern games by the Japanese publisher, are the reasons why Onimusha is coming back with Onimusha: Way Of The Sword after 20 years, according to director Satoru […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/capcom-couldnt-build-onimusha-team-for-20-years-resident-evil-devoured/

For quite a while now, we had been hearing various leaks and rumours pertaining to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass, with insiders claiming that the console maker is planning to offer some form of ad-supported game streaming tier. Though yet to be officially announced, Microsoft has now unveiled that it is testing “an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time.”

Taking to the Xbox Wire blog to make the announcement, ‘Team XBOX’ officially unveiled their first test for this long-rumoured ad-supported game streaming tier, writing:

“Today, we’re starting to test an ad-supported way to stream select games from your library for a limited time, available to XBOX Insiders. During this test period, XBOX Insiders with an XBOX account will be able to stream games they own for free with ads. Players will have one hour session limits across supported devices and regions.”

Speaking on their mentality behind this decision, Microsoft continued, “Advertising has existed in gaming for decades, from in-game placements to free-to-play models. But it hasn’t always been built with the player in mind. When done well, advertising can help lower the cost of access. It creates another way for players to get into games without an upfront streaming purchase and expands audiences through new ways to play. For brands, this only works if showing up here adds to the experience, not takes away from it.”

Seemingly built as an alternative to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft promises that ads will only appear ‘before’ the session itself begins, meaning players shouldn’t encounter any distractions mid-game. That said, with the 1 hour time limit currently in place, sessions will wind up being interrupted regardless.

Of course, cloud streaming isn’t free for Microsoft, and so it seems they believe having an ad-supported version could bring in additional revenue in its own right, while also hopefully drawing players into the full fat Game Pass experience.

As with other insider programs, Microsoft will be monitoring feedback, and so it will be interesting to see what the final form of this ‘Ad-supported Game Streaming Test’ winds up looking like.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest announcement? Does it entice you in any way? Would you rather stream your games using remote play without ads, or cloud streaming with ads? Let us know down below.

2026 has been a year of great change at Xbox, with the console maker engaging in a major restructure leading to the parting of ways with 5 different studios and thousands of employees. One notable move made by Xbox was the appointment of Jared Palmer as the new vice-president of engineering. Joining the brand this past May, Palmer has already announced that he is leaving Xbox.

Taking to Twitter, the recently-appointed VP of Engineering at Xbox – Jared Palmer – announced his departure from the company, writing:

“Personal update: I’ve joined @Cognition to lead engineering. I’m grateful to [Asha Sharma] and everyone at Xbox for an amazing year. Excited for this next chapter with [Scott Wu] and team.”

As mentioned, Palmer was a relatively recent addition to the Xbox team, with the announcement happening just a couple months ago in early May. At the time, Palmer was said to be joining “as a member of technical staff to work on product, engineering, developer tools and infrastructure” while also serving as a”taste” maker of sorts.

As with Sharma herself, Palmer came from an AI background, previously serving as the ‘CoreAI vice president of product’ and a ‘senior vice president of Microsoft's GitHub subsidiary.’

Whether his short stint at Xbox was always part of the plan or not, we will have to wait and find out. Either way, this latest change does not lend a great deal of confidence to the new Xbox regime.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this latest move? Is it an indicator of deeper issues? Or did Palmer simply receive an offer he couldn’t refuse? Let us know your thoughts down below.

Xbox Backward Compatibility has long been the benchmark for backward compatibility on consoles, and rumors of it coming to PC rightly made more than a few players excited at the prospect of playing classic Xbox games which never received an official PC port. Today, Xbox Backward Compatibility was officially launched on PC with the first batch of games, and some exclusive features that will vastly improve the experience while preserving the original gameplay. "Today, we’re introducing XBOX Backward Compatibility on PC, making it easier to play classic XBOX games from the past across PC and handhelds, including the ROG XBOX […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/xbox-backward-compatibility-comes-to-pc-at-last-reviving-conker-and-blinx-with-4x-upscaling/

STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl is among the few third-party Xbox Series X|S exclusive releases, which wasn't too surprising, considering the quality of the latest entry in the series and how unique the franchise generally is. What is surprising to learn, on the other hand, is how the exclusivity deal with Microsoft was reportedly decided. In a recent interview with OLDboi, GSC Game World founder Serhiy Hryhorovych revealed that Microsoft agreed to fund the game's console exclusivity primarily because of the overwhelming view count on one of the game's YouTube trailers. "We put out a STALKER 2 video, and when […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/stalker-2-xbox-exclusivity-sealed-views-stunned-microsoft/

Following months of rumors and speculation, it was finally confirmed back in May that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt would indeed get a new expansion in 2027 ahead of The Witcher 4. A few months after the announcement by CD Projekt Red and co-developer Fool's Theory, we will finally see more of what will rival Blood and Wine and Phantom Liberty's scope in late August, as it will be fully revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live hosted by Geoff Keighley. "Our Path to Gamescom 2026 starts with Opening Night Live. On August 25, catch a glimpse of The Witcher 3: […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/cd-projekt-red-the-witcher-3-songs-of-the-past-august-25-reveal-switch-2/

Ubisoft has been one of the better publishers when it comes to updating its 8th-gen titles for modern platforms. While the extent of each patch has varied, Ghost Recon Wildlands appears to be set to receive a pretty substantial update, with users noting marketing materials advertising an upcoming 4K60FPS ‘Definitive Edition.’

As reported by multiple users, Ubisoft appears to be gearing up to announce a ‘Definitive Edition’ of 2017’s Ghost Recon Wildlands. Taking to the game’s subreddit, users shared a splash screen which seems to confirm that Ghost Recon Wildlands will be receiving an update in August, bringing some cosmetic packs alongside a ‘new mission’.

By far the most exciting part of the update however is the fact that Wildlands will seemingly be updated with full 4K and 60fps support (compared to its current 1440p 30fps offering).

Of course, we will have to wait for official confirmation from Ubisoft themselves before jumping to conclusions. That being said, the publisher has somewhat acknowledged the leaks, recently taking to Twitter to write: “It’s been a while Ghosts! We know some of you saw some updates, we’ll have more to say on the 6th of August when we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Ghost Recon. Intel coming soon.”

Given that the August date lines up with the aforementioned splash screen, it’s safe to assume that the information is legit. It will be interesting to learn whether this update will bring with it a bespoke current-gen app, or if it will function more as a backwards compatible+ type of experience. We shouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Ghost Recon Wildlands? How does it compare to 2019’s breakpoint? What other Ubisoft games do you hope will receive a current-gen update? Let us know down below.

In the weeks after launch, Pearl Abyss released weekly Crimson Desert patches introducing new features and options to the game, expanding side characters Damiane and Oongka to make them more usable in open-world exploration, and more. Although the pace of the patches has slowed down in the past few weeks as Pearl Abyss is preparing some story improvements and a DLC expansion, the Korean developer is still introducing highly requested features to its successful open-world game, such as cross-save support which arrived across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S with today's 1.14 patch, while celebrating the Best Technical Innovation […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/crimson-deserts-blackspace-engine-topped-death-stranding-2-doom-cross-save-patch-1-14/

Although its release was marred by the layoffs at Ubisoft Barcelona, the team responsible for the game's underwater stages and water tech, among other things, there's no denying that Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is already a smashing success, selling over 2 million copies on the first day of availability. As such, it's not surprising to learn that Ubisoft has some post launch plans for the game, but what is surprising is that they will follow the example set by Crimson Desert, ditching a set roadmap for community feedback. "We're working on New Game Plus right now. It's one of […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/ubisoft-copies-crimson-deserts-playbook-assassins-creed-black-flag-resynced-ditches-roadmap/