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PlayStation Walked Away From Kojima’s Physint Over Budget Fears, but Timed Exclusivity Sealed the Deal

11 September 2026 at 14:39

A shadowy figure in a coat is depicted against a dark city skyline with the text 'Here Comes the Feeling' displayed prominently.

Following its announcement in 2024, PlayStation and Kojima Productions didn't talk much about Physint, the game that would mark Hideo Kojima's return to the stealth-action genre that made him one of the most renowned game designers with the Metal Gear series. The long silence was broken this week in a rather surprising way, as it was announced that PlayStation backed away from the project, only for Kojima Productions to partner with Xbox. According to a new report from Jason Schreier, the game's budget was among the reasons for PlayStation's pivot, although timed exclusivity also played a part in the decision. […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/playstation-walked-away-kojima-physint-budget-exclusivity/

PlayStation explains why it really dropped Kojima’s Physint

By: Aftab Ali
11 September 2026 at 15:17

So here’s the bit everyone wanted after this week’s Kojima-Xbox bombshell: why did PlayStation actually walk away from Physint?

Bloomberg has the answer, and it’s less “creative differences” and more straightforward cold feet. According to sources close to the situation, the Death Stranding series simply hasn’t performed the way Sony wanted, and that history weighed heavily on the decision. Given Death Stranding 2 reportedly shifted over 2.5 million copies, that’s a fairly damning read on what PlayStation considers a “success” these days.

Budget blowouts and a ticking clock

The bigger issues, though, were practical. Physint had already missed deadlines and was on track to run well over budget, despite still being years from release. Add to that Sony’s reluctance to sink “hundreds of millions of dollars” into a game that would only stay exclusive for a limited window, and cancelling starts to look less like a snub and more like basic spreadsheet maths.

PHYSINT

Kojima isn’t left stranded. After three months hunting for a new home, Xbox has picked up PHYSINT, with Kojima himself calling it a “genre-defining action-espionage title.” Whether that framing survives contact with Microsoft’s own budget conversations is a different question entirely.


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Sony’s split from Kojima explained in new report

11 September 2026 at 14:00

We learned earlier this week that Sony had pulled out of PHYSINT, forcing Kojima Productions to find a new publisher and ultimately landing with Xbox. Now, a new report has shed some light on why the relationship between Sony and Kojima broke down. 

According to Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, PHYSINT had already slipped past several milestones and was trending over budget. Sony was also concerned about long‑term profitability, as Death Stranding and its sequel did not meet the company’s revenue expectations.

Another factor appears to be the changing landscape inside PlayStation. Many of the executives who originally backed Kojima Productions after the Konami fallout have since left the company. Their replacements were reportedly less invested in continuing the partnership, leaving PHYSINT without the internal advocates it once would've had.

On the other side, Microsoft says it is “honored” to work with Kojima and plans to collaborate on his film / TV efforts alongside games. Microsoft is also excited about the prospect of benefitting from Kojima's releases on the PC platform, as titles like Death Stranding had big followings on platforms like Steam, and Microsoft has the infrastructure in house to publish on PC, something that Sony wasn't doing until recently, and has now stopped doing again.

PHYSINT remains in development and is described as a “genre-defining action-espionage” game. Unfortunately, there is no word on how long the game will take to finish, or when we'll get our first look at it in action.

KitGuru Says: Sony’s reasoning makes sense from a business perspective, but it is still surprising to see the company walk away from a prestige creator at a time when its single‑player output has slowed. PHYSINT landing at Xbox is a major shift and one that could pay off significantly for Microsoft.

The post Sony’s split from Kojima explained in new report first appeared on KitGuru.

Kojima’s spy game PHYSINT, just switched sides to Xbox

By: Aftab Ali
10 September 2026 at 11:07

Sony just walked away from a Kojima game, and Xbox picked it up before the dust even settled.

In a short statement, Sony confirmed it made the “difficult decision to step away” from PHYSINT, the Metal Gear-style espionage project from Kojima Productions. No blog post, just a quick line on social media. Minutes later, Xbox confirmed it’s stepping in to publish the game instead.

An update from PlayStation Studios: After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to step away from collaborating with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS on its project PHYSINT. We continue to have great admiration for Hideo Kojima's vision for the game.

Our relationship…

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) September 10, 2026

What actually happened

Kojima cleared up the timeline himself. Sony apparently pulled the plug back in mid-June, catching his studio off guard. He spent the next three months shopping the project around before landing with Xbox, a partner he’s already worked with on OD, his upcoming horror game.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma welcomed the move, saying creators have choices about where they build their games and that Kojima chose Xbox this time.

PHYSINT

Don’t expect it soon

This is now the second Kojima Productions game tied to Xbox, alongside OD. PHYSINT itself was born because fans kept begging for something closer to old-school Metal Gear, and it’s still years out. Kojima estimated back in 2025 that it needed another five to six years of work, so we’re looking at 2030 or later before anyone touches it.

Sony and Kojima still have Death Stranding tying them together, but PHYSINT jumping ship is a real shift for a creator whose name has been glued to PlayStation for decades.


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Kojima moves to Xbox after PlayStation tried to cancel new stealth game

10 September 2026 at 08:30

Roughly a decade ago, Konami had a very dramatic falling out with Hideo Kojima, the legendary game director behind the Metal Gear Solid series. As a result, Sony garnered some swift PR by helping Kojima start up his new studio and funding his latest IP, Death Stranding. Now, almost another ten years on, Sony has split up from Kojima.

In a statement today, Sony confirmed that it has decided to no longer partner with Kojima Productions on their game PhysInt, which was described as a new tactical espionage series, essentially a spiritual successor to Metal Gear. While Sony's statement downplayed the cancellation somewhat and made it sound like Kojima and Sony would work together again in the future, Kojima's own statement on the matter delivers a very different takeaway.

In his own statement on what happened, Kojima said: “As confirmed earlier through our official channels, in mid-June of this year, we unexpectedly received notice from PlayStation Studios that they would cancel the PHYSINT project. PHYSINT is an important project both to me personally and to KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS. Determined to keep the project alive, we have spent the last three months searching tirelessly for a new partner.”

And it turns out that partner is none other than … Xbox: “In the course of seeking advice and pursuing negotiations with people across many fields, we found in XBOX a partner with whom we share a common vision for the future, and we have decided to team up with them once again. Please rest assured that development of PHYSINT, our genre-defining action-espionage title, is ongoing and will continue moving forward.”

Microsoft began forming a relationship with Kojima a few years ago by funding an experimental horror project titled OD: Knock. Now, Xbox will also be publishing Kojima's PHYSINT as well and it is unclear if either game will release on PlayStation consoles.

KitGuru Says: PHYSINT should have been a slam dunk with long-time fans, but now this will end up being an easy win for Xbox, who look primed to deliver on the single-player games front next generation, an area that has been sorely lacking for PlayStation Studios over the past few years.

The post Kojima moves to Xbox after PlayStation tried to cancel new stealth game first appeared on KitGuru.

Some major publishers are not yet supporting Xbox disc to digital feature

8 September 2026 at 15:00

Microsoft’s disc‑to‑digital program launched at the end of August with support for thousands of Xbox One and Xbox Series X titles. However, as players have begun testing the feature, it has become clear that a number of major publishers are not participating yet.

As spotted by fans on Reddit, several Square Enix, Ubisoft and SEGA titles currently do not support disc‑to‑digital. This is somewhat surprising, as these same publishers already participate in Xbox Play Anywhere, which grants digital PC licences for certain titles when purchased digitally on Xbox and vice-versa.

At present, this means major releases like Final Fantasy XVI and Assassin’s Creed Shadows can't benefit from the new system. Disc‑to‑digital is designed to encourage players to keep their physical collections while still gaining the convenience of digital access, so these omissions stand out more than expected.

Microsoft still needs to obtain approvals on a per‑game basis, so the initial rollout covering a couple of thousand titles is already a substantial start. More games are expected to be added over time, and it would make sense for new releases to be prioritised as publishers become more familiar with the programme.

KitGuru Says: Disc‑to‑digital launched with impressive support, but it will take time for every publisher to get on board. Hopefully we’ll see these gaps filled as Microsoft continues to expand the programme. It took nearly a decade to widen support for Play Anywhere, but hopefully that won't be the case for disc-to-digital. 

The post Some major publishers are not yet supporting Xbox disc to digital feature first appeared on KitGuru.

Xbox Game Pass cloud limits won’t be for everyone, but the recently introduced dynamic pricing might

8 September 2026 at 12:00

Microsoft appears to be exempting some Xbox Game Pass subscribers in certain regions from the upcoming cloud‑gaming time limits, while also testing personalised subscription discounts for select users.

According to a screenshot shared by Reddit user the_spensa and additional reports highlighted by PureXbox, some subscribers have received emails stating they will not face cloud‑gaming restrictions in November, provided their Game Pass memberships remain set to auto‑renew. Regional laws appear to prevent Microsoft from applying the new limits in these territories, unlike in the UK, US and Canada.

Image credit: the_spensa and synthlov3r

Microsoft also appears to be running targeted Game Pass Ultimate pricing tests. Reddit user synthlov3r shared an offer he received for a 12‑month lock‑in at $16.09 per month, down from the standard $22.99 rate. Other users reported offers between $18 and $20, indicating account‑level targeting. Microsoft has not confirmed whether these personalised discounts will become a wider programme.

KitGuru Says: Microsoft seems to be testing multiple approaches ahead of the November changes. It will be interesting to see how widely these exemptions and personalised offers roll out.

The post Xbox Game Pass cloud limits won’t be for everyone, but the recently introduced dynamic pricing might first appeared on KitGuru.

Forza Horizon 6 is still coming to PS5 this year, claims Playground Games

8 September 2026 at 10:30

While fans on Xbox and PC have been enjoying Playground Games’ latest and greatest Forza Horizon 6 for quite a few months now, those on PlayStation remain waiting for an official and concrete release date. Following reports from insiders who claimed that FH6 might not make it to PlayStation this year, Playground Games themselves have now reaffirmed its 2026 launch.

Back when Forza Horizon 6 was first shown off, the game was confirmed to be coming to Sony’s PlayStation 5 sometime following its May release on Xbox / PC, but before the end of 2026.

In the months since, Microsoft’s Xbox strategy has shifted quite a bit, with the console maker retreating somewhat back towards an ‘exclusivity’ mindset – with the likes of Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution being permanent console exclusives.

With the state of Forza Horizon 6 on PS5 being in limbo, one known insider suggested that the title might not make it to Sony’s system before the end of 2026.

Forza PlayStation

As part of the team’s latest blog post celebrating ‘British Automotive in Forza Horizon 6’ Playground Games made note of the fact that the PS5 launch is still going according to plan, writing:

“If you’re planning your trip to Discover Japan on PlayStation 5, stay tuned! Forza Horizon 6 will be releasing on PS5 later this year, and you can add the game to your Wishlist on the PlayStation Store to be notified of availability.”

Though we have yet to get any further – more concrete – details, it is clear that Playground Games are confident that they will be able to publish the PlayStation version on time.

When exactly this will be, we will have to wait and see. The final few months of 2026 looks set to be jam packed with major releases, and so the window of opportunity remains quite tight.

KitGuru says: Have you been waiting for Forza Horizon 6 to come to PS5? Do you reckon it’ll launch before or after GTA VI? Let us know down below.

The post Forza Horizon 6 is still coming to PS5 this year, claims Playground Games first appeared on KitGuru.

Insider claims “compute demands for AI” led to the gutting of Xbox Cloud Streaming

8 September 2026 at 09:00

Late last week, Microsoft made headlines when they announced that come this November, the console maker’s heavily-promoted Xbox Cloud Streaming service would be drastically changed, no longer offering unlimited streaming hours – with even top tier Ultimate subscribers only being offered 15 hours of use a month. Seeing as how we are in the year 2026, there could only be one primary reason for this change, with insiders revealing that “compute demands for AI” is what ultimately led to this decision.

As part of the initial blog post detailing the upcoming changes to Xbox Cloud Streaming, Microsoft claimed to be:

“Introducing this model because the cost of providing cloud gaming grows as more people use it and play for longer. Moving to monthly limits allows us to keep offering the service while continuing to invest in its reliability and performance.”

Xbox Cloud

For many, it was clear as to why this decision had been made. Saying the quiet part out loud however, known Microsoft insider Jez Corden took to Windows Central to state:

“I was recently told by Microsoft figures that, given compute demands for AI, Xbox Cloud Gaming is effectively losing money when used beyond 15 hours per month. When you have Azure server rack space being used for anything other than AI, it seems Microsoft isn't particularly sentimental towards the idea anymore.”

Of course, the irony isn’t lost on us, with many of the issues which Xbox is currently facing (streaming costs, component prices and more) coming as a result of Microsoft’s own AI ambitions outside of Xbox. Either way, it is safe to assume that moving forward Xbox Cloud Streaming is no longer one of the core pillars of Game Pass.

KitGuru says: What do you think of this recent change? Is cloud streaming a viable option, or is the tech still too premature? Let us know down below.

The post Insider claims “compute demands for AI” led to the gutting of Xbox Cloud Streaming first appeared on KitGuru.

Sony and Microsoft may be forced to go all‑digital next‑gen as disc drive components disappear

7 September 2026 at 16:00

As Sony and Microsoft prepare for next‑gen hardware, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that either company will be able to offer disc drives, even as optional add‑ons, regardless of whether they actually want to. It has come to light that the supply chain for disc drives themselves is going extinct. 

Earlier this year, Sony confirmed plans to go all‑digital for future PlayStation releases. As part of that transition, the factory responsible for manufacturing physical PS5 game discs began re‑tooling itself for an entirely different product line, backed by new investment from Sony.

Now, a new report from Windows Central indicates that the supply chain behind optical disc drives themselves is also collapsing. According their industry sources, the few remaining companies still producing the specialised components required for disc drives are pivoting to other markets. As these components become less common, the cost of manufacturing disc drives rises sharply. Digital Foundry later corroborated this in a recent podcast, explaining that the component shortage has reached a point where producing drives at scale is becoming increasingly impractical.

This creates a major problem for anyone hoping physical media will remain an option. Even if Sony or Microsoft wanted to offer disc drives for their next consoles, the cost of sourcing the necessary parts could push the price of a drive up by hundreds of dollars. At one point, disc drives were cheap, near‑commodity components for both PCs and consoles. Today, they are niche hardware with shrinking manufacturing support, making them far more expensive to produce.

Physical media has already been struggling on the software side. As we reported recently, a study from Does It Play found that only 66 percent of PS5 discs work fully offline, while just 50 percent of Xbox Series X/S discs function without mandatory downloads.

Between disc manufacturing winding down and disc drive components becoming prohibitively expensive, the future of physical media is being squeezed from both ends. Even if platform holders wanted to keep discs alive, the supply chain may simply make that impossible, and any attempt to preserve physical support would likely result in higher hardware prices for consumers.

KitGuru Says: Physical media has been under pressure for years, but the supply chain issues emerging now make the situation far more complicated. Even if Sony or Microsoft wanted to keep disc drives around, doing so may soon be too costly to justify. If the next-gen Xbox or PlayStation had a disc-drive edition, but it cost $200-$300 more, would consumers be willing to pay that extra cash? 

The post Sony and Microsoft may be forced to go all‑digital next‑gen as disc drive components disappear first appeared on KitGuru.

A decade following its cancellation, Hideki Kamiya still wants to revive Scalebound

7 September 2026 at 08:45

While the notion of Microsoft cancelling an Xbox game in 2026 could be just another day that ends in Y, similar news a decade ago was seen by many as industry-breaking. Such was the case with Scalebound – an ambitious action-RPG developed by PlatinumGames and headed by Hideki Kamiya of DMC and Bayonetta fame. Almost a decade on from its cancellation by publisher Microsoft, Kamiya still hopes to one day bring Scalebound to light.

In the 9 years since Microsoft officially cancelled Scalebound, Hideki Kamiya has on many occasions expressed interest in bringing the IP back, claiming in 2020, 2022 and 2025 that he would be willing to return to what was clearly a passion project. Up till now, Microsoft themselves appear to have no interest in such a revival.

Taking part in an interview with the publication VGC, Kamiya (who now serves as a core member of new studio Clovers) expressed once again desires to try and bring back the ill-fated Scalebound.

In response to the question “Have you asked [new Xbox CEO] Asha Sharma yet if they're up for reviving Scalebound?” Kamiya claimed: “Well, no, but now's my opportunity to once again say that if they want to do it, let's make it happen! Koyama [Clovers founder and CEO] is on board too. If you could include some footage [of Scalebound] in your article for Asha, that would be useful.”

Scalebound Kamiya

Speaking on its cancellation from almost a decade ago, Kamiya added “Of course, it's very unfortunate that the project was unable to see the light of day ultimately, and that is something that even now I still very strongly desire to be able to see through if it's all possible, and I'm being one hundred percent serious when I say that.”

Kamiya concluded with: “I mean, obviously we might not be in a position to do that right this second, but I strongly believe that if you want something strongly enough, you eventually find a way to make it happen. That's the case with Okami right now, where even after all these years, the opportunity once again presented itself, and I hope that will be the case with Scalebound in the future as well.”

In many ways, it feels as though Scalebound is the one project that got away, with Kamiya clearly continuing to hold onto hope that the project could one day come to fruition. Given that Microsoft themselves own the defunct IP however, it is seemingly out of Kamiya’s hands.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: What did you think of Scalebound back in the day? Would you like to see it revived? Let us know down below.

The post A decade following its cancellation, Hideki Kamiya still wants to revive Scalebound first appeared on KitGuru.

Xbox Brings Cloud Gaming to TCL TVs, but Slashes the Time You Can Actually Play to a Paltry 15 Hours

6 September 2026 at 12:00

The Xbox Cloud Gaming image shows a TCL Smart TV interface with the text 'Play XBOX on TCL Smart TVs,' displaying games like Minecraft Dungeons, Grounded, and Rainbow Six Siege, alongside an 'Explore your Game Pass benefits' menu featuring in-game benefits for 'Apex Legends' with the ability to claim rewards by 11/14/2025.

It seems like Xbox truly can't go a week without some sort of PR debacle; this time around, it's about Xbox Cloud Gaming. It was actually supposed to be a good week on that front: on Friday, Microsoft's gaming division announced that the Xbox app would be coming to TCL's popular televisions in the coming months, allowing owners of TCL Smart TVs to play Xbox games via cloud. This follows the launch of the same app on Samsung and LG TVs, as part of Microsoft's attempt to bring hardcore gaming to the masses who do not own dedicated gaming devices. […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/xbox-cloud-gaming-tcl-tvs-15-hour-play-limit/

Microsoft announces harsh cloud streaming limits for Xbox Game Pass subscribers

4 September 2026 at 11:30

In the wake of Asha Sharma’s appointment as the new CEO of Xbox, we’ve seen the console manufacturer switch up its Game Pass subscription quite a bit. Following the announcement that Xbox Cloud Streaming would be seeing the introduction of a new ad-supported tier, Microsoft has made even more sweeping changes – limiting monthly streaming to just 15 hours for Ultimate members.

Taking to their blog, ‘Team XBOX’ unveiled a number of “upcoming changes to XBOX Cloud Gaming,” writing: “Beginning in November, we’re changing how cloud gaming is included with XBOX Game Pass.”

While subscribers were previously allowed to stream for an infinite amount of time, Microsoft is now putting some harsh monthly limitations:

  • Game Pass Ultimate: 15 hours
  • Game Pass Premium: 10 hours
  • Game Pass Essential: 5 hours

Cloud Streaming Game Pass

According to Xbox, this change will only impact around 4% of subscribers. For those who do reach the monthly limit however, Microsoft will be offering the ability to “purchase additional cloud playtime through the XBOX Store”; though no prices have been provided yet.

Explaining their reasons behind this decision, the Trillion Dollar corporation claimed to be “introducing this model because the cost of providing cloud gaming grows as more people use it and play for longer. Moving to monthly limits allows us to keep offering the service while continuing to invest in its reliability and performance.”

As with many of Microsoft’s recent decisions, the company has stated that it will “listen closely to player feedback before and after the change takes effect and share any adjustments we make.”

KitGuru says: What are your thoughts on this change? Do you make much use out of Xbox Cloud Streaming? Let us know down below.

The post Microsoft announces harsh cloud streaming limits for Xbox Game Pass subscribers first appeared on KitGuru.

Designed for Xbox Cozy Collection brings themed 8BitDo, SteelSeries, and KontrolFreek gear

2 September 2026 at 16:00

Microsoft has a new collection of peripherals, bringing together cosy-themed gaming gear from 8BitDo, SteelSeries, and KontrolFreek. Available now, the Cozy Collection lineup includes a custom keyboard, mouse, wireless controller, earbuds, and thumb grips styled in matcha and yuzu colour palettes.

8BitDo contributes three peripherals to the range, starting with its Retro 87 keyboard. This model features an independent control panel, RGB backlighting, programmable super buttons, and Kailh tactile switches. When paired with the keyboard, the Retro R8 mouse includes a matching charging dock and four programmable side buttons. Completing 8BitDo's offerings, the Ultimate 3 Controller provides adjustable joystick tension, an upgraded grip, and a wireless charging dock with support for 2.4GHz, wired, and Bluetooth connectivity across Xbox, PC, and mobile platforms.

Audio devices only include the SteelSeries Arctis earbuds, released in Matcha and Yuzu color options. These earbuds feature Active Noise Cancellation, 360° Spatial Audio, an IP55 rating, and a Qi wireless-charging case, delivering up to 40 hours of total battery life with 10 hours per charge. Connectivity relies on Quick-Switch 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3, with access to over 200 audio presets through the Arctis Companion App.

Finally, KontrolFreek has released the No-Slip Thumb Grips – Xbox Cozy Edition. Built from non-slip GripTek material, these grips feature the same matcha and yuzu styling as the rest of the collection.

All products in the lineup are now available via their respective manufacturers' webstores and Xbox.com. The 8BitDo keyboard costs $119.99, the mouse $59.99, and the controller $99.99. The earbuds go for £149.99/$199.99, and the thumbgrips cost $12.99.

KitGuru says: Did any of the Xbox Cozy Collection peripherals interest you?

The post Designed for Xbox Cozy Collection brings themed 8BitDo, SteelSeries, and KontrolFreek gear first appeared on KitGuru.

Game Pass gets more Call of Duty but loses Cyberpunk 2077

2 September 2026 at 08:37

The next wave of Xbox Game Pass titles has been announced. This month, we will see Black Ops Cold War added, continuing the slow roll out of older COD titles to Game Pass.

Aside from Black Ops Cold War, the next two weeks will see Virtua Fighter 5, RuneScape: Dragonwilds and SpeedRunners 2 added to the library.

Below is the full list of games joining Game Pass including platforms and dates:

  • Shelldiver — Cloud, Console, PC — September 1
  • SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC — September 3
  • Dice a Million — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC — September 4
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War — Cloud, Console, PC — September 8
  • The Royal Writ — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC — September 10
  • Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC — September 10
  • RuneScape: Dragonwilds — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC — September 15

Unfortunately, this month will also see some pretty big titles leaving the Game Pass library, including Cyberpunk 2077. The full list of games leaving on September 15th includes:

  • Commandos: Origins (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Cricket 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Cyberpunk 2077 (Cloud and Console)
  • Dead Cells (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Deep Rock Galactic Survivor (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Frostpunk 2 (PC)
  • Mullet Madjack (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Spiritfarer (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Superliminal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Train Sim World 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

KitGuru Says: BlizzCon is coming up shortly, so maybe we'll see some more 

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Fable will have around 20-hours of main story according to game director

31 August 2026 at 16:12

Playground Games has shared plenty of new Fable gameplay this summer, and now we’re starting to get a clearer picture of how long the studio’s first RPG will actually be. According to the developers, players can expect a reasonably sized adventure rather than a massive, hundred‑hour epic.

In a recently published interview with Polygon, Fable director Will Kennedy explained that a full completionist playthrough will take around 40 hours, while those who stick primarily to the main story can finish the game in roughly 20 hours.

Kennedy broke the structure down further, saying Fable includes “around 15–20 hours of mainline quest gameplay” and a similar amount of side content and open‑world exploration. Beyond that, the game’s life‑sim systems, including NPC interactions, reputation changes and the broader simulation layer, can extend playtime indefinitely for those who want to immerse themselves in Albion.

During the same Q&A session, another developer described Fable as “not a huge game”, prompting associate game director Craig Littler to clarify that while the story itself isn’t enormous, players can “literally play it forever” if they choose to engage with the life‑sim systems and explore every corner of the world.

Ultimately, it sounds like Fable is designed to scale with how you want to play. If you’re here for the story, you’ll be able to finish it in a relatively brisk 20 hours. If you want to dig into every side quest and get more involved in the immersive sim side of the game, then your playtime should end up being a lot longer.

KitGuru Says: Fable won’t be the longest RPG around, but a 20-hour main story tends to be good enough for me. I just hope a sequel doesn't take as long to develop. 

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Xbox CEO hints Project Helix will be a family of next-gen devices

31 August 2026 at 12:00

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has revealed that Project Helix will actually be more than one device. Like the Xbox Series generation, Microsoft intends to have multiple hardware offerings for its next-gen push. 

In an interview with the BBC, Asha Sharma stated that the company is working on a “great family of devices for Helix”, confirming the next generation of Xbox consoles will feature multiple devices.

Asha was also asked whether Project Helix would launch as a diskless console, but she declined to provide specific hardware details, noting that full specifications haven't been shared yet. However, she emphasised that player preference remains an important point for the company, adding that she wants to ensure gamers have a choice between physical and digital formats.

Discussion throughout the interview also highlighted Microsoft's ongoing focus on hardware efficiency and affordability for the upcoming generation. While Sharma didn't outline individual model specifications or form factors, confirming a family of devices indicates a multi-tiered release strategy for the next Xbox lineup, similar to the split between Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

KitGuru says: Unfortunately due to rising SSD and RAM costs, next-gen consoles are likely going to be much more expensive than previous generations either way. Even targeting two price points, I expect the ‘cheap' next-gen Xbox to still cost a surprisingly high amount. 

The post Xbox CEO hints Project Helix will be a family of next-gen devices first appeared on KitGuru.

State of Decay 3 closed beta test to go live “before the end of 2026”

28 August 2026 at 11:30

As part of Microsoft’s wide-ranging Xbox cuts earlier this Summer, the console maker parted ways with a number of its studios. One such studio was Undead Labswho were sold off to an undisclosed company. Fortunately, this does not seem to be impacting the upcoming State of Decay 3, with the team officially announcing a closed beta test for later this year.

Taking to the Xbox Wire blog to make the announcement, Bruce Dugan – the Community Manager at Undead Labs – wrote:

“Survivors, start stocking up on supplies because you’re going to want to be ready. Closed beta playtests for State of Decay 3 are on the way before the end of 2026, giving the community its biggest hands-on look yet at the next chapter of the zombie survival series ahead of its 2027 launch.”

State of Decay 3 Beta

This isn’t the first time a select group of players will have checked out the game early, with State of Decay 3 having already hosted alpha playtests earlier in the year. According to the team, some of the improvements made as part of these tests include: combat; lighting; SFX; weather; character animations and overall visuals.

While we have not gotten a concrete date for the beta, those interested in trying State of Decay 3 out ahead of time can sign up HERE for a chance to get in. If you aren’t selected for the initial run, you may have other opportunities, with Undead Labs promising to expand the beta “to more players over time.”

KitGuru says: Are you going to register for the beta? What are your hopes for State of Decay 3? Let us know down below.

The post State of Decay 3 closed beta test to go live “before the end of 2026” first appeared on KitGuru.

Insider claims Forza Horizon 6 won’t be coming to PS5 this year

28 August 2026 at 10:30

Released for Xbox and PC earlier this year in May, Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 6 was announced to be coming to the PlayStation 5 some time in 2026. Since then however, we’ve heard little in the way of updates, with Microsoft seemingly shifting back towards Xbox console exclusivity. According to insiders, Forza Horizon 6 is still coming to PS5, albeit maybe not this year.

Back when Forza Horizon 6 was first shown off, the game was confirmed to be coming to Sony’s PlayStation 5 sometime following its May release on Xbox / PC, but before the end of 2026.

Since then however, Xbox as a whole has changed quite a bit, with Asha Sharma taking on the role of CEO; bringing the console maker back towards an ‘exclusive’ mentality – with the likes of Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution being permanent console exclusives.

This, combined with the relative lack of news on Forza’s PS5 launch, led some fans to wonder whether the game will still make it to Sony’s system.

Forza Horizon PS5

Taking to Twitter to offer some clarity, known industry insider Tom Warren stated: “I’m not expecting to see Forza Horizon 6 on PS5 in 2026”. Fortunately, it seems the port hasn’t been cancelled outright, with Warren adding that “it’s definitely still releasing.”

No reason was given for this supposed delay, and so it is unknown whether the decision was a technical one, or a matter of marketing for Xbox. Either way, it’s better late than never.

KitGuru says: Have you been enjoying Forza Horizon 6 these past few months? Why do you think the PS5 launch is coming later than expected? Let us know down below.

The post Insider claims Forza Horizon 6 won’t be coming to PS5 this year first appeared on KitGuru.
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