Xbox is testing a new ad-supported way to play games through Xbox Cloud Gaming without paying for a Game Pass subscription. I tried the experience with Gears of War to see how the ads work, how well the game performs through the cloud, and whether this could become a legitimate alternative to buying an Xbox console.The current Xbox Insider test allows players to stream select games they already own in one-hour sessions. Ads appear before the session rather than interrupting gameplay, but the actual experience still depends heavily on streaming quality, latency, image clarity, and your internet connection.In this video, I break down what worked, what didn’t, and whether Xbox’s free ad-supported streaming model feels like the future of gaming or another compromise.

Xbox and PlayStation outages are offering an unsettling look at gaming’s increasingly all-digital future. During a recent Xbox network outage, some players reported being unable to launch digital games and even certain disc-based games. Microsoft says physical games should not have been affected and blamed a licensing issue that failed to recognize locally stored entitlements. A permanent fix is reportedly being developed. That incident came shortly after a PlayStation Network outage disrupted access to PSN and the Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls open beta. Meanwhile, Sony is moving forward with plans to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation releases beginning in January 2028, despite the backlash. New games released after that date will instead be sold digitally through the PlayStation Store and retailers, potentially through download codes sold in boxes. In this video, I discuss why these outages expose the risks of an all-digital gaming industry, why buying a game should guarantee meaningful long-term access, and why consumer-protection legislation may now be necessary.

Xbox has revealed its plans for Gamescom 2026, including 25 games across 140 demo stations, two live broadcasts, and major appearances from Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Forza Horizon 6, Alien: Isolation 2, Halo: Campaign Evolved and more. It should be an exciting moment for Xbox, but while talking about the company’s history and its 25th anniversary, I discovered that my original Xbox 360 may finally be broken. That console represents an important period of my life and career, and the realization hit me harder than expected. Xbox’s Gamescom broadcasts are scheduled for August 26 and August 27 at 7 a.m. PT.

SPOILER FREE Spider-Man: Brand New Day is finally here, bringing Tom Holland back as Peter Parker for his fourth solo Spider-Man movie. In this spoiler-free review, I discuss the story, action, performances, new characters, and whether Brand New Day delivers the fresh start promised after Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has revealed the company’s new plan following major layoffs, falling gaming revenue, studio changes, and what Microsoft has described as a reset for the business.

Xbox now says it will return to player and revenue growth by the end of fiscal year 2027, improve profitability, strengthen its console platform, turn its games into larger global franchises, expand Minecraft as a creator platform, and bring its biggest properties into film, television, merchandise, sponsorships, and live experiences.

Windows Central has raised an excellent question about Xbox Project Helix: Can Microsoft build an affordable next-generation Xbox that also gives players access to PC games and competing storefronts like Steam?

Traditional consoles can be sold at lower prices because platform holders make money when players purchase games through their stores. But if Xbox Helix owners immediately move over to Steam, Microsoft could lose the software revenue that normally helps subsidize the hardware. That could leave Microsoft with an extremely expensive Xbox, a restricted version of Windows, or some kind of compromise between the two. I love the premise behind Xbox Helix and the idea of combining console simplicity with PC freedom, but I have some thoughts about the assumptions being made, the importance of Steam, and whether Microsoft actually needs Helix to function like a completely open gaming PC.

God of War Laufey at SDCC Revealed some cool new details. Like the release date! God of War Laufey officially releases on February 16, 2027, but that date puts Sony’s next major PS5 exclusive directly into one of the most crowded release windows we’ve seen.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Persona 4 Revival, Fable, Metro 2039, and now God of War Laufey are all targeting February 2027. Somebody is eventually going to move, right?

Marvel’s Wolverine just had its biggest reveal yet at San Diego Comic-Con 2026. Insomniac Games debuted a new story trailer featuring Logan, Jean Grey, Sabretooth, Mystique, Team X, Bolivar Trask, Deathstrike and The Hand.

Halo Campaign Evolved modernizes the original Halo with completely rebuilt visuals, redesigned environments, new missions, additional weapons, and major quality-of-life improvements.

The improved lighting and visual direction make confusing levels like The Library much easier to navigate, while 42 hidden Skulls and 13 Terminals add plenty of replayability. However, technical issues, crashes, and controversial changes to Master Chief and Cortana keep the remake from being perfect.

Xbox just launched Backward Compatibility on PC, bringing four original Xbox classics to Windows PCs and handhelds for the first time. But after speaking with Xbox ahead of today's announcement, it sounds like these four games are only the beginning.