A paid Xbox emulator called X1 Box is now available on the Google Play Store for Android users, but a free alternative is in the works by the creators of the existing free emulator Xemu.
Microsoft is considering merging its two Game Pass tiers, PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Premium, to create a more cohesive gaming experience. Currently, PC Game Pass offers access to Game Pass titles on PC, EA Play, and first-party games at .99 / £13.49 per month, while Xbox Game Pass Premium includes console, PC, and Cloud libraries but excludes EA Play, priced at .99 / £10.99 per month. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier has increased in price to .99 / £14.99 per month. Upcoming titles for Xbox Game Pass include High on Life 2. Microsoft may also explore a free version of its Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
NVIDIA has released its first GeForce NOW Thursday update of the year, adding new PC games to the platform. New entries include the indie game My Winter Car and four previously released titles that are now available for streaming regardless of where they were purchased. Notable titles include Banishers: Ghost of New Eden, The Casting of Frank Stone, and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Upcoming releases for January include StarRupture (Jan. 6), Pathologic 3 (Jan. 9), Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Jan. 12), MIO: Memories in Orbit (Jan. 20), Nova Roma (Jan. 22), along with Guild Wars: Reforged, Mon Bazou, Supermarket Simulator, and Tavern Keeper. Some anticipated titles such as 2XKO, Arknights: Endfield, The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, Code Vein II, and Front Mission 3 Remake are not included in this update but may be added later.
The cost of RAM has surged significantly, with prices for 16GB DDR4 sticks now around 0, and DDR5 sticks priced five times that amount. Micron, which held a 25.7% share of the DRAM market, announced it will discontinue its consumer-facing brand, Crucial, to focus on AI data center memory, likely exacerbating component prices. Xbox reported a 45% increase in playtime hours on its Game Pass Cloud Gaming service year-over-year, and Nvidia upgraded its GeForce Now service to support games on the latest RTX 5080 GPU. The rise in DRAM prices may persist until 2028, as major manufacturers prioritize supply for AI data centers over the PC industry.
Amazon Luna has announced its game lineup for December, which includes the following titles:
- LEGO 2K Drive
- Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
- Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game
- Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One
- Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two
- Christmas Adventure: Candy Storm
- Gunslugs 2
- Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Three
- Dreamscaper
Additionally, Luna members can access streaming titles such as Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition, Fallout 3, and Fallout: New Vegas. Other notable games available include Mafia: Definitive Edition, Hollow Knight, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. Amazon relaunched its revamped Luna service at the end of October, introducing a collection of smartphone-controlled multiplayer games for Prime subscribers at no extra cost.
On September 30, 2016, Amazon Game Studios introduced its titles Breakaway, Crucible, and New World at TwitchCon. Breakaway's development was halted in 2018 due to poor previews and an unsuccessful open alpha. Crucible was canceled shortly after its launch. While Amazon plans to keep New World operational until at least the end of 2026, it has ceased active development and laid off staff. Former Prime Gaming vice president Ethan Evans noted that Amazon's ambition to disrupt Steam faced challenges, including miscalculations about user habits and a lack of awareness among gamers regarding Amazon's gaming efforts. Amazon is now shifting focus from large-scale productions to more unconventional projects.
miHoYo has officially stopped supporting PowerVR GPUs, particularly on some Dimensity 7000 series SoCs, causing Android players with affected devices to be unable to access Genshin Impact after the Luna II update.
Microsoft is increasing the monthly fees for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to .99 (a 50% increase) and for PC Game Pass to .99 (approximately a 40% rise). The Xbox Game Pass Core is being rebranded to Xbox Game Pass Essential at .99 per month, offering around 50 games, while the Standard plan is now Xbox Game Pass Premium at .99 per month with about 200 games. Ultimate subscribers will gain access to Ubisoft games through Ubisoft Plus Classics and improved cloud gaming features. Microsoft reported record earnings from Game Pass, generating .6 billion last year, with an overall revenue increase of 18% to .4 billion. The company is also facing a consumer boycott related to its partnerships with the Israeli military and has announced plans to block Israeli military access to certain services.
Amazon has introduced new offerings for Prime Gaming in September 2025, allowing subscribers to claim and keep a selection of games. Notable titles include Sid Meier’s Civilization 4: The Complete Edition and Fate: The Cursed King. Prime Gaming provides redeemable codes for games, ensuring that members retain access even if they cancel their subscription. The available games for September include:
- Available Now:
- Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft (GOG)
- Into the Breach (Epic Games Store)
- Sid Meier’s Civilization 4: The Complete Edition (GOG)
- September 11:
- Afterimage (Amazon Games App)
- Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace (GOG)
- Subterrain: Mines of Titan (Amazon Games App)
- Tower of Time (GOG)
- September 18:
- Fate: The Cursed King (GOG)
- Residual (GOG)
- September 25:
- Mystical Riddles: Ghostly Park Collectors Edition (Legacy Games)
- Pixal Cafe (Amazon Games App)
Additionally, Amazon Prime members can access a library of games on Luna, including titles like Control Ultimate Edition and Jackbox Party Pack 10. Members can also claim some of August's featured titles, such as Civilization 3: Complete and Marvel’s Midnight Suns.
Microsoft is expanding its cloud gaming capabilities by allowing users on lower tiers of Xbox Game Pass, specifically the Core and Standard tiers, to access game streaming. Participants in the Xbox Insider program can now experience a beta version of Xbox Cloud Gaming, which was previously exclusive to the premium Ultimate tier. Additionally, Xbox Insiders in the Core or Standard tiers can stream PC versions of selected titles for the first time. Microsoft is also exploring a potential dedicated cloud gaming service that could be more affordable and possibly supported by advertisements.
