Xbox Cloud Gaming Archives

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Two More ‘Day One’ Game Pass Titles Quietly Announced For 2026

Two new titles will join Xbox Game Pass in 2026: 1. Corsair Cove (PC, TBD 2026) - A city-builder set during the Golden Age of Piracy, where players battle against pirate hunters and manage a pirate haven. The exact release date is not specified but is confirmed for later this year. 2. Mariachi Legends (Xbox Series X, S, PC, Cloud, Q4 2026) - A pixel art Metroidvania game featuring intense combat in Mexico, where players control Pablo Cruz, a detective who can transform into La Sombra to fight evil. Both games will be available on day one through Xbox Game Pass.

AppWizard

May 1, 2026

April Xbox Update: Customize Your Console, Manually Add Your Favorite Games on PC, and More.

Users can now customize console colors by adjusting sliders for a unique hue, which will accentuate elements of the console interface. Quick Resume has been enhanced to allow disabling on a per-game basis. The Play History feature has been revamped with a new tab for easier access. A User Selected Resolution feature lets players choose streaming resolution, while a Network Quality Indicator provides real-time network health insights. PC gamers can manually add any installed game or app to their Xbox library. Users can pin up to three favorite games for quick access. A Gamepad Cursor feature allows navigation in non-controller apps. Xbox notifications can be repositioned on the Game Bar. The Xbox mobile app now includes wishlist alerts for game changes. Recent updates for the ROG Xbox Ally improve external display experiences. Microsoft Rewards is hosting a Total Prize Drop event with prizes up to ,000,000. The Handheld Compatibility Program has expanded, adding titles like Hades II as handheld optimized. Xbox Cloud Gaming now includes over 1,000 games for streaming.

AppWizard

April 23, 2026

Xbox Game Pass report claims you’ll be able to pick which features you pay for

Xbox is exploring a new Game Pass subscription model that allows users to customize their experience by selecting specific features and content packages, potentially lowering their monthly fees. Subscribers could exclude certain elements, like Fortnite Crew or Xbox Cloud Gaming, to reduce costs. The model may also introduce alternative subscriptions and perks, such as Minecraft Realm or World of Warcraft, with pricing adjustments based on user modifications. Gamers might select genres of interest, focusing on specific packages. Microsoft insiders suggest this personalized approach is part of a long-term goal to attract a broader audience. Recently, Microsoft announced price reductions for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, while noting that Call of Duty will no longer be available on the service from day one. An internal memo indicated that Game Pass had become too expensive for players, prompting a reevaluation. Despite the absence of Call of Duty at launch, major titles like Forza Horizon 6, Fable 4, and Subnautica 2 are expected to be released in 2026.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass gets a price cut, but there’s a catch

The newly appointed CEO of Xbox has reduced the monthly subscription price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from .99 to .99 and for PC Game Pass from .99 to .99, effective immediately. The other tiers of the Game Pass lineup will maintain their current pricing. Future Call of Duty titles will not be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch but will be added during the following holiday season, while existing Call of Duty titles will remain available.

AppWizard

March 25, 2026

Xbox Exec Explains How Project Helix Will Bridge the Xbox/PC Game Development Gap

Microsoft has unveiled the alpha version of its new console hardware for Project Helix at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). Project Helix aims to eliminate the boundaries between console and PC gaming, allowing the new Xbox consoles to support both Xbox and PC games. Chris Carla, the general manager of portfolio and programs at Xbox, explained that developers will be able to create a single game build that works across multiple platforms, including PC, Project Helix, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. This approach resembles the previous universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps and the Xbox Play Anywhere initiative, which allowed cross-platform functionality. Carla advised developers to focus on creating Xbox console and PC versions to prepare for the next generation. He suggested that PC developers might find it more efficient to start with the PC build before optimizing for Project Helix. There are concerns about whether developers will be incentivized to create native Project Helix games if existing PC titles run well on the new console. Microsoft has not yet clarified its online multiplayer paywall policy for Project Helix games.

BetaBeacon

March 5, 2026

Xemu’s emulator for original Xbox games is coming to Android

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.

AppWizard

February 14, 2026

Nvidia GeForce Now brings “PC-quality” game performance to Amazon Fire TV Sticks

Nvidia has launched its GeForce Now game streaming service on Amazon's Fire TV Sticks and select Fire TVs, allowing users to stream games they already own from various digital stores. The streaming quality is capped at 1080p/60fps, and the service operates on a tiered subscription model, with a free tier offering one-hour sessions supported by ads. The GeForce Now application is compatible with specific Fire TV Stick models, but not with the Fire TV Stick Select. The platform distinguishes itself by enabling users to access their existing game collections rather than providing a Netflix-style library. GeForce Now competes with other streaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Amazon Luna and is accessible on multiple devices.

AppWizard

February 12, 2026

Microsoft could reportedly merge Xbox Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass

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.

Winsage

January 26, 2026

Xbox App officially launches on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs from Microsoft

Microsoft has launched an ARM-compatible version of its Xbox App, enhancing the gaming ecosystem for ARM-based Windows 11 devices. Over 85% of the current Game Pass library is functional on ARM systems, although full compatibility remains exclusive to x86-based systems. Gamers can access unsupported titles through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft’s Prism emulation layer allows native x86 and x64 applications to run on ARM PCs, with recent updates improving Game Pass compatibility. Popular titles like Gears of War: Reloaded and Fortnite now support ARM. This development encourages innovation from companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm, while the gap in game compatibility between ARM and x86 architectures is closing. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is highlighted as a top choice for building or upgrading gaming PCs.

AppWizard

January 22, 2026

Arm-Based Windows 11 PCs Can Now Download and Play Games from the Xbox App

Microsoft's Xbox app on Windows 11 now supports game downloads on all ARM-based PCs, expanding functionality beyond cloud gaming for Qualcomm-powered devices. This update follows an initial rollout for Xbox Insiders in August, coinciding with Epic Games' compatibility of its Easy Anti-Cheat system with Windows on ARM. The Prism emulator was updated in December to support more x86 games on ARM devices, and the Xbox app now includes a Windows Performance Fit feature to assess game performance based on hardware. Over 85% of the Game Pass catalog is compatible with ARM PCs, with ongoing efforts to increase support. Emulation performance has improved on Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series chips, with further enhancements expected from upcoming X2 series chips, although native ARM64 game versions are still anticipated.