Xbox Game Pass Archives

AppWizard

August 22, 2026

It’s Time. How to Get Early Access to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Beta

Activision is set to launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 on October 23, 2026. The Early Access Beta will run from August 21 at 2 p.m. ET to August 25 at 1 p.m. ET, available for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC, requiring a preorder. Players can preload the beta starting August 20 at noon ET. The open beta will take place from August 28 at 1 p.m. ET to September 1 at 1 p.m. ET, accessible to all players on Xbox, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, with preload available from August 26 at noon ET. To access the Early Access Beta, players can either preorder the game or have an active Discord Nitro subscription. Minimum system requirements for the PC beta include Windows 10 64 Bit, AMD Ryzen 5 1600 or Intel Core i5-8400, 12GB RAM, and specific video card requirements. Recommended requirements include Windows 11 64 Bit, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or Intel Core i7-8700, 16GB RAM, and higher-end video cards.

AppWizard

August 20, 2026

Everything You Need to Know About Minecraft Dungeons 2

Minecraft Dungeons 2 is scheduled for release on September 29, 2026. It will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. The base version will cost .99, while the Deluxe Edition will retail at .99. The game will be included in Xbox Game Pass from day one. The Deluxe Edition includes the base game, two DLCs, a Soul Cape, four Hero Skins, a Blub Pet, two additional Hero Skins, a Twisted Cape, and a Twisted Chicken Pet. No prior experience with the first game is necessary, as Minecraft Dungeons 2 is a standalone adventure. Players can engage in solo play or team up with up to three friends in both online and local co-op modes, and the game supports crossplay. The minimum system requirements include Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i3‑8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 or AMD Radeon RX 560, and 8 GB RAM. Recommended requirements include Intel Core i5‑8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or AMD Radeon RX 580, and 16 GB RAM. New features include two interconnected worlds, categorized armor slots, streamlined inventory management, a new jumping mechanic, and the introduction of Talismans for unique passive abilities.

AppWizard

August 18, 2026

PC Game Pass Has Some Seriously Good Turn-Based RPGs

The text discusses various turn-based RPGs and strategy games available on Xbox Game Pass, highlighting 17 standout titles. 1. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - A turn-based RPG with innovative combat mechanics and a compelling narrative centered around the Paintress. 2. Heroes of Might and Magic II & III - Classic strategy games known for exploration, resource management, and tactical battles. 3. South Park: The Fractured But Whole - An RPG with grid-based combat and tactical elements, infused with the show's humor. 4. Wasteland 3 - A CRPG set in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring intricate storytelling and strategic turn-based combat. 5. BATTLETECH - A tactical mech combat game focused on managing a mercenary company and strategic planning. 6. Death Howl - Combines grid movement with deckbuilding mechanics in a dark narrative. 7. Echo Generation 2 - Introduces deckbuilding mechanics and multiple characters with a voxel art style. 8. For The King II - A blend of tabletop RPG elements and roguelite mechanics, designed for group play. 9. Gears Tactics - A tactical turn-based game that transitions from a third-person shooter, encouraging aggressive playstyles. 10. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era - Revitalizes the classic formula with modern production values. 11. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Continues the turn-based combat from its predecessor with an expansive world. 12. Persona 5 Royal - A defining JRPG that balances everyday life with supernatural adventures and stylish turn-based combat. 13. The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut - A first-person dungeon crawler with exploration and puzzle-solving elements. 14. The Thaumaturge - Set in early 20th-century Warsaw, featuring political tension and supernatural intrigue in its narrative. 15. Wartales - Focuses on managing mercenaries in a medieval world, emphasizing survival and personal storytelling. 16. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Offers a turn-based mode in a richly detailed world with complex narratives. 17. Phoenix Point - A tactical game that serves as a successor to XCOM, featuring a unique free-aim system and evolving enemy mechanics.

AppWizard

August 16, 2026

Xbox Game Pass September 2026: Dune Awakening, Minecraft Dungeons II Confirmed

Subscribers who opted out of Dune: Awakening due to its multiplayer requirement can access a single-player mode starting September 22, 2026, coinciding with the Xbox console launch. This mode allows players to explore the narrative at their own pace, with adjustable difficulty settings and no multiplayer interaction required. Both Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers will have access to this feature from day one. Additionally, the confirmed Game Pass lineup for September includes: - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault on September 2 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch 2, and PC. - SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed on September 3 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Switch, PC, and Cloud. - Dune: Awakening on September 22 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud. - Minecraft Dungeons II on September 29 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud. Minecraft Dungeons II will also launch on September 29 across multiple platforms, with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers receiving day-one access.

AppWizard

August 12, 2026

Atlus is interested in remaking the PlayStation One-era Persona games, something that, after waiting for many years, I hope finally happens on Xbox and PC

Atlus has announced a remake for Persona 4 and is developing Persona 6, both set to release on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass. However, earlier titles like Revelation: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment have not been remade, leaving fans of those games wanting. Producer Wada Kazuhisa hinted at the possibility of reviving these earlier titles. The difficulty in accessing these classic games has increased due to the shutdown of the PSP and PSN stores for PlayStation 3.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Xodus: Project to Run Xbox PC Games on Linux and Mac Hits Important Milestone

Gaming on Linux is experiencing a resurgence, with projects like Xodus aiming to enable Xbox PC games, including Game Pass titles, on Linux and Mac. Xodus is developed by a team of three, including a contributor from the Heroic Games Launcher. They have made progress in authorization and game downloads and are working on replicating Game Development Kit (GDK) functionality for Xbox services. The project currently uses technologies like Proton, dxvk, or Wine for game performance, focusing on GDK and MSIXVC format games, while older UWP titles are not supported. The Xodus project has a GitHub page and a Discord server for community engagement.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

Windows is a drop in Microsoft’s ocean, no wonder it’s been ignored while Azure and LinkedIn eat the profit

Microsoft's fiscal year results for FY26 showed a 16% increase in stock price, adding nearly half a trillion dollars to its market value. The "More Personal Computing" segment reported billion in revenue with an operating income of .4 billion, reflecting a slight decline in revenue but an increase in operating income. Analysts estimate that Windows client revenue is just over 5% of Microsoft's total revenue, approximately billion for FY26, with an estimated income of around billion. The overall margin for the More Personal Computing category is about 27%. Azure has crossed the 0 billion revenue threshold, making it the largest product category within Microsoft. LinkedIn contributes an estimated billion to billion in income. Microsoft may prioritize investments in emerging technologies over Windows due to higher profits from other segments.

AppWizard

August 10, 2026

Project Xodus Brings Native Xbox PC and Game Pass Games to Linux

Project Xodus is an open-source initiative focused on reverse-engineering Xbox PC and Game Pass titles to enable their use on Linux and Mac systems. The project has made significant progress in Microsoft authentication and package decryption, allowing Linux users to download and process Xbox subscription games locally. The team has successfully reverse-engineered Microsoft’s identity services and license verification systems, unlocking encrypted MSIXVC game files and enabling the verification of game licenses and decryption of installation packages on non-Windows operating systems. Xodus serves as a translation bridge for Microsoft’s proprietary ecosystem services, providing custom proxy libraries for games to function as if they are running in a native Windows environment. It specifically targets modern games built on Microsoft’s GDK framework, excluding older titles using the Universal Windows Platform and those dependent on kernel-level anti-cheat mechanisms. The project aims to improve access to Xbox Game Pass on devices like the Steam Deck by facilitating direct local hardware execution, reducing reliance on cloud streaming and enhancing portable gaming experiences. Community feedback has been positive, with developers actively sharing updates and engaging with inquiries.

AppWizard

August 10, 2026

Linux May Soon Get PC Game Pass via Open-Source Project

Xbox has reduced the pricing of its Game Pass offering, attracting interest from open-source developers, particularly those working on the Heroic Games Launcher. A new open-source project called Xodus aims to bring PC Game Pass games to Linux and macOS by utilizing Valve's Proton and custom runtimes. Previously, Linux gamers had limited access to Game Pass titles, mainly through Xbox Cloud streaming, which faced latency issues. Xodus plans to support third-party launchers like Heroic, Lutris, and Bottles, allowing users to install and launch games via Steam. The development team has made progress in authorization and game downloads and is now focusing on game SDK development to ensure effective gameplay on Linux.

Winsage

August 8, 2026

Will Windows 11’s new setup let you bypass the Microsoft account? Not on the list, at least for now

Microsoft has announced enhancements to the out-of-box experience (OOBE) for Windows 11, aiming to streamline the setup process before the end of 2026. The current setup requires a Microsoft account and an internet connection, eliminating the option for a local account, which was available in previous Windows versions. Users face delays due to mandatory updates, which can take 20 to 50 minutes, and are subjected to numerous promotional pages during the setup. Microsoft has introduced a “Skip for now” option for updates but has not addressed the forced Microsoft account sign-in requirement. There is no mention of removing this requirement in recent updates, despite ongoing demand from users. Microsoft has relaxed some account requirements in other areas, such as allowing sign-ins with Google or Apple accounts for Bing, but the OOBE still mandates a Microsoft account.