- Gears of War: E-Day is a third-person shooter set to launch on October 6, available on Xbox and PC.
- Fable is an open-world RPG scheduled for release on February 23, 2027, featuring comedians Richard Ayoade and Matt King.
- Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remaster set to release on July 28, 2026, featuring updated graphics and three new prologue missions.
- Minecraft Dungeons II is set for release in September and includes a four-person multiplayer mode.
- State of Decay 3 is scheduled for release in 2027, with details still to be announced.
- Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy is a prequel set to release on August 27, 2026, focusing on combat-oriented gameplay.
Treyarch announced that Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012) will be ported to PlayStation platforms, likely for PS4 and PS5, starting in July. Iron Galaxy Studios will handle the modernization of these titles. The games have been available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S since 2016 through Microsoft's Backwards Compatibility Program. There are uncertainties about whether existing PS3 owners will access the new versions for free or transfer their progress. The new ports are expected to integrate with the existing server network. Xbox and PC players have expressed frustration over issues with Black Ops and Black Ops 2 on Xbox, including a locked 720p resolution and hacking problems, as well as the absence of these titles on Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft's Xbox division is facing significant challenges, including a margin crisis and the need for substantial organizational changes, as stated by the head of Xbox. The company is preparing for significant layoffs and budget cuts while emphasizing its commitment to console gaming despite the evolving landscape. Xbox is struggling to articulate its value to potential players and is dealing with the impact of rising RAM prices and recent game failures. Phil Spencer, the CEO, has been instrumental in revitalizing the brand but is also associated with the current difficulties, raising questions about leadership transitions in the future.
Xbox Game Pass has added Persona 5 Royal, an acclaimed RPG with a Metacritic score of 95, available for subscribers on PC, Premium, and Ultimate tiers. The game offers up to 140 hours of gameplay, requiring at least 100 hours to complete the main storyline. It features a blend of social simulation, narrative, anime-inspired aesthetics, and turn-based combat. Persona 5 Royal is a standalone experience, allowing new players to start without prior knowledge of the series. The duration of its availability on Game Pass is uncertain, but titles typically remain for 12 to 24 months.
Xbox Game Pass has added three new titles for PC and Xbox Series X as part of its day-one game initiative in 2026. The new games are:
1. Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions - A sci-fi multiplayer adventure developed by System Era Softworks and Devolver Digital, currently in early access. It has a 40% approval rating on Steam but lacks a Metacritic score.
2. Beastro - A cozy adventure game from Timberline Studio where players engage in culinary creativity. It has a 92% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score.
3. Frog Sqwad - A multiplayer extraction puzzle platformer developed by Panic Stations, supporting up to eight players. It has a 90% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score.
Subscribers can enjoy these games at no additional cost and receive a 20% discount on each title. The duration of these games' availability on Xbox Game Pass has not been disclosed.
At the Summer Game Fest, Xbox announced Minecraft Dungeons II, a sequel to the 2021 game. The sequel features a vast interconnected world for exploration, new biomes, and a feature called Guiding Light to assist players in navigating. It supports up to four players in cooperative play with options for couch co-op and online multiplayer, including matchmaking and crossplay. Quality-of-life improvements allow inventory access without pausing and teleportation between players. Combat has evolved with new movement abilities and mechanics, and loot distribution ensures fairness, with each player receiving unique drops. The game will launch on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, and will be available on day one through Xbox Game Pass.
Where Winds Meet, a free-to-play Wuxia open-world ARPG, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and cloud platforms. Since its launch last November, the game has attracted over 80 million players and has had two expansions. The game is set in 10th Century China and features six distinct regions for exploration. Players can customize their combat style with various weapons and martial arts skills, and take on roles such as a doctor or assassin. A new expansion, Hidden Mountain, was announced, introducing a mountainous region with new gameplay mechanics. The game supports Smart Delivery and is optimized for Xbox, featuring HDR support and upscaling for better visuals. Xbox Game Pass members can access the game and receive a starter pack of resources from June 7 to July 23.
The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 and the PC Gaming Show 2026 featured several announcements, including:
- A remaster of Thief: The Dark Project by Nightdive Studios, set to release in Winter 2026.
- Empulse, inspired by Titanfall, with early access on June 24, 2026.
- A trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide highlighting the Skitarii class, with a playtest sign-up available on Steam.
- An exclusive trailer for Control Resonant, available for wishlist on Steam, with a demo ahead of its release on September 24, 2026.
- Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions launching in early access on June 11, 2026.
- Cassette Beasts 2002, an open-world RPG where players can collect and fuse monsters.
- Planet Zoo 2 gameplay reveal trailer scheduled for October 13, 2026.
- Arkheron, an isometric battle royale, with a developer interview emphasizing teamwork.
- Rivage, a sci-fi puzzle game releasing on August 13, 2026, with a demo available.
- El Paso, Elsewhere 2, a third-person shooter with over 20 handcrafted levels.
- Beast of Reincarnation, launching on August 4, 2026, from Game Freak.
- Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent, available now, transitioning from board game to PC.
- Armatus, a roguelite shooter set in a burning Paris, with a release window in Winter 2026.
- Dave The Diver: In The Jungle DLC launching on June 18, 2026.
- Total War: Warhammer 40,000, promising a grand strategy experience.
- Valheim 1.0 launching on September 9, 2026.
- Highlights of Exodus showcasing combat and exploration features.
- Remothered: Red Nun's Legacy, the latest installment in the horror series, with a gameplay trailer.
Minecraft Dungeons 2 is set to be released on September 29, 2026, two months after its announcement in March 2026. It will be available on all current-generation PC and console platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2. The game will be priced at .99 USD, but will be accessible for Xbox Game Pass subscribers on day one. The game features an adventurous campaign where players must stop a new evil across two worlds, engaging in battles against various foes. The eShop page for the game was briefly available before being removed.