Xbox Game Studios Archives

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Minecraft was nearly sold to Activision Blizzard for $1.5 billion before Microsoft secured Mojang, says former CEO Bobby Kotick: “I almost bought it”

Bobby Kotick, former CEO of Activision Blizzard, revealed in a podcast that Activision Blizzard had considered acquiring Mojang and its game Minecraft before Microsoft ultimately purchased it for .5 billion in 2014. Kotick made a formal offer for Mojang but found the price to be a significant hurdle. Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, successfully completed the acquisition, and Minecraft has thrived under Microsoft's management. In 2023, Microsoft merged with Activision Blizzard, creating a connection between the two companies and linking Minecraft's legacy to Activision Blizzard. Kotick is leaving Activision Blizzard after a 32-year tenure.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Xbox Game Studios & Activision Are Finally Teaming Up With ‘Minecraft Blast’

Microsoft's Xbox Game Studio Mojang is collaborating with Activision's King team to develop a mobile game called Minecraft Blast. This marks the first direct partnership between the two studios under Microsoft. The game will feature free-to-play modern match puzzle gameplay and allow players to unlock and build Minecraft-style spaces. Initial testing will begin on the Apple App Store, with plans to expand to more mobile platforms in the future.

AppWizard

October 18, 2025

Keeper review

Keeper is an adventure game developed by Double Fine and published by Xbox Game Studios, set to release on October 17, 2025, for a price of .99. The game features a sentient lighthouse and a bird navigating a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world, with gameplay lasting approximately six hours. It avoids common gaming trends such as crafting systems and battle passes, focusing instead on a narrative that unfolds in a visually stunning environment. The gameplay includes manipulating time through the lighthouse's searchlight to solve puzzles and interact with hybrid creatures. The game transitions from serene exploration to exhilarating sequences, maintaining a captivating experience throughout.

AppWizard

October 10, 2025

Minecraft’s latest test lets you play with spears, zombie mounts, and more starting today

Minecraft is set to release the Mounts of Mayhem update, with early testing already underway. This update is the fourth major release for 2025 and focuses on rideable mounts. Features include the introduction of a spear, a new melee weapon that allows for distance strikes and has a "Lunge" enchantment for mounted combat. Players can also tame zombie mounts, including zombie nautiluses and zombie horses, after defeating their aggressive riders. The update will be available across all platforms during the holiday season, with current features accessible to Java Edition players and a preview for Bedrock Edition players coming soon.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Civilization-style historical 4X has been entirely reborn with a full 2.0 update and culture system

Ara: History Untold 2.0 has undergone a significant transformation with the 'Revolutions' update, introducing an intricate culture system with over 40 unlockable traits, enhancing the uniqueness of leaders and factions, and streamlining city micromanagement. The update features a culture and influence system that allows cities to generate influence based on cultural output, which can be used for various buffs and territorial expansion. The Agitator unit is introduced for inciting rebellion in rival regions, and each civilization now has unique historical forces and reworked leaders with distinct mechanics. The crafting queue has been replaced with a 'priority and quota' system for efficient production management. AI opponents have improved intelligence and personality, and map generation now features more realistic resource clustering. The game engine has been optimized for faster turn times and reduced CPU demands, and the user interface has been refreshed. The update is now available, and players can refer to a comprehensive changelog for details.

AppWizard

September 11, 2025

Minecraft Live goes copper-heavy — and the surprises aren’t over

Mojang Studios will host Minecraft Live events twice a year, with the next event scheduled for September 27, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CEST. The event will showcase the upcoming "The Copper Age" update, which is expected to introduce new features, including the Copper Golem and copper-themed items. A specific release date for "The Copper Age" has not been disclosed, but it may be announced during the event, with speculation of a surprise launch. The update will mark the third game drop of the year, with a fourth anticipated for winter. Mojang is also expected to reveal additional features during the event, including new shelves and decorative blocks made from copper. The Minecraft Live Mob Vote will not return.

AppWizard

September 3, 2025

Rare vet O’Connor is Xbox Games Studios new chief of staff

Louise O'Connor has become the chief of staff at Xbox Game Studios as of August, confirmed through her LinkedIn profile and reported by VGC. She aims to enhance connection, collaboration, and momentum across the studios. O'Connor has a 25-year history at Rare, starting as an animator in 1999 and eventually serving as art director, incubation director, and executive producer. She recently led the development of the project Everwild, which was shelved during a major restructuring at Microsoft that affected over 9,000 employees.

AppWizard

August 28, 2025

Xbox Game Pass tiers get better

Members of the Xbox Insider Program who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Standard can now stream select games through Xbox Cloud Gaming and access PC versions of certain titles. This feature was previously exclusive to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Xbox Cloud Gaming is available on various devices, including Xbox consoles, select Smart TVs, Meta Quest 3 headsets, and web browsers. The Xbox Game Pass tier structure includes Xbox Game Pass Core, Xbox Game Pass Standard, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, each offering different features and libraries. The Xbox Ally devices, which run PC versions of games, are set to launch on October 16, 2025, with anticipated pricing of 9 for the higher-end model and 9 for the lower-end variant.

AppWizard

August 15, 2025

Telkomsel, Nuon & Bango Bring Microsoft PC Game Pass to Indonesian Gamers

Telkomsel, Nuon, and Bango have partnered to provide affordable access to Microsoft PC Game Pass for Indonesian gamers, with subscriptions starting at IDR 63,063 per month. The service, available through the IndiHome Add-On, offers hundreds of high-quality PC games, including day-one releases from major developers and an EA Play membership. New titles such as Valorant, Minecraft, and Call of Duty will be included. Users can subscribe via the IndiHome Add-On landing page, with the fee added to their monthly bill. The first 500 users can access a promotion for a free first month starting August 14, 2025. Key executives from the companies emphasized the partnership's role in enhancing digital lifestyle services and broadening access to premium gaming content in Indonesia.

AppWizard

August 14, 2025

Telkomsel, Nuon, and Bango bring convenient and affordable Microsoft PC Game Pass access to Indonesian gamers, strengthening their digital gaming experience

Bango PLC has partnered with Telkomsel and Nuon Digital Indonesia to launch Microsoft PC Game Pass through the IndiHome Add-On in Indonesia. For a monthly fee starting at IDR 63,063, subscribers can access a library of premium PC games, including new releases from major publishers and an EA Play membership. The collaboration aims to enhance the gaming experience and broaden access to quality gaming content. Subscribers can activate the PC Game Pass via the IndiHome Add-On landing page, with the fee included in their monthly bill. A promotion for the first 500 users offers a free first month starting August 14, 2025, with automatic renewal at the standard price thereafter.