Microsoft’s Xbox has been around since 2001, and over that time the gaming brand has given us huge hits like Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and more. Today, the Xbox brand covers consoles like the Xbox One, PC gaming, and has even expanded to other platforms. You can play Minecraft on everything from a computer to an iPhone to a Nintendo Switch. Along the way, Microsoft has pioneered modern services like Xbox Live and Game Pass, introducing new ways to play games. And with Project Scarlett on the horizon, the Xbox looks to have a bright future.
Microsoft just added its Xbox mode to the Release Preview version of Windows 11. That means the Xbox mode, that adds a full-screen interface to the Xbox PC app, is just days away from being available on all PCs. Microsoft did promise last month that it would roll out the Xbox mode to all PCs in April, and it looks like it’s rolling out on time.
Microsoft is working on UI improvements to the Xbox dashboard that will also include a new look and feel for Xbox achievements. Xbox Insiders can now test the new achievements, which have updated icons and animations when you unlock a classic or rare achievement. The notifications will also match your custom color. You’ll also be able to hide achievements from your Xbox profile later this month.
Xbox’s Undead Labs will be hosting alpha playtests for the zombie apocalypse game starting next month, according to a video. You can sign up for the waitlist now.
State of Decay 3 was first announced in 2020 and got a trailer in 2024.
Later this week Xbox will hold its latest games showcase. Unlike the Developer Direct in January, which focused on titles from Xbox studios, this stream will cover upcoming third-party titles, including the upcoming Expanse game. You can watch it live on March 26th at 1PM ET.
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From the Xbox Wire post about Kiln:
Kiln launches on April 23 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and arrive Handheld Optimized.
The new game, Kiln, will also get an open beta on Steam from April 9th through April 11th, according to an Xbox Wire post. It looks like a smashing good time.
Microsoft announced some new features in testing for Xbox Insiders today, including settings to manage Quick Resume per game and more groups on the home screen, and newly-appointed Microsoft gaming CEO Asha Sharma says work started on the updates just “two weeks ago.”
Microsoft’s big GDC announcement turned out to be bringing Xbox mode to every Windows 11 PC, starting next month. It’s the latest encouraging sign after Xbox’s big leadership shakeup, but Microsoft has work to do to earn back users’ trust.
Brick_wall_56:
On the surface, this seems great. I’m a moron who has my PC hooked up to my living room TV with Steam Big Picture mode booting at launch. I yearn for something like this.
But I have absolutely zero faith in Microsoft pulling this off in any way that makes me want to turn it on. There’s not a single MS product I enjoy using at this point, and I have no idea why this would be any different.
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It’s not clear, and Microsoft VP Jason Ronald wouldn’t tell us in person, saying more info about the Game Preservation program is on the way. But his written remarks include the phrase: “we’ll be rolling out new ways to play some of the most iconic games from our past.” What new ways? Well, it appears PC-first development is “compatible with next-gen game preservation.”
Sean Hollister and I are seated at VP of Next Generation Jason Ronald’s talk about “building for the future.” Maybe some Helix news?
These images posted to X by the official Microsoft Game Dev account actually appear to show existing dev kits for older console models like the Xbox One and Series X — but given they’re tagged as a “sneak peek” for GDC 2026, the Project Helix hardware may be revealed soon.
Tom Warren joins Decoder to discuss what Phil Spencer’s departure means for the future of Xbox.
Microsoft is rolling out the ability for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to stream games at up to 1440p on Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One X, and Xbox One S consoles. When Microsoft initially launched 1440p streaming last year, it was limited to “select games and select devices.”
Microsoft gaming CEO Asha Sharma says almost nothing’s been decided about the future of Xbox, telling Windows Central:
Right now, I need to learn, candidly. About the ‘why’ of these decisions, what we were optimizing for, and what the data says about the Xbox strategy today. That’s the honest answer. I’m looking at lifetime value, not just what happened in a previous moment, or in short term efficiencies and things like that. The plan’s the plan until it’s not the plan.
Nothing might be the right thing to promise at a moment like this. But she also says hardware news announcements are coming.
Microsoft has a new gaming CEO who wants to bring Xbox back from the brink.
Over the last few years, Microsoft has been bringing its big exclusive franchises to rival platforms like PlayStation and Switch. Satya Nadella even said he wanted to “get rid of” console exclusives — that might not be a great move. But the new Xbox boss seems open to the idea that the console’s identity hinges on exclusives.
Like Phil Spencer, Bond had a note for the employees at Xbox as she announced her departure, which she shared on LinkedIn Friday evening.
Bond:
I’ve decided this is the right time for me to take my next step, both personally and professionally. We’re living through a transformative technological era that will shape the next generation of our industry, and I’m energized by what’s ahead. This moment also presents a unique opportunity for fresh eyes and new leadership to guide the team into its next chapter.
The big shakeup at Xbox means that Asha Sharma is taking over for Phil Spencer as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Her previous role at Microsoft was AI-focused, and here’s what she has to say about utilizing AI for games:
As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop. Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us.
