11 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Xbox

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.

Wes Davis
Wes Davis
iPhones now support wired Xbox controllers.

With the latest iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia updates, wired gaming with an Xbox controller is now supported, even for devices with Lightning ports (using an adapter), MacRumors reports, giving Xbox-preferring gamers a way around latency and wireless interference.

Apple devices had previously supported PlayStation controllers but not Xbox, which MacRumors notes use a proprietary USB protocol, so support for it needed to be custom, as well.

iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia Introduce Support for Wired Xbox Controllers

[MacRumors]

The future of Halo is being built with Unreal Engine 5The future of Halo is being built with Unreal Engine 5
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
343 Industries becomes Halo Studios and teases Unreal Engine 5-powered Halo experiences.

Last year’s “Tatanka” rumor of a technology switch is confirmed, with these clips from a new “research project” dubbed Project Foundry and a new studio name.

According to Halo Studios head Pierre Hintze, the UE5 move “allows us to put all the focus on making multiple new experiences at the highest quality possible,” while this preview shows what to expect in future projects.

Starfield: all the news about Bethesda’s massive space RPGStarfield: all the news about Bethesda’s massive space RPG
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Halo Infinite is officially getting a third-person mode.

The game already kicked players into a third-person mode when wielding big machine guns — and a modder extended that to the whole single-player game in 2022 — but this November it’ll be an official multiplayer mode at minimum.

Curious if they’ll balance the rocket launcher and sniper rifle. In first-person mode, they’re partially balanced by how much the weapon blocks your view.

The toxic transformation of Warcraft maker Blizzard

Journalist Jason Schreier discusses his new book, Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment.

Nilay Patel
Xbox cofounder J Allard has joined Amazon to work on ‘new ideas’Xbox cofounder J Allard has joined Amazon to work on ‘new ideas’
Microsoft wants to know why some game developers aren’t on XboxMicrosoft wants to know why some game developers aren’t on Xbox
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Microsoft Flight Simulator’s connection to Bing.

Before launching a slimmed-down Flight Simulator 2024 next month, leader Jorg Neuman talked to Polygon, saying the game’s core business is still PC players who buy it outside of Game Pass.

Also, on the Bing Maps link:

Half the cities that we’re making [in our regular World Updates]? I currently have planes [gathering data] in Africa, South America, and Asia. I’m flying those planes because flight simmers want [those areas]....So I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m flying to Brazil. You want those?’ They’re like, ‘Yep!’

Microsoft is using Flight Simulator to build Earth’s ‘digital twin’

[Polygon]

SteelSeries is launching $160 gaming earbuds for your Xbox, PlayStation, or PCSteelSeries is launching $160 gaming earbuds for your Xbox, PlayStation, or PC
Microsoft is moving Game Pass into a single Xbox mobile appMicrosoft is moving Game Pass into a single Xbox mobile app
New Xbox Design Lab translucent Elite controller options are clearly greatNew Xbox Design Lab translucent Elite controller options are clearly great
Where to preorder Microsoft’s special-edition Galaxy Black Xbox Series XWhere to preorder Microsoft’s special-edition Galaxy Black Xbox Series X
The new Microsoft Flight Simulator will be a lot smallerThe new Microsoft Flight Simulator will be a lot smaller
Microsoft’s Xbox turmoil isn’t slowing downMicrosoft’s Xbox turmoil isn’t slowing down
Microsoft lays off 650 more Xbox employeesMicrosoft lays off 650 more Xbox employees
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Xbox’s latest retro gaming blast from the past: friend requests.

While we hadn’t really noticed they were gone, it seems like the Xbox One revamp swapped out requests to make anyone who added you a Twitter-style follower unless you added them back.

Now Xbox is testing a return to the old ways, which might make it easier to notice real friends among the spammers saying they want to buy your Fortnite account.

Screenshot of the Xbox menu showing 6 pending friend requests
Image: Xbox
You can grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for half off right nowYou can grab an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for half off right now
Microsoft’s new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier is now available for $14.99 per monthMicrosoft’s new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier is now available for $14.99 per month
Google’s now last-gen Pixel 8 Pro hits a new low price of $624Google’s now last-gen Pixel 8 Pro hits a new low price of $624
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Xbox has a Tokyo Game Show stream coming up.

Microsoft is returning to the Tokyo Game Show on September 26th with a live stream at 6AM ET / 3AM PT / 11AM UK. It will include “content from Xbox Game Studios, Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, and Bethesda,” alongside “third-party partners primarily based in Japan and across Asia.” Rumors suggest games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16 could be gearing up for an Xbox debut at the show.

Set your alarm clocks early for the Xbox stream.
Set your alarm clocks early for the Xbox stream.
Image: Microsoft
Windows 11’s new gamepad keyboard lets you type with an Xbox controllerWindows 11’s new gamepad keyboard lets you type with an Xbox controller
Capcom’s two upcoming fighting game collections are heading to Xbox, tooCapcom’s two upcoming fighting game collections are heading to Xbox, too
Microsoft and Apple are arguing over cloud gaming apps againMicrosoft and Apple are arguing over cloud gaming apps again
Emma Roth
Emma Roth
Discord’s improved Xbox integration is now live.

Starting today, you can stream your Discord friend’s gameplay from your Xbox and even call them directly from the console.

Discord on Xbox will soon let you watch your friends’ streams

Tom Warren
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Razer’s driftless new Xbox controller is $200 and may actually be worth it.

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro has:

🛜2.4GHz wireless
🧲Drift-free Hall effect sticks
🦞Four customizable paddles and two extra shoulder buttons (for claw grip)
🔒Hair-trigger lockouts with mouse-like clicks
⏩1,000Hz wired polling rate on PC
🌈and RGB accent lighting.

I’ve been testing it for over a week and there’s a lot to love. Stay tuned for my full review.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.

<em>It looks a fair bit like the old V2 model, but look ma, no wires!</em>
<em>The new rear paddles have an outward-swept arrangement, and the extra shoulder buttons help with claw grip style.</em>
<em>The included zipper case houses everything, including the swappable stick caps, though it lacks any way to charge the controller while stored.</em>
<em>It’s Razer, so of course there’s RGB, but it’s fairly subdued with just an illuminated word mark.</em>
<em>The $99.99 Wolverine V3 Pro Tournament Edition, launching later in 2024, will be wired only and pare back small features like RGB.</em>
1/5
It looks a fair bit like the old V2 model, but look ma, no wires!
Image: Razer
Jay Peters
Jay Peters
You can now stream Xbox games on more Amazon TV devices.

The Xbox TV app is now available on Amazon’s first-gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the third-gen Fire TV Cube. The Xbox app was first available for an initial set of Amazon devices last month.

Promotional art for the additional Amazon devices that can now use the Xbox TV app.
Image: Xbox
Microsoft’s new Xbox Adaptive Joystick puts accessibility at the centerMicrosoft’s new Xbox Adaptive Joystick puts accessibility at the center
Andrew Webster
Andrew Webster
Change is inevitable.

A day after announcing that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to the PS5 next year, Xbox boss Phil Spencer spoke a bit more during a Gamescom livestream about the company’s ongoing multiplatform experiment.

Microsoft’s white Xbox Series X and 2TB special-edition model launching in OctoberMicrosoft’s white Xbox Series X and 2TB special-edition model launching in October
Microsoft confirms Indiana Jones is coming to PS5 after its Xbox debutMicrosoft confirms Indiana Jones is coming to PS5 after its Xbox debut
Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Towerborne heads to early access next month.

I reported earlier this year that Microsoft was considering launching Towerborne into early access. After a promise of a “special surprise” during gamescom opening night live, Microsoft has just confirmed that Towerborne will be available in early access on Steam on September 10th, and on Xbox in early 2025. A full free-to-play launch is planned for 2025.

Tom Warren
Tom Warren
Genshin Impact is coming to Xbox.

Xbox fans will soon finally be able to join in the anime-style open-world environment of Genshin Impact. The game is arriving on Xbox Series X / S on November 20th, and preorder bonuses are available right now.

Image: Tom Warren / The Verge
Borderlands 4 is launching in 2025Borderlands 4 is launching in 2025
Microsoft’s new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier is now available to test for $1Microsoft’s new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier is now available to test for $1
Mecha Break developers say Nvidia’s AI NPC tech isn’t shipping in the full gameMecha Break developers say Nvidia’s AI NPC tech isn’t shipping in the full game
Nvidia is linking Xbox accounts to GeForce Now so you can automatically sign in to gamesNvidia is linking Xbox accounts to GeForce Now so you can automatically sign in to games
Turtle Beach’s new Stealth 700 gaming headset has two USB donglesTurtle Beach’s new Stealth 700 gaming headset has two USB dongles
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
Antonio G. Di Benedetto
A new challenger approaches the Hall effect controller party.

PowerA is launching a pair of wireless gamepads for PC, and they’re some of the company’s first to use drift-free sticks. The OPS v1 ($49.99) and OPS v3 Pro ($99.99) join the recently-announced Fortnite SE controller for Xbox to offer Hall effect sticks and extra programmable buttons.

The new gamepads arrive in September and early October.

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission.

Front view of the PowerA OPS v3 Pro controller.
Back view of the PowerA OPS v3 Pro controller.
Front view of the PowerA OPS v1 controller.
Back view of the PowerA OPS v1 controller.
1/4
Both new controllers feature 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth, but the OPS v3 Pro has the full RGB treatment and its sticks can be twisted to adjust their height.
Image: PowerA
Microsoft is now in a handheld gaming PC raceMicrosoft is now in a handheld gaming PC race

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