A leaked developer document viewed by The Verge shows Microsoft plans to bring Xbox 360 games to PC between 2027 and 2028. The feature will roll out across next-gen devices including Project Helix and handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally. Developers will control pricing and Game Pass inclusion through a backwards compatibility toggle.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma acknowledged a $1.7 billion revenue drop in Q4 FY26 but insisted the business will return to growth by the end of FY27. Over 200 million new players joined Xbox in the past year, yet hardware sales fell 29% and content revenue declined 5%. Microsoft leadership frames the downturn as a necessary reset for long-term stability.
The provided source material shows a Steam storefront navigation interface with language selection options rather than an article about Xbox Game Pass day-one releases for August 2026. No information about upcoming Game Pass titles is present in the source text.
Xbox Game Pass launched in 2017 as a bold answer to the PlayStation 4's dominance, promising a Netflix-style library for $9.99 a month. Seven years and over $100 billion in investments later, the service has failed to hit subscriber targets, contributed to studio closures, and forced Microsoft to raise prices while devaluing its own biggest franchises.
Microsoft's new Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC initiative runs on an Xbox 360 emulator that itself emulates original Xbox games through Xefu. Dataminers and the XWine1 team have already run Xbox 360 and original Xbox ROMs unofficially, confirming the platform can handle 360 titles despite Microsoft only releasing four original Xbox games so far.
Forza Horizon 5 creative director Mike Brown says Xbox Game Pass was a well-meaning idea that simply didn't attract enough subscribers to sustain its studio acquisitions. The Clutch developer believes the resulting layoffs are a direct consequence of that shortfall, not villainy from Xbox leadership.
Microsoft has unexpectedly removed Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 from its July 2026 Xbox Game Pass lineup, despite owning the title through its $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition. The game was set to launch on Game Pass on July 21. The sudden removal, without explanation, sparks speculation about potential licensing issues, a common challenge for music-heavy games like THPS 1+2, which features a soundtrack with numerous licensed tracks.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, despite being published by Activision (owned by Xbox via a $70 billion deal), has been removed from the upcoming Xbox Game Pass titles list without explanation. This move highlights Xbox's confusing Game Pass strategy amid reported subscriber decline following a price hike. The game's removal is puzzling, given its first-party status.
Just days after buying back its independence from Xbox, Compulsion Games, developer of South of Midnight and We Happy Few, is seeking new collaboration opportunities. The studio is open to supporting other projects, indicating a potential shift in its immediate focus. As the gaming industry navigates cost-cutting measures, Compulsion Games' next move is closely watched.
Outer Worlds 2 director Eric Barone addresses the recent Xbox layoffs, reassuring fans about the game's development status. He dispels misinformation circulating online, confirming the project's ongoing progress. The game remains on track despite the industry upheaval.
