Discover why Call of the Elder Gods, a narrative puzzle game and sequel to Call of the Sea, is a standout title on Xbox Game Pass for May 2026, despite some polish and pacing issues. With its pulpy adventure and challenging puzzles, it's a must-play for fans of Indiana Jones and Lovecraftian themes. While not perfect, its strengths make it a compelling addition to the subscription service.
GTA 6, set to release in November, carries a development and marketing budget over $1 billion, aiming for over 20 million day-one sales. Its success or failure could significantly impact the gaming industry, especially with a potential $70 MSRP deterring sales amid a global economic crisis. The game's performance will have far-reaching consequences, potentially affecting industry investment and the viability of other projects.
The Sinking City 2 successfully pivots to survival horror, ditching its open-world detective roots for a more focused, unsettling experience. Set in Lovecraft's Arkham, players control Calvin, a detective trying to revive his comatose girlfriend after a ill-fated trip to the Dreamlands. Early gameplay showcases improved combat, a crafting system, and an eerie atmosphere that breathes new life into tired Lovecraftian tropes.
Discover how to claim Xbox Game Pass Starter Edition for free with a Discord Nitro subscription, unlocking over 50 games, cloud gaming, and rewards. This win-win offer is available to both existing Discord Nitro and Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Follow our step-by-step guide to start playing today.
Forza Horizon 6, set to launch on May 19, has suffered a significant leak due to unencrypted preload files on Steam, exposing 155 GB of content, including thousands of assets. This breach jeopardizes the launch of Xbox's upcoming racing game, despite promising new features like Horizon Rush and enhanced audio. The leak may impact the game's profitability, echoing the precedent set by the 007: First Light leak.
Forza Horizon 6 has suffered a significant leak, with the game appearing online nine days before its official May 15 release. The leak, affecting PC, undermines the $100 Premium Edition's promise of four-day early access. Despite this, the game is rumored to have already sold over 500,000 copies on Steam.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight's early access on Xbox via Walmart codes has led to playable leaks ahead of its May 22 launch, prompting fanbase-wide spoiler alerts. Deluxe edition owners officially gain access on May 19. The unexpected early playability has drawn comparisons to a similar preload error affecting Forza Horizon 6.
Forza Horizon 6, despite not being released, has topped Steam's revenue charts since early April with over 500,000 pre-orders as of April 15. This success highlights its position as potentially the only multi-platform racing series that garners widespread attention. Unlike other recent racing games, Forza Horizon 6's pre-order numbers surpass the launch week performances of titles like F1 25, Tokyo Xtreme Racer, and Assetto Corsa Evo.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledges the enormous pressure surrounding GTA 6's estimated $1-$3.4 billion budget, calling it "a high-stakes game for big boys only," yet expresses comfort with the investment. With a 6-year development cycle and predicted break-even within a month, GTA 6's success is pivotal. Zelnick's strategy hinges on providing Rockstar with "unlimited" resources to deliver perfection.
Discover the best Xbox Game Pass games to play over the weekend of May 8-10, 2026. From the bloody action of Mortal Kombat 1 to the nostalgic narrative of Mixtape and the cinematic puzzles of Planet of Lana, there's something for every gamer. Play Planet of Lana before it leaves Game Pass on May 15.
