The XboxCast

Lee now owns a ute. Not just any ute, the Kia Tasman ute!

And he's pretty impressed with all the junk in its trunk. 

 

Now quite a regular show as we're coving GamesCom!

 

🟢 GamesCom 2026!

We're looking at everything you need to know about Gamescom 2026 in this episode! So join us to see if there was anything you've missed.  

 
🎮 Gamescom 2026 Was HUGE for Xbox!
Gamescom 2026 has delivered an absolute mountain of Xbox news, and there’s a lot to talk about! From the explosive Gears of War: E-Day campaign trailer and the surprise announcement of The Witcher 3 Remastered to gorgeous new looks at Tides of Annihilation, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, Metro 2039 and Exodus! Xbox had plenty to show off.

We’ve also got new release dates, Game Pass announcements, delays, fresh gameplay and a whole bunch of games you probably didn’t even know were coming to Xbox. Worms: Galactic Tactics, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Tactics, Crazy Taxi: World Tour, Stage Tour, Road Kings, Mewgenics and Valor Mortis are just some of the games making waves.

And that’s before we even get to the Future Games Show, which brought more than 40 Xbox and PC games and 13 brand-new reveals, including SPINE: This is Gun Fu, Wolcen 2, Serious Sam: Shatterverse, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault and Star Wars: Galactic Racer.

 
🟩 52 Xbox Games, Game Pass Goodness & All the Gamescom 2026 Highlights
If you thought that was everything, think again! TrueAchievements counted a staggering 52 Xbox game reveals and updates from Gamescom Opening Night Live alone. That includes huge names like Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Turok: Origins, Final Fantasy VII Revelation and Path of Exile II, alongside plenty of fascinating indie and AA games.

There was also plenty for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, with titles such as Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, Aniimo and more joining the growing Game Pass lineup.

Of course, Gamescom wasn’t all good news - Turok: Origins, Mariachi Legends, Road Kings and There Are No Ghosts at the Grand were among the games pushed into 2027. But with so many releases coming across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Play Anywhere and Game Pass, there’s still plenty to get excited about. 

 

So, grab a drink, settle in and join The XboxCast crew as we dig through one of the biggest Gamescoms Xbox has had in years - the games we’re excited for, the ones that surprised us, and the ones that might have slipped completely under your radar!

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Did you like the intro music?
Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes! 

 

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For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit

⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Welcome back to the podcast. 

Did you miss us? 

 

Now on with The Regular Show.

 

🐜 Grounded 2’s Player Count Surges 220%
Grounded 2 has exploded in popularity, jumping over 220% on Xbox after its massive new update and Game Pass Premium launch. The “Into the Abyss” update added new biomes, water systems, rideable bugs, and expanded base-building. One of the biggest first-party spikes of the year.

 
🐉 Game Pass August 2026: Beast of Reincarnation & Plague Tale Lead
August’s lineup is stacked with two major day-one releases: Beast of Reincarnation and A Plague Tale: Legacy. Strong AA and narrative-driven offerings define the month. Game Pass continues its “quality over quantity” strategy.

 
📺 Xbox Introduces Free Game Streaming With Ads
Xbox is testing ad-supported cloud streaming, letting players jump into games instantly without a subscription. Microsoft outlined five principles: transparency, player control, limited interruptions, privacy protection, and clear value. Essentially Game Pass Lite, but free.

 
🧑‍💻 Xbox VP of Engineering Quits After 2 Months
PC Gamer reports Xbox’s newly hired VP of Engineering has resigned just two months into the role. No official reason given, but insiders point to instability caused by Xbox’s ongoing “Reset” restructuring. Leadership turnover continues to be a theme in 2026.

 
🥽 Game Pass Starter Edition Expands via Meta Horizon
Xbox’s cheaper Starter Edition tier is rolling out to more regions through Meta Horizon. Designed for casual players and VR users, offering a limited library at a low cost. A strategic push toward broader accessibility.

 
🏃 Another Studio Breaks Free From Xbox
Windows Central confirms another internal studio has gone independent, following Double Fine and Ninja Theory’s restructuring moves. The unnamed team is seeking autonomy while remaining partnered with Xbox. A continuing trend under Asha Sharma’s leaner strategy.

 
🧩 Xbox Surprise Update Adds 12 New Console Features
A stealth update dropped with a dozen new features: UI improvements, Quick Resume fixes, new capture options, controller firmware updates, and accessibility upgrades. One of the biggest non-Insider updates in years.

 
💿 Xbox Testing Disc-to-Digital Conversion
A new leak suggests Xbox is experimenting with a disc-to-digital authentication system. Players could validate physical games and add them to their digital library. Potentially one of Xbox’s most consumer-friendly ideas ever.

 
📰 Xbox Wire Gets a Redesign
Xbox Wire has been fully redesigned with a modern layout, better mobile support, and stronger visual identity. It finally looks like a proper platform blog in 2026.

 
🚀 No Man’s Sky Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Hello Games marks 10 years of No Man’s Sky with a retrospective and new content. One of gaming’s greatest comeback stories continues to thrive.

 
🔫 Gears of War: E-Day Breaks Franchise Records
The limited Steam beta for Gears of War: E-Day has already surpassed the franchise’s all-time peak player record. And it’s not even fully released yet. Massive momentum heading into launch.

 
🕹️ Xbox 360 Backwards Compatibility Leak for PC
A leak shows Xbox 360 backwards compatibility running natively on Windows PCs. If true, this would be the biggest BC expansion since the Series X launched.

 
🛠️ Xbox Adds Four More Console Features
New features include improved storage management, better HDR controls, and long-requested Quick Resume toggles. The OS team is delivering rapid-fire updates in 2026.

 
🧪 New Game Pass Additions: Resonance, Vapor World, Blood Dungeon
Xbox Wire confirms new titles including Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, Vapor World: Over the Mind, and Blood Dungeon. Strong mix of narrative, surreal, and dungeon-crawler content.

 
🪑 IKEA x Xbox Furniture Line Announced
IKEA and Xbox are launching a joint furniture line for gamers. Expect desks, chairs, storage, and “gaming-optimized” layouts. Peak capitalism achieved.

 
📅 Four Game Pass Games Confirmed for September
TrueAchievements lists four early September additions. Details still light, but the month is shaping up to be another strong one.

 
💸 Xbox Series X Price Spike
A Google Shopping snapshot shows Series X prices climbing sharply across multiple retailers. Likely tied to supply constraints and the upcoming hardware refresh.

 

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Did you like the intro music?
Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes! 

 

--

For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit

⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

Lee is confused about Wuthering Waves. 

But, why? 

 

Now on with The Regular Show.

 

🟢 Xbox Insider Update Brings Four Handy New Features

Xbox Insiders are getting a surprisingly useful batch of quality-of-life improvements. Microsoft is rolling out updates to Gamertags, Game Hubs, Wishlists and Game History, making it easier to discover games, manage your profile and keep track of what you've been playing. Nothing flashy, but these are exactly the kinds of improvements that make the Xbox dashboard feel more polished. Now if only we could get a faster Store...

 
☁️ Stream Your Own Game Gets 51 More Titles

Microsoft has massively expanded the "Stream Your Own Game" feature, adding another 51 games to the growing list. If you own these titles digitally, you'll be able to stream them directly from the cloud without needing them to be part of Game Pass. It's another step toward Microsoft's vision of letting you play your library almost anywhere. The feature keeps getting better... now we just need Australia to get all the good cloud features first.

 
🎯 Cancelled Xbox 360 GoldenEye Finally Runs Natively on PC

One of gaming's greatest "what ifs" has taken another fascinating turn. Developers have successfully recompiled the cancelled Xbox 360 version of GoldenEye 007 into a native PC executable, meaning it runs without emulation. It doesn't make the project legal, but it's an impressive piece of preservation work that shows just how close this remaster came to release before licensing issues killed it.

 
💳 Xbox Could Soon Offer Buy Now, Pay Later

Buying an Xbox console, game or accessory may soon become a little easier on the wallet. Microsoft is reportedly partnering with Klarna and PayPal to introduce flexible payment options across Xbox purchases. Whether you're eyeing a new console or just a few too many games during a sale, spreading the cost could become as simple as checking a different payment option. Just remember... buying games on finance probably isn't the best financial advice you'll hear today.

 

⚠️ Xbox Faces Another Major Reset

The biggest story this week continues to be Microsoft's internal shake-up. Following confirmed July layoffs, Xbox leadership has reportedly told staff that "this cannot continue," signalling another major reset for the gaming division. CEO Asha Sharma is said to be focusing on leaner teams, better execution and a more affordable Xbox ecosystem moving forward. It's a tough period for Xbox, but many fans are hoping these difficult decisions eventually lead to stronger games and a healthier platform. Which leads to... 

 

💼 Satya Nadella: Xbox Must Become Sustainable

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has made it clear that Xbox's future depends on becoming a sustainable business. Rather than chasing endless growth, Microsoft wants predictable returns from its gaming division as development costs continue to rise. It's a statement that helps explain many of the company's recent decisions around Game Pass, multiplatform releases and internal restructuring. And of course this means... 

 
🏢 Xbox Studios Reportedly Looking for Independence

Reports suggest several Xbox Game Studios teams, including Double Fine and Ninja Theory, are exploring ways to spin off into independent studios. Nothing has been confirmed, but after months of restructuring and uncertainty, it paints a picture of developers wanting greater creative and financial control. Whether Microsoft would actually let these studios go is another question entirely.

 

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Did you like the intro music?
Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes! 

 

--

For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit

⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

What even does that title mean? 
At this stage, we're not even sure anymore... 

 

☀️ 🎮🕺 Summer Games Fest Wrap Up

 

We cover all the games coming to XBOX and PC revealed during the Summer Game Fast 2026! Here's a complete list for you. You're welcome...

Resident Evil: Veronica

Cuphead 2

Mighty Cuphead Adventure

Alien: Isolation 2

gen ATLAS

Blood Message

Stranger Than Heaven

HAEX (PC)

Mortal Shell II (Open Beta)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin

Gundam: Rogue Orbit

Crossfire

Guild Wars 3 (PC/PS5)

Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Virtua Fighter Crossroads

RuneScape: Dragonwilds (Xbox release)

1666 Amsterdam (PC)

SAW: Genesis (PC)

Star Wars: Zero Company

The Blood of Dawnwalker

Among Us Story: On Guard

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance (Expansion)

Swords of Legends

Clutch

Chronicles: Medieval (PC Early Access)

Palworld 1.0

The Wolf Among Us Remastered

The Wolf Among Us 2

Stellar Blade: Blood Rain

Final Fantasy VII: Revelation

--

Did you like the intro music?
Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes! 

 

--

For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit

⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐

In the deep, dark Winter of the Southern Hemisphere, XBOX has arrived to spread some much-needed light and joy...

We hope!

 

 

🎮 XBOX Showcase 2026

 

From new console hardware, to announcing the return of Exclusives - we cover everything that XBOX had to show the world. 

 

Is 2026 the year they win us all back? Or is this another year where they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory? 

 

--

Did you like the intro music?
Of course you did. Because who wouldn't? Now you can hear more, thanks to Made By Humans! Check it out on Spotify, Apple Music or wherever you listen to your tunes! 

 

--

For previous episodes, our socials, community events, and more, visit

⭐THE XBOXCAST OFFICIAL WEBSITE ⭐