25 years later, Xbox is trying to reinvent itself again
The future of Xbox feels more uncertain than ever before
The future of Xbox feels more uncertain than ever before
Microsoft says every one now supports mouse and keyboard.
A legendary studio is losing a lot of staff.
GTA VI launches 19 November on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Take-Two kept its $8bn to $8.2bn forecast, and the game will stream to Xbox One.
That’s according to Sony and Microsoft blog posts today about the pre-loads that started today. The game is set to launch on November 19th. [Link: Pre-load Grand Theft Auto VI on PS5 starting today | https://blog.playstation.com/2026/11/10/pre-load-grand-theft-auto-vi-on-ps5-starting-today/ | PlayStation.Blog]
Along with Xbox Cloud Gaming support that will make the new Grand Theft Auto playable on Xbox One consoles, Rockstar officially laid out a few other details today as it kicked off the game’s 200GB-plus preloads. PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and ray-traced shadows are exclusive features for the PS5 Pro version, along with DualSense haptic feedback, Tempest audio, and improved load times that it says will make “Grand Theft Auto VI play best on PlayStation 5 consoles.” [Link: Pre-Load Grand Theft Auto VI Now - Rockstar Games | https://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/89834o94713o21/pre-load-grand-theft-auto-vi-now | Rockstar Games]
Less than a month after introducing its Ultimate 3C Plus controller with wireless PC and Android support, 8BitDo announced a wired version that’s Xbox compatible. At $39.99, it will be the same price as the wireless version when it launches on November 16th and features a pair of TMR thumbsticks with adjustable tension, switchable Hall effect triggers, an extra pair of shoulder buttons, and Windows support. [Image: https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/11/8bitdo1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
The new design focuses on speed and usability.
The Xbox Series X and S are getting performance-enhancing AMD tech. The GitHub page shows devs can use either the new “Lite” model or the full-fat one, though “Full” has up to a 5.2ms performance hit on the weaker Xbox Series S. That’s enough to cut a 60fps game down to 45fps, not that gamers will see that: devs can cycle through each FSR mode and pick the best balance points between quality and speed. [Image: Xbox VP Jason Ronald tweeted that devs can start testing it out today. https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/11/image1.jpg?quality=90&strip=all]
Xbox Cloud Gaming is getting a phone controller and new direct Wi-Fi connectivity for the Xbox Nano.
AMD’s latest upscaling tech is also coming to laptops and 6000-series GPUs.
The tags were made in partnership with big gaming companies like EA, Google, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft. They add to the tags Xbox already uses, according to an Xbox Wire post.
Double Fine and Compulsion Games are going independent, and Microsoft is also selling Ninja Theory and Undead Labs.
Ubisoft and “at least two other gaming companies” have made bids for Arkane, which Xbox is working to divest as part of its “reset,” Bloomberg reports. Xbox has “also weighed selling the studio to its management.” [Link: Xbox’s Arkane Studios Attracts Multiple Bidders, Including Ubisoft | https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-03/xbox-s-arkane-studios-attracts-multiple-bidders-including-ubisoft | Bloomberg]
Microsoft’s miniature Xbox controller can connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming over Wi-Fi.
The Nano controller is designed for young people, anyone with smaller hands, and gaming on the go.
The future of Senua, which Xbox just announced, is unclear.