In 2025, Xbox Game Pass continues to impress subscribers with exciting day-one game releases. June is shaping up to be particularly strong, and the remainder of the summer looks equally promising with several major titles planned for release later in the year. Subscribers are thrilled by the platform’s momentum, which shows no signs of slowing down.

While many users were disappointed when Microsoft divided Xbox Game Pass into multiple tiers, limiting most day-one titles to the Ultimate tier and PC Game Pass, the quality of these new releases has exceeded expectations. So far, 2025 is carving out a reputation as the best year yet for Game Pass. January began slowly, but the month ended on a high note with the addition of Citizen Sleeper 2 and the surprise launch of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black.

February saw the much-anticipated Avowed alongside the Game of the Year nominee, Balatro. March brought an impressive lineup, including the early access version of 33 Immortals and the popular survival title, Atomfall. April 2025 was a standout month for Game Pass, featuring notable releases like South of Midnight, Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition, and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered.

The excitement continues into May, with high-profile games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Dredge already available, plus the highly anticipated Metaphor: ReFantazio set for release on May 29. Looking ahead, June boasts numerous upcoming titles such as Warhammer 40K: Space Marine on June 10, The Alters on June 13, and FBC: Firebreak on June 17, to name a few. Moreover, the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8 promises to unveil even more thrilling Game Pass announcements, ensuring that subscribers remain engaged.

The summer of 2025 will undoubtedly keep the momentum alive, with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 and Gears of War: Reloaded lined up for release in July and August. Overall, Xbox Game Pass seems poised to deliver an exciting year of gaming.

Alix Wilton Regan expressed her deep disappointment over the backlash following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The game received mixed reviews and failed to meet Electronic Arts’ player count expectations. Regan, who voiced the female Inquisitor in both Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Veilguard, described feeling “absolutely devastated” by the negative reaction from some fans. Despite its strong points and overall average score of 80 on OpenCritic, Dragon Age: The Veilguard became one of 2024’s most divisive titles, with a mixed reception on Steam, where only 69% of player reviews were positive.

Released in October 2024, Dragon Age: The Veilguard marked the fourth main installment in the popular RPG franchise. Having been in development for nearly nine years, the game’s initial trailer sparked controversy, and opinions remained sharply divided even after its launch. In an interview with IGN, Regan voiced her empathy for BioWare, noting the challenges the studio faced with the game’s reception. She believed the game was a substantial achievement and lamented that some individuals seemed intent on seeing it fail, often expressing negativity online even before the game was available.

The backlash escalated quickly, leading to coordinated review bombings on platforms like Metacritic, where critics targeted the game’s LGBTQ representation, labeling it as “woke.” Consequently, Dragon Age: The Veilguard underperformed, attracting approximately 1.5 million players in its first quarter, significantly below EA’s expectations. Due to this disappointing performance, plans for post-launch DLC and major content updates have effectively been abandoned. Following the announcement of these results, layoffs occurred at BioWare, disbanding the team that developed Dragon Age, with some members shifted to other EA projects. BioWare is now focusing on the next Mass Effect title, though detailed information about its release remains scarce.

The upcoming PlayStation live-service title, Fairgames, has reportedly received mixed reactions during its closed playtesting. The gameplay, designed as a hybrid of Fortnite and The Division, has been described by testers as “super clunky.” This feedback raises questions about the game’s overall quality and potential success. Recently, Haven Studios, the developer behind Fairgames, experienced a significant leadership shake-up with the exit of its founder, Jade Raymond.

This development adds to a growing list of concerns regarding the title, especially since PlayStation has faced challenges with other live-service projects in the past. Fairgames, revealed at the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, is intended to be a heist shooter focused on multiplayer gameplay, where teams of three to four players compete to infiltrate vaults and steal from wealthy targets in large urban environments. Despite the promising concept of a Robin Hood-style experience, reports from playtesters suggest that the game lacks polish and refinement. The feedback from these early tests is particularly concerning, especially in light of the recent failure of another PlayStation title, Concord, which has amplified expectations for Fairgames.

The current landscape includes several canceled live-service projects from PlayStation’s first-party studios, including Naughty Dog and Bluepoint Games, raising further scrutiny of Fairgames’ potential. While Haven Studios remains committed to developing Fairgames and aims for a rumored launch window in 2026, the challenges ahead are formidable. With no new gameplay footage shared since its initial announcement, players and fans are left anxious to see how the team will address the early feedback and whether they can truly refine Fairgames into a successful addition to PlayStation’s roster.

WWE 2K25 has sparked some controversy by inaccurately labeling the late Brian Pillman as a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. This commentary comes from longtime WWE commentator Michael Cole and is featured in the game, which boasts a roster of over 300 playable wrestlers, including Pillman’s son, Lexis King. While Pillman does not appear in the game itself, the mention of him in connection with the Hall of Fame has led to speculation among fans about his potential induction in the future. Pillman, who tragically died at the age of 35 from a heart attack while under contract with WWE in 1997, is remembered for his influential career.

He was part of iconic storylines and feuds, particularly his rivalry with Stone Cold Steve Austin and his affiliation with The Hart Foundation during the mid-’90s. Despite this significant legacy in professional wrestling, Pillman has yet to receive the honor of a Hall of Fame induction. WWE 2K25 features an extensive roster, which includes active WWE stars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, as well as legends and original characters. Among the new additions to the game is Stephanie Vaquer, bringing her viral move, The Devil’s Kiss, into the gaming experience.

However, some inaccuracies with the game’s presentation, like commentary errors and typos, have caught the attention of fans. As the annual WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony takes place each April, questions remain about Pillman’s status in relation to the ceremony. Given that WWE 2K25 was released just before this year’s event, many are left wondering if the mention of Pillman in the game signals a posthumous acknowledgment in a future class or whether he might make a surprise appearance as part of upcoming downloadable content for the game.

The Days of Play 2025 event is rumored to take place from May 28 to June 11, bringing with it some exciting sales and discounts for PlayStation enthusiasts. One of the key highlights is the expected discount on PlayStation Plus subscriptions, which could be up to 30%.

This could provide a great opportunity for gamers looking to renew or start their subscriptions. PlayStation Plus pricing currently varies by tier and duration.

A 12-month subscription costs $79.99 for the Essential tier, $134.99 for Extra, and $159.99 for Premium. Fortunately, PlayStation gamers can often find discounted rates throughout the year, especially during events like Black Friday.

However, the upcoming Days of Play event may allow fans to access additional savings without needing to wait that long. This announcement comes at a pivotal moment for PlayStation Plus, which recently faced challenges.

According to reports from Dealabs, the highly anticipated Days of Play event is set to offer more than just discounts on subscriptions. It is expected that fans will also find significant markdowns on PS5 consoles and accessories.

For instance, the PS5 Slim is rumored to be discounted by $100, while the pricier PS5 Pro could see a $50 price drop, bringing its price down to around $650. Furthermore, PlayStation VR2 headsets might be available for $50 less, and DualSense controllers could retail for $54.99.

While the Dealabs report is considered reliable, fans are advised to wait for an official announcement from Sony before making any purchasing decisions. With the Days of Play starting on May 28, confirmation of these discounts should arrive imminently, allowing gamers to plan ahead.

Recent datamining efforts have uncovered intriguing details about a potential battle royale mode in the upcoming Battlefield game. As concerns grow over EA and DICE’s ability to innovate after the lukewarm reception of Battlefield 2042, players are eagerly anticipating new features. This potential battle royale mode appears to share similarities with Call of Duty: Warzone, while also introducing unique mechanics such as the “Oversight System”. According to leaks, the battle royale mode may incorporate vehicle keycards and defend-the-vehicle dynamics.

These features aim to set the Battlefield experience apart from other popular battle royales. Following the conclusion of seasonal support for Battlefield 2042, EA and DICE initiated the “Battlefield Labs” playtesting program in 2025, offering select players and influencers a glimpse into the next installment of the franchise. Many have shared leaked footage showcasing a modern setting and highly destructible environments, hinting at a fresh direction for the series. One of the most significant leaks regarding the battle royale mode surfaced on Reddit, where a user named temporyal posted extensive details reportedly sourced from Battlefield Labs.

The leak reveals that the new battle royale will include mission rewards and supply drops similar to Warzone. However, it also introduces the Oversight System, allowing deceased players to control drones, turrets, and cameras to assist teammates, differentiating it from Warzone’s Gulag system. With vehicles being a staple of Battlefield, the new mode is expected to feature mechanics such as locating vehicle keycards for access to deployable vehicles. Additionally, some fans are speculating whether this battle royale will be a standalone game and if it will adopt a free-to-play model like Warzone.

Official information about the next Battlefield is anticipated soon, as EA may reveal details at upcoming events or their own dedicated showcase later this summer.

Blizzard has announced exciting new endgame content for Diablo 4 in its upcoming Season 9, addressing player feedback from the previous Season 8. Complaints about slow leveling and unbalanced builds prompted the developers to make necessary changes to enhance the gameplay experience. Players will be able to explore this content during the 2.3.0 Public Test Realm (PTR) from May 27 to June 3, ahead of the official launch of Season 9. One of the major additions is the introduction of Escalation Nightmares, which are designed to be challenging dungeons that culminate in a confrontation with Astaroth.

This new feature aims to provide players with the “ultimate test” by presenting a series of three Nightmare Dungeons. Each dungeon’s affixes will stack, increasing in difficulty while simultaneously enhancing the rewards. At the end of this gauntlet, players will face a formidable Exalted version of Astaroth. The upcoming battle against Astaroth will introduce a unique twist, as Blizzard has hinted that he will shed his mount and split into two distinct bosses.

This will require players to adapt their strategies and learn new, deadly combos to overcome this challenge. Participants in the PTR can experience these Escalation Nightmares before they become part of the full Season 9 launch. Moreover, players have suggested that Blizzard consider adding an auction house system for item trading to enhance the experience further. Looking ahead, Diablo 4’s roadmap for 2025 indicates that while major expansions are not anticipated until 2026, Seasons 9 and 10 will introduce content building on the previous Vessel of Hatred.

As Season 9 approaches, players can look forward to more details from Blizzard about the gameplay updates.

Update 1.10 is set to introduce a variety of new features, cinematics, and more to the critically acclaimed puzzle game, Blue Prince. Following its release in April, Blue Prince quickly became one of the highest-rated games of the year, also launching as a day one title on both PS Plus Extra and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This made it accessible to a wider audience eager to experience its unique gameplay.

In Blue Prince, players navigate and map out a mysterious mansion with the goal of reaching the elusive Room 46. Every decision made while opening doors shapes the outcome of each run. The game has been well-received for its innovative approach to the roguelike genre, but a bittersweet piece of news accompanies the upcoming update: there are no plans for downloadable content (DLC) beyond the impending climax of 1.10, which will be the last major update.

Despite this limitation, fans can look forward to a substantial enhancement. Update 1.10 promises an interesting array of features, including a new arcade game—likely referring to an arcade machine presently out of order—a house cat addition, new accessibility options, UI improvements, and expanded end-of-day manor descriptions along with house illustrations. Players will also gain HUD customization options and experience new cinematics, improving the narrative aspects of various challenge modes.

While the exact release date for Update 1.10 remains uncertain, smaller bug fix updates will continue to roll out leading up to its launch. Some features, such as accessibility enhancements, may even be available ahead of the main update. After 1.10, the focus will primarily shift to fixing existing bugs.

Given its accolades, Blue Prince is a contender for Game of the Year, which raises anticipation for its future performance. The game is currently playable on PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass, as well as available for standalone purchase, offering ample entertainment for players even before the arrival of the new content.

Battle Aces, the highly anticipated real-time strategy game from Uncapped Games, has been officially canceled following disappointing testing results. The game was designed for accessibility and fast-paced gameplay, featuring quick matches limited to 10 minutes, catering to players looking for engaging, bite-sized experiences. Uncapped Games, a subsidiary of the gaming giant Tencent, aimed to innovate the RTS genre with Battle Aces.

The team, consisting of industry veterans, sought to make real-time strategy more approachable, addressing the niche appeal often associated with such games. Players could customize their battles by selecting units before each match, adding strategic depth while ensuring they remained actively engaged during gameplay. Unfortunately, the most recent update from Uncapped Games revealed that development on Battle Aces would not continue.

Despite positive feedback from players participating in several beta tests, the developers stated that “the returns from early testing were not strong enough to support continued development.” They expressed their disappointment and gratitude towards fans for their interest and support, but the cancellation means that Battle Aces will not join the roster of celebrated 21st-century real-time strategy titles. Battle Aces was first showcased at Geoff Keighley’s Summer Games Fest in June 2024, with public demos and multiple closed betas allowing fans to get a glimpse of the gameplay. The game had received positive feedback throughout its testing phases, leading many to believe that it was on the right track.

The intent was to create a free-to-play model that included purchasable units and cosmetics, with regular updates and seasonal content to maintain player engagement. While Battle Aces will not make its debut, the vision for a more accessible real-time strategy experience could resurface in the future. For now, the future remains uncertain for the developers at Uncapped Games.

A recent chart reveals the exciting details of the upcoming Version 2.0 update for Zenless Zone Zero, showcasing how much gacha currency players can earn. This update is set to deliver an impressive bounty of over 20,000 Polychromes for free-to-play users, providing ample opportunity for players to enhance their gaming experience. Version 2.0 will introduce three new playable characters, adding diversity to the game’s roster. Yixuan and Ju Fufu will debut as the first S-Rank units from the new Waifei Peninsula, while Pan Yinhu will join as a four-star character.

Additionally, the update includes re-run banners for popular characters such as Astra Yao and Caesar, making it an enticing prospect for fans looking to expand their collections. During the highly-anticipated Special Program livestream, Zenless Zone Zero officially unveiled the details of Version 2.0, including various new skins, customizable outfits for Proxies, and enhanced gacha opportunities. Players will have numerous chances to pull for their favorite characters, adding excitement to the imminent update. A detailed chart shared on a Zenless Zone Zero leaks subreddit outlines the total Polychromes available in Version 2.0.

Free-to-play players can earn 26 Encrypted Master Tapes, 18 Master Tapes, and 21,530 Polychromes. For those investing in the “Inter-Knot Membership” 30-day pass, the total climbs to 25,490 Polychromes, while the Premium Battle Pass adds even more rewards. Version 2.0 is scheduled to launch on June 6. Alongside the new content, players will have the chance to claim not only a free character from the S-Rank rotation but also a free S-Rank W-Engine during the update.

Furthermore, Zenless Zone Zero will make its debut on Xbox Series X/S, marking a significant expansion for the game’s community. With an assortment of new content and festivities for the first anniversary, the Version 2.0 update is set to be one of the most thrilling moments for fans.