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  1. Xbox Wire62

    Microsoft unveils the XBOX Nano Controller at $49.99, launching in November

    Microsoft announced the XBOX Nano Controller, its smallest controller at a little over 5 inches long and 3.5 ounces, priced at $49.99 with pre-orders open now and availability from November in markets including China, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan. It keeps all 18 standard inputs and adds a rechargeable battery, a programmable Action Button, and XBOX Wireless plus Bluetooth support. Microsoft is also running US holiday offers with Samsung and Meta that bundle the controller and 2 months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members.

    Why this: Microsoft details its smallest controller's size, price, and launch regions, letting readers weigh portability against buying timing.

  1. Xbox Wire62

    Valor Mortis Launches Today on Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass, Devs Share Combat Tips

    Valor Mortis is available today on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass, with Xbox Play Anywhere support. Players control William, an Englishman who joins Napoleon's cause, in a plague-ravaged Europe. Developer One More Level shared combat tips: break enemy posture for heavy attacks or finishers, counter after blocking to restore lost health, aim at glowing weak points since ammo is scarce, and use Fire Transmutation to set enemies alight for finishers. Ambers change builds, such as Marksman's Bane parrying bullets for pistol rounds and Butcher's Carnage restoring health through melee at the cost of Ferrofluid Flask healing.

    Why this: The development team breaks down Valor Mortis's parry, weak-point, and Amber build systems, useful before starting the game.

  1. Xbox Wire62

    Microsoft forms new XBOX division XP, led by President Kayleen Walters

    Microsoft announced XP, a new XBOX division led by newly appointed President Kayleen Walters, covering film and television, consumer products, strategic partnerships and live experiences. The division consolidates capabilities previously spread across XBOX teams and formalizes four investment areas: XBOX PICTURES, XBOX PRODUCTS, XBOX PLACES and XBOX PARTNERSHIPS. Walters spent 13 years at Lucasfilm, and at Mojang Minecraft grew from 350 million units sold to over 425 million.

    Why this: Microsoft is folding film, merchandise, live events and brand partnerships into a new XP division, showing how it organizes its franchise push.

  2. Xbox Wire66

    Xbox Game Pass October wave one adds Battlefield 6, Valor Mortis and more

    Xbox announced the first October wave of Game Pass additions, with Battlefield 6 joining Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass on October 13. Echo Weaver, Forever Ago, Deep Dish Dungeon, Valor Mortis, Bluey's Happy Snaps, Chained Beasts and Beyond These Stars arrive on day one. Nine titles including A Plague Tale: Requiem, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Pacific Drive leave the library on October 15.

    Why this: Xbox's official list of October Game Pass wave one includes Battlefield 6 and several day-one titles, useful for planning downloads.

  1. Xbox Wire60

    Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches today on Xbox Series X|S, with Fuse Games detailing crash penalties and the runs-based loop

    Star Wars: Galactic Racer is available today on Xbox Series X|S and on the Xbox Store. Fuse Games creative director Kieran Crimmins and co-founder Steve Uphill explain that the game uses a runs-based loop where players pick a vehicle and Racer Style, then add parts and upgrades between races, and running out of crashes means wrecking out and restarting the tour. Multiplayer uses a shorter runs-based system decided by a final knockout event, with wins unlocking new characters and customization.

    Why this: The official announcement confirms Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches today on Xbox Series X|S and explains how crash penalties and the runs-based loop shape play.

  1. Xbox Wire82

    Gears of War: E-Day Enters Early Access Today, Full Launch on October 6

    Gears of War: E-Day begins Early Access on October 1 at 8:00 a.m. PT for Premium Edition players and Game Pass subscribers with the Premium Upgrade, with the full launch set for October 6 at 8:00 a.m. PT. The game is available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam, with cloud gaming through Game Pass Ultimate and GeForce NOW. Built by The Coalition in Unreal Engine 5, it includes an origin-story campaign, the 4-player Horde Siege PvE mode, and 4v4 Versus PvP, with two-player split-screen on console only.

  2. Xbox Wire62

    Section 9's sci-fi action adventure End of Abyss launches October 1 on Xbox Series X|S

    Section 9 Interactive, a small studio founded by three former Tarsier Studios members, announced that its sci-fi action adventure End of Abyss launches October 1 on Xbox Series X|S. Players take the role of young combat technician Cel, descending into an abandoned underground facility to upgrade gear, use a Scanner to explore branching paths, and fight monsters. The team said the game began as a top-down shooter prototype and shifted toward a slower action horror metroidvania focused on exploration and tension, with enemies prototyped in Unreal before their designs were finalized.

    Why this: The studio explains how its top-down shooter prototype became an action horror metroidvania, showing how a small team settled on its art and enemy design.

  1. Xbox Wire66

    Minecraft Dungeons II Launches September 29 With Jumping and the New Sift Dimension

    Minecraft Dungeons II launches September 29 on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud and other platforms. Mojang design director Laura De Llorens said on the Official XBOX Podcast that the sequel adds jumping, an interconnected world you can walk across, the new Sift dimension, armor split into four pieces, talismans and a reworked enchantment system. Multiplayer adapts when players join or leave and now mixes couch co-op with online play.

  2. Xbox Wire80

    Minecraft Dungeons II Launches September 29, New Dimension The Sift Coming to Minecraft in 2027

    Mojang Studios announced at Minecraft LIVE that Minecraft Dungeons II launches September 29 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and will be included with Game Pass. The game introduces The Sift, Minecraft's first new dimension in over 14 years, with new biomes including Meadows and Carapace plus new mobs and block rules. Mojang also confirmed The Sift will come to Minecraft in 2027.

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