Xbox has had several interesting news items lately regarding games, hardware, subscriptions, and the broader strategy of Microsoft's gaming business. In the first edition of the Xbox Report, we bring you an overview of the most important information, from Fable and Game Pass to physical editions, controllers, and the possible return of well-known franchises.
Fable received age ratings in multiple regions
One of the most interesting news items concerns Fable, the major RPG comeback being developed by Playground Games. The game has received age ratings in Korea and Australia, which usually means that development has entered a later phase and that the release is getting closer. Microsoft still officially states that Fable is planned for 2026, without a specific release date.
According to earlier information, Fable is expected to be released for Xbox Series X/S, PC, Game Pass, Steam, and PlayStation 5. With Grand Theft Auto VI currently scheduled for November 19, 2026, the question remains whether Microsoft will try to position Fable earlier in the fall to avoid a direct clash with one of the biggest releases of the year.
Game Pass Family Plan may have stalled due to publishers
The topic of the Xbox Game Pass Family Plan has resurfaced, a subscription model that Microsoft tested in 2022 and 2023 but never launched globally. According to information shared by journalist Jez Corden, one of the reasons for the abandonment could have been resistance from publishers, particularly Electronic Arts.
The idea of the Family Plan was to allow multiple users under one subscription at a more affordable price, but such a model was evidently not easy to align with contracts and partner interests. Although Microsoft has never officially confirmed that the project has been permanently canceled, the Family Plan remains one of the more frequent wishes of the Xbox community.
Xbox Game Studios has launched an official shop
Microsoft has launched the official Xbox Game Studios Shop, an online store featuring merchandise based on popular Xbox franchises. The offerings include t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, and other products inspired by franchises such as Halo, Forza, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, and Age of Empires.
The initial selection is relatively modest, and Microsoft states that the store will expand over time with new products related to major gaming moments throughout the year. Interestingly, Gears of War and Fable have also been announced for the shop, but there are currently not many products available for them.
Playasia criticized the potential Xbox disc-to-digital program
Unofficial information about a possible Xbox disc-to-digital program has sparked quite a reaction. According to this idea, owners of physical Xbox games could somehow convert their discs into digital licenses, especially if the next Xbox console is indeed fully digital.
Playasia, a store known for selling physical game editions, publicly opposed such a concept and stated that they "do not want it at all." Their argument is that people buy physical games because they want to own their copies, while converting discs into digital licenses could further weaken the market for physical editions.
On the other hand, some players see a potential advantage in such a program, especially if it would allow easier play of older physical games on new hardware. For now, however, there is no confirmation that Microsoft is actually developing such a program.
A small change to the Xbox Series X/S controller
Microsoft seems to have made a small hardware revision to the standard Xbox Series X/S controller. The change was noticed on the special Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition controller, which no longer has the old proprietary audio jack used since the Xbox One controller era.
It is important to note that the 3.5mm headphone jack remains present. The older additional port used by certain headphones and accessories from the earlier Xbox One generation has been removed. It has not yet been officially confirmed whether the same change will extend to all new standard controllers.
The new Xbox strategist wants to revive beloved franchises
Matthew Ball, the new Chief Strategy Officer of Xbox, according to information from a Bloomberg interview, will play an important role in strengthening the console part of the business, as well as in the potential revival of beloved franchises. Specific series names have not been mentioned yet, but the statement immediately sparked speculation among fans.
Today, Xbox has a huge catalog of IPs under its roof, including series from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision Blizzard. This opens up the possibility for the return of older or neglected franchises, although only future announcements will show whether Microsoft is thinking of major comebacks, remakes, remasters, or completely new sequels.
