If you need to download a game on your Xbox One but don’t want to leave the console running, you have options.

You may have heard that your Xbox can supposedly download and install games while you’re not using it, but the first time you tried – you woke up to the same install percentage as the night before.

What gives?

With this in mind, you might wonder, “do games still download when the Xbox One is off?”

The answer is yes, they do. But your console probably isn’t set up to allow downloads when it isn’t in use. So, let’s fix that.

Do games download when the Xbox One is off

Short Answer: Yes (but you’ll need to dive into the Settings menu to enable it)

Your Xbox One needs to be set to Instant-on to download games while it’s off. That keeps it in a low-power state, ready to switch on at a moment’s notice.

It also keeps the network connection and hard drives running. Here’s how to enable it.

How to download games while your Xbox One is off 

You’ll first need to set your console to Instant-on mode to get your Xbox One to download games while it’s off.

READ MORE: The best Xbox controllers

Doing this, the console is in a low-power state and keeps the network connection and hard drives running, so it can quickly switch on when needed. Here’s how to turn it on.

Grab your controller and do the following:

That’s all you need to do. Now when you turn your Xbox One off via the controller or it goes to sleep after inactivity, it’ll keep downloading games to install or update.

Download games while your Xbox One is off with the right settings

Once you have the correct settings, your Xbox One console will download games while it’s off.

This is a great way to download your games without keeping your console on the entire time. Just start a game download, and you can let the console go to sleep or turn it off yourself.

When you return, the game will either still be downloading or finished, so you can hop in and start gaming.

And yes, you can still play games while they’re downloading on the Xbox One, just in case you were wondering.

What do you think? Plan on using this feature on your Microsoft console? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can the Xbox One play Blu-ray movies?
• How to connect PS4 or Xbox controllers to the iPhone
• Can you speed up an Xbox One’s loading time with a new hard drive?
• How to expand your Xbox One’s game storage

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

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The Xbox One is an excellent console for playing a variety of games, but there is more to life than just video games. You know, things like TV and movies and stuff. Those things.

Sure, you can download apps for Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, and more. But what if you want to kick it old-school and pop in a DVD or Blu-ray disc?  

So, does the Xbox One play Blu-ray?

Short answer: Yes

Your Xbox One, Xbox One S, or Xbox One X can all play Blu-ray movies.

Granted, you’ll need to do one simple thing before being able to watch movies – and you’ll need an internet connection to complete the process. Lame, I know.

READ MORE: Can you speed up an Xbox One’s loading time with a new hard drive?

How to play Blu-ray on Xbox One

Once it finishes installing, you’re good to go! Simply insert your Blu-ray disc into the Xbox One and kick back with 13 hours of Lord of the Rings goodness.

Does Xbox One play 4K Blu-ray?

No, the original Xbox One model does not offer a 4K Blu-ray drive, so it can’t play 4K Blu-ray movies.

However, released later, the Xbox One S and Xbox One X have 4K Blu-ray drives and can play 4K Blu-ray. The original Xbox One can only play standard Blu-ray and DVD movies.

However, your screen must be capable of transmitting in 4K to benefit, but there are a variety of 4K monitors for the Xbox One that can do the job.

Can you watch other forms of 4K content on Xbox One?

Yes, the Xbox One can do more than just play Blu-ray movies. They can also stream 4K content from services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

So even if you don’t have 4K Blu-ray movies, you can still enjoy the best of 4K on your Xbox One.

To answer your question: Yes, you can watch Blu-rays on Xbox One. The Xbox One can play Blu-ray movies and has built-in support for both Blu-ray and DVD.

Do you use your consoles to watch Blu-ray movies? Do you even own physical discs anymore? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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It’s hard to argue that Microsoft isn’t offering one of the best deals in gaming with Xbox Game Pass.

Whether you are playing on a Series X, S, One, or even from your computer, there are a ton of games constantly at your disposal.

However, with all the great offerings, you may need an extra controller for some couch co-op gaming with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, or you need a controller for playing on your PC.

You might even be looking to up your game by upgrading your sticks. Regardless, there are a ton of options out there for you.

You may feel overwhelmed and decide a standard, first-party Xbox controller is the way to go. For price and feature, though, you have many different options.

There are quite a few options, whether you like flashy lights, additional buttons, modular customization, or improved audio options. It can be hard to pick what works best for your needs.

How we made our picks

So, how did we choose all the best Xbox controllers to include in this list? It’s easy – we personally tested many on the list.

On top of that, we spent hours researching user reviews, Reddit posts, YouTube videos, and more. But mainly, our first-hand experience is ultimately how we drafted our picks.

Choosing the best Xbox controller for your wallet and needs

Looking at first-hand experiences, reviews, and everything in between, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best Xbox controllers you can throw your money at.

BONUS: Any controller on this list works natively with Windows PCs, so you can easily switch between your console and desktop.

Microsoft Xbox Elite Series 2 ($164)

While there’s no end to third-party controllers, maybe you want to keep everything Microsoft-designed.

The Elite Series 2 gives you all the customization of the best third-party controllers while keeping a Microsoft warranty.

The best part? It works just as well on PC as on the Xbox Series X|S. Microsoft even licensed SCUF’s technology, so you get the best of both worlds.

You get a modular, magnetic thumbstick, modular d-pads, hair-trigger locks, and four removable, remappable paddles on the back. You can also tweak the thumbstick tension for precision aiming.

PDP Wired Game Controller ($34.99)

Remember back in the day when you had that “guest” controller that you’d let younger siblings or friends that didn’t bring their own controller use?

The PDP Wired Game controller is the natural evolution of that idea.

It may not offer all the flash and glitz that other controllers on the list have. However, this Xbox controller is still pound-for-pound, one of the best if you are in a pinch and need a secondary controller.

What it lacks in additional features, it makes up in versatility.

Coming in a selection of colors and offering full button customization via the PDP app, this one still gives you a lot to work with without breaking the bank.

RIG Nacon PRO Compact ($49.99)

Much like the previous entry, the RIG Nacon PRO compact controller doesn’t offer an absolute truckload of extra benefits.

This one does offer something that none of the other controllers on this list do, and it can be a big deal.

This controller is one of the few certified for Dolby ATMOS audio.

That means plugging your headset into the audio will improve the quality over just about any other controller on the list.

Another thing that sets this controller apart from the rest is the shape.

While every other controller on this list more or less looks like the traditional Xbox controller shape, this one is almost more PlayStation-like.

HexGaming Make Your Own BLADE controller

Looking for a sleek Xbox controller that allows for full customization? We love our HexGaming controller with custom triggers and back buttons.

Customize every aspect of the controller, including the faceplate, buttons, triggers, and more. There are a ton of colors to choose from, and we especially appreciate the thumbstick options.

Pricing is what you’d expect from a custom controller, coming in at $159.99 for the custom version.

PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced ($44.99)

The PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced controller is likely the best “price per feature” option on the list.

Having the ability to look stylish, feel stylish, and help keep your eyes on the screen at all times, it’s pretty awesome and keeps it in the ranks of best Xbox controllers.

This controller lets you modify the RGB lights for the left thumbstick, right thumbstick, face buttons, and the perimeter of the controller.

Match the look to your game and the room, or just make it look as funky as you’d like.

The other great feature of this controller is the front-facing audio control and mappable back buttons.

You can map any of the buttons or L3 or R3 to the back of the controller without any software needed.

Victrix Gambit Wired ($99.99)

The Victrix Gambit controller is basically a mishmash of nearly all the high-end features on this list.

The selling point on this one is that there is a lot of customization, and has the fastest response time on the list.

With a selection of controller gates, thumbstick, and a custom d-pad, the Victrix already goes toe to toe with many controllers above and below this price point.

Surprisingly, this controller also includes the Dolby Atmos sound drivers, making it even more appealing to players.

The Victrix may be one of the gaudier controllers of the bunch, but the response and customization show that this is a function over design situation. It’s literally built for any situation.

PowerA Fusion Pro 2 ($89.99)

I like to refer to the PowerA Fusion Pro 2 as the Xbox Elite Lite controller. This bad boy also boasts some of the fastest response times on the list outside of the Vitrix.

My favorite feature of the controller is that it has mappable back paddles, just like the Xbox Elite 2 controller.

While it doesn’t allow non-controller button presses, it’s still lovely to map common buttons or L3 or R3 to the back so you can move while hitting those paddles.

The paddles are also removable, so if that’s not your thing, that can be ignored too.

The controller also includes two faceplates, one black with grips and one white without. This is a prime example of what looks good and feels good, plus it is seemingly always on sale.

Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma ($149.99)

There is a few “luxury model” controllers on this list.

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma is absolutely the chromatic-painted Corvette with neon lights of the bunch here. But what makes it one of the best Xbox controllers?

For starters, thumbsticks with tension adjustment and a science-backed ergonomic design are two features you won’t find on any other controller on the list.

The additional six mappable input buttons that can also use customizable input commands give it just a little bit more value, as well.

The Raver Wolverine V2 Chroma may be more expensive than most controllers but offers nearly unmatched customization and tune-up options.

There is a reason this is a popular controller with streamers.

PowerA MOGA XP7-X Plus Bluetooth ($99)

While technically not a direct Xbox controller, the MOGA XP7-X is meant for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Having accurate and consistent Xbox-style control grips for Xbox Cloud Gaming on your phone is great.

The added bonus of being able to wirelessly charge your phone while gaming is even better.

If you aren’t on the go, the MOGA XP7-X also has a built-in kickstand, so you can lounge back with a normal-sized controller.

It’s worth noting that this works with any size phone too. I have a Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, one of the biggest phones on the market. If it fits me, it will fit basically any smartphone out there.

eSwap Pro by Thrustmaster (9)

The eSwap Pro is a go-to controller for some of the best competitive players on Twitch. The features seem a bit lighter than some options on this list, but sometimes less is more.

Hot-swappable thumbsticks are the first noticeable difference from the other controllers here. This means you can completely change the layout of your controller by moving or adding additional nodes.

Are you more of a PlayStation user and are used to the symmetrical thumbstick?

No problem, you can swap it to match that. Want to add the XYAB buttons where the d-pad goes for prime button mashing? It can do that too.

Mappable options on the controller and lightning-fast response time also round this out to make the eSwap Pro one of the most attractive controllers on the list.

Turtle Beach Recon ($59.95)

Sometimes you don’t want to spend more on a controller than on a game, but you want awesome features. Turtle Beach Recon happens to be just that type of controller.

With a lot of built-in audio options and front-facing adjustments, Turtle Beach believes the Recon can improve your K/D by “over 40%”.

That means I’m looking at going from a 0.25 to a 0.4 K/D! Jokes aside, the adjustable audio options aren’t anywhere else on this list, and that says a lot.

The tool-free, adjustable thumbstick resistance built into the controller is probably the coolest thing, making it one of the best Xbox controllers out there.

SCUF Instinct Pro ($229.99)

Looking good, feeling good, playing good, and costing a small fortune is the SCUF way. The SCUF Instinct Pro takes the ideas of the Elite 2 controller and takes it a few steps further.

It includes four embedded, rear remappable paddles, three configuration profiles, switchable instant triggers, and interchangeable thumbstick.

The non-slip grip is also nice for some of your more serious sessions.

The SCUF Instinct Pro may be the most expensive on the list, but it is undeniably one of the best Xbox controllers. It’s not just a superior controller but also a major flex on anyone in your lobbies.

Razer Wolverine V2 ($77)

Razer’s latest Xbox controller has the all-important share button, while still being one of the cheapest controllers Razer has produced.

Paying less does mean you lose some features, but the Wolverine V2 still comes with two extra mappable trigger buttons and trigger stops for faster performance in shooters.

It’s wired, with no option for wireless play, but then you’re not at the mercy of the Xbox Series X|S wireless connection, which is still having issues with some controllers.

The best feature? Razer’s Mecha-tactile buttons are mechanical instead of membrane and have a satisfying click when pressed.

Remember that third-party Xbox controllers aren’t just “guest controllers” anymore

You’ve seen the best that third-party controller companies have to offer when it comes to Xbox controllers. You can toss that $70 basic first-party controller and put some real power and response into your mitts.

Now it’s just a matter of lining up your needs and price point to determine the best Xbox controller for you.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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As always, two titles are up for grabs this month. And remember, you automatically get Xbox Live Gold if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Through backward compatibility, you can play both of these games on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. So let’s see what’s up for grabs this month.

Free Games with Gold for December 2022

This month’s games kick off with Colt Canyon. Colt Canyon is a top-down shooter where you explore the Wild West and all the treasures and dangers that come along with it.

Full of gun-toting action, you’ll have to shoot your way through Colt Canyon if you want to avoid ending up dinner for the buzzards.

The second game up for grabs this month is Bladed Fury. This game features the tale of redemption for Princess Ji after she’s been accused of murder and exiled.

In this Chinese mythology-based action game, you’ll fight through terrifying enemies and even gods, taking vengeance on those who have wronged you.

Check out both titles and their availability dates below:

• Colt Canyon ($14.99 ERP) – Available December 1 to 31
• Bladed Fury ($19.99 ERP) – Available December 16 to January 15

So there are your two free Games with Gold for December. You can claim these games for free if you have an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for October 2022
• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for September 2022
• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for August 2022
• Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for July 2022

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

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If you’ve been playing your Xbox One over the years, you might have noticed it acting up occasionally. Specifically, your Xbox One turning off by itself.

Sometimes it might switch off straight away when you turn it on. Sometimes it’ll let you play for a while before turning itself off again. And, some days, it’s completely random when it turns off.

You might think this is only something happening to older Xbox consoles. Surprisingly, it happens on newer consoles too.

Here’s what it looks like

So if you’re here looking for a solution to fix it, we have you covered. Now, you may need to get in touch with Xbox Support, but there are a few things you can try first.

So, why does my Xbox One keep turning off?

Short answer: It’s usually a heat-related problem

If your Xbox One is shutting off immediately after turning it on, the power cord is the first thing to check.

Check the power cord

Is it plugged fully in? Does it have any visible damage?

If you find anything wrong with it, replace the cable and see if your problems should go away. If you use a power strip, try plugging the console into the wall.

Also, try using a different power socket. The metal springs inside sockets loosen in time, and this could be causing the issue.

Reset the power supply

You can also try resetting the power supply. Did you know it has a tiny computer inside? Resetting the power supply can fix any odd hiccups it is currently experiencing.

Bad ventilation

If you notice your Xbox One is shutting off randomly, make sure that there’s enough of an air gap between the top of your console and whatever is above it.

That’s because that’s where the vents for hot air are situated.

An inch or more is a good amount of space. Move things around if something is sitting right on top of the console or if the shelf above is too close.

The vents for the fan inside your Xbox One are on the top of the console, so anything blocking this can lead to overheating.

READ MORE: Can you install games while your Xbox One is off?

If you get a message on your Xbox saying the console is getting improper ventilation, turn it off, wait one hour, move it to a well-ventilated area, and turn it on.

Dust build-up

Then look for any dust build-up around the vents on your Xbox One. You’ll have to clean it off or replace the fan if you see some.

Here’s a guide from iFixit on disassembling your Xbox One so you can clean the fan.

Energy saving enabled?

Another tip is to double-check you don’t have the option that enables your Xbox set to turn off automatically.

While overheating may be the most common reason your Xbox One keeps shutting itself off, other possible culprits exist.

There could be corrupted data, or your power supply might be on the way out. If that’s the case, check out the Xbox support page if none of these options fix your problem.

Finally, if your Xbox One keeps turning off at this stage, it’s time to talk to Xbox Support. They should be able to help, but they may ask you to send your console in for repairs. And we all know how that goes.

What do you think? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Can the Xbox One play Blu-ray movies?
• How to expand your Xbox One’s game storage
• You can now stream PC or Android games to your Xbox One
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Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

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Xbox gamers on Twitter began noticing the update recently, confirmed by one of the company’s engineering leads, Eden Marie.

Interestingly, the update has been available since the 2206 update earlier this summer. But users just recently started to notice the update in practice.

Previously whenever you would insert a physical Xbox One disc into your Xbox Series X|S console, an online compatibility check was required before you could start gaming.

Additionally, your console would download an updated game version online instead of installing it from the disc itself.

However, Xbox determined that was unnecessary for the majority of Xbox One game discs. The update eliminated that step from many Xbox One discs, unlocking them for offline installation and play.

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule. Many games will require some sort of update just to be playable. And others, like Halo Infinite, don’t even contain the full game on disc.

So having an internet connection is still necessary for gaming on an Xbox Series X|S.

However, this update means that you’ll still be able to play at least some games in the event of an internet or Microsoft server outage.

Have any thoughts on this? Carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Scrap the discs, Microsoft could be getting ready to release a disc-less Xbox One
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The post You can now play Xbox One discs offline on your Series X appeared first on KnowTechie.

Yes, you can legally share your digital game library with someone else. That way, they can still play your games even when not in your house.

But what is gameshare, and how easy can you add it to your console? We’ll break that all down below.

Things you should know about gamesharing on Xbox

Before you get started on the gameshare process for Xbox One, you’ll need to have a couple things readily available.

Any two from the following Xbox consoles: Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One S All Digital, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X, or Xbox Series S, as well as internet access (for both consoles). You also need the Xbox account login details for you and your friend.

This part is extremely important, and you will not want to gameshare with just anyone. Sharing login details should only be done between people you trust, as there is always the chance someone could abuse your login.

How many people can you gameshare with on Xbox?

If you want to know how many people you can gameshare with at once, we’ve got you covered. Gamesharing on Xbox is limited to two people at once.

That’s you and the other person involved. You must stop game sharing with the original person and set up two consoles again to game share with another person.

Game share doesn’t work with physical game discs. You can lend these to a friend, but you can’t play simultaneously.

How to gameshare on Xbox One

Now you’ve got one Xbox console set up to game share. It’s time for the second console.

Now set up the other console

Take your friend’s Xbox Live login details, and boot up your Xbox console. Then you follow the same steps as above, using your friend’s login.

When you are finished, you will have the following set up:

• Your Xbox console: Designated as your friend’s Home Console
• Their Xbox console: Set as your Home Console

Now you can both play each other’s libraries. If you want to change your home Xbox to game share with another friend, you can.

Just know that Microsoft limits the number of times you can change the home Xbox to five per year.

What content can you gameshare?

You can share almost everything on your Xbox account. Those include:

• Your Xbox Live Gold subscription
• Games and downloadable content from the Microsoft Store
• Games from an Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription

Microsoft says you can’t share game-specific content or in-game currency. You also can’t share some “pre-order or special edition content that can only be redeemed once.”

That’s a very small set of restrictions, considering how many games and DLC you do get access to.

The other thing you share — and it is the reason we recommend only doing those with trusted people — is the ability to make purchases on the Xbox account being shared.

So, again, be careful who you gameshare with, it could have financial risk.

What if Xbox gameshare isn’t working?

Have you noticed that game sharing isn’t working on your Xbox? Can’t load any of your games? Check your internet connection.

That’s because, for gameshare to work, you need to be connected to the internet. If offline, your Xbox will only be able to play disc-based games or those downloaded by the owner’s account.

No internet means no games, no Xbox Live Gold, and no Game Pass.

You should also check if your account is logged in on the Xbox you are trying to play on. Because someone else’s console is designated as your home Xbox, you have to be signed in.

Now you know how to gameshare on Xbox

Gamesharing your Xbox library is great. You can save money, try games you wouldn’t have bought, and play multiplayer with your buddy.

It’s also the best way to access your games quickly if you have multiple Xbox consoles. That means the whole family can get in on the fun, and you can create gaming memories that last a lifetime.

What do you think? Plan on using Xbox’s Gameshare feature? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Why does my Xbox One keep turning itself off?
• Can you install games while your Xbox One is off?
• Can the Xbox One play Blu-ray movies?
• The best gaming earbuds for PS4 and Xbox One

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here for more.

The post How to gameshare on your Xbox console appeared first on KnowTechie.

See, Microsoft quit reporting its exact sales numbers for Xbox One consoles back in 2016. Instead, the company tends to report on Xbox Live membership numbers.

But a recent document submitted to the Brazilian national competition regulator and discovered by Game Luster has shed some light on Microsoft’s Xbox One sales numbers over the year.

“Sony has surpassed Microsoft in terms of console sales and installed base, having sold more than twice as many Xbox in the last generation,” reads a translated excerpt from the document.

Sony itself stopped reporting on sales numbers for its PS4 console’s lifetime. Its final report showed around 117 million PS4s sold in the console’s lifetime.

Microsoft says PS4 sales more than doubled the total Xbox One console sales. So even though we haven’t heard any official sales numbers, this means the Xbox One sold less than 59 million consoles.

More than 50 million console sales are still pretty impressive for Microsoft. It just doesn’t look that great when compared to the outrageous sales performance of the PS4.

And Xbox has been heavily shifting its focus to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service and cloud gaming. Still, the underwhelming Xbox One sales numbers are certainly disappointing.

Microsoft still doesn’t share hardware sales numbers, so it’s hard to say how well the Xbox Series X|S is selling.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Xbox Series X|S compares against the PS5 in a few years, once supply chains and demand for the new consoles levels out.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Why does my Xbox One keep turning off?
• Backbone now sells an official PlayStation controller for iPhone
• Nintendo Switch Joy-Con support is coming to Steam
• Best back-to-school laptops for college students in 2022

The post Microsoft finally admits the PS4 drastically outsold the Xbox One appeared first on KnowTechie.

And remember, if you have an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you get Xbox Live Gold for no additional charge.

So if you subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate, you can also snag these games for free over the course of the month.

READ MORE: Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for September 2022

For August and September, the free Games with Gold still includes two classic Xbox 360 titles as well as two Xbox One titles.

Remember, you can play all of these games on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S with backward compatibility. So let’s see what’s up for grabs.

Free Games with Gold for August 2022

The first game up for grabs in August is Calico. Calico is a community sim game where you’re tasked with building up your town’s cat café. Add in cute furniture and decorations to draw in more customers and let your cat café thrive.

Next up on the list is the hack and slash platformer, ScourgeBringer. Take on the role of deadly warrior Kyhra as you fight your way through a post-apocalyptic dungeon-scape. This fast-paced platformer will challenge you from start to finish.

Kicking off this month’s backward-compatible lineup, we have Saints Row 2. This open-world gangster game takes a new direction from its predecessor.

The Saints Row gang has been dismantled and it’s up to the player to bring the once-revered group back to its former glory.

And closing out August’s free Games with Gold is Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine. Assemble a team of the best thieves that you can find in this journey to pull off the perfect heist.

Build a team solo or join other players as you infiltrate nightclubs, yachts, and more in this top-down mega-heist experience.

Check out all the titles and their availability dates below:

• Calico ($11.99 ERP) – Available August 1 to 31
• ScourgeBringer ($16.99 ERP) – Available August 16 to September 15
• Saint’s Row 2 ($9.99 ERP) – Available August 1 to 15
• Monaco: What’s Yours is Mine ($14.99 ERP) – Available August 16 to 31

So that does it for this month’s free Games with Gold. You can snag all of these games for free during their available windows as long as you are an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber.

And remember, this is one of the last months that you’ll be able to get free Xbox 360 Games with Gold. So if you’re a retro gaming fan, be sure to check out these offers.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Xbox ending free Xbox 360 games for Games with Gold in October
• Booting up your Xbox Series X|S just got a whole lot faster
• Microsoft adds Discord voice chat to Xbox consoles
• Sony is adding 1440p gaming support on the PS5

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for August 2022 appeared first on KnowTechie.

Over the course of July, Xbox gamers with an active Xbox Live Gold subscription will be able to claim four free games that they can download and play for as long as they like.

Remember, anyone with an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription gets Xbox Live Gold included for no extra charge. So, if you have Game Pass Ultimate, you can snag these free games too.

READ MORE: Xbox ending free Xbox 360 games for Games with Gold in October

As always, the batch of free games includes two Xbox One titles and two classic Xbox 360 games. You can claim them on either your Xbox One or your Xbox Series X|S via backwards compatibility. So, let’s see what’s up for grabs in July’s Games with Gold lineup.

Games with Gold for July 2022

This month sees a variety of games available for free for Xbox Gold subscribers. As mentioned, there are two modern Xbox One titles and two Xbox 360 titles. That’s kind of a bummer, but ultimately, these games are free.

The first title for Xbox One is Beasts of Maravilla Island. This game requires players to take pictures of elusive creatures and you get to do that in a jungle teeming with life.

The other Xbox One title in July is Relicta. This game is a first-person physics-based puzzle game and seems like a bunch of fun.

READ MORE: Here are your free Xbox Games with Gold for September 2022

But, that’s not all. On the Xbox 360 end, Thrillville: Off the Rails lets you design your own theme park. Finally, Torchlight is an ARPG hack-and-slash title.

Check out all the titles and their availability dates below:

• Beasts of Maravilla Island ($9.99 ERP): Available July 1 to 31
• Relicta ($19.99 ERP): Available July 16 to August 15
• Thrillville: Off the Rails ($9.99 ERP): Available July 1 to 15
• Torchlight ($14.99 ERP): Available July 16 to 31

That does it for this month’s free Games with Gold for Xbox Gamers. Again, be sure you have an active Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass Ultimate so you can claim all of these games while they’re free.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Here are your free PlayStation Plus games for July 2022
• Microsoft adds Xbox features to Edge to entice gamers, but will it work?
• No Man’s Sky touches down on Nintendo Switch, but can the Switch handle it?
• Pokémon Go developer is making a location-based NBA game and it looks great

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here, but if you want to learn more, click here.

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Although it’s a little late this year, the 2022 Xbox Spring Sale is finally here and there are some great games up for grabs at huge discounts. Games like Grand Theft Auto Online and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy can be snagged right now for 50 percent off.

And some older games, like The Witcher 3 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey are up to 75 percent off. Some games are even at a firesale price of 90 percent off, like The Sims 4.

Some of the best Spring Sale discounts that caught our attention

READ MORE: Xbox is working on a Roku-like device for game streaming

With so many games on sale, searching for the best titles can be difficult. Here are some of our favorite offerings worth checking out.

And there are so many more deals available as part of this year’s Xbox Spring Sale. There are more than 700 games and DLC content discounted for this year’s Spring Sale.

Click here to check out the full list of Xbox Spring Sale games.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Microsoft is reportedly adding a family plan to Xbox Game Pass
• Max Payne 1 and 2 are getting remade on PC, PS5, and Xbox
• Tips for finally locating an Xbox Series X
• How much does the new PlayStation Plus subscription cost?

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With the company leaning into more cross-device play through Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming on various platforms, users are starting to use their controllers on several different devices.

Previously, if you were using anything other than the new Xbox Series X|S controller, you would have to go through a series of menus and manually change your wireless connection.

Now, the company has unlocked a feature on the Xbox One, the Elite Wireless Series 2, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller that makes switching your wireless connection to a new device a breeze.

READ MORE: PowerA’s new Xbox controllers go pastel for the summer

The controllers will now remember one Xbox console and one Bluetooth device at all times. And you’ll be able to easily switch between those two connections just by double-tapping the pair button on your controller.

The update also equips those three controllers with Dynamic Latency Input, which improves upon the connection between your controller and your console for a more responsive experience.

The update also includes vast improvements to the company’s accessibility features. Now, game developers have the option to tag their games with up to 20 accessibility feature tags in their listings on the Microsoft Store. This is a great way to advertise games that have features that will make them enjoyable for individuals with certain accessibility needs.

Xbox’s November update also includes several other features, like improved color filters, upgraded audio and volume settings, and overall improvements to the Xbox mobile app for Android and iOS.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Xbox Cloud Gaming is finally available on Xbox One and Series X|S
• The next stop for Cloud Gaming is your smart TV
• Sony revealed the top 10 games played on the PS5 during its first year
• The strangest thing about Netflix’s Stranger Things games is that they’re actually pretty good

The post New Xbox update includes accessibility tags and improved controller features appeared first on KnowTechie.

These features offer a different way to experience chatting with friends on the Xbox console. Originally just available for in-game chat, these features are now a part of party chat on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, making the consoles’ accessibility even better.

With text-to-speech, gamers are able to have the console read out any text they have typed into a game or party’s text chat to other players. Conversely, speech-to-text will display everything that gamers say, either in-game or in a party, in a customizable text box overlay.

So how do you enable these accessibility features on your Xbox?

These features are amazing for bringing the total Xbox experience to more gamers, but they can be difficult to locate in the consoles’ settings. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. First, follow these steps for turning on text-to-speech and speech-to-text in-game:

Once you’ve done that, you will now have one or both of these features enabled. As a note, only certain games allow this feature. You can check out which games support game transcription here. Now for party chat transcription:

1. Press the Xbox button on your controller
2. Navigate to Profile and system > Settings > Ease of Access
3. Select Game and Chat transcription
4. Under the Party chat options column, select one or both transcription settings

This will activate the transcription settings while you are in party chat. With those features enabled, you will now see voice chat as text on your screen, and other players will hear anything you type transcribed in a voice of your choosing.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• How to update the Xbox Series X controller
• How to update the Xbox Series X and Series S
• Can you use an external hard drive with the Xbox Series X|S?
• Can Xbox Series X and Xbox One players be in a party together?

The post How to enable text-to-speech and speech-to-text on Xbox appeared first on KnowTechie.

First off, this month’s update tackled a significant accessibility issue. The company has implemented its text-to-speech and speech transcription functionality into Xbox Party Chat.

Now, you can have the console write out everything that people say in party chat to an adjustable overlay that displays on-screen.

Conversely, this feature also adds the ability to read out anything that is typed into party chat. Both of these new settings can be found in the “ease of access” section of the Xbox settings menu. This is a feature that Microsoft has been working on for a while, and it is a great way to make gaming more accessible for everyone.

“At Team Xbox, we believe gaming should be inclusive, approachable, and accessible to everyone. That includes making it easy for gamers to play and communicate together.”

This month’s update also includes a couple of extra features. First, Xbox has joined the various social media outlets in adding stories to its mobile app on iOS and Android.

These posts will be similar to what you find on Facebook or Instagram, but they will all be from official game studios. You can like and even comment on the official posts right from the Xbox app.

The company also added a new parental guidance feature. Kids who use child accounts can now request to play multiplayer games with others, and parents can allow or deny those requests straight from a console or the Xbox mobile app.

That caps off a pretty significant update to both the app and console interface. The new ease-of-access feature is going to be a great way to open up parts of gaming that some people haven’t been able to enjoy yet. I’m all about enhancing the gaming experience for everyone.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Your Xbox One may soon be able to play next-gen games through xCloud
• The Xbox Mini Fridge is actually real and coming this holiday season
• Here’s everything Microsoft and Bethesda announced at their E3 showcase
• Nintendo put on a show with its E3 2021 Nintendo Direct presentation

The post The new Xbox June update adds stories and text-to-speech in party chat appeared first on KnowTechie.

Microsoft xCloud is the company’s cloud gaming platform. As of right now, Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers get access to xCloud. The service gives you access to over 100 games that you can play without downloads on mobile and through a web browser.

Sometime soon, the company is adding xCloud to Xbox One consoles. This will let users play cloud Xbox games directly from their console. Once the app is available on Xbox One, Microsoft has said that some of those next-gen games will be playable on the Xbox One.

“For the millions of people who play on Xbox One consoles today, we are looking forward to sharing more about how we will bring many of these next-gen games, such as Microsoft Flight Simulator, to your console through Xbox Cloud Gaming, just like we do with mobile devices, tablets, and browsers.”

There isn’t any confirmation on when xCloud game streaming will become available on the Xbox One. Chances are, the app will not be available when Microsoft Flight Simulator releases on Xbox Series X|S and xCloud on July 27. Officials at Xbox have alluded to xCloud coming to consoles “later this year.”

This is some pretty wild news. Microsoft is definitely looking to change the gaming landscape with xCloud and Game Pass. The fact that users will be able to play some next-gen games on the Xbox One is amazing, considering the potential money the company could lose by not having to sell additional consoles. This is another great way to entice people to join the Game Pass experience.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The Xbox Mini Fridge is actually real and coming this holiday season
• Here’s everything Microsoft and Bethesda announced at their E3 showcase
• Microsoft is stepping up its cloud gaming with an Xbox TV app and xCloud streaming stick
• Online E3 was an experience, but was it a good one?

The post Your Xbox One may soon be able to play next-gen games through xCloud appeared first on KnowTechie.

Now, in May 2021, like a fart in church, Biomutant has silently released and it seems to have made a big stink.

Even after playing it three years ago, I still found myself wondering just what Biomutant was. It’s easy to describe after playing, but I’m still not sure the game completely understands the concept.

Biomutant is an open-world hack-and-slash RPG with a lot of customization and crafting options. On paper, it’s not hard to see why Biomutant garnered significant hype within the last few months. Open-world RPGs are the flavor of the month and one with this level of customization and a unique world concept could stand above them all.

Biomutant tries. It really attempts to do a lot, and either the small studio broke off more than they could chew, or in the four years since the game was announced, it went through numerous creative visions. I lean towards the latter.

You see, Biomutant is surprisingly pretty for a last-gen game. It also offers a surprisingly high amount of character customization and design for a small studio endeavor. There’s even a lot of combat flexibility with skills in both psi powers and mutant abilities that can be flexed into the weapons you use.

Speaking of weapon combos, the game’s “Wung-Fu” system is pretty standard for a hack-and-slash game, but different weapon types really jazz it up.

Sounds fantastic, right?

Biomutant is a jack of trades, master of none

I’ve put about 12 hours into Biomutant and admittedly have only really just grasped where the story is heading. The game’s first story beats have you dealing with uniting the tribes and standing against the giant World-Eaters. Unfortunately, I’ve just about completely lost all desire to continue this adventure. I wouldn’t call the game anti-fun but it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well.

That character customization from earlier? From my experiences, most of it doesn’t matter because dual wielding can’t match the damage output of heavier weapons. Guns allow you to put down a lot of damage with a lot less risk and those special attacks aren’t something you can lean on. Target tracking in combat can be frustrating at times, with many attacks not going where they are needed or enemies getting pulled into attacks that shouldn’t be. The game forces you to be a little more flexible at times, but overall, it’s very messy.

The story offers some options to change the path, but the light and dark system come out to “be a jerk” or “don’t be a jerk”. Early in the game, I was presented with a choice to join an alliance. I’m told to meet with a group that believes might is right or the other, that thinks that working together is the only way to survive.

I immediately beeline to team friendship and form an alliance. As I leave, I’m chastised by several villagers that were upset I considered team Conan the Barbarian. Except, I didn’t. The game, by default, believes I went to both places, kinda silly in my opinion.

However, if we are talking about the story, it also important to note this game is heavy on it. It’s not a great one, of course, but there is a lot of it. It’s supposed to be an emotional ride about running from your destiny and finding who it is you really are by cutting your own path.

Your parents die early in a flashback and it’s hilarious. Your mom (or Mooma) is a great protector of the village and founder of Wung-Fu. She dies so quickly, I thought it was a joke. Your dad (or Popsi) gets yeeted off the side of a cliff. I feel like this story was rewritten a lot.

The last major story gripe is that the entire thing is told by a narrator. He voices almost everything but your light side and dark side. Only, the game is voice acted as well. Each character you encounter that you speak with talks in gibberish, like in Banjo and Kazooie.

The game finds it relevant to let the speaker talk, and then the narrator tells you what’s up. It is a long process and with fairly weak writing and it doesn’t pay off at all. It’s also silly to hear the narrator say things in combat like “killed that one” or “slash!”

It’s not the worst game and there is fun to be had

I don’t want to sound like a wet blanket here. Biomutant isn’t the worst game I’ve played this year. Hell, it isn’t the worst game I’ve played in May. It’s not even an objectively bad game. It’s a good game with what seems to be development issues or a lack of polish. Movement is a weightless and icky feeling, but it is pretty to look at. I thought it was neat when I went running and my character ran on all fours and but its ears back. Biomutant is filled with things like that.

Many times, when I was playing Biomutant, I found myself in awe of the landscapes and the world. You go from murky undergrounds to lush woodlands and vibrant swamps. There is a lot to look at and if I were to judge the game on its own, it would actually outperform next-gen games like Immortals Fenyx Rising. The soundtrack isn’t bad either, pulling from eastern influences, but not feeling out of place.

There will be people out there that really enjoy Biomutant. I’m not far enough in to really score it fairly. I’ll just warn you that there was some sizeable hype for this game but it’s a middle-of-the-road product at very best. I’ll probably end up seeing the game to completion but I am going to spend more time with games that make me happy, over being frustrated and bored.

Biomutant is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• I’ve never really played Mass Effect, does the Legendary Edition hold up to current standards?
• The best video games launching in June 2021
• Rockstar continues to shove GTA V down our throats, will release on PS5 and Series X in November
• First Impressions: Outriders – a beautiful and deep sci-fi looter-shooter

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post First Impressions: Biomutant – does it live up to the hype? appeared first on KnowTechie.

Mass Effect is a giant space adventure full of decisions and consequences that shape the story to come. Throughout the story, you follow Commander Shepard during a galactic war against the dangerous Reapers. Decisions you make along the way will determine how your story plays out.

The remaster focused the most heavily on the original Mass Effect from 2007. The focus was to bring the original title more up to date in terms of mechanics. Things like loading times and vehicle mechanics were desperately in need of an overhaul, and BioWare was certainly aware of this. Fans of the series should now notice that combat and overall gameplay in the original game now more closely matches the second and third games.

The overhaul also includes some much needed changes in the character customization area. The Legendary Edition now gives users the option to play as female Shepard throughout the entire series. It also contains a plethora of extra customization options focused on non-white characters.

The Mass Effect trilogy is iconic and belongs near the top of the list of great RPGs of the past. Mass Effect: Legendary Edition gives gamers the chance to revisit this great story with updated graphics and mechanics that make better use of today’s hardware.

If you haven’t experienced this trilogy yet, I would highly recommend giving these games a try. Especially considering that BioWare is currently working on the next installment in the franchise.

Mass Effect: Legendary Edition rolls all three games into one for $59.99 and is now available on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Google wants you to know it still cares about Stadia and that 100 new games are coming in 2021
• The PS5 is getting some new controller colors and they are amazing
• Intel Labs used machine learning to make GTA V look like real life
• Everything that has been revealed in the Apple vs. Epic Games lawsuit

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Mass Effect: Legendary Edition brings all three games together with updated gameplay and 4K appeared first on KnowTechie.

Major Nelson has been keeping us in the loop, and it looks like Microsoft focused on EA titles with this update. Included in the most recent additions to this feature are every Battlefield game that came out for the Xbox One, as well as both of the Star Wars Battlefront titles that released on the console. Also included is the popular parkour simulator Mirror’s Edge Catalyst.

It seems that Microsoft’s focus with the most recent additions to Xbox FPS Boost was also on multiplayer games. Multiplayer titles, like the Plants vs. Zombies series, tend to get the most benefit from increased frame rates, by reducing input lag.

This is a pleasant change in direction for the feature, which has seen more single-player story games in the past. Most recently, a bunch of Bethesda titles were updated with Xbox FPS Boost, seemingly in line with Microsoft’s acquisition of the massive game studio.

Here are all of the new Xbox One games that can now utilize FPS boost up to 120Hz:

One minor downfall with Xbox FPS Boost is that some titles require a lower resolution for the feature to work. For those titles, the feature will be turned off by default and must be toggled on in the settings.

These titles are Battlefield 1, Battlefield 5, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville, Star Wars Battlefront II, Titanfall 2, and Unravel 2. For any titles other than these, the feature will be turned on by default on your Xbox Series X|S.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• Microsoft will finally let you play free-to-play games online without Xbox Live Gold
• Game subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass make gaming more accessible for disabled gamers
• PlayStation Plus memberships might soon include movies and shows
• PlayStation users can now download Horizon Zero Dawn for free on PS4 and PS5

Just a heads up, if you buy something through our links, we may get a small share of the sale. It’s one of the ways we keep the lights on here. Click here for more.

The post Xbox is adding a bunch of EA games that take advantage of the FPS Boost on Series X|S appeared first on KnowTechie.

Starting in May, the Xbox OneGuide app will no longer offer live television listings from your cable box. Though users will still be able to watch television through the OneGuide app, you won’t be able to see the on-screen listings guide. In a comment at the end of the March update announcement, Jonathan Hildebrandt, Principal Program Manager Lead at Xbox is quoted as saying:

Based on customer usage and feedback, we’re constantly evolving the Xbox experience. To that end, beginning this May we’ll be sunsetting live TV listings for OneGuide on Xbox One. You can continue to use OneGuide to view your connected HDMI devices or USB TV tuner. You can also keep using OneGuide for HDMI-passthrough and to watch TV via USB TV tuners, but you won’t be able to access the on-screen TV Listings guide.

This certainly looks like the first step towards the end of the Xbox TV experience. With all of the other ways to access media in today’s market, this is no real surprise.

In fact, the Xbox Series X|S didn’t launch with an HDMI passthrough or the OneGuide app. It seems like the full television experience is one that Microsoft has finally given up on.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• The March Xbox update adds some new features ahead of the new Xbox headset release
• A new Switch would need to do some big things to keep up with the PS5 and Xbox Series X
• NBA 2K21 will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass
• Sony’s new patent means your next PlayStation controller might be a…banana?

The post Microsoft is finally giving up on Xbox TV and will stop offering live television listings appeared first on KnowTechie.

The new Xbox Accessories app will allow users to fine-tune the audio settings on their new Xbox headsets. Additionally, users will be able to adjust mic sensitivity as well as other minor features on the headset. This update will also help users keep their new headsets up to date, by enabling wireless updates for the device.

These are not the only features that are coming in the March update for Xbox, though that does cover everything regarding the new Xbox headset. Some other rather interesting changes will be coming as well.

What else can we expect from the March Xbox update?

One of the biggest features coming in the next Xbox update is a toggle option that gives players some new options when playing backward compatible games. This update will include toggles for both HDR and FPS Boost. This means that users will be able to enhance their experience on backward compatible games simply by toggling these options on in the Xbox menus.

Additionally, Microsoft is adding a way to manage Xbox subscription services directly from your console. Here users will be able to see information regarding their subscriptions, and even update this information right from the Xbox itself. One feature leaving the Xbox this month is the TV listings in OneGuide. Due to limited usage, Xbox has decided to get rid of this feature.

The full update information can be found here. There are a few more minor tweaks, but these are the main aspects of the March Xbox update. It looks like Xbox is preparing for the launch of the Xbox headset next week.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Editors’ Recommendations:

• A new Switch would need to do some big things to keep up with the PS5 and Xbox Series X
• Add 12 months to your Xbox Live Gold membership for $50
• How to update the Xbox Series X controller
• NBA 2K21 will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass

The post The March Xbox update adds some new features ahead of the new Xbox headset release appeared first on KnowTechie.