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It's a very interesting time for Japanese RPGs — and not just because Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sparked all sorts of arguments amongst genre enthusiasts. Indeed, it feels like we've been hitting some serious highs with JRPGs of late, with critically acclaimed titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter making big waves recently. It goes without saying that Metaphor developer Atlus remains at the forefront of this modern JRPG push — and that makes director Katsura Hashino's new comments all the more interesting. Hashino, who's spearheaded the Persona series and the aforementioned Metaphor, believes that the genre is now on the cusp of evolution — something he calls "JRPG 3.0". During a recent talk about artistry in media (as reported by 4Gamer and translated by GamesRadar), Hashino explained that he views the genre in three distinct stages: old school, classic JRPGs are "1.0", modern and current JRPGs are "2.0", and future JRPGs are "3.0". He suggests that modern JRPGs are defined by being "higher quality due to how much more responsive they are to the player", setting them apart from older adventures. In other words, aspects like more accessible design and increasingly involved gameplay mechanics are now the norm. But what about the "3.0" era? Well, Hashino says we're almost there, and he wants to be part of this new wave. "There will be a greater dimension to these games and they'll change the genre's structure and presentation at a fundamental level," Hashino claims, without going into too much detail. It's a fascinating subject, we think, especially since current JRPGs are already trying new things For example, action-based mechanics seem to be seeping into the genre more and more; Metaphor and the latest Trails games both utilise action combat as a part of their overall battle systems, while the Final Fantasy 7 Remake series adopts a full-on hybrid between action and command combat. While Hashino appears to be talking about evolution on a more general level, increasingly popular trends like action-based gameplay will contribute to how future JRPGs present themselves. What do you think the future of JRPGs looks like? Is Hashino right? Are we about to behold the next step? Level up in the comments section below.

It's been an unusually rocky ride for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, which has been widely panned and appears to be selling below the series' usual pace. While Activision has yet to provide any official sales information itself (which is kinda telling on its own), some data has begun to emerge, including a weak UK launch and, now, a very weak Japanese launch. As shared by Zuby_Tech on X, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has had the worst Japanese physical launch sales in the franchise's history: According to the above table, the new game has sold 12,311 copies at Japanese retail, fewer than any other entry, dating all the way back to 2007's Call of Duty 3. Now, Japan has never been a huge market for the series, and we should remember this is purely based on physical sales data. However, the sales figure is less than half of last year's Black Ops 6, and again, this trend downward is reflected in other markets. Speculation about why the game is struggling comes down to other games capturing people's attention, like Battlefield 6 and ARC Raiders, as well as a general lack of enthusiasm for the new CoD. Whatever the case, it's another bump in the road for this year's game.

We just had a pretty chill weekend amidst Xbox 360 celebrating 20 years of age over the last few days, and while I was personally relaxing with YouTube on Sunday evening, I came across this awesome Digital Foundry video unboxing a brand-new launch Xbox 360 from 2005. As you can see in the above video, hosts John and Rich get all nostalgic while getting stuck into an Xbox 360 Core model that had been left untouched for 20 years. Everything's here - from the original inserts and green packaging bags to the console itself and that gloriously pristine controller. As the quote above notes, this of course means that the iconic 'Blades' dashboard is present and well; looking typically sleek and snappy as the team navigates this time machine back to 2005. Honestly, take us back - what a console and what a time to be gaming with Xbox! John hooking the machine up to a classic CRT TV was also a nice touch and typically on-brand for the DF Retro host; once he'd stuck that in PAL-60 mode it was running a dream on there. It's also genuinely quite nice to see Rich grinning through the entire video as the nostalgia poured in - we felt similar just watching it to be honest! The Xbox 360's 20th anniversary has now come and gone, and while Microsoft has been rather subdued with it, fans and the press have been lapping up the console's big birthday. That includes us at Pure Xbox of course - we'll link to some of our other recent 360 content down below.

Xbox's latest partnership has been revealed, and we've got some new shoes on the way! Yes, the Xbox-Inspired "Crocs Classic Clog" will be going on sale from this Tuesday, November 25th. Xbox is only teasing a first look right now, which you can see in the social media video below: The Xbox "Crocs Classic Clog" has already been revealed on the official Crocs website though, with lots of details being shared along with some all-important screenshots. Firstly, let's look at the description: Fixed dimensional controller joysticks and buttons Branded Xbox rivet Incredibly light and fun to wear Water-friendly and buoyant; weighs only ounces Designed to enhance breathability Easy to clean and quick to dry Pivoting heel straps for a more secure fit Backstrap customizable with Jibbitz™ charms Iconic Crocs Comfort™: Lightweight. Flexible. 360-degree comfort. Now, let's peek at those images! You might be surprised how these look from different angles - as mentioned, they're literally based on an Xbox controller complete with analog sticks, buttons and a d-pad. A unique style for sure! We'll throw those (low-res for now) screenshots down below, along with a link to the Crocs website where you'll be able to pre-order them for $80 USD beginning on November 25th. Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information. Xbox Classic Clog $80.00 Crocs Liking the look of the Xbox Crocs? Tell us in the comments section down below.

Nintendo's weekly maintenance schedule has been released, and weirdly, the only console getting any love this week is the Nintendo 3DS. Reported on by Nintendo Everything, the Nintendo 3DS's available network services will be down between 3pm PST to 4:30pm PST today, 24th November 2025. Of course, that might sound a little confusing given that online servers for the 3DS and Wii U shut down over a year ago. But many people still play their 3DS's, and you can redownload games off of the eShop on the system. So any maintenance that takes place today is likely just to iron out a few kinks Nintendo discovered. For when this takes place in your timezone, here's a handy list (expect it to run about 1hr 30mins) North America: 3pm PST / 4pm MST / 5pm CST / 6pm EST UK/Ire: 11pm GMT Europe: 12am (Tue) CET / 1am (Tue) EET Asia/Oceania: 8am (Tue) JST / 7am (Tue) AWST / 10am (Tue) AEDT Your Local Time: 4pm, Mon 24th Nov 2025 Mountain Standard Time Image: Nintendo Will that stop people worrying? Probably not, as evidenced on Reddit. Nintendo isn't going to just pull the plug without saying anything. Plus, the Big N performed maintenance on Nintendo Network ID as recently as October. The company is always doing something with older software. Essentially, this is business as usual. You probably just won't be able to download 3DS games for a couple of hours.

Morsels is one of those roguelike action games that feels impenetrable at first, but once you start learning its obscure language, it becomes more and more rewarding. You play as a mouse trying to fight back against the tyranny of feline overlords, and you do so with mysterious cards that transform you into various strange creatures. Based on trash and scraps of food, the titular Morsels each have unique attacks and abilities, and you can swap between up to three of them as you play through a run. They can level up to a more powerful form, but when they level up again, they perish, so your strongest Morsels won't last forever. Mostly playing out like a twin-stick shooter, you explore each randomly-generated stage, defeating enemies and searching for benefits, like XP, cheese, and useful items. Between levels are random events that have (mostly) positive effects; some of these are novel mini-games that completely change the art style and gameplay. The game is fast-paced and quite demanding. You can't be too precious with your Morsels, as they'll die anyway, but reckless play is punished thanks to combat rooms that border on bullet hell, requiring precision and a knowledge of how to play your current character. If you're able to push through the initial difficulty, there's a gratifying sense of progression as you gradually get further, discover more perks, and beat more bosses. With the right combination of Morsels, buffs, and items, you can become literally unstoppable, though getting to that point is rare thanks to a somewhat uneven challenge level and some characters feeling much weaker than others. In some ways it reminds us of older roguelikes, such as Spelunky or The Binding of Isaac, in terms of how tough it can feel at first, but rewards knowledge and skill. Mastering the game will take time, but it has just enough depth to make it a satisfying endeavour. Layered on top of the game itself is an extremely stylish look; it's purposely gross and grimy, but with that comes lots of charm and personality. Add on top a super catchy soundtrack, and you have a game that looks and sounds like few others. If you're a fan of roguelikes that push back, rewarding skilful play and understanding of its barely-explained layers, Morsels is definitely worth sampling. Some might be frustrated by its refusal to hold your hand, but those who stick with it will have a fun and singular experience.

Well, we're not sure anyone saw this crossover coming. Just confirmed by Ubisoft, Assassin's Creed Shadows' next collaboration will be with... Attack on Titan. The super popular manga and anime property will be featured in a new quest, which seems to task Naoe and Yasuke with stopping a titan transformation. No, we're not making this up. All we've got to go on right now is the above teaser trailer, but the quest itself goes live on the 25th November. That's tomorrow at the time of writing. However, it's also worth noting that this is a limited time deal. The quest will only be available until the 15th December, 2025. What's more, the cool Attack on Titan equipment seen in the promotional material actually seems to be part of a paid DLC pack that accompanies the update — which is rather disappointing. What the heck do you make of this one? Aim for the back of the neck in the comments section below.

Developer Shift Up has revealed some of its own data about Stellar Blade, the Sony-published action game that launched on PC earlier this year. The game, which features main character Eve on a quest to save the planet from monstrous forces, is reportedly the "best-selling PlayStation-exclusive launch IP in history", presumably meaning PC, and also presumably excluding Helldivers 2. The above image is taken from an investor presentation. As it highlights, the action title reached a peak concurrent player count of over 192,000, which is an impressive feat for a single-player experience. In addition, sales across both PC and PS5 put Stellar Blade at over 3 million copies. The figure will be higher, as this datapoint in the image only reflects the game's first five days on PC. Stellar Blade has been a big hit, then, and has resonated very well with PC players. We can't imagine all the mod support has hurt its standings, either, but we probably shouldn't dwell on that for too long. Anyway, it's fair to say Sony did well to snag this one. As for what's next, the developer has said it plans to make a sequel, and is currently hiring for the next Stellar Blade.

When you think of landmark western RPGs of the modern era, it's likely that two games immediately come to mind: The Witcher 3, and Baldur's Gate 3. It's obviously the latter that's had more impact in recent times, setting a new benchmark for choice-driven adventures — to the point where it's now being named as an inspiration for The Witcher 4. It's funny how these things work, isn't it? "There was a lot of inspiration in what Baldur's Gate 3 did," CD Projekt Red co-CEO Michał Nowakowski told PC Gamer. However, as you'd expect, the Polish company isn't suddenly going to pivot towards making a Larian-style RPG — despite having a clear appreciation for Baldur's Gate 3 and what it was able to achieve. "I think we're still sticking to what was in Witcher 3, Cyberpunk. But we don't want to just make another game like that, just with better graphics. We do want to innovate," Nowakowski continues. He then digs a little deeper, commenting: "That's the kind of game [Larian] can make. But a lot of stuff with how they can interact with the world and what it does was, for sure, some inspiration to us." We suppose it'll be interesting to see just how CDPR's next games evolve from what came before. The Witcher 3 was — and still is — widely praised for its role-playing potential, so if its successor can build on that, we'll be in for a treat. What are your hopes and dreams for The Witcher 4 — and even the next Cyberpunk? Choose your dialogue options carefully in the comments section below.

Oblivion Remastered was a hit for Bethesda — despite its dodgy performance issues — and the publisher's keen to repeat the level of hype that was swirling when the remake launched back in April. Basically, Bethesda's all-in on the idea of shadow dropping its games — that is, releasing them with no prior announcement and watching fans lose their minds. According to Bethesda Game Studios director Tom Mustaine, it's company boss Todd Howard who's pushing for the continued shadow drop approach. Mustaine told GamesRadar: "Todd Howard, the boss man, he's wanted to shadow drop things for a long time because it's so great to be able to say, 'Here's the thing, get it today.' It's very valuable." Mustaine goes on to outline his own thoughts on sudden releases, commenting that "we all have short attention spans now [...] There's Grand Theft Auto, for example. I want that today, right? So it is an interesting strategy... I don't have any ideas of what would be next, but I hope [Oblivion Remastered's] not the last." We agree with him in that it's certainly an interesting strategy — but we also don't think that a shadow drop guarantees success. For example, in Oblivion's case, we can't just ignore the fact that the game was leaked numerous times up until said shadow drop. There was a marketing campaign going on — it was just driven by fans rather than the company. Still, in an age where big budget projects can take half a decade to actually see the light of day, we're not against Bethesda's potential plans. At the very least, it's probably a more exciting alternative to having a game be announced years before its eventual launch. What do you make of Bethesda's perspective? Are shadow drops the future? Keep your eyes peeled in the comments section below.

SCUF has a solid reputation when it comes to delivering amazing controllers, but we now have a real contender for one of their best Xbox efforts: the Valor Pro Wireless ($190 / £180). This beast boasts customizable back paddles, mouse-click or full-press shoulder triggers, TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) anti-drift sticks, a rechargeable battery and much more. The Valor Pro Wireless really does everything as close to perfect as possible, building on the core design of Xbox's already amazing gamepad to present an utterly essential way to play. Right out of the box, the premium feel of this controller can't be stated enough, with lovely rubber grips on the back and an eye-catching matte finish that is smooth enough to be comfortable while simultaneously feeling unlikely to slip or move. This coat also gives the controller a very clean and premium look and feel, something that is much appreciated for fast-paced games. In addition, if you don't take too well to the matte black – or any of the color options for that matter – have no fear, as the magnetic faceplate is removable with just one pull at the top. So if you ever feel the need to replace yours, you can do so. As much as I love the official Xbox controller, I have to admit I'm frustrated that Microsoft hasn't adopted anti-drift technology in its analogue sticks. I've had multiple pads become unusable due to stick drift, so the TMR sticks used on the Valor Pro Wireless are an absolute godsend. They're also the most precise and responsive sticks I've ever seen on any Xbox pad, and when tested in games such as The Finals and ARC Raiders, they performed exceptionally well, feeling utterly effortless to use. Along with the base sticks provided on the controller, there is also an additional pair of taller sticks which have a convex (rather than concave) top. I personally prefer the default concave top, and would have liked to have had some taller sticks with that option, but it's hardly a deal-breaker. The face buttons and d-pad are both very similar to the default Xbox pad, but with SCUF's premium coat of paint; they're satisfying and responsive, providing an all-around great experience that offers a comfortable and smooth time in any game you choose. You may have noticed two scroll wheels on the left and right at the bottom of the controller. These are separate volume controls for in-game audio and voice chat, giving you the option to get the perfect audio balance during gameplay. The 3.5mm headphone jack is located in its usual place below these dials. Onto the back of the controller, we have the snappy mouse-click triggers, and that's not their only feature; they are adjustable to your liking. Flick the switch and you have a full-range analogue input for games that require a specific level of pressure, such as driving games. FPS titles are what I play most, so I love the 'instant' mouse-click setting, which means I can fire on foes almost instantly. I can confidently say that the difference from full-press to mouse-click is game-changing, especially in games that call for a fast trigger finger. This is a feature that is greatly appreciated and will significantly elevate your game. Another headline feature is not only a convenience, but also a long-term money saver: the rechargeable battery. This feature has been missing from the Xbox line of controllers for years (by default, at least), and is very welcome on the Valor Pro Wireless. With it offering a considerable 17 hours of battery life on a single charge, it's certainly a preferable option to having to buy batteries individually. The obvious downside is that you don't have the option to choose between AA batteries and a rechargeable pack, as is the case with the official controller. Another feature that provides many more ways to play is the addition of back paddles. The Valor Pro Wireless boasts four back paddles that feel responsive and comfortable while not impeding grip and not taking up too much space. They can perform actions your thumb or finger would have had to do on the face buttons, but with the paddles, you can free up your thumb so it can stay ready on the joystick and be there to do what it needs to. Some additional small controls on the back of the controller include a 3-point selection switch for wireless connectivity between Xbox, PC, and Bluetooth, as well as a button that links to controller profiles on the PC-based companion app. This app also allows you to fine-tune other aspects of the controller, and is currently in its beta phase. To say that this is the best controller I've used with my Xbox Series X would be an understatement; it takes the basic blueprint of the official pad and augments it with some brilliant features, such as no-drift sticks, an internal battery, rear paddles, audio separation and more. While the high cost might present a barrier for some, I'm comfortable with it – after all, I've gone through at least three controllers since I bought my console, and those days may well be over thanks to the arrival of the Valor Pro Wireless.

Microsoft has implemented multiple price increases for the Xbox Series X and S over the past few years, and a new report suggests this might not be the end for current-gen Xbox price hikes. Coming from Moore's Law Is Dead on YouTube — a tech insider who we've covered here on the site before — Microsoft has apparently not accounted for potential RAM cost increases that are likely to come as a result of a new deal struck between OpenAI and several manufacturing partners. The YouTuber says that Sony, for example, has stockpiled RAM supplies at a lower cost, while Microsoft hasn't employed the same tactic. And, with this OpenAI deal taking up to 40% of the world's supply of DRAM off the market for other buyers, this could cause issues for any company that needs to purchase it for manufacturing; such as Microsoft. At the time of posting no price increases have been announced by Xbox, but Moore's Law Is Dead says Series X|S prices "could go up soon, or supply could just entirely dry up". Microsoft "didn't plan ahead at all, apparently", the YouTuber claims. We've thrown the video up above if you'd like a bit more context on the source and this big RAM debacle at large; they talk about Xbox roughly 17 minutes in. Also, down below is a quick pointer towards some Black Friday console sales if you're interested, and another topic we covered via Moore's Law Is Dead recently - one that goes into detail on some of Microsoft's potential next generation plans.

Remedy's co-op shooter FBC: Firebreak hasn't exactly had the quickest start to life on Xbox, but the team vowed to support the game back in the summer; announcing a major update for later in the year. Well, that 'Rogue Protocol' update has now been delayed, as the studio "makes sure everything feels right" for its launch. Announcing the news via Steam, the Control dev says that its cross-platform voice chat feature is now live, but that the accompanying 'major update' has been delayed to January 2026. In short, the team goes on to say that it simply needed "extra time" to make sure Rogue Protocol is "polished, balanced, and worthy of your time". Despite this last-minute delay, Remedy has shared more details on the new mode coming in this update; 'Endless Shift'. As the name suggests, this is a horde mode that tasks players with surviving "endless waves of increasingly dangerous enemies". That's not exactly the most original addition to FBC: Firebreak here, but the studio is at least hoping to put its own Control-universe spin on things with its unique theme and setting. Anyway, you can read a little bit more about this planned update via the Steam link down below, ahead of its new January 2026 release date. In the meantime, FBC: Firebreak remains an Xbox Game Pass title following its day one launch back in June.