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Grounded 2 Comes to PS5 on August 11 with Into the Abyss

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Obsidian Entertainment’s shrink-ray survival hit is finally coming to PlayStation 5 this Tuesday — and it’s arriving alongside what the studio is calling one of the biggest updates the game has ever seen. Grounded 2 launches on PS5 in Early Access on 11 August 2026, paired with the free Into the Abyss update dropping simultaneously on all platforms.

A New World Beneath Brookhollow Park

Since Grounded 2 launched on Xbox and PC in July 2025, the pond at the heart of Brookhollow Park has been visible but largely off-limits. Into the Abyss blows it wide open. For the first time, players can explore both the surface and the full depths beneath it, uncovering new locations, creatures, and mysteries that stretch from the shoreline all the way down into the dark.

Grounded 2: Into the Abyss Official Update Extended Announcement Trailer — via IGN on YouTube

The pond is split into three distinct environmental zones, each with its own atmosphere, hazards, and secrets. Above water, two new overland biomes — the Mountains and the Bayou — ring the pond with fresh terrain and their own discoveries. Below the surface, the deeper you dive, the stranger things get.

Player character facing a massive boss creature in the depths of Grounded 2's Abyss
Image courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment

New Creatures, Old Nightmares

The pond is not empty. The koi fish makes its return from the original Grounded, now looming even larger against tiny shrunken players in open water. Joining it is the diving bell spider, an arachnid that traps air bubbles to breathe underwater — and will make life very difficult for anyone exploring the shallows. Both are fully fledged threats designed around the new underwater combat and evasion systems.

A large beetle-like creature with red fungal growth lurking near a neon-lit food stand in Grounded 2
Image courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment

The Toe-biter Buggy and New Diving Gear

Staying submerged for any length of time requires preparation. Players can unlock a progression of diving suits that increase how long they can remain underwater, opening access to deeper pond zones as their equipment improves. On the surface, the new Toe-biter Buggy is an amphibious vehicle that can charge across land and skim over water alike — essential for navigating the expanded map without being picked off mid-swim.

Player riding the Toe-biter Buggy amphibious vehicle across the teal pond in Grounded 2
Image courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment

Into the Abyss also reworks the Pneumatic Transit System (PTS) — the game’s fast travel network — making it upgradeable via science skills and components. It’s a quality-of-life addition aimed squarely at co-op squads covering large stretches of Brookhollow Park together.

PS5 Players Finally Get Shrunk In

Grounded 2 has been an Xbox console exclusive since its Early Access debut, available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, and Steam. That changes on 11 August. The game arrives on PS5 in Early Access (Game Preview) at USD $29.99 — check the Singapore PlayStation Store for local pricing. Into the Abyss content is included from day one.

Grounded 2 — Official PlayStation 5 ‘Into the Abyss’ Trailer — via IGN on YouTube

For Singapore players already on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — which is available locally — Grounded 2 is included in your subscription with no extra charge. The Into the Abyss update is also free for every existing Xbox and PC owner, regardless of how they purchased the game.

Grounded 2 player character wearing lava-stone armour in a golden-lit park setting
Image courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment

One Year In, a Much Larger World

Grounded 2 launched in Early Access roughly a year ago on Xbox and PC, and the team has been building on it steadily since. Into the Abyss is the clearest sign yet of how ambitious the full release will be. As Obsidian’s Chris Parker told GamesRadar, “Launching on PS5 effectively makes this our second launch” — a remark that undersells neither the scope of the update nor the scale of the new audience the studio is courting.

Two players running from a giant crustacean enemy near a food truck in Grounded 2's Brookhollow Park
Image courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment

If you’re browsing other game news from the week, Grounded 2’s PS5 launch on 11 August is one of the bigger multiplatform moments of the month — and for survival fans in Singapore, it’s the freshest reason yet to dive in.

Game News

Attack on Titan 3 Release Date Dropping Tonight — Tune In at 10:50 PM SGT

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Koei Tecmo is finally naming the day. The publisher has confirmed a dedicated livestream that will reveal the official release date for Attack on Titan 3 — and it is happening tonight. Singapore fans have until 10:50 PM SGT (Monday, 3 August) to mark their calendars.

Scout facing the Colossal Titan in Attack on Titan 3
Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

When and Where to Watch the Attack on Titan 3 Release Date Stream

The stream goes live on 3 August 2026 at 10:50 AM EDT / 3:50 PM GMT / 10:50 PM SGT. Head to Koei Tecmo America’s official YouTube channel to catch it live — the broadcast is estimated to run around 10 minutes and will cover:

  • The official release date reveal
  • Details on the Deluxe Edition
  • Various bonus and pre-order information
  • Additional gameplay footage highlighting the game’s special features

As we covered when Koei Tecmo locked in a winter 2026 release window, the game targets PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam — all platforms available in Singapore.

Attack on Titan 3 — Gameplay Reveal Trailer via KOEI TECMO AMERICA on YouTube

Everything Confirmed About Attack on Titan 3

Omega Force’s third entry in the series is the most ambitious yet. For the first time, the game covers the complete story of Attack on Titan from beginning to end — from the fall of Shiganshina all the way through the Rumbling and its aftermath. The Nine Titans appear for the first time in a mainline AoT action game.

Scout using omni-directional mobility gear in Attack on Titan 3
Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

The signature omni-directional mobility (ODM) gear combat has been refined to deliver the most acrobatic encounters in the series. Titans come with new attack patterns and behaviours, and a new Casual Mode means players who are primarily here for the story can experience the full game without getting blocked by difficult bosses.

Build Your Squad and Shape the Story

You step in as a fully customisable Scout Regiment protagonist rising through the 104th Cadet Corps. Forging bonds with series characters like Eren, Mikasa and Armin unlocks unique battle abilities and special cutscenes, weaving your custom soldier into the anime’s biggest moments.

Young Eren and Mikasa in a quiet scene from Attack on Titan 3
Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

Beyond direct combat, Exterior Scouting Missions let you explore the world between battles, establish supply bases, and manage territorial resources — a strategic layer earlier entries in the series did not have.

MAPPA Is Handling the Opening Animation

Koei Tecmo has confirmed that MAPPA — the studio behind Attack on Titan: The Final Season — will produce the game’s opening animation, with Final Season action animator Arifumi Imai directing. One detail to be aware of: this animation is being added post-launch via a free update, so the day-one build will not include it.

Aerial ODM combat against a Titan in Attack on Titan 3
Image courtesy of Koei Tecmo

Singapore: What to Expect After Tonight

All four target platforms are sold here — PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and Steam (PC) — so local availability should not be an issue. A Singapore or regional price has not been confirmed; the stream tonight may include pre-order details. Watch our Game News section for a follow-up as soon as the date drops, and tune in tonight at 10:50 PM SGT if you want to be first to know.

Game News

Gears of War: E-Day Multiplayer Fully Revealed — Free Open Beta Starts 13 August

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The Coalition pulled back the curtain on Gears of War: E-Day’s full multiplayer suite yesterday, and Singapore players on Xbox Series X|S and PC have an easy on-ramp: a free open beta running 13–17 August that requires no pre-order or subscription to join.

Gears of War E-Day Horde Siege — COG soldiers battle a massive Locust boss in a ruined city
Image courtesy of Xbox / The Coalition

Horde Siege — 12 Players, Three Squads, One Massive Front

Horde Siege is the headline mode, and it is the biggest co-op the series has ever shipped. Twelve players split into three squads of four work simultaneously across the same large map — each squad pushing their own section of the Locust front while sharing a common objective pool. The result is coordinated chaos that scales in a way the classic five-player Horde never could.

Four classes shape how each player contributes: Assault holds the mid-range with a sonic pulse mine; Breacher dives into close-quarters with shotgun and an adrenaline injector for self-healing and damage boosts; Marksman keeps distance using a pulse detection drone to spot enemies; and Medic keeps the squad alive. Every class has 30 progression levels to work through, adding long-term depth between sessions.

Gears of War E-Day Horde Siege Classes screen showing Assault, Breacher, Marksman and Medic
Image courtesy of Xbox / The Coalition

Three mission lengths keep the mode accessible across different schedules: Blitz runs 15–20 minutes, Siege stretches to 20–40 minutes, and Horde goes the full distance at 50–60 minutes. Three difficulty settings — Infantry, Commander, and Allfather — scale the Locust threat accordingly. The beta will showcase the Golden Quarter map, a dense city district set within Kalona; three additional maps are confirmed for the full October launch.

Gears of War: E-Day | Official Multiplayer Reveal — via XBOX on YouTube

Versus — Six Maps, Four Modes, Classic 4v4

Versus keeps the classic 4v4 structure and adds E-Day’s new traversal mechanics to the familiar competitive formula. Six maps are confirmed at launch, each built around a distinct setting within and around Colona: Outpost (military camp with bunkers and elevated bridgework), Battleship (exposed warship decks and contested dock bridges), Park (a coastal zoo in ruins with a central fountain), Precinct (tight police-department corridors with flanking routes), Market (a seaside marketplace with long sightlines and balconies), and Skyward (a rooftop environment built around vertical play).

Gears of War E-Day Versus — Battleship map interior showing CNV Valiant warship deck
Image courtesy of Xbox / The Coalition

Four game modes round out the Versus offering. Team Deathmatch and Conquest are returning staples. Demolition is a bomb-planting mode, and Crucible introduces a power-core control mechanic with a shrinking battlefield. The Coalition has confirmed additional Versus content post-launch without specifying what or when.

How SG Players Can Get Into the Beta

The E-Day beta rolls out in two phases, and the second phase is completely free:

  • Early Access (6–10 August): Accessible with a pre-order of Gears of War: E-Day on Xbox Series X|S or Steam, or with an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription. If you already subscribe to Game Pass in Singapore, you are in from day one of the beta.
  • Open Beta (13–17 August): Free for all players on Xbox Series X|S and PC. No pre-order, no subscription required.

Singapore players with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — or who grab the game on Steam — can lock in early access on 6 August. Anyone else can wait a week and play for free. See more gaming events and betas on GameTrader.SG.

Cosmetics You Actually Earn

The Coalition is positioning E-Day’s progression on the opposite end of the spectrum from recent multiplayer releases. Nearly all cosmetic customisation — including character skins, weapon wraps, and charms — can be unlocked by playing the game and completing in-game challenges and medals. Premium cosmetics exist and include a Metallica collaboration weapon set, but the studio has framed the experience around earned rewards rather than a battle pass or seasonal currency system.

Gears of War: E-Day launches 6 October 2026 on Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store, with day-one availability on Game Pass. Full game release coverage is on GameTrader.SG as it drops.

Game News

Dispatch Is Now on Xbox — Aaron Paul’s Strategy Hit Gets Xbox Play Anywhere Launch

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Singapore Xbox players, your wait is over. Dispatch, AdHoc Studio’s acclaimed narrative strategy game, has officially landed on Xbox Series X|S and is available right now via Xbox Play Anywhere — meaning a single purchase covers both the console and Windows PC versions.

Dispatch — conference room briefing with the superhero team
Your squad brings together some of comics’ most beloved archetypes — and some of Hollywood’s biggest voices.

What Is Dispatch?

Developed by AdHoc Studio, Dispatch casts you as the newly appointed director of a superhero management agency in a world where powered individuals are just part of the workforce. Part narrative adventure, part tactical resource manager, the game has you deploying the right hero for the right crisis — balancing public image, morale, and escalating threats across a sprawling city.

The voice cast is genuinely staggering: Aaron Paul leads the ensemble alongside Laura Bailey, Jeffrey Wright, and Matthew Mercer. It is, without exaggeration, one of the most stacked casts in recent indie game history.

Dispatch — protagonist close-up dialogue scene
Story-driven choices sit at the heart of Dispatch — every call you make ripples forward into later crises.

A Certified Hit, Now on Xbox

Dispatch launched on PlayStation 5 and PC in October 2025 to near-universal acclaim, scoring 97% on OpenCritic and selling over four million copies. If you missed it on PS5 or Steam, the Xbox launch is the second chance you needed.

Dispatch — city map management screen
The city overview layer is where strategy meets storytelling — assign heroes, manage resources, and navigate the politics of being in charge.
Dispatch — mech action scene with fire
Crisis missions escalate fast — some situations call for finesse, others for raw firepower.

Official Xbox Release Date Trailer

Price and Availability

Dispatch is priced at USD$29.99 on Xbox and PC. Xbox Play Anywhere means one purchase unlocks the game on both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, with shared cloud save progress. The game is available now from the Xbox Store.

Game News

STALKER 2: Cost of Hope Sets 20 August Release — Free Engine Upgrade for All Owners

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S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 fans have a date to circle: 20 August 2026. Developer GSC Game World confirmed yesterday that Cost of Hope — the game’s first major story expansion — lands simultaneously on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG) on that date. The announcement came with a release date reveal trailer dropping on the official GSC Game World channel. The even bigger news for the game’s six million-plus player base: a free Update 2.0 ships the same day, upgrading Heart of Chornobyl from Unreal Engine 5.1 to a significantly newer UE5 build — no DLC purchase required.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope — Release Date Reveal — via GSC Game World on YouTube

A New Story Running Parallel to Heart of Chornobyl

Cost of Hope is a full parallel campaign, not a bite-sized side-mission pack. Players return as Skif — the protagonist from the base game — after a mysterious PDA signal pulls him into an escalating crisis between two of the Zone’s most entrenched factions: Duty and Freedom. The uneasy truce between them has broken down, and Skif ends up caught in the middle.

STALKER 2 Cost of Hope gameplay — desolate industrial wasteland with sniper rifle
Image courtesy of GSC Game World

The expansion unlocks two entirely new regions that were off-limits in the base campaign. The first is the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant itself — the most iconic location in the real-world Exclusion Zone and one fans have been waiting to explore since the game launched. The second is the Iron Forest, a new anomalous area. GSC is promising dozens of hours of content across these zones, with new weapons, new gear, and mutated enemy types specific to Cost of Hope.

STALKER 2 Cost of Hope — player with binoculars surveying the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant
Image courtesy of GSC Game World

Free Update 2.0 Is the Deal-Sweetener for Everyone

Even if a second trip into the Zone is not on your agenda, 20 August is still a significant date. Update 2.0 — officially titled Sealed Truth — upgrades Heart of Chornobyl’s renderer from Unreal Engine 5.1, the version the game shipped with in November 2024, to a substantially newer UE5 build. GSC says the update delivers meaningful performance and stability improvements across the board. For PS5 and PC owners who picked up the base game and moved on after struggling with early optimisation, this is worth checking again.

STALKER 2 Cost of Hope — player holding anomaly detector in electrical storm anomaly field
Image courtesy of GSC Game World

Price, Platforms and How to Get It

GSC has not yet confirmed a standalone price for Cost of Hope as of 27 July 2026; one is expected before the 20 August launch. Owners of the Deluxe Edition or the Ultimate Edition (which includes the Season Pass) will receive the expansion at no additional cost. The game is available in Singapore through Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG on PC, and via the PlayStation Store on PS5 and the Microsoft Store on Xbox Series X|S.

For those who have not yet played Heart of Chornobyl, the base game is the entry point — Cost of Hope requires it. At over 6 million copies sold globally, the game has found a strong audience, and GSC’s commitment to a free engine upgrade alongside a paid expansion sets a reasonable bar for ongoing support. Check the Game News section for the price announcement when it drops.

Game News

Halo: Campaign Evolved’s Secret Ending Points to a Halo 2 Remake

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⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This article discusses the secret post-credits ending of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Stop here if you want to experience it blind — but know that it’s generating serious buzz about where the franchise goes next.

Early access to Halo: Campaign Evolved opened on 24 July for Premium Edition players in Singapore and globally. Within hours, players who cleared the campaign had discovered something unexpected tucked away after the credits: a secret cutscene that has sent the Halo community into a frenzy — and prompted outlets including IGN, GameSpot, and Polygon to declare it one of the most significant story beats the franchise has dropped in years.

A Secret Ending That Points Straight to a Halo 2 Remake

A UNSC soldier — widely identified as Sergeant Johnson — in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

According to reporting from IGN, the cutscene “suggests a Halo 2 remake is on the way.” GameSpot describes it as a “tease” for a sequel remake, while Polygon went further, writing that the scene “teases a Halo 2 remake and finally addresses a 25-year-old plot hole” dating back to the original Halo: Combat Evolved in 2001. Eurogamer, covering the same footage, concluded it looks “like we’re getting a Halo 2 remake next” — calling it unsurprising given how Campaign Evolved was structured as a reimagining of that same foundational game.

The scene appears to involve Sergeant Avery Johnson, the fan-favourite UNSC marine and one of the franchise’s most iconic supporting characters. GamingBolt noted that the story implications of the cutscene are clear even if they fall short of an official announcement, writing that “there’s a strong argument in favor of” Halo 2 being the next title in the evolved remake series — though nothing has been formally confirmed by Xbox or Halo Studios.

What We Know — and What We Don’t

Cortana holographic form in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

To be precise: Xbox and Halo Studios have not officially announced Halo 2: Campaign Evolved or any Halo 2 remake. What early access players found is a secret cutscene that strongly implies one is in development. The difference matters — Halo Studios could yet surprise us with a completely different next project.

What is confirmed is that Campaign Evolved was always designed to bridge the franchise’s past and future. As we covered when the review scores landed, the game earned an 84 on Metacritic for Xbox and 81 for PS5 — critical consensus is that Halo Studios has delivered a respectful, confident reimagining that earns the right to keep going. A follow-up feels less like speculation and more like a formality.

Halo: Campaign Evolved – Launch Trailer | PS5 Games — via PlayStation on YouTube

Halo: Campaign Evolved Launches on PS5 in Singapore Tomorrow

Warthog Gauss cannon in action in an ice cave in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

As we covered when the Singapore pricing was confirmed, the full global launch of Halo: Campaign Evolved lands on PlayStation 5 and Xbox on 28 July — that’s tomorrow. Standard Edition is priced at S$79.90 on PS5. This is the first time a Halo campaign has ever launched on PlayStation, making it a genuine milestone for Singapore PS5 owners who grew up hearing about Master Chief but never had a way to play on Sony hardware.

If you picked up the Premium Edition, you already have access — and you can already go find that secret ending for yourself. For Standard Edition buyers jumping in tomorrow, the campaign is around 10–12 hours on Normal difficulty, so the ending is not far off once you start.

A Good Time to Join the Fight

Master Chief facing the Flood parasite in Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

Whether or not the secret ending turns into a formal announcement soon, the broader picture for Halo fans in Singapore looks genuinely exciting. Campaign Evolved has been a strong relaunch for the franchise — polished, accessible to newcomers, and rewarding for veterans who remember the original. If it is setting up a Halo 2 remake, this is exactly the right foundation to build from.

Inside the Halo ring structure, looking out toward the planet below
Image courtesy of Halo Studios / Microsoft

Keep an eye on our game news section for any official announcement from Xbox or Halo Studios. When they confirm the follow-up — and at this point it feels like a when, not an if — we’ll have full Singapore pricing and launch details ready.

Game News

Mistfall Hunter Launches July 29 on PS5, PC and Game Pass

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Mistfall Hunter — the dark fantasy extraction ARPG from Bellring Games and Skystone Games — is launching in under two days. The game unlocks globally on 29 July 2026, which translates to 9 AM SGT on 30 July for Singapore players. It lands simultaneously on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with Day 1 availability on Xbox Game Pass.

Mistfall Hunter character classes lineup
Image courtesy of Skystone Games

Into the Gyldenmist — What is Mistfall Hunter?

The premise sets the scene fast: a war between gods ended with every deity falling, their blood corrupting the earth into a creeping fog called the Gyldenmist. You are a Gyldhunter — part scavenger, part warrior — venturing into mist-shrouded zones to strip them of valuable resources and get out alive.

That last part is the catch. Die before you reach an extraction point and you lose everything you collected that run. The pressure is real and intentional. Mistfall Hunter wraps this extraction tension in a full third-person action RPG shell, adding talent trees, skill builds, and gem-affix gear customisation that give each run considerably more depth than a straight extraction shooter. Matches support solo play or three-player squads, with cross-platform play across PC, PS5 and Xbox.

Mistfall Hunter combat gameplay
Image courtesy of Skystone Games

Six Classes at Launch — and More Coming

Bellring Games ships with six distinct classes, each carrying two weapon stances and a deep talent tree:

  • Withered Knight — heavily armoured frontline brawler
  • Mercenary — flexible dual-weapon fighter
  • Sorcerer — long-range elemental caster
  • Blackarrow — precision ranged hunter
  • Shadowstrix — mobility-focused rogue
  • Seer — support and crowd-control specialist

The studio has confirmed a seasonal content roadmap with new classes, zones and story content rolling out post-launch — so the roster will grow. Nearly 430,000 players jumped in during the Steam Next Fest open beta, giving Bellring substantial community feedback to shape those updates.

Watch the Official Launch Gameplay Trailer

Mistfall Hunter – Official Launch Gameplay Trailer — via XBOX on YouTube
Mistfall Hunter dark fantasy world environment
Image courtesy of Skystone Games

Pricing, Platforms and Singapore Availability

Mistfall Hunter launches at USD 24.99 (Standard Edition) and USD 39.99 (Deluxe Edition), with the Deluxe bundle including cosmetics and 2,500 Fate Coins. A 10% launch discount applies across storefronts through 12 August 2026, bringing the Standard entry price down to roughly USD 22.49.

Mistfall Hunter extraction point gameplay
Image courtesy of Skystone Games

Singapore players can access the game through every available channel: the PlayStation Store for PS5, Steam for PC (the game supports Traditional Chinese and English), or via Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S or PC — no extra purchase needed if you’re already subscribed. SGD pricing will appear on each platform’s local storefront at launch. Bellring has confirmed zero pay-to-win mechanics and no paid stat boosts, which should put any cosmetic-store concerns to rest.

For more game launch news, keep an eye on GameTrader.SG’s coverage as Mistfall Hunter goes live tomorrow morning.

Game News

Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC Goes Live — BLiNX, Conker, Crimson Skies and More Now Playable

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Microsoft has officially launched Xbox backward compatibility on PC, letting Windows 11 players revisit original Xbox classics through the Xbox app for the first time. Four launch titles are available now, with modern visual enhancements baked in — no disc required.

The inaugural line-up covers four iconic games from the original Xbox era:

  • BLiNX: The Time Sweeper — Microsoft’s cult-favourite time-manipulation platformer from 2002, a game that was once intended as a flagship Xbox mascot and has been stuck on the original hardware ever since
  • Fuzion Frenzy — the chaotic multi-player party game that shipped as a launch title alongside the original Xbox in 2001
  • Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge — the beloved aerial combat adventure set in a dieselpunk alternate-history America, widely regarded as one of the best exclusives the original Xbox produced
  • Conker: Live & Reloaded — Rare’s irreverent, adult-oriented action platformer, an enhanced Xbox remake of the N64 classic Conker’s Bad Fur Day

All four games are available with an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. Individual purchase is also supported via the Xbox app on PC.

ROG Xbox Ally handheld running Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge with gameplay on screen
The ROG Xbox Ally running Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. Image courtesy of Xbox / ASUS ROG

Enhanced for Modern Displays

This isn’t a bare-bones emulation layer. Microsoft has added a range of visual improvements to the backward-compatible titles: up to 4× resolution upscaling, VSync support, and anti-aliasing enhancements. The result is that games from 2001–2004 should look noticeably sharper on contemporary monitors and OLED screens.

Handheld PC gaming is explicitly supported from day one. The ROG Xbox Ally — ASUS ROG’s dedicated Xbox-branded handheld — is a confirmed compatible device, making it easy to replay these classics in portable form.

Person holding a white ROG Ally X handheld showing the Xbox app game library
The ROG Ally X displaying the Xbox app game library. Image courtesy of ASUS ROG

Requirements and Current Limitations

Windows 11 is required — Windows 10 users will need to upgrade before backward-compatible titles become accessible. A download is also required for each game even if you have a Game Pass subscription, as expected.

Achievement support is not available at launch. Microsoft has indicated it is planned for a future update, so completionists will want to hold off for now if their Gamerscore matters to them.

Singapore Availability — Check Before You Buy

Microsoft’s official announcement notes that backward compatibility on PC is available in select markets only. Singapore-based readers should verify current availability through the Xbox app or the Xbox Singapore page before purchasing individual titles, as a specific regional roll-out confirmation for Singapore has not been separately issued at time of writing. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — which covers the backward-compatible games — remains available in Singapore.

Source: Xbox Wire by Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor (22 July 2026). Xbox Game Pass details.

Game News

Halo: Campaign Evolved Reviews Are In — 84 on Xbox, 81 on PS5

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The review embargo for Halo: Campaign Evolved lifted yesterday, and the first wave of critics have delivered their verdict ahead of Tuesday’s full global launch. Early access is live right now for Premium Edition and Collector’s Bundle buyers — and the scores land in broadly positive territory, though with some meaningful platform-specific caveats that PS5 players should factor in before parting with S$79.90.

We have been tracking this release since announcement — our last round-up covered early access details and the gold milestone — so here is the score breakdown and what the reviews mean for Singapore gamers heading into launch.

Halo: Campaign Evolved Metacritic Scores at Launch

Halo ring structure viewed from inside, with a planet visible beyond — screenshot from Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Based on Metacritic, which aggregates critics across all three platforms:

  • Xbox Series X/S: 84/100 (26 reviews)
  • PlayStation 5: 81/100 (43 reviews)
  • PC (Steam / Windows): 77/100 (19 reviews)

OpenCritic puts the overall picture at an 88% recommendation rate across 58 critics — a strong endorsement even if the raw numbers look modest by Halo standards. For context, the original Halo: Combat Evolved scored 97 on Metacritic in 2001, so this remake technically carries the franchise’s lowest aggregate ever. That context matters less than it sounds: the critical split here is almost entirely about value-for-money rather than the quality of the core game itself.

What Critics Are Saying

Master Chief faces a Flood creature in a tense close-quarters encounter — screenshot from Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

The highest scores celebrate the ambition of the rebuild. VGC gave a perfect 10/10, calling it “an Unreal Engine 5-powered upgrade that elevates the original with sublime visuals, smart tweaks, and broad respect.” Push Square awarded 9/10 on PS5, describing it in their review as “a legendary shooter brought back in style — a faithful yet expanded and improved remake of an everlasting great.”

The middle tier sits around 8–8.5. Game Informer (8.5/10) wrote that “the core gameplay shows its age, but the magic that made this formula work is still intact.” IGN (7/10) acknowledged solid gunplay while wishing the three new prequel missions ran longer.

Halo: Campaign Evolved | Launch Trailer — via HALO on YouTube

PS5-Specific Issues Singapore Players Should Know

Cortana's holographic form in a rebuilt cinematic — screenshot from Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

The gap between the Xbox (84) and PS5 (81) scores is partly explained by platform-specific criticism. DualShockers (6.5/10) cited PS5 performance issues as currently “holding it back in major ways” — most notably, performance mode does not consistently hold 60fps during heavy combat. Push Square also flagged that DualSense adaptive triggers and haptic feedback are underwhelming, calling it “a missed opportunity to differentiate the PS5 version.” PS5 disc buyers should additionally note that a full digital download is required even with a physical copy.

Xbox Series X runs meaningfully better, which is reflected in its higher aggregate. And for Game Pass subscribers, the decision is easy: all Standard Edition players gain access from 28 July at no extra cost.

Is It Worth S$79.90 in Singapore?

Warthog vehicle firing its turret in a frozen cave — screenshot from Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

The honest answer depends on your history with Halo. If you are a PlayStation-only player who never experienced the original campaign, the PS5 version — performance dips and all — delivers one of gaming’s most influential shooter campaigns rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, with three new prequel missions, four-player crossplay co-op, and a Campaign Remix replayability layer. Push Square’s 9/10 makes a strong case for first-timers.

For veteran Halo fans who have replayed the original, S$79.90 for a campaign-only package with no PvP and no Firefight is a harder sell — and that tension runs through every middling review. The game itself is good; the price-to-content ratio is where critics diverge.

UNSC soldiers in a newly reshot cinematic cutscene — screenshot from Halo: Campaign Evolved
Image courtesy of Xbox Game Studios

Halo: Campaign Evolved launches globally on 28 July 2026. Standard Edition is priced at S$79.90 on the PlayStation Store and Steam. Premium Edition early access players — including Singapore buyers who unlocked access today — also receive the Silver Anniversary Armor and Assault Rifle Styles, plus the newly added Sandstone Ancient armor style as a launch goodwill bonus. Follow our game news coverage for further updates as the July 28 launch approaches.