Xbox Rumors Are Buzzing: Could Steam Be Coming To The Next Console And What Else Is Happening?

For a while now, we have heard whispers that Steam might be supported on the next Xbox. People are saying this new machine will be more like a PC than a regular console. Microsoft even put a "Steam" tab in a fake image for a blog post about "opening a billion doors." They quickly changed it, but that sure tells us they are at least thinking about the idea. It is definitely something to keep an eye on as the current Xbox Series X/S era slowly comes to a close.

As the current generation wraps up, these rumors just keep coming. An insider named eXtas1s claims that Microsoft has started testing Steam integration for the Microsoft Store. In a recent podcast, this insider explained that this will "allow users to run Steam more smoothly and directly from Windows environments and, in the future, Xbox environments." This sounds like a pretty big move. It could change how we all think about Xbox and PC gaming.

Some people think this will work like other game stores, where Steam is just another app you download. Others believe it means you will be able to play your Xbox and Steam games from one single spot. This second idea matches what The Verge reported earlier this year. Sources "familiar with Microsoft's plans" supposedly said that the big tech company wants to make every game installed on your PC visible through the Xbox app. This would make things much easier for players. No need for extra tools just to see what games you own. This would be a welcome change for sure.

What A Steam And Xbox Friendship Could Mean For Future Gaming On Microsoft Hardware

Imagining A World Where Your Entire Game Library Lives Together In Harmony

If we think about the next Xbox with these ideas in mind, it means that decades of older games that still work, and maybe even games usually only found on PlayStation, could show up right alongside your Xbox and Game Pass games. That is a truly interesting thought. The idea of having all your games in one place is something many players dream of. It would certainly make managing game collections much simpler.

eXtas1s said, "Everything is going to be developed around PC environments. Those logically need Steam integration, and you'll have that in your Microsoft Store when you turn on your next-generation Xbox console. This will allow you to have Steam on your Xbox console and on any Windows device without the need for complex configurations." If the rumored Xbox handheld device, which might come out later this year, also runs on Windows, then your Steam and Xbox games could be played anywhere. This would make moving between PC, handheld, and console very easy. That fits perfectly with Microsoft's "play anywhere" idea. It definitely feels like the future for Xbox is pointing towards a more open and connected gaming setup.

If these rumors are true, the next Xbox would mark a real shift in the console market. It would use years of industry know-how to bring console and PC gaming closer together in one package. Only time will tell if these rumors become reality. But it is an interesting possibility. It offers a fresh path forward for the console maker. This is a much more hopeful direction than the concerns many people had after the Xbox One's launch.

Xbox Is Also Celebrating New Friendships With PlayStation In The Gaming World

Freebies And Cross-Play Show A Growing Spirit Of Collaboration Between Console Brands

In other news, Xbox has given out free content that you can get not only on Xbox but also on PC and PlayStation. This is for Forza Horizon 5, which came out in 2021. It is a really popular racing game set in Mexico. On April 25, 2025, after months of rumors, Forza Horizon 5 was released on PlayStation 5. That is still something many people are getting used to seeing. It will probably be even stranger to see an official new version of Gears of War on a Sony console. "Your Ultimate Horizon Adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the world’s greatest cars," says the game's description.

Now that Forza Horizon 5 is on PlayStation 5, it also has cross-play. This means players on PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5 can all play together. That is a fantastic step. Comicbook.com told us about a freebie. To celebrate Forza Horizon 5 being on PlayStation 5, you can get free content. It is inspired by the cool Lamborghini Revuelto, with an eye-catching new paint job. The paint job is a green-to-blue mix. It looks like a perfect combination of colors for Xbox and PlayStation. This kind of collaboration is great for players across all platforms. It just makes games more accessible and fun when you can play with more of your friends.

To get the free paint job, Forza.net explains you first have the win the in-game 'Horizon Stadium Circuit' race. After that race, you go to your nearest outpost or player house. Then you open the garage and pick "Design & Paints." Once you are there, you select "Find New Designs" and put in the code "687 884 132" to download the new Lamborghini Revuelto paint job. It is a simple way to get some cool free content and celebrate the growing friendliness between the two console brands.

New Games Hitting Xbox And The Latest Updates To The Ever-Changing Game Pass Library

Keeping Up With All The New Releases And Remasters For Gamers To Enjoy

While you might still be fighting demons or Nevrons in games you already own, there are more new Xbox games launching this week. This includes a new version of Capcom's classic action game Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny. This classic game first came out in 2002 on the PlayStation 2. It is finally being brought to modern consoles. This new version has better graphics and updated controls. It also has extras like a gallery mode where players can see sketches of the game's art. This is a good time to get into Onimusha because Capcom is finally working on a new game in the series. It is called Onimusha: Way of the Sword and it is planned for release in 2026. If you did not see them before, make sure to check out all the Xbox games that came out last week, including DOOM: The Dark Ages.

Microsoft has also announced that four games will be leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of May 2025. This includes an interesting horror puzzle game leaving PC Game Pass as well. Xbox Game Pass regularly switches out games. This makes room for new content. Players might want to check out these games quickly before they are gone. The last set of games that left Xbox Game Pass was on May 15. That group included Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Dune Spice Wars, and Chants of Sennaar. Also leaving earlier this month were Hauntii and The Big Con. A third day-one game for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in May 2025 is a charming adventure that fans of Grim Fandango might like.

The latest group of games leaving Game Pass on May 31, 2025, has been announced by Microsoft. These include Cassette Beasts, Humanity, Remnant 2, and Slayer X: Terminal Afterthought: Vengeance of the Slayer. Firework is also leaving PC Game Pass. Gunfire Games' soulslike shooter Remnant 2 is probably the most well-known game on that list. It has been available to Game Pass subscribers since late November 2023. It came out just a few months before it showed up on Game Pass. This third-person shooter lets players pick from 14 different character types. It also uses random generation to keep gameplay experiences fresh. It has been quite popular with fans. Another popular game leaving is Cassette Beasts, a monster-catching game. It has been on the service for a good two years already. Players also have limited days left to play Humanity and Slayers X: Terminal Afterthought: Vengeance of the Slayer on Xbox Game Pass. PC Game Pass players will lose the Chinese horror puzzle game Firework at the end of the month.

Even though fans of those games will miss them on the service, Xbox Games Pass already has five games confirmed for June 2025. A unique survival game called The Alters, where players are on a dangerous planet with many cooperative clones, is first. It will be a day-one release on June 13. Another day-one release, Lost in Random: The Eternal Die, will follow on June 17. This game puts a roguelite spin on its action-adventure style. Also coming in June are the cooperative first-person shooter FBC Firebreak on June 17, the soccer game Rematch on June 19, and the planning city builder Against the Storm on June 26. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the best tier of Microsoft's game subscription service. It offers over 100 game titles that you can play with one purchase. This makes it one of the best deals in the Xbox world right now.