James Birks

It seems odd to be talking about football at a time when it has been indefinitely suspended, but there’s an important milestone to celebrate for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa video game tie-in. For anyone struggling with the maths, ten years have passed since its release, hence I’ve decided to reminisce about EA Sport’s successful spin-off from the regular FIFA series and exciting tournament that followed.

Artifex Mundi have a plethora of hidden object puzzle adventures in their back catalogue, with some of them spawning multiple sequels. Not many have had the longevity of The Secret Order series though, lasting for over half a decade and recently launching its seventh instalment on Xbox One. The series has consistently explored the constant battle between the Order of the Griffins and the Dragon Clan, seeing the latter attempting to bring about carnage at every opportunity. Is the arrival of The Secret Order: Shadow Breach just one too many, or will it deliver an enjoyable experience in the midst of the chaos?

Your weekly dose of our TheXboxHub podcast is here, discussing all sorts of gaming news, opinions about a selection of recent releases, and anything interesting going on in other forms of media. In TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 28 you can expect talk regarding Xbox Game Pass, lockdown activities, and ideas regarding films or TV shows that would possibly be worth adapting into video games.

Take a look at the official Team of the Week Moments #6 that will be available in Ultimate Team packs for one week on FIFA 20 from 22nd April at 6pm. Is there anyone here you’d fancy adding to your team?

WrestleMania – a yearly event on the sports entertainment calendar often dubbed "The Grandest Stage of Them All". Since its inception in 1985, WrestleMania has evolved and gotten bigger each year, with millions tuning in from all over the globe to witness the best wrestling talent in WWE put on a show. While I’d love to reminisce about every single one, there’s a particular event and a coinciding video game that’s celebrating its 15th anniversary. So let’s take a look back at WWE WrestleMania 21 on the OG Xbox and see if it lived up to the expectation bestowed upon it by the sheer name alone.

Hidden object puzzle adventures are the bread and butter of Artifex Mundi’s publishing library, with new releases arriving fairly frequently on multiple gaming platforms. One of the most recent offerings on Xbox One, the pirate themed Uncharted Tides: Port Royal, has been developed by Cordelia Games – whose other works include Kingmaker: Rise to the Throne and Path of Sin: Greed. Let’s find out if it’s going to deliver a jolly good puzzling experience, or will it be best enjoyed with a bottle of rum?

As another week passes by, our weekly podcast returns to provide an episode filled with gaming news, thoughts on recent releases and other goings on in popular culture. TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 27 features discussion about many things including Final Fantasy VII Remake and some of the weirdest conspiracies our team have heard about. There’s also a clever quiz to partake in too, celebrating International Haiku Poetry Day.

Take a look at the official Team of the Week Moments #5 that will be available in Ultimate Team packs for one week on FIFA 20 from 15th April at 6pm. Is there anyone here you’d fancy adding to your team?

We’ve probably all seen a movie or read a book about an alien entity landing on Earth with the sole purpose of decimating the planet and anything it encounters. Everyone roots for the all-action hero to save the day and for the evil alien to be eliminated at all costs. Similar situations have played out in gaming many times too, but what if you weren’t playing the hero and instead took on the role of the enemy? Well, that’s the premise of the latest twin-stick SHMUP to hit the Xbox One, HyperParasite, with you taking up the task of annihilating all life-forms. So... is it good to be bad?

Once more, the weekly instalment of our podcast is here, covering all sorts from the world of gaming and anything else that’s eye-catching. TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 26 delves into the latest news emerging from the Inside Xbox show as well as the recently revealed PS5 DualSense controller. As always, there are recommendations about some of the newest games on the market, including any which should be avoided.

Take a look at the official Team of the Week Moments #4 that will be available in Ultimate Team packs for one week on FIFA 20 from 8th April at 6pm. Is there anyone here you’d fancy adding to your team?

Prepare for a trip to a post-apocalyptic world as the Mad Max and FTL inspired Convoy: A Tactical Roguelike crash-lands on Xbox One, PS4 and Switch. Are you ready for an experience that is billed as a roguelike gem?

It’s quite clear Bandai Namco have been on a roll since the beginning of 2020 with their anime-inspired releases, both in terms of quality and quantity. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot got them off to a flyer, before One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows and My Hero One’s Justice 2 further delivered solid experiences. There’s room for yet another major anime and manga series to get its chance to shine now though; step forward One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. Can this fourth instalment, and the first to launch on Xbox One, continue the recent trend by being a game to treasure?

Licensed LEGO games have become a regular staple on consoles nowadays, with most major franchises wanting, and often succeeding, to get the brick treatment. Whether the focus is on DC Comics heroes and villains or the hobbits and orcs of Middle-earth, some good-hearted family fun is always on the cards. But now it’s time to take our minds back to where it all began and shine the spotlight on the original Xbox (OG Xbox) title that sparked a legacy still going strong 15 years later. So let’s remember LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game from 2005 and the ever-growing video game saga that followed.

The weekly dose of all things gaming, with a sprinkle of film and television on top, has arrived for you to listen to. Yes, TheXboxHub Official Podcast Episode 25 is here, so prepare for news of more delays - including The Last of Us Part II - as well as recommendations of games you can play right now. There’s also a fun quiz in the hope of lifting everyone’s spirits during these strange times we’re living in.