Xbox FY25 Q4 gaming revenue is up 10% year-over-year, driven by growth in first-party games — with Xbox Game Pass reaching nearly $5 billion in annual revenue “for the first time”

For three consecutive quarters, Microsoft has reported an increase in Xbox Game Pass subscribers, as seen in FY25 Q2 and FY25 Q3, and now in the current quarter.
This trend aligns with observations made by video game analyst Mat Piscatella, who pointed out that U.S. spending on video game subscriptions hit a record high in June 2025.
Despite other gaming subscriptions contributing to this total, it’s undeniable that Xbox Game Pass continues to be a substantial part of the market.

The surge in subscribers can be attributed to Microsoft releasing numerous first-party games over the last few months. April welcomed Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight and Bethesda Game Studios’ The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, followed by id Software’s DOOM: The Dark Ages in May.
Additionally, the past period has been beneficial for third-party games added to Xbox Game Pass, with Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receiving positive reviews upon its release.

Furthermore, game sales are being boosted by ports of Xbox titles to PlayStation 5, such as Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which debuted on Sony’s gaming platform in April. Forza Horizon 5 has been the best-selling game on the console for 2025.

Battlefield 6 publisher EA says “no dramatic changes are planned yet” for game prices — I’m glad it’s joining Xbox in avoiding $80 games

It was revealed this week that the company in question is Electronic Arts (EA), known for publishing popular series such as Battlefield, Mass Effect, FIFA, and more. In response to speculation about possible price adjustments, CEO Andrew Wilson stated during a recent earnings conference with investors that there are currently no plans to alter pricing.

Fintech Frenzy: JPMorgan Drowning in Data Requests & Jamie’s Crusade Against Crypto Chaos

Turns out, only a meager 13% of these requests were by actual customers wielding their right to buy a coffee or, more likely, to transfer a dollar or two. The rest? Probably some over-caffeinated tech startup trying to verify their latest fancy algorithm or, dare we say, spy. An insider’s memo—obtained (by someone, presumably not a ghost)—whispers the exasperation: “Aggregators are accessing customer data multiple times daily, even when their clients are blissfully unaware, perhaps napping or binge-watching cat videos.” The bank’s systems were reportedly ‘massively taxed.’ Oh, the humanity! 💻💥

XRP to $9? PayPal Says “Yes, Please!” 🚀💸

XRP, once a mere footnote in the ledger of cryptocurrencies, has taken a leap toward the limelight with its inclusion in PayPal’s sprawling digital payments network. This network, serving over 400 million souls worldwide, has opened its gates to XRP, a move celebrated by its adherents as nothing short of revolutionary. Seamless transactions for merchants and customers alike? A game-changer, they say. Yet, one cannot help but wonder if this is but another chapter in the eternal human quest for convenience, dressed in the garb of innovation. 🛒🤝