Xbox May Update 2025 Brings Retro Classics to Game Pass, Major PC Game Bar Improvements, Great Rewards, and More

Xbox’s May 2025 update is a celebration of gaming’s past and future, delivering a wave of new features and improvements across consoles, PC, and cloud platforms. The headline addition is the launch of Retro Classics—a partnership with Antstream Arcade—bringing a curated collection of over 50 classic Activision games from the 1980s and 1990s to Xbox Game Pass members worldwide.

Retro Classics: Nostalgia Meets Modern Gaming

Retro Classics is now available for all Xbox Game Pass subscribers, marking a significant step in Microsoft’s commitment to game preservation and backward compatibility. The collection includes iconic titles such as Commando, Grand Prix, Kaboom!, Mech Warrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and Pitfall!, allowing both longtime fans and new players to experience these timeless games on modern devices.

Key features of Retro Classics include:

• Seamless Play Across Devices: Enjoy these classics on Xbox consoles, the Xbox app on PC, and via cloud streaming on supported LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and Meta Quest headsets.

• Community Challenges & Leaderboards: Compete in unique challenges, climb competitive leaderboards, and test your skills against friends or the world.

• Achievements & Save Progress: For the first time, many of these classic games support achievements and allow players to save and reload progress—a major quality-of-life improvement for retro gaming fans.

• Expanding Library: This launch is just the beginning. Xbox plans to add more Activision and Blizzard titles, with the Retro Classics collection expected to surpass 100 games over time.

As a bonus, Game Pass members can access a limited-time offer to subscribe to the full Antstream Arcade catalogue at a discounted rate, further expanding their retro gaming options. Discover exclusive free-to-play benefits for Game Pass.

PC Gaming: Enhanced Game Bar and Cloud Flexibility

The update also brings significant enhancements for PC gamers:

• Game Bar Revamp: The Settings widget now features quick settings for audio, screen brightness, device management, and more, accessible in both Compact and Desktop Modes. Visual updates have unified the look and feel across all widgets, streamlining in-game adjustments.

• Microsoft Edge Game Assist: Rolling out soon, this new in-game browser integrates tips, walkthroughs, and popular sites like Discord, Spotify, and Twitch directly into your gameplay. Access it instantly using the Windows + G shortcut, with seamless syncing of favorites, passwords, and history between sessions.

  

• GeForce Now Integration: PC players can now choose GeForce Now as a cloud gaming option within the Xbox app for supported titles, offering greater flexibility in how and where they play.

Xbox Rewards: More Flexible Gift Cards

Xbox Rewards has introduced the ability to redeem points for Xbox gift cards in any custom amount between $5 and $100. This new flexibility allows users to tailor their rewards to their needs, whether purchasing games, add-ons, movies, or accessing the latest deals on Xbox.com.

Cloud Gaming and Play Anywhere: Expanding Access

• Cloud Gaming Library Grows: The “Stream your own game” collection for Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) now features over 100 playable titles, with recent additions like Arma Reforger and Monster Energy Supercross 6, and more on the way. Read more about the Xbox Cloud Gaming expansion and Project Lapland.

• Xbox Play Anywhere: Over 1,000 games now support Play Anywhere, letting players seamlessly switch between PC, console, and handhelds with progress and achievements intact. More than 70 new games joined the program in 2025 alone, including The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Towerborne.

Additional Updates

• DOOM: The Dark Ages Accessories: A new limited-edition accessories collection celebrates the upcoming DOOM title, including controllers and console wraps.

• Dynamic Console Backgrounds: New dynamic backgrounds inspired by DOOM: The Dark Ages and Metaphor: ReFantazio allow for further customization of Xbox Series X|S consoles.

The May 2025 Xbox update underscores Microsoft’s drive to blend nostalgia with innovation, ensuring that the best of gaming’s past and present are always within reach for players everywhere. Stay tuned to msftnewsnow.com for the latest on Xbox updates, features, and breaking Microsoft news.