It's Killing Time

Game Pass was supposed to be the all-you-can-play subscription service that put Xbox on top after a disastrous generation. Instead, it's a failure that's threatening to ruin the company.

Zhang Liang in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a gatekeeping first boss that gives players a hard time — and teaches them the important basics of the game. If you're ready to learn about the importance of manipulating the spirit bar and the mindset you need to take on Zhang Liang, Polygon's Doctor Pat Gill is here to help.#polygon #wolongfallendynasty

Elden Ring's first gatekeeping boss Margit the Fell Omen is a real jerk. Players can run into him early in their playthrough, before they've really explored Limgrave and gotten the Good Loot, but Margit poses a challenge even for seasoned, leveled-up Souls veterans. So what is it about Margit that makes him a challenging fight, and is he REALLY the hardest first boss that developer Fromsoft has ever put in a Soulsborne game? Polygon's own Pat Gill, Soulshead extraordinaire, investigates Margit's moves and puts him to the test. #EldenRing #Margit #Fromsoft

Armored Core 6's first gatekeeping boss, Balteus, was the scourge of players when the game first came out. Guides to beating Balteus immediately started popping up on YouTube — but they all used different Armored Core builds. Is it really hard to beat Balteus, or can just about any mech build do it? Polygon's Clayton Ashley and Patrick Gill explore why Balteus' design and array of weaponry are such a roadblock for Armored Core players, but also why Balteus teaches you exactly what you need to know to succeed at Armored Core 6. #armoredcore6 #fromsoftware

Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot believes that Sony's plan to kill PS5 game disc production in January 2028 could have some benefits for the gaming industry. Speaking during a recent investor Q&A, Guillemot expressed his opinion that the PS5 console market could emulate PC gaming--which has been an overwhelmingly digital-only scene since the rise of Steam--and hardware costs could come down as a result. "What we saw on the PC is that it helped to grow the market," Guillemot said (via VGC). "There's also some pressure for the future on the cost of machines, and being able to be only digital will