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Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 12 to 16

9. Leden 2026 v 16:00

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 12 to 16

NWOX hero

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Bus Driving Simulator : EVO

Ovilex Soft SRL

$19.99

Bus Driving Simulator: Evo – January 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get behind the wheel and become a professional bus driver! This amazing bus simulator will allow you to transport passengers across three different cities (Rio de Janeiro, Munich and Los Angeles) using various bus models with realistic physics and graphics. Play this bus simulator in single player with career and freeride modes.


Loan Shark

Dark Product

Loan Shark – January 13 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

You’re an indebted angler, trapped in a vicious cycle of borrowing and desperation. One dark, endless night at sea you haul up something unnatural: a talking fish named Cagliuso. It promises you riches — but its bargains come with terrifying strings. In Loan Shark, the nets you cast bring more than fish. They pull you toward sacrifice, secrets, and a deadline you may never meet. The “loan shark” isn’t just metaphoric — something is stalking the waters, your time is running out, and every deal you strike pushes you deeper into the unknown.


Xbox Play Anywhere

SimRail – The Railway Simulator

PlayWay S.A.

$34.99 $31.49

SimRail – The Railway Simulator – January 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

SimRail is a new era of railway simulators. Realistic driving physics, the environment generated on the basis of geodetic data and an extensive multi-player mode are just some of the elements that game includes. Visit about 500 km of real routes created with all details. Choose present European high-speed, long-distance and suburban tracks, or travel back in time to 1980 and drive steam train at sand railway of Upper Silesia, Poland: the socialist land of coal and steel.


Tavern Manager Simulator

Ultimate Games S.A.

Tavern Manager Simulator – January 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Tavern Manager Simulator is an exciting process of rebuilding, expanding and improving a tavern. Take different approaches to running an establishment and meet the challenges of the outside world to create your own unique story.


Bob The Brick Breaker

Brainium Games

Bob the Brick Breaker – January 14

A game inspired by old arcade games, where waves of bricks make the climb to the top increasingly difficult. Adding to the challenge are minions and bosses, who will put us to the test. Ask your friends for help, playing as a duo, or go head-to-head to see who’s the best. If you think you’re the best of the bunch, then get ready to prove to the rest of the world that you’ve got what it takes via the online leaderboards.


Cats Around Us: Giant Cat

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

Cats Around Us: Giant Cat – January 14

A giant cat has made an (otherwise) peaceful village its napping spot! Can you find all the hidden cats scattered around the chaos? Explore four illustrated comic pages, search for hundreds of felines, and complete relaxing jigsaw puzzles. Cats Around Us: Giant Cat combines hidden-object gameplay with storybook art, offering a cozy, creative experience for cat and cartoon lovers alike!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Direction Quad

Eastasiasoft Limited

Direction Quad – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Hop your way through the dangerous swamps as you face the trials of your master the Wise Toad! Direction Quad is a 2D action-adventure presented in top-down pixel art style. Take the role of young Quad as he hops through the swamp in any diagonal direction, collecting coins and bugs along the way. The objective is to get Quad from his starting lily pad to the finish line of each stage without colliding with the terrain or any treacherous traps.


DreadOut Remastered Collection

Soft Source Pte Ltd

$29.99

DreadOut Remastered Collection – January 14

A collectors dream! A compilation consisting of the original DreadOut and DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark. DreadOut is a third person supernatural horror game where you play as Linda, a high school student trapped in an old, abandoned town. Equipped with her trusty smartphone and an SLR camera, she will battle against terrifying encounters and solve mysterious puzzles which will ultimately determine her fate. DreadOut: Keepers of the Dark is a new standalone horror game that takes place in the DreadOut universe. In this missing chapter, you will help Linda face the challenges of the DreadOut world with even more dangers lurking within.


Xbox Play Anywhere

God bless, or Goddess

NiuGamer

$19.99 $17.99

God Bless, or Goddess – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Handheld Optimized / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

They say the path to immortality is paved with hardship. But in your case, this hardship happened to take the form of seven dangerously beautiful women. You are Lin Fan, the chosen one of the Crane Illusion Sect. Born with a Pure Yang Lineage, you are destined to ascend to the heavens. However, no matter how hard you train, fate sends yet another challenge in your way…temptations in the shape of an unreliable master, a strict senior sister, or a saintess who seems far more interested in testing your heart rather than your skills. Can you survive the thousand tribulations of love, jealousy, and thunder? Or will your heart fall just before your heavenly ascension?


Xbox Play Anywhere

The Last Case of John Morley

JanduSoft

$12.99 $11.69

The Last Case of John Morley – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

The Last Case of John Morley is a first-person narrative adventure set in the 1940s. You play as an experienced detective faced with a case long buried by time. After months in hospital, John Morley receives an unexpected visit from Lady Margarette Fordside, an aristocrat haunted by the murder of her daughter twenty years earlier. Though the police closed the case, she believes the real killer was never found. What begins as a quiet look into an old case becomes a haunting investigation into forgotten places and long-hidden truths that refuse to stay buried.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Ninja Nightfall

Old School Vibes

Ninja Nightfall – January 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Ninja Nightfall is a fast-paced platformer where you are the last silent guardian—an elite ninja battling a city overrun by hostile AI. Conquer 10 intense stages filled with deadly robots, hidden zones, and high-security relics. Master stealth, speed, and precision as you navigate neon-lit rooftops and evade traps.


CASSETTE BOY

Forever Entertainment S. A.

$12.99 $11.69

Cassette Boy – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Is the moon there when nobody looks? Einstein once asked this famous question about quantum mechanics. This game takes that idea and turns it into a mysterious puzzle RPG, where the world itself only exists when you see it.


Disco Simulator

Ultimate Games S.A.

$14.99 $11.99

Disco Simulator – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Disco Simulator is a tycoon game focused on managing your own nightclub. Start from scratch, build walls, arrange furniture, hire staff, plan events, and invite artists to perform on stage. Create the ultimate place for music, dance, and fun!


Dreamscapes – Nightmare's Heir

Joindots® GmbH

Dreamscapes – Nightmare’s Heir – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Two years after waking from her coma, Laura believes she’s free from nightmares. But the Sandman, who once held her soul captive, is back for revenge. A relaxing trip to a snowy mountain resort turns tragic when Tim falls from a cliff and slips into a coma. Bound by her vow not to use her Power for personal gain, Laura can’t save him herself. Desperate, she turns to an old friend (the player) and enters Tim’s subconscious, now under the Sandman’s dark influence. Explore haunting dreamscapes, solve intriguing puzzles, and face the shadows before the Sandman claims his next heir.


KEJORA

Soft Source Pte Ltd

$19.99

Kejora – January 15

When Kejora realizes that her peaceful village has been reliving the same day over and over, she and her friends seek out to try and uncover the origin of the mysterious time loop cursed on her village There’s a mystery hidden behind this peaceful village, unknown to its inhabitants, who carry on with their daily lives. Kejora features hand-drawn art and animation, environmental platformer puzzles, and party-based inspired gameplay with 2 supporting characters with unique skills to help Kejora in her exploration and journey.


Mel The Space Cat

Ember Box Studio

Mel the Space Cat – January 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Mel The Space Cat, you’ll guide Mel, a courageous cosmic cat traveling across alien planets in search of safety even if that means escaping from energy traps, laser cannons, hazardous landscapes, and the mysterious alien Theo! Across 40 handcrafted space levels, your reflexes and timing will be pushed to the limit in a journey filled with charm, danger, and zero gravity surprises.


Apartment No 129

Axyos Games

$13.99

Apartment No 129 – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The story of a real event: in 2009, two young girls living in Apartment No 129 in Turkey performed satanic rituals with candles late at night. According to allegations, the girls, who lived on the top floor of the building, mysteriously lost their lives that night. Apartment No 129 is a single-player, first-person horror and thriller game.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Baking Time

QubicGames S.A.

Baking Time – January 16
Xbox Play Anywhere

Stack all kinds of mouth-watering baked goods, from croissants to cookie hearts and everything in between! Grab your spatula, lift the baked goods out of the oven, and put them on display so that customers can buy them! With a steady stream of hungry customers waiting in line, it’s up to you to deliver their orders quickly and efficiently!


Battle Puzzle 2048 – Queens of the Abyss

EpiXR Games

$6.99

Battle Puzzle 2048 – Queens of the Abyss – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Battle Puzzle 2048 – Queens of the Abyss brings a spellbinding twist to the classic 2048 puzzle game! Slide tiles to combine matching numbers, build powerful combos, and take on a colorful array of supernatural foes. Face off against crafty witches, playful vampires, and adorable girly demons, each armed with unique abilities like hexing tiles, draining health, or summoning chaos on the grid.


BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW

Serafini Productions

BrokenLore: Unfollow – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

BrokenLore: Unfollow is a first-person psychological horror game that dives into the dark side of social media and its effect on mental health. You play as Anne, a young woman haunted by the trauma of bullying, trapped in a surreal nightmare where she must confront her past and uncover a buried truth.


Grimoire of Domance

Gray Boss Game Studio

Grimoire of Dominance – January 16
|Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Grimoire of Domance, the natural order has been shattered. You are a high mage of a Mage Order, the only one capable of wielding the power of the legendary Grimoire to stop Bahg’Val, an ancient entity that has possessed your master and threatens to consume the world. In this 2D action-platformer, your magic comes from dominance. You are what you defeat.


Milo's Dream

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Milo’s Dream – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Milo is a very brave, smart, and playful dog! Only he can defeat the cruel King Big Flea and his evil henchmen who are terrorizing the fairy kingdom. Explore four magical branching locations, solve challenging puzzles, defeat dangerous enemies, and collect dog bones to earn special new abilities. Playing solo or together with local co-op multiplayer, only you can help Milo in his all-important quest!


Neural Requiem

Frostweep Games

Neural Requiem – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The world has fallen to a ruthless artificial intelligence determined to erase mankind. Cities lie in ruins, the skies swarm with machines, and the future hangs by a thread. You are John Veyron, a soldier reborn through brutal experiments, stripped of his past but armed with unbreakable resolve. With only steel and firepower at his side, John must march through hostile strongholds, confront merciless AI champions, and take the fight straight to the heart of the machine.


Super Farming Boy

Renxo Europe Limited

Super Farming Boy – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Super Farming Boy is an exciting mix of action, puzzle, and farming sim, heavily relying on chain reactions and combos. You play as Super, whose mom and friends have been captured by your evil nemesis, KORPO®©TM, who unlawfully hires you to work on your own land, taxing all proceeds for himself! Now, with your friends and mom up for sale, you must harvest your way through challenging adventures, saving enough to buy your mom and friends back!


Zumba – Marble Candy Rush

EpiXR Games

$4.99 $3.99

Zumba – Marble Candy Rush – January 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Zumba – Marble Candy Rush invites you into a delectable marble-shooter kingdom ruled by the Candy King! Select a level, aim your candy-cannon mouth, and fire to match three or more identical candy marbles before they spill past the sugar gate. Create explosive combos, clear waves swiftly, and earn up to three stars per level.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 12 to 16 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

This Year, We’re Leveling Up with Indie Games: Indie Selects for January

7. Leden 2026 v 18:00

This Year, We’re Leveling Up with Indie Games: Indie Selects for January

  • Raymond Estrada, Deron Mann, Steven Allen, Jessica Ronnell – ID@Xbox Holiday Recovery Squad
Indie Selects January 2026

Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub — your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.

Our goal for 2026? Make it the best year yet for Indie Selects! Late November and early December indie releases often fly under the radar, so this month we’re giving them the spotlight they deserve. Our collection is stacked: a stylish tactics RPG, a challenging roguelite creature collector, a retro-inspired metroidvania with modern twists, a gripping text-based political sim, a mind-bending 47-minute time loop adventure, and yes—the psychic-powered baby simulator you never knew you needed. Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):

Demonschool

Demonschool

Demonschool is a joyride of a tactical RPG that follows the charismatic demon hunter Faye, on an apocalypse-preventing quest filled with gangsters, quirky teachers, classmates, and, well… demons. Players are tasked with exploring a mysterious island and college campus through various missions and minigames, managing relationships and school schedules, discovering new skills, and constantly fighting waves of enemies. While all of it was fun, I think the combat captivated me the most! It features a two-phase turn-based structure that leverages action sequencing in a way that feels like solving choreography puzzles. Each character has different abilities, and if moved to the right space and triggered in the right order, you can maximize damage during the action phase. This carries a similar depth and level of player expression to that found in its peers, but its unique presentation enhances the satisfaction when successful. Paired with various enemy types, a mission rank system, and a forgiving rewind feature, the experience felt exciting, challenging, rewarding, and approachable.

Aside from combat, I was delighted by the detail shown through interactivity and easter eggs within each environment. Pet the dog and it might give you something. Throw a coin in a fountain. Talk to an NPC at the docks and learn how their great-grandpappy died as a demon-hunting fisherman. I found myself interacting with everything I could to find another mini-game or read another hilarious one-liner, like the kid who claimed they “marked their seat” during orientation. As a gamer who doesn’t normally play RPGs, I ironically found myself glued to this. The soundtrack is FIRE, the modern-retro aesthetic is beautifully designed, and the storytelling through its varied character personalities and charm kept things fresh and entertaining.

– Deron Mann

Demonschool

Ysbryd Games

9
$24.99
Demonschool is a new-style tactics RPG where motion equals action. Defeat big weirdos in between the human and demon worlds as Faye and her misfit companions, while navigating university life on a mysterious island.

Morsels

Morsels

My first few runs in Morsels taught me an important lesson: getting too attached is a fast track back to the start screen. Developed by Furcula and published by Annapurna Interactive, Morsels is a roguelike action game that rewards flexibility, experimentation, and the ability to admit when your current plan isn’t working. Rather than committing to a single character, players collect multiple “Morsels,” each with its own abilities and combat style. I quickly realized that success depended less on picking the “best” creature and more on knowing when to switch. Stubbornness, it turns out, is not a viable strategy.

The game follows familiar roguelike conventions, including procedurally generated rooms, escalating difficulty, and persistent progression between runs. What helps Morsels stand out is its intentionally strange visual style. Creature designs are unsettling in the best way, and the gritty environments feel like they were designed to keep you slightly on edge—just in case the enemies weren’t already doing that. Progression is driven by unlocking new Morsels and card-based modifiers. Some of these systems took a few runs to click, but experimenting with different combinations often led to those satisfying moments where things suddenly start going your way—right before they don’t.

Morsels doesn’t reinvent the roguelike genre, but its focus on adaptability gives it a clear personality. For Xbox players who enjoy learning through trial, error, and the occasional laugh at their own expense, it’s an engaging and memorable experience.

– Steven Allen

Xbox Play Anywhere

Morsels

Annapurna Interactive

18
$14.99
You are a hungry mouse, scrounging for scraps in the sewers, when you meet a magical sentient fatberg who teaches you to transform into a mighty little Morsel. With your new powers, set off to dangerous upper worlds where you battle against the cats' oppressive forces and collect new Morsels, strategically swapping as you go. From developer Furcula, Morsels is an oddball top-down, creature collector roguelite with a rotating roster of playable characters you switch between at will. Packed with frenetic action and personality, players use magical cards to transform into little monsters, collect and nurture a troop of your own monster friends to battle cat dominance, and persist at all costs to survive.

Gigasword

Gigasword

Let’s be honest: hauling around a giant sword is about as impractical as it gets for an adventurer—especially when vertical traversal is involved. I could write a hundred-page thesis on why that’s absurd, but honestly, GigaSword says it all. This action-puzzle Metroidvania from single-developer-led Studio Hybrid, feels like it leapt straight out of an NES classic collection, challenging your combat and strategy skills while confronting the harsh reality of our childhood dream: “the biggest sword ever.” Spoiler alert: swords are heavy, and you’re nowhere near as agile as Cloud Strife led you to believe.

Once you dive in, you’ll quickly realize the GigaSword’s weight is both a blessing and a curse. Combat feels straightforward yet fair—every swing is deliberate, and that extra wind-up means you’ll need to time attacks carefully or risk eating damage mid-swing. Things escalate when you face massive bosses that demand pattern recognition and precision.

But the sword isn’t just for fighting—it’s central to the game’s clever environmental puzzles. Detaching from it becomes essential as you navigate obstacles, using its heft to trigger pressure plates or even as a makeshift lever to shift platforms. The vibe? Think Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest meets the inventive puzzle mechanics of Legend of Zelda.

The game doesn’t pull its punches when it comes to its stiff combat, but unlike its NES predecessors, you’ve got save points to preserve your sanity. The sword’s weight constantly reminds you that speedrunning isn’t an option—but then come those moments when you tackle an entire dungeon without the blade, introducing a whole new layer of challenge. If you’re a fan of intricate puzzle platformers like Animal Well, this is a distinctive experience worth adding to your collection.

– Raymond Estrada

GIGASWORD

Akupara Games

8
$14.99
Balance the weight of the GIGASWORD, battling between brain and brawn in this action-puzzle metroidvania where the might of the sword will determine all. As tensions rise in Thoenhart, a city plagued by famine and disease, the humans within set their hopes on a final solution: invade the ancient tower Nestrium, slay the Nocturne, and take the God Crystal, Gnosis, for themselves. Said to grant prosperity to those who wield it, Gnosis has been long sought after by humanity for generations. However, upon raiding its resting place, the disturbance of this ancient power awakens an evil capable of destroying the very fabric of reality. Can Ezra reach the top of the Nestrium in time to stop this cataclysm, or will humanity’s ignorance lead the world to its doom?

Goodnight Universe

Goodnight Universe

Oh baby! What a game!  Not enough people are talking about this one.  Goodnight Universe is not a baby sim… it’s a supernaturally gifted baby sim. You take on the role and perspective of Isaac who’s a smart, keenly aware, and capable infant, able to tackle surprisingly complex problems.  That and the telekinesis ability, of which an evil corporation is very aware and want to use for their own purposes.

Before we even touch gameplay, the voice acting and writing are superb and captivating.  The narrator connects with the player as we both witness so many performances between fully fleshed out characters highlighting their family dynamics, their struggles, and their successes. The writing is heartwarming and fun, exploring themes of the messiness of domestic life and what it means to be human.  The overall narrative is, for me, the highlight of the game.

Gameplay starts out simple, seen through the baby’s eyes in first person. You click on objects for narration or interaction, but once powers kick in, that’s when things get interesting.  You will be able to move objects with your mind or even dive into someone’s thoughts. As the game progresses, you unlock new powers and tackle sequences where you must use your powers at the right time. 

The console version lacks the eye-tracking feature Nice Dream introduced in Before Your Eyes. I tested it on Steam, and while the mechanic adds an intimate twist to the first-person experience, albeit with occasional awkwardness, it isn’t essential here. Unlike Before Your Eyes, skipping it doesn’t compromise the core gameplay. The game took me about 4-5 hours to complete and I can’t recommend this enough, especially for anyone that loves unique, narrative-driven games… and babies.  Gamer dad approved.

– Raymond Estrada

Goodnight Universe

Skybound Games

19
$19.99
From the creators of Before Your Eyes. You are Isaac, a 6-month-old baby, developing mysterious psychic powers. What you want most is to be loved and accepted by your family, but a secretive tech corporation wants you for their own.

Suzerain

Suzerain

Suzerain is a critically acclaimed, narrative-driven government simulator that’s far more addictive than its niche genre suggests. At 11 p.m., I reminded myself that I was only supposed to play for a few hours. Think of it as a choose-your-own-adventure where you’re the newly elected president of a fictional nation, tasked with shaping its future. Will you lead with integrity and build a brighter tomorrow or plunge into corruption, spark wars, and line your own pockets? The choice is yours.

This is a text-based adventure, so expect plenty of reading as events unfold and characters speak, followed by dialogue choices that shape your path. But it’s not all dry policy.  Beyond signing bills or reviewing economic reports, you’ll navigate scandals, shady deals, and moral dilemmas. The intro alone lays out 50 years of rich lore for your homeland, and once I got into it, it felt like reading a truly great novel. Thankfully, the writing, presentation, and UI are top-notch.  Otherwise, I honestly haven’t read this much since my deep dive into Blue Prince.

Suzerain’s greatest strength is its replayability. The depth of the characters around me and detailed lore make every choice impactful, with each decision reshaping the course of my presidency. My first run focused on economic and social reforms that aligned with my actual ideology, but in this new run I’m currently going full corrupt leader, bribing my way through scandals and taking every unsavory side-deal that comes my way. With a 6-to-7-hour campaign, multiple playthroughs can easily triple your time. If you love strategic decision-making without twitch reflexes, this is for you—board gamers, I’m talking to you!

– Raymond Estrada

Suzerain Expanded Edition

Torpor Games

22
$31.99
The Expanded Edition includes the award-winning political drama Suzerain, and the Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia DLC. Suzerain As President Rayne, lead the nation of Sordland in your first term of this text-based RPG. Navigate a political drama driven by conversations with your cabinet members. With looming war, rooted corruption, economic crisis and reform needed, the choices fall on your shoulders. How will you lead? Suzerain: Kingdom of Rizia Embrace the crown as King Romus Toras, and lead the Golden Kingdom to a new era. Reclaim lost territories through diplomacy or force. Engage with noble houses and oversee the resources of Rizia. How will you reign?

Rue Valley

Rue Valley

Rue Valley is a cozy, narrative driven mystery adventure with a dash of life sim flavor—think gentle exploration, quirky character encounters, and environmental puzzles tucked into every corner. It’s a kind of small-town mystery sitting somewhere between Night in the Woods and Oxenfree, but carrying its own soft-spoken charm. You arrive as the town’s newest resident, slowly learning the rhythms, secrets, and oddball personalities that make you feel welcome… and it’s just uncanny enough to keep you leaning in. Oh, and of course you are trapped in a strange time loop that causes you to relive exactly 47 minutes in perpetuity.

I’ve spent countless hours wandering Rue Valley’s winding streets—half exploring, half getting delightfully sidetracked by a neighbor who just had one more story to share. Somewhere between chatting up townsfolk and stitching together the town’s quiet mysteries, the game really pulls you into its world. The characters don’t behave like NPCs waiting to dispense quests; they feel like the familiar faces you always seem to bump into at your favorite café, each with quirks that make the town feel genuinely lived in.

And yes, there’s a learning curve—especially when you’re juggling exploration with dialogue choices—but it’s the kind that feels like easing into a new neighborhood. A little confusing at first, then unexpectedly rewarding once everything clicks into place.

What kept me hooked most was the atmosphere. Rue Valley is the kind of place where you sit down for “just ten minutes” and look up hours later. It’s cozy, a touch mysterious, and always ready with a gentle surprise when you least expect it. If you enjoy narrative adventures, small-town stories, or slow-burn games where the joy comes from noticing the little things—a flickering streetlight, a half-finished sentence, a lingering question—Rue Valley fits beautifully. It’s a world that invites you to slow down and let it reveal itself at its own unhurried pace.

– Jessica Ronnell

Rue Valley

Owlcat Games

14
$29.99
Break free from a mysterious time loop! Embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience. Delve into the enigmatic depths of the small godforsaken town: Rue Valley. Each day feels like an uphill battle against the shadows of your own mind. Along the way, you will encounter a captivating ensemble of characters, each wrestling with their own emotional complexities and revealing hidden depths as you get to know them. Can you muster the courage to unravel the secrets of this temporal anomaly? Can you discover the strength within yourself to rise above adversity and forge a brighter tomorrow? Craft your own personality in Rue Valley. You can be a cold-hearted loner who overthinks everything or a melodramatic loudmouth who always trusts their gut instinct. Whether you reflect your true personality or role-play someone entirely different, your character will shape your dialogues and interactions in the game. Store memories in a graph, unlocking intentions and mindsets as you progress uniquely through the story. Commit to quirky mindsets for unexpected and hilarious dialogues, and experience personality-altering Status Effects: become more outgoing when drunk, or extra sensitive when anxious. Experiment with different answers and timelines, because the loop will restart from the beginning anyway, won't it?

STAY TUNED: Indie Selects Anniversary is coming soon!

Mark your calendars for January 28 and get ready for our big Indie Selects Anniversary Celebration, packed with giveaways, discounts, and plenty of surprises!

The post This Year, We’re Leveling Up with Indie Games: Indie Selects for January appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, and More

6. Leden 2026 v 15:00

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, and More

  • Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass
Game Pass January Wave 1

Welcome to the new year, friends! Happy to be back with more games and more fun. Let’s get to it!

Available Today

Brews & Bastards (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Brews & Bastards is an intoxicating, twin-stick shooter, overflowing with action-packed combat, potent brews and outlandish bosses. Select from a group of inebriated heroes and descend, drink, and destroy your way through hordes of drunken demons in search of the stolen Brew Stone.

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Rediscover the dark whimsical tale of Little Nightmares, now enhanced in stunning 4K and 60 FPS. Play as Six, a lone child trapped in The Maw, a massive vessel inhabited by monstrous, distorted versions of adults. Sneak, hide, and survive in a world where your childhood fears come to life.

Coming Soon

Atomfall (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England. Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die blends dynamic real-time action, tactical combat, and risk-reward dice mechanics for thrilling second-to-second battles. Unravel an original stand-alone story as Queen Aleksandra, the once great ruler of Random on a mission for vengeance and redemption.

Rematch (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

Step onto the pitch in Rematch, a third-person, team-based football game where every pass, volley, and tackle matters. Designed for 5v5 online play, Rematch puts you in full control of one athlete, with no offsides, no fouls, and no downtime. Pass smart, play with purpose, and win together.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7
Now with Game Pass Premium

Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enhanced for a new generation, this edition brings quality of life and graphical improvements.

Final Fantasy – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – January 8
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

“Earth, fire, water, wind… The light that once shone within the four Crystals was lost. Become the Warriors of Light, restore power to the Crystals and save the world.” A remodeled 2D take on the first game in the world-renowned Final Fantasy series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. All the magic of the original, with improved ease of play.

Star Wars Outlaws Key Art

Star Wars Outlaws (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game, set between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.

My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 15
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Take the magic of friendship to new heights in a mystery adventure for one or two ponies. Playing as Sunny, Hitch, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp, or Misty, use your special abilities to stop the unstable magic that’s sending Zephyr Heights out of control! And have tons of fun with hilarious minigames and countless pony customizations. 

Resident Evil Village Key Art

Resident Evil Village (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 20
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in the Resident Evil series. Set years after Resident Evil 7 biohazard, players follow Ethan Winters into a haunting European village, fighting for survival against brutal enemies as danger and mystery lurk around every corner.

MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 20
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.

Leaving January 15

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to tie up any loose ends, or save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!

  • Flintlock The Siege of Dawn (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
  • Neon White (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
  • Road 96 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
  • The Ascent (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
  • The Grinch Christmas Adventures (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)

I hope your last year treated you well with lots of high scores, achievements unlocked, and GGs. We’ll be back soon with even more games so keep it tuned here, or with us on social for Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. Talk soon!

Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.

The post Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Maybe the Real Code Vein II is the Friends We Make Along the Way

5. Leden 2026 v 15:00

Maybe the Real Code Vein II is the Friends We Make Along the Way

Code Vein II

Summary

  • Code Vein II arrives on Xbox Series X|S on January 30.
  • Building on the first game’s rich combat, Code Vein II remixes its themes and imagery into an original story and setting.
  • The partner system of NPC companions returns as well, reworked and expanded as a central pillar of both the gameplay and narrative.

The monstrous Metagen Remnant really had me on the ropes, crushing me repeatedly with a swipe of its tail, but that stoic, pink-haired woman just wouldn’t let me forget the power of duty, friendship, and anime.

Code Vein II

I recently attended a closed preview event for Code Vein II, upcoming sequel to Bandai Namco’s 2019 3rd-person action game with anime aesthetics and narrative. Hosted at a dramatic cathedral church in Los Angeles, I played several hours of a curated demo and took part in a group interview with series director Hiroshi Yoshimura and producer Keita Iizuka, both of whom are returning from the first game to make a bigger and better sequel.

One of the original Code Vein’s main mechanical hooks was the variety of NPC partner characters that you could team up with to overcome the game’s challenges, and Code Vein II has doubled down on that. Yoshimura summed it up well that what he “think[s] defines Code Vein and its identity is really traversing these difficult dungeons and encounters with your partner, and that sense of achievement you get from overcoming them together. So that’s one [piece of positive feedback] we got from Code Vein, one that we’re definitely leaning into more in Code Vein II.”

Same but Different

If, like me, you never got around to the original Code Vein, you don’t need to worry about missing the story. Code Vein II remixes much of the first game’s imagery—powerful, vampiric beings called Revenants in a post-apocalyptic world—into an original setting and story. Fans of the first will no doubt find plenty of rhymes and resonance, but new players need not worry about studying up on the lore to understand what’s going on.

That’s not to say that everyone will easily follow along with everything. A big part of Code Vein’s appeal is that it’s anime as all hell, with a plot that’s as melodramatic as it is convoluted and laden with proper nouns. This time around it’s a time travel story, no less. According to Iizuka that’s why they decided to have it be unrelated to the first game: “If we had done this as continuation of the previous world/character/game, then that could possibly mean players would affect and change events that have already happened in [the original] Code Vein. And we didn’t want to take away from that, because what players experience in Code Vein, we think, belongs to the players.”

Code Vein II

Josée and the Pussycats

Code Vein II takes place in a world on the brink of collapse. Humans now live together with Revenants (vampiric beings that had long existed in the shadows). 100 years ago, Revenants worked together to try and defeat a cataclysmic force called The Resurgence but failed to seal it, creating a new entity known as Luna Rapacis. The result was that the Resurgence was only delayed, and Luna Rapacis is turning Revenants into mindless horrors that accelerate its progress.

You play as a Revenant Hunter tasked with saving the world. In order to do that, you have to defeat Fallen Heroes of the Resurgence—the Revenants from 100 years ago that tried and failed to seal it away, and have since been corrupted into monsters and sealed into cocoons. With the help of another Revenant with a unique time travel ability, you must first go back into the past, meet these heroes in their prime, and help them out in their personal quests before returning to the present and defeating them in their monstrous form. According to Yoshimura, “the overarching mission is going to be to defeat all of these heroes, the order of which is up to the players themselves,” so in a very real way, the gameplay and story are structured entirely around these partner characters.

Code Vein II

For the demo session we played parts of the section for Josée Anjou, a short, fierce Revenant with a giant sword, pink hair, and an eyepatch. She’s a stoic protector, burdened by guilt from her past. In her present we were helping her cleanse polluted water from the Sunken City, a flooded urban ruin, by fighting our way down to defeat an enormous, sphinxlike beast called the Metagen Remnant. Our exploration down towards the boss was punctuated by flashback scenes in which I’d run past tableaus from Josée and her sister’s past, learning more about her personal story. Eventually I returned to the present to do battle with a monstrous (and monstrously difficult) Josée, burdened by the full pathos of knowing this creature’s tragic backstory as she pounds me into the tile over and over again.

Code Vein II

Formae and Function

Combat is the real star of the show. Code Vein II comprises an intricate lattice of interconnected systems that I could only begin to wrap my head around in a few hours of play, but I imagine they’d be engrossing when built up over an extended game. The foundation of stamina management, light/heavy attacks, and dodging should be familiar to anyone who’s dabbled in the Soulslike genre. Code Vein II then heaps on layers and layers of customization.

Rather than committing to fixed stats, Blood Codes return from the first game, acting as hot-swappable classes to rescale your stats for different builds. In addition to a variety of one- and two-handed weapons with different base move sets, Formae (a rework and expansion of the first games Gifts) are powerful special moves that you can find over the course of the game and slot into compatible weapons. These cost a resource called Ichor to use, which you replenish by landing special drain attacks.

The resource for using your special abilities being generated by attacking adds a risk/reward dynamic to combat, and keeps it aggressive. In all ways, Code Vein II wants to empower you to experiment and play in your own style, with Formae and Blood Codes allowing you to completely rebuild your strengths and moveset at any time.

Code Vein II

And my Greatsword!

Partners take a prominent role in that combat customization, each offering unique passive bonuses to you that improve as your relationship deepens. You can either Summon them to have them fight side by side with you as normal (and as any Elden Ring player knows, just having a summon pulling enemy aggro can make all the difference in a tough fight), or you can Assimilate them into you, absorbing additional power and stats. This enables proud players that want to Let Them Solo Her still engage with the partner system, as it’s so central to the game’s narrative.

One of the biggest benefits I drew from my partner was the Restorative Offering, where they would sacrifice themselves to bring me back when my HP hit zero, before respawning soon thereafter to continue the fight. This brought me back from the brink countless times during the two extremely challenging boss fights in the preview, and can serve as a great buffer to keep you in the fight a little bit longer.

Code Vein II

When I asked about mitigating difficulty, Yoshimura emphasized the role partners played here too. When faced with a difficulty spike, you can explore to level up and find more equipment, Formae, and Blood Codes to experiment with. The leeway given by partners pulling attention and reviving you “increase[s] this trial and error cycle, [and] I think that will keep the difficulty balance in check in a way that the players won’t hit this wall or feel this huge level of frustration, because the partner opens up that window for different ways of exploring encounters.”

The difficulty spike between exploration and bosses was enormous, and it’s clear that they will demand a lot, but Code Vein II provides so many different tools and levers for you to tweak that it will really feel like your own victory when you finally do overcome them, even if you did have a helping hand.

You can meet and defeat Josée and all the other partner characters yourself on January 30 when Code Vein II arrives on Xbox Series X|S, available for pre-order now. A character creator demo also releases on January 23.

Code Vein II character creator demo

CODE VEIN II Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

21
$69.99
Pre-order now to receive the following bonuses: • Stylized Forma Set – Forma Face Paint: A cosmetic item which applies a forma design to the corner of your eyes. – Twin Fangs of the Lone Wolf (Weapon): Twin blades engraved with a special forma. Cut through your enemies like a wolf sinking its teeth into its prey with a powerful, lunging slice attack. In a future world where humans and Revenants coexist… Due to the sudden appearance of the Luna Rapacis, Revenants have transformed into mindless monsters called Horrors. As a Revenant hunter, the player shall halt the world's inevitable collapse by traveling to the past with a girl called Lou who possesses the power to manipulate time. An epic adventure awaits, where you and your chosen partners explore a post-apocalyptic world, face fierce battles against powerful enemies, and uncover an epic story that transcends time. • A Tale Across Time Embark on a journey that spans both the present and the past as you search for clues to prevent the world’s destruction. Alter the fates of key Revenant characters you encounter in the past, while uncovering lost histories and the hidden truths of the world. • Intense and Satisfying Combat Dive into adrenaline-fueled battles where reading enemy moves and mastering your arsenal are key to survival. Unleash powerful skills, adapt on the fly, and conquer relentless foes in fights that deliver both intensity and triumph. • Unique Battle System Experience Code Vein II’s unique gameplay mechanic, where the player drains and acquires blood from enemies to unleash a variety of skills. With the series' new build system, you can freely customize weapons and skills to suit your own battle styles. • Powerful Partner Characters Explore the world with trusted and powerful allies who can fight alongside you or enhance your abilities. Each partner brings unique abilities and deep connections that shape your journey. *Other editions are also available. Be careful of duplicate purchases.

CODE VEIN II Deluxe Edition Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

21
$89.99
Pre-order now to receive the following bonuses: • Stylized Forma Set – Forma Face Paint: A cosmetic item which applies a forma design to the corner of your eyes. – Twin Fangs of the Lone Wolf (Weapon): Twin blades engraved with a special forma. Cut through your enemies like a wolf sinking its teeth into its prey with a powerful, lunging slice attack. • Early Access (Deluxe/Ultimate Bonus) – Experience CODE VEIN II 72 hours* ahead of launch! The Deluxe Edition includes: • CODE VEIN II • Custom Outfit Pack: Contains 3 costume sets and 1 weapon • Expansion DLC: Mask of Idris In a future world where humans and Revenants coexist… Due to the sudden appearance of the Luna Rapacis, Revenants have transformed into mindless monsters called Horrors. As a Revenant hunter, the player shall halt the world's inevitable collapse by traveling to the past with a girl called Lou who possesses the power to manipulate time. An epic adventure awaits, where you and your chosen partners explore a post-apocalyptic world, face fierce battles against powerful enemies, and uncover an epic story that transcends time. • A Tale Across Time Embark on a journey that spans both the present and the past as you search for clues to prevent the world’s destruction. Alter the fates of key Revenant characters you encounter in the past, while uncovering lost histories and the hidden truths of the world. • Intense and Satisfying Combat Dive into adrenaline-fueled battles where reading enemy moves and mastering your arsenal are key to survival. Unleash powerful skills, adapt on the fly, and conquer relentless foes in fights that deliver both intensity and triumph. • Unique Battle System Experience Code Vein II’s unique gameplay mechanic, where the player drains and acquires blood from enemies to unleash a variety of skills. With the series' new build system, you can freely customize weapons and skills to suit your own battle styles. • Powerful Partner Characters Explore the world with trusted and powerful allies who can fight alongside you or enhance your abilities. Each partner brings unique abilities and deep connections that shape your journey. *Other editions are also available. Be careful of duplicate purchases. *Expansion DLC: Mask of Idris will be available by January 2027.

CODE VEIN II Ultimate Edition Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

21
$99.99
Pre-order now to receive the following bonuses: • Stylized Forma Set – Forma Face Paint: A cosmetic item which applies a forma design to the corner of your eyes. – Twin Fangs of the Lone Wolf (Weapon): Twin blades engraved with a special forma. Cut through your enemies like a wolf sinking its teeth into its prey with a powerful, lunging slice attack. • Early Access (Deluxe/Ultimate Bonus) – Experience CODE VEIN II 72 hours* ahead of launch! The Ultimate Edition includes: • CODE VEIN II • Custom Outfit Pack: Contains 3 costume sets and 1 weapon • Expansion DLC: Mask of Idris • CODE VEIN Character Costume Set: Contains 6 costumes based on characters from the original game, CODE VEIN • CODE VEIN II Digital Mini Artbook & Soundtrack In a future world where humans and Revenants coexist… Due to the sudden appearance of the Luna Rapacis, Revenants have transformed into mindless monsters called Horrors. As a Revenant hunter, the player shall halt the world's inevitable collapse by traveling to the past with a girl called Lou who possesses the power to manipulate time. An epic adventure awaits, where you and your chosen partners explore a post-apocalyptic world, face fierce battles against powerful enemies, and uncover an epic story that transcends time. • A Tale Across Time Embark on a journey that spans both the present and the past as you search for clues to prevent the world’s destruction. Alter the fates of key Revenant characters you encounter in the past, while uncovering lost histories and the hidden truths of the world. • Intense and Satisfying Combat Dive into adrenaline-fueled battles where reading enemy moves and mastering your arsenal are key to survival. Unleash powerful skills, adapt on the fly, and conquer relentless foes in fights that deliver both intensity and triumph. • Unique Battle System Experience Code Vein II’s unique gameplay mechanic, where the player drains and acquires blood from enemies to unleash a variety of skills. With the series' new build system, you can freely customize weapons and skills to suit your own battle styles. • Powerful Partner Characters Explore the world with trusted and powerful allies who can fight alongside you or enhance your abilities. Each partner brings unique abilities and deep connections that shape your journey. *Other editions are also available. Be careful of duplicate purchases. *Expansion DLC: Mask of Idris will be available by January 2027.

The post Maybe the Real Code Vein II is the Friends We Make Along the Way appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Nightdive Explains How the Game’s Original Source Code Transformed Blood: Refreshed Supply

3. Prosinec 2025 v 17:00

Nightdive Explains How the Game’s Original Source Code Transformed Blood: Refreshed Supply

  • Morgan Shaver, Communications Manager at Nightdive Studios
Blood: Refreshed Supply

On the surface, Blood: Refreshed Supply may not seem all that different from 2019’s Blood: Fresh Supply. Both are remasters of the 1997 horror FPS from Monolith Productions, courtesy of the remaster specialists at Nightdive Studios.

Of the two, Blood: Refreshed Supply is the definitive version.

When players sink their teeth into this definitive remaster, they’ll be treated to a pool of small but meaningful improvements that help it feel more authentic to the original than anything previously offered.

This is in part because, unlike its predecessor, Blood: Refreshed Supply has been rebuilt from the ground up using the game’s original source code.

Sourcing the Code

Nightdive Studios had yet to obtain the original source code for Blood when it started working on its initial remaster, Fresh Supply. Without the source code, Nightdive’s developers had to reverse-engineer any missing or incomplete pieces of content from whatever materials were available to them at the time.

As meticulous and detailed as reverse engineering sounds, it’s ultimately a more tedious and less precise way to remaster a game, according to Nightdive’s lead KEX developer, Samuel “Kaiser” Villareal.

“Reverse engineering is extremely time-consuming and is prone to mistakes, leading to various aspects of gameplay feeling off or not behaving exactly like how one would remember it,” Villareal explains. “For more complex games, especially games released around the early 2000s, it is absolutely mandatory to have the full source code at hand.”

The Nightdive team spent years trying to get access to it, but only recently were they successful in tracking down the source code for Blood. “With the original [code] in hand, our developers were able to revisit the reverse-engineered code we’d previously worked on and update it to be as authentic to the original as possible.”

Blood Refreshed SupplyBlood: Refreshed Supply

Keeping it Classic

One of Nightdive’s core missions outside of game preservation is releasing remasters that look and play the way you remember them, and having access to a game’s source code makes it easier for the team to deliver authentic experiences.

“Having the source code to work from not only enables us to make a faithful remaster that matches the original in terms of ‘look and feel,’ it also allows us to see how the original developers were able to design the game,” says Larry Kuperman, Nightdive VP of Business Development.

If you think about it, a game’s source code is more than lines of code, it’s like a building’s blueprints. A replica of a building can technically be made without blueprints, but it won’t be an exact copy of the original building.

As critical as having a game’s source code can be with all of these factors in mind, tracking it down can often prove challenging, especially for older or more niche titles.

“It’s often difficult to obtain the original source code for classic video games. It’s often the case that copies no longer exist, or the people who still have them are difficult to find,” says Nightdive CEO and founder Stephen Kick. He goes on to assure that, “Every time we do discover original code, we make our best efforts to preserve it.”

Blood: Refreshed SupplyBlood: Refreshed Supply

Refreshed Supply

Thanks to the newly acquired source code, Blood: Refreshed Supply will offer remade cutscenes along with other visual improvements, including 4K at 120 FPS on Xbox Series X. Not only will the game look better, it’ll play better too.

“Those who are familiar with the original DOS game and Fresh Supply will immediately feel the difference right off the bat, particularly with player movement,” Villareal confirms.

Blood: Refreshed Supply will also offer expanded options for improved enemy behavior, bug fixes for the game’s original levels, and a previously cut weather effects feature, among other enhancements.

“We had a chance to go back and do additional level refinements and adjustments that were not implemented in Blood: Fresh Supply,” adds Nightdive project manager and producer Grover Wimberly IV. “We’re also excited to finally bring Blood to Xbox consoles for the first time.”

Blood: Refreshed SupplyBlood: Refreshed Supply

On Xbox consoles, players can look forward to improved controller gamepad support and 8-player split-screen multiplayer on Xbox Series X|S. On all platforms, Blood: Refreshed Supply will offer additional content, including the aptly named Marrow and Death Wish scenarios.

Marrow and Death Wish will be the first official expansions released for Blood since Cryptic Passage and Plasma Pak back in 1997.

“The Marrow scenario will be available at launch,” Wimberly IV outlines. “We plan on adding the Death Wish scenario as a free update for all players in early 2026.”

Marrow developer Nick Palsmeier notes that in terms of content, “Marrow adds 2 new episodes, and Death Wish adds another 4. Combined, these new expansions add 72 additional levels to Blood.”

Similar to other Nightdive releases, Blood: Refreshed Supply will also feature a brand-new Vault packed with bonus materials, including dozens of playable cut-content levels, concept art, behind-the-scenes photos, unused sprites, and more!

Blood: Refreshed SupplyBlood: Refreshed Supply

Bloody Good Time

Whether you’re looking to experience Blood for the very first time or simply want to replay the game on consoles, Blood: Refreshed Supply is shaping up to be the ultimate way to enjoy one of the ’90s most unique and darkly atmospheric shooters.

To see if Blood: Refreshed Supply is capable of satiating your hunger for an authentic Blood-y experience, keep an eye out for the game’s release on all platforms — including Xbox One and Series X|S — on December 4!

Blood: Refreshed Supply

Warner Bros. Games, Atari, Nightdive Studios

Blood: Refreshed Supply follows Caleb, an undead gunslinger on a quest for revenge against his former demonic master, Tchernobog. Despite his once powerful position as a fearsome Cabal commander and one of Tchernobog’s “Chosen” few, Caleb and his fellow Chosen are betrayed by the dark god and slain for reasons unknown. Seeking answers and vengeance, Caleb rises from the grave to put a stop to Tchernobog and his murderous lieutenants once and for all. Grab your Pitchfork and get ready to stab your way through 42 blood-soaked levels, while unlocking even more creative and effective implements of destruction along the way. Incinerate foes with weapons like the Flare Gun, Aerosol Can, and Napalm Launcher. Blast enemies straight to hell bundles of dynamite, shoot them full of holes with the Tommy Gun and Sawed-Off Shotgun, or tap into darker methods of annihilation with the game’s powerful Voodoo Doll and Life Leech offerings. Use your arsenal of weapons to survive Tchernobog’s evil Cabal of loyal Cultists, Fanatics, Zealots, and Acolytes, along with swarms of hellish creatures from ruthless Zombies and flying Gargoyles, to water-dwelling Gill Beasts, screaming Phantasms, and firebreathing Hell Hounds. Includes the original Blood along with the Plasma Pak and Cryptic Passage add-ons.

The post Nightdive Explains How the Game’s Original Source Code Transformed Blood: Refreshed Supply appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is the Biggest New Third-Party Game Launch on Xbox Game Pass of 2025

3. Prosinec 2025 v 15:00

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is the Biggest New Third-Party Game Launch on Xbox Game Pass of 2025

Fresh from sweeping the Golden Joysticks and poised to do the same at The Game Awards, Sandfall Interactive’s phenomenal debut RPG is one of the most buzzed-about releases of the year, so it should surprise no one when we announce that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the biggest new third-party game launch on Xbox Game Pass of 2025. That’s based on the number of unique users in the first 30 days of its availability, which means a huge number of Xbox players joined Maelle, Gustave, Esquie, and the gang on their journey right from the beginning.

Sandfall Interactive creative director Guillaume Broche told us how grateful he is for all that love: “This year has been so far beyond what any of us could have imagined, and it’s down to how passionate and supportive our fans have been to make that a reality. It’s really nerve-wracking to be a new studio releasing our first game, but the support of everyone has really made everything feel like a dream.”

ID@Xbox Director Guy Richards explained why Expedition 33 stood out early on as a game the team wanted to put weight behind: “From the start, Sandfall’s ambition was clear and we really felt they wanted to create something truly special, something beyond expectations for the team. Once we played early builds, we experienced their gripping story, stunning visuals and the mix of JRPG mechanics with French cultural themes that felt fresh and distinctive. It’s the kind of experience we knew Xbox players would love to discover.”

For Broche, that support from Xbox was instrumental in helping the game make as big a splash as it has. “From being there to announce our game back in Summer 2024, to coming to the studio for the Developer_Direct video in January, Xbox helped us get the word out there and reach a lot of players.”

He also noted how Game Pass allowed them to reach a much wider audience, “letting a lot of people try our game when maybe they might not have before. The turn-based RPG genre has a lot of fans but sometimes it might put people who prefer more real-time action games off, but Game Pass lowered that barrier of entry. They could just try it and see how it feels. So a lot of curious players could start the game, explore Lumière and the early game, and realize there’s a lot to enjoy here, even if they weren’t expecting it at first.”

Set in a whimsical fantasia that belies dark secrets, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 follows the eponymous Expedition on a doomed mission to save their city from the mysterious Paintress, a godlike being that has obliterated the city’s eldest cohort every single year for decades following a cataclysm that rent the world asunder. It has captured hearts and minds all over the world for both its memorable characters and story as well as for its thrilling, savvy evolution of classic turn-based RPG battles.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a prime example of the innovative and diverse range of experiences that Xbox Game Pass was created to support, helping developers of all sizes reach a huge global audience while bringing unparalleled value to our players. Xbox is proud to have supported Sandfall in sharing this excellent game with the world, and we look forward to bringing many more exciting titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on day one.

If you haven’t yet joined the Expedition, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud. It’s an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

For those who come after!

Xbox Play Anywhere

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Kepler Interactive

989
$49.99 $39.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
“Year by year, She erases us.” Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints upon her monolith. Paints her cursed number. And everyone past that age turns to smoke and fades away. Year by year, that number ticks down and more of us are erased. Tomorrow she’ll wake and paint “33.” And tomorrow we depart on our final mission – Destroy the Paintress, so she can never paint death again. We are Expedition 33. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics, making battles more immersive and addictive than ever. Explore a fantasy world inspired by Belle Époque France in which you battle devastating enemies. Reactive Turn-based Combat In this evolution of JRPGs, real-time actions enhance the heart of turn-based combat. Craft unique builds for your Expeditioners that fit your playstyle via gear, stats, skills, and character synergies. Open an active dimension in combat – dodge, parry, and counter in real time, chain combos by mastering attack rhythms, and target enemy weak points using a free aim system. “Tomorrow Comes” With only one year left to live, join Gustave, Maelle, and their fellow Expeditioners as they embark upon a desperate quest to break the Paintress’ cycle of death. Follow the trail of previous expeditions and discover their fate. Get to know the members of Expedition 33 as they learn to work together against impossible odds. A Hauntingly Beautiful World Explore an enchanting realm populated by surreal adversaries. Wander through breathtaking landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield, discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way. Find allies of fortune in creatures of legend. Recruit special companions to access new travel methods and discover secret areas in the World Map. Experience the debut game from Sandfall Interactive, fully realized in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning graphics and a heartbreaking soundtrack.

The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is the Biggest New Third-Party Game Launch on Xbox Game Pass of 2025 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 1 to 5

28. Listopad 2025 v 16:00
Marvel Cosmic Invasion

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 1 to 5

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Xbox Play Anywhere

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion

Dotemu

211
$29.99 $26.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass

Marvel Cosmic Invasion – December 1
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Tribute Games and Dotemu are teaming up again, in collaboration with Marvel Games, to craft an original, fresh beat ’em up. Featuring dynamic combat combos and dazzling pixel art, this planet-hopping adventure stands as a love letter to the Marvel Universe. Whether you’re teaming up with friends or family, Marvel Cosmic Invasion has you covered with local/online play and a drop-in/drop-out adaptive system. A cosmic battle awaits!


Xbox Play Anywhere

OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 Digital Deluxe Edition

SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

5
$59.99
Xbox Play Anywhere

OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0

SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

5

Octopath Traveler 0 – December 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Start from zero and discover the newest entry in the Octopath Traveler series. Experience a story of restoration and retribution over the divine rings — an epic saga that unfolds across the realm of Orsterra. Enjoy familiar features such as the series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG; the player’s ability to roleplay using Path Actions of their choice; and the Break and Boost system that can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, brand-new features such as character creation and town building allow you to create your own character and restore your hometown.


Blood: Refreshed Supply

Warner Bros. Games, Atari, Nightdive Studios

Blood: Refreshed Supply – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Blood: Refreshed Supply follows Caleb, an undead gunslinger on a quest for revenge against his former demonic master, Tchernobog. Despite his once powerful position as a fearsome Cabal commander and one of Tchernobog’s “Chosen” few, Caleb and his fellow Chosen are betrayed by the dark god and slain for reasons unknown. Seeking answers and vengeance, Caleb rises from the grave to put a stop to Tchernobog and his murderous lieutenants once and for all.


Xbox Play Anywhere

ROUTINE

Raw Fury

Routine – December 4
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Routine is a first-person sci-fi horror title set on an abandoned lunar base designed around an 80s vision of the future. Curious exploration turns into a need for survival when a lunar base goes completely quiet. Searching for answers puts you face to face with an enemy who is certain the main threat is you. Discoveries lead to deeper unknowns and the only way to go is forward.


I'm on Observation Duty 8

Dreamloop Games

I’m on Observation Duty 8 – December 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Observe. Report. Survive the night. Monitor the surveillance system for anomalies and report them to survive the night. Use your sharp eyes and keen attention to detail to detect supernatural anomalies ranging from subtle environmental changes to eerie and unsettling otherworldly intruders. Can you survive the night shift, or will you succumb to paranoia…? I’m on Observation Duty 8 is the most ambitious title yet in the original viral franchise that ignited a trend in spot-the-difference horror games that have been loved by players and streamed for millions by legendary content creators.


Crime Simulator

Ultimate Games S.A.

28
$19.99 $17.99

Crime Simulator – December 1
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

You’re out of jail, but the debt isn’t gone. Sneak, steal, and break into houses solo or in 4-player co-op. Use lockpicks, sleeping gas, and brute force to complete jobs, outsmart security, and make enough money before time runs out. Will you pay back what you owe, or lose everything?


Seven Days Until Morning

Dishsoap Studios

2
$5.99

Seven Days Until Morning – December 1
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Seven centuries in the future, humanity is collapsing. In an attempt to spare yourself the same fate as the rest of the system, you flee to the furthest away place you can feasibly survive: Pluto. Survive the downfall of humanity in a centuries old survival bunker, or at least the first week. You crash land on Pluto, it’s the furthest away place you could reach that was apart of the CCOT’s emergency shelter program. It had been centuries since it was last used, which has left it needing maintenance. Ride out the Plutonian night while hiding from the end.


Xbox Play Anywhere

BROK: The Brawl Bar

COWCAT

$9.99

Brok: The Bar Brawl – December 2
Xbox Play Anywhere

Brok, a former boxer turned detective, stumbles upon an underground bar hidden deep in the Slums. Old instincts kick in, and he jumps headfirst to prove he’s still top dog! (or…gator.) Solo or with a friend in co-op, take on creative challenges inspired by “Event matches” of platform fighters, taken to the next level with original addictive mechanics and variety. In this gritty-yet-humorous bar, meet unforgettable characters and uncover surprises around every corner as the story unfolds.


Cute Bonfire (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

1
$4.99 $3.99

Cute Bonfire – December 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Step into the warm world of Cute Bonfire, a charming pixel-art puzzle game set inside a fireplace. Take control of a little fire spirit that moves tile by tile, pushing charcoal pieces to light up the bonfires. With 30 levels of gradually increasing difficulty, delightful visuals, and a cozy, relaxing atmosphere, Cute Bonfire is perfect for casual players who love the satisfaction of solving puzzles.


Elon and Friends: Winter Pack – 13 Games (Xbox+XPA+PC)

DERIK D.F

23
$8.99 $7.19

Elon and Friends: Winter Pack – December 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

This winter celebration pack contains the following games: Elon and the Divine Proof, Green Soldiers Heroes, Extreme Bikers, Prison of Illusion, Super Snake Block DX, and SHMUP Mania. Windows (PC) versions are optimized for handheld PCs.


SLEEP AWAKE

Blumhouse Games

1
$29.99

Sleep Awake – December 2
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Sleep Awake is an immersive first-person psychedelic horror narrative experience that explores the realm between sleep and death.  Submitted to perpetual insomnia, the denizens of the last known city on Earth are reaching a panic crisis of reckless experiments in an effort to avoid The Hush, the inexplicable disappearance of those who sleep. Playing as Katja, you must survive the devotees of various depraved death cults and desperately try to stay awake. Solve the puzzles of this mysterious world while avoiding the grasp of the death cults in an attempt to shatter the horrors of the past. 


Xbox Play Anywhere

Slimeboo

Zakym s. r. o.

1
$2.99 $2.39

Slimeboo – December 2 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Optimized for Handheld / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Slimeboo is a simple and fun platformer game that is perfect for children of all ages. The game is controlled with a single button, making it accessible to even the youngest players. Boo, a small and adorable slime, has gotten lost on a tropical island. To find his way home, he must leap over all the obstacles in his path. Help him overcome them! Good luck!


Caput Mortum

Black Lantern Collective

Caput Mortum – December 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Caput Mortum is a short first-person horror experience inspired by retro 3D dungeon crawlers and survival horror games. Delve into a tower of forgotten nightmares, where every step could be your last. Overcome horrors from beyond death and unlock the secrets of forbidden knowledge.


Dungeons and Ducklings

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

$4.99 $3.99

Dungeons and Ducklings – December 3

An evil Lich has tainted Mama Duck’s beloved pond and kidnapped her ducklings! Arm up and beat him once and for all in this QuackMan roguelite – storm through dungeon mazes to rescue her family! With classic arcade controls and a twist – an attack button that lets you smash walls and enemies – you’ll fight back against the Lich and his army in no time!


Malachite: Temple of the Sun

Ocean Media

$9.99

Malachite: Temple of the Sun – December 3

Embark on a journey through the depths of a lost ancient jungle temple. Start your journey through the depths of a forgotten jungle temple. Match colorful balls, unlock powerful power-ups, and construct your own temple as you progress. Choose between adventure and endless modes, immersing yourself in classic match-3 gameplay!


Octo Curse

Ocean Media

$6.99

Octo Curse – December 3

A pirate turned into octopus. Can you break the curse? OctoCurse is an action platformer following the story of a pirate captain who has been turned into an octopus by an evil spirit. The little octopus embarks on the quest to save the rest of his crew and reverse the curse. Experience epic pirate adventure. Explore levels, collect coins, unlock doors and climb the mysterious tower as you get closer and closer to the final showdown. Make your way through the tropical jungle, brave the harsh winter, weather the storm and endure other exciting environs. Save your friends and meet new ones along the way.


RoboHero

Xitilon

$4.99 $3.99

RoboHero – December 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Classic sokoban with a twist and a sci-fi theme! A scientific organization sends a robot-expeditor developed on artificial intelligence to the newly discovered exoplanet Xeran, on which, most likely, there are very valuable resources for humanity.


Winterlight – Where silence says it all

Eastasiasoft Limited

$4.99 $3.99

Winterlight – Where Silence Says it All – December 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Explore a heartfelt and thought-provoking tale of bittersweet homecoming! As Elias returns to the coastal town that once sheltered him, he’s pulled into a slow winter of connection, memory and quiet decisions. Take the role of this young man and guide the choices he makes, surrounded by the warmth of townspeople young and old, often holding conversations in a bookstore over shared coffee.


Xbox Play Anywhere

YAKUZA: Shadows of New York

Porting.guru

2
$14.99

Yakuza: Shadows of New York – December 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Step into the shadows of New York City in Yakuza: Shadows of New York, a gripping action-adventure where the old codes of honor clash against the forces of modern corruption. Become Kaito Nakamura, a skilled enforcer on a mission to find his missing mentor while navigating the city’s dark and treacherous underbelly.


Baseless

First Break Labs

Baseless – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Baseless is a challenging planet-jumping shooter. Blast from planet to planet with 360° gravity, creatively demolishing every enemy in your path. Fire powerful weapons, rescue cute friends, and discover a galaxy worth fighting for!


Xbox Play Anywhere

DETECTIVE – Rainy Night

JanduSoft

$10.49 $9.44

Detective – Rainy Night – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Detective – Rainy Night puts you in the shoes of Iker Carmona, a police officer investigating a string of strange disappearances. After a long drive, Iker decides to spend the night at a small roadside motel called the Holiday. What begins as a quiet stop quickly spirals into something far more sinister.


Finding America: The Heartland Collector's Edition

Ocean Media

Finding America: The Heartland Collector’s Edition – December 4

Strap on your seatbelts for a trip to America’s Heartland! From South Dakota’s monumental Mount Rushmore to the humble farmhouses of Kansas, this lovely slice of American pie will have something just for you. Visit jazz bars in Illinois, Wisconsin’s cheese shops, and stunning national parks, all as lovingly crafted Hidden Object Scenes and challenging Minigames! Complete each chapter, unlock tons of trivia, and enjoy everything the Heartland has to offer in this all-American Hidden Object game!


Mist: Evolution

EpiXR Games

$9.99

Mist: Evolution – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Your daughter is missing. The world is gone. Only the Mist remains. In Mist, a devastating crash marks the beginning of your descent into a world lost to alien terror. As a father, you search desperately for your child—but what you find instead is a crumbling world buried in fog, crawling with monsters beyond comprehension. This is no ordinary RPG. Mist fuses idle progression, visceral real-time combat, and an evolving horror narrative into a genre-defying experience. As you explore the ruins of civilization, you’ll form a pact with a mysterious alien being that grants you strength—at a cost. Level up, mutate, and unlock terrifying new abilities as you battle grotesque creatures and uncover long-buried truths.


The Phantom

Art Of Play Interactive

$26.99

The Phantom – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The Phantom is an arcade-style beat-em-up coming to PC and consoles. Play as the Phantom or his partner, Diana Palmer, in this 14-level adventure. The feared pirates of the Singh Brotherhood are battling for power and threatening the Phantom’s legacy, and it’s up to you to stop them. Use your hand-to-hand fighting skills and trusty weapons to dispatch this evil, and call in assistance from your animal friends Fraka the falcon and Devil the wolf. The Phantom features a brand-new story approved by King Features. Experience this canon addition through full-screen cut scenes and captivating in-game visuals, hand-illustrated and animated frame-by-frame by seasoned comic book artists and Art Of Play’s dedicated in-house 2D creative team.


ReSetna

Ocean Media

ReSetna – December 4

A warrior on a mission to rescue last human remnants. What’s left of humanity are minds trapped in circuits. You are awaken as ReSetna, a warrior on a mission to rescue last human remnants. Explore seven hostile zones, face seven brutal bosses and evolve through a unique upgrade system. Uncover horrifying truth and decide if the future is worth saving.  


Sacrifice For Sale (Xbox Series X|S)

Sometimes You

$9.99 $7.99

Sacrifice For Sale – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Experience interaction in a new and engaging way. Choose to respond to what the characters have to say… directly! Deal with your own hostage situation, negotiate for more than just your freedom. Learn about the people who hold you captive, deconstruct the cult, manipulate them- all to not end up as their next sacrifice.


Sophia’s Animal Clinic – Mission Wildlife Park

© 2025 Joindots® GmbH

Sophie’s Animal Clinic – Mission Wildlife Park – December 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Your veterinary adventure begins at the wildlife park! Help injured and sick animals such as horses, deer, ducks, donkeys, goats, rabbits, and many more. With a great deal of empathy, you examine symptoms, make diagnoses, and treat over 30 different diseases. Each animal has individual needs and is waiting for your expert help. Use modern instruments, accompany your patients’ recovery step by step, and experience a varied everyday life in the animal park. Intuitive controls, realistic treatments, and lovingly animated animals make this game a highlight for young animal lovers.


Connect It!

Gametry LLC

Connect It! – December 5

Connect It is a clever, visually striking puzzle game that challenges you to link matching colors scattered across a grid. Your mission? Draw connections between all the pairs—without crossing paths. It sounds simple… until it’s not. With over 200 handcrafted levels, each one more intricate than the last, Connect It constantly surprises with new layouts and clever twists. The controls are intuitive, the gameplay is smooth, and every solved puzzle delivers that satisfying “aha!” moment.


M.A.U.S

Cascadia Games LLC

$3.49

M.A.U.S – December 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

With his children away on the moon, there is no time to relax for Dr. Cavor. Once again, Victoria is under attack. The aging but brilliant scientist begins research on a new means of defense. After much work, he finds success with Mechanized Assault Unity 19 — M.A.U.S.


Pixapple Adventure

JM Neto Game Dev

Pixapple Adventures – December 5

Pixapple Adventure is a colorful pixel-art platformer starring a brave little apple with arms and legs! Run, jump, and collect all the stars to open the portal and reach the next level. Across three vibrant worlds — Forest, Snow, and the Valley of Fear — the challenge increases as you progress. Simple, fast, and fun, Pixapple brings back the joy of classic platformers with a charming twist.


Santa´s World

EntwicklerX – GbR Thomas Claus und Frank Menzel

Santa’s World – December 5

Santa’s World is a jump-‘n-run Christmas game inspired by classic platform games. The goal is to find the three lost Christmas gifts and go to the next level while collecting items. Traps, obstacles, and enemies make the quest very challenging. Find snowballs and throw them at enemies to remove them. 3D graphics packed in a nice graphics style, great 2.5D levels and proven gameplay gives you hours of fun.


Security Booth: Director's Cut

Cloud Colony Games

Security Booth: Director’s Cut – December 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The year is 1996 and you’re employed by a science lab called Nova Nexus. You work as a security guard at the front gate to the lab, inside a guard booth. However, tonight it seems something important is happening inside of Nova Nexus and things are… well… a little strange. Your job is simple. you must make sure that only the right authorized personnel are getting into the facility. To do this, when a car arrives at the gates, it is your job to go and talk with the driver and check their license plate. Make sure that the person is on the employee register by finding the license plate on the register. If the person is not on the register you must tell them to leave. Make sure to only open the gates to employees and keep the gate closed at all times.


Speed Factor

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Speed Factor – December 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Inspired by 80s and 90s classics, Speed Factor is an old-school racing game with pixelated graphics, arcade driving style, exhilarating punk rock music, and some awesome classic cars! Customize the difficulty level and traction assist level to your personal tastes to make the game as easy or challenging as you want. Cruise through 50 different tracks spread across 5 locations! Win races and earn money to level up and improve your ride!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Stacky Dash

QubicGames S.A.

Stacky Dash – December 5
Xbox Play Anywhere

Get ready for non-stop fun in Stacky Dash! Slide to collect tiles, build paths, and race through colorful levels full of exciting surprises. Dodge blasting cannons, and zip through portals as you conquer each tricky stage! Save adorable animals to grow your own zoo and take on timed challenges to test your speed. With tons of cool skins to unlock, every level is packed with energy and fun!


Tank Mechanic Simulator – Reinforced

PlayWay S.A.

Tank Mechanic Simulator – Reinforced – December 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Fix, build and renovate highly detailed and fully interactive tanks (German, USA or Soviet), armored cars or self-propelled guns. Experience a realistic simulator game of being a Tank Mechanic. Find abandoned and destroyed tanks from battlefields of Second World War. Use special tools to find each tank, and extract it from the ground. Grow your repair service business and start your own tank museum.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 1 to 5 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Nightdive Explains How Outlaws Set the Standard for Western Games

21. Listopad 2025 v 17:00

Nightdive Explains How Outlaws Set the Standard for Western Games

  • Morgan Shaver, Communications Manager at Nightdive Studios
Outlaws Remaster

In the ’90s, over a decade before the release of epic Western adventures like Red Dead Redemption, LucasArts introduced the world to Outlaws. Originally released in 1997, Outlaws was a truly groundbreaking entry in what was widely considered a niche genre at the time.

It was also LucasArts’ first venture into the creation of an original first-person shooter.

From Star Wars to Outlaws

To help set it apart from previous Star Wars-related releases, LucasArts modified the Jedi game engine they’d previously utilized for Star Wars: Dark Forces and enhanced the INSANE animation engine to better optimize it for Outlaws’ cutscenes.

LucasArts also created a compelling Western-style plot and cast of characters for the game, including protagonist James Anderson, a retired U.S. Marshal who sets off on a quest for vengeance after his wife is murdered and his daughter kidnapped by outlaws.

Outlaws + Handful of Missions Remaster

Drawing inspiration from Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns, the outlaws who murder Anderson’s wife aren’t rogue agents wreaking havoc at random. Instead, they’re employed by a corrupt railroad baron, Bob Graham, who seeks to intimidate Anderson into selling his farm so he can build his railroad through it.

Departing from the colder sci-fi settings of titles like Star Wars: Dark Forces, even the grimmest moments in Outlaws are bathed in warmth thanks to its colorful, hand-painted backgrounds and fully animated, voice-acted cutscenes.

A great example of this can be found right at the beginning of the game, with cutscenes showing the happy home life Anderson will soon be robbed of, along with his wife and daughter.

Beyond its visuals and story, a key way in which Outlaws proved itself noteworthy was with its soundtrack.

Outlaws Remaster

LucasArts understood music to be an essential part of the Western genre, with Outlaws becoming the first FPS of its kind to feature a fully orchestrated score created by legendary composer Clint Bajakian.

Working with the Original Team

In Nightdive’s recently released Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster, you’ll be able to revisit the game’s iconic soundtrack in its Vault. In addition to behind-the-scenes documents and concept art, the Vault features commentary from Clint Bajakian for each of the score’s 15 tracks.

“The style was to be an original homage to the great spaghetti Western soundtracks of the late Ennio Morricone,” Bajakian explains in his exclusive Vault commentary. “Most all of the score is live recording, making possible the achievement of something real, something truly spaghetti.”

Not only will fans be able to enjoy Clint Bajakian’s insight into the creation of the game’s soundtrack, but Nightdive also conducted a special Deep Dive podcast interview for Outlaws with original level designer Kevin Schmitt.

“I textured most of the levels in Outlaws — you know, the texture artist created it and I put it on the walls,” Schmitt recounts in his Deep Dive interview. “I placed the props, I placed the enemies, I did the scripting, I placed the audio. We wrote a lot of the dialogue; we did everything back then.”

Outlaws Remaster

As nice as it is to have these as bonus items with Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster, for Nightdive including members of a game’s original development team wherever possible is considered a key part of the remaster process.

“Involving members of the original development team is important because it’s vital for authenticity, accuracy, and respect for the artists and developers who brought their vision to life,” Kick explains. “Their insight into mechanics, limitations they faced, and design helps our team keep the remasters we develop faithful to the original, not just in look, but in spirit as well.”

Modernizing a Timeless Classic

For Nightdive, maintaining the authenticity of a game’s original experience is one of the studio’s primary goals. The team wants the game to play the way you remember it, with options included in Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster that emphasize this, including the ability to toggle between the game’s original and remastered graphics.

While originally a PC release, Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster will be available on consoles for the first time ever, including Xbox One and Series X|S. On consoles, Outlaws will offer improved gamepad support, including a weapon selection wheel, aim assist, and rumble.

No matter how or where you choose to play it, nearly three decades after its original release, Outlaws continues to remain a defining entry in the Western genre — one that’s well worth revisiting or checking out for the very first time.

When asked why Outlaws continues to resonate with gamers to this day, Kick explains:

“Where most FPS games of its era were about shock and spectacle, Outlaws told a simple, emotional story underscored by a music composition that treated the material with genuine gravity. There simply weren’t many Western-themed games during this time.”

Outlaws Remaster

If you’re wondering whether physical editions of Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster will be available for purchase in the future, the answer is almost certainly yes.

“Fans are always asking about a physical edition,” Kuperman notes. “We think that physical editions are important to game preservation.  We know that our fans always appreciate that option, so we hope to release physical editions of the game, including the game cart, for our fans to enjoy in the future.”

If you want to saddle up and play the game right here and now, Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster is available digitally on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One!

Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster

Lucasfilm, Disney, Atari, Nightdive Studios

21
$29.99
From the team that brought you STAR WARS™: Dark Forces Remaster comes the return of the 1997 western FPS classic, Outlaws! Saddle up and ride back into the Wild West with the gunslinging ex-Marshal, James Anderson, and face off against the good, the bad, and the even worse this side of the Mississippi as you work to uncover a twisted plot of greed and corruption. With your trusty six-shooting .45 Revolver, Scoped .44 Rifle, 10-Gauge Shotgun, and good ol' Sawed-Off 12-Gauge Shotgun, you'll be packin' plenty of firepower to take out all manner of outlaw varmints. Outlaws + Handful of Missions features high-resolution, uncompressed cutscenes and updated visuals for weapons, characters, and enemies, all fully recreated from archived art and stylized to match the original look with full color palettes. Outlaws + Handful of Missions also offers Cross-Play Multiplayer with game modes including Deathmatch, Team Play, Capture the Flag, and Kill The Fool With The Chicken! It's Payback Time.

The post Nightdive Explains How Outlaws Set the Standard for Western Games appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 24 to 28

21. Listopad 2025 v 16:00

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 24 to 28

dude where is my beer

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


I'm on Observation Duty 8

Dreamloop Games

I’m on Observation Duty 8 – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Observe. Report. Survive the night. Monitor the surveillance system for anomalies and report them to survive the night. Use your sharp eyes and keen attention to detail to detect supernatural anomalies ranging from subtle environmental changes to eerie and unsettling otherworldly intruders. Can you survive the night shift, or will you succumb to paranoia…? I’m on Observation Duty 8 is the most ambitious title yet in the original viral franchise that ignited a trend in spot-the-difference horror games that have been loved by players and streamed for millions by legendary content creators.


Primal Fray

Indie Games Starter

Primal Fray – November 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Primal Fray is a turn-based strategy roguelite. Combat takes place on a procedurally generated hex based flying islands. You will use your units to outmaneuver and kill enemy troops. Choose between multiple heroes. Use their unique talents to conquer the Rift and learn more about their stories entangled with dark and ominous Ironclad Corp.


A.I.L.A

Fireshine Games

A.I.L.A – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A.I.L.A is a first-person horror game set in a near-future filled with immersive technology. Play as the sole game tester for a revolutionary new fictional AI. Survive intense horror experiences that prey on your deepest fears as the lines between virtual and reality begin to blur…


Compadrone: Land Wars

Seam Entertainment Limited

Compadrone: Land Wars – November 25

Year 2352, humanity is exploring the exoplanets for the expansion of its stellar empire. It comes as no surprise that we encounter alien adversaries – some easy to conquer, others far more advanced and harder to subjugate. To assist in the conquest, a dedicated fleet of fighter drones called Compadrones – or ‘compadre’ drones were created to serve as the ultimate vanguard of our attack forces. Compadrone: Land Wars is a family-friendly top-down roguelite arena shooter with elements of tower defense gameplay in which you play as a drone sent to fight off aliens on an exoplanet.


Delivery of Us (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Delivery of Us – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Delivery of Us, you guide a clever carrier pigeon on a mission to deliver every letter across the city’s rooftops. Plan each route carefully, because every move counts. Once the counter hits zero, the delivery fails. This relaxing logic and movement-based puzzle game combines smooth mechanics, strategic planning, and calm visuals. Each level challenges you to find the most efficient path to every mailbox while avoiding walls, hazards, and obstacles along the way.


Xbox Play Anywhere

KILL IT WITH FIRE! 2

tinyBuild

Kill it with Fire! – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

You are the Exterminator on a crusade against the spider horde taking over the multiverse. Blast through the story campaign solo or with friends via online co-op for up to 4 players or jump into a frenetic Humans vs Spiders PvP mode for some laughs and screams.


Mudness Offroad & Buried Alive

Midnight Works

20
$18.99 $15.19

Mudness Offroad & Buried Alive – November 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Mudness Offroad & Buried Alive Bundle delivers a gripping mix of harsh survival and demanding terrain navigation. One tests your endurance in nature’s toughest environments, the other your will to escape the unthinkable. This bundle is made for those who never back down — whether battling nature or facing their deepest fears.


Project Motor Racing

GIANTS Software

$69.99

Project Motor Racing – November 25

Project Motor Racing ignites all the passion, beauty, and intensity of professional motorsport. Race across eras in 70 meticulously recreated cars across 13 iconic classes and 28 global layouts.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Brotherhood

Valkyrie Initiative LLP

Brotherhood – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

They are billions. You are alone. An ominous brotherhood of religious fanatics perform experiments on humans in their top-secret scientific complex. An ancient prison hidden deep in the Swiss mountains houses hundreds of test subjects whose bodies are mutilated in an effort to produce a new biological species of superhuman. You are one of them, but unlike other test subjects, your body is immune to mutagens. For you, it’s not poison anymore, rather a source of power that makes your body nearly indestructible. Steal the weapon and obliterate them.


Dude, Where Is My Beer?

Arik Games

$14.99

Dude, Where Is My Beer? – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Can you find a normal beer in a world of conspicuously flavoured craft beer, and solve the mystery of the elusive, missing pilsner, using nostalgic interface from the golden age of adventure games? Talk to West Coast IPA and American Black Ale drinking hipsters and solve beer related puzzles at different stages of drunkenness; explore locations like a sports bar, a microbrewery, a dive bar and a rock bar in the city of Oslo, in your quest of finding a pilsner.


King's Justice

Old School Vibes

King’s Justice – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Embark on a thrilling platforming quest across 10 handcrafted levels filled with deadly traps, diverse enemies, and escalating challenges. With an estimated playtime of 30–60 minutes, casual players will enjoy fast-paced action and precision gameplay.


Knight's Quest

Old School Vibes

Knight’s Quest – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Embark on a heroic journey in Knight’s Quest, a 2D platformer set in a world consumed by darkness. Play as a valiant knight determined to reclaim ancient ruins and defeat monstrous foes. Can you restore light to a shattered realm?


Poko's Arctic Quest (Xbox One)

Little Giant Game Studio

Poko’s Arctic Quest – November 26

Join Poko on a frosty and challenging adventure! Winter is coming, and the little penguin Poko needs to gather enough fish to survive the cold! Use your logic and planning to push blocks, open paths, and collect all the fish across 30 carefully designed levels inspired by classic puzzle games.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Schildmaid MX

Eastasiasoft Limited

Schildmaid MX – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Schildmaid MX is a fresh and frenetic side-scrolling 2D shoot ’em up in which you pick 1 of 3 ferocious fighter spacecraft to wreak havoc on the invasion fleet that threatens your planet. Embark on multiple attack runs and strike fear into the hearts of your enemy. The best pilots are immortalized on the online leaderboards!


Space Frontier

Head Bear Games

Space Frontier – November 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A classic space shooter reborn! Pilot your ship on an epic journey through the cosmos, facing hordes of space pirates across 13 intense levels. Defeat enemies to collect upgrade orbs and spend them in the shop to evolve your ship with more damage, extra life, and insane speed. Face colossal bosses in battles that demand strategy and razor-sharp reflexes. Every victory brings you closer to interstellar glory!


Torii

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

Torii – November 26

Traverse through the surreal world suspended somewhere between dream and emotion on a touching journey through grief, guilt, and healing, as you search for your lost sister, Lulu. Solve puzzles, recover lost memories, face your deepest fears and regrets… And don’t be afraid to take the leap forward.


Delivery Driver Massacre

Everynot Games Studio

Delivery Driver Massacre – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Step into a first-person horror experience inspired by classic 80s slashers. A routine job becomes a night of terror as you explore an eerie suburban home hiding sinister secrets. Solve puzzles, find tools to escape, and outsmart a ruthless killer who’s always one step behind you. Grimy VHS visuals, haunting ambience, and shocking moments bring old-school horror to life in a new way.


Garten of Banban 8: Anti Devil

Feardemic

Garten of Banban 8: Anti Devil – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

You were tricked by your friends. After the latest events, you’ll need to delve deeper into the mysterious establishment of Banban’s Kindergarten. Now, you’re completely on your own – your friends are either dead or against you… From now on, you’ll only meet new enemies, who will make sure you never feel alone. Be careful – in Banban’s Kindergarten, they are lurking in every corner, waiting for you.


Quick Whiskers (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Quick Whiskers – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Get ready to jump, dash, and glide with Quick Whiskers, a pixel-art platformer where every move counts! Take control of a nimble cat and venture through 30 challenging levels across two unique biomes: the peaceful park and the bustling city. Your mission is simple but full of action: collect food cans and reach a cozy bed to rest.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Snake.io

Kooapps Inc

Snake.io – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Develop your skills, try to survive as much as you can and become the biggest snake. You start as a small snake, get bigger by eating other snakes who try to do the same. You have to attack wisely but defend skillfully. How long can you survive?


Star Ores Inc.

Three River Games (3RG)

Star Ores Inc. – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Star Ores Inc. is an intergalactic mining adventure that catapults you onto an abandoned space station in the middle of space. As a freshly minted entrepreneur, you begin your career in a world full of ores, machines, and galactic possibilities. Dig through massive asteroids and extract rare minerals, which you refine into valuable high-tech products. With the help of specialized robots, conveyor systems, and automated machinery, you build an efficient production chain — from raw material extraction to sales.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Street Racer Collection (QUByte Classics)

QUByte Interactive & bleem.net

Street Racer Collection (QUByte Classics) – November 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Combining the speed of an arcade racer with the brawling of a fighting game, this cult classic made its mark with its originality and its own dose of chaos and personality. Race on tracks filled with obstacles and crazy settings (from Mount Rushmore to Transylvania), use special moves to knock out your rivals, and explore modes that go far beyond traditional racing.


Aero Cosmos

Gametry LLC

Aero Cosmos – November 28

Take control of your spacecraft and dive into a cosmic odyssey where speed, precision, and exploration collide. Navigate surreal, gravity-defying landscapes filled with twisting asteroid rings and radiant celestial structures. With every level, push your reflexes to the limit as you dodge obstacles, collect vital energy cores, and uncover hidden mysteries of deep space. Only the sharpest pilots will survive the challenge — are you ready to conquer the cosmos?


Bee Simulator: The Hive

Untold Tales

Bee Simulator: The Hive – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

See the world through the eyes of a bee! Explore a world inspired by Central Park as you gather pollen, evade threats, and build your own thriving beehive. This edition combines the original Bee Simulator with The Hive expansion, introducing new mechanics, game modes, and fresh as a spring pollen content—all in one buzzing adventure, perfect for players of all ages.


Xbox Play Anywhere

BucketCrusher

QubicGames S.A.

BucketCrusher – November 28
Xbox Play Anywhere

Will you manage to completely destroy the wall until not a single brick is left standing? Immerse yourself in the most satisfying casual game where you tear down walls brick by brick using a circular saw! Push the bricks into your BucketCrusher to convert them into cash, but watch out because you can run out of fuel!


El Coco

Recotechnology SL

El Coco – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

El Coco is a 3D action roguelike that plunges you into a world of dreams, broken memories, and living nightmares. Descend into The Uncertain, a place as strange as it is dangerous, and fight to recover what you’ve lost—if you can trust your guide.


Emoji Battlefield – Origins

EpiXR Games

$9.99

Emoji Battlefield – Origins – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Emoji Battlefield – Origins throws you into a chaotic, rogue-like first-person shooter where emojis aren’t just harmless faces — they’re deadly enemies. Start each run by customizing your experience with unique modifiers: crank up the difficulty, make every emoji wear a ridiculous hat, or turn on bouncing mode for hilarious chaos. Then pick your unlocked arena — from The Bouncy Castle to Candy World or even outer space — each with its own hazards and interactive traps.


Habitat Shapes (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Habitat Shapes – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Enjoy the relaxing puzzle of Habitat Shapes by organizing spaces for three animal families – mammals, birds, and reptiles – using Fence/Wall pieces to keep them separated. Watch out: different families cannot touch, and any attempt triggers a funny “fight cloud,” sending the last piece back to the conveyor.


Keypybara

Renan Games

Keybybara – November 28

In Keypybara, prepare for a classic 2D platforming experience with precise and responsive controls. You must navigate carefully handcrafted levels (each one a single, challenging “room”) filled with deadly traps. Your mission is clear: collect the key to unlock the exit. To do this, you will need to push boxes and dodge spikes. With instant respawn and 30 unique stages that progressively increase the challenge, the game offers an addictive, smooth, and rewarding gameplay loop with every obstacle overcome.


Red Pippy

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Red Pippy – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Red Pippy is a charming 2D pixel art platformer that follows the journey of a little red bird in pursuit of its biggest dream: learning to fly! With each level, Pippy learns new skills as he navigates vibrant and perilous environments, jumping across platforms and overcoming obstacles that bring him closer to his ultimate goal. Will he prove that he’s ready to conquer the skies?


Xbox Play Anywhere

Wild West: Hidden Objects

Crisp App Studio

$11.99 $9.59

Wild West: Hidden Objects – November 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery

Step into the Cyber Wild West! Take on the role of a sharp-eyed detective in a world where the Wild West collides with high-tech cyberpunk. Welcome to Red Hook, a mysterious frontier town ruled by circuits and secrets. But trouble is brewing… The town treasury has been stolen. The sheriff? Kidnapped. Now it’s up to you to crack the case.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 24 to 28 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

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