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The GamesIndustry.biz team is heading to Cologne next week and we're going big on both Devcom and Gamescom.

In addition to bringing you the biggest news from across the industry, we're aiming to have daily podcasts and a special live show from Devcom as we explore the state of the industry today.

Here's everything you need to know:

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It's going to be a busy week in Cologne with both Devcom and Gamescom attracting games professionals from around the world.

The former event kicks things off with a two-day conference that will see more than 250 speakers discussing some of the biggest challenges in the industry today across over 200 sessions.

There's a lot to wade through in the full program, so the GamesIndustry.biz team has selected our highlights of some of the sessions we think will be most interesting.

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Scottish Games Week has hit "pause" for 2024.

Scotland's biggest B2B games event says it has cancelled this year's show due to "disruption across the video game ecosystem and political landscape in 2024."

However, the event will return in October 2025 "with a larger, more diverse programme of events supporting the whole video games ecosystem."

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Gamescom is more than just a week in Cologne.

The world's biggest games show has expanded dramatically in recent years with the launch of satellite events in other markets; first with Gamescom Asia in Singapore, which debuted in 2021, and this year heading to Brazil with the first Gamescom Latam.

The Cologne show already prided itself on being an international event, attracting companies and visitors from all over the world and representing different nations with the country pavilions found in the business halls. But co-organiser Felix Falk, also managing director of German games trade association Game, says the physical expansion into other territories demonstrates the global role Gamescom aims to play in the games industry.

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Krafton, the developer and publisher behind PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, shared a trailer for its upcoming life sim game, Inzoi, as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday. The developers describe Inzoi as a game where players “have full control” and the power to change “everything as they wish” in their virtual lives. The new trailer shows some of the scenarios players can expect to simulate, like getting married, partying, and even getting into a car crash.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

Krafton shared a gameplay reveal trailer for Inzoi in November 2023. It’s one of two games the Korean developer showcased at Gamescom this year; the other is a fantasy extraction game called Dark and Darker Mobile. Although this trailer doesn’t include a specific release date for Inzoi — though the game is scheduled to be released on Windows PC by the end of 2024 — Krafton is offering one small treat to interested players: Starting Aug. 21 and running until Aug. 26, players will be able to download the character creator for Inzoi for free to try it for a limited time.

The new trailer shows a lot of gameplay you would see in any other life sim, like The Sims franchise. Your character can get married, babble at other characters in a gibberish language, and even set their kitchen on fire. However, other aspects of the game, like its realistic art style and urban city setting, appear to add just a dash of Grand Theft Auto vibes. As shown in the trailer, your character can get into car accidents and experience road rage. Or if you’re the partying type, you can make it rain cash while you’re dancing on the beach — your choice.

The developers have emphasized in previous updates that the team wants user-generated content to play a large role in this game. A development roadmap said that the team plans to add plugins to support mods and an in-game UGC platform called Canvas. As the developers explained in the FAQ, they want the game to be a “tool for creativity” where players can share and discuss their creations on Canvas.

Inzoi might not be the only reason you’ve heard Krafton buzz lately. In August, the company announced that it acquired Hi-Fi Rush studio Tango Gameworks. The news came as relief to many fans after the beloved games studio was shuttered by Microsoft and ZeniMax Media in May.

Developer Funcom released an in-depth look at Dune: Awakening game as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday. It’s a survival MMO game set in the desert world of Arrakis and its larger sci-fi universe. So far, it’s looking like a sleek, but gritty take on Dune that’s all about working your way up the ladder of the world and fighting off other players for spice and other resources.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

According to the trailer, Dune: Awakening is coming to Windows PC in early 2025 and will get release dates for PlayStation and Xbox consoles later down the line.

As shown in the presentation, you start as a nameless poisoner who must survive the scorching dessert heat and monstrous sand worms. The stream showed a scenario where a player made a deal to help another person take out a rival encampment in exchange for some vital resources in the early game. Once you establish a rapport with people, you can form a group and build a base of your own design and craft tech that allows you to drink the blood of your enemies — yummy! After that, your group can even form a guild and you can pledge your allegiance to one of the three houses of Dune.

Just like with anything Dune, spice is the name of the game. It’s a precious commodity and the key to power in the larger world of the game. Because of this, you’ll be constantly at war with hundreds of other players as everyone fights over spice. As far as warfare goes, it looks like anything from flamethrowers to mischievously summoning sand sand worms is fair game.

Other features of gameplay include exploration of the planet via ornithopters and building bases, but unfortunately, none of the gameplay showed any scenarios where you could overthrow Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides.

Mafia maker Hangar 13 is returning to the iconic franchise with Mafia: The Old Country, the developer announced during Gamescom on Tuesday.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

The short teaser trailer is just over a minute long, and begins with dramatic, still-life shots of paintings and weapons. That’s before the camera pans over to what’s presumably the Italian countryside. There is a chapter in Mafia 2 called The Old Country; it takes place in Sicily, Italy in 1943. However, the majority of the Mafia games are set in fictional versions of American cities.

2K Games said in a news release that Mafia: The Old Country is a story about “the origins of organized crime” in the 1900s. “Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era, with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for,” 2K wrote.

The first game of the franchise, Mafia, was released in 2002 by Illusion Softworks, followed by Mafia 2 in 2010 from 2K Czech, and Mafia 3 in 2016 from Hangar 13. There have also been several expansion packs, mobile spinoffs, and remastered editions. Most recently, Hangar 13 released Mafia: Definitive Edition, which is a remake of the original game set in Lost Heaven, Illinois, in the 1930s. 2K Games said in a news release that the Mafia franchise has sold more than 34 million copies on console and PC.

Mafia: The Old Country is coming in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC via Steam, and Xbox Series X. More information will be revealed in December 2024.

Dungeon Keeper and Fable creator Peter Molyneux appeared on stage at Gamescom Tuesday to announce Masters of Albion — “an open-world god game full of combat, choices, mystery, and story,” he said.

Molyneux said he’s getting the old team back together to create Masters of Albion, including folks who helped create Dungeon Keeper, Black & White, and the Fable series. The team is just 20 people. “After messing around on mobile — what the hell was I doing? — I thought to myself, ‘I need to come home to PC and console,’” Molyneux said ahead of the debut.

Masters of Albion is set in Albion, which is a setting in the Fable series, but also another word for Great Britain — so that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s set in the Fable universe. The trailer shows a small village that’s alive with people, controlled and designed by a big floating hand. You can play in the game’s build mode, but you’re also able to take control of world’s characters to play in a third-person mode to defend from monsters.

Though this is the first look at Masters of Albion, Molyneux actually teased the game in October 2023: “This may be a decision I live to regret, but I am starting regular blog about the crazy way I design games; namely a new game set in the land of Albion called MOAT.”

Molyneux is notorious for talking up his games, promising things that don’t live up to expectations. He spoke to writer Simon Parkin on the My Perfect Console podcast and said he had “enormous regret for it.”

“And when I used to go back after interviews, a lot of the team members would say ‘Peter, we didn’t know that we’re going to have this feature in the game’ until they read it in the press,” Molyneux told Parkin. Molyneux did not promise much within the Masters of Albion preview, just that the team is dedicated to building something “new, unique, and different.”

Genshin Impact, the hit open-world adventure starring an anime-esque cast of characters, is coming to Xbox platforms on Nov. 20. Developer Hoyoverse announced the news as part of the Gamescom Opening Night Live stream on Tuesday.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

Genshin Impact is a free-to-play game that utilizes gacha mechanics. As people play, they accrue (or purchase) in-game currency that can be used to gamble for chances to unlock special characters. Since the game’s initial release in the fall of 2020, it’s become a massive commercial success. According to a 2022 report from Sensor Tower, the game had been downloaded more than 110 million times and generated more than $3.6 billion in revenue since release.

The game is currently available to download on mobile devices, Windows PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

The announcement comes just before Genshin Impact’s big 5.0 update on Aug. 28. This patch will bring an entire new region to explore called Natlan, a whole bunch of characters, and new quests. Although big updates like these tend to drum up buzz with fans over highly-anticipated characters, Natlan has faced the scrutiny of fans and voice actors who say the developers have “white washed” characters inspired by cultures from Latin America and West Africa.

For more Gamescom news — like the announcement of Borderlands 4 — check out Polygon’s coverage.

Firaxis Games gave Civilization fans their first real look at Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 at Gamescom on Tuesday, showing off an impressive globe- and history-spanning new take on the turn-based 4X strategy game series. Firaxis and publisher 2K Games also had some good news for fans itching to get their hands on Civ 7: It’s coming pretty soon, with a release date of Feb. 11, 2025 revealed at Opening Night Live.

Firaxis promises that players’ decisions will shape the unique cultural lineage of their evolving empires as they take on the roles of legendary historical leaders. “Construct cities and architectural wonders to expand your territory, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the far reaches of the unknown world,” Firaxis said in an official game description. “Pursue prosperity in an immersive solo experience or play with others in online multiplayer.”

More details on Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 are coming soon as part of an official gameplay showcase.

Firaxis will dive deeper into Civ 7 later this week, as part of Xbox’s Gamescom presence, which is streaming from Aug. 21-23.

Civilization 7 will be released simultaneously on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, and Firaxis promises to empower players “to build the greatest empire the world has ever known.”

Don’t Nod, creators of Life is Strange, announced Tuesday at Gamescom Opening Night Live that Lost Records: Bloom & Rage will be released in two parts — called tapes — on Feb. 18, 2025 and March 18, 2025, respectively, on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

The independent developer shared the first gameplay trailer during the event, following the announcement back in 2023. Bloom & Rage is about four teenage girls in a punk band, set in both 1995 and 2022. Like Life is Strange, the game appears to be focused on relationships and narratives between characters, and how those relationships play into the larger, magical realist narrative. Visually, it looks a lot like Life is Strange, too.

“Navigate between dual timelines and shape both narratives – in 1995 and 2022 – with each offering a piece of the larger puzzle: the life-changing secrets they uncovered back then and why they’re reuniting now, after all these years,” Don’t Nod wrote on its website. “Together, in this place, they’re forced to try and remember clearly the fateful memories that have eluded them for the past 27 years.”

The trailer shown Tuesday includes a bit of the gameplay, including a camcorder to film what your friends are up to. There’s a lot of classic coming-of-age shots in the trailer, including the naming of the girls’ band, Bloom & Rage. But that’s where things get weird: Purple lights flicker in 1995, signaling something’s amiss, before cutting to 2022, where something (in a mysterious box) about their past has come back to haunt them.

Bloom & Rage was first announced at The Game Awards in 2023 with an expected release date in late 2024. Don’t Nod narrative director Luc Baghadoust wrote on the Xbox Wire in 2023 that Bloom & Rage is the first game in what will be the Lost Records universe.

Gearbox Software and 2K Games announced that Borderlands 4 will be released in 2025. It’s Geoff Keighley’s first big ol’ world premiere at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live on Tuesday.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

The one-minute, 29-second teaser trailer is quite vague, first showing a planet seemingly bursting at its seams with a purple glow, then crashing into a crystallized atmospheric shield. As carnage happens on the ground, the camera zooms into a fiery pile — with a robotic hand reaching out to grab an iconic Borderlands mask.

“In this next installment of the definitive looter shooter, players will assume the role of a legendary Vault Hunter as they blast their way through hordes of enemies in search of new treasures to loot on an all-new planet,” Gearbox wrote in the YouTube trailer’s description.

When it’s released in 2025, Borderlands 4 will come to PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

Borderlands 4 will be the latest mainline game since Borderlands 3 in 2019 — but two spinoffs, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and New Tales from the Borderlands were released in 2022. Notably, the Borderlands movie — called Borderlands — was released in August and landed on “the border between good and bad,” according to Polygon’s review.

About three weeks ago, a small team from the Raspberry Pi Foundation braved high temperatures and expensive coffees (and a scarcity of tea) to spend time with educators at the CSTA Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

With thousands of attendees from across the US and beyond participating in engaging workshops, thought-provoking talks, and visiting the fantastic expo hall, the CSTA conference was an excellent opportunity for us to connect with and learn from educators.

Meeting educators & sharing resources

Our hope for the conference week was to meet and learn from as many different educators as possible, and we weren’t disappointed. We spoke with a wide variety of teachers, school administrators, and thought leaders about the progress, successes, and challenges of delivering successful computer science (CS) programs in the US (more on this soon). We connected and reconnected with so many educators at our stand, gave away loads of stickers… and we even gave away a Raspberry Pi Pico to one lucky winner each day.

As well as learning from hundreds of educators throughout the week, we shared some of the ways in which the Foundation supports teachers to deliver effective CS education. Our team was on hand to answer questions about our wide range of free learning materials and programs to support educators and young people alike. We focused on sharing our projects site and all of the ways educators can use the site’s unique projects pathways in their classrooms. And of course we talked to educators about Code Club. It was awesome to hear from club leaders about the work their students accomplished, and many educators were eager to start a new club at their schools! 

Back in 2022 at the last in-person CSTA conference, we had donated a copy of our first special edition of Hello World magazine, The Big Book of Computing Pedagogy, for every attendee. This time around, we donated copies of our follow-up special edition, The Big Book of Computing Content. Where the first Big Book focuses on how to teach computing, the second Big Book delves deep into what we teach as the subject of computing, laying it out in 11 content strands.

• If you weren’t able to get your hands on a copy of The Big Book of Computing Content, you can download yours for free. 
• If you’d like to write about your teaching for Hello World, find out more and share your idea today.

Our talks about teaching (with) AI

One of the things that makes CSTA conferences so special is the fantastic range of talks, workshops, and other sessions running at and around the conference. We took the opportunity to share some of our work in flash talks and two full-length sessions.

One of the sessions was led by one of our Senior Learning Managers, Ben Garside, who gave a talk to a packed room on what we’ve learned from developing AI education resources for Experience AI. Ben shared insights we’ve gathered over the last two years and talked about the design principles behind the Experience AI resources.

Being in the room for Ben’s talk, I was struck by two key takeaways:

1. The issue of anthropomorphism, that is, projecting human-like characteristics onto artificial intelligence systems and other machines. This presents several risks and obstacles for young people trying to understand AI technology. In our teaching, we need to take care to avoid anthropomorphizing AI systems, and to help young people shift false conceptions they might bring into the classroom.
2. Teaching about AI requires fostering a shift in thinking. When we teach traditional programming, we show learners that this is a rules-based, deterministic approach; meanwhile, AI systems based on machine learning are driven by data and statistical patterns. These two approaches and their outcomes are distinct (but often combined), and we need to help learners develop their understanding of the significant differences.

Our second session was led by Diane Dowling, another Senior Learning Manager at the Foundation. She shared some of the development work behind Ada Computer Science, our free platform providing educators and learners with a vast set of questions and content to help understand CS.

Recently, we’ve been experimenting with the use of a large language model (LLM) on Ada to provide assessment feedback on long-form questions. This led to a great conversation between Diane and the audience about the practicalities, risks, and implications of such feature.

More on what we learned from CSTA coming soon

We had a fantastic time with the educators in Vegas and are grateful to CSTA and their sponsors for the opportunity to meet and learn from so many different people. We’ll be sharing some of what we learned from the educators we spoke to in a future blog post, so watch this space.

The post  CSTA 2024: What happened in Las Vegas appeared first on Raspberry Pi Foundation.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will debut on Xbox, but the adventure game will also make its way to PlayStation 5. Bethesda confirmed at Gamescom 2024 that the game is set to launch on Dec. 9 for Xbox and PC, followed by a PlayStation 5 release in spring.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks like a faithful tribute to the classic movies, while still managing to have its own distinct identity as a game. While the Gamescom trailer shows off lots of dialogue, there’s still a good look at the game’s hand-to-hand combat system, and classic tools like Jones’ whip and revolver.

The Verge reported that Bethesda and Microsoft were considering a PlayStation 5 port of the game in February. The Indiana Jones movies famously inspired the Uncharted franchise, one of the most successful of PlayStation’s original intellectual properties. It seems appropriate to have an Indiana Jones game come to PlayStation to serve as a stand-in for fans who are yearning for a new Uncharted adventure.

This isn’t the first game to make its way from a first-party Xbox developer over to PlayStation 5. Sea of Thieves, Grounded, Pentiment, and Hi-Fi Rush all began as Xbox exclusives, but were released on Sony’s console. Doom: The Dark Ages, another upcoming Bethesda title, will also be ported to PlayStation 5. Exclusivity on consoles was one of the sticking points in Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard in 2023, with exclusivity over games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and the Call of Duty franchise being a point of contention.

Krafton, the developer and publisher behind PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, shared a trailer for its upcoming life sim game, Inzoi, as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday. The developers describe Inzoi as a game where players “have full control” and the power to change “everything as they wish” in their virtual lives. The new trailer shows some of the scenarios players can expect to simulate, like getting married, partying, and even getting into a car crash.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

Krafton shared a gameplay reveal trailer for Inzoi in November 2023. It’s one of two games the Korean developer showcased at Gamescom this year; the other is a fantasy extraction game called Dark and Darker Mobile. Although this trailer doesn’t include a specific release date for Inzoi — though the game is scheduled to be released on Windows PC by the end of 2024 — Krafton is offering one small treat to interested players: Starting Aug. 21 and running until Aug. 26, players will be able to download the character creator for Inzoi for free to try it for a limited time.

The new trailer shows a lot of gameplay you would see in any other life sim, like The Sims franchise. Your character can get married, babble at other characters in a gibberish language, and even set their kitchen on fire. However, other aspects of the game, like its realistic art style and urban city setting, appear to add just a dash of Grand Theft Auto vibes. As shown in the trailer, your character can get into car accidents and experience road rage. Or if you’re the partying type, you can make it rain cash while you’re dancing on the beach — your choice.

The developers have emphasized in previous updates that the team wants user-generated content to play a large role in this game. A development roadmap said that the team plans to add plugins to support mods and an in-game UGC platform called Canvas. As the developers explained in the FAQ, they want the game to be a “tool for creativity” where players can share and discuss their creations on Canvas.

Inzoi might not be the only reason you’ve heard Krafton buzz lately. In August, the company announced that it acquired Hi-Fi Rush studio Tango Gameworks. The news came as relief to many fans after the beloved games studio was shuttered by Microsoft and ZeniMax Media in May.

Developer Funcom released an in-depth look at Dune: Awakening game as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday. It’s a survival MMO game set in the desert world of Arrakis and its larger sci-fi universe. So far, it’s looking like a sleek, but gritty take on Dune that’s all about working your way up the ladder of the world and fighting off other players for spice and other resources.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

According to the trailer, Dune: Awakening is coming to Windows PC in early 2025 and will get release dates for PlayStation and Xbox consoles later down the line.

As shown in the presentation, you start as a nameless poisoner who must survive the scorching dessert heat and monstrous sand worms. The stream showed a scenario where a player made a deal to help another person take out a rival encampment in exchange for some vital resources in the early game. Once you establish a rapport with people, you can form a group and build a base of your own design and craft tech that allows you to drink the blood of your enemies — yummy! After that, your group can even form a guild and you can pledge your allegiance to one of the three houses of Dune.

Just like with anything Dune, spice is the name of the game. It’s a precious commodity and the key to power in the larger world of the game. Because of this, you’ll be constantly at war with hundreds of other players as everyone fights over spice. As far as warfare goes, it looks like anything from flamethrowers to mischievously summoning sand sand worms is fair game.

Other features of gameplay include exploration of the planet via ornithopters and building bases, but unfortunately, none of the gameplay showed any scenarios where you could overthrow Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides.

Watching world reveals and announcement trailers at an event like Gamescom 2024 is always interesting; I enjoy seeing what titles are on the horizon that I might enjoy. One of these trailers, however, is stuck in my mind like a bit of steak might get caught in your teeth. I’m immediately obsessed with Masters of Albion’s god hand, which hovers above the inhabitants of a city as both protector and threat.

Masters of Albion is the next game from 22cans, the game studio headed by Peter Molyneux. Molyneux is known for his work on titles like Black & White and the Fable series, and Masters of Albion seems to pull from this familiar territory. The announcement trailer shows one of the most important aspects of Masters of Albion: the god hand, the player’s avatar in the world.

The god hand can do all sorts of things, like pick out the ingredients for a meal, move building blocks about, or pick villagers up. The poor pawns seem utterly helpless once the hand picks them up; they simply dangle, like a cat who is resigned to receiving affectionate cuddles, until the player puts them down somewhere else. The giant hand can also reach out and take control of one of the village’s heroes, turning him into essentially a vessel to be puppeted by a divine force.

This isn’t unprecedented territory for a Molyneux-led game; the developer is known for similar franchises where the player has god-like control, including Black & White and Populous. But the hand in Masters of Albion benefits from modern visuals. While the game’s graphics are relatively simple and stylized, they’re just realistic enough to put the hand in an unsettling uncanny valley. Being able to inflict evil acts upon the villagers is just more unsettling when you’re watching that big paw hovering overhead, the tendons moving as the fingers flex and roll.

I can see the appeal of Masters of Albion, as someone who enjoys other colony simulators. I just find the big hand to be a little unnerving; it has a real sense of weight and meatiness. There is no release date yet, but Masters of Albion can be wishlisted on Steam.

Mafia maker Hangar 13 is returning to the iconic franchise with Mafia: The Old Country, the developer announced during Gamescom on Tuesday.

Check out Polygon’s Gamescom 2024 hub page for all our coverage of the world’s biggest games event.

The short teaser trailer is just over a minute long, and begins with dramatic, still-life shots of paintings and weapons. That’s before the camera pans over to what’s presumably the Italian countryside. There is a chapter in Mafia 2 called The Old Country; it takes place in Sicily, Italy in 1943. However, the majority of the Mafia games are set in fictional versions of American cities.

2K Games said in a news release that Mafia: The Old Country is a story about “the origins of organized crime” in the 1900s. “Fight to survive in this dangerous and unforgiving era, with action brought to life by the authentic realism and rich storytelling that the critically acclaimed Mafia series is known for,” 2K wrote.

The first game of the franchise, Mafia, was released in 2002 by Illusion Softworks, followed by Mafia 2 in 2010 from 2K Czech, and Mafia 3 in 2016 from Hangar 13. There have also been several expansion packs, mobile spinoffs, and remastered editions. Most recently, Hangar 13 released Mafia: Definitive Edition, which is a remake of the original game set in Lost Heaven, Illinois, in the 1930s. 2K Games said in a news release that the Mafia franchise has sold more than 34 million copies on console and PC.

Mafia: The Old Country is coming in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC via Steam, and Xbox Series X. More information will be revealed in December 2024.

Tim Miller, co-founder of Blur Studio and director of Deadpool (2016), took the stage at Gamescom Opening Night Live to show off the first trailer for Secret Level, a 15-episode anthology of video game adaptations coming to Prime Video on Dec. 10.

Miller also managed to bring quite a bit of personality and emotion to the otherwise cut-and-dry event — as he geared up to announce Secret Level, which he’ll executive produce, Miller’s eyes brimmed with tears and his voice cracked. “We fucking love video games,“ he said before diving into details on the show, which will include narratives inspired by games like Concord, Dungeons & Dragons, Pac-man, Sifu, and The Outer Worlds, among others. Like Blur Studio’s popular Netflix anthology, Love, Death, + Robots, each episode will stand on its own.

The announcement was refreshing in several ways, and not just because the show looks more promising than the Borderlands movie that came out earlier this month. The animation looks like classic game cinematics, the trailer was well cut, and it gives fans who really don’t want to see their favorite thing go the Borderlands route.

It also included a man not so different from all of the other men we see on stage at events like Gamescom, but this time, he was crying. He stopped his speech multiple times to collect himself, and honestly, who wouldn’t? Miller said his team’s been working on Secret Level for three years, so the emotion is understandable if not commendable — but we rarely see figures like him getting emotional on stages like Geoff Keighley’s. His reverence for his team’s work is appropriate and welcome, and it makes me all the more excited to watch Secret Level when it premieres.

Maybe Miller will chock the emotions up to the high pressure of speaking to a crowd of thousands of people when he has a chance to reflect — Polygon couldn’t reach him for comment after his speech — but as someone who watches every minute of events like this, I found Miller’s emotion was profound and, hopefully, speaks to the care with which Secret Level was made.

The Blur Studio and Amazon MGM Studios-created series will premiere on Prime Video on Dec. 10.

Gamescom’s Opening Night Live showcase is once again here to highlight games coming your way in the near future (and beyond). Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the creator of The Game Awards, the stream primarily focused on new or first looks at previously announced games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Dune: Awakening.

But there were more than a few surprises, including new game announcements and reveals, at Gamescom ONL. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest trailers and announcements that were shown.

Borderlands 4

Gearbox Software is officially back in the Borderlands business. At Gamescom ONL, 2K games and Gearbox announced Borderlands 4 in the form of a cinematic teaser. The new Borderlands game is out sometime in 2025 and, according to an official description, “players will assume the role of a legendary Vault Hunter as they blast their way through hordes of enemies in search of new treasures to loot on an all-new planet.”

Mafia: The Old Country

Developer Hangar 13 is returning to the Mafia franchise in 2025. The studio, and publisher 2K Games, revealed Mafia: The Old Country, a new entry that will send the series back to Italy. Mafia: The Old Country promises to “uncover the origins of organized crime” with a “gritty mob story set in the brutal underworld of 1900s Sicily.” Hangar 13 promises the “authentic realism and rich storytelling” the Mafia series is known for. Details are scant, but expect more in December, the game’s makers say — probably at The Game Awards, if we’re guessing.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Bethesda not only gave us a new look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, we also (finally) got a release date: Dec. 9 on Windows PC and Xbox Series X. But PlayStation fans can also get their hands on Indy, with a PS5 version announced for spring 2025. For more on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, read Polygon’s preview of the game.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty fans got a lengthy look at new gameplay from Black Ops 6, which ran the gamut from political blackmail to stealthy close-quarters gunplay to a gunfire-and-explosion-filled street chase through Washington, D.C. on the back of a motorcycle. More to come at Call of Duty Next.

Dying Light: The Beast

Techland revealed a new game in its zombie adventure franchise at Gamescom with Dying Light: The Beast, which the developer describes as a “thrilling standalone zombie adventure set in a tightly-crafted rural region.” Players take on the role of Kyle Crane, who breaks free after years of brutal experiments and seeks revenge. Dying Light: The Beast is coming to PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms

Directive 8020

A new entry in the The Dark Pictures anthology, Supermassive Games’ Directive 8020 stars Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel, The Woman King) in an all-new sci-fi survival horror adventure. Lynch plays the ground-breaking astronaut, Young, in what Supermassive describes as “an immersive cinematic horror experience that blends intense survival gameplay with a branching narrative storyline.” Directive 8020 is out in 2025.

Goat Simulator Remastered

For the 10th anniversary of Goat Simulator, Coffee Stain Publishing is bringing back the original in remastered form with upgraded graphics and lighting, as well as “many intentional features that definitely aren’t bugs, and fan-favourite DLC, all in one package.” Goat Simulator Remastered drops in 2024.

King of Meat

Geoff Keighley himself starred in the reveal trailer for King of Meat, a four-player hacking, slashing, co-op combat game from Amazon Games and studio Glowmade in which players fight through “ridiculous” user-created dungeons. King of Meat is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark

Developer FuzzyBot announced Lynked: Banner of the Spark at Opening Night Live. It’s an “arcade-inspired co-op adventure that blends hack and slash combat with roguelike and town-building elements.”

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage

Life is Strange developer Don’t Nod revealed new gameplay and a release date for its next game, the ’90s-set narrative adventure Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. The episodic game will launch in two parts on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X on Feb. 18 and March 18, 2025.

ARC Raiders

Embark Studios, creator of The Finals, brought its long-delayed shooter ARC Raiders to Gamescom for a re-reveal. The PvPvE action survival shooter is now coming in 2025 to PS5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. ARC Raiders’ first public tech test is now scheduled for Oct. 24-27.

Infinity Nikki

Infinity Nikki, the cozy, open-world adventure game fueled by the power of dressing up, got a new look at Gamescom — and news of an upcoming closed beta on mobile platforms.

Dune: Awakening

Funcom showed actual gameplay from its open-world survival MMO set in the Dune universe, detailing the journey from “survivor to spice hunter.” Players will expand their influence on Arrakis through combat, spice, building, and trade when Dune: Awakening arrives in early 2025 on PC. PS5 and Xbox versions are due later.

Reanimal

Little Nightmares developer Tarsier Studios revealed its next game, a terrifying new adventure called Reanimal. Described as a co-op horror adventure game, players take on the roles of brother and sister who “go through hell to rescue their missing friends.” Reanimal is playable solo or in local and online co-op, and it’s coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Capcom showed off more from its impressively open-world new Monster Hunter game at Gamescom ONL, covering the new area the Scarlet Forest, new monster Lala Barina, and Windward Plains apex predator Rey Dau. Monster Hunter Wilds also has some tasty looking meat — increasingly a Capcom specialty.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 7

Firaxis Games showed off first gameplay from Sid Meier’s Civilization 7, but the depth of the next Civ will warrant much more than that. Expect gameplay deep dives and interviews from Gamescom throughout the week. Firaxis also announced a release date of Feb. 11, 2025.

Marvel Rivals

Marvel and NetEase Games’ kinda-Overwatch-y team-based game, Marvel Rivals, has two new heroes: Captain America and The Winter Soldier (aka Bucky Barnes). And it has a release date: Marvel Rivals is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X on Dec. 6.

Prime Video’s Secret Level

Secret Level is a new animated anthology series from the creatives behind Love, Death + Robots. It will feature original stories set in the worlds of Armored Core, Dungeons & Dragons, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Sifu, Spelunky, The Outer Worlds, Unreal Tournament, Warhammer 40,000 and more.

Starfield

Bethesda Game Studios showed up with some Starfield content, including a look (and imminent release) of the REV-8 land vehicle and a tease of the Shattered Space DLC coming on Sept. 30. The free REV-8 update gives players the freedom to explore new frontiers and reach new heights, Bethesda said.

Monument Valley 3

A new Monument Valley game is coming. Monument Valley 3’s gorgeous, mind-bending puzzles will arrive exclusively on Netflix Games on Dec. 10, along with both Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2. 

Batman: Arkham Shadow

The next Batman Arkham game is for VR. Set between the events of Batman: Arkham Origins and Batman: Arkham Asylum, players will step Batman’s cape and cowl as he takes on the Rat King and reunites with familiar faces Harleen Quinzel, Jim Gordon, Harvey Dent, and Dr. Crane — before some of them become villains — in Batman: Arkham Shadow.

Masters of Albion

Fable, Populous, and Black & White creator Peter Molyneux is back and making a new game for consoles and PC. Masters of Albion will tap into some of Molyneux’s most beloved games, giving players godlike control and letting them possess characters for direct, third-person action.

Squid Game: Unleashed

The deadly survival games of Netflix’s breakout hit Squid Game are coming to mobile with a new, even deadlier series of challenges. Squid Game: Unleashed is (of course) coming to Netflix, but does not have a release date.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred

Players won’t go it alone when Diablo 4’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, goes live on Oct. 8. They’ll be joined by members of the Pale Hand, a group of mercenaries that got an introduction from Blizzard Entertainment at Gamescom ONL.

In an official post on E3 ‘s social media, they have confirmed what many suspected—the end of an era.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, hosted by the Entertainment Software Association, began in 1995 as a trade event to show off the latest and upcoming video game software and hardware. While it had some hiccups ups over the years, it was viewed by many as THE place to debut a game or console. At its height, the event brought in over 70,000 in attendance.

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, E3 was canceled for the first time. The following year, the ESA took it online, but it was not the same, and the industry clamored for a return to form. Unfortunately, the event failed to return in 2022 and 2023, causing many to wonder if the end was near.

On December 12, 2023, the ESA and E3 put out a public statement that E3 is officially over.

Thanks for all the great memories, E3. We will miss you.

Nintendo just dropped information about a new side-scrolling Mario game, several remastered collections, upcoming DLC, and several brand new games in their Nintendo Direct for July 21, 2023.

Whether you missed it or you’re looking for more details, we’ve got the full video and the entire run-down of all the announcements right here.

Video

Announcements

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet: More Pokémon, places and stories await in this two-part DLC* for the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games. In this story, you’ll be leaving the Paldea region and delving even deeper into the world of the Pokémon Scarletand Pokémon Violet games. Part 1: The Teal Mask has a planned release date of fall 2023 and Part 2: The Indigo Disk has a planned release date of winter 2023. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC is available for pre-purchase now in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Sonic Superstars: Spin dash with Sonic and friends through the mystical Northstar Islands in this new high-speed, 2D side-scrolling platformer game. Speed through 12 new zones as one of four playable characters and the return of an old nemesis. Harness seven new Emerald powers to move and attack in dynamic ways like climbing waterfalls, multiplying and more. And for the first time in the series, you can play through the entire campaign with friends in local co-op, available for up to four players. Combine your powers against Dr. Eggman and Fang when Sonic Superstars launches on Nintendo Switch this fall.

Palia: This charming free-to-play adventure sim offers a breathtaking world where you can build the life and home of your dreams. Unravel the mysteries of this always-evolving adventure and meet new friends along the way, from in-game villagers to players from all over the world. Create a customizable character and gather materials around the landscapes and biomes of Palia to craft your ideal home. Palia is a cozy massively multiplayer online game, so friends can visit each other’s homes and adventure the world together in a welcoming, playful and friendly community. Palia launches on Nintendo Switch this holiday season.

Persona 5 Tactica: The Phantom Thieves return in this tactical spinoff of Persona 5. Assemble a beloved team of heroes in a new story in this thrilling combat adventure set in Persona’s iconic universe. After a strange incident, the Phantom Thieves find themselves in grave danger until a mysterious revolutionary rescues them and offers a deal in exchange for their help. Build your three-hero squad from eight playable characters, equipping an assortment of weapons to wipe out oppressive armies in turn-based battle. An emotional uprising begins when Persona 5 Tactica launches on Nintendo Switch Nov. 17.

MythForce: Journey through crypts and castles with your friends in this first-person melee roguelike inspired by Saturday morning cartoons. Brave the dungeon alone or join forces with up to three friends in online drop-in co-op to take on the ever-changing Cursed Lands. It’s up to you to stop the evil Deadalus from taking over, but it won’t be easy. Make use of medieval weaponry and legendary magic to smite hordes of enemies. MythForcelaunches on Nintendo Switch this year.

Splatoon 3: The next Splatfest for the Splatoon 3 game has been confirmed. Which flavor of ice cream is best? Vanilla? Strawberry? Or Mint Chip? This Splatfest will be held from July 14 at 5 p.m. PT to July 16 at 5 p.m. PT. Guide your favorite flavor to victory. Plus, get splatting in themed battles with Challenges. More splat-tastic events are on the way, too. Be on the lookout for more info in the future.

Detective Pikachu Returns: Discover the origin of the great detective Pikachu! Partner with the tough-talking, coffee-loving Pikachu, who calls himself a great detective, to unravel multiple mysteries across Ryme City. With the help of many other Pokémon, Tim Goodman and his talkative Pikachu partner work together to solve a series of mysterious incidents in this cinematic adventure game. Track down Detective Pikachu Returns when it launches for Nintendo Switch on Oct. 6. Pre-orders begin later today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Super Mario RPG: Originally released on Super NES, Super Mario RPG has been overhauled with new graphics! Join Mario, Bowser, Princess Peach, and original characters Mallow and Geno, in an RPG filled with twists, turns and treasure. Mario must team up with his allies to face down a menacing force known as the Smithy Gang in order to recover seven stars and repair the Star Road. Whether you played the original game or have yet to take the journey, you can dive into this Nintendo Switch version of the very first RPG in the Super Mario series! Super Mario RPG launches for Nintendo Switch Nov. 17.

Princess Peach will star as the main character in her own new game, which will be available in 2024. Stay tuned for more information about this game in the future.

A visually enhanced version of Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, originally released on Nintendo 3DS, is currently in development for Nintendo Switch. Can Luigi summon the courage to save Evershade Valley? Explore haunted mansions full of spooky specters and bone-chilling challenges next year. More information will be available in the future.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy: Become Gotham City’s ultimate protector in Rocksteady’s critically acclaimed trilogy, headed to Nintendo Switch in one complete package, including all DLC. The hit-and-run skirmishes of Batman: Arkham Asylum escalate into the devastating conspiracy against the inmates in Batman: Arkham City and culminate in the ultimate showdown for the future of Gotham in Batman: Arkham Knight. Tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of Gotham City in the ultimate and complete Batman experience coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch this fall.

Gloomhaven: Lead your mercenaries to riches or doom in this adaptation of the hit board game, featuring turn-based card battles with RPG elements. You’ll explore cursed dungeons with unsavory mercenaries – choose from 17 different characters and master more than 1,000 unique abilities. Hone your deck, set up synergies and face an ever-growing challenge where each choice matters. Gloomhaven launches on Nintendo Switch Sept. 18. Pre-orders for the Mercenaries Edition and Gold Edition begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Just Dance 2024 Edition: The popular music video game franchise is back with its latest update – Just Dance 2024 Edition, featuring 40 songs from new hits to beloved classics. Connect with up to five friends and family members as you experience the never-ending dance party via online and local multiplayer. Every season will bring new content – like songs, a dedicated progression track and rewards. Win avatars, backgrounds, name badges and aliases to personalize your Dancer Card and show off your personality in the game. Plus, the Nintendo Switch version of the game will include one-month free access to the JustDance+ streaming service, giving you access to hundreds of songs and exclusive seasonal benefits. Just Dance 2024 Edition launches Oct. 24.

Silent Hope: Seven wordless warriors must work together to find the reclusive King. In this action-RPG, you’ll explore the Abyss and its ever-changing dungeons with seven silent heroes, each with their own abilities and fighting styles. After each dungeon run, you’ll return with your treasures and craft better equipment to dive deeper and grow stronger, leveling up your heroes to tackle the challenging bosses lurking in the depths. Silent Hopelaunches on Nintendo Switch Oct. 3.

Fae Farm: Your magical home awaits in this multiplayer, cozy, farm-sim RPG. Craft, cultivate and decorate to grow your shared homestead and explore the magical island of Azoria. Create your character and customize your adventure with new outfits and decorations for your farm. The cozier your home, the more rewards you’ll unlock! Cultivate an enchanted farm with up to four players in local or online multiplayer. You can even share your progression by crafting items, tending crops and exploring your surroundings together. Fae Farm launches as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch Sept. 8. Pre-order the game in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com to receive the exclusive Cozy Cabin Variety Pack!

HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – TURBOCHARGED: The world’s raddest cars are back and taking fun to the next level! Zoom into wild racing action with over 130 vehicles and pull off outrageous stunts to avoid obstacles, find shortcuts and knock your rivals out of the way. Unleash your creativity by modifying your vehicles and building your own tracks. Race locally with friends in split-screen co-op or up to 12 players can hit the track online.*** Grab the wheel when this game speeds onto Nintendo Switch Oct. 19.

Manic Mechanics: In this chaotic co-op game, you and up to three friends are cast as travelling mechanics who must repair vehicles quickly to earn points and work your way through the town of Octane Isle. Repair as many cars, trucks, choppers (and tractors, mini-subs and UFOs …) as possible before the timer runs out. The faster you work, the more chaos you’ll unleash – fuel spills, exploding tires, short-circuiting robots, stampeding cows and even alien abduction. Get your crew in the shop when Manic Mechanics launches first for consoles on Nintendo Switch July 13. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope: The Last Spark Hunter: Introducing the newest paid DLC for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope – in The Last Spark Hunter, Mario and friends journey to a musical planet, filled with new areas to explore and new enemies to battle. Discover the wonders and dangers that await you in this world of melodies. The Last Spark Hunter launches later today! A demo of the main game is also available now in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Prince: Follow Psaro, a cursed prince, and his companion Rose as they travel through the demon realm of Nadiria. Explore and scout monsters, freely combine raised monsters to create more powerful allies and take on enemies with your powerful dream team through changing seasons. DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Dark Princecomes to Nintendo Switch on Dec. 1.

Pikmin 4: Welcome to the Rescue Corps. In this game, you are the newest recruit, and you’ll customize your character before setting off to meet the capable Rescue Pup Oatchi and the plant-like creatures called Pikmin. New to the series? Don’t worry – this is a great entry point for anyone that wants to learn more about Pikmin. Collect treasures around the planet to fix the Rescue Corp’s spaceship’s radar and open new areas to explore, including underground caves, where a completely different environment from the surface awaits. Pikmin 4 also features Dandori Battles – try to collect more objects than your opponent within the time limit to win and save the castaway. Plus, for the first time in the Pikmin series, you can eventually set out for night expeditions. But nightfall sends creatures into a frenzy, so stay alert. Thankfully, you’ll come across the new Glow Pikmin to drive them away. Much more awaits on this uncharted planet. Discover it when the Pikmin 4 game lands on Nintendo Switch July 21. Plus, a demo of Pikmin 4 will be available in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com on June 28.

Pikmin 1 and Pikmin 2: HD versions of the first two Pikmin games, originally released on the Nintendo GameCube system, will launch in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com later today. The games will be available individually or in a digital bundle that contains both games at a discounted price. A physical version that includes both games will also be available on Sept. 22. With the inclusion of these two games on Nintendo Switch, all four main games in the Pikmin series – Pikmin 1, Pikmin 2, Pikmin 3and, as of July 21, Pikmin 4 – will be playable on one system.

METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1: The origin of stealth action comes to Nintendo Switch. Experience the thrilling cinematic story of the METAL GEAR series as you infiltrate enemy fortresses and complete your mission to stop those wielding weapons of mass destruction from triggering total war. This collection features Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, along with the games that started the series – Metal Gear, Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, and the NES versions of Metal Gear and Snake’s Revenge – and plenty of bonus content. METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.1 launches on Nintendo Switch Oct. 24. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com. Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will also be available for purchase individually in Nintendo eShop.

Vampire Survivors: The devils are here and there’s no place to run or hide. Survive a 30-minute onslaught of monsters who grow increasingly stronger the longer you hold out. Gather treasure from defeated enemies to acquire upgrades in your attempt to outrun death. With couch co-op, up to four players** can run, die and build their power together. Do you have what it takes? Find out when Vampire Survivors launches on the Nintendo Switch system Aug. 17.

Headbangers Rhythm Royale: Play online in this rhythm-based battle royale and aim to be the last bird standing. Up to 30 players can ruffle each other’s feathers in more than 20 musical minigames. Get ready to shake those tail feathers when Headbangers Rhythm Royale bops its way onto Nintendo Switch Oct. 31.

Penny’s Big Breakaway: In this 3D platforming adventure from the team behind Sonic Mania, you’ll explore the bright and colorful world of Macaroon as Penny and her newly animated friend, Yo-Yo. Perform stylish, acrobatic tricks to avoid the clutches of the grouchy Emperor Eddie and his massive horde of pushy penguins in Story Mode. Power up Yo-Yo to protect Penny and put your speed running skills to the test in Time Attack Mode to unlock special items and complete secret stages. Penny’s Big Breakaway launches on Nintendo Switch early next year.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 5: Squeaky Clean Sprint, a new course, is racing into Wave 5 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass DLC.* More characters are also being added – Petey Piranha, who originally hit the track in Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, Wiggler, from Mario Kart 7, and Kamek, from Mario Kart Tour. Wave 5 zooms onto the Nintendo Switch system this summer. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass includes six separate waves, with eight courses each, which will all be released by the end of 2023. Buy the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass separately in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com, or enjoy it for no additional cost as part of a paid Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.***

STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R: For the first time Nintendo players can experience the visually explosive and fast-paced action battles of the second installment in the STAR OCEAN series. After a mission goes wrong, federation officer Claude is stranded on an undeveloped planet. There, he meets Rena, who possesses mystical powers. Play as either Claude or Rena and make decisions that will impact your destiny. STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R is a full remake of the 1998 science-fantasy RPG, rebuilt with striking graphics that combine 3D environments and 2D pixel characters. Plus, new combat features let you execute battles with strategic precision. STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R launches on Nintendo Switch Nov. 2.

WarioWare: Move It!: It’s time to move it, Wario style! Get ready for more microgame mayhem in the latest WarioWare game. Hold a set of Joy-Con controllers, then move your body to take on a flurry of lightning-fast microgames. React quickly with the right movement, and you’ll be on the road to victory. Sync up your actions to beat each microgame. Plus, up to four players** can live it up across various minigames in Party Mode locally. Get your body moving to over 200 microgames in WarioWare: Move It!, launching on the Nintendo Switch system Nov. 3. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Nintendo Live: Join the fun at Nintendo Live 2023 in Seattle! Play games, enjoy live performances, take photos with your favorite characters and more! Plus, cheer on your favorite players in two championships, and eligible attendees may have an opportunity to compete in on-site tournaments and participate in a last-chance qualifier (space is limited).**** This free event is an all-ages celebration of Nintendo fun and will take place Sept. 1-4 at the Seattle Convention Center. Registration for a chance to receive a ticket to Nintendo Live 2023 ends June 22, so head over to the website and enter the random drawing for a chance to receive tickets. PAX West badge holders who are interested in attending Nintendo Live 2023 can visit the official PAX West website for details (one ticket per person maximum, regardless of entry method). See you there!

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: New amiibo figures of Zelda and Ganondorf are planned for release holiday 2023. A vast number of players are currently exploring Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and this journey can be enhanced by scanning select amiibo figures to unlock valuable in-game items, as well as special fabric for the paraglider, to help Link in his adventure.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder: The next evolution of 2D side-scrolling Super Mario Bros. games is headed to Nintendo Switch! When you touch a Wonder Flower in the game, the wonders of the world unlock – pipes could come alive, hordes of enemies may appear, characters might change their looks, for example – transforming the gameplay in unpredictable ways. Excitement and different surprises await in each course. Super Mario Bros. Wonder features Princess Peach, Princess Daisy and Yoshi as playable characters, in addition to familiar characters like Mario, Luigi and Toad. Plus, Super Mario Bros. Wondersees the debut of Mario’s newest power-up, which allows him to transform into Elephant Mario! What other wonders could this game contain? More details will be shared at a later time, so please look forward to it! Super Mario Bros. Wonder launches for Nintendo Switch on Oct. 20. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Release Schedule

If you’re wanting to know how those game and DLC release dates fall for the rest of the year, we’ve got you covered on that too:

June

• Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope DLC 2: The Last Spark Hunter (June 21, 2023)
• Pikmin 1 HD remake (Digital – June 21, 2023)
• Pikmin 2 HD remake (Digital – June 21, 2023)
• Pikmin 4 Demo (June 28, 2023)

July 

• Manic Mechanics (July 13, 2023)
• Pikmin 4 (July 21, 2023)

August

• Vampire Survivors (August 17, 2023)

September

• Fae Farm (September 8, 2023)
• Gloomhaven (September 18, 2023)
• Pikmin 1 HD remake (Physical – September 22, 2023)
• Pikmin 2 HD remake (Physical – September 22, 2023)

October

• Silent Hope (October 3, 2023)
• Detective Pikachu Returns (October 6, 2023)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbo Charged (October 19, 2023)
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder (October 20, 2023)
• Just Dance 2024 (October 24, 2023)
• Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 1 (October 24, 2023)
• Headbangers Rhythm Royale (October 31, 2023)

November 

• Star Ocean The Second Story R (November 2, 2023)
• WarioWare Move It! (November 3, 2023)
• Super Mario RPG (November 17, 2023)
• Persona 5 Tactica (November 17, 2023)

December

• Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (December 1, 2023)

Release Windows

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 5 – Squeaky Clean Sprint, Petey Pirahana, Wiggler, Kamek (Summer 2023)
• Pokémon Scarlet/Violet DLC Part 1 (Fall 2023)
• Batman: Arkham Trilogy (Fall 2023)
• Sonic Superstars (Fall 2023)
• Pokémon Scarlet/Violet DLC Part 2 (Winter 2023)
• Palia (Holiday 2023)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom amiibo – Zelda and Ganondorf (Holiday 2023)
• Mythforce (2023)
• Penny’s Big Breakaway (Early 2024)
• Princess Peach game (2024)
• Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon remake/remaster (2024)

What did you think about all these announcements? Let us know in the comments below or in our Discord community!

[Source: Nintendo of America press release email]

Nintendo is touring the United States again for Summer of Play 2023. This free event will happen from June 15 – August 28 in eight different locations around the country.

Attendees will receive:

• Summer of Play passport
• Nintendo goodies (after receiving all the location stamps, while supplies last) 
• My Nintendo gift (upon check-in, while supplies last)
• 100 My Nintendo Platinum Points
• GameStop coupon: $10 off $75

Also, experience the Mushroom Kingdom Yourself Photobooth.

From the press release & photo, here are the games we’re expecting:

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
• Mario Party Superstars
• Super Mario 3D World
• New Super Mario Bros. U

From the press release & photo, here are the photo-ops we’re expecting:

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Pikmin 4
• Pokémon Scarlet/Violet
• Splatoon 3
• Super Mario 3D World
• Yoshi’s Crafted World

Locations:

• June 15-18: Mall of America, Bloomington, MN
• June 22-25: Great Lakes Crossing Outlets, Auburn Hills, MI
• June 29-July 2: Meatpacking District Pop Up, New York, NY
• July 7-10: West Town Mall, Knoxville, TN
• July 20-23: The Florida Mall, Orlando, FL
• July 28-31: Barton Creek Square, Austin, TX
• Aug. 17-20: Flatiron Crossing, Broomfield, CO
• Aug. 25-28: Santa Monica Place, Santa Monica, CA

Learn more about Summer of Play at https://www.nintendo.com/events/play-events/.

Nintendo’s recent Indie World Showcase gave us information on 18 games and 3 updates/DLC packs. If you missed it, and want to watch it, check out the video below. If you’re more of the reading-type, we have the full list below, compliments of Nintendo of America’s press release.

• Mineko’s Night Market from Meowza Games and Humble Games: As the adorable Mineko in this narrative adventure-sim, you’ll do various jobs, befriend the townsfolk and craft all sorts of doodads for the weekly Night Market. There are a ton of things to do, like joining parades, entering cat races and performing on stage. And if you’re just itching to explore, the island has many secrets to uncover and puzzles to solve. Stop by Mineko’s Night Market, setting up shop on Nintendo Switch Sept. 26.
• My Time at Sandrock from Pathea Games and PM Studios: Through a captivating story rife with dozens of characters and side quests, you’re tasked with restoring a post-apocalyptic desert community to its former glory in this sequel to My Time at Portia. You’ll gather resources to assemble machines and transform a derelict workshop into a finely tuned facility. Why not venture into ancient ruins and scavenge for relics? Or say hi to the locals and make some friends? This town’s popular with the monsters, so take ’em down in melee combat. Plus, if you have the main game, a separate online* multiplayer version will be available after the game launches, so you and your friends can help Sandrock thrive together. My Time at Sandrock launches on Nintendo Switch this summer.
• PlateUp! from It’s happening and Yogscast Games: Create, decorate and automate the restaurant of your dreams in the roguelite management-sim PlateUp!, the game where lots of hungry customers clamor for meals at lightning-fast speeds. Manage both the kitchen and front of house to keep your customers happy. At the end of every randomly generated shift, you can acquire new high-tech appliances like turbo ovens to upgrade your kitchen and make your next restaurant venture even more successful. Up to three friends can join you locally** or online* to help run your culinary empire. Serve up some deliciousness when PlateUp! launches on Nintendo Switch in October.
• Quilts and Cats of Calico from Monster Couch: Make a purr-fect quilt from patterned pieces of fabric in this adaptation of the tabletop game Calico. Place pieces on a board and sew buttons to score points and attract adorable cats! Each cat has a preferred pattern, so stitch in style to become an expert quilt maker. You can also take some time to customize your cats and give them a paw-sitively great look. Get cozy with up to three friends in local** and online* multiplayer, join ranked matches against online players or try your hand at weekly challenges. Cuddle up with Quilts and Cats of Calico, launching on the Nintendo Switch system this fall.
• Rift of the NecroDancer from Tic Toc Games and Brace Yourself Games: In this spinoff of Crypt of the NecroDancer, move to the rhythm with a new musical twist to lane-based combat. Monsters will come flying at you, so match the on-screen prompts to kick ’em to the curb. Each one has a different movement pattern, and some take multiple hits to defeat. Look forward to boss battles that’ll really get you groovin’ and a special minigame to play for each of the five character storylines. Keep the beat alive when Rift of the NecroDancer launches on Nintendo Switch this year.
• A Little to the Left Cupboards & Drawers from Max Inferno and Secret Mode: More puzzles await in the paid Cupboards & Drawers DLC*** for A Little to the Left. Get tidying across 25 new puzzles as you explore a world of small spaces, secret compartments and surprising bits and bobs stuffed into every drawer. Charming new illustrations and scenarios are also included in this DLC, which launches on Nintendo Switch this June.
• Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Puzzler’s Pack from Vine and Yacht Club Games: Dig into more roguelite puzzle action in the free Puzzler’s Pack DLC*** for the Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon game. Venture forth as two newly playable characters, test your puzzle prowess with Quandary Challenges and make your way through the perplexing halls of Castle Quandary. You can also pay Mr. Hat a visit for over 20 in-game hats to modify runs or pick up some nifty new relics in Chester’s Shop. This DLC shovels its way onto the Nintendo Switch this spring.
• Cult of the Lamb Relics of the Old Faith from Massive Monster and Devolver Digital: Expand your flock in this free update to the Cult of the Lamb game. Dozens of new items, relics and enemies are scattered across remixed dungeons, guarded by new versions of the four guardian bishops. Take your spoils back to the cult with new buildings to construct and followers to recruit, plus a new unlockable quest. And after beating the game, keep the faith going with the new Permadeath, Gauntlet and Boss Rush modes. Relics of the Old Faith launches on Nintendo Switch on April 24.
• ANIMAL WELL from Shared Memory and Bigmode: In this atmospheric pixelated world, you’ll search for treasures as you gradually uncover a dense environment. Where you go is entirely up to you. Many interesting creatures live here, but some might be hostile, so stay alert. Any items you’ve picked up can be used in a number of ways, like making a quick getaway or even having friendly creatures help you out in a pinch. There’s a lot to uncover, so get crafty with your items and see what you find. Summon your courage and curiosity for ANIMAL WELL, launching on Nintendo Switch this winter.
• Crime O’Clock from Bad Seed and Just For Games: There’s no time to waste in this puzzle-exploration game; you’ve got over 40 cases to solve across time and space. There are many eras to visit, from the Lost Age to a cybernetic future. In each era, you’ll see how crime scenes develop for different time ticks, and taking action in one era can change events in another. By traveling through time, meeting characters and resolving each case, your map will change and more adventures will be unlocked. Set your alarms to Crime O’Clock when it launches on Nintendo Switch June 30.
• Teslagrad 2 and Teslagrad Remastered from Rain Games and Modus Games: Harness electromagnetic powers to solve physics-based puzzles and move seamlessly through Scandinavian-inspired environments. Yet, this land holds many dangers, as fearsome beasts stand in your way. Master the art of Teslamancy and defeat them to discover additional areas to explore. Plus, play a remastered version of the first Teslagrad game with enhanced visuals and 10 extra challenge levels in the Teslagrad Power Pack Edition featuring both games when it bolts onto the Nintendo Switch system later today! You can also purchase Teslagrad 2 and Teslagrad Remastered separately later today, too.
• Shadows Over Loathing from Asymmetric Games LLC: Set in the 1920s within the West of Loathing universe, Shadows Over Loathing is a slapstick RPG full of silliness and stick figures. Venture through a sprawling black-and-white world filled with talking frogs, sentient math and eldritch horrors. There’s also a ton of roles to play: From marching to the beat of your own nefarious schemes as a Jazz Agent to holding the curds of the cosmos in your hands as a Cheese Wizard. The digital version of Shadows Over Loathing launches on the Nintendo Switch system later today! Pre-orders for the physical edition of the game will be available at many retailers soon and will ship in the fall.
• Blasphemous 2 from The Game Kitchen and Team 17: Calling all calloused and wounded souls: Return to follow The Penitent One again through a mysterious land filled with nightmares in this sequel to the nightmarishly fun hack-’n-slash platformer Blasphemous. Explore a dark world that’s faithful to the original game with its skill-based combat and tricky platforming elements, that also improves upon its signature pixel art style and the range of abilities at your disposal. Featuring progression systems, custom builds and an expanded player move set, your judgment awaits on Nintendo Switch this summer.
• OXENFREE II: Lost Signals from Night School Studio and Netflix: Set five years after OXENFREE, Riley returns to her hometown of Camena to research strange electromagnetic waves. Tune the radio to communicate with supernatural beings and manipulate the world around you. And watch out for a shadowy cult attempting to open a reality-altering portal. While exploring the town, use the new walkie-talkie conversation system to connect with local contacts. Your choices will have an impact on Riley’s development, relationships and the story. Tune in to OXENFREE II: Lost Signals, launching on Nintendo Switch July 12. Pre-orders begin today in Nintendo eShop and the My Nintendo Store.
• Paper Trail from Newfangled Games, an adventure game where you fold, twist and rotate the world itself to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles, launching in August.
• Little Kitty, Big City from Double Dagger Studio, in which a peaceful catnap turns into a whimsical adventure full of sandbox exploration and plenty of customizable kitties, launching in 2024.
• Chants of Sennaar from Runedisk and Focus Entertainment, which launches on Sept. 5 and features an endless labyrinth where ancient languages are both the lock and the key.
• Brotato from Blobfish and Seaven Studio, a top-down arena shooter roguelite that lets you play a potato wielding up to six weapons at a time to fight off hordes of aliens, launching this year.
• Escape Academy: The Complete Edition from Coin Crew Games and iam8bit, featuring hand-crafted escape-room puzzles that can be played locally** or online* with friends, launching this fall.
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach from Steel Wool Studios and ScottGames: In the latest installment of the family-friendly horror games you’ll play as Gregory, a young boy trapped overnight in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. With the help of Freddy Fazbear himself, Gregory must survive the near-unstoppable hunt of reimagined Five Nights at Freddy’s characters – as well as new horrific threats. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach is available later today!
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk from Team Reptile, a game where you can dance, paint, pull off tricks, face off with the cops and reach new heights of graffiti, launching Aug. 18.

* Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online
** Additional games, systems and/or accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Games, systems and some accessories sold separately.
*** Full version of game required to use DLC for that game. Sold separately.

What did you think of the Indie World Showcase? What games stood out to you? Let us know in the comments, or head over to our Discord to discuss the event with us!

Get ready to level up your gaming experience! Secretlab, the global leader in ergonomic gaming chairs, is thrilled to announce their partnership as the Official Gaming Chair Partner at PGDX 2024.

Known for their award-winning chairs that blend cutting-edge technology with exquisite craftsmanship, Secretlab has redefined the gaming seat experience. They've earned over 60 Editor’s Choice awards from top international publications and boast a staggering 10,000+ 5-star customer ratings worldwide. Their commitment to excellence is evident in every detail, ensuring unparalleled comfort, support, and style for gamers and hybrid workers alike.

Secretlab: Built for More Than Just Gaming

At Secretlab, they believe in chairs designed for a diverse range of activities, not just confined to a single task. Their chairs are ergonomically engineered to provide exceptional support for prolonged gaming sessions, while also accommodating work, study, and leisure activities.

Experience Secretlab at PGDX

Attending PGDX? Get ready to immerse yourself in the Secretlab experience! You'll have the chance to:

• Try Out the Latest Models: Experience the revolutionary comfort and support of the latest Secretlab chair designs.
• Discover Features for Extended Play: Explore the features that make Secretlab chairs perfect for marathon gaming sessions.
• Embrace Stylish Aesthetics: See how Secretlab chairs seamlessly blend into any gaming setup with their sleek and modern designs.

More Than Just a Chair: A Commitment to the Gaming Community

By partnering with PGDX, Secretlab reinforces their dedication to the gaming community. They're eager to connect with gamers, showcase their commitment to enhancing the gaming experience, and demonstrate how their chairs provide unparalleled comfort and support.

Join the Secretlab Revolution at PGDX 2024

Don't miss the opportunity to experience the future of gaming comfort. Head over to the Secretlab booth at PGDX and discover why they are the industry standard for gaming seating. See you there!

Secretlab, the premier brand in ergonomic gaming chairs, will be attending PGDX 2024 as the Official Gaming Chair Partner. Known for its award-winning chairs, Secretlab represents the pinnacle of ergonomic design.

Combining proprietary technology with unparalleled craftsmanship, Secretlab chairs have garnered over 60 Editor’s Choice awards from leading international publications and over 10,000 5-star ratings from customers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and a dedication to enhancing the gaming journey for gamers and hybrid workers globally, Secretlab has become synonymous with unparalleled quality, comfort, and style. Ergonomically crafted to support users across multiple activities, Secretlab believes that no one should buy a chair built for just one task.

Experience Ultimate Gaming Comfort at PGDX

Attendees at PGDX will have the unique opportunity to experience the latest Secretlab models, designed to provide ultimate gaming comfort and support. With features that cater to extended gaming sessions and stylish aesthetics, Secretlab chairs are the ideal addition to any gaming setup.

Partnering with PGDX will allow Secretlab to connect directly with the gaming community and showcase its commitment to enhancing the gaming experience. Attendees will have the chance to test out Secretlab's latest chairs and see firsthand why they consider it one of the industry standards for gaming comfort.

Established in 2014, Secretlab has been a well-known brand through the years for various games, and influencers as many would be well aware of the logo the moment they spot it in a chair. Secretlab is a well-known brand in the gaming scene, especially in premier gaming tournaments, and events, with over 3,000,000 users worldwide.

The Indie Arena Booth (IAB) at Gamescom 2024 is set to deliver an impressive collection of over 160 indie titles from 37 countries, ensuring that every visitor finds something to enjoy. Located in hall 10.2, booth F010g – E019, this year’s line-up promises a diverse range of games, from high-octane action to cozy, narrative-driven experiences.

Action-Packed Adventures and Cozy Escapes

For those seeking adrenaline-pumping action, games like Jötunnslayer: Hordes of Hel, a Diablo-style hack-and-slash, and Sacre Bleu, a bullet time platforming shooter set during the escape from the Bastille, are sure to deliver. Somber Echoes offers a Metroidvania experience set in a Greco-Roman spaceship.

On the other hand, visitors looking for more relaxed gameplay can enjoy managing a fantasy pub in Tavern Talk, causing chaos as a chunky pomeranian in Doronko Wanko, or building a home as a small rodent in Winter Burrow.

Artistic and Narrative Masterpieces

The Indie Arena Booth also features games known for their unique art styles and storytelling. Keylocker combines anime design with cyberpunk aesthetics, 30 Birds draws inspiration from Persian art, and Hieronymus is influenced by the surreal fantasy world of Hieronymus Bosch.

Narrative enthusiasts can look forward to Moses and Plato – Last Train to Clawville, a detective adventure with fox detectives, The Darkest Files, a historical courtroom drama, and Goodbye Seoul, which offers a melancholic journey through a post-apocalyptic city.

Unconventional and World Premiere Titles

This year’s “Games that defy categorization” category includes the quirky Henry Halfhead, which explores the life of half a head, and Netherworlds, featuring the bizarre adventures of a jellyfish guided by a drug-addicted magician. ANTRO, a rhythm puzzle platformer, has players running parkour to hip hop and electro beats.

The booth also hosts several world premieres, such as ChromaGun 2: Dye Hard, Morriton Manor Stories: Nordic Whispers, The Merlies, and Usual June. Fans can also try out highly anticipated titles like Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut and Yes your Grace: Snowfall.

You can find the whole lineup here.

The post Indie Arena Booth Showcases Top Indie Titles at Gamescom 2024 appeared first on Gaming Debugged | Gaming Site Covering Xbox, Indies, News, Features and Gaming Tech.

Gamescom is continuing on its mission to build a global brand of international events, with its Asian show due to take place in Singapore this October.

Between a very successful inaugural Gamescom Latam earlier this year, the original trade show returning to Cologne in just a few weeks, and Gamescom Asia from October 17 to 20, 2024 will mark the first year with all three events taking place in full force.

While Gamescom parent Koelnmesse only acts as co-organiser for the Latam edition, it is fully behind Gamescom Asia, with project director Daria La Valle telling us that the event wants to be a platform for Southeast Asia "to come together." The German Games Industry Association is also behind the wheel, as the owner of the Gamescom brand globally.

Read more

• Category: gamescom

August 1, 2024

Xbox @ gamescom 2024

• Maxi Graeff, Gaming Marketing Lead DACH

Summary

• Xbox returns to gamescom with over 50 titles to check out.
• The Xbox booth will also include a theater, photo ops, a Gear Store, and more.
• For those who can’t attend, check out the Xbox @ gamescom: Live From the Showfloor Broadcast on August 21-23.

Following this year’s jam-packed Xbox Games Showcase, we’re excited to return to gamescom and connect with fans in Cologne, Germany from August 21-25 to show off even more of what Xbox players have in store. 

The community is what makes gaming – and gamescom – so special and there will be something for everyone this year, whether you’re on the show floor in Cologne or watching at home via our livestreams. This year the Xbox booth will be overflowing with exciting upcoming titles, one-off experiences and fantastic photo opportunities for games coming to Xbox, PC, and Game Pass this Holiday and beyond. We’ll also deliver three days of broadcasts live from the show floor, join up with our amazing community for another FanFest, and plenty more. Keep reading for more details on everything we’re up to at gamescom 2024.  

Xbox Booth 

This year the Xbox booth will feature over 50 gaming titles from Xbox Game Studios, Blizzard, Bethesda, and our amazing third-party partners – spread across more than 240 gaming stations – alongside amazing photo ops and experiences, and specially constructed theaters for exclusive looks at upcoming titles.  

Attendees will be able to go hands-on with upcoming Xbox releases, including: 

• Age of Mythology: Retold  

• Ara: History Untold 

• Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred 

• Fallout 76: Milepost Zero 

• The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road 

• Towerborne 

We will also host exclusive theater presentations of Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Starfield: Shattered Space.  

Joining the Xbox booth for the first time, Blizzard Entertainment will make their return to gamescom with multiple offerings for Diablo and World of Warcraft. Ahead of the launch of the Vessel of Hatred expansion in October, Diablo will bring an exclusive public hands-on gameplay demo of the Spiritborn class to the gamescom show floor, with a Diablo Immortal Helliquary boss tournament taking place as well. World of Warcraft celebrates the launch of The War Within on August 26 with the power of a special immersive experience, giving gamescom attendants the chance to feel the thrill of Skyriding in Azeroth.  

The Xbox booth will also have playable titles from our third-party partners, including Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws, Saber Interactive’s Space Marine 2, Rebellion’s Atomfall, and the return of GSC Game World’s S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl with an all-new demo. And in our Indie Selects area – dedicated to diverse, exciting upcoming titles from independent developers – we’ll host games including Maximum Entertainment’s Squirrel with a Gun, Noodlecake’s Winter Burrow, 11 bit Studios’ Creatures of Ava, and more. 

The above is just a small selection of the titles playable on the Xbox booth. For the full list of playable titles visit here. Whatever you’re into, we’ll have something for you. 

You’ll be able to find us in Hall 7 of the Koelnmesse, North entrance. See below for the consumer show opening times:   

• Thursday, August 22 – 10am – 8pm CEST   

• Friday, August 23 – 10am – 8pm CEST   

• Saturday, August 24 – 9am – 8 pm CEST   

• Sunday, August 25 – 9am – 8pm CEST  

Beyond the Xbox booth, Overwatch 2 will also have a joint stand with Porsche, highlighting their new collaboration by featuring a life-sized D.Va statue modeled after the new all-electric Macan, along with an invitation for fans to enter a real-life rendition of an iconic Overwatch 2 map. 

Game Pass @ Gamescom  

This year at gamescom, Game Pass is turning up the fun with an exciting setup reminding players that they can discover their next favorite game across devices. Guests will have an opportunity to explore different sections dedicated to PC, Console, and Cloud as they learn about all the different ways to play their favorite games. In addition to exclusive gamescom 2024 prizes available through claw and gacha machines, guests have the opportunity to play the Big Green Button for a shot at winning exciting prizes like:  

• Game Pass tokens (PC and/or Ultimate) 

• NVIDIA GeForce Now cards 

• WD_BLACK PC and Console Storage 

• Cloud Gaming devices (e.g., Amazon Fire TV Sticks, and Meta Quest headsets) that can directly stream Xbox games 

• OMEN monitors 

• HyperX headsets, microphones, mice and keyboards 

Gaming for Everyone 

Xbox remains committed to the belief that gaming should be safe, inclusive, and accessible for all. We are ensuring that all areas of the booth are wheelchair accessible, Xbox Adaptive Controllers will be available upon request, and there will be select demo stations with adjustable-height desks and monitors. We also have multiple American Sign Language (ASL) and German Sign Language (DGS) interpreters and Audio Description tours in English and German for guests who are blind or visually disabled.

Additionally, we’ll have sensory aids and a quiet room for everyone who needs them, as well as “Here to Help” staff to assist players of all abilities navigate our booth and game experiences. Please check out the Accessibility “Here to Help” desk at our booth for support. 

Other Booth Elements

Gear Shop 

Check out the official Gear Shop at the booth to get the latest with gear from Xbox Game Studios, Blizzard, Activision, and Bethesda! 

Can´t make it? Don’t worry, find your new favorite gear online in the following stores: 

• https://shop.callofduty.com/

• https://gear.blizzard.com/

• https://gear.xbox.com/  

Community Area 

This year the Xbox booth will also include the Community Hub! This more chilled out space within the Xbox Booth will be a perfect place for attendees to stop and hang out during the show, and will also feature special programming and activities from titles and teams across Xbox taking place throughout gamescom. Activities will include cosplay meetups, trivia games, meet-and-greets with game developers and voice actors, and more! Be sure to stop by and see what’s on! 

Live from the Showfloor with our Broadcast Teams 

If you can’t make the trip to Cologne this year, we’ll bring the show to you with a series of daily streams from the Xbox booth. Join Team Xbox and friends on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for a deeper dive into some of the highly anticipated games at gamescom 2024, with first-look gameplay, developer chats, new trailers and more. The Bethesda team will also have daily content streaming live from the booth over on their Twitch channel: twitch.tv/bethesda_de.  

Whether you join us for every stream, or just dip in for the latest on your most anticipated titles, we’re looking forward to connecting with fans across the globe and showing off some of the amazing games coming to Xbox.

Wednesday August 21  

• Xbox @ gamescom 2024
  • Start: 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST 
  • Featuring S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Atomfall, Age of Mythology, plus others  

• Bethesda MainStream 
  • Start: 5am PDT / 8am EST / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST  

Thursday August 22  

• Xbox @ gamescom 2024 
  • Start:  6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST 
  • Featuring Star Wars Outlaws, World of Warcraft: The War Within, Towerborne plus others
• Bethesda MainStream 
  • Start: 5am PDT / 8am EST / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST

Friday August 23  

• Xbox @ gamescom 2024
  • Start: 6am PDT / 9am EDT / 2pm BST / 3pm CEST
  • Featuring Avowed, Ara: History Untold, plus others

• Bethesda MainStream 
  • Start: 5am PDT / 8am EST / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST 

Keep an eye on Xbox Social channels for the full content schedule in the days leading up to gamescom.  

The live English-language broadcast from Xbox’s gamescom booth will be available in German, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Czech, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish and Turkish, along with ASL and English Audio Descriptions. You can catch the Xbox @ gamescom Livestream on regional Xbox channels on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and elsewhere.   

Livestream Channels:  

• Twitch.com/xbox 
• Facebook.com/xbox 
• Youtube.com/xbox 

Xbox FanFest  

On Wednesday, August 21, Xbox FanFest is returning to host a special community event to kick off gamescom week! We’ll be bringing players together to connect around their shared love of gaming. If you’re planning to attend gamescom or will be in the Cologne area, you can enter for a chance to win tickets to attend.

Login at xbox.com/fanfest and use code FANFEST to unlock the sweepstakes. No Purchase Necessary. Open only to registered Xbox FanFest members. 18+. Ends 08:59 CEST on 5 August 2024. Click here for Official Rules. 

Xbox Coverage  

Our social media teams will be on the ground bringing you live coverage, updates, news, new videos, and lots of fun stuff too. And make sure to keep an eye on Xbox Wire for coverage of the Opening Night Live show, and articles about many of the games on show. 

For all the latest updates on Xbox at gamescom this year, stay tuned to the Xbox channels on X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube social channels, or the @XboxDACH X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube social channels for German-language coverage. We’re using #Xboxgamescom as our event hashtag.  

Editor’s Note: ARK 2 was originally listed as playable on the Xbox booth – this mention was made in error, and has been removed.

The post Xbox @ gamescom 2024 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Every year, the team here at THQ Nordic puts months into crafting a Digital Showcase we think you’ll love, filled with news on previously announced games and teases of what you can expect from our dev teams in the future.

Variety defines what we do, and that has never been truer than in our 2024 broadcast – including a gorgeous hand-drawn adventure, a fender-bending destruction racer sequel, the much-demanded return of a legendary action-adventure series, and a whole lot more.

The Eternal Life of Goldman

We opened this year’s stream with the debut of an all-new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police. 

Play Video

As Goldman, with your trusty cane in hand, navigate a mysterious archipelago brought to life with painstakingly handcrafted 2D animation, each frame bursting with the passion that the team have injected into the game they have always wanted to make.

A sense of wonder and freedom to experiment are at the core of Weappy’s design philosophy, with a focus on rewarding players for their inquisitiveness about the world and platforming sections that are challenging but fair. The Eternal Life of Goldman begs you to discover the archipelago’s further reaches, each new ability and artifact you find adding new dimensions to your gameplay.

We can’t wait to tell you more later this year – for now, make sure to follow and wishlist the game at PlayStation Store to be among the first to receive updates.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

Play Video

The time has almost come to pick up your brush and decide the fate of Wasteland! When Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed releases on September 24, the power to shape the world with paint and thinner will be in your hands.

Take control of Mickey Mouse in 3D platforming action, exploring a land peppered with beloved characters to meet and secrets to discover, including classic side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.

Rebuilt from the ground up by the team at Purple Lamp, and for the first time on PS5 and PS4, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a must-play for Disney fans of all ages, whether this is their first venture into Wasteland or a journey down memory lane.

Wreckfest 2

Play Video

Create the car of your tire-screeching dreams, show it off online, and smash it to pieces in the ultimate range of wrecktastic events. Whether it’s giving it your all to be first past the finish line, hurtling through obstacle courses, or crushing your rivals in a destruction derby free-for-all, Wreckfest 2 is about letting loose in the ultimate playground of vehicular carnage.

PS5 hardware has given the team at Bugbear Entertainment the freedom to model higher crash fidelity than ever, with each chassis-crinkling impact realized in real time. 

At the end of each event, your beaten-up vehicle will tell its own unique story – of traded paint, twisted steel, and grudge matches settled on the track.

Titan Quest II

Last year, we announced Titan Quest II with a trailer that set the stage for the battle against rogue goddess Nemesis and her hordes. Millions of views and thousands of comments later, we’re ready to show you more of the rich, verdant world that the team at Grimlore Games have been hard at work bringing to life. 

Play Video

In our debut gameplay trailer, you can get your first glimpse of the adventures that await you in the sun-drenched landscapes of Ancient Greece, and the godly powers you’ll claim as you take your place amongst the greatest legendary heroes. The team are hand-crafting an experience that encourages you to rise to the challenge, with epic battles against beasts of myth rewarding players with unique loot that changes the way you play.

This is your tale to tell, with deep customization options – from your hero’s appearance, to their combination of a vast range of modifiable skills and equipment loadouts. Whether you choose to embark on this odyssey alone or with friends, Titan Quest II will lead you on an unforgettable journey across a land unlike any other in the ARPG genre.

Gothic 1 Remake

Since we announced development of Gothic 1 Remake in 2020, the outpouring of support from Gothic fans around the globe, as well as the RPG community at large, has been immense. Every positive comment, each cry of “For Gomez!”, has bolstered the team at Alkimia Interactive as they work to deliver a game that is both a faithful love letter to the Gothic fandom and a welcoming experience full of wonder and fresh discoveries for newcomers.

Play Video

In today’s trailer, we delved into how Alkimia are crafting a world that is an organism unto itself, with a thriving ecosystem and powerful factions competing for dominance – a world that seems to exist beyond the player, but is ripe to be shaped by your decisions.

Visuals and gameplay have also been completely rebuilt to meet modern standards, with more rewarding progression, more impactful combat, and diverse NPC routines and interactions.

Whether you join the ore-rich Old Camp in league with the King, the New Camp who plan to destroy the magical barrier surrounding the Valley of Mines, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper who put their faith in a mysterious new deity – the dark world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be yours to explore.

Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve

For the second year in a row, we’ve released a DLC for Way of the Hunter on the same day as our Digital Showcase. 

Play Video

Whereas last year we took the hunt to lush African grasslands, today’s release will let you explore a stunningly-realized Scandinavian landscape populated with lynx, arctic foxes, and a range of other unique wildlife, all with their own realistic behaviors.

Wander through vast magical forests that shimmer under gentle rain, sprawling meadows teeming with life, and snowy hilltops that inspired folklore of ages past. With each tranquil moment that passes in this fictionalized Scandinavian wilderness, so lovingly sculpted by the team at Nine Rocks Games, your harmony with your surroundings increases.

Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve is out now on PS5.

A new tale from Tarsier Studios

Play Video

From the creators of Little Nightmares I & II comes an entirely new vision, unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Find out more at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.   

Of course, it wouldn’t be the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase without just one more thing to tantalize you as we close out the stream…

The future of Darksiders

The ominous rumble of a chamber impossibly old. Scorching ash suspended in the air, spewed forth by roiling lava. 

Three colossal stone heads, suddenly set ablaze with otherworldly flames. The Charred Council awake, and roar a single word in unison: Horseman.

Play Video

We’ll have more news to share on where the world of Darksiders is going soon, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.

That’s it for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From all of us at THQ Nordic, as well as our dev partners spread around the world – thank you so much for joining us. We can’t wait to share more with you on each of these titles in the near future and see you soon in our digital worlds.

Every year, the team here at THQ Nordic puts months into crafting a Digital Showcase we think you’ll love, filled with news on previously announced games and teases of what you can expect from our dev teams in the future.

Variety defines what we do, and that has never been truer than in our 2024 broadcast – including a gorgeous hand-drawn adventure, a fender-bending destruction racer sequel, the much-demanded return of a legendary action-adventure series, and a whole lot more.

The Eternal Life of Goldman

We opened this year’s stream with the debut of an all-new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police. 

Play Video

As Goldman, with your trusty cane in hand, navigate a mysterious archipelago brought to life with painstakingly handcrafted 2D animation, each frame bursting with the passion that the team have injected into the game they have always wanted to make.

A sense of wonder and freedom to experiment are at the core of Weappy’s design philosophy, with a focus on rewarding players for their inquisitiveness about the world and platforming sections that are challenging but fair. The Eternal Life of Goldman begs you to discover the archipelago’s further reaches, each new ability and artifact you find adding new dimensions to your gameplay.

We can’t wait to tell you more later this year – for now, make sure to follow and wishlist the game at PlayStation Store to be among the first to receive updates.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

Play Video

The time has almost come to pick up your brush and decide the fate of Wasteland! When Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed releases on September 24, the power to shape the world with paint and thinner will be in your hands.

Take control of Mickey Mouse in 3D platforming action, exploring a land peppered with beloved characters to meet and secrets to discover, including classic side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.

Rebuilt from the ground up by the team at Purple Lamp, and for the first time on PS5 and PS4, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a must-play for Disney fans of all ages, whether this is their first venture into Wasteland or a journey down memory lane.

Wreckfest 2

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Create the car of your tire-screeching dreams, show it off online, and smash it to pieces in the ultimate range of wrecktastic events. Whether it’s giving it your all to be first past the finish line, hurtling through obstacle courses, or crushing your rivals in a destruction derby free-for-all, Wreckfest 2 is about letting loose in the ultimate playground of vehicular carnage.

PS5 hardware has given the team at Bugbear Entertainment the freedom to model higher crash fidelity than ever, with each chassis-crinkling impact realized in real time. 

At the end of each event, your beaten-up vehicle will tell its own unique story – of traded paint, twisted steel, and grudge matches settled on the track.

Titan Quest II

Last year, we announced Titan Quest II with a trailer that set the stage for the battle against rogue goddess Nemesis and her hordes. Millions of views and thousands of comments later, we’re ready to show you more of the rich, verdant world that the team at Grimlore Games have been hard at work bringing to life. 

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In our debut gameplay trailer, you can get your first glimpse of the adventures that await you in the sun-drenched landscapes of Ancient Greece, and the godly powers you’ll claim as you take your place amongst the greatest legendary heroes. The team are hand-crafting an experience that encourages you to rise to the challenge, with epic battles against beasts of myth rewarding players with unique loot that changes the way you play.

This is your tale to tell, with deep customization options – from your hero’s appearance, to their combination of a vast range of modifiable skills and equipment loadouts. Whether you choose to embark on this odyssey alone or with friends, Titan Quest II will lead you on an unforgettable journey across a land unlike any other in the ARPG genre.

Gothic 1 Remake

Since we announced development of Gothic 1 Remake in 2020, the outpouring of support from Gothic fans around the globe, as well as the RPG community at large, has been immense. Every positive comment, each cry of “For Gomez!”, has bolstered the team at Alkimia Interactive as they work to deliver a game that is both a faithful love letter to the Gothic fandom and a welcoming experience full of wonder and fresh discoveries for newcomers.

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In today’s trailer, we delved into how Alkimia are crafting a world that is an organism unto itself, with a thriving ecosystem and powerful factions competing for dominance – a world that seems to exist beyond the player, but is ripe to be shaped by your decisions.

Visuals and gameplay have also been completely rebuilt to meet modern standards, with more rewarding progression, more impactful combat, and diverse NPC routines and interactions.

Whether you join the ore-rich Old Camp in league with the King, the New Camp who plan to destroy the magical barrier surrounding the Valley of Mines, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper who put their faith in a mysterious new deity – the dark world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be yours to explore.

Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve

For the second year in a row, we’ve released a DLC for Way of the Hunter on the same day as our Digital Showcase. 

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Whereas last year we took the hunt to lush African grasslands, today’s release will let you explore a stunningly-realized Scandinavian landscape populated with lynx, arctic foxes, and a range of other unique wildlife, all with their own realistic behaviors.

Wander through vast magical forests that shimmer under gentle rain, sprawling meadows teeming with life, and snowy hilltops that inspired folklore of ages past. With each tranquil moment that passes in this fictionalized Scandinavian wilderness, so lovingly sculpted by the team at Nine Rocks Games, your harmony with your surroundings increases.

Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve is out now on PS5.

A new tale from Tarsier Studios

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From the creators of Little Nightmares I & II comes an entirely new vision, unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Find out more at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.   

Of course, it wouldn’t be the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase without just one more thing to tantalize you as we close out the stream…

The future of Darksiders

The ominous rumble of a chamber impossibly old. Scorching ash suspended in the air, spewed forth by roiling lava. 

Three colossal stone heads, suddenly set ablaze with otherworldly flames. The Charred Council awake, and roar a single word in unison: Horseman.

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We’ll have more news to share on where the world of Darksiders is going soon, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.

That’s it for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From all of us at THQ Nordic, as well as our dev partners spread around the world – thank you so much for joining us. We can’t wait to share more with you on each of these titles in the near future and see you soon in our digital worlds.

• Category: Xbox Games Showcase

June 9, 2024

Xbox Games Showcase 2024: Every Announcement and Reveal

• Jerret West, Chief Marketing Officer, Xbox

The Xbox Games Showcase 2024 showed players everywhere that they have a ton of games to look forward to. Fans of Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, Xbox Game Studios, or the countless partners building for Xbox were treated to a peek at what’s coming for their favorite franchises and new games alike.

Players can look forward to incredible returns to beloved series with Gears of War: E-Day and Doom: The Dark Ages, fresh looks at the likes of State of Decay 3, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Perfect Dark,and South of Midnight, a reveal for Starfield: Shattered Space, and much more. The show even extended to Azeroth, with the release date reveal of The War Within, the next expansion for World of Warcraft.

And from our partners, there was a world-first look at gameplay from Assassin’s Creed Shadows, an introduction to your future party members in the greatly anticipated Dragon Age: The Veilguard, an exciting look at the return of Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater, not to mention some incredible debuts with the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Atomfall, and Winter Burrow, among many others.

Plus, we brought you a first reveal of new Xbox hardware with the announcement of three new Xbox Series X|S console options joining our current lineup this holiday, featuring the same speed and performance with more design, storage, and price options to fit your needs.

And on top of all that, we also brought the gameplay reveal of a brand-new Call of Duty game with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – and we’re following it up with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct, offering you an enormous deep-dive into the game. If you can’t tune in live, make sure to check back for a full rundown of what was announced in the second part of our enormous double feature.

This is far from everything we have to show you – all this week, the Official Xbox Podcast will air podcasts from Monday, June 10th, featuring discussions with developers and even deeper looks at some of the exciting games from the show. It all starts tomorrow with an extended gameplay look at Avowed, on Xbox’s YouTube channel and podcast services, followed by Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater on Tuesday. If reading’s more your speed, every episode will be detailed in an Xbox Wire post breaking down what was revealed.

But that’s all still to come. For the time being, here’s every single announcement and reveal from Xbox Games Showcase 2024:

Upcoming Titles from Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard, and Xbox Game Studios

Age of Mythology: Retold – World’s Edge Presents its First-ever Gameplay Trailer 

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam and cloud, or play it day one with Game Pass

World’s Edge – the award-winning studio behind the Age of Empires franchise – showcased a trailer of truly mythical proportions: with a first look at gameplay from the upcoming Age of Mythology: Retold.

Age of Mythology: Retold will combine the best elements of the beloved Age of Mythology (2002) with modern real-time strategy design, visuals and gameplay. The newly premiered trailer at Xbox Showcase 2024 revealed the first gameplay footage, showing off exciting action and divine powers, as well as some newly redesigned deity portraits. The World’s Edge team also confirmed the launch date for Age of Mythology: Retold – September 4, 2024 – and that this will be the first title in the Age of Empires franchise to ship on both PC and console at launch. 

Age of Mythology: Retold is available to pre-order now.

Avowed Offers a New Look at its Captivating Story 

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam and cloud, or play it day one with Game Pass  

This year, brace yourself for an expedition into the uncharted wilds of the Living Lands in Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed. In a brand-new story trailer, we learned more about the incredible journey we’ll be taking later this year, and met Giatta, one of the game’s four companions. As an envoy of the Aedyran Empire, you’re tasked with stopping the Dreamscourge, a mysterious blight wreaking havoc on the tumultuous frontier. Your soul hangs in the balance as you navigate the chaos of the Living Lands and embrace its wonders. Prepare for an expedition into the perilous, captivating, and utterly bizarre unknown where you will forge your destiny and shape the fate of the frontier. 

Avowed will be released in 2024 – and you can learn more about the game’s story on Xbox Wire right now. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct Reveals Campaign, Multiplayer and Zombies Details

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Steam, Battle.net, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, or play it day one with Game Pass

It’s official: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the latest addition to the popular Call of Duty franchise, is set to arrive on October 25. Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a spy action thriller where nothing is as what it seems. In this mind-bending narrative set in the early 1990s, a shadowy force has infiltrated the U.S. government and players will be forced to go rogue for the first time.

In addition to a compelling new campaign, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 features new innovations like Omnimovement, giving players the ability to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction and move like a Black Ops action hero across all game modes. Including the return of Classic Prestige, Theater Mode, and of course Round-Based Zombies, there’s something for everyone.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC on October 25. Play it day one on select Xbox Game Pass plans (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, Game Pass Console).

Doom: The Dark Ages Comes to Xbox in 2025

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, or play it day one with Game Pass

Revealed worldwide today, Doom: The Dark Ages heralds the return of the unstoppable Doom Slayer in this upcoming single-player, dark fantasy action FPS from the legendary id Software.

The prequel to Doom (2016), Doom: The Dark Ages puts players behind the visor of the mighty Slayer as they battle demonic hordes in grounded, hard-hitting combat inside an epic, cinematic tale of gods, kings and monsters. Supplementing his superhuman skills and over-the-top arsenal, the Slayer will also call upon his colossal Atlan mech to brawl with titanic beasts and retake the skies aboard his ferocious steed: a jet-fueled, cybernetic war dragon.

Don your Shotgun, Shield Saw and Flail and charge headfirst into battle in 2025 when Doom: The Dark Ages arrives on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Add Doom: The Dark Ages to your wishlist via the Microsoft Store.

Playground Games Asks ‘What Does It Mean to be a Hero?’ in the Next Installment of its Fable Trailer Series

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam, or play it day one with Xbox Game Pass

What does it mean to be a hero? In last year’s trailer, that question was answered by Dave, a gardener-turned-giant with a chip on his shoulder. This year, we get a much darker take from Humphry, played by the British comedy actor Matt King. Humphry was once Albion’s greatest Hero, but those glory days are long gone. In Fable, Humphry will be forced out of retirement when a mysterious figure from his past threatens the very existence of Albion.

Playground Games also confirmed its collaboration with Eidos Montreal, who will be supporting the ongoing development of Fable, which will be coming to players in 2025. For Wishlist and more, visit xbox.com/fable.

E-Day Marks a New Dawn for Gears of War

Gears of War: E-Day is the next mainline game in the Gears of War universe, set during the pivotal Emergence Day. Fourteen years before Gears of War, war heroes Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago return home to face a new nightmare: the Locust Horde. These subterranean monsters, grotesque and relentless, erupt from below, laying siege on humanity itself.

In the announce trailer for the series’ next major installment, The Coalition has teamed up with Blur Studio to forge a visually stunning trailer using in-game assets in Unreal Engine 5. It features a new instrumental version of ‘Mad World,’ originally performed by Gary Jules for the iconic 2006 commercial, now brilliantly reimagined by the game’s composer Adam Lastiwka. The trailer made its debut in 4K resolution and 30 FPS with 5.1 stereo sound. These specs, optimized for streaming, do not represent the final game’s performance.

Find out more in our conversation with the developers on Xbox Wire.

New Trailer for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, or play it day one on Game Pass

Become the famous archaeologist and face off against sinister forces as you fight to uncover the truth behind one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Brand new gameplay and a scene from a pivotal moment in the game were debuted during the Xbox Showcase. An intercepted message sends Indy and Gina to the Himalayas where their treacherous trek through the mountains leads them to a startling discovery. 

Play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle day one on Game Pass when it launches later this year on Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Take to the Skies on November 19 with the All-New Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, cloud, or play it day one with Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is the next installment in the Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise. It is the most ambitious consumer flight simulator ever undertaken. It features the largest, most diverse and detailed fleet of aircraft, the most complete representation of airports and air traffic, and the most visually stunning rendition of Earth ever created.

This brand-new simulator is designed to take advantage of the latest technologies in simulation, cloud, machine learning, graphics and gaming. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 goes beyond merely operating the aircraft; it will allow simmers to pursue their dream of an aviation career.

With features like aerial firefighting, search and rescue, commercial flights, remote cargo ops, VIP charter service, air racing, and more, simmers will not only be experiencing the joy of flight, but also dive into the pilot career they always dreamed of. The sky is calling! Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes off on PC and Xbox Series X|S on November 19, and will be available with Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud on day one.

Perfect Dark Unveils First Look at Gameplay in New Trailer

Today, we got a first look at gameplay from Perfect Dark, The Initiative’s highly anticipated reboot of the secret agent series featuring the iconic Joanna Dark.

In the near future, Earth is struck by a series of global disasters, bringing ecosystems around the world to the verge of collapse. In the all-new Perfect Dark game, you experience the journey of Joanna Dark, dataDyne’s elite agent, as she hunts down the world’s most wanted criminal, Daniel Carrington, to uncover the mysteries behind the technological breakthroughs that could threaten the lives of millions of people.

The new trailer showed us Joanna’s descent into the game’s Cairo setting, offered us a glimpse at the mysteries behind this near-future ecological sci-fi story, and introduced us to a game that blends fluid traversal, gadgets, close-quarters combat, gunplay, stealth, and more to create the ultimate secret agent experience.

Want to know more? Read our exclusive explainer article on Xbox Wire now.

South of Midnight Shows Off First Gameplay – and the Monstrous Two-Toed Tom

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, cloud, or play it on day one with Xbox Game Pass

South of Midnight – the beautiful third-person action-adventure game from We Happy Few creators Compulsion Games – showed off its first gameplay trailer during the show, ahead of its launch in 2025. We meet Hazel and her newly-revealed companion, Catfish, as they travel through a flooded area inspired by the Mississippi Delta – and quickly find themselves facing down one of the game’s monster Kings. Meet Two-Toed Tom, a gigantic albino alligator with a powerful hunger, and even his own theme song.

The trailer offers a look at combat and traversal, showing off Hazel’s magical weaving powers, and gives us a taste of the game’s darkly gorgeous Deep South setting. We were lucky enough to sit down with South of Midnight’s developers and dive even deeper on the game – check out our exclusive interview on Xbox Wire.

Open World Zombie Survival Game State of Decay 3 Unveils New Trailer

Today at Xbox Games Showcase, Undead Labs revealed a new trailer for State of Decay 3, giving us a closer look at the ambitious open world zombie survival game. This follow-up to fan-favorite State of Decay 2 represents a huge leap forward for the series and the studio.

In State of Decay 3, the game’s world is now years into the apocalypse, with an evolving zombie threat taking over the landscape. You must fight back and reclaim lost ground, carving out a life for your community of survivalist homesteaders. Fans of the series might pick up on nods to some franchise staples in the new trailer: brutal combat; cooperatively battling back threats to the survivor group; permadeath; opening a car door on a zombie while speeding down the road. But the more you watch it, the more you can see hints at how State of Decay 3 will be the most ambitious game Undead Labs has ever envisioned. To learn more, check out Xbox Wire’s exclusive interview feature.

World Premieres and New Games from Our Partners

Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ First Gameplay Glimpse Revealed

Xbox Series X|S (see developer website for other platforms)

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on November 15 for Xbox Series X|S, giving players a chance to explore 16^th Century Japan as Naoe, an adept shinobi from the province of Iga; and Yasuke, a powerful samurai and Assassin’s Creed’s first fully playable historical figure. Today’s gameplay trailer gave fans their first glimpse at what’s new in Assassin’s Creed Shadows – we saw how the two protagonists, Yasuke and Naoe will differ (and complement one another) in equipment and abilities, as well as the game’s wider world, and Shadows’ changing seasons. Stay tuned for a full gameplay walkthrough reveal tomorrow during Ubisoft Forward (starting at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK).

Survive, Explore and Uncover the Truth in Atomfall

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

Set in the rolling British countryside with idyllic pubs, quaint villages, and red phone boxes, it soon becomes clear that things are far from normal. Created by Rebellion, the makers of the much-loved Sniper Elite and Zombie Army franchises, Atomfall is inspired by a real-world nuclear disaster that occurred in northern England in 1957. The game follows a fictional storyline where you find yourself in the quarantine zone five years after the event.

Explore the countryside, villages, and settlements and meet odd people, wicked cults, rogue government agencies and others along the way. Explore this open world adventure and seek out the truth at your own pace. A single player, survival-action game, Atomfall blends post-war Britain with Cold War paranoia, folk horror, and elements of classic British sci-fi to create an immersive and thrilling gameplay experience.

Atomfall will launch in 2025, coming to Game Pass on day one. It will also be available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC. The studio will be revealing more about Atomfall soon.

Prepare to Fight for Your Life in Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Xbox Series X|S, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is an upcoming reactive turn-based RPG that will transport you to a beautiful, surrealist new world inspired by France’s La Belle Epoque – a period famous for its stunning and lavish contributions to the country’s world-renowned culture of art.

As a member of the Expeditioners, who are embarking on an impossible quest to end the Paintress’ cycle of death, you’ll journey through a vast and beautiful fantasy world where you’ll battle deadly adversaries, befriend fabled creatures, and discover traces of those who came before. You can wish list the game today on the Xbox Store and follow @Expedition33 on X (formally Twitter) to stay up to date.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Meet the Veilguard for the First Time in a New Trailer

Xbox Series X|S (see developer website for other platforms)

BioWare and Electronic Arts revealed a new trailer for Dragon Age: The Veilguard, where we meet your team of seven companions, each with their own rich story to discover and shape. Together, you will become The Veilguard.

Expanding upon the Dragon Age stories, worlds and characters from previous games, players will enter a vibrant land of rugged wilderness, treacherous labyrinths, and glittering cities – steeped in conflict and secret magics. Together with your companions, you will challenge a pair of corrupt ancient gods, who have broken free from centuries of darkness and are hellbent on destroying the world. Thedas needs someone they can count on, and that person is you. Rise as Rook, Dragon Age’s newest hero. Be who you want to be and play how you want to play as you fight to stop the gods from blighting the world. Find out more on Xbox Wire.

Souls-lite Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Arrives With a Bang on July 18

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

The long-awaited return from Ashen developer A44 is almost here – during the show, we announced that Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn will arrive on July 18. Set in the beleaguered world of Kian, you’ll guide Nor Vanek, a Flintlock weapons expert, on a quest to kill the rampaging gods that have invaded her world.

Blending classic Souls mechanics with a brutal, fast-paced combat system, Nor can use a combination of axe combat, flintlock weaponry, and magic, creating devastating combos – but you’ll need skill to survive. Pre-orders are open now, and a deluxe edition offers alternative outfits and weapon customization options.

FragPunk Explodes Into the Show

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (see developer website for other platforms)

Looking for a new competitive FPS? FragPunk is a frantic, squad-based, 5v5 hero shooter where you set the rules of engagement for every new round by activating power-up cards. With its debut at Xbox Games Showcase 2024, FragPunk rocks the hero shooter genre with fast-paced combat and a plethora of synergies and counterplays between over 70 shard cards, 10 heroes, 14 weapons and 4 maps!

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure Brings Back Our Original Star

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (see developer website for other platforms)

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure isn’t just a return for the beloved narrative adventure series, but a return for its original star, Max Caulfield. Several years after we guided her through Arcadia Bay, Double Exposure sees Max return later in her life, now an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Caledon University.

Unfortunately, calamity is never far away – Max’s friend Safi is killed, and we’ll be plunged into a full-on murder-mystery, with a supernatural twist. Max’s original power to rewind time has morphed into the ability to entirely Shift timelines, and we’ll be exploring two parallel realities – one where Safi is safe and well, and the other in the wake of her death – in order to discover the identity of her killer. Life Is Strange: Double Exposure arrives on October 29, and those who pre-order the Ultimate Edition will be able to play the first two chapters from October 15.

Mecha Break Revealed: Create Your Mech and Take It to War Together

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (see developer website for other platforms)

Mecha Break is a multiplayer mech-based shooter that allows players to choose from a variety of mechs, customize their appearances, and battle colossal war machines on treacherous terrain.

Prepare for adrenaline-pumping battles, lightning-fast maneuvers, and explosive firepower. Mecha Break’s Xbox Closed Beta will be coming to Xbox Series X in August 2024, and will be available to all players in 2025. Mecha Break features customizable mechs, player-created mech pilots, a wide array of mech and weapon types, and three distinct game modes — a 6v6 Battlefield mode, 3v3 Arena mode, and up to 60-player PvEvP mode — to put players in the pilot seat and create the ultimate mech showdown experience. Discover an array of attacker, brawler, defender, sniper, and support mechs, each with unique playstyles and toolsets. Players can personalize each mech with custom full-body paint jobs and upgrade attachments, enhancing their stats to suit their chosen playstyle.

For the upcoming August Closed Beta Test on Xbox Series X, the highlight game mode will be the 6v6 Battlefield mode. Work together with your team and engage in intense aerial and ground combat as you fight for the objective.

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Shows Its New Take on a Classic

Xbox Series X|S (see developer website for other platforms)

Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater creates a deeply immersive world with enhanced visuals and sounds, using the full potential of Unreal Engine 5 while keeping legacy controls and voice lines from the original title intact. A new third-person camera and control layout offers players an intuitive introduction to the beginning of the Metal Gear Solid saga as they step into the boots of Snake in a high-stakes, espionage thriller.

Mixtape: Nothing But the Hits – Coming 2025

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, cloud, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

From Beethoven & Dinosaur, award-winning developers of The Artful Escape, comes Mixtape. On their last night of high school, three friends embark on one more adventure together. En route to their final party together, a perfectly-curated playlist draws them into dreamlike reenactments of their formative memories together.

Immerse yourself in the teenage wasteland, playing through a variety of narrative vignettes exploring the pivotal moments that shaped them. The story is delivered through a mixtape of comedic, joyful gameplay, from skateboarding and flying to taking photos after hours at an abandoned theme park, and much more. It’s the greatest hits of teenage friendship, from the first kiss to the last dance. Similar to games like What Remains of Edith Finch, Mixtape ties its narrative to a unique, vignette-driven structure that emphasizes variety, surprise, and comedy in its gameplay.

Featuring music from DEVO, Roxy Music, Lush, The Smashing Pumpkins, Iggy Pop, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, and more. Mixtape effectively blends gameplay, narrative, and music. Join the crew on their last night together as they experience a mixtape of memories, set to the soundtrack of a generation.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl Reveals the Time of Opportunities Trailer

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

The new trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is here. Packed with brand-new reveals, this trailer showcases the array of experiences awaiting players, from locations to encounters with mutants and archanomalies. And hubs! Places to have some well-deserved rest and prepare your body and gear for the next intense mission.

In-game footage is mixed with narrative snippets, highlighting the prominence of the non-linear storyline in S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl. The Time of Opportunities trailer is aptly named, reflecting the boundless potential that awaits within this unforgiving landscape. How will you see the Zone? And how will She remember you?

This time, you’ll hear much more of the Ukrainian voiceover. Being a Ukrainian company, GSC Game World knows that many fans are eager to experience the game in Ukrainian with subtitles of their choice. The trailer is aimed to provide a better understanding of what this experience will feel like. The Time of Opportunities trailer kicks off a series of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 showcases throughout this summer. Please stay tuned for additional announcements.

Winter Burrow Is a Cozy Survival Experience Inspired By a Love of Nature

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

Build your dream burrow and explore a charming, snow-coated open world in Winter Burrow, a cozy woodland survival game. As a tiny mouse, spend your days adventuring through brisk environments as you search for your lost aunty, and collect up resources to restore your childhood burrow.

Winter Burrow merges comfy, cozy game elements with challenging yet approachable survival merchanics. Spend time in your burrow, crafting cute decorations to make your surroundings feel homely, knit cozy clothing to stay warm in the cold weather, and make sure you’re prepared for those big days of foraging in the forests. To stay up to date on all things Winter Burrow, wishlist the game on the Xbox Store and follow Winter Burrow on Twitter.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Revealed – A Journey Into the Darkness of the Late Ming Dynasty

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or play it day one with Game Pass (see developer website for other platforms)

Step into the dark and tumultuous land of Shu in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers. This soulslike action-RPG launches day one on Xbox Series X|S and immerses players in the dark late Ming Dynasty, a period rife with warring factions and a mysterious illness turning humans into monstrous creatures. You are Wuchang, a pirate warrior struck by amnesia and afflicted by Ornithropy, a horrific disease but the source of immense power. As you explore the depths of Shu, you’ll enhance your arsenal, master new skills harvested from fallen foes, and evolve your fighting style by sacrificing Red Mercury.

Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands. Nothing is Forever.

New Updates for Live Games

Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Releases October 8 – Pre-purchase Now and Get In-game Rewards Today

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PC via Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

Prepare yourself for the next chapter of Diablo IV from Blizzard Entertainment: Vessel of Hatred, the game’s first expansion, emerges on October 8.

Unleash the power of the Spiritborn, a new class that harnesses the mystical spirits of the jungle for swift and devastating attacks. The hunt for Neyrelle begins anew as she strives to thwart Mephisto’s sinister plot. Dive into the jungle region of Nahantu, where new Dungeons, Strongholds, and enemies await, along with a new PvE co-op activity where you can team up to take down challenges for promising rewards. Plus, recruit new Mercenaries to aid you in your quest, grow in power as they progress, and help you in combat with their unique abilities.

Embrace the shadows on October 8! Vessel of Hatred is set to redefine your journey through Sanctuary. Pre-purchase now and unlock immediate in-game rewards. The darkness does not rest – neither should you.

The Elder Scrolls Online Invites You to Discover Tamriel in a New Trailer

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Steam, Epic Games Store, cloud, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

Celebrating a decade of adventures within Tamriel’s Second Era, The Elder Scrolls Online invites you to begin your epic story with a new trailer. Whether you’re an Elder Scrolls veteran or a newcomer to the series, you can explore an ever-growing world, party up with your fellow adventures, and discover why over 24 million players have now experienced the award-winning online RPG.

June also features the launch of ESO’s latest Chapter, The Elder Scrolls Online: Gold Road, now available on PC/Mac and coming June 18 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Unravel the mystery of the return of the Forgotten Prince, unlock the Scribing System to create your own abilities, and delve into the region of West Weld, a part of Tamriel not seen since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. Visit elderscrollsonline.com for more on the Gold Road Chapter and the ongoing 10-Year Anniversary Celebration.

Fallout 76 Skyline Valley Release Date Announced With New Trailer

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Steam, cloud, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, or play it day one with Game Pass

In Skyline Valley’s major expansion of the world map, you’ll cross the Savage Divide and travel to the southern reaches of Appalachia. This picturesque new region, Skyline Valley, introduces fresh locations to explore among the woodlands once known as Shenandoah National Park.

Seek out Vault 63 and uncover its mysteries. Learn the truth about the Lost, the electric Ghouls that inhabit the Vault, and their enigmatic overseer, Hugo Stolz. You’ll chase storms in Skyline Valley’s new Public Event, Dangerous Pastimes, and fight new region bosses, a monumental trifecta of Robo-brains. Skyline Valley comes to Fallout 76 on June 12.

Sea of Thieves Season 13 Update: Being Bad Can Sometimes Feel Good

Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Steam, cloud, PlayStation 5, Game Pass

Rare showed off their dark side with a fiery new Sea of Thieves trailer, heralding the return of Captain Flameheart and inviting players to become the boss fight. An all-new world event will pit pirates against Flameheart’s mighty flagship in order to seize it, raining fire on their foes with a skeleton crew at their command and reaping the rewards of their dastardly deeds. This thrilling new encounter is part of Sea of Thieves: Season 13, which arrives on July 25 as a free update for all players on Xbox, PC and PS5.

Starfield Shattered Space Reveal Trailer, Plus Highlights from the June Update

Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam, Game Pass

Deep in the dark reaches of space, the followers of the Great Serpent live shrouded in mystery. Begin an epic new story and explore House Va’ruun territory in Shattered Space, Starfield’s first major expansion. Watch the reveal trailer now and experience the story of House Va’ruun when Shattered Space launches later this year.

In addition to the first look at Shattered Space, highlights from Starfield‘s latest major update were shared immediately following the Xbox Showcase. Official mod support with the launch of Creations, the first new quest DLC with the introduction of Trackers Alliance, new bounty hunting features, and improvements to melee weapons are the highlights of Starfield’s June Update. The June Update is now available on Xbox Series X|S and PC.

The Darkness Calls on August 26 with World of Warcraft: The War Within

PC via Battle.net

Blizzard Entertainment’s 10th World of Warcraft expansion and the opening chapter of the most ambitious story arc in the game’s near 20-year history, The War Within is set to launch on August 26.

This upcoming expansion – the first of three in The Worldsoul Saga – will draw you deep into the mythology of World of Warcraft, weaving narrative threads from the past two decades together in a way that will captivate players both old and new. For a limited time, Blizzard is offering the Welcome to Azeroth Bundle,  which includes everything players need to begin their adventure in Azeroth. The bundle includes the current expansion – the critically acclaimed Dragonflight – a level 60 character boost, and 60 days of game time, for $24.99 USD.

Don’t miss out on this legendary adventure! Join the community today, explore the wonders of Dragon Isles, and prepare yourself for The War Within – pre-purchases are available now through Battle.net.

Hardware Announcements

Three New Xbox Series X|S Console Options Revealed

Three new Xbox Series X|S console options are joining our current lineup, and we’re excited to give players more ways to join gaming with Xbox – it’s the best way to enjoy the diverse experiences crafted by game creators. This holiday, our 1TB Series S in Robot White, an all-digital Xbox Series X, and a 2TB Xbox Series X Special Edition in Galaxy Black will be available in select markets (console assortment will vary by market). Stay tuned for updates in the coming months where we’ll provide information about market availability and regional Estimated Retail Pricing (ERP) when we share pre-order details. To learn more about these new consoles, head on over to the Wire post here. 

With the incredible lineup of games shown at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 and Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 Direct, this is one of the best years ever to upgrade your console or jump into Xbox for the first time. 

The post Xbox Games Showcase 2024: Every Announcement and Reveal appeared first on Xbox Wire.