Zhenzhong Yi, Studio Technical Director, HoYoverse
Summary
Genshin Impactis an open-world adventure game, which will be free-to-play for everyone on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership.
Starting November 20, Genshin Impact on Xbox will receive the same gameplay, cross-play, and cross-progression functions that other players experience.
Wishlist starts today, and Xbox Game Pass members can pre-install today and get in-game rewards with Game Pass Ultimate.
Editor’s Note (August 20): Updated post to clarify that an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is required to play Genshin Impact with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Get ready to start or continue your adventure in the vast magical world of Teyvat – Genshin Impact is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership on November 20! First released in September 2020, Genshin Impact has been creating an evolving, open-world journey across consoles, PC, and mobile. During today’s gamescom Opening Night Live, we were proud to announce our arrival on Xbox this fall!
Starting today, Genshin Impact can now be added to your Xbox Wishlist, and, Xbox Game Pass members can further pre-install the game. For players with Game Pass Ultimate, in-game rewards will be available upon release (more details to be announced at a later date).
Discover a Diverse Fantasy World
In Genshin Impact, your story begins in a fantasy world called Teyvat. As a traveler from another world, you will embark on a journey to reunite with your long-lost sibling and unravel the mysteries of Teyvat, and yourself.
During your adventure, you will visit the seven major nations, each with diverse landscapes, history, people, creatures, mysteries, and gameplay. Starting from August 28, the sixth major nation, Natlan, will be introduced to the game. Roam the towering cliffs and flowing springs in the manner of Natlan’s dragons, and team up with local warriors to discover this Nation of War!
Master the Seven Elements
Teyvat is a fantasy world where the seven elements flow and converge. Elemental Reactions can be triggered by applying certain combinations of elemental effects on a target to deal extra damage or affect your surroundings.
Therefore, mastering the Seven Elements is the key to defeating powerful enemies, solving challenging puzzles, and reaching different destinations while you explore the world.
Meet New Companions
Different characters can be recruited to join your journey, each with unique abilities, personalities, combat styles, and elemental power. You can further discover their background stories as your journey progresses.
So far, over 80 playable characters can be chosen to build your party of four – and more will be joining in the future.
Travel Alone or Battle Together
While Genshin Impact provides immersive single-player storytelling, you can also team up with your friends. Cross-play and cross-progression functions are available for players on Xbox with PlayStation, PC, Android, iOS, and Epic Games Store. To welcome more players from different backgrounds, Genshin Impact now supports 15 Text languages and 4 Voice-Over languages.
Genshin Impact will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership starting November 20. We will share further information later, and we look forward to seeing you in the world of Teyvat!
Genshin Impact is an open-world adventure RPG. In the game, set forth on a journey across a fantasy world called Teyvat. In this vast world, you can explore seven nations, meet a diverse cast of characters with unique personalities and abilities, and fight powerful enemies together with them, all on the way during your quest to find your lost sibling. You can also wander freely, immersing yourself in a world filled with life, and let your sense of wonder lead you to uncover all of its mysteries… Until you are at long last reunited with your lost sibling and bear witness to the culmination of all things at the end of your journey.
From the moment you step into the colorful, enchanting world of Towerborne, it’s clear to see that having fun is the name of the game here. The approachability of the brawler-inspired combat system, the light-hearted dialogue between characters situated in the Belfry – Towerborne invites you to pick up a controller and revel in the world, regardless of how much time or experience you have., regardless of how much time or experience you have.
The better news is that there’s not too long to wait. Towerborne starts in Steam Early Access on September 10. For the furrowed-browed among you, don’t fret; Towerborne will have a phased release starting with Steam Early Access, Xbox Game Preview following, and a full free-to-play launch planned for 2025. Towerborne will also include cross-progression, so your progress will carry over to whichever platform you prefer to play on. Stoic is eager to have players help shape the future of Towerborne by becoming Founders through purchase of either the Silver or Gold Towerborne Founder’s Pack, offering early access to the game and exclusive perks like cosmetics, emotes, and monthly bonuses.
Stoic, known primarily as the maker of Banner Saga, is also more than ready for a change – Towerborne is a seismic and very welcome pivot from its flagship series, which Game Director Daniel McLaren jovially refers to as a “depression simulator.”
“There was some emotional exhaustion at the end of the last Banner Saga game,” McLaren says. “When you write and build something like that for so many years, there’s a huge weight on your shoulders. There was a very real moment where the team sat down and said: ‘I don’t think we can do another one’.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if we made a game that was completely the opposite of [Banner Saga], something fun that we can play on the couch with our friends and family?”
The vibrant, whimsical setting paired with simple but satisfying side-scrolling action makes Towerborne approachable for everyone. Towerborne is intentionally designed to be both accessible and rewarding at any skill level – while simultaneously delivering demanding challenges for those aiming to conquer the game’s toughest content. It doesn’t matter which way you play either – everybody receives the same rewards for taking part.
Choosing Early Access
Banner Saga began as a Kickstarter, and that constant communication with early backers was paramount to the direction that Stoic took with the game’s development.
“Stoic’s history has always been about interacting with our players, and Kickstarter is the promise of something,” McLaren says. “For Stoic, that worked out very well, and now we’re able to say hey, you don’t have to wait for us this time, we can give you a game right now.”
With Early Access, the studio can continue that tradition of building a game with consistent input from players invested in Towerborne‘s journey from the start. As a result, Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass players will immediately feel the benefit of the refinement Towerborne will undergo during the Early Access period and beyond. When Towerborne enters Xbox Game Preview, it will open the floodgates to even more players across these platforms, allowing their feedback to further shape the game’s development.
“It starts with our Founders – players who’ve self-selected to get a first pass at helping us shape the full game,” says Trisha Stouffer, CEO and President of Stoic. “After Steam Early Access, with Xbox Game Preview next and eventually Free-to-Play with the full launch, the gates are thrown so wide for anyone to come in, which makes it harder to discern what is noise versus actionable feedback. So, our goal with Early Access is to position ourselves so the game is stable and feels great to play before we open up to a wider audience.”
Xbox is also wholeheartedly supportive of Stoic’s historic approach to Early Access and working with players directly from the start.
“We all have the same goal – to create a game that people love for a long time,” says Kristofor Mellroth, Executive Producer at Xbox Games Studios Publishing. “From the start, we knew our approach with Towerborne was going to be a little different. By being very targeted at the start and building up to bigger audiences, this allows the team to continue iterating and honing the most complex systems to make them the most fun they can be.”
Free To Play
While Towerborne’s Early Access and Xbox Game Preview periods will grant the team precious time and feedback to build the best release possible, making the full-game free for anyone felt important to Towerborne’s overarching goal of complete approachability.
“The Founder’s pack lets us do two main things: one is that we can slowly see where problems are and get attention onto those areas quickly,” McLaren explains. “The second thing, it invites a group of people that are really invested in the game, that believe in Stoic. They want to be a part of shaping the future of Towerborne.”
The Free-To-Play approach shone brightly through Banner Saga: Factions, a free-to-play spinoff of the main series released in 2013. The idea was to allow players to come in for free and experience the combat elements of Banner Saga ahead of its launch, and Stoic was thrilled with how the process allowed as many people as possible to come in and help shape the game.
“They were helping us building our combat and just making the game better in general, everyday we’d get feedback and do updates, I must have spent three hours a day just talking to the community,” say Arnie Jorgensen, Stoic co-founder. “We really missed that aspect after going back to working on a single player game, so we’re excited to bring it back.”
A Second Game
It’s fair to say that the currency a lot of modern games demand is your time above all else. While Towerborne’s enticing gameplay loop and limitless progression certainly allows you to spend as much time as you want in its world, Stoic, in a refreshing fashion, is pushing back on design elements that keep a player rooted to just one game. Towerborne can be your main game, but it can also be your second game that you can just jump into whenever the mood strikes, with minimal friction.
“You don’t have to invest hundreds of hours every month to keep up with everybody else,” Jorgensen says. “Play as much as you want to, go away and play other games, and then come back. It’s important to acknowledge that everyone plays games differently. You can play for five or ten minutes and still feel like you accomplished something great, or you can play for five hours.”
Stouffer adds: “It really is the manifestation of ‘just one more mission.”
A Living, Breathing Belfry
Towerborne is a living game – which means the team will continue to develop the story, add new content and build out its world for as long as they can. As you progress, the world will evolve with your character, and this approach lends itself seamlessly to crafting an expansive, immersive backdrop to the fun you’re having as a player.
“We have a freedom with an ongoing game that feels unattainable inside a single player experience,” McLaren says. “There’s this incredible worldbuilding going on, and if we want to add in new stories, new weapons or classes, we’re able to just focus solely on doing that and getting it into the game quickly.”
Getting that second perspective is also crucial when it comes to seeing what your game can do. Oftentimes, a new set of eyes can be a great asset in scoping for bugs, sparking new ideas, and making an entire team say: “why didn’t we think of that?”
“Players love to push the boundaries, and that’s part of the fun of it all,” Stouffer says. “You have an idea of what players are going to do, but you don’t truly know what will happen until you put it in people’s hands. Even the players who come in with the best intentions, they will do things where we say ‘oh, we didn’t know that could happen’. All bets are off.”
It’s not just technical feedback that Stoic wants to gather from early players either. Stoic has recognized its community’s eye for great storytelling and ideas, and considers players almost as co-developers in its journey to build Towerborne.
“We have ideas of where the story is going, but we’re totally willing to pivot if another idea comes from the community,” Jorgensen says. “We had that happen a lot with Banner Saga, where we’d see a great idea but it’s too late to add it into a single player game.”
“This is our opportunity to really build a game with the players again. We think our ideas are great and hope that players agree, but they are going to have awesome ideas too, and to me, that’s the coolest part about making Towerborne a living game.”
It’s Still Stoic
Stoic is cognizant of the fact that Towerborne is a big change from Banner Saga, and the studio is by no means finished with that series. However, the team made a very deliberate decision to create an exciting multiplayer experience that invites everyone to sit down and have a great time.
“Anyone that has been following Stoic for a long time knows we’re making the games that we want to make – that doesn’t mean we’re going to make the same game all the time,” Jorgensen says.
The commitment to fun is notably present throughout our conversation – the team itself is clearly enjoying building Towerborne and that enthusiasm will no doubt shine through the game.
“We know some people will need time to process the change, and that’s totally okay,” McLaren adds. “We’re still the same studio, we’re just applying that passion and focus in a different way, and recharging our creative juices.”
Towerborne begins Steam Early Access on September 10. To keep up to date with the game’s journey, check out the Towerborne website and join the official Discord community for more information about Early Access Founder’s Packs.
The Belfry stands as a beacon of hope and safety amongst the ruins of humanity and the City of Numbers, with monsters lurking right outside the tower’s walls. You are an Ace, born anew from the spirit realm with the skills, the grit, and the determination to protect the people of the Belfry. With spirit companions fighting by your side, you are destined for battle.
Can you become the Ace humanity needs to survive? Find out in Towerborne, the newest action-adventure game created by Stoic, the studio that brought you the award-winning Banner Saga trilogy.
Adventure Together – Venture out of The Belfry solo or with up to three other Aces* to vanquish the looming terror that surrounds the tower. Either way, you won’t be alone. Aces can recruit Umbra companions to join them in battle, gaining access to enhanced skills and unique abilities tied to each spirit. After fighting your way through enemies, return to The Belfry to turn in quests, reforge gear, and more.
Brave the Wilds – Towerborne is designed with player choice in mind. Create your Ace with options to customize your looks, gear and weapons. Switch up your overall gameplay experience at any time by changing your danger level as you venture into the wilds. Find and wield powerful weapons with unique special moves from one of four styles: War Clubs, Gauntlets, Dual Daggers, and Swords & Shields. Mix and match to make your Ace your own!
Continue the Fight – With an evolving world map and seasonal content, your Ace will never run out of areas to explore and enemies to defeat. Seasons of Towerborne continue the story of The Belfry by introducing new enemies to battle, regions to discover, abilities to master, and lore to uncover (available as released).
*Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass Core (subscriptions sold separately).
At the Xbox Games Showcase earlier this year, fans of 2002’s Age of Mythology came out of the woodwork in droves (us included) to express their excitement for the upcoming remake – Age of Mythology: Retold. The original game is now over 20 years old, and while it’s remained at the forefront of fans’ minds, it’s perhaps less remembered than the Age of Empires series from which it sprung.
Now, however, Retold is one of the most anticipated releases of the season – and that comes, in part, because developer World’s Edge is going beyond the expected, even for a full remake. This isn’t just the game that we all remember with a fresh coat of paint – it’s bringing brand new game modes, tweaks to classic units, and even brand-new playable factions down the road. Age of Mythology: Retold isn’t just for long-time fans, it’s an RTS for everyone.
Ahead of Gamescom, we had the chance to speak with Kristen Pirillo, Senior Game Designer at World’s Edge to uncover why the studio and its partners are poised to deliver a much-anticipated – and incredibly comprehensive – refresh of a classic that could otherwise have been destined to be remembered only by a select few.
While Age of Mythology has been left alone for over two decades, Pirillo shares that there’s a smaller, but deeply passionate community of players still actively invested in the game: “This interest sets Age of Mythology apart from a lot of other games. It may be the least talked about, but it also has the highest brainworm potential.
“The Age of Mythology crowd is just particularly passionate and incredibly inventive – it was just a matter of waiting for the right time, and using all of the learnings from other Age titles.”
Age of Mythology: Retold, at its heart, aims to be the game that these fans have been asking for – a faithful recreation of the original, with all the quality-of-life changes that modern development can offer. Retold called for an ambitious vision – the team really wanted to lean into the larger-than-life elements of huge mythological armies, monsters, and bombastic God Powers in a way that were previously limited by the tech of the time.
This is immediately evident in the game’s visual design, especially when comparing unit models from the original game to their shiny new versions in Retold. The art team had a strong vision of what the game should look like – epic proportions, atmospheric worlds, and of course, horrible monsters. Pirillo describes this process using the Argus as an example, an Atlantean monster unit.
“In Age of Mythology, it’s just a rough sphere with some tentacles, but in Retold, we can do so much more,” Pirillo shares. “Now it’s got a ton of eyeballs that all move independently, it slithers around, and it’s just kind of gross. But the idea is we want to amp everything up and really maximize the mythology.”
Aside from straightforward improvements, Retold also brings significant changes to the original – never clearer than in the use of God Powers. God Powers in the original game are extremely powerful abilities that can only be used once per battle, whether it’s to immediately nuke an enemy from existence or significantly boost your resources. The issue was that they were so powerful, that players often saved them up, and ended up never using them at all. In Retold, these powers are now reusable, more reminiscent of Ultimate abilities in a hero shooter, changing the stakes of a match while letting you indulge.
And the core to all of the team’s work, while it seems obvious, is that modern technology just allows you to have more of absolutely everything at one time. More units, more monsters, more God powers exploding across the map; Age of Mythology: Retold can support the carnage that players have always wanted to unleash.
“One change that is huge for me is the increased population cap, so you can have absolutely massive armies,” Pirillo adds. “These armies can be made up of lots of different types of units. Some armies can just be monsters, and that’s just not something that the original game could handle. Even if you don’t win, it’s extremely satisfying to watch.”
Approachable Changes
The benefit of 20 years of feedback from such an invested community is that changes can be made to accommodate every type of player for the better. For instance, in the original Age of Mythology, the Norse faction was considered to have a higher bar to entry, and this is something that the team wanted to tweak for Retold to make the faction more approachable for everyone.
“We’ve added more content within the base game for the Norse, new units and buildings, and a lot of the existing things have been rebalanced,” Pirillo says. “It’s also much less punishing if you make a mistake.”
There’s also a new God Pack coming with the premium edition of Age of Mythology: Retold – the Freyr God Pack, which will unlock a major God and several minor Gods, giving players even more avenues to get started with the Norse adventure.
“You’re not locked into one play style if you play as the Norse now,” Pirillo adds. “You’re not stuck just playing offensively or following one build order – there’s a lot more variability on how the match can go, and so many more branches of strategy.”
There’s also now a villager priority system, so if you’d prefer to not have to keep checking on the nitty gritty parts of economy management and focus entirely on the battles and the story, you can set that to run automatically. When Pirillo shares that Age of Mythology has been built with the community, it is meant quite literally. The team sifted through 20 years of feedback shared about the game, trawling old school internet forums to find common frustrations that could be tweaked, as well as creative suggestions from those early days of play that may not have been easily implemented back in 2002.
“Our designers really did their homework, and lots of them are fans of the original game too,” Pirillo says. “It feels like being Indiana Jones, going back to archaeological levels of the internet to find what was good or back then, and bringing it into Retold.”
Age of Mythology: Retold is set to be a welcome and well-planned homecoming for those long-time fans, but it’s also going to be a great starting point for those that have never played the original game too. What’s even better, is that the game will continue to evolve as long as there’s still exciting mythology to add, and as Pirillo notes, there’s about two millenniums worth of it to tap into.
“You don’t have to be good at RTS to enjoy the story,” Pirillo says. “You don’t have to be good at RTS to just enjoy the carnal satisfaction of building 25 huge Stag Beetles and storming through your friend’s town. It’s whimsical fun that anyone will enjoy.”
From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history to a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide. Combining the best elements of the beloved Age of Mythology with modern real-time strategy design and visuals, Retold is an epic and innovative experience for old and new players alike. Secure your domain, command legendary monsters, and call upon the power of the gods to crush your enemies.
Will you become Mythic?
Call Upon the Gods
Choose your gods from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean pantheons. Devastate your enemies by summoning powerful lightning storms, earth-shattering quakes, and even the famed Nidhogg dragon. Or call upon nourishing rains and protective Dryads to help your people grow & prosper.
Unleash the Monsters
Unleash Centaurs, Trolls, Mummies, and more. From bejeweled crocodiles who harness the power of the sun to the mighty one-eyed Cyclops, you will command diverse units inspired by the world’s great mythologies.
An Epic Mythological Universe
Embark on multiple campaigns spanning 50-missions that take you across a vast, mythical world: besiege the mighty walls of Troy, battle Giants in the frozen wastes of Midgard, and discover the mysteries of Osiris in the shifting sands of Egypt. Become a hero of myth—or even a god.
Better with Friends
Play with your friends, either head-to-head or against the advanced AI on dozens of randomly generated maps and scenarios for limitless re-playability. *
*Exclusive Premium benefits of 7 days Advanced Access and New Gods Pack available with Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade. New Gods Pack is a timed exclusive; may be available with future offers. Purchase the Premium Edition or the Premium Upgrade by August 27, 2024, for 7-days advanced access. Expansions 1 and 2 are available as released. See AgeofEmpires.com for details.
* Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Core (sold separately).
THQ Nordic 2024 Digital Showcase – Check Out All the Reveals Coming to Xbox
Tom Moore, Marketing Manager THQ Nordic
At THQ Nordic, we think of ourselves as a true variety publisher. No matter what kind of gamer you are, there’s a home for you in one of our digital worlds.
For our 2024 Digital Showcase we wanted to demonstrate exactly that, with games including a remake of a beloved Disney classic, a new IP from a team of horror legends, an adrenaline-fuelled wreck racer, and much more. Here’s what is coming to Xbox.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
This year’s stream opened with a new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police.
Navigate a mysterious archipelago as Goldman, realized in expertly-crafted 2D animation, every frame bursting with the passion injected by devs creating the game they have always wanted to make.
Weappy have put player freedom and a sense of wonder at the core of their design philosophy, rewarding players for exploring the archipelago’s many hidden nooks and crannies. Platforming sections pose a challenge, but a fair one – focused on helping you find the solution that works for you through experimentation.
We’ll have more news on The Eternal Life of Goldman to share before the year is out – until then, make sure to wishlist the game on Xbox to be among the first to receive updates.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
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 will be in your hands.
Use paint and thinner to restore harmony to a mysterious world and uncover its secrets in classic 3D platformer action, spending time with beloved characters and exploring side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.
Whether you first journeyed to Wasteland fourteen years ago or it’s your first time taking up the brush, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is unmissable for any Disney fan. We can’t wait for you to join us on this adventure later in the year.
Wreckfest 2
Customize your ride and take your own personal wrecking machine online in a range of events designed for maximum vehicular mayhem! With never-before-seen damage modelling fidelity thanks to the power of Xbox Series consoles, you’ll leave every event with your car’s bodywork telling its own story.
The team at Bugbear Entertainment are devoting themselves to giving you the freedom to wreck how you want – whether it’s trading paint with other speed demons in a traditional race, bombing through obstacle courses, or settling scores in a classic destruction derby grudge match.
Keep the engine running, we’ll be back with more on Wreckfest 2 soon.
Titan Quest II
When we announced Titan Quest II a year ago, the support we received from the community was incredible, with the reveal trailer quickly becoming one of our most watched ever. We want to thank all of you who have expressed your excitement for the long-awaited sequel to the original mythological ARPG by taking you on the next step in Titan Quest II’s journey to release – our debut gameplay trailer.
In today’s broadcast, we gave ARPG fans their first glimpse of what awaits in the gorgeous Ancient Greek landscapes of Titan Quest II, and the legendary powers you’ll use to fight your way through Nemesis’ vengeful hordes. The team at Grimlore Games are hard at work crafting a world that feels rewarding to explore, with adversaries waiting around every corner, ready to drop meaningful loot that can completely alter your playstyle.
Your hero in Titan Quest II should feel personal to you, with deep customization at the heart of the experience – from how your hero looks, through to their own unique choice from thousands of different skill and equipment combinations. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or you team up with friends online to weave your legend together, Titan Quest II will take you on an odyssey unlike any other, offering a fresh experience for ARPG veterans and newcomers alike.
Gothic 1 Remake
Since our reveal back in 2020, the support for Alkimia Interactive’s Gothic 1 Remake has been nothing short of amazing. Seeing that not just die-hard Gothic fans, but also RPG players as a whole are excited for Gothic’s return has been the best motivation for the team.
Today, we showed you how Alkimia are crafting a world that feels like it extends far beyond the player, with a fully realized ecosystem and influential groups warring for control of the land.
Gothic 1 Remake will feel familiar to longtime fans, but some crucial updates have been made to harness the power of new gen consoles. Gameplay and visuals have been overhauled, with deeper progression and crafting systems, as well as varied NPC routines and interactions.
No matter which camp you lend your allegiance to – the ore-rich Old Camp, the plotting New Camp, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper, who swear fealty to a strange new deity – the mysterious, unforgiving world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be ready to explore.
Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve
As with last year, the THQ Nordic Showcase marks release day for the latest DLC for Way of the Hunter, this time taking the hunt to the Scandinavian wilderness.
Venture to Lintukoto Reserve, a fictionalized vision of tranquil forests glowing with magical moonlight, vast meadows bustling with wildlife, and snow-dusted hills. A range of new endemic wildlife populates the beautiful scenery – lynxes, arctic foxes, and many others each with their own range of unique behaviors.
The team at Nine Rocks have spent months meticulously sculpting every inch of this new DLC – we can’t wait to welcome you to Lintukoto Reserve, out now!
A New Tale From Tarsier Studios
They’re coming.
A new vision of horror from the team behind Little Nightmares I & II.
Want to know more? Tune in to Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.
It wouldn’t be our yearly showcase without one last tantalizing reveal…
The Future of Darksiders
The foreboding rumble of caverns eons old. Embers swirl through the air, cast up from pools of bubbling lava.
Three enormous heads, hewn from otherworldly stone suddenly burst into life with mystical flame. The Charred Council roar a single word in unison: HORSEMAN.
It won’t be long until we reveal more about where the Darksiders series is going next, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.
That concludes our wrap-up for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From the whole team at THQ Nordic and our dev partners – thank you all so much for your passionate support over the last year. We hope to see you soon in one of our digital worlds!
Apex Legends: Shockwave Arrives August 6 – With New Map E-District, Automatic Respawns, Loot Refreshes and More
Summary
New map: E-District brings vibrant cyberpunk flair and densely populated points of interest to encourage movement and close-range fights
Akimbo is coming! Legends can dual-wield the P2020 and Mozambique weapons
Gameplay changes include new Revival system, new gold and mythic bins, tweaks to ammo and magazine stack sizes and more
Season 22 of Apex Legends is almost here, and promises a ‘shocking’ shake-up to the high-octane battle royale. Numerous tweaks to gameplay are coming across all modes, and updates to playable Legends and more await on the horizon. But first, let’s get a look at the sixth map coming to Apex Legends in Shockwave: E-District.
During a recent Shockwave preview event, Apex Legends World Director Ed Agostini described E-District as an “urban playground that’s a culmination of five years of learning,” and shared that it’s the most densely populated map to date. The design of E-District places emphasis on freedom of movement, packed with multi-layered architecture, and the introduction of new Gravity Cannons, which can launch Legends high up into the air or across large distances.
Lots of points of interest are designed with close quarters combat in mind, including the tight, winding alleys of Street Market, the ultra-vibrant Neon Square, inspired by Shibuya Center in Tokyo, and the Neon Oval Raceway, an old racetrack converted into makeshift residential spots perfect for chaotic indoor shootouts. The entire map is coated in gorgeous post-Cyberpunk inspiration, and it’ll be in heavy rotation for the first split of the season so players can explore it fully.
E-District Street Market
E-District Neon Square
E-District Neon Oval Raceway
New Revival Feature and Battle Sense Rollout
Josh Mohan, Associate Design Director on Apex Legends, shares Respawn has also been assessing changes that will benefit newcomers and more casual players to foster an environment where everyone can learn and have fun regardless of their skill level. One major change promising to change-up the meta is the Revival feature, which provides another way for defeated players to get back into the match with ease.
When a player is eliminated, a respawn timer will kick in, and when the timer hits zero, that teammate will automatically respawn near their surviving teammates without the need for a Respawn Beacon. Surviving squad mates can even speed up the return of their fallen Legends by getting knocks and kills for an even faster return to the fray.
Mohan shares that the addition of Revival is to “shake-up the core combat loop of Apex,” and create more opportunities for players to get into and stay in the action. It also encourages more players to take risks which results in more fun, dynamic situations during matches.
One other change will see the Battle Sense feature, initially created to help players navigate the battlefield in solo mode, roll into the team-based battle royale mode in Shockwave. The benefits of this mode include visibility of enemy health bars, as well as highlighted attackers at close range.
Bin Day
Shockwave will also introduce new ways for Legends to gather up loot during a match. Mid-way through a game, all open loot bins on the map will close back up and reroll fresh loot for passing players. This not only provides new opportunities to stock up or change items, but also takes away environmental clues that a team has looted the area before you, which is interesting.
Two brand new bins will also offer opportunities for Legends to grab those high-end loadouts and attachments. A few gold bins, containing better loot and items (including gold attachments) will randomly appear in the place of regular bins, while one mythic bin somewhere on the map is guaranteed to contain Evo for your shield, a gold weapon, or a mythic weapon found in care package drops. Be mindful though, every team can see the location of the mythic bin, which is sure to cause some squabbles over the coveted items inside.
Guns Akimbo
If like me you’re into dual-wielding, you’re going to feel right at home with Shockwave’s new Akimbo update, which allows Legends to carry and fire two P2020 pistols or Mozambique shotguns in combat.
However, wielding two guns won’t mean endless looting to kit them out – the second gun is essentially a mirror of the one in your equipment, including all of its attachments. While in Akimbo, both guns are also fully automatic with improved hip fire for ease in those scrappy close-up fights.
Light Machine Guns are also receiving a little love this season with the Gun Shield Generator hop-up, which gives you a small shield in your sights. It won’t save you from those aggressive flanks, but will absorb precious damage if you’re being attacked head-on.
Battle Pass and New Cosmetics
Of course, every season comes equipped with a new Battle Pass full of treats – new Legendary skins for Legends and weapons, as well as Exotic Shards, but Shockwave is making it a little more attainable for players. Battle Passes are now shorter, and you’ll get two throughout Shockwave’s duration – one at the start of the season on August 6 and another at the seasonal split. You’ll also be able to unlock the premium Battle Pass for free, just by completing in-game challenges – so save up those Apex Coins!
All of this and more is heading to Apex Legends: Shockwave, launching on August 6. Hop in for free on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. For more updates on Shockwave’s new content, head to the official Apex Legends website.
Unleash your inner superstar, join a bullet-riddled quest, or become the ultimate hunter with Free Play Days! WWE 2K24, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, and Way of the Hunter are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday August 1 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, August 4 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
WWE 2K24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals in WWE 2K24, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Step into the versatile landscapes and environments of Gun Gale Online. In Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, players can experience an original story that unfolds and changes based on the players’ choices and interaction. Play as the protagonist, battle against opponents using new weapons and further customize gameplay by creating skills and abilities.
Fans of the franchise will also get a chance to unlock special items in the upcoming Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream when you have save data from Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet and own Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream. Full dive into Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet!
Way of the Hunter Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Become the new owner of a hunting lodge nestled among gorgeous habitats and rich animal populations. Explore vast open world environments and hunt with a premium selection of firearms. Enjoy the perfect hunt on your own or with friends in co-op.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
THQ Nordic 2024 Digital Showcase – Check Out All the Reveals Coming to Xbox
Tom Moore, Marketing Manager THQ Nordic
At THQ Nordic, we think of ourselves as a true variety publisher. No matter what kind of gamer you are, there’s a home for you in one of our digital worlds.
For our 2024 Digital Showcase we wanted to demonstrate exactly that, with games including a remake of a beloved Disney classic, a new IP from a team of horror legends, an adrenaline-fuelled wreck racer, and much more. Here’s what is coming to Xbox.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
This year’s stream opened with a new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police.
Navigate a mysterious archipelago as Goldman, realized in expertly-crafted 2D animation, every frame bursting with the passion injected by devs creating the game they have always wanted to make.
Weappy have put player freedom and a sense of wonder at the core of their design philosophy, rewarding players for exploring the archipelago’s many hidden nooks and crannies. Platforming sections pose a challenge, but a fair one – focused on helping you find the solution that works for you through experimentation.
We’ll have more news on The Eternal Life of Goldman to share before the year is out – until then, make sure to wishlist the game on Xbox to be among the first to receive updates.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
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 will be in your hands.
Use paint and thinner to restore harmony to a mysterious world and uncover its secrets in classic 3D platformer action, spending time with beloved characters and exploring side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.
Whether you first journeyed to Wasteland fourteen years ago or it’s your first time taking up the brush, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is unmissable for any Disney fan. We can’t wait for you to join us on this adventure later in the year.
Wreckfest 2
Customize your ride and take your own personal wrecking machine online in a range of events designed for maximum vehicular mayhem! With never-before-seen damage modelling fidelity thanks to the power of Xbox Series consoles, you’ll leave every event with your car’s bodywork telling its own story.
The team at Bugbear Entertainment are devoting themselves to giving you the freedom to wreck how you want – whether it’s trading paint with other speed demons in a traditional race, bombing through obstacle courses, or settling scores in a classic destruction derby grudge match.
Keep the engine running, we’ll be back with more on Wreckfest 2 soon.
Titan Quest II
When we announced Titan Quest II a year ago, the support we received from the community was incredible, with the reveal trailer quickly becoming one of our most watched ever. We want to thank all of you who have expressed your excitement for the long-awaited sequel to the original mythological ARPG by taking you on the next step in Titan Quest II’s journey to release – our debut gameplay trailer.
In today’s broadcast, we gave ARPG fans their first glimpse of what awaits in the gorgeous Ancient Greek landscapes of Titan Quest II, and the legendary powers you’ll use to fight your way through Nemesis’ vengeful hordes. The team at Grimlore Games are hard at work crafting a world that feels rewarding to explore, with adversaries waiting around every corner, ready to drop meaningful loot that can completely alter your playstyle.
Your hero in Titan Quest II should feel personal to you, with deep customization at the heart of the experience – from how your hero looks, through to their own unique choice from thousands of different skill and equipment combinations. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or you team up with friends online to weave your legend together, Titan Quest II will take you on an odyssey unlike any other, offering a fresh experience for ARPG veterans and newcomers alike.
Gothic 1 Remake
Since our reveal back in 2020, the support for Alkimia Interactive’s Gothic 1 Remake has been nothing short of amazing. Seeing that not just die-hard Gothic fans, but also RPG players as a whole are excited for Gothic’s return has been the best motivation for the team.
Today, we showed you how Alkimia are crafting a world that feels like it extends far beyond the player, with a fully realized ecosystem and influential groups warring for control of the land.
Gothic 1 Remake will feel familiar to longtime fans, but some crucial updates have been made to harness the power of new gen consoles. Gameplay and visuals have been overhauled, with deeper progression and crafting systems, as well as varied NPC routines and interactions.
No matter which camp you lend your allegiance to – the ore-rich Old Camp, the plotting New Camp, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper, who swear fealty to a strange new deity – the mysterious, unforgiving world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be ready to explore.
Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve
As with last year, the THQ Nordic Showcase marks release day for the latest DLC for Way of the Hunter, this time taking the hunt to the Scandinavian wilderness.
Venture to Lintukoto Reserve, a fictionalized vision of tranquil forests glowing with magical moonlight, vast meadows bustling with wildlife, and snow-dusted hills. A range of new endemic wildlife populates the beautiful scenery – lynxes, arctic foxes, and many others each with their own range of unique behaviors.
The team at Nine Rocks have spent months meticulously sculpting every inch of this new DLC – we can’t wait to welcome you to Lintukoto Reserve, out now!
A New Tale From Tarsier Studios
They’re coming.
A new vision of horror from the team behind Little Nightmares I & II.
Want to know more? Tune in to Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.
It wouldn’t be our yearly showcase without one last tantalizing reveal…
The Future of Darksiders
The foreboding rumble of caverns eons old. Embers swirl through the air, cast up from pools of bubbling lava.
Three enormous heads, hewn from otherworldly stone suddenly burst into life with mystical flame. The Charred Council roar a single word in unison: HORSEMAN.
It won’t be long until we reveal more about where the Darksiders series is going next, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.
That concludes our wrap-up for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From the whole team at THQ Nordic and our dev partners – thank you all so much for your passionate support over the last year. We hope to see you soon in one of our digital worlds!
Apex Legends: Shockwave Arrives August 6 – With New Map E-District, Automatic Respawns, Loot Refreshes and More
Summary
New map: E-District brings vibrant cyberpunk flair and densely populated points of interest to encourage movement and close-range fights
Akimbo is coming! Legends can dual-wield the P2020 and Mozambique weapons
Gameplay changes include new Revival system, new gold and mythic bins, tweaks to ammo and magazine stack sizes and more
Season 22 of Apex Legends is almost here, and promises a ‘shocking’ shake-up to the high-octane battle royale. Numerous tweaks to gameplay are coming across all modes, and updates to playable Legends and more await on the horizon. But first, let’s get a look at the sixth map coming to Apex Legends in Shockwave: E-District.
During a recent Shockwave preview event, Apex Legends World Director Ed Agostini described E-District as an “urban playground that’s a culmination of five years of learning,” and shared that it’s the most densely populated map to date. The design of E-District places emphasis on freedom of movement, packed with multi-layered architecture, and the introduction of new Gravity Cannons, which can launch Legends high up into the air or across large distances.
Lots of points of interest are designed with close quarters combat in mind, including the tight, winding alleys of Street Market, the ultra-vibrant Neon Square, inspired by Shibuya Center in Tokyo, and the Neon Oval Raceway, an old racetrack converted into makeshift residential spots perfect for chaotic indoor shootouts. The entire map is coated in gorgeous post-Cyberpunk inspiration, and it’ll be in heavy rotation for the first split of the season so players can explore it fully.
E-District Street Market
E-District Neon Square
E-District Neon Oval Raceway
New Revival Feature and Battle Sense Rollout
Josh Mohan, Associate Design Director on Apex Legends, shares Respawn has also been assessing changes that will benefit newcomers and more casual players to foster an environment where everyone can learn and have fun regardless of their skill level. One major change promising to change-up the meta is the Revival feature, which provides another way for defeated players to get back into the match with ease.
When a player is eliminated, a respawn timer will kick in, and when the timer hits zero, that teammate will automatically respawn near their surviving teammates without the need for a Respawn Beacon. Surviving squad mates can even speed up the return of their fallen Legends by getting knocks and kills for an even faster return to the fray.
Mohan shares that the addition of Revival is to “shake-up the core combat loop of Apex,” and create more opportunities for players to get into and stay in the action. It also encourages more players to take risks which results in more fun, dynamic situations during matches.
One other change will see the Battle Sense feature, initially created to help players navigate the battlefield in solo mode, roll into the team-based battle royale mode in Shockwave. The benefits of this mode include visibility of enemy health bars, as well as highlighted attackers at close range.
Bin Day
Shockwave will also introduce new ways for Legends to gather up loot during a match. Mid-way through a game, all open loot bins on the map will close back up and reroll fresh loot for passing players. This not only provides new opportunities to stock up or change items, but also takes away environmental clues that a team has looted the area before you, which is interesting.
Two brand new bins will also offer opportunities for Legends to grab those high-end loadouts and attachments. A few gold bins, containing better loot and items (including gold attachments) will randomly appear in the place of regular bins, while one mythic bin somewhere on the map is guaranteed to contain Evo for your shield, a gold weapon, or a mythic weapon found in care package drops. Be mindful though, every team can see the location of the mythic bin, which is sure to cause some squabbles over the coveted items inside.
Guns Akimbo
If like me you’re into dual-wielding, you’re going to feel right at home with Shockwave’s new Akimbo update, which allows Legends to carry and fire two P2020 pistols or Mozambique shotguns in combat.
However, wielding two guns won’t mean endless looting to kit them out – the second gun is essentially a mirror of the one in your equipment, including all of its attachments. While in Akimbo, both guns are also fully automatic with improved hip fire for ease in those scrappy close-up fights.
Light Machine Guns are also receiving a little love this season with the Gun Shield Generator hop-up, which gives you a small shield in your sights. It won’t save you from those aggressive flanks, but will absorb precious damage if you’re being attacked head-on.
Battle Pass and New Cosmetics
Of course, every season comes equipped with a new Battle Pass full of treats – new Legendary skins for Legends and weapons, as well as Exotic Shards, but Shockwave is making it a little more attainable for players. Battle Passes are now shorter, and you’ll get two throughout Shockwave’s duration – one at the start of the season on August 6 and another at the seasonal split. You’ll also be able to unlock the premium Battle Pass for free, just by completing in-game challenges – so save up those Apex Coins!
All of this and more is heading to Apex Legends: Shockwave, launching on August 6. Hop in for free on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. For more updates on Shockwave’s new content, head to the official Apex Legends website.
Unleash your inner superstar, join a bullet-riddled quest, or become the ultimate hunter with Free Play Days! WWE 2K24, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, and Way of the Hunter are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday August 1 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, August 4 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
WWE 2K24 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals in WWE 2K24, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Step into the versatile landscapes and environments of Gun Gale Online. In Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, players can experience an original story that unfolds and changes based on the players’ choices and interaction. Play as the protagonist, battle against opponents using new weapons and further customize gameplay by creating skills and abilities.
Fans of the franchise will also get a chance to unlock special items in the upcoming Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream when you have save data from Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet and own Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream. Full dive into Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet!
Way of the Hunter Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Become the new owner of a hunting lodge nestled among gorgeous habitats and rich animal populations. Explore vast open world environments and hunt with a premium selection of firearms. Enjoy the perfect hunt on your own or with friends in co-op.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Arrives on July 18 – Learn More About the (Literally) Explosive Souls-lite
Simon Dasan, Creative Director, A44 Games
Hi, I’m Simon Dasan, Creative Director at A44. For those of you who don’t know us, we’re an indie studio from New Zealand and released our first game, Ashen, back in 2018. I’m excited to say we’ve announced the release date for our upcoming explosive souls-lite adventure, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. Mark your calendars, because your journey begins on July 18, 2024! Flintlock is coming to Xbox Series X|S with pre-orders available now and will also be available at launch for anyone with Game Pass.
Flintlock is a thrilling action-RPG that takes the knowledge and experience we gained from Ashen and elevates it. While it retains elements of the Souls genre, it infuses it with rapid mobility, creating a rhythmic combat dance reminiscent of more action-oriented gameplay styles. You can weave in flintlock weapons, axe combat and magic to chain combos together, while using jumps and dodge abilities to quickly get to safety or rain attacks down on your enemies from above. It’s a style we like to call Souls-lite!
The story of Flintlock is set in the world of Kian, 10 years after the Door to the Great Below was opened, unleashing the gods and their armies of the dead. The lands of Kian are overrun, and the Coalition Army is tied up in an increasingly hopeless siege outside the city of Dawn’s walls. And just as the army sends in its elite sapper troops to try and turn the tide of war by breaching the walls, it seems that they meddled where they shouldn’t have.
By breaching the walls, Nor Vanek, a Flintlock weapons expert, and her comrades have also freed Uru, the Guardian of the Door, and nothing can now prevent the gods and the dead from ravaging the surrounding regions. Only by teaming up with a fox-like creature – now revealed to also be a God called Enki – can Nor hope to find both vengeance and redemption by venturing on a quest to kill all Gods. The enemy of my enemy…
While Flintlock provides enhanced mobility to combat, it will nonetheless demand quite a bit of training before you can master its combat. But if you desire a greater test of skill, the game enables you to challenge yourself on the demanding Possessed difficulty mode, with more aggressive and powerful enemies. Perfect for the true challenge-seekers… Or a second run?
We can’t wait for you to get your hands on Flintlock when it’s released in July. We’re grateful for the support of all the Flintlock fans, and are excited to see all of you take on the cruel Gods to rid Kian of their domination.
For those eager to further customize Nor, a Deluxe Edition is also available to pre-order, which includes three alternative outfits for Nor – the Noble, Vanguard & Champion outfits – as well as a new customization set for your axe & pistol. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn launches on Xbox Series X|S July 18.
The Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Deluxe Edition includes the base game and three customization packs for Nor.
· Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Noble Outfit
· Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Champions Outfit
· Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Vanguard Outfit
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
From independent games studio A44, makers of Ashen, comes an explosive Souls-lite, where Gods and guns collide in a battle for the future of humanity.
The Door to the Great Below has been opened unleashing the Gods and their armies of the Dead. The lands of Kian are besieged, the city of Dawn is on the brink of destruction. It’s time for the Coalition army to fight back. Embrace vengeance, gunpowder and magic as you embark on an epic journey to defeat the Gods, close the door and retake the world.
Your battle begins now.
Kill. All. Gods.
Brand new 5v5 hero FPS FragPunk will keep you on your toes thanks to its unique rule bending gameplay mechanic: Shard Cards!
With 10 heroes, their unique abilities and 15 weapons to choose from, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from to find your fun!
FragPunk releases in 2025 on Xbox and PC. Wishlist and sign up now for more updates!
We are thrilled to have unveiled FragPunk at the Xbox Summer Showcase 2024. FragPunk is a shooter that wants to carve its own space in the competitive FPS genre with its unique blend of fast-paced combat and dynamic rule changes. In FragPunk, every round brings a new challenge, thanks to its unique shard card system.
As part of an action-packed announcement trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase, FragPunk showcased its innovative power-up cards, a feature primed to shake up the Hero Shooter genre with a fresh, everchanging experience for players.
In this free-to-play game, players will be divided into two teams of 5 and will get to select gameplay modifying cards before entering each round. Their goal for each round will either be to plant a converter in the zones defended by the other team or to defend against oncoming attackers. To that end, players will be able to mix and match 10 heroes, 15 weapons, and over 70 cards on 4 different maps, ensuring that no two rounds are ever alike. More cards, heroes, weapons and maps are also on the way to keep the game fresh when it goes live!
A Look at the Powerful Shard Card System
The trailer offers a glimpse into the intense gunfights and counter-attacks enabled by shard cards. Featured cards include “Chain Reaction,” which releases chain lightning upon firing bullets. Meanwhile, “World Flip” turns the world upside down, demonstrating the game’s dynamic and exhilarating gameplay. These cards add an element of surprise and strategy to each match, encouraging players to adapt and evolve their tactics. The announcement trailer showcases the variety and unexpectedness that can be brought to the battlefield, hinting at even more cards to come, promising to further enhance the player experience.
A Uniquely Dynamic 5v5 FPS
With its unique blend of features, FragPunk has a whole lot to offer players alongside the game-changing Shard Card System. Here’s a broader look at some of FragPunk’s core details
Shard Cards themselves are central to the game, but they go beyond their effect alone! Indeed, synergies and counterplay between cards, heroes, weapons and maps add an exciting layer above how matches are played.
A FragPunk match lasts 7 rounds, and each round lasts 2.5 minutes, as you navigate through a fierce battlefield. So no time to waste, hone your reflexes and get that win!
Each of the original 4 maps feature distinct environments with plenty of details, offering you a one of a kind view while the bullets fly.
Arm yourself with an arsenal of weapons ranging from Assault Rifles to Sniper Rifles, each with its own unique attributes and capabilities. Whether you prefer to unleash rapid-fire attacks or take down enemies from afar, FragPunk has something for every playstyle.
“We wanted to create a game that breaks the mold and offers something truly unique to players,” says Xin, FragPunk producer. “With FragPunk, every match offers a new challenge, thanks to our innovative card-based gameplay mechanics. Whether you’re a seasoned FPS veteran or a newcomer to the genre, there’s something here for everyone.”
FragPunk is coming to Xbox in 2025, follow @PlayFragPunk on X (formerly Twitter) to keep up to date on development.
By now you have hopefully seen the trailer for Rebellion’s brand-new game Atomfall, which featured in the Xbox Summer Showcase. If not, then take a look:
Atomfall is a single player survival-action game set in post-war Britain that draws inspiration from real-world events, British science fiction (such as The Day of the Triffids, The Quatermass Experiment, and the classic Doctor Who of the era) and mixes in Cold War paranoia and folk horror weirdness to create an intriguing game world that you just have to explore.
For this blog, we thought that it would be fun to give you a little more insight into what you see in the announcement trailer and some extra information about the game, its setting, and the characters you will meet along the way. Here are five key take aways about Atomfall!
1. Where Are We?
The trailer reveals glorious, seemingly idyllic, British countryside – resplendent with a local pub, classic red phone boxes, and a quaint village sign telling you that you are in Wyndham in the Lake District. This cheery outlook quickly changes as you see abandoned cars, a fallen helicopter, and a rusty childless playground. All is not as “bright and beautiful” as it first appeared to be.
2. What’s Happened?
The news report voiceover tells us about an “emergency at Windscale Atom Plant”. To provide some context, in 1957 there was a fire at a nuclear site in the north of England which was the first major nuclear accident anywhere in the world.
Atomfall is a story told in the speculative fiction style of 1950s/’60s Britain, exploring what has happened in the local area five years after the Atom Plant emergency. A lot has changed and it’s up to you as the player to unravel the mystery – meeting various factions, cults, and characters along the way.
The way you interact with the people and groups you meet will shape the story and ultimately affect the fate of the quarantine zone.
3. What’s With the Soldiers?
In response to the disaster the army has been sent in to create and maintain a quarantine zone. This response force is known as ‘Protocol’. They are the ones tasked with keeping people safe -but after five years, their outlook has soured…
You will learn more about Protocol as you interact with them – and the people they seek to control – over the course of the game. Are they a force for good, keeping people safe? Are they a force of oppression, making life harder for those in the quarantine zone? Or is there more going on? What are they hiding?
4. Why do I need a metal detector?
Supplies are scarce in Atomfall. You will need to hunt and scavenge for resources including food, crafting materials, weapons, and ammunition. Every bullet is important, and it is vital that you don’t waste them!
A metal detector will help you to scavenge as much as you can and unearth other secrets too – but firstly you will have to find one or barter for one. Either way, it’s not going to be easy!
5. Did I See Robots? With Flamethrowers!?
Yes! Protocol are using all the resources at their disposal to maintain the quarantine. This includes scavenging equipment from B.A.R.D. (British Atomic Research Division) science bunkers. The robots are programmed to do everything necessary to maintain the quarantine. You need to make sure you know what you are doing before choosing to take one on. I hope you weren’t expecting a pleasant quiet walk in the country!
There is so much more in the trailer we could touch upon: taking out killer Morris dancers with cricket bats, defending yourself with a selection of ranged weapons (including pistols, SMGs, bows and arrows and more), the strange blue glow on the Windscale plant in the distance, creepy guys in hazmat suits, weird monsters hidden in underground bunkers…
However, that will all have to wait for a later time.
We have a lot more to share and reveal in the leadup to the release of Atomfall in 2025. We are delighted to say that the game will be coming to Game Pass on day one and will be playable across Xbox consoles and PC.
We cannot wait for you to explore the Atomfall mystery. See you in the countryside!
Hi future Expeditioners! We are Sandfall Interactive, a team of around 30 passionate developers based in Montpellier, France and we are thrilled to reveal our project to you today: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, coming to Xbox Series X|S next year and available day one with Xbox Game Pass. We poured our hearts and souls into creating the game of our dreams, so we sincerely hope you will enjoy our reveal trailer just below.
The Paintress’ Cycle of Death
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or just Expedition 33, is a brand-new 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.
Expedition 33 opens in the city of Lumière, the last city of humanity, where everyone knows the age when they will die. Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints a number on her Monolith. This number represents an age — the age of everyone who will soon be erased. Year by year, this number ticks down, more people die, and old age is not so old anymore.
Soon the Paintress will wake again and paints 33, condemning everyone of that age to a gentle death. But with only one year left to live, the members of Expedition 33 embark on a quest to destroy the Paintress.
The Expedition’s Hopeless Quest
You’ll play as Gustave and his fellow Expeditioners on their impossible quest to end the Paintress’ cycle of death. Your journey will take you through a vast and beautiful fantasy world, where you’ll battle deadly adversaries, befriend fabled creatures, and discover traces of the Expeditioners who came before you.
Along the way, you’ll grow your bond with your fellow Expeditioners and piece together their personal stories of heart and heartache. Together, you’ll strive to unravel the mystery of the Paintress – a desperate and seemingly hopeless undertaking that has eluded generations of Expeditioners.
Our Reactive Turn-Based Battle System
At Sandfall, we’re huge fans of turn-based RPGs, action games, and Souls-likes. For Expedition 33 we wanted to create something unique that combines the depth of a turn-based game with the thrill of executing a dodge or a perfect parry. And so was born our unique reactive turn-based battle system.
Each member of the Expedition has a distinct playstyle with their own unique mechanic. You will be able to further customize each character’s stat growth, expansive skill tree, and gear alongside a wide range of learnable passive traits, offering endless opportunities to fine-tune your preferred strategies. We can’t wait to see what crazy builds you will come up with.
But strategy alone won’t suffice. To reach the Paintress you will also need to master the defense systems. During the enemy’s turn, you can dodge, parry, or jump above enemy attacks in real time, allowing you to land devastating counterattacks. Mastering enemy patterns will ensure your victory and who knows, maybe you’ll even finish the battle without taking any damage and earn additional experience?
Additionally, the free-aim system allows you to shoot at enemies’ weak points, offering you a substantial advantage against the hardest foes or flying enemies.
We believe that whether you are an action RPG fan or a turn-based fan (or both), you will enjoy the unique combination that Expedition 33 offers. We’ve focused on creating a challenging, rewarding combat system that will make every battle an enthralling encounter.
Expedition 33 has been developed using Unreal Engine 5 to bring incredible fidelity and beautiful graphics on Xbox Series X|S. You’ll explore an enchanting realm and wander through breathtaking landscapes. From the somber, Paris-inspired city of Lumière, to the stunning Island of Visages, and to the haunting Forgotten Battlefield discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way.
We can’t wait to show you more of our debut game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and we hope you’re excited to learn more about its world, characters, and gameplay. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be released on Xbox Series X|S in 2025 and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass – you can wishlist the game today on the Xbox Store. We’ll be revealing more details and updates over the next few months, so be sure to follow us at @Expedition33 to stay up to date.
What a jam-packed weekend we have for you with Free Play Days! Driving and Dragon Ball fans jump in, as Assetto Corsa Competizione and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday May 30 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, June 2 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Ahoy fellow Pirates! Enjoy a full week long trial of Skull and Bones which will be unlocked from Thursday May 30 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Thursday, June 6 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Additionally, Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only) is free for all Xbox members from Thursday May 30 at 10:00 a.m. PT until Monday, June 3 at 10am PT. (Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not required) for Free Play Days for All!
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Assetto Corsa Competizione Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Assetto Corsa Competizione is the new official GT World Challenge videogame. Thanks to the extraordinary quality of simulation, the game will allow you to experience the real atmosphere of the GT3 homologated championship, competing against official drivers, teams, cars and circuits.
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Go Super Saiyan this weekend with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2! Immerse yourself in the largest and most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed: train with all iconic characters such as Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, Cell, Frieza and more to create your perfect fighter and protect the history of the Dragon Ball universe. Join an online hub of up to 300 players from around the world to team up for hard raid missions or measure your strength! There’s never been a better time to jump into Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, now out for Xbox One, Series X & S, and on sale this weekend at up to 50% off. Future Saga Chapter 1 DLC is also available now — read more about it in on Xbox Wire!
Skull and Bones Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Ahoy Pirates! From May 30 to June 6, don’t miss on the opportunity to play for free and save 50% on Skull and Bones! Embark on the vast naval open world in this online action RPG where you rise to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin. Customize your fleet, craft unique ships, and forge formidable weapons to dominate in exhilarating sea battles against your foes, all while expanding your pirate dominion.
During this Free Play Days, you are free to play any content you want, whether it is to progress through the main storyline or tackle challenging content with your friends. And when you purchase the full game, you will be able to keep all the progress you made.
Free Play Days For All
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® III – Cross-Gen Bundle
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III (Multiplayer/Zombies Only) For a limited time until June 3rd, play Multiplayer and Modern Warfare Zombies in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III for FREE. Dive into Multiplayer in Call of Duty and check out the brand-new 6v6 map Paris, along with additional fan-favorite 6v6 maps such as Das Haus, Stash House, and Rust – playable across five core modes including Demolition, new to Season 4. Plus, the free access offer includes Modern Warfare Zombies. It’s time to see what you’re made of.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Add an 11th team to the grid and make them your own with F1 Manager 2024’s new Create A Team mode
Deeper management tools and new broadcast options bring the world of F1 to life like never before
Discover the real F1 data powering your every decision
Do you have what it takes to write your own legacy in Formula 1? F1 Manager 2024 accelerates onto Xbox consoles on July 23, placing you in the hotseat of a team competing in the world’s most prestigious motorsports championship. This year, for the first time ever, you will be able to add your own 11th team to the grid, designing your own route to the podium as you customise the look of your team and seek sponsorship to support your lofty goals.
F1 Manager 2024 utilizes hundreds of real-world data points taken from the sport in the most authentic and immersive experience to date. But just how does that data affect how you’ll be managing your team?
New to the series this year is the Mentality System, which gives you a greater understanding than ever before into the personal ambitions and characters of your team. To do this we wanted each driver and staff member to react in a more human way, for them to have ambition, opinions, and expectations about how you and your team are performing. To do this we looked at real-world data regarding their careers. How many wins do they have? How many races have they competed in? Did they compete in F2 or F3? Have they developed a championship winning car?
We use this type of data to make each individual’s history and experience drive how they react and respond to the world they live in. This also allows our drivers and staff to develop and change over time just like in real life as the data points we use are constantly updating and changing, which in turn changes how they perceive the world. Putting two previous World Championship winners in the same car won’t guarantee results, as they’re still hungry for race wins. Likewise, someone who’s new to the F1 paddock will be happy to see their experience build. Fail to keep your stars happy, and rival teams can take advantage of this to poach them to their own teams.
Authenticity is at the core of the F1® Manager series, so this commitment to real-world data forms the foundations of our driver and staff ratings. From the individual Driver attributes to each staff member’s abilities in building a car or operating at a race track, everything is balanced according to real life results and historic data. For example, a 1st – 20th ranking of the number of laps done on each compound of tyre in every Grand Prix since 2020, how efficient those strategies were at those races, plus car performance weightings to ensure fairness in the results, allows us to indicate an initial smoothness rating for a driver.
Revamped UI in F1 Manager 2024 shows you how important each area of the car is, in anticipation of the next few races. This information is generated using calculations that amalgamate real tyre, lap time and performance data directly from our partners at F1, such as best sector times in Qualifying, or speed differential between using or not using DRS through a Speed Trap. This level of commitment to the real-world data spreads throughout every part of the game, from the strategies you’ll use on track to the development of future talent through the new Affiliates system, allowing you to recruit the stars of the future from F2, F3 and beyond.
Once you’ve got your team set up, our race simulation brings the action to life with broadcast-like cameras, including the strategic new Heli-cam. How each car performs across each of the 24 circuits is informed by more real-world data which we work on with the F1 Motorsport team. Our engineering team run thousands of simulated scenarios on every lap and every corner to produce a wealth of information, identifying each car’s opportunities to overtake and how they perform. These simulations are fed by data such as overall lap times from previous Grand Prix, weather conditions and the rate of tyre wear, ensuring every race in F1 Manager 2024 feels authentic and realistic to F1 fans.
You can dive into the data yourself and create a legacy with your own team when F1 Manager 2024 releases on July 23 for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Pre-order ahead of launch to receive an additional exclusive Create A Team preset livery replicating the F1 2024 Show Car, or choose to enhance your experience with 10% off the suggested retail price of F1 Manager 2024: Deluxe Edition, which adds five classically inspired patterns to Create A Team mode, whilst an additional five fictional Race Replay scenarios offer unique single-race challenges.
Preorder the F1® Manager 2024 Deluxe Edition now to receive:
Create A Team F1® 2024 Show Car preset
5 Create A Team Classically Inspired Livery Patterns
5 Custom Race Replay Scenarios
A 10% Prepurchase Discount
The F1® Manager 2024 Deluxe Upgrade Pack contains 5 classically inspired livery patterns for use in Create A Team and 5 custom race replay scenarios that will push even the most strategic Team Principal to the limit.
Lead your team to glory in F1® Manager 2024. A new Formula 1® season has arrived, and with it, the most comprehensive F1® management experience to date. Build a legacy with one of 10 official F1® constructors or create your own team for the very first time.
Plan and direct your team’s strategy and watch as your driver’s execute your commands in thrilling F1 races, brought to life with a broadcast-quality presentation. Manage your drivers, staff, car development and facilities throughout multiple seasons to give your team the best chance to claim a spot on the Formula 1 podium.
NEW FOR 2024
CREATE A TEAM
For the first time in the series, create your own team to challenge the grid and forge a new legacy. Customise every element of your team from your origin and livery design to logo and racing suits. Recruit the right staff and drivers and negotiate with sponsors for placement on your car.
DEEPER MANAGEMENT
The dramatic world of F1 comes to life on and off the track with the brand-new Mentality System. Manage the personalities and needs of your staff and drivers in the pursuit of success. Keep your stars happy to avoid allowing rivals from poaching your talent, disrupting your team’s trajectory towards the top.
Build a legacy by fostering talents from F2 & F3 to add to your own affiliate pool. Access the stars of the future and ensure their success is your success.
F1 RACES BROUGHT TO LIFE
Circuits visuals have been refreshed for the official 2024 season, including the returning Shanghai International Circuit. Improved track marbling and enhanced use of real-world data mean racing lines are clearer than ever, with enhanced trackside detailing providing the best-looking visual presentation to date.
Helicam provides a strategic bird’s eye view on the action, giving you a new perspective when executing and evolving your race day plans
Races present ever-evolving challenges and opportunities with the introduction of Mechanical Failures. Can you mitigate these issues as they arise to stay on track? Ensure you are in position to capitalise on rivals' issues and claim unexpected results.
MORE TO DISCOVER
· 2024 F1® Sprint race format
· 2024 driver and staff roster, including drivers from development and team academies
· Improved approachability including refreshed data visualisations, the option to simulate the full race weekend, and enhanced tutorials
· Race Replay returns for another thrilling season, allowing you to relive and redefine moments from the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship
Headphones Required – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II’s Binaural Audio Is Like Nothing You’ve Ever Heard
2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice was an exceedingly special game. A bold, brash direction for Ninja Theory, the decision to craft a short, narrative experience revolving around mental health was a brave leap, but one that ultimately paid off. Now, seven years later, the studio is gearing up to reveal a sequel to Senua’s story, built with the same love and care, but expanding on the debut in every conceivable way.
In the run up to launch, we’ll be bringing you the story of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II from inside the studio itself, as well as stories and lessons from Hellblade’s creative leads. This is Ninja Theory’s ultimate form, filled with industry-leading talent, groundbreaking technology, and one of the most unique approaches to game development you’ve ever seen to fulfil the ultimate goal – the pursuit of true immersion.
If you’ve played Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, you will be more than familiar with its incredible audio design; most notably the memorable, incessant dialogue that goes on inside Senua’s mind throughout the course of the game – and, by association, the unique way it enters your head, too. In Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Ninja Theory is going all out on implementing audio to establish its sense of place – here the first game used audio techniques simply for Senua’s internal dialogue, the sequel makes sound trickery an integral part of the game.
Xbox Wire had the honor of sitting down with Hellblade audio director David Garcia Diaz in his studio, to find out how the team did it, why it’s needed, and uncover more about the utterly mesmerizing process of building binaural audio into the very fabric of Senua’s journey.
For the uninitiated, binaural audio is a method of recording sound using two microphones, designed to create a 3D soundscape as you would hear it with your own ears. It’s not a new process – but its implementation across the Hellblade series is both unique and integral to its design. This is the most authentic recreation of psychosis you can experience, and Garcia Diaz has landed here through almost a decade of research, patience and skill.
A Leap In Technology
Garcia Diaz separates Hellblade’s main pillars of evolution down into two parts – technological and psychological. The technological improvements stem from a sizeable upgrade in the resources and equipment used to capture its soundscape; Garcia Diaz’s office showcases a smorgasbord of impressive tools that left my inner synth enthusiast in awe.
There’s also now a team of seven working on Hellblade II‘s audio design, whereas Garcia Diaz worked alone on Senua’s Sacrifice. He admits: “The first game was a massive project with so many details, and I couldn’t do everything. There’s a lot of places where you can’t hear foley or footsteps, I just focused on what felt the most important.”
As I move through Hellblade II‘s incredible environments, I can truly feel and hear the premium approach to even the smallest sounds. During one scene, I lead Senua through an abandoned village, and we can hear the remnants of its fate, echoing from the past. I hear an anguished mother crying intertwined with the harsh buzz of flies orbiting a nearby carcass, so intense and erratic I nearly swat myself a few times. On the calmer, open coasts, I hear the distant crashing of waves and ambient winds landing secondary to the crunch of Senua’s feet padding cautiously over loose stones.
Crucially, with headphones on, I can hear where all of this is. This isn’t a wash of sound effects, they’re placed precisely where they should be. Garcia Diaz and his team have been able to consider acoustics more fully, and how sound moves and reverberates in Hellblade II as it does in the real world, to create that deeper sense of immersion.
“The acoustics play an incredibly important role,” Garcia Diaz adds. “For example, if you shout and there’s a rock, the sound is going to bounce off that. If a priest is chanting in a cave, you want to hear the sound travelling towards you, or the opposite if something is moving away. All of the sounds work together to create atmosphere and tension, and with this technology, we can achieve that.”
Senua’s Growth
The other main aspect Garcia Diaz addresses is the psychological evolution of Senua herself, and how that has shaped what she will hear in the world, and in her head. She’s stronger and more in tune with her psychosis – not cured, but armed with a greater understanding of what to expect, which in turn leads to a wider range of conversational exchanges between the voices.
Senua’s condition is once again represented in part by the Furies – the voices that she will hear throughout the game. In Hellblade II, the voices can still feel every bit as overwhelming, but there is a fluidity to them that can make them almost a comfort as you follow Senua.
“Hellblade 1 had very dark ‘colors’ – now we have other colors”, Garcia Diaz explains. “Senua has the ability to feel [the Furies] in a different way, they now have deeper, meaningful conversations which didn’t happen in the first game, which I think is very beautiful.”
This is represented in action as I watch Senua engage in a conversation with several new characters across her journey. The Furies are in conflict each time, debating Senua’s reactions, running through potential responses and justifications with a mind-bending pace. But Senua is no longer a prisoner to this cacophony, she can see past the influence of the voices and decide for herself how to proceed in that moment. Does this person need my help? Will they hurt me? Senua can find her own answers through the noise just as the player does, and we can feel her emotions and considerations reflected in the style, tenacity and placement of the sound, similar to a score for a movie.
“We are representing abstract concepts with sound,” Garcia Diaz adds. “What does guilt sound like, and what is our vision of guilt for Senua? How do we interpret sadness, or euphoria, or rage?”
“We are not just recreating a sound, we are creating a character’s reality, and this is our way of interpretating these emotions [for Senua] with sound and music and voices, all tied together to create one moment.”
“We are not just recreating a sound, we are creating a character’s reality, and this is our way of interpretating these emotions.”
David Garcia Diaz
Three’s A Crowd
While Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an insular journey that follows Senua alone with the accompaniment of the Furies representing how her psychosis manifests, Hellblade II will see Senua encounters new characters in the world for the first time. She’ll engage in dialogue with these strangers, and face the trials of navigating relationships while handling the overwhelming, unrelenting narration of her condition.
In one Hellblade II scene, Senua meets a stranger that is being held captive by Viking slavers. In this moment, she’s conversing with him directly, but the voices are at odds with what both parties are saying out loud.
“You have to consider – what happens if there is a conversation between three people? What does that sound like to everyone involved?” Garcia Diaz adds.
While I’m at the studio I’m shown a snippet of the Furies in action. Performers Abbi Greenland and Helen Goalan take part in an unscripted performance depicting Senua moving through a cave. Through headphones, I hear a haunting narration of the surroundings, their thoughts seamlessly falling into a flow state. But what I see is the two actors circling both sides of the head-shaped Neumann microphone sitting between them like vultures picking at a carcass – allowing their voices to feel as though they’re moving through your head, as they would do for Senua Even in this brightly-lit room, I’m on edge after 30 seconds of this experience, the unpredictable hisses and snarky giggles picking at my brain. Garcia Diaz likens the experience to jazz – it’s atmospheric, moving and some of its best parts are created out of improvisation, not a pre-agreed script.
“In music you have crescendos, diminuendos, fortissimos, pianissimos – I want to do the same with the voices,” Garcia Diaz says. “Sometimes they grow, sometimes they’re quiet so you don’t feel constantly tired or overwhelmed.
“There are enough dynamics that we’re able to have them present almost all of the time – sometimes we’ll cross a boundary, but I think this is important, because the voices are something that Senua cannot switch off.”
The importance of the audio is something that cannot be overstated in both Hellblade games – it’s what makes Senua’s journey so unique and emotional to experience. Garcia Diaz knows this, but he also recognizes that his role as audio director is just one cog in Ninja Theory’s wider pursuit for immersion.
“Everything needs to go together, and I’m excited for people to see it all,” he says. “For people to discover this new Senua, and to get immersed in her world again. That’s what we’re striving for – a unique experience, and an immense journey.”
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be released on May 21, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Steam and Cloud – and will be available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass day one.
Disney Dreamlight Valley’s Dreamlight Parks Fest In-Game Event is available from May 15 – June 5
Complete daily and weekly Disney Parks-inspired duties to earn exclusive free rewards
Collect replicas inspired by iconic Disney Parks popcorn buckets!
The entire Disney Dreamlight Valleyteam is grateful for players checking out the latest update, Thrills & Frills! Starting today, we’re thrilled to present even more reasons to play with the launch of a new in-game event, the Dreamlight Parks Fest, and the introduction of iconic Disney Parks popcorn buckets! Here’s everything you need to know.
Players can talk with Scrooge McDuck to kick off the event by unlocking new Disney Parks-inspired cupcake recipes. However, Scrooge McDuck isn’t the only Villager who’s getting into the spirit of the event. All the Villagers are excited to try out some special cupcake recipes inspired by real treats players can get at Disney Parks! By making cupcakes for the Villagers and completing other tasks around the Valley, players will be able to craft popcorn buckets based on beloved Disney characters like Stitch and Figment. That’s right – now players can have some of their favorite Disney Parks-inspired popcorn buckets in their Valleys too!
We know how much avid Park goers love collecting popcorn buckets, we’ve got a few collectors on the team, too! The Disney Parks popcorn buckets are not just simple snack containers but popular collectibles that carry memories of adventure-filled days. Celebrating cherished Parks memories in-game or aiding in creating new ones, they are the perfect addition to the Dreamlight Parks Fest.
With so many incredible designs featured over the years, we took inspiration from our own memorable trips to the Parks to recreate some of our favorite popcorn buckets – from a big jar of “Hunny” from Disney’s Winnie the Pooh to the enchanted carriage from Disney’s Cinderella.
It was important to us to be accurate with the 1-to-1 recreations of these memorable Parks popcorn buckets. To add a little surprise and delight for players, we made every popcorn bucket interactable – players can open them and see all that buttery popcorn inside!
The Dreamlight Parks Fest event will run from May 15 to June 5, giving players three weeks to complete the event and collect all the rewards, and don’t worry – players will still be able to keep and display your popcorn buckets long after the event has ended. We would appreciate seeing how players are displaying the buckets in their Valleys and learning about their favorite popcorn buckets. Everyone can join the event now and collect them all, then share pictures with us by tagging Disney Dreamlight Valley on social media!
INCLUDES 8,000 MOONSTONES*
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid between a life-sim and an adventure game rich with quests, exploration, and engaging activities featuring Disney and Pixar friends, both old and new.
Once an idyllic land, Dreamlight Valley was a place where Disney and Pixar characters lived in harmony—until the Forgetting. Night Thorns grew across the land and severed the wonderful memories tied to this magical place. With nowhere else to go, the hopeless inhabitants of Dreamlight Valley retreated behind locked doors in the Dream Castle.
Now it's up to you to discover the stories of this world and bring the magic back to Dreamlight Valley!
Discover the Secrets of Dreamlight Valley
Free the Dream Castle from the insidious grip of the Forgetting, and unlock the unique Realms of well-loved Disney and Pixar characters, including great queens and kings such as Anna and Simba. Each Realm contains unique challenges with puzzles to solve in the quest to bring friendship back to the Valley.
You’ll start your adventure in the Valley, but your journey will take you to infinity… and beyond! Explore what lurks in the Forest of Valor and brave the deepest caverns as you take on challenges from iconic Disney and Pixar heroes and villains. Who knows who—or what—you might discover.
Forge Friendships with Disney & Pixar Characters
Garden with WALL•E, cook with Remy or kick back and fish with Goofy. What better way to collect, craft, and rebuild the Valley than with a friend! From beautiful princesses to nefarious villains, every Dreamlight Valley resident brings their own story arc, quests, and rewards. Meet up in daily hangouts and make friends with some of your favorite Disney and Pixar characters.
Restore the Valley to Its Former Glory
Free the Valley from the grip of the Forgetting and return Dreamlight Valley to its former greatness by making it your own. In Dreamlight Valley, you can build the perfect neighborhood that is just for you with a fully customizable layout, creative landscaping, and thousands of decorative items.
Will you settle on the Beach next to Moana, or call Buzz Lightyear your next-door neighbor in the Plaza?
Express Your Disney Style
Bring out your inner princess, villain, or Disney bounder! Assemble unique outfits and decorate your home with thousands of fantastic items. Using the Touch of Magic tool, you can even create your own designs with Disney- and Pixar-inspired decals!
With the in-game Camera, get ready to snap a sunset selfie with Mirabel, capture a culinary creation with Remy, or simply cherish a moment.
A Game in Constant Evolution
New content means that there's always something fresh to explore. Meet new characters in the Valley, check out the latest clothing and furniture collections in Scrooge’s Store, and complete challenging in-game events! Be sure to dream your way back to Dreamlight Valley regularly to discover new adventures!
*Moonstones are an in-game currency that can be collected for free by performing tasks in the game or be purchased using real money. They are used to unlock the premium track of the Star Path (a battle-pass-inspired system that grants in-game cosmetic items as a player completes various tasks and missions). Moonstones can also be used to accelerate progress in the Star Path. Additionally, Moonstones can be used to purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store.
Hi everyone, Dom Matthews here, Studio Head at Ninja Theory. On May 21 we releaseSenua’s Saga: Hellblade II on Xbox Series X|S and on PC. It will be a proud moment for our team and those that have contributed to our development journey. Today, I’d like to celebrate the contribution of our mental health consultants, with the release of ‘Senua’s Psychosis’, a feature video that details how, by way of collaboration, Senua’s experiences of psychosis in Hellblade II are rooted both in neuroscience and in real lived experience.
When the idea for telling the story of a character who experiences psychosis was first thought of, we knew instantly that we had a responsibility to understand the subject thoroughly. With this intent in-hand, we started a collaboration with Professor Paul Fletcher, Professor of Health Neuroscience at University of Cambridge, which in-turn led to us building a partnership with Recovery College East and other groups of people who, like Senua, have had real lived experience of seeing and hearing things that others don’t and having unique beliefs about the world. What started off as an exercise in hoping to learn, quickly transitioned into a creative collaboration where the openness, honesty and enthusiasm of our collaborators gave us the chance to not only portray Senua’s experiences truthfully – but enhance our character, her world and her story.
In Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, we were so honored to hear from fans that Senua’s journey had helped them understand psychosis a little more. For some, it helped them to understand their own experiences. For others, it helped them to understand the experiences of loved ones. And for many, it helped them to build empathy for the millions of people who struggle daily with mental health challenges.
As we approach the launch of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II my hope is that once again we can, for some, give a taste of what it can be like to hear voices, to see things that only you can see and to be driven by beliefs that may be unusual to others. Several weeks ago, I was excited to share the stage with our collaborators at Hellblade: A Journey of the mind, a conference, hosted in partnership with Cambridge Neuroscience, dedicated to exploring the theme of how Senua’s psychosis has come to life in Hellblade. For those interested, you can watch the full conference here. The conference was a reminder to me of how fortunate we have been to work with our mental health collaborators, a special group of people that have, throughout our development, dedicated themselves to helping us tell Senua’s story as someone who’s experiences could very well be those of a real person.
In today’s video, I’m proud to introduce you to Paul, Eddy and Kathy and I thank them, and all our collaborators, for their immense contribution to Hellblade.
For further information on the themes discussed in this video, please visit hellbladehelp.info.
We’ve got a jam-packed weekend for you with Free Play Days! Crime Boss: Rockay City, Cities Skylines – Remastered and From Space are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday May 9 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, May 12 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Additionally, expansions for Destiny 2 including Shadowkeep, Beyond LightandThe Witch Queen are free for all Xbox members from May 7 until June 4 (Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not required).
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Crime Boss: Rockay City Play Crime Boss: Rockay City for FREE! This co-operative, organized heisting game can be played either solo in the single-player campaign or with friends in multiplayer. Start levelling up and earning rewards in the new progression system and enjoy tons of new content from our latest update.
Cities: Skylines – Remastered Cities: Skylines – Remastered puts you in charge of a growing city, from the ground-breaking of its first streets to the ever-changing needs of thousands of citizens. Design, build, and manage the city of your dreams, from public services to civic policies, and challenge yourself to grow from a simple town to a bustling metropolitan hub.
From Space From Space is a solo and co-op action-shooter for squads up to four players. Take on the challenge of liberating the earth from an alien infestation with your friends, using over-the-top weaponry in a post-apocalyptic world with awesomely stylized graphics. The apocalypse has never been so much fun!
Destiny 2 Expansions (Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen) During Destiny 2’s Expansion Open Access month, you can play through Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and The Witch Queen, along with all four Year-6 Seasons. Enjoy the updated New Light experience by exploring the Cosmodrome or skip it and join your friends right away. Open Access Month ends when The Final Shape launches, but any rewards you collect are yours to keep.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Hi everyone, Dom Matthews here, Studio Head at Ninja Theory. On May 21 we releaseSenua’s Saga: Hellblade II on Xbox Series X|S and on PC. It will be a proud moment for our team and those that have contributed to our development journey. Today, I’d like to celebrate the contribution of our mental health consultants, with the release of ‘Senua’s Psychosis’, a feature video that details how, by way of collaboration, Senua’s experiences of psychosis in Hellblade II are rooted both in neuroscience and in real lived experience.
When the idea for telling the story of a character who experiences psychosis was first thought of, we knew instantly that we had a responsibility to understand the subject thoroughly. With this intent in-hand, we started a collaboration with Professor Paul Fletcher, Professor of Health Neuroscience at University of Cambridge, which in-turn led to us building a partnership with Recovery College East and other groups of people who, like Senua, have had real lived experience of seeing and hearing things that others don’t and having unique beliefs about the world. What started off as an exercise in hoping to learn, quickly transitioned into a creative collaboration where the openness, honesty and enthusiasm of our collaborators gave us the chance to not only portray Senua’s experiences truthfully – but enhance our character, her world and her story.
In Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, we were so honored to hear from fans that Senua’s journey had helped them understand psychosis a little more. For some, it helped them to understand their own experiences. For others, it helped them to understand the experiences of loved ones. And for many, it helped them to build empathy for the millions of people who struggle daily with mental health challenges.
As we approach the launch of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II my hope is that once again we can, for some, give a taste of what it can be like to hear voices, to see things that only you can see and to be driven by beliefs that may be unusual to others. Several weeks ago, I was excited to share the stage with our collaborators at Hellblade: A Journey of the mind, a conference, hosted in partnership with Cambridge Neuroscience, dedicated to exploring the theme of how Senua’s psychosis has come to life in Hellblade. For those interested, you can watch the full conference here. The conference was a reminder to me of how fortunate we have been to work with our mental health collaborators, a special group of people that have, throughout our development, dedicated themselves to helping us tell Senua’s story as someone who’s experiences could very well be those of a real person.
In today’s video, I’m proud to introduce you to Paul, Eddy and Kathy and I thank them, and all our collaborators, for their immense contribution to Hellblade.
For further information on the themes discussed in this video, please visit hellbladehelp.info.
We’ve got a jam-packed weekend for you with Free Play Days! Crime Boss: Rockay City, Cities Skylines – Remastered and From Space are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday May 9 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, May 12 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Additionally, expansions for Destiny 2 including Shadowkeep, Beyond LightandThe Witch Queen are free for all Xbox members from May 7 until June 4 (Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not required).
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Crime Boss: Rockay City Play Crime Boss: Rockay City for FREE! This co-operative, organized heisting game can be played either solo in the single-player campaign or with friends in multiplayer. Start levelling up and earning rewards in the new progression system and enjoy tons of new content from our latest update.
Cities: Skylines – Remastered Cities: Skylines – Remastered puts you in charge of a growing city, from the ground-breaking of its first streets to the ever-changing needs of thousands of citizens. Design, build, and manage the city of your dreams, from public services to civic policies, and challenge yourself to grow from a simple town to a bustling metropolitan hub.
From Space From Space is a solo and co-op action-shooter for squads up to four players. Take on the challenge of liberating the earth from an alien infestation with your friends, using over-the-top weaponry in a post-apocalyptic world with awesomely stylized graphics. The apocalypse has never been so much fun!
Destiny 2 Expansions (Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, The Witch Queen) During Destiny 2’s Expansion Open Access month, you can play through Shadowkeep, Beyond Light, and The Witch Queen, along with all four Year-6 Seasons. Enjoy the updated New Light experience by exploring the Cosmodrome or skip it and join your friends right away. Open Access Month ends when The Final Shape launches, but any rewards you collect are yours to keep.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Let’s kick off May the right way with Free Play Days! Headbangers: Rhythm Royale is available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday May 2 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, May 5 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Additionally, Star Wars: Survivoris free to try for all Xbox members during the same time (Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate not required) with a 5 hour gameplay trial.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Headbangers: Rhythm Royale Ever wanted to be a dancing pigeon? Well, this is your chance. Headbangers: Rhythm Royale will see you and 29 other pigeons battle it out to find out who is the ultimate Master Headbanger. With Season 3 the game has been expanded to include a 1v1 mode alongside classic Royale gameplay. Take on a rival pigeon in a dance-off with a difference. Hit the beat, show off your moves, and utilize various powerups to get an edge over your feathered opponent. Songs get progressively more challenging, until finally, one pigeon fails and the survivor reigns victoriously.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Explore New Worlds and Solve Environmental Challenges With Gaming This Earth Day
Trista Patterson, Director of Sustainability, Xbox
Summary
Explore games that allow players to explore and engage with the natural world
Help Duriel sacrifice his horde as they donate buckets of maggots to Tiggywinkles animal rescue hospital
Learn about a new building at Rare, which has sustainability at its heart
At Microsoft we have made bold commitments to improve the impact of our business on the environment. Consequently, Xbox has made strategic, innovative and meaningful investments that scale up across the gaming industry:
Our Shutdown (Energy Saving) power mode, Active Hours and Carbon Aware console updates have made the use of our consoles more energy and emissions efficient.
The Xbox Sustainability Toolkit has empowered game developers to optimize their game code for energy efficiency on Xbox consoles and beyond.
In addition to these software innovations, we are making advancements in hardware and infrastructure spaces as well:
We are supporting impact reductions in-office, with Rare unveiling a new LEED Gold accredited building on its UK campus — Xbox’s first mass timber building in Europe for Xbox Game Studios.
As important as it is that we make these material changes, one of the great benefits gaming can have on environmental issues is often overlooked! The medium of gaming can act as a tool which provides world exploration for those that may not easily access the natural environment. It also fosters outside of the box thinking, empathy, and team action – all necessary ingredients to solve environmental issues. Gaming can unlock the world, break the barriers of what is possible and inspire environmental action for generations to come.
Read on to learn more about gaming as a medium for environmental change and how Xbox is celebrating Earth Day.
Bring climate and sustainability science to life with incredible animals. Minecraft Education Planet Earth III created in partnership with BBC Earth engages students with a free curriculum that includes lesson plans and discussion guides. Explore the way these animals’ lives are intertwined by playing as both predator and prey, parent and offspring, friend and ally, and discover the precarious balance of survival.
Research climate change while learning the principles of AI. With Minecraft Education AI for Earth students will learn principles of AI while taking their first steps into this exciting realm of computer science. Learners will use the power of AI in a range of exciting real-world scenarios, including preservation of wildlife and ecosystems, helping people in remote areas, and research on climate change.
Explore games with environmental themes on Game Pass
Simulation games provide a unique ability to explore and grow environments while also managing and regenerating natural resources. Check out these games that highlight these themes within their mechanics and stories:
Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Build a sustainable ecofarm and carefully manage your relationship with the ecosystem in this peaceful open-world farming adventure on a planet at the far edge of the galaxy. This game encourages sustainability efforts, including planting trees to replace those you harvest and cleaning up pollution. Invite up to three friends to create a flourishing homestead.
Coral Island (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud) – Play a part in conserving native flora and fauna, dive into the seas to clean up the coral reef, and pick up trash all around the island in this family-friendly farming simulator inspired by Southeast Asia. The development team from Indonesia included themes of conservation in the way players must maintain the island’s ecosystem all while encouraging you to form a bond with nature.
Stardew Valley (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – You’ve inherited your grandfather’s overgrown farm plot and with a little dedication, you might be able to restore Stardew Valley to greatness! With an anti-consumerism plot against the JoJa Corporation and a whole lot of land to explore, Stardew Valley showcases love of nature and focuses on life’s simple pleasures.
Give
The Seattle Aquarium uses Xbox Controllers to research the depths of local waterways
Xbox is excited to spotlight and support the incredible underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) research work of the Seattle Aquarium—a program designed to inform habitat restoration efforts throughout the region and reverse the decline of local kelp forests. The aquarium’s ROV Nereo, named after the scientific name for bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana), is a small, customizable, and easily maneuverable device that can dive up to 100 meters deep and transmit live video and data to the surface. Our favorite part? The researchers use Xbox controllers to pilot the ROV Nereo and navigate through the dense and dynamic kelp forests in Elliott Bay, the waterway surrounding the aquarium.
In addition to providing food and shelter for hundreds of marine animals, bull kelp also sequesters carbon from the water and locally mitigates the effects of ocean acidification. While some regions in the Salish Sea have thriving kelp forests, other regions are seeing up to a 95% decline, and researchers aren’t always sure why. The aquarium’s ROV work helps researchers survey declining kelp ecosystems and the factors that impact their health so the broader Washington kelp conservation, restoration, and management community can work towards restoration.
To expand the scope and scale of this work, the aquarium is collaborating with the Tulalip Tribes Natural Resources Shellfish Program to help them get their own ROV program up and running. The aquarium is also partnering with state agencies and Reef Check to compare ROV and scuba diving as methods for collecting data, and to evaluate the effectiveness of different environmental monitoring strategies. By using Xbox controllers to operate the ROV, the aquarium is not only making research more fun and accessible to future generations of marine conservationists, but also demonstrating the power of technology for environmental conservation and education. Through education and outreach events with a variety of local organizations, the aquarium hopes this program will inspire more people to appreciate and protect the kelp forests and the marine life they support.
Duriel the Maggot King has enlisted Diablo IV fans to help sacrifice his horde. For every 25 likes on the Earth Day post from Diablo’s X account, Blizzard will be donating a bucket of Maggots to Tiggywinkles, up to 666 buckets of maggots, to help feed their bird nursery. With each bucket containing roughly 45,000 maggots, you could help Blizzard fund Tiggywinkle’s bird rehabilitation program for more than two years by simply liking their post.
Tiggywinkles is a specialist animal rescue hospital in the UK. They are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating all species of local wildlife. Every animal brought to the hospital is given a chance and treated with the best available care. Any animal or bird unable to be released back to the wild is maintained at the Hospital, in as natural conditions as possible. Head to the Diablo X account to help turn likes into buckets of maggots for the birds.
Engage
Barn X on the Rare Campus
Xbox has constructed its first mass timber building in Europe at Rare, the Xbox Game Studio and creator of Sea of Thieves. The new solar-powered studio is already inspiring game developers to create unique shared experiences for players.
Located in Twycross, Leicestershire, Rare’s new building – called ‘Barn X’ – was opened in early 2023 on the Rare campus, which is surrounded by nature in the heart of the English countryside.
Rare’s Studio Head, Craig Duncan, said: “Our new barn is a demonstration of leading-edge sustainability and environmental design, creating a model green workplace. The opportunity to expand our campus by building a state-of-the-art environment for our teams while supporting Microsoft to achieve its sustainability goals has been genuinely rewarding. The new space design promotes collaboration, creativity and wellbeing, which are essential ingredients for a team to create fun experiences for players everywhere.”
Barn X has recently been certified LEED GOLD for its design and construction – a worldwide-recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership. It is one example of how Microsoft is implementing sustainable solutions for the future as it pursues its goal to be carbon negative by 2030.
You can read more about the new building and how it is enabling creativity and enhancing wellbeing here.
Playing for the Planet Annual Impact Report
As a founding member of the Playing 4 The Planet Alliance, we are excited to share the 2023 Annual Impact Report. The report includes:
A measure of progress towards Playing 4 the Planet’s strategic goals.
Updates on focus areas, such as decarbonization, The Green Game Jam, and more.
A review of members’ commitments towards sustainability.
And even more from Team Microsoft: Visit Microsoft Unlocked to explore innovations across Microsoft products, partners and customers that are helping to achieve our carbon goals!
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to enjoy a 3-month free trial of Apple TV+ on your Xbox. Whether you’re a sports fan, an action lover, or a comedy enthusiast, you’ll find something to suit your taste on Apple TV+. But hurry, this offer ends on July 7, 2024, so act now and claim your 3 months of unlimited streaming.
Imagine watching the thrilling adventures of “Argylle”, the world’s greatest spy, as he travels across the globe with a star-studded cast. Or cheering for Aaron Judge and the Yankees as they face their rivals on “Friday Night Baseball” from MLB. Or diving into the history and heroism of “Masters of the Air”, the Apple Original series that follows the lives of American bomber pilots in World War II.
Not fully intrigued? How about the chance to catch the GOAT, Lionel Messi, play with his former FC Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, as they lead Inter Miami CF through the MLS gauntlet this season?
This is just some of the amazing content you can watch on Apple TV+, along with countless other movies and shows. You can also enjoy award-winning documentaries, kids’ entertainment, dramas, and more, all in stunning 4K HDR quality. And with the Apple TV app on your Xbox, you can easily browse and access all your favorite content in one place.
But don’t take our word for it. Try it for yourself and see why Apple TV+ is the ultimate streaming service for Xbox users. All you need to do is sign up for a new or qualified returning Apple TV+ subscription on your Xbox before July 7, 2024, and you’ll get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free. No strings attached, no hidden fees, just unlimited entertainment at your fingertips.
Don’t wait, this offer won’t last forever. Grab your Xbox controller and start your free trial of Apple TV+ today. You’ll be glad you did. Terms apply, visit the website to learn more.
Why not try something new with Free Play Days? Dungeons 3, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising and I am Fish are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday April 18 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Dungeons 3 Through enticing the dark elf priestess Thalya from the fluffy clutches of the surface world to become his chief lieutenant, the Dungeon Lord has found a way to direct his campaign of conquest from the confines of his underground lair. With Thalya on the front line, and the united forces of evil to support her, players will have to use every trick in the book to best those do-gooders of the overworld, once and for all!
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising Embark on a captivating prelude to the highly anticipated Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes with Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, available for Free Play Days. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a rich, interconnected action-RPG full of vibrant characters and compelling storytelling. Experience the intertwining fates of CJ, Isha, and Garoo and get a glimpse of what’s to come in Hundred Heroes, launching April 23. Experience a story of friendship, discovery, and adventure that sets the stage for the grand tale to follow.
I am Fish From the creators of the hit I am Bread, I Am Fish is a charming, physics-based adventure starring four intrepid fish friends, forcibly separated from their home in a pet shop fish tank. Swim, fly, roll and chomp your way to the open ocean in a bid for freedom and to re-unite once again.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
How The Riders Market Addition is Turning MotoGP 24 Into the Most Authentic Entry Yet
Summary
MotoGP24 will feature the Riders Market for the first time in the history of the franchise
Both AI and players might be proposed to change teams, including promotion between classes
MotoGP24 will be available on May 2, 2024, on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
As the Lead Designer, working on a series like MotoGP is extremely challenging. Our goal has always been to replicate as closely as possible the real competition and finding room for innovative improvements is not easy. However, this is also what makes our job special and the reason why I’m so proud of the hefty experience MotoGP 24 will deliver to our fans, whose voices have become more and more central in shaping the series.
Since In the last year, we’ve met our players’ requests like never before by introducing Dynamic Weather and Flag-to-Flag races. This year, we’re following the same path by adding what is probably the most requested and long-awaited feature by the community, as MotoGP 24 career mode marks the introduction of the Riders Market. Here’s how it’s going to change the game for the better.
Starting this year, riders of all categories will be able to change teams, including promotion between classes. This way, players will see roster updates in every in-game season, thus finding exciting new challenges and scenarios to experience every year. The possibilities are endless, as both the AI and players might be proposed to change teams as seasons progress. Importantly, we designed the feature with the intent of offering different but always plausible championships. The Riders Market is based on a set of algorithms that generate transfers weaving the riders’ performance with the prestige and aspirations of each team. Consequently, riders are considered differently by teams based on their past results and the goals they want to achieve. For instance, a rising star like Jorge Martin might be called to bring the Repsol Honda Team back to the top after many difficult years.
Notably, since last year the career mode has become much more dynamic thanks to the introduction of turning points and rivalries, thus revolving around the performances and choices of each player. The Riders Market will follow and accentuate such a philosophy; if the player achieves excellent results in a minor team, he could even steal the seat of a real rider in a top team forcing him to find another contract. If he doesn’t, he will be excluded from the next season but could still come back after one or two years in case a struggling team needs an experienced rider to help with the development of the bike.
Likewise, if a team underperforms, riders will look for something better. Imagining the Ducati Lenovo Team losing competitiveness over the years, its top rider Francesco Bagnaia might look around. Just like in real life, his choice will not only be determined by the current values of the other bikes on the grid, but future perspectives will count as well. If the Aprilia Factory Racing Team obtains steadily convincing performances proving to be on the upswing, it might be able to sign the Italian champion despite not being an immediate contender for the title.
Moreover, players’ behavior on and off the track will greatly influence Riders’ Market dynamics. As I mentioned earlier, last year we introduced a rivalry system as well as a fictional social network where riders, teams, and manufacturers interact with each other. The evolution of rivalries as well as likes and replies on the fictional social network will fuel rumors about possible future transfers, which players will be able to keep an eye on through a dedicated menu of the career mode.
The Riders Market is the last major piece we needed to fully shape the game and the series itself, and I can’t wait to see our fans getting the most out of it. Will there be a day when we see the young, predestined Pedro Acosta challenging the eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez in the same team? Or maybe we are about to witness Fabio Quartararo’s new legacy away from Yamaha? History is still to be written.
MotoGP 24 will be available on May 2, 2024, on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to enjoy a 3-month free trial of Apple TV+ on your Xbox. Whether you’re a sports fan, an action lover, or a comedy enthusiast, you’ll find something to suit your taste on Apple TV+. But hurry, this offer ends on July 7, 2024, so act now and claim your 3 months of unlimited streaming.
Imagine watching the thrilling adventures of “Argylle”, the world’s greatest spy, as he travels across the globe with a star-studded cast. Or cheering for Aaron Judge and the Yankees as they face their rivals on “Friday Night Baseball” from MLB. Or diving into the history and heroism of “Masters of the Air”, the Apple Original series that follows the lives of American bomber pilots in World War II.
Not fully intrigued? How about the chance to catch the GOAT, Lionel Messi, play with his former FC Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, as they lead Inter Miami CF through the MLS gauntlet this season?
This is just some of the amazing content you can watch on Apple TV+, along with countless other movies and shows. You can also enjoy award-winning documentaries, kids’ entertainment, dramas, and more, all in stunning 4K HDR quality. And with the Apple TV app on your Xbox, you can easily browse and access all your favorite content in one place.
But don’t take our word for it. Try it for yourself and see why Apple TV+ is the ultimate streaming service for Xbox users. All you need to do is sign up for a new or qualified returning Apple TV+ subscription on your Xbox before July 7, 2024, and you’ll get 3 months of Apple TV+ for free. No strings attached, no hidden fees, just unlimited entertainment at your fingertips.
Don’t wait, this offer won’t last forever. Grab your Xbox controller and start your free trial of Apple TV+ today. You’ll be glad you did. Terms apply, visit the website to learn more.
Why not try something new with Free Play Days? Dungeons 3, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising and I am Fish are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday April 18 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, April 21 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
Dungeons 3 Through enticing the dark elf priestess Thalya from the fluffy clutches of the surface world to become his chief lieutenant, the Dungeon Lord has found a way to direct his campaign of conquest from the confines of his underground lair. With Thalya on the front line, and the united forces of evil to support her, players will have to use every trick in the book to best those do-gooders of the overworld, once and for all!
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising Embark on a captivating prelude to the highly anticipated Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes with Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, available for Free Play Days. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a rich, interconnected action-RPG full of vibrant characters and compelling storytelling. Experience the intertwining fates of CJ, Isha, and Garoo and get a glimpse of what’s to come in Hundred Heroes, launching April 23. Experience a story of friendship, discovery, and adventure that sets the stage for the grand tale to follow.
I am Fish From the creators of the hit I am Bread, I Am Fish is a charming, physics-based adventure starring four intrepid fish friends, forcibly separated from their home in a pet shop fish tank. Swim, fly, roll and chomp your way to the open ocean in a bid for freedom and to re-unite once again.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
How The Riders Market Addition is Turning MotoGP 24 Into the Most Authentic Entry Yet
Summary
MotoGP24 will feature the Riders Market for the first time in the history of the franchise
Both AI and players might be proposed to change teams, including promotion between classes
MotoGP24 will be available on May 2, 2024, on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
As the Lead Designer, working on a series like MotoGP is extremely challenging. Our goal has always been to replicate as closely as possible the real competition and finding room for innovative improvements is not easy. However, this is also what makes our job special and the reason why I’m so proud of the hefty experience MotoGP 24 will deliver to our fans, whose voices have become more and more central in shaping the series.
Since In the last year, we’ve met our players’ requests like never before by introducing Dynamic Weather and Flag-to-Flag races. This year, we’re following the same path by adding what is probably the most requested and long-awaited feature by the community, as MotoGP 24 career mode marks the introduction of the Riders Market. Here’s how it’s going to change the game for the better.
Starting this year, riders of all categories will be able to change teams, including promotion between classes. This way, players will see roster updates in every in-game season, thus finding exciting new challenges and scenarios to experience every year. The possibilities are endless, as both the AI and players might be proposed to change teams as seasons progress. Importantly, we designed the feature with the intent of offering different but always plausible championships. The Riders Market is based on a set of algorithms that generate transfers weaving the riders’ performance with the prestige and aspirations of each team. Consequently, riders are considered differently by teams based on their past results and the goals they want to achieve. For instance, a rising star like Jorge Martin might be called to bring the Repsol Honda Team back to the top after many difficult years.
Notably, since last year the career mode has become much more dynamic thanks to the introduction of turning points and rivalries, thus revolving around the performances and choices of each player. The Riders Market will follow and accentuate such a philosophy; if the player achieves excellent results in a minor team, he could even steal the seat of a real rider in a top team forcing him to find another contract. If he doesn’t, he will be excluded from the next season but could still come back after one or two years in case a struggling team needs an experienced rider to help with the development of the bike.
Likewise, if a team underperforms, riders will look for something better. Imagining the Ducati Lenovo Team losing competitiveness over the years, its top rider Francesco Bagnaia might look around. Just like in real life, his choice will not only be determined by the current values of the other bikes on the grid, but future perspectives will count as well. If the Aprilia Factory Racing Team obtains steadily convincing performances proving to be on the upswing, it might be able to sign the Italian champion despite not being an immediate contender for the title.
Moreover, players’ behavior on and off the track will greatly influence Riders’ Market dynamics. As I mentioned earlier, last year we introduced a rivalry system as well as a fictional social network where riders, teams, and manufacturers interact with each other. The evolution of rivalries as well as likes and replies on the fictional social network will fuel rumors about possible future transfers, which players will be able to keep an eye on through a dedicated menu of the career mode.
The Riders Market is the last major piece we needed to fully shape the game and the series itself, and I can’t wait to see our fans getting the most out of it. Will there be a day when we see the young, predestined Pedro Acosta challenging the eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez in the same team? Or maybe we are about to witness Fabio Quartararo’s new legacy away from Yamaha? History is still to be written.
MotoGP 24 will be available on May 2, 2024, on PlayStation5, PlayStation4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
There is often no greater time sink than a good management simulator, and when they come as witty and delightful as Galacticare, it’s even harder to put them down. Galacticare is a bizarre and brilliant strategy game where you’re tasked with the running of an interstellar health company, managing hospitals, discovering weird, alien ailments, and finding ways to cure them. Xbox Wire was fortunate enough to get our hands-on a never-before-seen level, and speak with Galacticare Creative Director Josh Bishop about the makings of this wacky adventure.
Bishop tells us that crafting a hospital game was developer Brightrock Games’ vision from the outset, but they wanted to build more than a management simulator. The team wanted to push the boundaries of the genre’s mechanics, while putting a fun, unique narrative at the forefront of the experience.
“The backdrop that gave us the most freedom to explore was the choice to set the game in space,” Bishop says. “Being able to create a whole galaxy with eccentric alien species, unusual diseases and out of this world technology would not have been possible without a setting of this kind.”
The space setting also makes way for this cast of quirky, non-human characters to engage in similarly wacky stories, which was important for the team. This shines through in Galacticare‘s clever dialogue; the recurring characters are a cast to get to know, not just an aimless NPC to prop up the gameplay.
“Often with simulator games, narrative is secondary. For us, it was one of our primary goals: to give the game, the world, a story that the player will remember,” Bishop says.
Often with simulator games, narrative is secondary. For us, it was one of our primary goals.
“As the main character, we want you to feel a part of this episodic journey through the stars. The dialogue is a huge part of crafting that with our players, immersing themselves in a colourful galaxy that they play one of the most significant parts in.”
We got a taste of this during our playthrough of Many Me, the sixth level of Galacticare‘s story mode. Here your job is to organise and treat clones of a single character, the villainous geneticist Dr Ohdious. The plot twist? This is not a hospital, it’s a prison, built to house Dr Ohdious and his many illegal clones. Due to security issues, you’ll need to create more clones to help cure the inmates, rather than hiring outside talent for the jobs at hand.
“Dr Ohdious, the consultant for this level, was actually one of the first consultants we designed, knowing that we wanted to create a level focused solely around him,” Bishop tells us. “His maverick approach to cloning gave us a vehicle to twist the gameplay into a unique experience mechanically and narratively for players: clone your own doctors.”
Fortunately, Dr. Ohdious has seen fit to share his knowledge of cloning with us, at least. This level also opens up the Cerebral Rehab, alongside the ability to clone your staff, or wipe the minds of existing employees, so they can re-train in whatever discipline you need. I get very attached to my subjects, to the ability to sculpt them to my precise (and often chaotic) needs was an extremely welcome change to Galacticare‘s formula.
Many Me isn’t alone in being a unique gameplay experience, either. Bishop tells us that many of the levels in Galacticare alter the core gameplay in various ways, which will keep you on your toes, and stop you from following the same pattern when you enter a brand new scenario.
Dr Ohdious is one of Galacticare‘s Consultants – one-of-a-kind doctors that can be unlocked as you progress through the story, and will remain on hand for recruitment in future levels. Each Consultant comes with their own unique personality and story, as well as their own abilities, which makes them both useful and memorable as you progress.
“Consultants play a vital component in guiding you through interesting gameplay choices and moment-to-moment decision making,” Bishop adds. “In a genre where choices can sometimes start narrowing once you’ve committed to a path – they aim to give flexibility and support.”
Many Me is just one of the extremely fun scenarios that Galacticare places you in, and I can’t wait to get fully stuck in to this zany universe. Scrub up for a truly out of this world experience when Galacticare launches on Xbox Series X|S later this year.
Explore games featuring powerful women on Xbox Game Pass
Katy Jo Wright, Xbox Senior Director, discusses the many ways women show up in the video game industry
Artist Amika Cooper celebrates women as main characters through redesigned Xbox logo
To celebrate women’s contributions to gaming, we’re focusing on the main character energy that women bring every single day to the Gaming industry. Whether it be the women who develop games, test games, or market games, we’re bringing our all to the franchises that you all know and love to play. As the Senior Director of Gaming for Everyone & Sustainability at Xbox, I’ve worked with the entire Gaming organization to ensure we’re approaching decisions with an inclusion mindset, because, as our Gaming for Everyone Core Principle states: “When we don’t intentionally include, we unintentionally exclude.” You can see the results of this across all of Xbox, and this is how we deliver on our mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet.
An approach I take in life is, “Live your life by design – not by default.” From a gaming perspective, we apply this with an “inclusion by design” framework to ensure women feel truly represented and experience a deep sense of belonging, across all aspects of gaming. Whether it’s about intentional, thoughtful character design where women see themselves as the main character, how people play either on console, PC, or handheld–the experiences for women gamers vary just as dramatically as any other community.
What excites me the most is seeing more women actively participating in gaming, either as a developer or a fan–or both! While we recognize International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, the work to ensure women feel represented, seen, and belong on Xbox happens every single day. It’s a journey and we’re always learning how to get better, but we’re committed and in it for the long haul. I believe that willingness to commit to every step in the journey, and get stronger with each step is main character energy.
Join me in celebrating women who have inspired you in the gaming industry by posting on LinkedIn and nominating an #XboxMainCharacter. It could be a woman who developed a game you love, a content creator whose channel you love, or simply someone who helped you feel a sense of belonging and invited you to play! We stand on the shoulders of those who have done this work before us—the many amazing people who included us–and it is our legacy to continue supporting and making gaming approachable and inclusive for the women behind us. Join Xbox in our celebration by reading about the exciting activations taking place throughout the year below:
Give
Xbox and Women in Games International Partner to Connect Women in the Industry
In celebration of Women’s History Month, Xbox is proud to announce an ongoing partnership with Women in Games International (WIGI), a nonprofit organization with a mission to cultivate resources to advance economic equality and diversity in the global games industry.
WIGI was founded in 2005 and has been working to highlight, celebrate and connect women, femme-identifying, and nonbinary professionals in the games industry. Through their programs, newsletters, panels, workshops, and networking events, WIGI works to normalize diversity in the games industry by increasing representation and paving the way for the next generation of games industry professionals.
Xbox shares WIGI’s vision of a more inclusive and diverse games industry, where everyone can play, create, and enjoy games. Xbox is committed to finding more ways to elevate women in gaming and support their growth and development. As part of our partnership, Xbox and WIGI will collaborate on initiatives connecting WIGI’s audience with the talent and resources that Xbox is able to share. We’ll share more details on Xbox’s partnership with Women in Games International at a later date.
Together, WIGI and Xbox are working to uplift more of the main character energy happening among women in the games industry.
You can learn more about WIGI and their work at their website: https://www.getwigi.com/. You can also follow them on Twitter: @getwigi and Facebook: Women in Games International.
Gaming and Impact with Rewards
Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting women with Xbox. The organizations below will be featured on console throughout March:
Women inGames International – Women in Games International works to cultivate resources such as advanced knowledge sharing, access to technology, and actionable mentorship programs to normalize diversity in the games industry through increased representation. (US only)
National Center for Transgender Equality – NCTE advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. (US Only)
Xbox gamers can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games and completing Game Pass Quests, and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Start earning today and donate through Xbox.
Play
Explore Games Featuring Powerful Women
Powerful can mean many things, from being able to take on a horde of enemies to being able to practice empathy for others. During March and beyond, you can play a variety of game collections featuring powerful women as protagonists and games created by women.
Examples of powerful games to play include these awesome titles and more:
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud, and Rated M) – Play as Senua, a Celtic warrior who bravely travels to the depths of Norse hell on a quest to save the soul of her dead lover. You must overcome physical challenges and those presented by Senua’s mind.
Celeste (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Follow the story of Madeline, a trans woman navigating the physical and emotional obstacles on her self-discovery quest to the top of Celeste Mountain. Written, designed, and directed by Maddy Thorson.
Rise of the Tomb Raider (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud, and Rated M) – Join one of the most classic video game heroines, Lara Croft, on her first tomb raiding expedition in a reimagined cinematic universe. Conquer a wild world of landscapes and configure Lara’s gear to suit your play style in this survival action adventure.
Ravenlok (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Created by Vanessa Chia, escape into a fairytale adventure inspired by her nostalgia of growing up Malaysia. Fulfill your destiny as the young girl, Ravenlok, on a whimsical journey to defeat the Caterpillar queen.
Bluey (Available with Xbox Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) – Fun for the whole family, experience the joy and wonder of Bluey’s world in this interactive adventure game based on the iconic children’s TV series about two sisters. Play with friends and family in story mode and in free play, create your own scenes, collect items for your sticker book, and uncover hidden references in every location.
New Forza Horizon 5 Vinyl Decal for Women’s History Month
This year’s Women’s History Month-themed Xbox art, designed by Amika Cooper, is now in Forza Horizon 5 as a vinyl: an in-game decal that you can use to customize any car. Show off this unique design on your car using #ForzaWHM on social media for a chance to be featured! (Visit the in-game Creative menu > Vinyl Groups and search for the share code: 171 005 410 .)
Discover
Artist Amika Cooper Reimagines the Xbox Logo in Celebration of Women who Bring Main Character Energy
For Women’s History Month, Xbox commissioned artist Amika Cooper, also known as blackpowerbarbie, to redesign the Xbox logo in celebration of women gamers and the way they define who gamers are by embracing main character energy. Amika used that inspiration to create an image of the Xbox sphere at the center of a lair, representing a safe place in gaming created by and celebrating the creativity of women. In her words, “The logo is presented as a gem because I think the energy women bring to gaming makes us ‘diamonds in the rough’. I wanted it to be vibrant, stimulating, and fun – a lot of my work is creating my own surreal and fantastic landscapes, so I wanted to impart that sense of whimsy here.”
Xbox Ambassadors Features New Quests for Women’s History Month
We believe that every woman deserves recognition as a main character. For this Women’s History Month, we’ve connected with women from the Xbox Ambassadors community to put a spotlight on their experience as a woman in gaming. Read along on theXbox Ambassadors Community Blog.
Taking our celebration to the next level, we’re featuring a series of Quests, all month long, for Xbox Ambassadors to complete and unlock rewards. The Women’s History Month Quests feature games made by women creators and/or feature women as the main character. Join the fun and become an Xbox Ambassador today!
WHM Dynamic Background Available Now
Amika Cooper’s Women’s History Month Xbox Sphere is available today as a dynamic background on console – follow these steps to apply it:
Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.
You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.
It’s also available as an Xbox wallpaper to personalize your devices!
Critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online has officially launched into Open Beta on Xbox Series X|S
Boasting 4K support on Xbox Series X and faster loading times on both consoles, all progress will carry over to the full launch
Our Starter Guide Series offers tips and tricks to make your early steps into the realm of Eorzea even better
It’s been a long old journey, but we’re thrilled to finally be able to say critically acclaimed Online RPG Final Fantasy XIV Online is officially available on Xbox Series X|S!
Today’s launch into Open Beta offers Xbox players the full breadth of content available in the much-hyped Free Trial, with more to come when the full release arrives. Better yet, all progress will carry over, so let’s take a look at what’s on offer as well as give you some tips and tricks about how to start your adventures in Eorzea!
What is Final Fantasy XIV Online?
We covered this in detail last time, but Final Fantasy XIV Online is an online massively multiplayer role-playing game boasting a global community over 30 million adventurers strong, and widely regarded as having one of the most welcoming communities on the internet.
Despite the title, a key point is that Final Fantasy XIV Online is a standalone game that doesn’t require any previous experience with the franchise, making it the perfect place to jump in. Expect a world filled with bustling cities, towering forests and deadly deserts, with a constantly updated and ever-engaging world taking you to the far reaches of the land—and beyond—with a captivating and ongoing story.
If multiplayer games feel a bit overwhelming, FFXIV includes a feature called the Duty Support system that enables tackling content with a party of NPC allies as opposed to other players. This now spans all the main story dungeons currently in the game, meaning you can experience the award-winning narrative all on your own.
What’s Available Now… and What’s Coming Next?
Today’s launch into Open Beta brings all the content available in the Free Trial to Xbox Series X|S. This means you can enjoy the entirety of A Realm Reborn as well as the award-winning Heavensward and Stormblood expansions up to level 70, with no restrictions on playtime!
All progress made will carry over to the full release when it arrives, giving you plenty of time to get up to speed before our newest expansion, Dawntrail arrives in Summer… but more on that another time!
Any Tips and Tricks for Beginners?
With a world as big as FFXIV’s, it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start. Thankfully, our Starter Guide series has your back. The seven-part video series offers early tips and tricks for new players to get the most out of their adventures in Eorzea. The series follows the journey of new player Kaz and his mentor Mayra, who guides him through his first steps in FFXIV.
Each episode is designed to assist with beginning your journey, whether playing solo at your own pace, or joining others to explore the world together. If you’re a more experienced Warrior of Light, feel free to share this series with friends who are just taking the first steps of their adventures!
You can check out the whole series in a playlist here, or click on the first episode below.
That’s all for today – we’re so excited to welcome you to Eorzea, and can’t wait to share more information on Dawntrail very soon indeed! Until then, happy adventuring!
Play FINAL FANTASY XIV Online for FREE!
The FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Free Trial includes three award-winning titles – FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn the base game, and the first and second expansions: FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood.
Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience all the hallmarks of the best-selling franchise – an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of diverse and captivating environments to explore.
Party up with friends or play solo! Experience all the main story dungeons on your own by calling upon NPC allies to fight by your side.
The FFXIV Open Beta is only available for newly created Square Enix accounts.
• Users will not be able to link existing accounts during the Open Beta period. If you would like to link an existing Square Enix account, please wait until the full launch of FFXIV on Xbox.
• If you create a new Square Enix account in order to play the Xbox Open Beta, please be aware that you will not be able to link it to another Square Enix account in the future.
If you wish to play FFXIV on Xbox with an existing Square Enix account and its associated characters, please wait until the full Xbox launch.
IMPORTANT:
• Requires game purchase and on-going subscription to continue playing after the Free Trial.
• All editions of the game require user registration.
• Age restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the User Agreement (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_agreement) and Square Enix Account Terms of Use (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_terms) for the terms and conditions of registration and service. Please visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV website at https://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/ for additional information.
A New Villain will be joining My Hero Ultra Rumblefrom February 21, 2024.
A bit high-strung and not overly coherent in word and deed, but he’s a villain who loves his friends – Twice joins the rumble!
My Hero Ultra Rumble has many characters with visuals and Quirks that are faithful to the original manga. Twice is one of them, and players can experience the same skill as shown in the original, including the iconic skill that create alter egos with the Quirk “Twice”.
We’re thrilled to bring this popular character to this battle royale. Here to tell you more is our game producer, Aoba Miyazaki, who has put together some tips and insights on the Twice character development so you can maximize, and dare we say, duplicate your best efforts with his Quirk!
Skill Introduction
Defeat your opponent, get their measurements, and create clones of yourself or your enemies with your Quirk when you choose Twice.
“The charm of Twice in the original story has been incorporated into his techniques as a playable character,” says Miyazaki. “He has a tricky special action that lets him duplicate the enemy, and we hope you will use it to cause mischief and add a new element of excitement to your battles.”
“We put a lot of effort into keeping his voice and visuals to be authentic and just as appealing as the original, and we hope you will connect with him in game!”
Quirk Skill – Dagger Shot
Feature: Long-range attack utilizing multiple thrown knives. Strike your opponent in a burst of blades.
Tips: As you will be throwing multiple knives, it is possible to limit the opponent’s movement by aiming for hit stops with multiple hits.
While the Quirk Skill is hitting, and the opponent’s movement is slowing down, work together with your allies to inflict massive damage.
Quirk Skill – Self Duplicate
Feature: Create a clone of yourself. Clones disappear after approaching and attacking an opponent.
Tips: When fighting in an area with many objects, use them to hide yourself or get out of sight of your opponent, and aggressively use the Quirk Skill to confuse your opponent by attacking in such a way that they cannot tell whether you are the main body or an alter ego.
Quirk Skill – Foot Boost
Feature: Move in the direction of your extended measuring tape and use knife to attack. It can be used as a means of transportation, as it can travel to the tip of the tape measure.
Tips: Since it can also be used to move vertically, this Quirk Skill can be used while looking up to move on top of buildings in the new U.A. Island stage, which has many buildings. The Quirk Skill can be used for both surprise attacks and evacuation, allowing the user to move freely around the stage.
Special Action – Mud Imitation
Feature: Deals the final blow to a downed opponent and creates a clone of them. The clone will remain active until they are defeated or the opponent is revived.
Tips: The HP of the alter ego created by a Special Action is based on the character’s HP. Currently, there is no upper limit to the number of alter egos that can be created by a Special Action, so Twice players can actively aim to create alter egos of characters with high HP and overwhelm the battlefield.
PUR Costume for Twice – Paper Bag Disguise
This costume is from the original anime, and it is faithfully reproduced down to the handles of the paper bag.
The costume also comes in color variations original to the game. We hope players will have fun expressing themselves by unlocking color variations that suit their personal styles.
And there you have it! Confuse your opponents and overwhelm the battlefield with countless imitations of your fallen foes when Twice joins the fray on February 21.
Season 3 is here!
A new stage, U.A. Island, is added in Season 3!
Don't miss out on battling on a new stage which includes new areas, such as U.A. High School and shopping malls!
Izuku Midoriya's Quirk skill set, Full Bullet, is now available!
Change Izuku’s Quirk skill set for a new way to achieve victory!
Don't miss out on Season 3 Licenses and new PUR costumes!
New characters will be added during Season 3!
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!
Leap into the fray with your fellow heroes…and villains! Use communication, tactics, and synergize Quirks with your team of 3 to be the last ones standing in this 24-player Battle Royale!
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR QUIRK!
Pick up your favorite characters from a quirky roster divided into 5 archetypes: Strike, Assault, Rapid, Technical, and Support. The strengths of each character are completely different depending on their unique Quirk.
COLLECT ITEMS AND GET STRONGER!
Find items, interact with civilians, and defeat opponents to improve your abilities and get the upper hand over other teams!
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE!
Unlock new characters and customization options by gaining experience and completing missions. Participate in seasonal events and try your luck with tickets to glam up with exclusive items!
The game will be updated each season to include new elements, focusing on new characters and costumes!
Jump in and get a hold of the rapidly changing battle conditions!
*This game is meant to be played online only. It cannot be played in offline mode.
*An internet connection is required to play this game.
*The service and its contents are subject to change or end without prior notice.
Purge the forces of chaos in brutal turn-based combat, available on Xbox February 20
Combat Nurgle’s sinister plot in an epic campaign penned by legendary Warhammer 40,000 and Black Library author Aaron Dembski-Bowden
Shape your own elite squad of Grey Knights; tailor their abilities, equipment and even their appearances as you clash with the daemonic
Chaos threatens humanity once again. Reports of a mysterious plague named ‘the Bloom’ emerge from the Tyrtaeus sector, and the arrival of an Imperial Inquisitor sets in motion a chain of events which will test your tactical prowess to its limits.
In Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters, you’ll take command of the Grey Knights, an elite chapter and secretive order of Space Marines, tasked with aiding the Inquisitor in the eradication of this foul corruption.
Force Commander, given the grave nature of this new threat, I have been authorised to distribute the following confidential military doctrine to assist your encounters with this plague. I hope that these Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters tips serve you well. For the Emperor!
Turn-based tactics, Space Marines style
A single Grey Knight is an army unto itself, whether executing enemies at distance or purging them in melee combat. Your elite soldiers don’t miss their shots, offering you total precision when they open fire on the forces of Chaos. Repeatedly attacking foes will stun them, creating an opportunity to target specific body parts and reduce your foe’s effectiveness or even unleash a stunning execution to boost your entire squad with an extra action.
Take Down the Reapers of the Bloom
Force Commander, early reports indicate that the Grey Knights will take on towering, powerful boss enemies in the form of the Reapers of the Bloom, from Greater Daemons such as Aeger the Benevolent, to the hulking corroded Chaos Knight, Cruciatus the Generous. Each will require you to rethink your tactics in order to achieve victory. But an even graver threat awaits those who discover the Bloom: Mortarion, the Death Lord and Primarch of the Death Guard.
Personalize the Grey Knights
As Force Commander, you can customise each battle-brother to your liking, tweaking crests, skin colour, hair colour, armour pieces and more. Grey Knights arrive trained as a particular class, starting with the Justicar, Interceptor, Apothecary and Purgator. An additional set of four advanced classes unlock throughout the campaign. As your Grey Knights gain experience, you will be able to further shape their training to suit your style on the battlefield, sharpening their skills until they become the ultimate weapon against the darkness.
An Unpredictable Enemy
Across an expansive campaign, our prognosticars suggest you will face a wide variety of Nurgle’s threats such as Poxwalkers, Helbrutes, Plague Marines, and Myphitic Blight-haulers as you battle the Bloom. Enemies will mutate across combat missions depending on which strain of the Bloom is present, visually changing them and offering combat buffs such as additional armour.
Psyker Power
Each Grey Knight has a reserve of Willpower, which is spent on psychic powers, and is primarily regained by slaying enemies on the battlefield. Psychic powers range from increasing the power of melee attacks to area of effect buffs for your Knights. Additionally, by supporting Inquisitor Vakir’s research into the Bloom, you’ll gain the ability to deploy powerful single-use psychic abilities called Stratagems which can turn the tide of an entire battle.
Purging the Bloom
Between battles, you’ll preside over command of the Strike Cruiser, the Baleful Edict. From the helm, you’ll respond to the growing Bloom threat, monitoring its spread via the Star Map and deciding where to go next. But be warned, you will have to make tough choices in order to limit the Bloom’s spread. The longer you leave an outbreak unchecked, the more enemy resistance you can expect.
The Changing Battlefield
Combat zones will change over time as the Bloom takes hold, offering new cover opportunities as well as new hazards. Players can also utilise the environment to their advantage, unleashing massive plasma battery explosions or collapsing pillars on foes. Players can set waypoints for their Grey Knights as they tactically move around each map, avoiding parts of the level where an enemy might be in overwatch stance, or where noxious corruption might otherwise damage them.
Upgrades on the Baleful Edict
The Baleful Edict acts as your command centre, where you’ll find key areas in need of your attention. The Manufactorum lets players first repair and later upgrade their vessel, enhancing its response capabilities significantly. In the Armoury, Grand Master Vardan Kai offers equipment requisition to boost the war effort. Finally, in the Libris Malleus, Inquisitor Vakir will enhance the Grey Knights’ combat abilities and unlock tide-turning psychic abilities called Stratagems.
Add to Your Arsenal
By showing its dedication to the chapter, your Strike Force is granted rewards over time such as additional Grey Knights, Master-crafted weapons, Armour and specialized Wargear. Completing optional combat mission challenges known as Glorious Deeds, which impose tougher limitations or objectives, will unlock additional requisition points to spend in the armoury.
Beware the Warp
Warp Surges are unpredictable combat mission events that can call in new enemy reinforcements, activate powerful mutations, and introduce unpredictable effects and hazards onto the battlefield, upping the challenge. The more corrupt the map, the more likely a Warp Surge event will occur, but enemy actions and Grey Knight abilities can further influence Warp Surges as well.
I hope these insights provide a guide for your investigations Force Commander. You can start your battle against the Bloom right now on Xbox. Share your triumphs with your fellow Grey Knights on our social media channels and strike down this foul corruption!
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