Kategorie: News

  • Arduino and System Electronics partner for industrial vision and AI-powered inventory and logistics

    Arduino and System Electronics partner for industrial vision and AI-powered inventory and logistics

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Arduino and System Electronics are joining forces to create cutting-edge solutions for industrial and building automation, focusing specifically on edge computing to deliver real-time processing, predictive analytics, and seamless integration for AI-driven inventory management and logistics. 

    System Electronics – as an “Innovation accelerators for over 50 years” – brings to the table the electronics and mechatronics expertise to facilitate innovation and make a decisive contribution to their clients’ competitive edge. “Our collaboration with System Electronics merges their deep industrial expertise with Arduino’s focus on edge computing, enabling businesses to deploy intelligent, scalable automation solutions faster than ever. From AI-driven inventory management to predictive maintenance and real-time quality control, this partnership empowers industrial players to optimize operations, reduce downtime, and drive efficiency with cutting-edge technology,” our CEO Fabio Violante announced. “This is another step toward making advanced AI and automation accessible to industries of all sizes, accelerating the transformation of smart manufacturing and logistics.”

    Andrea Gozzi, General Manager of System Electronics added, “At System Electronics, we believe in developing solutions that bring real value to industrial automation. By partnering with Arduino, we’ll create powerful and flexible AI-driven solutions that meet the needs of modern manufacturing, robotics, and smart infrastructure: innovations built for reliability, scalability, and performance.” 

    The benefits of a partnership for innovation

    AI-driven inventory and warehouse management leverage computer vision and automation to make predictive maintenance and autonomous decision-making faster and more efficient than ever.

    To fully explore these opportunities, Arduino and System Electronics are integrating acceleration technology from Hailo, a leader in Edge AI processors. By combining Hailo’s AI acceleration, Arduino’s open ecosystem, and System Electronics’ industrial-grade expertise, this collaboration aims to deliver real-time, high-performance automation solutions with enhanced precision and speed – bringing intelligence directly to where it’s needed most.

    Why explore smart inventory and logistics

    Smart factories and connected warehouses leverage powerful, real-time AI computing at the edge to improve efficiency and quality standards. 

    For example, computer vision can be employed at the edge to detect defects and irregularities, as well as to automate warehouse logistics with precise item tracking and storage optimization; sensor data can be analyzed to implement predictive maintenance and tackle anomalies before failures occur, reducing downtime; motion planning and obstacle avoidance can be optimized for AGVs and robotic arms thanks to intelligent control based on data and AI. 

    See the demo in action at Embedded World

    Within their collaboration, Arduino and System Electronics have developed an innovative solution for Modula, leaders in warehouse automation: “We are committed to revolutionizing intralogistics through automation and smart technology that make processes easier. Harnessing the power of AI-driven intelligence allows us to enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, and deliver even greater value to our customers without adding complexities for them,” said Franco Stefani, founder of Modula.

    This demo for a smart inventory solution will debut at Embedded World 2025 (Nuremberg, March 11th-13th): visit Arduino in Hall 3A, Booth #313, to see it in action and connect with the experts behind its development.

    The post Arduino and System Electronics partner for industrial vision and AI-powered inventory and logistics appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • A Minecraft Movie: Neuer Trailer und Tickets im Verkauf

    A Minecraft Movie: Neuer Trailer und Tickets im Verkauf

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    We also have a surprise for US moviegoers – soar and dart through the Overworld sky with the jetpack add-on!* Get your hands on it and strap in by buying a ticket to to the film’s opening weekend through our official A MINECRAFT MOVIE partner, Fandango. Now those piglins really won’t see you coming…  

    The movie is so close I can almost smell the popcorn… In fact, tickets are on sale right now! Make sure you get yours if you want to be the first to see A MINECRAFT MOVIE on opening weekend.  

    * Add-on requires Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (sold separately), with access to the internet. 

    Website: LINK

  • Forza Horizon 5: Tauche am 25. April in die Horizon Realms ein

    Forza Horizon 5: Tauche am 25. April in die Horizon Realms ein

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    This April, the Horizon Festival evolves with Horizon Realms.

    This brand-new feature will let players dig into Forza Horizon 5’s history of Evolving World updates. Explore 12 fantastic Evolving World locations: 11 of the best previously limited-time locations and the premiering Stadium Track.

    Collect new Horizon Realms-exclusive accolades to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars. 

    Revisit your favorite environments, or discover them for the first time, in Horizon Realms available for every platform on April 25! 

    A Selection of the Best Evolving Worlds

    Horizon Realms gives players the chance to explore a hand-picked collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving World updates. 

    Get ready to (re-)discover and adventure though these beloved locations while behind the wheel of your favorite cars: 

    • Stunt Park 

    • Ice Rink 

    • Oval Track 

    • Summer Party 

    • Neon Airstrip

    • Día de Muertos 

    • Winter Wonderland 

    • Lunar Drift Arena 

    • Retrowave Highway 

    • Cars and Coffee 

    • Stadium Maze

    Along with these 11 returning environments, we are bringing the brand-new Stadium Track!
    You can also race around this Evolving World with the new permanent race route coming to the game, the Horizon Stadium Circuit. You can find details further into this post. 

    New Dedicated Accolade Tab

    A new Accolade Tab exclusive to Horizon Realms will be added to the game featuring 60+ accolades. While most of them are new to this update, you will also be able to unlock previously released accolades tied to the returning Evolving Worlds that are now accessible with Horizon Realms.  

    Each of the Evolving World locations featured in Horizon Realms includes 5 new accolades to unlock! Find them under the Horizon Realms Accolades tab. You can also find an Accolade for the Horizon Stadium Circuit under the Road Racing tab.

    Complete Horizon Realms Accolades to acquire 12 new badges coming to the game. Plus, for the first time ever, unlocking an accolade will reward the player with #Forzathon Points! Go for a 100% in every Realm and unlock rewards with your newly acquired Points.

    Earning accolades will also score new cars for your garage. Complete unique challenges featured on every Realm to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars:

    • Lamborghini’s take on a hyper hybrid, the 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

    • Stomp the off-road scene with the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato

    • The mightiest version of the Exige, the 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430

    • Ride the king of the Ice Age with the 2022 Hennessey Mammoth 6×6

    Two Ways to Dive into Horizon Realms

    There will be two different ways to experience Horizon Realms: 

    Skill Mode

    Choose one of the Horizon Realms to enter and try to bank as much Skill Score as possible. Each Evolving World has its own separate Skill Score leaderboard, and there will also be a total Skill Score Leaderboard tallying up all points banked on each Realm – so try to take the top spot in all of them! 

    Earning enough Skill Score will also unlock new player Badges unique to Horizon Realms! 

    Free Mode

    This mode puts the leaderboards to the side and focuses on players having a good time in their favorite Realms. 

    Enter on your own or with your friends in a Convoy to explore your favorite Realms, obtain Badges tied to previous content updates, unlock accolades to earn #Forzathon Points, and more! 

    Start Your Engines at the New Horizon Stadium Circuit

    Line up at the starting line of a brand-new race route: the Horizon Stadium Circuit! Featuring corners, bends, and racing decorations, this new track will become a permanent race route in the game – complete with its own event icon on the map and Rivals leaderboard! 

    Score your best time on this new race route in Rivals and Horizon Open and explore the Stadium Track Realm in Horizon Realms‘ Free Mode and Skill Mode.

    Explore Nissan’s Heritage with a New Car Pack

    Four new cars from throughout Nissan’s automotive history will become available for purchase as Forza Horizon 5 releases for PlayStation 5 with the Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack.

    This new DLC pack includes the 1989 Nissan Pao, 1991 Nissan Figaro, 1989 Nissan S-Cargo, and the 1987 Nissan Be-1.

    Add these cars to your collection and customize them how you want!

    The Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack will be available starting April 25 for $4.99/€4.99/£3.99. Players who bought the Ultimate Car Pack Collection will receive this Car Pack at no additional cost.

    Pre-order Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 Today!

    Forza Horizon 5 is now available for pre-order ahead of its PS5 release on April 29! Visit the PlayStation Store to pre-purchase one of Forza Horizon 5’s different editions.

    Standard Edition comes with the complete base game and its free content and features like Horizon Realms.

    Get access to an extra 42 cars added with Car Pass by purchasing the Deluxe Edition of Forza Horizon 5.

    Upgrade your adventure to the fullest with the Premium Edition. This edition comes with both Forza Horizon 5 expansions (Rally Adventure and Hot Wheels), 42 additional cars from Car Pass, VIP Membership, and extra perks that are included in the Welcome Pack.

    Pre-ordering Premium Edition also grants you Early Access to the game, starting April 25, 2025!

    No matter which version of the game you choose to pre-order, you will get a special bundle completely free of charge with your purchase including:

    • Forza Horizon 5’s cover car: the 2021 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG ONE

    • 5,000 #Forzathon Points which can be used to buy cars and cosmetics

    • 5 Backstage Passes which can be used to unlock any hard-to-find car available in the Backstage Shop

    If you’re already playing Forza Horizon 5, be sure to share the news with your PS5 friends and invite them to join us at the Horizon Festival as cross-play will be available between all platforms!

    PlayStation 5 Graphics Modes

    Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 features two rendering modes to choose from: Performance (60fps) and Quality (30fps).

    On PS5 Pro, the Performance mode receives increased visual fidelity, while Quality mode adds ray traced car reflections to Races and Free Roam.

    We hope you are looking forward to exploring Forza Horizon 5’s vast open world and features with Horizon Realms across all platforms the game is available on. Remember that you can pre-order any version of Forza Horizon 5 starting today on the PlayStation Store to receive a special bundle; pre-purchasing Premium Edition will grant you Early Access on April 25.

    We’ll see you at the Horizon Festival soon!

    Website: LINK

  • A Minecraft Movie: New Trailer and Tickets on Sale

    A Minecraft Movie: New Trailer and Tickets on Sale

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    We also have a surprise for US moviegoers – soar and dart through the Overworld sky with the jetpack add-on!* Get your hands on it and strap in by buying a ticket to to the film’s opening weekend through our official A MINECRAFT MOVIE partner, Fandango. Now those piglins really won’t see you coming…  

    The movie is so close I can almost smell the popcorn… In fact, tickets are on sale right now! Make sure you get yours if you want to be the first to see A MINECRAFT MOVIE on opening weekend.  

    * Add-on requires Minecraft: Bedrock Edition (sold separately), with access to the internet. 

    Website: LINK

  • How we Got the “Herd” in Herdling

    How we Got the “Herd” in Herdling

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Summary

    • Atmospheric adventure about shepherding mysterious creatures through fantastical mountainscapes.
    • Create and customize your herd.
    • Encounter and overcome obstacles on epic adventures.

    In our game Herdling, you leave the city behind to start an adventure through the mountains. But you won’t be alone. Always with you: your herd of fantastical mountain creatures.

    Your task is to guide and shepherd these creatures, called “Calicorns”. Together you journey through autumnal forests and vast mountainscapes full of treacherous pathways, encountering mysterious discoveries and breathtaking views. You have to learn how the Calicorns behave, how you can responsibly guide them, and explore everything they are capable of.

    The herd of Calicorns is the core of the game. The player as the protagonist, named Via, has to move with and around the Calicorns to guide them into the correct direction, and help them find their way around obstacles and dangers. This careful navigation in hazardous environments takes turns with wide open plains that allow the herd to stampede – a powerful, exhilarating movement that can also take the Calicorns up otherwise slippery slopes when used strategically.

    Every once in a while, you find a spot to rest, where you can care for and bond with your Calicorns. You can tend to their wounds, clean their fur, play with them and sit around a cozy bonfire to get some well earned rest. On your adventures, you can find various ornaments and keepsakes to decorate your herd.

    Herdling campfire

    From a developer’s perspective, the herd guiding was the first thing we started working on and we never stopped improving it until the end of development. Our main goals were to make the guiding feel intuitive and natural, and to make the Calicorns feel alive enough to care for them. These two goals can be very opposing in many cases, so it was all about the right balance.

    To create a flowing and fun gameplay we wanted to avoid the feeling of an escort mission or an obstacle course. The player’s motivation should be the enjoyment of pressing forward, and not to avoid obstacles. To achieve this, there are different kinds of flowers on the ground that give the Calicorns the ability to stampede or to interact with specific parts of the environment. The stampede can then be used situationally to move faster and to charge through obstacles, such as sturdy shrubbery, deep snow or steep slopes.

    To make the herd believable, it was important to decide on the right size of the herd: Too many Calicorns would make the individual animals unimportant. Too few and it wouldn’t feel like a powerful herd.

    To create a bond with the Calicorns, each had to be distinguishable in some way. So, they have different fur colors and patterns, horn shapes, body sizes and even behave differently in some situations. We also wanted to let you give each Calicorn a custom name as you tame them to further strengthen that bond and sense of individuality. Later in the game, you will have a mighty herd of Calicorns, each with a different look, name and decorations … and experiences made together during the journey.

    Herdling screenshot

    Now, at the end of development, we’re very proud of our herd of Calicorns and everything we went through during the last few years. Every time we play the game – which we do a lot – we’re excited to go on an adventure with a new herd and run across mountain ridges with them. And we hope you will too when Herdling releases this Summer 2025. Wishlist today.

    Herdling

    Herdling

    Panic

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Herdling is a brand new adventure from Okomotive, creators of the atmospheric and acclaimed FAR games, and Panic, publishers of Firewatch. Head out on a grand alpine expedition with a herd of loveable beasts, as you ascend a mountain path, encounter eerie dangers and surprising obstacles, and forge your way to the mystery at the summit.

    Website: LINK

  • Forza Horizon 5: Dive into the Horizon Realms on April 25

    Forza Horizon 5: Dive into the Horizon Realms on April 25

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    This April, the Horizon Festival evolves with Horizon Realms.

    This brand-new feature will let players dig into Forza Horizon 5’s history of Evolving World updates. Explore 12 fantastic Evolving World locations: 11 of the best previously limited-time locations and the premiering Stadium Track.

    Collect new Horizon Realms-exclusive accolades to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars. 

    Revisit your favorite environments, or discover them for the first time, in Horizon Realms available for every platform on April 25! 

    A Selection of the Best Evolving Worlds

    Horizon Realms gives players the chance to explore a hand-picked collection of some of the community’s favorite previously released Evolving World updates. 

    Get ready to (re-)discover and adventure though these beloved locations while behind the wheel of your favorite cars: 

    • Stunt Park 

    • Ice Rink 

    • Oval Track 

    • Summer Party 

    • Neon Airstrip

    • Día de Muertos 

    • Winter Wonderland 

    • Lunar Drift Arena 

    • Retrowave Highway 

    • Cars and Coffee 

    • Stadium Maze

    Along with these 11 returning environments, we are bringing the brand-new Stadium Track!
    You can also race around this Evolving World with the new permanent race route coming to the game, the Horizon Stadium Circuit. You can find details further into this post. 

    New Dedicated Accolade Tab

    A new Accolade Tab exclusive to Horizon Realms will be added to the game featuring 60+ accolades. While most of them are new to this update, you will also be able to unlock previously released accolades tied to the returning Evolving Worlds that are now accessible with Horizon Realms.  

    Each of the Evolving World locations featured in Horizon Realms includes 5 new accolades to unlock! Find them under the Horizon Realms Accolades tab. You can also find an Accolade for the Horizon Stadium Circuit under the Road Racing tab.

    Complete Horizon Realms Accolades to acquire 12 new badges coming to the game. Plus, for the first time ever, unlocking an accolade will reward the player with #Forzathon Points! Go for a 100% in every Realm and unlock rewards with your newly acquired Points.

    Earning accolades will also score new cars for your garage. Complete unique challenges featured on every Realm to unlock four new-to-Horizon reward cars:

    • Lamborghini’s take on a hyper hybrid, the 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto

    • Stomp the off-road scene with the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Sterrato

    • The mightiest version of the Exige, the 2018 Lotus Exige Cup 430

    • Ride the king of the Ice Age with the 2022 Hennessey Mammoth 6×6

    Two Ways to Dive into Horizon Realms

    There will be two different ways to experience Horizon Realms: 

    Skill Mode

    Choose one of the Horizon Realms to enter and try to bank as much Skill Score as possible. Each Evolving World has its own separate Skill Score leaderboard, and there will also be a total Skill Score Leaderboard tallying up all points banked on each Realm – so try to take the top spot in all of them! 

    Earning enough Skill Score will also unlock new player Badges unique to Horizon Realms! 

    Free Mode

    This mode puts the leaderboards to the side and focuses on players having a good time in their favorite Realms. 

    Enter on your own or with your friends in a Convoy to explore your favorite Realms, obtain Badges tied to previous content updates, unlock accolades to earn #Forzathon Points, and more! 

    Start Your Engines at the New Horizon Stadium Circuit

    Line up at the starting line of a brand-new race route: the Horizon Stadium Circuit! Featuring corners, bends, and racing decorations, this new track will become a permanent race route in the game – complete with its own event icon on the map and Rivals leaderboard! 

    Score your best time on this new race route in Rivals and Horizon Open and explore the Stadium Track Realm in Horizon Realms‘ Free Mode and Skill Mode.

    Explore Nissan’s Heritage with a New Car Pack

    Four new cars from throughout Nissan’s automotive history will become available for purchase as Forza Horizon 5 releases for PlayStation 5 with the Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack.

    This new DLC pack includes the 1989 Nissan Pao, 1991 Nissan Figaro, 1989 Nissan Scargo, and the 1987 Nissan Be-1.

    Add these cars to your collection and customize them how you want!

    The Nissan Retro Rides Car Pack will be available starting April 25 for $4.99/€4.99/£3.99. Players who bought the Ultimate Car Pack Collection will receive this Car Pack at no additional cost.

    Pre-order Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 Today!

    Forza Horizon 5 is now available for pre-order ahead of its PS5 release on April 29! Visit the PlayStation Store to pre-purchase one of Forza Horizon 5’s different editions.

    Standard Edition comes with the complete base game and its free content and features like Horizon Realms.

    Get access to an extra 42 cars added with Car Pass by purchasing the Deluxe Edition of Forza Horizon 5.

    Upgrade your adventure to the fullest with the Premium Edition. This edition comes with both Forza Horizon 5 expansions (Rally Adventure and Hot Wheels), 42 additional cars from Car Pass, VIP Membership, and extra perks that are included in the Welcome Pack.

    Pre-ordering Premium Edition also grants you Early Access to the game, starting April 25, 2025!

    No matter which version of the game you choose to pre-order, you will get a special bundle completely free of charge with your purchase including:

    • Forza Horizon 5’s cover car: the 2021 Mercedes-AMG Mercedes-AMG ONE

    • 5,000 #Forzathon Points which can be used to buy cars and cosmetics

    • 5 Backstage Passes which can be used to unlock any hard-to-find car available in the Backstage Shop

    If you’re already playing Forza Horizon 5, be sure to share the news with your PS5 friends and invite them to join us at the Horizon Festival as cross-play will be available between all platforms!

    PlayStation 5 Graphics Modes

    Forza Horizon 5 on PS5 features two rendering modes to choose from: Performance (60fps) and Quality (30fps).

    On PS5 Pro, the Performance mode receives increased visual fidelity, while Quality mode adds ray traced car reflections to Races and Free Roam.

    We hope you are looking forward to exploring Forza Horizon 5’s vast open world and features with Horizon Realms across all platforms the game is available on. Remember that you can pre-order any version of Forza Horizon 5 starting today on the PlayStation Store to receive a special bundle; pre-purchasing Premium Edition will grant you Early Access on April 25.

    We’ll see you at the Horizon Festival soon!

    Website: LINK

  • Why Two Point Museum Takes the Management Sim in a Whole New Direction – Play Today

    Why Two Point Museum Takes the Management Sim in a Whole New Direction – Play Today

    Reading Time: 8 minutes

    For years, the Two Point series has taken players on delightfully eccentric journeys through the world of management sims. We’ve built busy hospitals, shaped the future of academia, and now, we’re setting our sights on a whole new challenge, and something rarely seen in the genre: museums!

    Two Point Museum launches for Xbox Series X|S on March 4, but you can play from today by purchasing the digital Explorer Edition. Find out why we made the switch to a brand new kind of management sim and, if you want to jump in right now, stick around for some handy tips on what we think is the best game in the series so far.

    Evolving the Two Point Formula with New Features

    One of the biggest challenges – and thrills – of creating Two Point Museum was adapting our beloved Two Point formula to an entirely new setting. Unlike hospitals or universities, where the core gameplay revolves around treating patients or educating students, museums are all about curation. You will build and expand your own institutions, filling them with exhibits that range from ancient relics to futuristic wonders, and even a few… let’s say, “unexpected” surprises, like guest-eating plants.

    Two Point Museum Image

    We’ve also introduced some exciting new layers of strategy to Two Point Museum, with the Expedition feature offering a whole new sense of adventure. As curator, you will be tasked with sending a team of (partially) trained experts on Expeditions to discover unique exhibits. You can find over 200 rare exhibits across multiple map locations across your home of Two Point County. Will they return with priceless fossils, cosmic relics, or a rapidly melting ice sculpture containing a caveman who may – or may not – make a run for it?

    Two Point Museum Image

    In Two Point Museum you will explore five distinct museum locations, each with their own unique progression path, exotic relics and creatures to find. Discover unusual dinosaur bones in your Prehistory Museum, keep restless ghosts entertained in the Supernatural Museum, or journey to the far reaches of the Two Point universe to encounter aliens in your Space Museum. Venture beneath the waves to access aquatic marvels in the Marine Life Museum or unearth an abandoned lab and do science-ey stuff in your Science Museum. Oh, and don’t forget to look after that carnivorous plant in your Botany Museum! There is so much to explore and discover in Two Point County, meaning you will always have plenty to be getting on with.

    Guests Know Best

    In Two Point Museum, guests really do know best. You will encounter 18 different visitor types, from science enthusiasts and goths, to meddling kids who love touching things they shouldn’t. You will need to think carefully about how you place your exhibits, which will affect the overall mood of your guests – everyone likes different stuff, you know! Sometimes that means providing an alien Cheese-Moonger with a specific cheese-related dish at the cafeteria, while at other times it’s finding a way to transform a goth into a vampire. Unravel evolving mysteries and unlock new tools in a bid to create your own museum empire and offer the ultimate guest experience.

    Two Point Museum Screenshot

    Running a museum isn’t all serious business – there’s plenty of room for creativity. Want to mix prehistoric fossils with alien artifacts? Go for it! Just don’t be surprised if the results are… unusual. Two Point Museum gives you more creative freedom than ever before, letting you customise everything – from floor tiles and wall coverings to staff uniforms and exhibit names.

    Tips for Future Curators

    To help players make the most of their museum experience, here are a few handy tips from us:

    • Plan your layout wisely: Use interior walls to create themed sections and guide guests along optimal routes. Nobody wants to find the cafeteria next to a cursed sarcophagus.
    • Keep the guests happy: Visitors expect beautifully decorated exhibition spaces, cleanliness, snacks, a giftshop and plenty of restrooms. You can attract specific guest types via marketing campaigns, check in on their experience and cater to their whims to maximise success, happiness and of course….revenue!
    • Train your staff: Experts can gain new skills over time – investing in training can mean the difference between a well-run museum and total exhibit catastrophe.
    • Security challenges: Heists aren’t just for movies! Thieves will try to make off with your precious artifacts, so keep those security guards on high alert. Security chairs and cameras can be used in tandem to ensure boots on the ground, eyes in the sky, and, er, backsides on seats.
    Two Point Museum Screenshot

    What Players Can Expect

    Two Point Museum takes everything fans love about our previous games – deep yet accessible management mechanics, charming humour, and a world filled with personality – and applies it to a brand new setting full of possibilities. Whether you’re designing the next great historical exhibition or uncovering long-lost artifacts, you’ll be shaping a museum that’s uniquely yours. So, are you ready to become a world-class curator?

    Two Point Museum launches on Xbox Series X|S on Tuesday, March 4. Aspiring curators can play it right now with Advanced Access when ordering the digital Explorer Edition.

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $39.99

    Pre-order now for exclusive Sonic themed items to decorate your museum and entertain your guests with! Only available during pre-purchase. • Sonic decorative statue • Shadow decorative statue • Interactive display grabber machine • Sonic, Tails and Shadow staff outfits • Exclusive gift shop item – Sonic, Tails and Shadow children’s onesies • Exclusive gift shop item – Sonic and Shadow plushies • 2 Sonic level themed floor patterns
    • 1 Sonic level themed wallpaper Two Point County’s most daring adventurers have travelled to the far reaches of the known map and returned with unique artefacts to host in your museum, along with the coordinates of a new expedition location, home to an exclusive special exhibit and events! The Explorer Edition brings a selection of decorative items to embellish your halls, walls and floors with bespoke designs and well travelled statues. As well as exclusive items to help your experts replenish faster to send out on more expeditions. See a full list of the contents: • DIGITAL ONLY: 5 days advanced access
    • 5000 Kudosh!
    • Exclusive Map Location to explore for unique exhibit
    • Exclusive pop-up challenge museum
    • Prestige Package – start your museum with a rare, high buzz level item
    • Explorer staff outfit
    • Additional interactive display
    • Decorative arch way
    • 2 decorative items
    • Explorer ticket desk theme
    • Explorer helicopter skin
    • 3 unique statues
    • 3 floor decorations, 3 wallpapers
    • 3 bench styles
    • Staff Replenishment Trunk which provides additional bonuses after a perilous expedition!

    Two Point Museum

    Two Point Museum

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

    Pre-order now for exclusive Sonic themed items to decorate your museum and entertain your guests with! Only available during pre-purchase. • Sonic decorative statue • Shadow decorative statue • Interactive display grabber machine • Sonic, Tails and Shadow staff outfits • Exclusive gift shop item – Sonic, Tails and Shadow children’s onesies • Exclusive gift shop item – Sonic and Shadow plushies • 2 Sonic level themed floor patterns
    • 1 Sonic level themed wallpaper Two Point Museum Includes:
    Design, manage and develop incredible museums
    5 unique main museum locations to Two Point County:
    – Prehistory – Memento Mile
    – Aquarium – Passwater Cove
    – Supernatural – Wailon Lodge
    – Science – Bungle Wasteland
    – Space – Pebberley Heights
    3 Pop up museums with set tasks and challenges
    Sandbox mode to build your very own MEGA MUSEUMS!
    6 main exhibit types and 30+ sub categories of exhibits
    You’ll adventure through 5 different expedition maps with 100+ unique points of interest
    200+ unique exhibits to uncover and fill your sticker book
    350+ decorative items to make your museum uniquely you
    18 guest types to meet and cater for …. including those meddling kids
    Unlock and manage all the museums in Two Point County! As fledgling curators, you have the task of designing and refining your very own museums to create the ultimate guest experience. Coordinate Experts on far-flung expeditions to discover new Exhibits, generating Buzz to entice droves of knowledge-hungry guests who will expect top info-tainment if they’re to leave impressed. This is all while you keep your Exhibits safe, rooms clean, staff happy… and children off the dinosaur bones. EXPLORING FOR EXHIBITS
    As Curator, the design and management of your expanding museum is in your hands! Send your team of partially trained Experts on Expeditions in search of rare and mostly well-preserved artefacts. When (and hopefully not if) your Experts return from their adventure, proudly display their fantastic finds in your museum.
    You’ll unlock new locations as you decide where the next adventure takes you, and complete a sticker book to document your journey as a souvenir of your discoveries.
    Your work doesn’t end there; Exhibit maintenance is crucial. While some Experts are gallivanting across Two Point County and beyond, you’re in charge of managing staff back home to ensure Exhibits and the museum stay in tip-top condition. If taking care of the carnivorous Chomper isn’t enough, there are also meddling thieves to watch out for. Thieves, and more frequently, children, are known for touching and grubbing up the displays, so make sure enough security is guarding your prized collection! DESIGN-OSAURS
    Get creative to design your museum layout your way! You have decorative freedom, so design thematic areas to guide your guests’ visit. Splash paint and lay carpet as you lovingly arrange each prehistoric fern, potentially melting iceman, and dinosaur remains wherever you see fit.
    Once you’ve created the perfect atmosphere, arrange guided tours with custom routes led by a charismatic Expert. Tours are a fantastic way to enrich your guests‘ experience. To keep guests enthused, showcase Exhibits with the highest Buzz – those that are top quality, provide ample info and beautiful decorations are likely to attract the most donations! GUEST-ERTAINMENT
    Guests know best! The different types of guests who will frequent your museum may have different interests, but they do have some things in common… they expect the place to be kept clean, have plenty of refreshments, ample toilets, and a gift shop filled with goodies. And, of course, they need to be dazzled with knowledge of your Exhibits, which are kept well-maintained… or else you could make them sick. Two Point County will bring a variety of guests to your museum, and they all hope to discover their new favourite Exhibit… From dino fanatics and botany buffs to haunted horror seekers, you’ll need to cater to their personal preferences to meet their needs. By exceeding their expectations, you can keep them engaged, leading to longer visits, increased donations, and glowing reviews!

    Website: LINK

  • Free Play Days – Catan, Worms W.M.D and Dragon Ball FighterZ

    Free Play Days – Catan, Worms W.M.D and Dragon Ball FighterZ

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Prepare for battle this weekend with Free Play Days! Catan, Worms W.M.D and Dragon Ball FighterZ are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday February 27 at 12:01am Pacific until Sunday, March 2 at 11:59pm Pacific. 

    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 Ultimate, Standard and Core 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 (Xbox Game Pass Membership Required)

    CATAN® - Console Edition

    CATAN® – Console Edition

    Dovetail Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 206

    ★★★★★

    $16.99 $5.09

    Catan: Console Edition
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
    Charmed by opportunity and the promise of faraway riches, you and a collection of likeminded adventurers abandon your homeland and
    livelihoods to discover new lands, untouched by humanity and abundant in resources. But you are not the first to set foot on this new island, there are others who are looking to thrive – and survive. Acquire resources, master new strategies, and build your settlements across a board that comes to life. Challenge friends in your living room or play against smart & dynamic AI to become the winning Catanian, then take these skills online with full cross-play compatibility. Want to keep playing? Catan – Console Edition will be up to 70% off from March 4 – 10.

    Worms W.M.D

    Worms W.M.D

    Team17 Digital Ltd

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Worms W.M.D 
    Worms W.M.D is all out tactical worm warfare for up to six players. There’s a huge arsenal of new and classic weapons to cause chaos with as well as vehicles, crafting, buildings and more. This is the ultimate Worms experience for Xbox players. Plus, you can get up to 80% off. 

    DRAGON BALL FighterZ (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One)

    DRAGON BALL FighterZ (Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One)

    BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 512

    ★★★★★

    $59.99 $8.99

    Dragon Ball FighterZ 
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
    Dragon Ball FighterZ is born from what makes the Dragon Ball series so loved and famous: endless spectacular fights with its all-powerful fighters. Partnering with Arc System Works, the game maximizes high end Anime graphics and brings easy to learn but difficult to master fighting gameplay. 

    Website: LINK

  • Experience AI: The story so far

    Experience AI: The story so far

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    In April 2023, we launched our first Experience AI resources, developed in partnership with Google DeepMind to support educators to engage their students in learning about the topic of AI. Since then, the Experience AI programme has grown rapidly, reaching thousands of educators all over the world. Read on to find out more about the impact of our resources, and what we are learning.

    The Experience AI resources

    The Experience AI resources are designed to help educators introduce AI and AI safety to 11- to 14-year-olds. They consist of:

    • Foundations of AI: a comprehensive unit of six lessons including lesson plans, slide decks, activities, videos, and more to support educators to introduce AI and machine learning to young people
    • Two standalone lessons:
      • Large language models (LLMs): a lesson designed to help young people discover how large language models work, their benefits, and why their outputs are not always reliable
      • Ecosystems and AI — Biology: a lesson providing an opportunity for young people to explore how AI applications are supporting animal conservation
    • AI safety: a set of resources with a flexible design to support educators in a range of settings to equip young people with the knowledge and skills to responsibly and safely navigate the challenges associated with AI

    We also offer a free online course, Understanding AI for educators, to help educators prepare to teach about AI.

    International expansion

    The launch of Experience AI came at an important time: AI technologies are playing an ever-growing role in our everyday lives, so it is crucial for young people to gain the understanding and skills they need to critically engage with these technologies. While the resources were initially designed for use by educators in the UK, they immediately attracted interest from educators across the world, as well as individuals wanting to learn about AI. The resources have now been downloaded over 325,000 times by people from over 160 countries. This includes downloads from over 7000 educators worldwide, who will collectively reach an estimated 1.2 million young people.

    Photo of an educator teaching an Experience AI lesson.

    Thanks to funding from Google DeepMind and Google.org, we have also been working with partners from across the globe to localise and translate the resources for learners and educators in their countries, and provide training to support local educators to deliver the lessons. The educational resources are now available in up to 15 languages, and to date, we have trained over 100 representatives from 20 international partner organisations, who will go on to train local educators. Five of these organisations have begun onward training already, collectively training over 1500 local educators so far.

    The impact of Experience AI

    The Experience AI resources have been well received by students and educators. Based on responses to our follow-up surveys, in countries where we have partners: 

    • 95% of educators agreed that the Experience AI sessions have increased their students’ knowledge of AI concepts 
    • 90% of young people (including young people in formal and non-formal education settings and learning independently) indicated that they better understand what AI and machine learning are
    Photo of a young person learning about AI on a laptop.

    This is backed up by qualitative feedback from surveys and interviews.

    “Students’ perception and understanding of AI has improved and corrected. They realised they can contribute and be a part of the [development], instead of only users.” – Noorlaila, educator, SMK Cyberjaya, Malaysia

    “[Students] found it interesting in the sense that it’s relevant information and they didn’t know what information was used for training models.” – Teacher, Liceul Tehnologic “Crisan” Criscior, Romania

    “Based on my knowledge and learning about AI, I now appreciate the definition of AI as well as its implementation.” – Student, Changamwe JSS, Kenya

    Photo of a group of educators participating in an Experience AI teacher training event in Kenya.

    The training and resources also support educators to feel more confident to teach about AI:

    • 93% of international partner representatives who participated in our training agreed that the training increased their knowledge of AI concepts
    • 88% of educators receiving onward training by our international partners agreed that the training increased their confidence to teach AI concepts
    • 87% of educator respondents from our ‘Understanding AI for educators’ online course agreed that the course was useful for supporting young people

    “It was a wonderful experience for me to join this workshop. Truly I was able to learn a lot about AI and I feel more confident now to teach the kids back at school about this new knowledge.” – Nur, educator, SMK Bandar Tasek Mutiara, trained by our partner Penang Science Cluster, Malaysia

    “This was one of the best information sessions I’ve been to! So, so helpful!” – Meagan, educator, University of Alberta, trained by our partner Digital Moment, Canada

    “The layout of the course in terms of content structuring is amazing. I love the discussion forum and the insightful yet empathetic responses by the course moderators on the discussion board. Honestly, I am really glad I started my AI in education journey with you.” – Priyanka, head teacher (primary level), United Arab Emirates, online course participant

    What are we learning?

    We are committed to continually improving our resources based on feedback from users. A recent review of feedback from educators highlighted key aspects of the resources that educators value most, as well as some challenges educators are facing and possible areas for improvement. For example, educators particularly like the interactive aspects, the clear structure and explanations, and the videos featuring professionals from the AI industry. We are continuing to look for ways we can better support educators to adapt the content and language to better support students in their context, fit Experience AI into their school timetables, and overcome technical barriers. 

    We value feedback on our resources and will continue to highlight the importance of AI education in schools and work with partners across the globe to adapt our resources for different contexts.

    Get involved

    If you would like to try out our Experience AI resources, head to experience-ai.org, where you can find our free resources and online course, as well as information about local partners in your area.

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox kehrt zur GDC zurück: Entdecke die nächste Ära mit Xbox Anywhere

    Xbox kehrt zur GDC zurück: Entdecke die nächste Ära mit Xbox Anywhere

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    As we gear up for the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, we couldn’t be more excited to meet up with our friends and colleagues in the industry and explore the many incredible new opportunities that await. This year, GDC takes place from March 17-21 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. We’ll host partner meetings, participate in conference sessions, and sponsor events like the IGF Awards and the ESA Foundation’s Nite to Unite. Attendees that come by the Xbox Lounge in Moscone South will have a chance to see the latest Xbox experience on PC, join a Q&A with an Xbox development expert, and learn about the opportunities and benefits of building with Xbox across PC, Cloud and Console.

    Xbox is expanding to any screen on any device, making it easier for anyone to play with the friends they want – whether they choose to play with Xbox console, PC, Smart TV or mobile. At GDC, we’re inviting game developers to go behind the scenes to better understand what it means for Xbox to be playable on any screen. We’re committed to empowering game developers to tap into that opportunity by building cross-capable games that take advantage of Xbox across devices. Our presence will reveal the many ways game developers can reach more players with Xbox and showcase success stories of developers who are maximizing the opportunity.

    Whether you’re an indie developer or a seasoned professional, Xbox speakers will be presenting insights for every stage of your development journey. Check out the full schedule below. If you will be engaging remotely, you can learn more by visiting our Game Development Resource Hub here and to learn more about AI for Gaming, check out our Gaming AI Resource Hub here.

    For us, GDC 2025 is as much about showcasing the Xbox developer experience as it is about fostering collaboration with partners and driving our gaming future, together. See you there!

    Monday, March 17

    The Future of Gaming Supported by AI: How Xbox is Empowering Players and Creators (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Fatima Kardar (Microsoft), Sonali Yadav (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 3011, West Hall

    UX Summit: UX Writing: A New(ish) Craft in Mobile Games
    Speaker: Patricia Gomez (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2010, West Hall

    AI Innovation for Game Experiences: From Research to Prototyping (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Haiyan Zhang (Xbox), Katja Hofmann (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 3011, West Hall

    Community Management Summit: Social Media Microtalks: Authenticity from You and the Business “We”
    Speaker: Cindy Tran (Obsidian Entertainment), Antonio Cara (DeNA Corp.), Harper Jay MacIntyre (Double Fine Productions Inc), Livvy Hall (Xbox Game Studios Publishing), Megan Spurr (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2014, West Hall

    Live Service Games Summit: Reinventing ‘Candy Crush Soda’ for the Next 10 years
    Speaker: Abigail Rindo (King), Paul Hellier (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Animation Summit: ‚Diablo 4‘: Bringing to Life the Priestess of Hatred

    Speaker: Chad Waldschmidt (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 3:50 pm – 4:20 pm
    Location: Room 2018, West Hall

    Machine Learning Summit: Fitting Armor Assets in ‘World of Warcraft’ with Deep Learning
    Speaker: Zhen Zhai (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 5:30pm – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 3018, West Hall

    UX Summit: Making the World Playful: The Importance of Accessible Mobile Games
    Speaker:     Emilio Jeldrez (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 5:30pm – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 2010, West Hall

    Tuesday, March 18

    Live Service Games Summit: Mass Engagement Winning Strategies: The 15M Player Tournament of ‚Candy Crush Saga‘
    Speaker: Margaux Diaz (King), Roberto Kusabbi (King)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Thriving Players Summit: Prosocial Design Workshop
    Speaker:     Natasha Miller (Blizzard Entertainment), Weszt Hart (Riot Games)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 9:30am – 11;50am
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    The Climate Crisis Workshop
    Speaker: Grant Shonkwiler (Shonkventures LLC), Trevin York (Dire Lark), Paula Angela Escuadra (Microsoft / Xbox), Jennifer Estaris (ustwo games), Arnaud Fayolle (Ubisoft)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 204, South Hall

    AI Executive Panel: Exploring What’s Next in AI for Gaming (Presented by EPAM)
    Speaker: Stef Corazza (Roblox) Vitalli Vashchuk (EPAM) Haiyan Zhang (Xbox), Craig Nowell, Databricks
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
    Location: Room 2020, West Hall

    Gaming Reimagined: Mobile’s Impact on Play Today (Presented by King)
    Speaker: Todd Green (King), Paula Ingvar (King), Peiwen Yao (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Unpacking Anti-Toxicity Strategy in „Call of Duty“ (Presented by Community Clubhouse)
    Speaker: Mark Frumkin (Modulate), Grant Cahill (Activision)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 2:40pm – 3:40pm
    Location: Esplanade 158, South Hall

    Live Service Games Summit: Game Designer’s Notebook
    Speakers: Marta Cortiñas (King), Kenny Dinkin (King)
    Time: 2:40pm – 3:40pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Wednesday, March 19

    Opening a Billion Doors with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Leo Olebe (Microsoft), Chris Charla (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Location: Room 3022, West Hall

    Accelerating Your Inner Loop with Visual Studio and GitHub Copilot AI (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: David Li (Microsoft), Michael Price (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Grow Your Audience with the Updated Xbox Experience on PC (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker:     Tila Nguyen (Microsoft), Jose Rady (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Make your Game Available ANYWHERE with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Harrison Hoffman (Microsoft), Jordan Cohen (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Masterworking Systems: Lessons Learned from the Engineering of Season of Loot Reborn in ‚Diablo IV‘

    Speaker: Patrick Ferland (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Ask Game Lawyers Anything Roundtable Day 1
    Speaker: Ryan Black (DLA Piper (Canada) LLP), Brandon Huffman (Odin Law and Media), Angelo Alcid (Microsoft Corp.), Yan Perng (Netflix)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
    Location: Room 308, South Hall

    Xbox Game Studios Panel: Scaling Cross-Platform Development Across Xbox and PC (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Kate Rayner (Microsoft), Soren Hannibal Nielsen (Microsoft, Chuck Rozhon (Obsidion Entertainment), Chad Dawson (Double Fine Productions) Phil Cousins (Microsoft), Magnus Auvinen (Machine Games)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Thursday, March 20

    DirectX State of the Union: Raytracing and PIX Workflows (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Claire Andrews (Microsoft), Austin Kinross (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2009, West Hall

    VFX Storytelling: How „Hearthstone“ Breathes Life Into Hundreds of Cards
    Speaker: Alex Cortes (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Inclusive Gaming AI: Red Teaming for Accessibility and Disability
    Speaker: Brannon Zahand (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    Strategies for Indie Devs: How to Succeed with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: James Lewis (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    G.A.N.G. Demo Derby: Sound Design
    Speaker: Nick Hartman (Sound Lab), Scott Gershin (Sound Lab), Charles Deenen (Source Sound Inc), Gary Miranda (Injected Senses Audio), Brian Farr (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:45pm
    Location: Room 3018, West Hall

    From Idea to Action: Lessons from a New Accessibility Initiative (Presented by The Entertainment Software Association)
    Speaker: Aubrey Quinn  (Entertainment Software Association), Paul Amadeus Lane  (Amadeus 4th Corp), Amy Lazarus  (Electronic Arts), Dara Monasch  (Google), Anna Waismeyer  (Microsoft/Xbox), Steven Evans  (Nintendo of America), David Tisserand  (Ubisoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    Location: GDC Main Stage, West Hall, Street Level

    Windows Productivity Tools for Game Developers (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Demitrius Nelon (Microsoft), Kayla Cinnamon (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    Location: Room 2024, West Hall

    Amplifying Player Voices with LLMs in Game Development
    Speaker: Joshua Koen (Blizzard Entertainment), Ian Livingston (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 1:30pm – 2:00pm
    Location: Room, 2010, West Hall 

    Securing the Joy of Gaming: Xbox’s Commitment to Gaming Security and Innovation (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Temi Adebambo (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Xbox Play Anywhere Developer Roundtable (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Chris Charla (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2004, West Hall

    King: Enhancing Mobile Audio with Accessibility and Inclusion
    Speaker: Eduardo Broseta (King)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:30pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 3024, West Hall

    Friday, March 21

    Game Career Seminar: STR, DEX and INT: A Genre-Spanning Way to Think About Gameplay
    Speaker: Joseph Shely  (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Friday, March 21
    Time: 11:50am – 12:20pm
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    Game Career Seminar: Killer Portfolio or Portfolio Killer Part 2: Portfolio Reviews
    Speakers:     Greg Foertsch  (Bit Reactor), Sarah LeBlanc  (Bit Reactor), Rembert Montald  (Lightspeed LA), David Yee  (Unannounced), Jeffrey Johnson  (inXile Entertainment), Jade Law  (Wardog Studios), Gaurav Mathur  (E-Line Media), Jessica Kutrakun  (Hypixel Studios), Inmar Salvatier  (Maxis), Jeff Parrott  (Blizzard), Daanish Syed  (Bit Reactor), David Johnson  (UndertoneFX), Jeff Skalski  (Yellow Brick Games)
    Date:     Friday, March 21
    Time:     2:00pm – 5:00pm
    Location:     Room 3000, West Hall

    Website: LINK

  • Discover the all-new Raspberry Pi Official Magazine

    Discover the all-new Raspberry Pi Official Magazine

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    We’re hugely proud of the new magazine. It’s got all the amazing features that made The MagPi such a success, but with a new design that’s easier to read, better at displaying code, and more in sync with Raspberry Pi’s amazing documentation and tutorials.

    Thank you again to everybody who supports us by subscribing to the magazine or contributing to our endeavour. We really can’t do it without you.

    We’ve worked incredibly hard to make this issue one to remember. Inside the inaugural Raspberry Pi Official Magazine, you will discover…

    Level up your tech skills with our guide to Raspberry Pi troubleshooting

    Raspberry Pi problem solving

    Our lead feature this month is a huge analysis of Raspberry Pi troubleshooting. We’ve gathered a vast amount of documentation on power requirements, SD card performance, Raspberry Pi OS customisation, boot problems, audio and video fixes, and hardware enhancements.

    Discover tools for every kind of maker

    The maker toolset

    It’s incredibly important to make things. Making is rewarding, fun, and practical. In this month’s magazine, you’ll discover everything you need to set up your makerspace. Our maker toolset has the full range from simple circuits and humble sewing up to 3D printing and metalwork.

    A unique musical instrument built with Raspberry Pi RP2040

    HexBoard

    Raspberry Pi Official Magazine is packed with all the best projects from around the globe. Jared DeCook shares his incredible HexBoard musical instrument with us. Instead of piano-style keys, it features hexagonal buttons and RGB LEDs, all controlled by Raspberry Pi RP2040.

    How one maker is using stepper motors and magnets to build a robotic chess set

    Raspberry Pi Chess Board

    Imagine playing chess against a robot. That’s what high school student Tamerlan Goglichidze has created. With a stepper motor and magnets it moves the chess pieces around.

    Your guide to attaching a Sense HAT V2 to Raspberry Pi and controlling its input/output

    Sense HAT V2

    Sense HAT is a great way to discover coding and data gathering. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to attach a Sense HAT to your Raspberry Pi and start controlling the LED display. 

    Build a CNC filament winder

    Custom CNC Machine

    Jo Hinchliffe brings together various parts for a custom CNC machine that acts as a carbon filament winding machine for making custom carbon-fibre tubes.

    10 amazing Raspberry Pi 5 accessories

    10 Amazing Accessories

    Power up your Raspberry Pi 5 with these incredible add-ons that enable extra functionality. We’ve got everything from USB sound cards to overpowered cooling systems.

    You’ll find all this and much more in the latest edition of Raspberry Pi Official Magazine. Pick up your copy today from our store, or subscribe to get every issue delivered to your door.

  • Undermine(d): How World of Warcraft’s New Update Added Driveable (and Driftable) Vehicles

    Undermine(d): How World of Warcraft’s New Update Added Driveable (and Driftable) Vehicles

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Summary

    • One of the lead developers for Undermine(d) joins us to talk about the latest chapter for World of Warcraft.
    • This new city is unlike any we’ve seen before in Azeroth, bustling with life, with streets made for speed!
    • Find out more about how you’ll drive and drift around city streets in brand new hot rods.

    Imagine taking New York and smashing it into a steampunk vibe where safety doesn’t matter. That’s the feeling you get when you step into Undermine, the new zone that went live this week in World of Warcraft. I had the pleasure of leading this zone’s design alongside my super talented teammates on the WoW team – and I’d love to tell you more about this never-before-seen goblin city… and its wild, driveable vehicles.

    Deep Dive, Then D.R.I.V.E.

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

    Adding a dynamic twist to the World of Warcraft experience, this new update introduces the D.R.I.V.E. feature, also known as our Dynamic and Revolutionary Improvement to Vehicular Experiences (we took that acronym and manifested it into that mouthful, you’re welcome! It’s sick).

    This new feature allows players to travel on the ground with a mechanically intriguing G-99 Breakneck – otherwise known as WoW’s take on a hot rod. You will unlock this car pretty early while questing – complete “Eyes from Above” in the main campaign, then accept “No More Walkin’ Here” and progress through the Breakneck’s tutorial.

    The design philosophy behind these vehicles is rooted in the art style of World of Warcraft goblins, where everything looks cobbled together yet oddly ingenious. The G-99 Breakneck has exaggerated features—like massive flames shooting from the scoop—which fit perfectly within the chaotic streets of Undermine.

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

    One of the key aspects we wanted to bring to this feature was the ability to drift, which is a classic mechanic in older racing games. Bringing this to World of Warcraft was a challenge, but it ignited excitement across the team. Our goal was to capture that feeling of freedom and control, akin to the sensation of getting your first car and the newfound access it brings.

    The car isn’t just for getting around; it’s also a passenger mount, allowing friends to join in and explore the streets of Undermine together. Players can participate in races, testing their skills on both regular and reverse courses. For those who might get motion sick or find the speed too much, we’ve ensured that the experience is accessible, offering options to customize with a lower top-speed engine immediately after unlocking the car, or to use regular ground mounts instead—whichever you prefer.

    Take to the Streets

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

    But your new car would be nothing without somewhere interesting to drive it. In Undermine, you’ll see these cars racing around you, providing both a vibrant backdrop to your adventures and an invitation to join in the chaos. Tasks like delivering hot towels, or fighting a ghostly tiger that is rudely scaring children, allow you to become a true part of the fabric of the city.

    As you can probably tell, Undermine is full of life. As you drift your car around the streets (above sewers with fighting rings in them!), you will encounter pirates, mobsters, people who want to break your ankles, the best cooks you’ve ever met, and so much more.

    Beneath Undermine’s false sky is a city that bustles with energy, a hub of commerce and culture for goblins. This diverges from the usual city landscapes you’d see in World of Warcraft—this is a densely populated city that’s very much lived in, bustling with life as people go about their day-to-day business.

    The zone itself is a testament to the possibility of more. With features like Slam Central Station, which can take you anywhere your imagination permits, Undermine stands as a beacon of goblin ingenuity and ambition. The city is filled with cleverly named landmarks like the Incontinental Hotel and the Gallagio, reflecting a unique society driven by growth.

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

    The narrative of Undermine is all about bettering one’s circumstances. It ties into the main storyline of The War Within, with characters like Orweyna introducing players to the Ringing Deeps and the initial chapters of the story. You’ll meet (or be reintroduced to, if you’ve played in the past) characters like Renzik and Gazlowe, who provide a window into the lives of those who call Undermine home. While some characters, like Gazlowe, left to find something different, others see Undermine as their home—for some, there’s anywhere but home. For others, there’s no place like home.

    As the story unfolds, Gazlowe undergoes a change of heart, leading to a revolution where players can take down dictators and liberate the streets. This narrative of reclaiming the city highlights the power of the people over oppressive forces.

    Join us in Undermine, a city of fast wheels and dark deals. It doesn’t matter if you drift an inch or a yard, drifting’s drifting!

    The Undermine(d) update is live now in World of Warcraft, available on PC via Battle.net. To learn more, visit WorldOfWarcraft.com.

    Website: LINK

  • Indie Selects for February: Fill Your Hearts (and Game Libraries) with Joy

    Indie Selects for February: Fill Your Hearts (and Game Libraries) with Joy

    Reading Time: 13 minutes

    This February, let the ID@Xbox team set the vibe. In this, the month of Valentine’s Day, indie game developers are competing to be your next love – but don’t stress, because our team of wingmen and wingwomen have handpicked six Indie Selects that can meet what anyone’s heart desires.  

    Indie Selects February Image

    If you’re looking for some tasty food for the soul, satisfying beats that really pop, dangerous exploits to get the heart pumping, and unbelievable deliveries that really soar, February Selects had you at hello. Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):

    Cuisineer Image

    This game answers the question,” What if you had to earn your meal by engaging it in a fight to the death?”.  Cuisineer is the first food-focused action roguelite that I’ve ever played and I am very much obsessed. I’ve spent an embarrassing amount of time bashing cute (but hostile) creatures in its dungeons to restock my fridge back in my character’s hometown. The demand for more wood, more types of stone, and various grades of meat never ends and the loop of “spend a day cooking for fussy customers, then return to a dungeon, then come back and upgrade your tools, etc.” is constant. It’s a hustle that I’m hooked on, to be honest, and Cuisineer delivers up this cycle in a way that’s both cozy and challenging.

    Those monsters in the various dungeons aren’t joking around and you’ll be battling through multiple floors and bosses to get to the end of each gauntlet (though there are options to exit early). You’ll also be plunking down hard-earned gold (from your restaurant’s till) to upgrade your backpack and eatery capacity to continue growing and progressing through the game. It’s a soothing, dopamine-hit formula that Cuisineer does incredibly (and adorably) well, but it’s not absent of difficulty and learning curve. So, think of it as equipping cutesy cat ears while prepping for a lengthy workout. Give yourself some time to onboard and you’ll be harvesting fuzzy little fluffballs for “fatty meat” in no time.

    Cuisineer
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Cuisineer

    XSEED Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 25

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

    Upon receiving a startling letter from her parents, the independent adventurer Pom swiftly returns home to Paell, only to find her parents gone and their beloved restaurant abandoned. Now left with mounting debts and a village in dire need of some fine cooking, Pom will have to delve into the deepest dungeons for the scarcest spices, rarest meats, and the most valuable vegetables she can find to keep her parents’ dream alive. Dive into dungeons and cook up a storm as Pom, an adventurer-turned-restaurateur! Cuisineer‘s food-focused action challenges you to build your dinner the hard way: by dungeon-diving for materials and ingredients. Wield your cooking utensils against giant chickens, artillery shrimps, fire-breathing peppers, and other pesky perils, sipping boba tea along the way. Work with local artisans to customize your kitchen, and tailor your dining hall to the needs of loyal patrons eager to experience the rare recipes you’ve cooked up. The Xbox Series X/S and Windows Store release of Cuisineer plates its enticing gameplay with fresh ingredients like new weapons, year-round festivals, a wardrobe feature, and more tasty inclusions that are sure to spice things up. A Smorgasbord of Dungeons
    Explore procedurally generated biomes such as the Green Ruins, Frozen Fjord, and Konpeito Swamps that change their size, shape, and resources every time you visit. Craft Your Own Culinary Experience Cook over 100 different recipes from around the world, from crunchy Popiah rolls to rich Kaya jam, from double-fried crispy chicken with zesty lemon, to sweet treats piled high with berries. Get the right dishes to the right customers and customize your kitchen and dining hall with the help of local artisans. Master the Flavors of Fighting
    Knock out monsters and rivals with Salty, Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Umami, Frosty and Toasty powers that unleash flame, poison, chain lightning, and other fantastic effects. You can also fight with unique utensils and gourmet gear, like Spatula, Smackerel, Swordfish, and the newly added Konpeito Fist weapons! Take Quests to Go
    From Naicha the Bubble Tea seller to Alder the big friendly carpenter, Paell is full of sweet and spicy townsfolk to befriend. While you’re dungeon diving, be on the lookout for items the townsfolk need. You’ll be rewarded with gold, new items, and even more recipes to take your cooking and adventuring to new heights.

    Turbo Overkill Image

    Turbo Overkill is an FPS game that invokes the spirit of ’80s cyberpunk media and classic shooters such as Quake & Doom. By modern definition, you might categorize it as a “boomer shooter” – a game that either IS a retro FPS or a newer title that’s designed to create a similar feeling. Yes, this is a real thing, and no, we didn’t make it up, but we can agree that it’s fitting! As much as I love modern FPS games, I’m a huge fan of the classics, and Turbo Overkill does this subgenre justice in as many ways that it can.

    Taking place in a futuristic, cyberpunk city called Paradise, players control a cybernetic bounty hunter by the name of Johnny Turbo who, paired with his trusty chainsaw leg and large arsenal of weapons, is set to take down rogue AI, Syn, and their augmented minions. The gameplay revolves around fighting various enemies and bosses, exploration, puzzle solving, upgrading Johnny and his weapons, and platforming. But what I love most is its pacing and combat flow. Players can leverage Johnny’s chainsaw leg by crouch sliding (a staple in most modern FPS games) to not only maneuver but also take down most enemies in one hit. Pairing this movement with jumps, air dashes and cycling through the various familiar weapons, makes the game feel like a classic arena shooter on top of its retro heritage.

    In homage to the classics, Turbo Overkill  features a single player campaign with several difficulties to choose from, secret levels to find, and unlockables to keep you busy. There’s also two additional modes, Endless Mode and Arcade Mode, both of which add a medal and scoring system for additional replayability. If you’re a fan of FPS games, whether modern or classic, then you must check this one out!

    Turbo Overkill

    Turbo Overkill

    Apogee Entertainment

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 45

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Turbo Overkill is the most savage FPS ever released by Apogee. You play as Johnny Turbo, augmented with hidden arm rockets and a chainsaw that extends from your lower leg allowing you to slide-slice enemies wide open. Johnny returns to his hometown of Paradise and finds its entire population possessed by Syn, a rogue AI, and its army of augmented minions. Desperate for enough money to outrun his past mistakes, Johnny takes on the impossible job of destroying the greatest AI ever created. Rival bounty hunters want to claim the prize first. Nothing is easy in paradise. TURBO TIME, WALL-RUNNING, DASHING AND GRAPPLING HOOKS, OH MY
    Turbo Overkill takes over-the-top to never-before-reached heights. Activate Turbo Time(™), a new form of slow motion with a twist. Build incredible speed by wall-running and dashing. Slide on your chainsaw leg, eviscerating foes and opening up bosses for critical damage, and go car-surfing on the hoods of flying cars. Blast away with the Twin Magnums, which lock-on and instagib several foes, the Boomer Shotgun and its attached grenade launcher, or the Telefragger sniper rifle, which teleports Johnny inside an enemy before they explode from within. Race through two dozen stages packed with secrets, bonus arena stages, and white-knuckle combat puzzles. Find game-changing collectibles to unlock punishing modifiers like triple-monster-speed and insta-kill. Combine all of Johnny’s weapons and powers to outsmart, outgun and outrun the corrupted legions.

    Tails of Iron 2 Image

    Tails of Iron 2 is a gritty and challenging 2D action-RPG that mixes Soulslike combat with Metroidvania elements. I’ve been interested in this series since the first entry, but I never picked it up – my backlog is infinite! After playing this one though, I feel like I owe it to myself to try it out! It helps that, while the new story shares the same world, the sequel features a new protagonist, Arlo meaning you don’t need to play its predecessor to catch up. As the heir to the Warden of the Wastes, Arlo must avenge his father’s death, taking on threats like the merciless Dark Wing Bats and other creatures as he fights to restore his homeland. Oh… and Arlo’s a rat.

    I won’t get too deep into the gore, but all I’ll say is, don’t let this game’s storybook-like appearance fool you – the themes in this game are grim. The hand-drawn visuals remind me of a hidden gem you’d find digging through the Xbox Live Arcade library, in all the best ways. It has that nostalgic charm that makes it feel familiar, yet ultimately fresh and unique. And the world? Absolutely awesome. Viking themes aren’t new, but Viking rats? They’re adorable, and at the same time, so metal.

    After spending hours fighting bosses, I can confirm this game is challenging. You’ll have to backtrack, platform, upgrade your gear, and parry and roll… a lot. You’ll need patience, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably die more than you survive—unless you switch to Fairy Tale mode, where enemies have less health and do less damage.

    If you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, Soulslikes, or just really love the idea of rats in Viking armor, I recommend giving this a shot. Oh, and they got Doug Cockle (Geralt from The Witcher game series) to narrate the story, which only adds to the appeal.

    Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

    Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

    United Label

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 74

    ★★★★★

    $24.99

    Just as the Rats of the South start to piece their lives together, following the great war between Rodent and Frog, an old and unspeakable evil stirs in the North; wings black as death; fangs sharp as steel; and a thirst for blood rivalled only by their insatiable hunger… for vengeance. As Arlo, young heir to the Warden of the Wastes, journey through the vast, snow-ravaged lands of the North in an epic quest to overcome the Dark Wings once and for all. Hunt down giant beasts. Unite disparate clans. Upgrade your settlement. And discover a terrible secret of blood and crown… The time for heroes is over. For the Kingdom needs a warrior; forged of the North and as cold as the snow that shrouds these lands. A rat… carved from iron. And so, a new tail begins. Explore a Vast, Wintry Kingdom
    Fully narrated by RPG-legend, Doug Cockle, prepare to embark on an epic adventure across the northern realms of the Ratdom; an expansive, frost-bitten land on the brink of all-out war. Hunt down Giant Beasts
    Track down and defeat the legendary monsters of this realm, and be rewarded with rare resources with which to craft devastating equipment. But be warned, these colossal creatures won’t go down without a fight… and then some. Master Brutal Combat
    The lands of the North are a perilous place, so you’ll need to master the fast, challenging combat for any chance of survival. Evade attacks with a dodge roll, nail split-second parry bashes, and unleash an array of gruesome executions. Customise your Attack
    Craft your own extensive arsenal of upgradeable weaponry, ready to fight as you see fit; strike quick with a spear, afar with a bow, or go claw-to-claw with a heavy-hitting mace. Alternativity, gain a tactical advantage with a range of new, deadly traps… Upgrade your Settlement
    As Warden of the Wastes, defending your lands is only half the battle. Construct and upgrade your settlement with hard-earned gold to gain access to more powerful items from the Smithy, tastier meals at the Kitchen, a wider range of powerful traps from the shoppe, and more! Unleash All-New Sorceries
    Unlock the devastating ‘Elementa’ sorceries of Electric, Poison, Fire, and Ice in an all-new magic system. Bestowed upon you by the gods themselves, these arena-devastating powers can quickly turn the tides in battles.

    Robobeat Image

    Rhythm games are back, baby! Robobeat is (deep breath) an innovative, fast-paced, futuristic, roguelite rhythm boomer shooter.  To say this game is in a league of its own is putting it mildly.  There are not many games that combine slick combat mechanics with music-centric gameplay in procedurally generated environments, and I would say even fewer that do it well. You play as Ace, a famous bounty hunter, chasing after an eccentric cyborg named Frazzer.  However, in order to stop Frazzer in his tracks, you’ll have to make your way through his distorted techno playground, which is comprised of five randomly generated “pathways” where you will need to shoot, wall-run, slide and bunny hop, all in sync with the beat of the soundtrack. 

    The most unique part of Robobeat, and probably my favorite part, is the ability to change songs as you play. Switching between energetic metal, jazz-like grooves, and frantic EDM allows you to set the pace of your run. Sometimes a slower pace is needed in order to get the hang of the next stage. The enemies become tougher and the hordes become more intense the further you go, and throughout your runs you’ll collect blueprints that can be unlocked using currency – however if you die before cashing in your blueprints, you’ll have to reacquire them.  Once a weapon or ability is unlocked, it can appear in any future run.

    The tunes are great, the gunplay is manically intense, and roguelite mechanics set Robobeat apart from its peers across several genres. This was a bold bet that paid off.

    ROBOBEAT

    ROBOBEAT

    Kwalee

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 7

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Beat. The. Bot. You’re Ace – a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, you’ll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat! Get ready to dance till you’re dead and then suit up for the remix in rogue-like rhythm shooter ROBOBEAT. Move to the Music
    You’ll want some slick moves to go with those slick new weapons. Your enemies aren’t going to wait around for you to take a dance break, so you’ve got to keep moving if you want to survive. Wall run, slide, double jump, bunny hop, and grapple hook your way through technicolour levels to give your enemies the runaround. Keep it fluid, keep it funky, and keep it moving. Rewind, Remix, Replay
    ROBOBEAT is a rogue-like remix. Fast forward through procedurally generated levels, equip an arsenal of finely-tuned weapons, and accompany your arsenal with a symphony of modifications. Your playstyle is on continuous shuffle, so you never know what each new run is going to bring! Will you have what it takes to break the infinite loop and stop Frazzer in his tracks?

    Mexico 1921 Image

    Mexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber is a narrative adventure game inspired by true events. You’ll step into the shoes of Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist in post-revolutionary Mexico City. The game not only entertains but educates players by involving historians and cultural institutions in its creation. This collaboration transforms the game into an interactive archive of Mexican history. I was absolutely fascinated as the game transported me to a tumultuous period in Mexican history, allowing me to uncover the truth behind President Álvaro Obregón’s assassination.

    You’ll navigate through Mexico City, interviewing and photographing subjects, which I found created a deep feeling of involvement in the storyline and historical events. It’s a layer of authenticity only added to by the photography mechanic, which requires you to master early 20th Century photographic techniques. The game follows a classic point-and-click adventure style, where you examine objects, gather clues, and engage in conversations with various characters, and I was deeply captivated by the connection to the historical events and cultural aspects of post-revolutionary Mexico.   is a compelling and emotionally engaging game.

    Mexico,1921: A Deep Slumber

    Mexico,1921: A Deep Slumber

    Mácula Interactive

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 4

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Mexico, 1921. A deep slumber is an intriguing narrative adventure where you try to solve a hundred-year-old mystery: who planned the assassination of President Álvaro Obregón? You play as Juan Aguirre, a photojournalist who will interview and photograph subjects, collect historical data and report the news that will shape Mexican history. Join Juan in post-revolutionary Mexico City to discover why Mexico ain’t no place for the weak. Developed hand in hand with the National Newspaper Library and the Popular Arts Museum, this game will be an interactive archive of Mexican post-revolutionary history.

    Mika and the Witch's Mountain Image

    Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a charming E-rated adventure game. You play the role of aspiring young witch Mika, who is declined admittance to witch school and has to take a job delivering packages to fund her broom repairs. The game takes place in a small open world, the Island of Winds, asking you to fly from  point to point by way of broomstick– opening more of the world as you unlock additional traversal abilities for your broom.

    With a Studio Ghibli-inspired art style, the charm of this island location and its many inhabitants is infectious. There are dozens of residents that you get to know and help on your journey to ascend the mountain to witch school. The main story does not overstay its welcome, but there are additional puzzles, races, and secrets to extend your time on the island. The simplified control scheme and cute aesthetic means this is suitable for all ages and skill levels of gamers. The art style, the characters and the music elevate a game that is almost exclusively a series of fetch quests into an endearing, relaxing and memorable adventure.

    Mika and The Witch's Mountain

    Mika and The Witch’s Mountain

    Chibig

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 10

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a fantasy adventure about an aspiring witch who delivers packages to the townspeople of a small island. Explore every cranny and soar through the sky with your magic broom.

    Website: LINK

  • Indie Selects für Februar: Fülle Dein Herz (und Deine Spielebibliothek) mit Freude

    Indie Selects für Februar: Fülle Dein Herz (und Deine Spielebibliothek) mit Freude

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Valentinstag ist zwar schon vorbei, doch unsere Indie-Spiele buhlen auch weiterhin um Deine Gunst. Aber keine Sorge, unser Team aus Wingmen und Wingwomen hat sechs Indie Selects für Dich herausgesucht, um Dir die Qual der Wahl zu erleichtern. Wenn Du auf der Suche nach einem Leckerbissen für die Seele, elektrisierenden Beats, gefährlichen Missionen oder einem Spiel bist, das sich deutlich von seiner Konkurrenz abhebt, bist Du hier genau richtig. Wirf einen Blick in unsere Liste, die das Herz garantiert höherschlagen lässt.

    Cuisineer

    Dieses Spiel beantwortet die Frage: „Was wäre, wenn Du Dir Dein Abendessen in einem Kampf um Leben und Tod verdienen müsstest?“ Bevor ich Cuisineer kennenlernen durfte, habe ich noch nie ein Action-Roguelite gespielt, in dem es um Essen geht. Und was soll ich sagen? Ich bin begeistert! Ich habe viel Zeit damit verbracht, niedliche (aber bösartige) Kreaturen in ihren Verliesen zu vermöbeln, um den Kühlschrank in der Heimatstadt meines Charakters wieder aufzufüllen. Die Nachfrage nach mehr Holz, neuen Stein- und unterschiedlichen Fleischsorten ebbt nie ab und so läuft der Kreislauf aus Kochen, Kämpfen und der Aufrüstung Deiner Werkzeuge immer weiter. Es ist ein Durcheinander, das süchtig macht und Cuisineer gelingt es, diesen Zyklus so zu gestalten, dass dieser gleichermaßen entspannend als auch herausfordernd ist.

    Die Monster in den verschiedenen Verliesen sind nicht zu unterschätzen. Du musst Dich durch mehrere Ebenen kämpfen und Dich gegen mächtige Bosse durchsetzen, um das Ende des Spießrutenlaufs zu erreichen (obwohl es auch Möglichkeiten gibt, vorzeitig auszusteigen). Außerdem musst Du Dein hart verdientes Gold (aus der Kasse Deines Restaurants) investieren, um die Kapazität Deines Rucksacks und des Restaurants zu erweitern. Nur so kannst Du im Spiel weiter wachsen und vorankommen. Dieses dopamingeladene Konzept, das Cuisineer unglaublich gut (und mit viel Liebe zum Detail) umsetzt, liefert zahlreiche Herausforderungen, die die Lernkurve klettern lassen. Du kannst das gesamte Spiel demnach als ein ausgiebiges Training betrachten, das Dich auf die nächsten Herausforderungen vorbereitet. Nimm Dir etwas Zeit, um reinzukommen und Du wirst im Handumdrehen erste, schmackhafte Erfolge feiern.

    Turbo Overkill

    Turbo Overkill ist ein FPS-Spiel, das an die Cyberpunk-Ästhetik der Achtzigerjahre und klassische Shooter wie Quake oder Doom erinnert. Nach moderner Definition könnte man es als „Boomer-Shooter“ bezeichnen – ein Spiel, das zwischen einem Retro-FPS und einem neueren Titel pendelt, der ein ähnliches Gefühl erzeugen soll. Ja, das gibt es wirklich und nein, wir haben uns das nicht ausgedacht, aber wir sind uns einig, dass diese Beschreibung voll zutrifft. So sehr ich moderne FPS-Spiele auch liebe, bin ich doch ein großer Fan der Klassiker – und Turbo Overkill wird diesem Subgenre auf jede erdenkliche Weise gerecht.

    In einer futuristischen Cyperpunk-Metropole namens Paradise übernimmst Du die Rolle des kybernetischen Kopfgeldjägers Johnny Turbo, der mithilfe seines Kettensägenbeins und einem noch größeren Waffenarsenal die KI Syn und ihre treuergebenen Schergen eliminieren soll. Auf Deiner Reise kämpfst Du gegen verschiedene Feinde und Bosse, Du erkundest die Gegend, löst Rätsel und rüstet dabei schrittweise Johnnys Waffen auf. Am meisten liebe ich das Tempo und die Kampfabläufe des Spiels. Johnnys Kettensägenbein kannst Du Dir durch geducktes Rutschen (ein Grundelement der meisten modernen FPS-Spiele) zunutze machen. So kannst Du Johnny nicht nur präzise manövrieren, sondern die meisten Deiner Feinde auch mit einer Aktion bezwingen. Wechsele zwischen Sprüngen, Dash-Bewegungen, und den verschiedensten Waffen und lasse die Atmosphäre, die an einen klassischen Arena-Shooter erinnert, auf Dich wirken.

    Als Hommage an die Klassiker des Genres bietet Turbo Overkill eine Singleplayer-Kampagne mit mehreren Schwierigkeitsgraden, geheimen Leveln, die es zu finden gilt, und freischaltbaren Elementen, die für Abwechslung sorgen. Es gibt zudem zwei zusätzliche Modi, den Endlos-Modus und den Arcade-Modus, deren Medaillen- und Punktesysteme den Wiederspielwert erhöhen. Wenn Du ein Fan von FPS-Spielen bist – egal ob modern oder klassisch – musst Du diesem Spiel auf jeden Fall eine Chance geben!

    Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

    Tails of Iron 2 ist ein düsteres und anspruchsvolles 2D-Action-Rollenspiel, das Soulslike-Kämpfe mit Metroidvania-Elementen verbindet. Ich interessiere mich schon seit dem ersten Teil für diese Serie, habe sie aber nie gespielt – mein Backlog ist unendlich! Nachdem ich den neuen Teil gespielt habe, habe ich das Gefühl, es mir selbst schuldig zu sein, das Spiel noch besser kennenzulernen! Es hilft, dass die neue Geschichte zwar in derselben Welt spielt, die Fortsetzung mit Arlo aber einen neuen Protagonisten hervorbringt. Das bedeutet, dass man den Vorgänger nicht gespielt haben muss, um sofort auf dem neuesten Stand zu sein. Als Erbe des Warden of the Wastes muss Arlo den Tod seines Vaters rächen und sich Bedrohungen wie den gnadenlosen Dark Wing Bats und anderen Kreaturen stellen, während er für die Befreiung seiner Heimat kämpft. Oh … und Arlo ist eine Ratte.

    Ich will nicht zu sehr ins Detail gehen, deshalb nur so viel: Lasse Dich nicht von der märchenhaften Aufmachung des Spiels täuschen – die Themen des Titels sind düster. Die handgezeichneten Visuals erinnern mich an ein verstecktes Juwel, das man beim Stöbern in der Xbox Live Arcade-Bibliothek finden kann. Das Spiel hat diesen nostalgischen Charme, der es vertraut, aber letztlich frisch und einzigartig macht. Und die Welt? Absolut fantastisch. Wikinger-Themen sind nicht neu, aber Wikinger-Ratten? Sie sind bezaubernd und gleichzeitig so cool.

    Nachdem ich stundenlang gegen Bosse gekämpft habe, kann ich bestätigen, dass dieses Spiel eine Herausforderung ist. Man muss sich zurückziehen, springen, seine Ausrüstung verbessern, parieren und würfeln … und das sehr oft. Man braucht Geduld, denn wenn man so vorgeht wie ich, stirbt man öfter, als dass man überlebt. Es sei denn, man wechselt in den Märchenmodus, in dem die Feinde leichter zu besiegen sind und selbst weniger Schaden anrichten können.

    Wenn Du ein Fan von Metroidvanias, beziehunsweise Soulslikes im Allgemeinen bist oder einfach nur die Vorstellung von Ratten in Wikinger-Rüstungen liebst, empfehle ich Dir, dem Spiel eine Chance zu geben. Oh, und Doug Cockle (Geralt aus der Spieleserie „The Witcher“) leiht dem Spiel als Erzähler seine Stimme, was den Reiz nur noch erhöht.

    Robobeat

    Die Rhythmusspiele sind zurück, Baby! Robobeat ist (tief durchatmen) ein innovativer, temporeicher, futuristischer Roguelike-Rhythmus-Boomer-Shooter. Zu sagen, dass dieses Spiel in einer eigenen Liga spielt, ist noch milde ausgedrückt. Es gibt nicht viele Spiele, denen es gelingt, eine solch ausgefeilte Kampfmechanik mit einem musikbasierten Gameplay in prozedural generierten Umgebungen zu kombinieren. Du übernimmst die Rolle von Ace, einem berühmten Kopfgeldjäger, der einen exzentrischen Cyborg namens Frazzer verfolgt. Um Frazzer aufzuhalten, musst Du Dich jedoch erst durch seinen verdrehten Techno-Spielplatz kämpfen, der aus fünf zufällig generierten „Pfaden“ besteht. Auf diesen musst Du schießen, an Wänden entlangrennen, rutschen und hüpfen – immer im Takt des Soundtracks.

    Das Außergewöhnlichste an Robobeat und wahrscheinlich auch mein persönliches Highlight ist die Möglichkeit, während des Spiels die Musik zu wechseln. Durch den Wechsel zwischen energiegeladenem Metal, jazzigen Grooves und ekstatischem EDM kannst Du über das Tempo Deines Laufs bestimmen. Manchmal ist ein langsameres Tempo erforderlich, um den Dreh für die nächste Etappe herauszubekommen. Je weiter Du kommst, desto härter und wilder werden die Horden an Feinden, die auf Dich warten. Während Deiner Läufe sammelst Du Blaupausen, die Du mit Geld freischalten kannst. Solltest Du jedoch sterben, bevor Du Deine Blaupausen eingelöst hast, musst Du sie erneut erwerben. Sobald Du eine Waffe oder eine Fähigkeit freigeschaltet hast, kann sie in jedem weiteren Lauf auftauchen.

    Die Musik ist großartig, die Feuergefecht sind manisch intensiv und die Roguelite-Mechanik hebt Robobeat deutlich von vergleichbaren Spielen ab. Ein gewagtes Unterfangen, das sich voll ausgezahlt hat.

    Mexico, 1921: A Deep Slumber

    Mexiko, 1921: A Deep Slumber ist ein erzählerisches Abenteuerspiel, das von wahren Begebenheiten inspiriert ist. Du schlüpfst in die Rolle von Juan Aguirre, einem Fotojournalisten im vom Bürgerkrieg erschütterten Mexico City. Das Spiel unterhält nicht nur – es bildet auch weiter, indem es das Wissen von Historiker*innen und kulturelle Einrichtungen in seine Entwicklung miteinbezieht. Diese Mischung verwandelt das Spiel in ein interaktives Archiv über die Geschichte Mexikos. Ich war absolut fasziniert, als mich das Spiel in eine turbulente Epoche der mexikanischen Historie entführte und mir die Möglichkeit bot, die Wahrheit hinter der Ermordung von Präsident Álvaro Obregón ans Licht zu bringen.

    Man bewegt sich durch Mexico City, interviewt und fotografiert Personen, was meiner Meinung nach ein tiefgreifendes Gefühl der Teilhabe erzeugt. Diese Authentizität wird nur noch durch die Fotomechanik übertroffen, für die man die fotografischen Techniken des frühen 20. Jahrhunderts beherrschen muss. Das Spiel folgt einem klassischen Point-and-Click-Adventure-Stil, bei dem es darum geht, Objekte zu untersuchen, Hinweise zu sammeln und mit verschiedenen Charakteren zu sprechen. Ich war tief beeindruckt von der Verbindung zu den historischen Ereignissen und kulturellen Aspekten des postrevolutionären Mexikos. Mexiko, 1921 ist ein fesselndes und emotional höchst mitreißendes Spiel.

    Mika and the Witch’s Mountain

    Mika and the Witch’s Mountain ist ein bezauberndes Abenteuerspiel für Spieler*innen aller Altersgruppen. Du lernst die junge Hexe Mika kennen, die an der Hexenschule abgelehnt wurde und nun Pakete ausliefern muss, um die Reparatur ihres Besens zu finanzieren. Das Abenteuer spielt auf einer kleinen Insel namens „Island of Winds“, auf der Du mit deinem Besen von Ort zu Ort fliegen kannst. Je mehr Fähigkeiten Du freischaltest, desto mehr Teile der Insel kannst Du erkunden.

    Der von Studio Ghibli inspirierte Grafikstil und der Charme dieser Insel und ihrer vielen Bewohner*innen sind ansteckend. Es gibt Dutzende von Bewohner*innen, die Du auf Deiner Reise kennenlernst und denen Du helfen kannst, den Berg zur Hexenschule zu erklimmen. Die Hauptgeschichte ist zwar nicht allzu lang, doch es gibt viele zusätzliche Rätsel, Rennen und Geheimnisse, die ebenfalls gelöst, gemeistert und gelüftet werden wollen. Durch die vereinfachte Steuerung und die süße Ästhetik ist das Spiel für alle Altersgruppen und Spielniveaus geeignet. Der Grafikstil, die Charaktere und die Musik machen aus einem Spiel, das fast ausschließlich aus Sammelquests besteht, ein liebenswertes, entspannendes und unvergessliches Abenteuer.

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox Returns to GDC: Discover the Next Era of Gaming Anywhere

    Xbox Returns to GDC: Discover the Next Era of Gaming Anywhere

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    As we gear up for the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, we couldn’t be more excited to meet up with our friends and colleagues in the industry and explore the many incredible new opportunities that await us, together. This year, GDC takes place from March 17-21 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. We will host partner meetings, participate in conference sessions, sponsor events like the IGF Awards and the ESA Foundation’s Nite to Unite.

    As Xbox expands to any screen on any device, we’re opening doors and making it easier for anyone to play with any friends they want – whether they choose to play with Xbox console, PC, Smart TV or mobile. At GDC, we’re inviting game developers to go behind the scenes to better understand the significance and impact of what it means for Xbox to be on every screen. We’re committed to empowering game developers to tap into that opportunity by building games that take advantage of Xbox across devices. Our presence at GDC 2025 will reveal the many ways game developers can reach more players with Xbox and showcase success stories of developers who are maximizing the opportunity.

    One of the highlights of this year’s GDC will be our sessions and demos of AI for Gaming. These sessions will provide valuable insight and inspiration for developers looking for ways to make their games more easily discoverable, more engaging and to help their teams do more real-time experimentation and visualization, more easily.

    Microsoft Gaming AI Sessions at GDC 2025

    The Future of Gaming Supported by AI: How Xbox is Empowering Players and Creators (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Fatima Kardar (Microsoft), Sonali Yadav (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 3011, West Hall

    Discover how Xbox is using AI to unlock new opportunities across the Xbox ecosystem for both players and game creators. This session provides an overview of Xbox’s AI vision and a sneak peek of cutting-edge AI technology across the platform that will enhance player experiences and support game development for creators. Learn about innovative features that will help players discover their new favorite games, deliver personalized support, and get an exclusive preview of upcoming AI-powered tools and services designed to enrich gaming experiences on Xbox. Whether you’re a player, developer, or industry enthusiast, this session offers a glimpse into the future of gaming supported by AI.

    AI Innovation for Game Experiences: From Research to Prototyping (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Haiyan Zhang (Xbox), Katja Hofmann (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 3011, West Hall

    How can AI drive the next wave of dynamic and immersive game experiences? In this panel, game developers and researchers come together to discuss the cutting-edge AI techniques being explored and prototyped to enhance player experiences and support developer creativity. From adaptive gameplay systems to new tools for game creators, this session dives into the intersection of research and product experimentation. Panelists will showcase prototypes and share insights into how AI can, with the guidance of game creators and players, push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming. This exploratory conversation is for anyone curious about how AI is shaping the future of game development.

    Machine Learning Summit: Fitting Armor Assets in ‘World of Warcraft’ with Deep Learning
    Speaker: Zhen Zhai (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 5:30pm – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 3018, West Hall

    This talk will introduce Deepforge, a deep neural network designed to transform armor pieces for various races in World of Warcraft (WoW). This technology drastically reduces the time required for artists to fit 3D armors from days and weeks to mere minutes. By automating the fitting process, our tool empowers artists to focus more on fine-tuning the details and enhancing the quality of their work. We will explore the model design, training, and deployment, showcasing its unique features and practical applications on mesh fitting for WoW. The primary goal for this project is to ensure high-quality mesh generation suitable for production use, from preprocessing to postprocessing, combined with a robust infrastructure for efficient and reliable model performance. Attendees will gain insights into how Deepforge enhances game asset creation, making it a valuable tool for developers.

    AI Executive Panel: Exploring What’s Next in AI for Gaming (Presented by EPAM)
    Speaker: Stef Corazza (Roblox) Vitalli Vashchuk (EPAM) Haiyan Zhang (Xbox), Craig Nowell, Databricks
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
    Location: Room 2020, West Hall

    At GDC 2024, EPAM brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of AI in gaming. Continuing the conversation, we will be exploring the role AI has played and what’s to come. In this executive panel we will discuss the practical use cases for developers, creators and players alike. Learn how AI can influence gameplay experience and developers‘ productivity along with the associated benefits and potential hurdles of utilizing this evolving technology. Hear from gaming experts as they share exclusive insights and actionable takeaways from their hands-on experiences with generative AI. This session offers a glimpse into the future of game development and the real-world impact it will have in 2025.

    Inclusive Gaming AI: Red Teaming for Accessibility and Disability
    Speaker: Brannon Zahand (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to improve gaming for everyone. This is especially true for those of us in the gaming and disability community. However, without proper design, development, and testing of AI gaming experiences, it can create new barriers for gamers with disabilities. Unfortunately, applying traditional techniques for developing and testing accessible content is not sufficient in these cases. As such, this talk will discuss how designers, testers, and accessibility subject matter experts can utilize red teaming to create inclusive AI experiences in games and gaming services. It will discuss what red teaming is, why it is extra important when it comes to creating accessible and enjoyable experiences for gamers with disabilities, numerous strategies to prevent and catch a myriad of issues that could impact them, and how to engage the gaming and disability community to help you validate such experiences.

    Amplifying Player Voices with LLMs in Game Development
    Speaker: Joshua Koen (Blizzard Entertainment), Ian Livingston (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 1:30pm – 2:00pm
    Location: Room, 2010, West Hall 

    Our players dedicate tens, hundreds, or even thousands of hours to the experiences that we craft for them. Players have valuable feedback about how we can improve those experiences, but it can be challenging for developers to quickly parse vast amounts of feedback and identify ways to improve experiences. The presenters will explore the benefits and risks of using Large Language Models (LLMs) for analyzing player feedback. LLMs offer a way to efficiently analyze feedback at depth and scale that has not been previously possible. However, there are dangers of producing incorrect outcomes that are easy to overlook without a careful approach. Prompt structure, game terminology, and data complexity can easily trip up LLMs. The session will present ways that Blizzard has been validating the use of LLMs for this type of analysis. We will illustrate workflows for using LLMs to enhance processes for analyzing feedback from players.

    How to Engage with Us at GDC 2025

    For us, GDC 2025 is as much about showcasing the Xbox developer experience as it is about fostering collaboration with partners and driving our shared gaming future. We’re excited to connect, demystify our vision, and explore new possibilities together. If you are attending GDC in person, whether you’re an indie developer, a seasoned professional, or someone passionate about the gaming industry, we’ve got a line-up of sessions for everyone. If you will be engaging remotely, you can learn more about development and publishing decisions that maximize the full Xbox opportunity by visiting our Game Development Resource Hub here and to learn more about AI for Gaming, check out our Gaming AI Resource Hub here. If you have immediate questions or want to connect with other developers building for Xbox, join our Discord here.

    Here’s a selection of additional conference talks featuring speakers from across Xbox:

    Monday, March 17

    UX Summit: UX Writing: A New(ish) Craft in Mobile Games
    Speaker: Patricia Gomez (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2010, West Hall

    Community Management Summit: Social Media Microtalks: Authenticity from You and the Business “We”
    Speaker: Cindy Tran (Obsidian Entertainment), Antonio Cara (DeNA Corp.), Harper Jay MacIntyre (Double Fine Productions Inc), Livvy Hall (Xbox Game Studios Publishing), Megan Spurr (Microsoft)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2014, West Hall

    Live Service Games Summit: Reinventing ‘Candy Crush Soda’ for the Next 10 years
    Speaker: Abigail Rindo (King), Paul Hellier (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Animation Summit: ‚Diablo 4‘: Bringing to Life the Priestess of Hatred
    Speaker: Chad Waldschmidt (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 3:50 pm – 4:20 pm
    Location: Room 2018, West Hall

    UX Summit: Making the World Playful: The Importance of Accessible Mobile Games
    Speaker:     Emilio Jeldrez (King)
    Date: Monday, March 17
    Time: 5:30pm – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 2010, West Hall

    Tuesday, March 18

    Live Service Games Summit: Mass Engagement Winning Strategies: The 15M Player Tournament of ‚Candy Crush Saga‘
    Speaker: Margaux Diaz (King), Roberto Kusabbi (King)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Thriving Players Summit: Prosocial Design Workshop
    Speaker:     Natasha Miller (Blizzard Entertainment), Weszt Hart (Riot Games)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 9:30am – 11;50am
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    The Climate Crisis Workshop
    Speaker: Grant Shonkwiler (Shonkventures LLC), Trevin York (Dire Lark), Paula Angela Escuadra (Microsoft / Xbox), Jennifer Estaris (ustwo games), Arnaud Fayolle (Ubisoft)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 10:00am – 6:00pm
    Location: Room 204, South Hall

    Gaming Reimagined: Mobile’s Impact on Play Today (Presented by King)
    Speaker: Todd Green (King), Paula Ingvar (King), Peiwen Yao (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 10:50am – 11:50am
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Unpacking Anti-Toxicity Strategy in „Call of Duty“ (Presented by Community Clubhouse)
    Speaker: Mark Frumkin (Modulate), Grant Cahill (Activision)
    Date: Tuesday, March 18
    Time: 2:40pm – 3:40pm
    Location: Esplanade 158, South Hall

    Live Service Games Summit: Game Designer’s Notebook
    Speakers: Marta Cortiñas (King), Kenny Dinkin (King)
    Time: 2:40pm – 3:40pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Wednesday, March 19

    Opening a Billion Doors with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Leo Olebe (Microsoft), Chris Charla (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Location: Room 3022, West Hall

    Accelerating Your Inner Loop with Visual Studio and GitHub Copilot AI (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: David Li (Microsoft), Michael Price (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 12:30pm – 1:30pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Grow Your Audience with the Updated Xbox Experience on PC (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker:     Tila Nguyen (Microsoft), Jose Rady (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Make your Game Available ANYWHERE with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Harrison Hoffman (Microsoft), Jordan Cohen (Microsoft)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Masterworking Systems: Lessons Learned from the Engineering of Season of Loot Reborn in ‚Diablo IV‘
    Speaker: Patrick Ferland (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Ask Game Lawyers Anything Roundtable Day 1
    Speaker: Ryan Black (DLA Piper (Canada) LLP), Brandon Huffman (Odin Law and Media), Angelo Alcid (Microsoft Corp.), Yan Perng (Netflix)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
    Location: Room 308, South Hall

    Xbox Game Studios Panel: Scaling Cross-Platform Development Across Xbox and PC (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Kate Rayner (Microsoft), Soren Hannibal Nielsen (Microsoft, Chuck Rozhon (Obsidion Entertainment), Chad Dawson (Double Fine Productions) Phil Cousins (Microsoft), Magnus Auvinen (Machine Games)
    Date: Wednesday, March 19
    Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm
    Location: Room 2000, West Hall

    Thursday, March 20

    DirectX State of the Union: Raytracing and PIX Workflows (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Claire Andrews (Microsoft), Austin Kinross (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 9:30am – 10:30am
    Location: Room 2009, West Hall

    VFX Storytelling: How „Hearthstone“ Breathes Life Into Hundreds of Cards
    Speaker: Alex Cortes (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
    Location: Room 2006, West Hall

    Strategies for Indie Devs: How to Succeed with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: James Lewis (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    G.A.N.G. Demo Derby: Sound Design
    Speaker: Nick Hartman (Sound Lab), Scott Gershin (Sound Lab), Charles Deenen (Source Sound Inc), Gary Miranda (Injected Senses Audio), Brian Farr (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:45pm
    Location: Room 3018, West Hall

    From Idea to Action: Lessons from a New Accessibility Initiative (Presented by The Entertainment Software Association)
    Speaker: Aubrey Quinn  (Entertainment Software Association), Paul Amadeus Lane  (Amadeus 4th Corp), Amy Lazarus  (Electronic Arts), Dara Monasch  (Google), Anna Waismeyer  (Microsoft/Xbox), Steven Evans  (Nintendo of America), David Tisserand  (Ubisoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    Location: GDC Main Stage, West Hall, Street Level

    Windows Productivity Tools for Game Developers (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Demitrius Nelon (Microsoft), Kayla Cinnamon (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 12:15pm – 1:15pm
    Location: Room 2024, West Hall

    Securing the Joy of Gaming: Xbox’s Commitment to Gaming Security and Innovation (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Temi Adebambo (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: GDC Industry Stage, Expo Floor, South Hall

    Xbox Play Anywhere Developer Roundtable (Presented by Microsoft)
    Speaker: Chris Charla (Microsoft)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 2004, West Hall

    King: Enhancing Mobile Audio with Accessibility and Inclusion
    Speaker: Eduardo Broseta  (King)
    Date: Thursday, March 20
    Time: 2:30pm – 3:00pm
    Location: Room 3024, West Hall

    Friday, March 21

    Game Career Seminar: STR, DEX and INT: A Genre-Spanning Way to Think About Gameplay
    Speaker: Joseph Shely  (Blizzard Entertainment)
    Date: Friday, March 21
    Time: 11:50am – 12:20pm
    Location: Room 3005, West Hall

    Game Career Seminar: Killer Portfolio or Portfolio Killer Part 2: Portfolio Reviews
    Speakers:     Greg Foertsch  (Bit Reactor), Sarah LeBlanc  (Bit Reactor), Rembert Montald  (Lightspeed LA), David Yee  (Unannounced), Jeffrey Johnson  (inXile Entertainment), Jade Law  (Wardog Studios), Gaurav Mathur  (E-Line Media), Jessica Kutrakun  (Hypixel Studios), Inmar Salvatier  (Maxis), Jeff Parrott  (Blizzard), Daanish Syed  (Bit Reactor), David Johnson  (UndertoneFX), Jeff Skalski  (Yellow Brick Games)
    Date:     Friday, March 21
    Time:     2:00pm – 5:00pm
    Location:     Room 3000, West Hall

    Website: LINK

  • Win one of five PiFi kits

    Win one of five PiFi kits

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Ever been in a hotel or AirBnB with rubbish WiFi? Make it better by using a Raspberry Pi with PiFi, a powerful dongle that let’s you create a secure wireless router with a Raspberry Pi – including VPN capabilities. We have five to give away, and you can enter below…

  • Xbox Game Studios Update mit Craig Duncan | Official Xbox Podcast

    Xbox Game Studios Update mit Craig Duncan | Official Xbox Podcast

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    <iframe class="embed-responsive-item" title="Diving Deeper Into Indiana Jones and The Great Circle | Official Xbox Podcast" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qj9KoBhp11M" srcdoc="*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{height:100%}img,span{position:absolute;width:100%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto}span{height:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black} ▶“ frameborder=“0″ allow=“accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture“ allowfullscreen loading=“lazy“> [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj9KoBhp11M?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    November 25, 2024

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox-Update im Februar: Verschicke Einladungslinks, Cloud Gaming-Updates und mehr

    Xbox-Update im Februar: Verschicke Einladungslinks, Cloud Gaming-Updates und mehr

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Auch dieses Mal werden mit dem neuen Xbox-Update wieder frische Features ausgerollt. Ab heute kannst Du als Game Pass-Abonnent*in Deine Freund*innen ganz bequem über einen Link zu Deinen Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)-Sessions einladen. Außerdem stehen noch mehr über Cloud spielbare Xbox-Titel zur Verfügung. Falls Du es verpasst haben solltest: Xbox forscht aktiv an der Nutzung von K.I. im Gaming, und im Januar haben wir einen Netzwerkqualitätsindikator eingeführt. Außerdem gibt es ein neues Controller-Update zur Verbesserung des Gameplays. Weitere Details findest Du weiter unten im Text:

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

    Sende Einladungslinks an Deine Freund*innen, um gemeinsam in einer Cloud Gaming-Session zu zocken.

    Ab heute kannst du als Xbox Game Pass Ultimate-Abonnent*in, während Du den Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) Service in Deinem Webbrowser oder auf Deinem unterstützten Fernseher verwendest, Links generieren, um andere Game Pass Ultimate-Abonnent*innen zu Deinen Spielsitzungen einzuladen.

    Während des Spielens kannst du als Xbox Game Pass Ultimate-Mitglied einen Session-Link erstellen, indem Du das Spieleinladungsmenü im Guide oder im Spiel öffnest und dann nach dem Abschnitt „Anyone“ suchst. Kopiere diesen Link und schicke ihn an Deine Freund*innen, damit sie an der Spielsitzung teilnehmen können.

    Einladungslinks bieten Flexibilität bei der Auswahl der Personen, die zu einer Spielsitzung eingeladen werden sollen. Du kannst eine direkte Nachricht senden, eine Gruppe zum Chatten einladen oder den Link in einem sozialen Netzwerk teilen. Eingeladene Spieler*innen können sofort über ihren Webbrowser oder einen unterstützten Fernseher an deiner Cloud-Gaming-Sitzung teilnehmen.

    So nimmst Du über einen Webbrowser oder ein Mobilgerät an einer Spielesitzung teil:

    1. Öffne den Einladungslink mit einem unterstützten Browser.
    2. Melde Dich mit deinem Xbox-Profil an.
    3. Klicke auf „Mit Ultimate spielen“.

    So nimmst Du an einer Spielesitzung auf einem Fernseher teil:

    1. Öffne den Einladungslink auf einem PC oder Mobilgerät.
    2. Klicke auf die Schaltfläche „Auf einem anderen Gerät beitreten“, um deinen Code zu erhalten.
    3. Öffne den Xbox Guide auf Deinem Fernseher und wähle die Option „Hast du einen Code für eine Spielesitzung?“ aus
    4. Gib den Code über den Webbrowser ein und spiele.

    Bei der Nutzung dieser neuen Funktion sind einige Dinge zu beachten:

    • Alle Spieler*innen müssen über ein Xbox-Konto verfügen und für einige Spiele ist der Xbox Game Pass Ultimate erforderlich.
    • Alle Spieler*innen müssen über eine Berechtigung für das Spiel verfügen, um spielen zu können.
    • Die Anzahl der Spieler*innen, die über den Einladungslink beitreten können, hängt von der maximalen Anzahl der Spieler*innen ab, die das Spiel zulässt.
    • Nach dem Erstellen eines Links können die Hosts der Session diesen jederzeit widerrufen, um zu verhindern, dass neue Spieler*innen beitreten.
    • Die Möglichkeit, vorhandene Spieler*innen aus der Sitzung zu entfernen, hängt vom Spiel ab.

    Streame Dein Spiel – Neue Cloud-Titel verfügbar

    Diesen Monat fügen wir der Sammlung von „Stream Dein eigenes Spiel“ noch mehr Spiele hinzu. Als Abonnent*in des Game Pass Ultimate kannst Du über 50 Cloud-Spiele auf unterstützten Geräten streamen, sofern Du sie besitzt.

    Kürzlich hinzugefügt:

    • Blasphemous 2
    • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
    • Slime Rancher 2
    • Subnautica
    • Subnautica: Below Zero
    • The Talos Principle 2
    • Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered

    Bald verfügbar:

    • Atomic Heart
    • Cult of the Lamb
    • Hotline Miami
    • Killer Frequency
    •  Neva
    •  Overcooked! All You Can Eat
    • Phanton Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate
    • Serious Sam Collection
    • Trepang 2
    • Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition
    • Und mehr…

    Die vollständige Liste der Cloud-Spiele, die auf unterstützten Geräten gestreamt werden können, findest Du hier. Weitere Informationen findest Du hier.

    Falls Du es verpasst hast

    Xbox forscht gerade an der Nutzung von KI im Gaming. Außerdem enthielt das Xbox Update im Januar eine neue Ausführung des Netzwerkqualitätsindikators für Cloud-Gaming, ein Controller-Update und Updates für PC-Gaming, die die Stabilität, Auffindbarkeit von Titeln und Benutzerfreundlichkeit verbessern.

    Durchbrüche in der generativen KI

    Nach einer auf der Webseite Nature veröffentlichten Studie, haben wir kürzlich ein neues generatives KI-Modell für die Spielkonzeption namens Muse angekündigt. Wir untersuchen, wie dieses Modell eines Tages sowohl Spieler*innen als auch Spieleentwickler*innen zugutekommen kann: Von der Wiederbelebung nostalgischer Spiele bis hin zu einer schnelleren Ideenfindung und -umsetzung für Entwickler gibt es zahlreiche mögliche Anwendungsmöglichkeiten.

    Weitere Informationen zu diesem Durchbruch findest Du in diesem Artikel.

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) – Aktualisierung des Netzwerkqualitätsindikators

    Der neue Netzwerkqualitätsindikator ist jetzt für alle verfügbar und hilft bei der Diagnose potenzieller Netzwerkprobleme während gestreamter Spielsitzungen. Die meisten Audio- und Videoprobleme werden durch Probleme mit der Netzwerkverbindung verursacht. Diese neue Funktion hilft dabei, die Qualität der Netzwerkverbindung zu verfolgen, während Du über Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) auf unterstützten Geräten spielst.

    Um die Netzwerkwarnsymbole ein- oder auszuschalten, gehe zu Deinem Profilbild > Einstellungen > Streaming > Netzwerkqualitätsanzeige. Weitere Informationen zu dieser Funktion und Tipps zur Fehlerbehebung findest du hier.

    Xbox-Zubehör – Firmware-Update für den Xbox Wireless Controller

    Wir haben ein Firmware-Update für den Xbox Wireless Controller veröffentlicht, das Verbesserungen bei der automatischen Zentrierung des Daumensticks, der Anpassung des Auslösers und der Maus-zu-Daumenstick-Eingaben enthält. Installiere dieses Update über auf Xbox Series X|S und Xbox One oder einem Windows-PC.

    Gestalte die Zukunft von Xbox mit

    Bleib via Xbox Wire auf dem Laufenden, um zukünftige Updates zu erhalten. Wenn Du Unterstützung im Zusammenhang mit Xbox-Updates benötigest, besuche die offizielle Xbox-Support-Website.

    Wir freuen uns, von der Community zu hören, egal ob Du einen Vorschlag für eine neue Funktion hast, die Du gerne hinzugefügt hättest, oder ob Du Feedback zu bestehenden Funktionen geben möchten, die verbessert werden könnten. Wir sind immer auf der Suche nach Möglichkeiten, das Xbox-Erlebnis für Spieler*innen auf der ganzen Welt zu verbessern. Wenn Du die Zukunft von Xbox mitgestalten und frühzeitig auf neue Funktionen zugreifen möchtest, tritt noch heute dem Xbox Insider-Programm bei, indem Du den Xbox Insider Hub für Xbox Series X|S und Xbox One oder Windows PC herunterlädst.

    Viel Spaß beim Spielen!

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox February Update: Send Invite Links, Cloud Gaming Updates, and More

    Xbox February Update: Send Invite Links, Cloud Gaming Updates, and More

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Xbox updates are rolling out with great new features. Starting today, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can easily invite friends to join their Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) sessions with a single sharable link. Plus, players can enjoy more cloud playable games. In case you missed it, Xbox is exploring AI research, and in January, Xbox introduced a network quality indicator, and a new controller update was released to improve gameplay. Read on for more details:

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

    Send invite links to friends to join your cloud gaming session

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) Image Asset

    Starting today, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members using Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on their web browsers and supported TVs can generate links to invite other Game Pass Ultimate members to join their gaming sessions.

    While playing a multiplayer game with Xbox Cloud Gaming, Game Pass Ultimate members can create an invite link by opening the game invite menu from the Guide or in-game, then looking for the “Anyone” tab. Copy the link and send it to your friends to join your gaming session.

    Invite links provide flexibility on who to invite to a gaming session. Players can send a direct message, invite a group chat, or share the link on social media network. Invited players can join a cloud gaming session instantly via their web browser or supported TV.

    To join a game session on a web browser or mobile device:

    1. Open the invite link using a supported browser.
    2. Sign in with an Xbox profile.
    3. Click “Play with Ultimate.”

    To join a game session on a TV:

    1. Open the invite link on a PC or mobile device.
    2. Click the button labeled “Join on a different device” to receive a short code.
    3. Open the Xbox Guide on a TV and select the option “Have a game session code?”
    4. Enter the code from the web browser and play.

    Here are a few things to keep in mind when using this new feature:

    • All players must have an Xbox account, and some games require Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
    • All players must have an entitlement to the game in order to play.
    • The number of players who can join using the invite link depends on the number of players the game allows.
    • After creating a link, owners can revoke it at any time to prevent new players from joining.
    • The ability to remove existing players from the session depends on the game.

    Stream your own game – More cloud playable games are available

    This month, we’re adding even more games to the stream your own game collection. Game Pass Ultimate members can stream 50+ cloud playable games on supported devices if you own them.

    Recently added

    • Blasphemous 2
    • Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
    • Slime Rancher 2
    • Subnautica
    • Subnautica: Below Zero
    • The Talos Principle 2
    • Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered

    Coming soon

    • Atomic Heart
    • Cult of the Lamb
    • Hotline Miami
    • Killer Frequency
    • Neva
    • Overcooked! All You Can Eat
    • Phanton Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate
    • Serious Sam Collection
    • Trepang2
    • Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition
    • And more

    Check out the full list of cloud playable games available to stream on supported devices here. For more information, learn more here.

    In Case You Missed It

    Xbox is exploring the potential of an AI research breakthrough. Plus, Xbox January Updates included a network quality indicator update for cloud gaming, a controller update, and updates for PC gaming that improve stability, discoverability of titles, and usability.

    Breakthroughs in Generative AI

    Following research published in Nature, we recently announced a new generative AI model for gameplay ideation called Muse. We are exploring how this model can one day benefit both players and game creators: from allowing us to revive nostalgic games to faster developer ideation and iteration.

    To learn more about this breakthrough, please visit this article.

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) – Network Quality Indicator Update

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) - Network Quality Indicator Update Image Asset

    Now available to everyone, the new network quality indicator will help to diagnose potential network issues during streamed gaming sessions. Most audio and video issues are caused by problems with the network connection. This new feature helps track the quality of the network connection while gaming on Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on supported devices.

    To toggle the network warning icons on or off, go to your profilepic > Settings > Streaming > Network quality indicator. Learn more about this feature and get troubleshooting tips here.

    Xbox Accessories – Xbox Wireless Controller firmware update

    Xbox Accessories - Xbox Wireless Controller firmware update

    We released a firmware update for the Xbox Wireless Controller that includes improvements to thumbstick auto-centering, trigger adjustments, and mouse-to-thumbstick inputs. Install this update through the Xbox Accessories app on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One or Windows PC.

    Help Shape the Future of Xbox

    Stay tuned to Xbox Wire for future updates and the latest and greatest Xbox news. For support related to Xbox updates, visit the official Xbox Support site.

    We love hearing from the community, whether you have a suggestion for a new feature that you’d like to see added, or you want to give feedback on existing features that could use some improvement. We’re always looking for ways to improve Xbox experiences for players around the world. If you’d like to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Xbox Insider Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC.

    Happy gaming.

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox Game Studios Update With Craig Duncan | Official Xbox Podcast

    Xbox Game Studios Update With Craig Duncan | Official Xbox Podcast

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    <iframe class="embed-responsive-item" title="Diving Deeper Into Indiana Jones and The Great Circle | Official Xbox Podcast" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qj9KoBhp11M" srcdoc="*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{height:100%}img,span{position:absolute;width:100%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto}span{height:1.5em;text-align:center;font:48px/1.5 sans-serif;color:white;text-shadow:0 0 0.5em black} ▶“ frameborder=“0″ allow=“accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture“ allowfullscreen loading=“lazy“> [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj9KoBhp11M?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    November 25, 2024

    Website: LINK

  • Teaching about AI – Teacher symposium

    Teaching about AI – Teacher symposium

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    AI has become a pervasive term that is heard with trepidation, excitement, and often a furrowed brow in school staffrooms. For educators, there is pressure to use AI applications for productivity — to save time, to help create lesson plans, to write reports, to answer emails, etc. There is also a lot of interest in using AI tools in the classroom, for example, to personalise or augment teaching and learning. However, without understanding AI technology, neither productivity nor personalisation are likely to be successful as teachers and students alike must be critical consumers of these new ways of working to be able to use them productively. 

    Fifty teachers and researchers posing for a photo at the AI Symposium, held at the Raspberry Pi Foundation office.
    Fifty teachers and researchers share knowledge about teaching about AI.

    In both England and globally, there are few new AI-based curricula being introduced and the drive for teachers and students to learn about AI in schools is lagging, with limited initiatives supporting teachers in what to teach and how to teach it. At the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre, we decided it was time to investigate this missing link of teaching about AI, and specifically to discover what the teachers who are leading the way in this topic are doing in their classrooms.  

    A day of sharing and activities in Cambridge

    We organised a day-long, face-to-face symposium with educators who have already started to think deeply about teaching about AI, have started to create teaching resources, and are starting to teach about AI in their classrooms. The event was held in Cambridge, England, on 1 February 2025, at the head office of the Raspberry Pi Foundation. 

    Photo of educators and researchers collaborating at the AI symposium.
    Teachers collaborated and shared their knowledge about teaching about AI.

    Over 150 educators and researchers applied to take part in the symposium. With only 50 places available, we followed a detailed protocol, whereby those who had the most experience teaching about AI in schools were selected. We also made sure that educators and researchers from different teaching contexts were selected so that there was a good mix of primary to further education phases represented. Educators and researchers from England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland were invited and gathered to share about their experiences. One of our main aims was to build a community of early adopters who have started along the road of classroom-based AI curriculum design and delivery.

    Inspiration, examples, and expertise

    To inspire the attendees with an international perspective of the topics being discussed, Professor Matti Tedre, a visiting academic from Finland, gave a brief overview of the approach to teaching about AI and resources that his research team have developed. In Finland, there is no compulsory distinct computing topic taught, so AI is taught about in other subjects, such as history. Matti showcased tools and approaches developed from the Generation AI research programme in Finland. You can read about the Finnish research programme and Matti’s two month visit to the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre in our blog. 

    Photo of a researcher presenting at the AI Symposium.
    A Finnish perspective to teaching about AI.

    Attendees were asked to talk about, share, and analyse their teaching materials. To model how to analyse resources, Ben Garside from the Raspberry Pi Foundation modelled how to complete the activities using the Experience AI resources as an example. The Experience AI materials have been co-created with Google DeepMind and are a suite of free classroom resources, teacher professional development, and hands-on activities designed to help teachers confidently deliver AI lessons. Aimed at learners aged 11 to 14, the materials are informed by the AI education framework developed at the Raspberry Pi Computing Education Research Centre and are grounded in real-world contexts. We’ve recently released new lessons on AI safety, and we’ve localised the resources for use in many countries including Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.

    In the morning session, Ben exemplified how to talk about and share learning objectives, concepts, and research underpinning materials using the Experience AI resources and in the afternoon he discussed how he had mapped the Experience AI materials to the UNESCO AI competency framework for students.

    Photo of an adult presenting at the AI Symposium.
    UNESCO provide important expertise.

    Kelly Shiohira, from UNESCO, kindly attended our session, and gave an invaluable insight into the UNESCO AI competency framework for students. Kelly is one of the framework’s authors and her presentation helped teachers understand how the materials had been developed. The attendees then used the framework to analyse their resources, to identify gaps and to explore what progression might look like in the teaching of AI.

    Photo of a whiteboard featuring different coloured post-it notes displayed featuring teachers' and researchers' ideas.
    Teachers shared their knowledge about teaching about AI.

    Throughout the day, the teachers worked together to share their experience of teaching about AI. They considered the concepts and learning objectives taught, what progression might look like, what the challenges and opportunities were of teaching about AI, what research informed the resources and what research needs to be done to help improve the teaching and learning of AI.

    What next?

    We are now analysing the vast amount of data that we gathered from the day and we will share this with the symposium participants before we share it with a wider audience. What is clear from our symposium is that teachers have crucial insights into what should be taught to students about AI, and how, and we are greatly looking forward to continuing this journey with them.

    As well as the symposium, we are also conducting academic research in this area, you can read more about this in our Annual Report and on our research webpages. We will also be consulting with teachers and AI experts. If you’d like to ensure you are sent links to these blog posts, then sign up to our newsletter. If you’d like to take part in our research and potentially be interviewed about your perspectives on curriculum in AI, then contact us at: rpcerc-enquiries@cst.cam.ac.uk 

    We also are sharing the research being done by ourselves and other researchers in the field at our research seminars. This year, our seminar series is on teaching about AI and data science in schools. Please do sign up and come along, or watch some of the presentations that have already been delivered by the amazing research teams who are endeavouring to discover what we should be teaching about AI and how in schools

    Website: LINK

  • Get The Band Back Together in Rockbeasts, a Management RPG Coming to Xbox

    Get The Band Back Together in Rockbeasts, a Management RPG Coming to Xbox

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Get ready to add Rockbeasts, the narrative band-management RPG, to your most anticipated albums of 2025. Welcome to a world that puts you in the shoes of a manager in the age of MTV, rock anthems, and bad haircuts.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzzfIqBWNZo?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Featuring the iconic Iggy Pop and with a story written by Jakub Szamałek (Senior writer of The Witcher 3, Principal Writer of Cyberpunk 2077 and the upcoming The Blood of Dawnwalker), prepare for a tragicomic tale of the highs and lows of an up-and-coming band in the 90s.

    As the manager of “one of the most controversial bands” of the era, you’ll help a group of rising stars as they navigate the highs and lows of the music industry in pursuit of fame and fortune. Along the way, you’ll meet a colorful cast of anthropomorphic animals, some inspired by real world rock legends.

    Rockbeasts Screenshot

    Pick the venue, prep the set and make sure it all goes according to plan. Pull it off and the band might just finally take those first steps to fame and glory. Sure, this one was in a grimy basement, but even the rock legends had to start somewhere, right?

    The characters that bring this world to life all come with their own motivations, and personal demons. You have a choice – will you be the manager who helps those around you, or uses others as the stepping stone to success?

    Bringing the Godfather of Punk himself, Iggy Pop, to your television screens once again, has drawn on decades of musical insider knowledge for his performance to give you an authentic window into the world of early ’90s rock mayhem.

    His musical performances live in the annals of rock music history and now he’s jumping over to your Xbox. Iggy Pop plays a fictionalised version of himself, the aptly named “Iggy Pup” and lends his vocal talents to bringing the story’s narrator to life, as a radio host charting the rise of the band to fame. Relive the story first-hand as the notorious manager that leads the band to fame and fortune.

    Rockbeasts Screenshot

    The branching narratives, twists and tales of the story will lead you down a path for you and your band to either rock, or ruin, and only by making the hardest choices can you help this band reach their true potential. Manage their practice sessions, sculpt their image, and do everything a good manager will do and maybe you’ll find a diamond in the rough with this misfit bunch of anthropomorphic animals. Or, simply use their hopes and dreams to line your own pockets, at the end of the day – the choices really are yours.

    Ladies and Gentlemen: Rock & Roll. Wishlist Rockbeasts now on the Xbox Store today.

    Website: LINK