Kategorie: News

  • Indie Selects for April: Play the Recent Indie Games That We Know You’ll Love

    Indie Selects for April: Play the Recent Indie Games That We Know You’ll Love

    Reading Time: 11 minutes

    It’s hard to believe, but we’re now in our third month of Indie Selects – and the hits just keep on coming. The team have picked some amazing games this month. We’ve played them, we’ve loved them, and we feel confident that you’ll like them too.

    April’s Indie Selects include an interactive, playable historical artifact, two completely different approaches to building, and even a lo-fi, jazzy space shooter. As always, you can find the whole list in one easy-to-access spot on the Xbox Store, right now. With that in mind, here’s the list (in no particular order):

    Bulwark Image

    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a work of passion from the same solo developer behind the original Falconeer. In this iteration, the universe of that game is expanded into vast new territory, and you’re tasked with building the ultimate settlement in an oceanic world. It’s a relaxed, immersive city builder for the most part, serving up an open world where you can scavenge for resources to support your ever-expanding creation.

    Later in the game you can open up trade routes and defend your city from invaders, or even become the invader yourself, taking on rival civilizations. It’s really the unique world here that sets this game apart from other city builders: you start with a simple island village, and then expand out into, and over, the seas, with steampunk-inspired flying ships and gothic architecture. You can really play Bulwark any way you like and it’s easy to get sucked into, building and exploring for hours.

    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
    Xbox Live
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles

    Wired Productions

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 24

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an open world builder with freedom and expression at its core, allowing players to build sprawling towns, spires, and fortresses that become hubs for trade, or rallying grounds for conquests. Carve your legacy into a world shattered by the decisions of those who came before you, tower by tower, wall by wall, sculpting from the daunting cliffs and perilous waters of an unforgiving landscape that refuses to be tamed. Tasked with rebuilding a civilization devastated by the aftermath of a war 40 years prior, you are in command of creating the last great settlement upon the Great Ursee – a vast, fantastical oceanic world filled with lost myths, breath-taking vistas and danger. From humble docks and wooden jetties, you will scavenge resources and grow your settlement as your population and creations grow ever grander, sculpting monumental stone towers and battlements that scrape the skies, where airships and giant warbirds rule. Create trade routes and strike alliances with other factions scattered across the waves, acquiring powerful Captains and Commanders to protect your creations and utilise their aid in exploration – or muster your own battlegroup to strike at them, waging war upon your ancient enemies. This world and its choices are yours to make – what legacy will you leave behind? What creations will bear your name? Build Your Bulwark.

    House Flipper 2 Image

    Veteran “flippers” will love the revised mechanics and new content, and will completely lose themselves in the sandbox building mode, in which you can design and build your own original creations. But you don’t have to be an experienced flipper to have fun – it’s super easy to jump in and start painting, renovating, and remodeling, bringing new life to the old, shabby buildings in your town.

    There’s even a story mode, where an old pal unveils the secrets of each house under renovation to you. Hard to believe that a game that involves painting, sweeping and hammering – things you’re not likely to see many of us here on the ID team doing in real life – on our “favorites” list, but there are a lot of dedicated flippers on the team now.

    House Flipper 2
    Xbox Live

    House Flipper 2

    Frozen District

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 80

    ★★★★★

    $39.99

    The Flipper’s new groove It doesn’t matter if you’re a makeover veteran or if you’re only starting out – you’ll feel at home in no time!
    House Flipper 2 introduces new mechanics and revamps the ones from the original game.
    The good old hammer, the trusty paint roller, and the sturdy mop, all await your return! The new visuals make our fixer-uppers look crisp as never before! Another brick in the wall Why renovate a house when you can just build one? Unleash your creativity in the Sandbox Mode! Use it to recreate real-life buildings or design projects that exist in your imagination.
    Remember: building from scratch is no easy task! But let’s face it, it’s definitely worth putting in extra effort to design the house of your dreams. Once upon a time… Between the mountain tops and the endless sea, there lies the town of Pinnacove.
    A place where time slows down, and the friendly residents are ready to entrust you with their homes.
    Can you discover some of the stories within these walls?
    Your old pal Tom, who seems to know everybody in the neighborhood, will gladly share some local knowledge with you. Sea of opportunities In House Flipper 2, you are the foreman!
    You get to decide what ‚relaxing gameplay‘ means!
    Do you enjoy building? Choose the Sandbox Mode which allows you to construct houses from scratch. Or maybe you prefer cleaning and decorating? In the Story Mode, you will delve into long and engaging renovation projects, as well as deal with some quick jobs.
    Sit back and relax, here comes the new age of House Flipper!

    Broken Roads Image

    Picture the Australian Outback after the apocalypse with man-eating spiders, raiders, and even blood-thirsty kangaroos. Is it Mad Max? No, this is Broken Roads, a deep RPG that introduces a novel Morality System to mix up the genre. What kind of character will you be? Much is decided in advance as you set out your character’s visions and ideals, which then influence what kind of story you’ll experience.

    Much of the game involves discovering, befriending and influencing the vast cast of characters you’ll encounter on your journeys, as you peel back the many layers of the detailed story. It’s an ambitious game that is infused with Australian culture, dialect and humor.

    Broken Roads
    Xbox Live

    Broken Roads

    Versus Evil, LLC

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 18

    ★★★★★

    $39.99

    Born of a love for traditional computer role-playing, Broken Roads provides a rich, engaging narrative in which players make their way across a desolated future Australia. Blending together traditional and all-new role-playing elements on top of a classless system offering nearly unlimited character development options, Broken Roads presents players with an original morality system: the Moral Compass. This novel design sees dialogue options and questing decisions influence, and be influenced by, a character’s philosophical leaning. Features • All-new post-apocalyptic setting
    • Unique morality system influencing dialogue, quests and character development
    • Authentic Australian locations and environments
    • Blend of traditional and original RPG mechanics
    • Up to 5 party members
    • Turn-based tactical combat
    • Hand-drawn artwork
    • A content-rich and densely-crafted world

    Llamasoft Image

    If you’re under the age of 40 or so, and you’re not from the UK, you could be forgiven for not having heard of games like Attack of the Mutant Camels or Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time. But now’s your chance to rediscover some of the wildest and weirdest games to come out of the ’80s and early ’90s. Not only the games: developer Digital Eclipse serves these classics up in their landmark “interactive documentary style”, and takes you into the mind of creator Jeff Minter, and through the entire history of the iconic British Video game company, quixotically named Llamasoft.

    If you played any of the originals – like Jeff’s signature shooter Gridrunner – on systems such as the Sinclair ZX81, the Commodore VIC-20, or the Atari 1040 ST (this writer’s favorite computer of all time) you’ll absolutely fall in love with these remasters. But if you’re entirely new to Jeff and his trippy games, you’ll find the Llamasoft story to be a fascinating journey into video game history – a history that you can jump into and play.

    Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story
    Xbox Live

    Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story

    Digital Eclipse

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 7

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

    Gridrunner. Revenge of the Mutant Camels. Tempest 2000. Llamatron. In the British gaming universe of the 80s and 90s, nobody made games like Jeff Minter. Now, in a new interactive documentary from Digital Eclipse, you can play the history of one of the weirdest, wildest game developers to ever exist – a man who loved shooters and sheep, lasers and llamas. LLAMASOFT Journey back in time to an era of cassette tapes, photocopied zines, and README.TXT. An era in which a kid with a Commodore VIC-20 and dreams of radioactive sheep could become one of Britain’s best-known game makers. A virtual museum of design documents, playable games, and all-new video features tell the fascinating story of a true independent game designer. PLAY THE ACCLAIMED ORIGINALS Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story includes 42 classic games from 8 different platforms, from Jeff Minter’s earliest work on the Sinclair ZX81 and Commodore VIC-20, to later work on the Spectrum, Commodore 64 and Atari 800, and deep into the 16-bit era with the Atari ST and Atari Jaguar. GRIDRUNNER: REMASTERED Jeff’s signature shooter masterpiece Gridrunner gets an all-new look from Digital Eclipse, updated into thrilling modern graphics and sound – while still running the core of the Commodore 64 version for 100% gameplay accuracy. GAMES, GAMES, GAMES Sheep In Space. Andes Attack. Attack of the Mutant Camels. Matrix. Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time. Hellgate. Laser Zone. And many more. All the Minter classics you’ve heard of (and several you probably haven’t), now with new quality-of-life features to make playing them more fun than ever before. Two of Jeff Minter’s earliest „light synthesizers,“ Psychedelia and Colourspace, are also included, with all-new options and features optimized for controller-based play. Finally, Jeff’s demo of Attack of the Mutant Camels for the unreleased Konix Multi-System console is also included. THE GOLD MASTER SERIES New from Digital Eclipse (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection, Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, The Making of Karateka), the Gold Master Series presents iconic games in an innovative „interactive documentary“ format, putting the shared history of games and their creators into one comprehensive package.

    Grandia HD Image

    Speaking of classic games, the original Grandia dates back to 1997, and Grandia II came out in 2000. Both iconic RPGs have been lovingly remastered in the Grandia HD Collection. Groundbreaking in their time, the series featured a novel dynamic attack system, deep skill progression, and an extensive and immersive storyline.

    New UI enhancements, updated HD cinematics, and tweaks to gameplay make the games feel modern and fresh, while maintaining the original classic characters and stories. If you didn’t get a chance to experience these incredibly influential RPGs, which really defined the idea of “going on an adventure” in a game, now is your chance to set out on that quest.

    Grandia HD Collection
    Xbox Live

    Grandia HD Collection

    GungHo Online Entertainment America, Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 36

    ★★★★★

    $39.99

    The highly-anticipated Grandia HD Collection for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S are here! Get your hands on two games that changed the landscape of RPGs forever, in beautiful HD graphics. GRANDIA: Dive into the captivating journey of Justin and his allies as they race against the sinister Garlyle Forces. Unravel the mysteries of a forgotten civilization and immerse yourself in an RPG hailed as a timeless classic, inspiring generations of games to come. GRANDIA II: Step into the shoes of Ryudo, a jaded Geohound with a heart, as he embarks on a magical quest alongside a group of unlikely allies. Their journey is riddled with twists and turns as they seek a divine weapon to save the world. Delve deep into this tale where the line between good and evil blurs, and everything is open to question…

    Super Space Club Image

    Imagine mashing up a classic top down “shoot-‘em-up” with a lo-fi, chill-out music channel and you’d end up with something very much like Super Space Club. Usually “shmups” go for more of a frenetic, kinetic vibe with lots of angry aliens and what not, but Super Space Club opts for a much more relaxing tone, while also serving up some great space combat.

    You can select different weapons, ships and pilots to customize the build you want to take into battle, which is a nice plus-up to the genre. And nothing is more satisfying than mowing down wave after wave of aliens while grooving alone to some jazzy, lo-fi tunes.

    Super Space Club
    Xbox Live

    Super Space Club

    GrahamOfLegend

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 5

    ★★★★★

    $14.99

    Super Space Club is a colorful endless arcade gunner set to the backdrop of chill, lo-fi music. As a club of skilled misfit pilots, defend the galaxy by taking on galactic forces and completing a series of thrilling missions. In space, everyone can hear you groove. Sling fireworks with the explosive Olly, or dish out ship-seeking shots with the stealthy Roscoe? With a variety of pilots, ships, and weapons at your disposal, choose the perfect build and soar across the stars through physics-based thrusting. As you’re taking down enemies and completing objectives, be wary of your ship’s energy. Depleting energy could leave you vulnerable to devastating damage. Don’t get too comfortable after coming out on top, as the next wave is always right around the corner. Despite the challenge that gameplay may bring, space can be quite dope. Missouri-based audio duo Fat Bard provides the backdrop of lo-fi beats and chill-hop tunes featuring vocal artists from around the globe. Paired with a vibrant and colorful cool-toned aesthetic, Super Space Club delivers a relaxing yet challenging arcade experience unlike any other.

    Website: LINK

  • Start Your Journey into Sand Land Today with These Helpful Tips

    Start Your Journey into Sand Land Today with These Helpful Tips

    Reading Time: 8 minutes

    Summary

    • Crafted by the late Akira Toriyama, Sand Land tells the tale of humans and demons coming together to try and save their devastated world.
    • We’ve put together some early game tips to help you get off on the right track in this epic action role-playing game.
    • Sand Land is available today for Xbox Series X|S here on the Xbox Store.

    The world of Sand Land, as you may have surmised from the title, is comprised of sand and lots of it. But it wasn’t always this way. The version of the world we’re introduced to at the start of the game is the result of a massive environmental disaster, leaving its land barren and its inhabitants starving for water.

    Crafted by the late Akira Toriyama (“Dragon Ball”) and developed by the talented team at ILCA (One Piece Odyssey), Sand Land tells the tale of humans and demons coming together to try and save their devastated world. This is where you come in.

    As the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, along with his friends Sheriff Rao and the demon Thief, you’ll set off on an adventure in search of a “Legendary Spring,” one that may hold the key to restoring water to the region. Along the way you’ll encounter ferocious wildlife, wild mercenaries, challenging soldiers, and giant-ass scorpions to name a few. You’ll also encounter many friendly faces who want to help you on your journey.

    Sand Land Screenshot

    Oh, and there’s a tank. Your very own armored chariot will be a key component in your adventure within this action role-playing game as you’ll learn how to upgrade it, improve its various components, and learn how to master vehicular combat if you have any hope of saving this world.

    To help set you on your way in Sand Land, we’ve assembled a couple of starting tips to help get your adventure off the right track. From understanding where to spend Skill Points, to populating your town, and revealing what’s up with all those Water Supply Points, we hope these starters will help ease you into this epic adventure.

    Invest in Sheriff Rao Early

    A big aspect of Sand Land‘s early game involves a lot of combat with your tank. Spending Skill Points on Sheriff Rao can help make many of these encounters much easier as his active abilities all help with dealing damage, while his passive skills act as buffs for those abilities. He can also help with landing a couple of punches when it comes to melee combat with his Tonfa Attack.

    Some of our favorites were his Vehicular Warfare ability, paired with VW: Upgrade. This is incredibly useful as it spawns an additional mini-tank that can help draw fire and deal damage — you’ll often find yourself outgunned and surrounded in many instances, so this will come in handy. We also liked Poison Gas which can confuse and incapacitate enemies — very helpful for giving you an opening for attack (or a breather) against some of the most difficult foes.

    Level Up Thief When Ready to Start Looting

    Completing main quests and side quests will net you close to the necessary amount of components and credits to upgrade your vehicles early on as the game eases you into its mechanics. It’s later when you really need to spend some more time out in the game’s world where you’ll find that you need to be making the most of every bit of scrap you can find – this is where Thief is at his strongest.

    Sand Land Screenshot

    While his active skills can help a bit in battle — like Boom Box – it’s his passive skills like Zeni Ahoy and Pilfering Pro that can help the most when needing money and increased drop rates from defeated enemies. These passives can make the loot you acquire more plentiful and your pockets fuller when it comes to purchasing components from vendors found in the world.

    Don’t Skip on Water Supply Points

    As you’ll soon find out, the world of Sand Land is huge and eventually you’ll find yourself exploring nearly every inch of it by the time you’re done with it. You’ll also find that there will be a fair amount of backtracking involved in your quests.

    To help save you some time, it’s highly recommended you take every opportunity to activate Water Supply Points that you come across on your way to those objectives. Not only will they refill your life and water gauge, but many of these supply points also unlock as a Fast Travel Location – which can be super useful in saving you time when your quest involves you checking back in with your quest giver for your reward.

    Build Up Your Town

    One of the smartest moves you can make is to upgrade your town early on so that you have a solid foundation that you can build upon later in the game. The main way to upgrade your town is by convincing NPCs to move in and, often, open shops — the quests to recruit the NPCs and the shops they run will help you get materials or weapons you need for vehicle upgrades.

    Sand Land Screenshot

    Then, once the shops are established, make it a habit to check in with the shop owners as they may have some requests for you to complete. Finishing these quests will improve the shop vendor’s inventory with useful and valuable items to help you in the game.

    Talk with Peddlers and Vendors Often

    To make new vehicles or improve their components, you will need to craft. A lot of crafting. This process requires various types of materials and components that you can either get from exploring the wasteland or purchasing from vendors, like those found in the Junker Market (or later in your Town once you’ve upgraded it a bit).

    Both Peddlers and Vendors will have their stock update throughout the game. So, if you find yourself missing out on Raptor Alloy or missing a Frame Component to build a new vehicle, those are the folks you want to touch base with. Some are even open for trading material like ore for scrap components. In short: Talk to everyone. You never know what they might be offering – for a price of course.

    We hope these tips help you with your early journey in the epic adventure of Sand Land. You can pick it up today for Xbox Series X|S here on the Xbox Store.

    SAND LAND Deluxe Edition
    Xbox Live

    SAND LAND Deluxe Edition

    Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 14

    ★★★★★

    $69.99

    The Deluxe Edition includes:
    • SAND LAND
    • My Room Furniture Set: Army Base
    • My Room Furniture Set: Hideout
    • Speed Demon Pack
    • Beelzebub Decal Set *Decal customization will be available after unlocking Paint Shop in Spino.
    *My Room will be available after unlocking Furniture Store in Spino. Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage – SAND LAND. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore. In this action-RPG, players will find a nostalgic and heartwarming world created by Akira Toriyama, where you will become the main character Beelzebub. Learn how to control his powers and lead your company of heroic misfits exploring the legendary world of SAND LAND. Beware of the many dangers that populate it: between bandits, fierce wildlife, and the Royal Army, reaching the spring won’t be easy! Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles that will help you navigate this vast land, using a wide array of part combinations. VEHICLES FROM BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION
    Unlock vehicles that can be leveled-up with various mechanic parts including weapons, engines, and suspensions. Design and operate a large variety of vehicles including Battle Tanks with powerful cannons, Motorbikes that speed through deserts, and Jump-bots that bounce over rivers to explore every corner of the continent. BECOME THE SAVIOR THE WORLD NEEDS
    Develop your basecamp in the city of Spino, as you build relationships with its inhabitants. As you bring the exiled people of the desert to Spino, watch the town and its capabilities grow. Listen to their requests and wishes, and unlock useful materials and city features. ADVENTURE BEYOND THE DUNES
    Travel through SAND LAND and its canyons, unveil its secrets, overcome all obstacles, and find the entrance to an unknown world.

    SAND LAND
    Xbox Live

    SAND LAND

    Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 14

    ★★★★★

    $59.99

    Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage – SAND LAND. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore. In this action-RPG, players will find a nostalgic and heartwarming world created by Akira Toriyama, where you will become the main character Beelzebub. Learn how to control his powers and lead your company of heroic misfits exploring the legendary world of SAND LAND. Beware of the many dangers that populate it: between bandits, fierce wildlife, and the Royal Army, reaching the spring won’t be easy! Use your tact and imagination to develop tanks and other vehicles that will help you navigate this vast land, using a wide array of part combinations. VEHICLES FROM BEYOND YOUR IMAGINATION
    Unlock vehicles that can be leveled-up with various mechanic parts including weapons, engines, and suspensions. Design and operate a large variety of vehicles including Battle Tanks with powerful cannons, Motorbikes that speed through deserts, and Jump-bots that bounce over rivers to explore every corner of the continent. BECOME THE SAVIOR THE WORLD NEEDS
    Develop your basecamp in the city of Spino, as you build relationships with its inhabitants. As you bring the exiled people of the desert to Spino, watch the town and its capabilities grow. Listen to their requests and wishes, and unlock useful materials and city features. ADVENTURE BEYOND THE DUNES
    Travel through SAND LAND and its canyons, unveil its secrets, overcome all obstacles, and find the entrance to an unknown world.

    Website: LINK

  • How Lords of the Fallen Goes Rogue(like) with its New ‘Master of Fate’ Update

    How Lords of the Fallen Goes Rogue(like) with its New ‘Master of Fate’ Update

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Six months ago, we welcomed you to the daunting dark fantasy world of Mournstead, as we launched our debut game, Lords of the Fallen, on Xbox Series X|S. We wanted to challenge action-RPG fans with a fresh take on the genre and – as one of the first games to be developed in Unreal Engine 5 – deliver a unique experience.

    This week, we’ve reached the biggest milestone since launch: Version 1.5 – Master of Fate. It’s the culmination of over 30 updates released since launch, which has seen additional new content and quality of life updates – including rigorous difficulty balancing – that have significantly improved performance, stability, and optimisation across the board. All of this has resulted in Master of Fate being the very best version of Lords of the Fallen to date.

    Importantly, Master of Fate delivers the final milestone of the game’s extensive post-launch roadmap: A genuinely groundbreaking advanced game modifier system that enables you to warp and twist the gameplay in several fundamental ways.

    Available to campaign completionists and total newcomers alike, these modifiers include the ability to randomize loot so you’ll never know what you’ll pick up next; any and every weapon, piece of armor, or item can be found any point throughout the dark and perilous journey through Mournstead. Similarly, you could also choose to enable the random enemy spawn modifier, and at any point face off against any of the 70-plus enemy types that scar the landscapes of both the realms of the living and of the dead… who knows what will be waiting for you around the next corner!

    As if not knowing which unholy creature is ready to pulverize you at a moment’s notice isn’t enough to send a shiver down your spine, other modifiers include the ability to adjust the number of enemies during group encounters, while another – the Withered Healing modifier – restricts the effectiveness of health items. Turn this on, and health can only be regained by dealing damage to enemies, encouraging you to take a more aggressive style of play. And for the ultimate ‘git gud’ challenge, we’ve added a rather nefarious modifier… Ironman Mode. Get slain in Umbral  – the realm of the dead – with this enabled, and you’ll have to start your journey to thwart the demon-god Adyr all over again, albeit with your loot and character level intact (I did say you’ll have to git gud!)

    Of course, enabling one or any number of modifier combinations will dramatically change how you experience Lords of the Fallen. The idea of making your way up through Redcopse Village – the very first location in the game after the tutorial area – and being confronted by several Skinstealers when you’re only armed with level one weaponry, is surely enough to trigger nightmares… However, no combination has a greater effect on the game than enabling the randomised enemies, randomised loot, and Ironman Mode modifiers…

    Imagine for a moment, having the fortitude and courage to begin a journey through the dual realms, where any weapon could be found at any time, and where the most hellish end-game creature could lurk in the darkness. Imagine knowing that a momentary lapse of concentration or judgement, would plunge you back to the very beginning of the Dark Crusader’s tale. To put it bluntly, activate those specific modifiers, and you won’t be experiencing Lords of the Fallen as an action-RPG; instead, you’ll be facing the brutal cliff-face of the game as an action roguelike – an incalculably formidable prospect!

    So… do you dare become a Master of Fate?

    Lords of the Fallen
    Xbox Live

    Lords of the Fallen

    CI Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 348

    ★★★★★

    $69.99

    Lords of the Fallen introduces an all-new, epic RPG adventure in a vast, interconnected world more than five times larger than the original game. After an age of the cruellest tyranny, the demon God, Adyr, was finally defeated. But Gods… do not fall forever. Now, aeons later, Adyr’s resurrection draws nigh. As one of the fabled Dark Crusaders, journey through both the realms of the living and the dead in this expansive RPG experience, featuring colossal boss battles, fast challenging combat, thrilling character encounters, and deep, immersive storytelling. Will your legend be one of light… or one of darkness?
    Dare to Hope. Explore A Vast, Interconnected World
    Journey across two expansive, parallel worlds in your epic quest to overthrow Adyr. While the living realm presents its own brutal challenges, untold terrors lurk in the nightmarish realm of the dead. Define Your Own Legend Fully customise your character’s appearance from a wide array of visual options, before selecting one of nine character classes. Whichever starting path you take, develop your character to your own playstyle by upgrading stats, weapons, armour and spells. Master Fast, Challenging Fluid Tactical Combat Only those that master the deep, tactical combat can hope to survive. Choose from 100s of uniquely brutal weapons, or forgo metal for magic with devastating attacks of the arcane. Unite or Fight in Online Multiplayer
    Experience the expansive, single player campaign alone, or unite with other Lampbearers in online co-op. You are free to journey together for as long as you or they desire, collecting vigor (xp) and any weapons or gear enemies drop, ready to bring them back to your own world. Key items and quest progression won’t be transferred, to retain the integrity of your own tale. For those playing online, be warned, as heroes from other realms can, and will invade. Wield a Device of Ungodly Power Your lantern possesses the ungodly power to cross between worlds. Use this dark art to reach forgotten places, unearth fabled treasures, and even manipulate the very soul of your foe. Rise from Death Fall in the world of the living, and rise again… in the world of the dead. You now have one final chance to return to your living state, as all manner of hellish creature descends upon you.

    Website: LINK

  • Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 29. April bis zum 3. Mai

    Next Week on Xbox: Neue Spiele vom 29. April bis zum 3. Mai

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Willkommen bei Next Week on Xbox! Wie immer stellen wir Dir alle neuen Spiele vor, die bald für Xbox Series X|S und Xbox One, Windows und im Game Pass erhältlich sind. Klick Dich einfach durch die Spiel-Details, um mehr zu möglichen Vorbestellungen zu erfahren (Änderungen vorbehalten).

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Ein taktischer RPG-Klassiker kehrt zurück! Das zweite Spiel der Front Mission-Reihe ist endlich zum ersten Mal außerhalb Japans erhältlich. In Front Mission 2 wechselt die Perspektive zwischen drei Charakteren: Ash, Lisa und Thomas. So entsteht eine Weltanschauung, die über den simplen Gegensatz zwischen Gut und Böse hinausgeht.

    Tales from Candleforth ist eine Sammlung von Märchen, die vor vielen Jahren in ein verbotenes Buch geschrieben wurden, um ihren Inhalt zu verbergen. Jahre später sickert die dunkle Schrift in die Märchen ein, vermischt sich mit ihnen und verzerrt die Geschichten.

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox One X Enhanced

    The Fall of Elena Temple ist ein Puzzle-Plattformer der alten Schule, in dem Du Räume erkundest, Gefahren meidest und Münzen einsammelst, um weiterzukommen. Der Clou: Du kannst Deine Stürze rückgängig machen! Also hab keine Höhenangst, lass Dich fallen, sammle die Münzen ein und mache den Sturz rückgängig, falls Du fällst, um die Münzen zu behalten!

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Hast Du Dich schon mal gefragt, was Katzen auf dem Dach so treiben? Nun, sie faulenzen nicht einfach − sie veranstalten die ultimative Dach-Jam-Session! Deine Aufgabe ist es, mit den Katzenmusiker*innen zu spielen und neue Talente zu entdecken. Währenddessen versuchst Du, dem Ansturm zu entkommen und schlägst Dich mit gelegentlich bellenden Störenfrieden herum.

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Überlebe den kosmischen Ansturm, indem Du ein riesiges Arsenal modularer Waffen aufrüstest! Wehre die Angriffe der Außerirdischen aus allen Richtungen ab, indem Du Dein Schiff durch den Weltraum bewegst, um die Ziele mit den effektivsten Tech-Modulen ins Visier zu nehmen und einen sicheren Abstand zum Schwarm zu halten. Bekämpfe Minibosse, um Belohnungen zu erhalten, und gib dann Deine hart verdienten Credits aus, um neue Schiffe, astrale Upgrades, Perks und himmlische Modifikatoren freizuschalten!

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Mach Dich bereit für einen intergalaktischen, einzigartigen Showdown in Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition. In diesem ultimativen Multiplayer-Partyspiel treten Deine Freund*innen und Familie in einer rasanten kosmischen Schlacht gegeneinander an. Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition ist perfekt für Deine nächste Party!

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Schlüpfe in die Rolle eines verzauberten Kerzenständers und versuche das Licht in Deiner Heimat zurückzubringen. Setze Deine Flamme ein, um bedrohliche Kreaturen zu besiegen, die in den Schatten einer Burgruine lauern. Nutze das dynamische Schwierigkeitssystem zu Deinem Vorteil, überquere herausfordernde Plattformabschnitte und löse kryptische Rätsel in surrealen Gemälden in diesem 2,5-D-Action-Adventure-Platformer.

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Werde zum Drill Instructor! Beleidige Rekrut*innen ohne Gewissensbisse! Verwandelst Du sie innerhalb von 12 Wochen in straffe Kriegsmaschinen?

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Begib Dich auf die Suche nach einer MotoGP-Legende und gestalte Deine eigene epische Saga. Von bescheidenen Anfängen bis hin zu triumphalen Höhen − der Weg liegt in Deiner Hand. Erlebe spannende Rivalitäten, baue Dir einen guten Ruf auf und hinterlasse Deine Spuren in der Geschichte Deines geliebten Teams. Stelle Deine Fähigkeiten in der MotoGP, Moto2 und Moto3 unter Beweis und tauche ein in die aufregende Reise der 2024er-Kampagne.

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Ein Plug ‘n’ Play 2D-Samurai-Kampfspiel voller Spannung, bei dem ein einziger Treffer tödlich sein kann. Spiele als handgezeichneter Samurai in wunderschön gemalten Kulissen und bekämpfe Deine Gegner*innen in epischen Duellen, bei denen jede Bewegung zählt. Gehe gut mit Deiner Ausdauer um, atme und nimm Dir Zeit, um einen tödlichen Treffer zu landen.

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Nachdem Sonya viel Geld in der Lotterie gewonnen hat, reist sie gemeinsam mit Arnold auf eine tropische Südinsel, um ihren wohlverdienten Urlaub zu genießen. Doch das Paradies wird schnell zur Hölle, als plötzlich ein seltsames Raumschiff auftaucht und die Stadt angreift. Da sie nicht tatenlos zusehen können, wie das Chaos ausbricht, verwandeln sich Arnold und Sonya in diesem Retro-Plattformer in Shockman und machen sich auf den Weg, den neuen mysteriösen Feind zu bekämpfen.

    Deine Aufgabe ist einfach: Baue die Fließbänder wieder auf und sorge dafür, dass die Waren aus der Fabrik kommen. Je weiter Du kommst, desto mehr Werkzeuge, Ausrüstung und Förderbandteile bekommst Du, um Hindernisse zu überwinden. Gabelstapler, Kräne, Sprungbretter, Schaumstoffspender − die Liste lässt sich beliebig fortsetzen! Schalte also Deinen Kopf ein und fang an, das Puzzle zusammenzusetzen.

    Optimiert für Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Ein Abenteuerspiel, in dem Wikinger-Mäuse um Ehre, Ruhm und Überleben kämpfen. Erkunde die von der nordischen Mythologie inspirierte Welt, triff Dich mit Gött*innen und Hexen und ernte den Ruhm der härtesten Mäusekrieger*innen in dieser actiongeladenen Saga!

    Website: LINK

  • Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 29 to May 3

    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 29 to May 3

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

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

    FRONT MISSION 2: Remake
    Xbox Live

    FRONT MISSION 2: Remake

    Forever Entertainment S.A.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Front Mission 2: Remake – April 30
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    A classic tactical RPG returns! The second game in the main Front Mission storyline is finally available outside of Japan for the first time. In Front Mission 2, the perspective switches between three characters: Ash, Lisa, and Thomas, creating a worldview that goes beyond a simple contrast between good and evil.

    Tales from Candleforth
    Xbox Live

    Tales from Candleforth

    Feardemic

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Tales from Candleforth – April 30

    Tales from Candleforth is a collection of fairy tales that were written on top of a forbidden book many years ago to hide its content. Years later, the dark text is bleeding out and onto the pages of the tales, mixing with them and twisting the stories.

    The Fall of Elena Temple
    Xbox Live

    The Fall of Elena Temple

    GrimTalin

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $2.99

    Xbox One X Enhanced

    The Fall of Elena Temple – April 30
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox One X Enhanced

    The Fall of Elena Temple is an old-school puzzle platformer in which you explore rooms, avoid perils and collect all coins to progress. The catch is you can undo your falls! So don’t be afraid of heights, fall and collect the coins bellow, then undo back up to where you fell from, keeping the coins!

    Roofcats Band - Suika Style
    Xbox Live
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Roofcats Band – Suika Style

    Lucky Raccoon Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Roofcats Band – Suika Style – May 1
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Ever wondered what mischief cats get up to on the roof? Well, they’re not just lazing around – they’re hosting the ultimate rooftop jam session! Your mission is to skillfully match the feline musicians, summoning new talents while dodging overflow and contending with an occasional canine disruptor.

    Space Mercenary Defense Force
    Xbox Live

    Space Mercenary Defense Force

    Eastasiasoft Limited

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Space Mercenary Defense Force – May 1
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Survive the cosmic onslaught by upgrading and equipping a vast arsenal of modular weaponry! Withstand the alien onslaught from all directions, moving your ship through space to align targets with the most effective tech modules and maintaining a safe distance from the swarm. Complete optional encounters like mini-bosses and conduit charging to earn rewards, then spend hard-earned credits to unlock new ships, perpetual astral upgrades, perks, and celestial modifiers!

    Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition
    Xbox Live

    Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition

    Three Flip Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition – May 2
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Prepare for an intergalactic showdown like never before in Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition, the ultimate multiplayer party game that pits friends and family against one another in a fast-paced cosmic brawl. Armed and Gelatinous: Couch Edition is perfect for your next shindig, get-together, or soiree!

    Candle Knight
    Xbox Live

    Candle Knight

    JanduSoft

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $12.49 $9.99

    Candle Knight – May 2
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Play as an enchanted candle holder trying to restore the light to its home. Wield your flame to overcome menacing creatures lurking in the shadows of a ruined castle, use the dynamic difficulty system to your advantage, traverse challenging platforming sections and solve cryptic puzzles inside surreal paintings in this 2.5D action-adventure platformer.

    Full Metal Sergeant
    Xbox Live

    Full Metal Sergeant

    PolyCrunch Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $9.99

    Full Metal Sergeant – May 2
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Be the drill instructor! Insult recruits with no remorse! Can you transform flabby recruits into lean war machines within 12 weeks?

    MotoGP™24
    Xbox Live

    MotoGP™24

    Milestone S.r.l.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $49.99

    MotoGP 24 – May 2
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Embark on your quest to become a MotoGP legend and shape your own epic saga. From humble beginnings to triumphant heights, the path is yours to forge. Engage in thrilling rivalries, build your reputation, and leave your mark on the history of your beloved team. Challenge your abilities in MotoGP, Moto2, and Moto3, and immerse yourself in the exhilarating journey of the 2024 campaign.

    Sclash
    Xbox Live

    Sclash

    Maximum Entertainment

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $9.99

    Sclash – May 2
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    A plug ’n’ play 2D samurai fighting game full of tension where one hit is enough to kill. Play as a hand-drawn samurai in beautiful painted settings and fight your opponent in epic solemn duels where each move matters. Manage your stamina well, breath, and take your time to land a deadly hit.

    Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The princess from another world
    Xbox Live

    Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The princess from another world

    Ratalaika Games S.L.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: The Princess from Another World – May 3
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    After Sonya wins a big prize in the lottery, she and Arnold travel to a tropical southern island to enjoy some well-deserved holidays. However, paradise soon turns into hell when a strange spaceship appears suddenly and starts attacking the city. Unable to just sit around and do nothing while chaos unfolds, Arnold and Sonya transform into Shockman and head to battle this new mysterious enemy in this retro platformer.

    Ready, Steady, Ship!
    Xbox Live

    Ready, Steady, Ship!

    Untold Tales

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Ready, Steady, Ship! – May 3

    Your job is simple – rebuild the conveyor belts and get the goods flowing out of the factory. As you progress, you’ll be given all manner of tools, equipment, and conveyor parts to overcome obstacles. Forklifts, cranes, springboard conveyor belts, packing foam dispensers, the list goes on and on! So put on your thinking hard hats and start piecing together the puzzle.

    MiceGard
    Xbox Live

    MiceGard

    Desert Water Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    MiceGard – May 3
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    An adventure game where viking mice fight for honor, fame, and survival. Explore the world inspired by Norse mythology, meet with gods and warlocks, and seize the glory of the fiercest mouse-warrior in this action-packed saga!

    Website: LINK

  • Manor Lords – wie Du den ersten rauen Winter meisterst

    Manor Lords – wie Du den ersten rauen Winter meisterst

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    Summary

    • Manor Lords ist ab heute im Microsoft Store und im PC Game Pass erhältlich (Game Preview)
    • Als neu ernannte*r Herrscher*in musst Du dafür sorgen, dass Dein Volk den ersten Winter überlebt
    • Xbox Wire DACH hat einige Tipps und Tricks gesammelt, die Dir helfen, Dich als Gutsherr*in zu behaupten und Deine Siedler*innen bei Laune zu halten.

    Manor Lords ist ein spannendes Strategiespiel, das seinen Fokus auf das Erbauen von Städten, Sandbox-Gameplay und historische Details legt. Das heißt, dass Du Dich auf Bauwerke, Arbeitsstätten und Kleidungsstile freuen kannst, die sich an der historischen Realität orientieren. Manor Lords geht mit dem Realismus sogar noch einen Schritt weiter: Wenn Du Dein Volk nicht angemessen auf den kalten Winter vorbereitest, werden die Einwohner*innen im schlimmsten Fall sterben.  

    Der Beginn ist vor diesem Hintergrund sicher am schwierigsten, aber keine Sorge – Xbox Wire DACH hat einige Ratschläge von erfahrenen Baron*innen und Kaufleuten gesammelt, die Dir dabei helfen, Deine Siedlung durch das erste Jahr zu bringen und dabei das Fundament für eine glorreiche Zukunft zu legen. 

    Jedes Spiel ist anders

    Jeder Start in Manor Lords ist einzigartig. Jedes Mal, wenn Du ein neues Spiel beginnst, wirst Du in einer von acht Regionen ausgesetzt, die Teil des fiktiven Deutschlands zu Zeiten des Mittelalters sind. Die Ressourcen, die Dir zu Verfügung stehen, ändern sich von Spiel zu Spiel und selbst wenn Du mehrmals hintereinander in derselben Region startest, stehen Dir immer wieder unterschiedliche Ressourcen zur Verfügung. So kann es sein, dass Du in einem Spiel reiche Eisen- oder Tonvorkommen entdeckst und im nächsten Beeren und fruchtbare Felder im Überfluss findest, die für die Ernährung Deiner Dorfbewohner*innen von großer Bedeutung sind.

    Die Planung spielt vor diesem Hintergrund eine wichtige Rolle. Überlege Dir deshalb gut, auf welche Industrien Du Dich zuerst konzentrierst und in welche Entwicklungszweige Du investierst. Wenn Du über reiche Eisenvorkommen verfügst, kannst Du mit dem Bau einer Gärtnerei und einer Schmiede lukrative Handelsgüter wie Werkzeuge herstellen. Außerdem solltest Du die Holzkohleöfen und den Tiefenbergbau nicht vergessen. Mit diesen stellst Du sicher, dass die Rohstoffe langfristig gefördert werden können. Für jeden Rohstoff gibt es eines dieser Schlüsselelemente, mit denen Du die Förderung am Leben hältst.

    Die Zeit, die Deine Bewohner*innen benötigen, um von ihrem Zuhause an den Arbeitsplatz zu kommen oder die Ochsen, um einen schweren Baumstamm zum Bauplatz zu schleppen, kann tiefgreifenden Einfluss auf die Spielgeschwindigkeit und die Logistik des Dorflebens haben.

    Erkenne und befriedige die Bedürfnisse Deiner Bürger*innen

    In Manor Lords geht es im Grunde immer darum, Bedürfnisse zu stillen – das Bedürfnis nach Wasser oder das Bedürfnis nach Nahrung zum Beispiel. Wenn Du die Bedürfnisse eines „Burgage Plots“ (Gutsherrenbezeichnung für ein Haus) erfüllst, kannst Du für dieses die nächste Stufe und so eine Reihe komplexerer Bedürfnisse freischalten. Indem Du ihre Bedürfnisse erfüllst, kannst Du Deine Bürger*innen zufrieden stellen und sie davon abhalten, die Stadt zu verlassen. Aber ganz egal, wie komplex die Bedürfnisse auch sein mögen – der Zugang zu Nahrung und Brennholz ist stets essenziell.

    Die Bewohner*innen höherer Stufen freuen sich zwar über ein vielfältiges Angebot an Lebensmitteln auf dem Markt. Solange sie genug zu essen und Zugang zu Wasser haben, sind sie zufrieden.

    Dir stehen mehrere Möglichkeiten zur Verfügung, den anfänglichen Nahrungsmittelbedarf zu decken:

    • Du verfügst zu Beginn meist über ein Beerenvorkommen und/oder eine Hirschherde. Errichte eine Jägerhütte, beziehungsweise ein Jagdhaus, um daraus Ertrag zu erzielen.
    • Du findest ein gewisses Startkapital in der Dorfkasse, das Du für den Bau eines Hühnerstalls oder eines Gemüsegartens nutzen kannst. Der Hühnerstall hat den Vorteil, dass Du sofort Eier erhältst und dabei nicht auf Arbeitskräfte angewiesen bist.
    • Mikromanagement kann sich als Trumpf erweisen, wenn Dein Dorf gerade noch wächst. Da die Beeren immer nur in den warmen Monaten wachsen, solltest Du in Erwägung ziehen, ob dieselbe Familie, die im Sommer für die Beeren verantwortlich sind, im Winter nicht auf die Jagd gehen kann.  

    Nach dem ersten Jahr solltest Du Dich mit dem Ackerbau befassen – es gibt ein Overlay, das Dir anzeigt, wie fruchtbar das umliegende Land ist. Je mehr „+“-Symbole Du siehst, desto besser. Es kann sich lohnen, dass Du schon zu Beginn des Spiels die Augen nach fruchtbaren Böden offenhältst, um später zurückzukehren. Du kannst das Gebiet entweder mit Straßen begrenzen oder einfach ein Feld anlegen, um die Landwirtschaft in Gang zu setzen. 

    Brennholz ist derweil deutlich einfacher zu beschaffen. Deine Bürger*innen müssen sich mit Feuern warmhalten und das besonders im Winter, wenn sich der Brennholzverbrauch verdoppelt. Um die Versorgung sicherzustellen, benötigst Du ein Holzfällerhaus, das Du einer Familie zuweist, damit diese das Brennholz für das Dorf sammeln und aufbereiten kann. Brennholz, das gerade nicht benötigt wird, wird im Lagerhaus gesammelt und auf dem Markt an die Bürger*innen ausgegeben.

    Du kannst jederzeit überprüfen, wie viel Nahrung und Brennholz sich gerade im Lagerhaus befindet, indem Du auf das Fass-Symbol in der oberen Infotafel schaust. Es zeigt Dir an, wie viele Monate Deine Bürger*innen überleben könnten, wenn die gesamte Produktion zum Stillstand kommt. Wenn Du mit dem Cursor über das Symbol fährst, werden die Vorräte in Brennstoff- und Nahrungsreserven ausgeschlüsselt.

    Nur wer handelt, erntet Wohlstand und Reichtum

    Der Handel spielt in Manor Lords eine zentrale Rolle. Du musst Waren importieren, um an fehlende Ressourcen zu gelangen; vielleicht brauchst Du mehr Felle oder Eisen, weil es in der Nähe Deiner Siedlung keine Mienen gibt. Natürlich kannst Du auch das Geld aus den Geschäften gut gebrauchen, um neue Arbeitstiere zu kaufen oder den Hinterhof auszubauen.

    Zum Glück befindest Du Dich inmitten einer großen, zivilisierten Welt, in der Du immer wieder Händler*innen begegnest, die die Königsstraße auf und ab reisen, um ihre Waren anzubieten und damit selbst Profit zu erzielen.

    Sobald Du die grundlegendsten Bedürfnisse befriedigt, und Deinen Hauptindustriezweig gefunden hast, ist es an der Zeit, Geld zu verdienen. Errichte einen Handelsposten und stelle eine Familie an, die dort arbeitet. Wahrscheinlich hat Deine Siedlung zu diesem Zeitpunkt bereits eine gewisse Größe erreicht, sodass Dir genug Vorräte zur Verfügung stehen, um ihre Bedürfnisse zu stillen.

    Finde heraus, von welchen Ressourcen Du mehr als genug hast und wie viel Du von diesen verkaufen kannst, um kurzfristig Geld zu verdienen. Felle sind zwar wichtig, um die Burgage-Pazellen auf die nächste Stufe zu bringen, allerdings sind sie keine wesentliche Voraussetzung für die Zufriedenheit Deiner Bürger*innen. So steht dem Verkauf nichts mehr im Weg. Für den Erwerb bestimmter hochwertiger Waren musst Du eine große Summe investieren, um eine entsprechende Handelsroute zu errichten. Vor diesem Hintergrund ist es einfacher, weniger wertvolle Waren zu verkaufen – vorausgesetzt, Du hast genug davon. Außerdem hilft Dir das Entwicklungsbaum-Upgrade beim Handel.

    Sorge für Recht & Ordnung

    Deine Ländereien sind nie völlig sicher – ein mächtiger rivalisierender Fürst wird versuchen, Deine und weitere Regionen zu erobern und umherstreifende Bandit*innen werden sich als hartnäckige Gegner*innen erweisen. Sobald Du das erste Jahr überstanden hast, wirst Du Dich ebenfalls mit den umliegenden Regionen beschäftigen und Deinen Herrschaftsanspruch geltend machen. Hierzu ein paar abschließend Tipps:

    ● Das Standardszenario sieht einen Banditenangriff vor, der je nach Einstellung frühestens nach zwei Jahren einsetzt. Du hast also genug Zeit, Dich vorzubereiten.

    ● Die Bandit*innen aus anderen Lagern, die auf der gesamten Karte verstreut sind, werden Dich zwar nicht direkt angreifen, aber solange es sie gibt, werden sie Ressourcen von Dir stehlen.

    ● Du wirst immer mal wieder Armee-Einheiten des rivalisierenden Fürsten begegnen. Du brauchst Dich aber nicht um sie zu kümmern, bis Du bereit bist, sie wirklich herauszufordern.

    Das erste Jahr in Manor Lords ist das schwierigste, aber sobald Du diese Herausforderung gemeistert hast, warten große Abenteuer auf Dich. Nutze die Landwirtschaft, erforsche neue Wirtschaftszweige und rüste Deine Armee auf, um den Bedrohungen um Dich herum etwas entgegensetzen zu können. Die Ländereien um Dich herum gehören Dir, viel Glück!

    Manor Lords ist im Microsoft Store (Game Preview) und ab Tag eins im PC Game Pass erhältlich.

    Website: LINK

  • Manor Lords: How to Survive Your First Harsh Winter

    Manor Lords: How to Survive Your First Harsh Winter

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    Manor Lords, out today, is a city-building and strategy game that focuses on sandbox gameplay and intimate historical details. Yes, this means authentic building designs, workplaces, and even fashion. However, Manor Lords, goes several steps further with its authenticity – your people will starve if you don’t adequately prepare for the colder months too.

    Your first year in game will be the hardest – luckily, we’ve collected some top-tier advice from other wizened barons and traveling merchants to help new players with their early settlements and ensure stability in the years to come.

    Location, Location, Location

    Each start in Manor Lords is unique – every time you begin a new game, you could end up in any one of eight regions that make up the game’s fictionalized slice of medieval Germany. The resources around you will also change. Even if you roll the same region several times in a row, the nearby resources will always spawn differently so you may start with rich sources of Iron or Clay in one game, and another may see you awash in berries or fertile fields, which are paramount to keeping your villagers fed.

    Planning around what you have is key, and will affect everything from what industries you should focus on first, to what development branches you invest in. If you have a rich source of iron, building a Bloomery and Smithy will let you create lucrative trade items like Tools, and you’ll want to choose a Charcoal Kiln, and the Deep Mining upgrades. The latter ensures you never run out of raw materials. Other resources have their own strategies as well so make sure you look at all your options.

    Location also has a more grounded meaning – the time a citizen takes to travel between their house and place of work, or the time it takes oxen to lug that heavy log from the pile to the building site can have a profound effect on the game’s pacing and logistics.

    Food & Fire(wood)

    Manor Lords works on a system of “needs”- access to water, food variety, and so on. If you meet the needs of one tier of “Burgage Plot” (Manor Lords’ name for a house), then you can upgrade it to a higher tier, which will have more complex needs. Meeting these needs keeps your citizens happy and stops them from leaving. But regardless of tier, two things are universal – access to food and firewood. 

    While higher-tier housing likes to see a variety of food at the market, as long as they have enough to feed themselves (and access to water), they’ll be happy.

    There are a number of ways of meeting your initial food requirements:

    • You will likely start with a deposit of berries and/or a deer herd nearby. Build the Forager’s Hut or a Hunting Lodge respectively to start harvesting. 
    • You will start with some initial funds in your village’s coffers—these can be spent on backyard extensions like a Chicken Coop or a Vegetable Garden. We suggest choosing the Chicken Coop first, as it starts generating eggs right away and is not dependant on free labour.
    • Micro-management can be your friend if you’re short on spare families. As berry deposits are seasonal, consider having the same family harvest berries in the summer, and hunting deer in the winter.

    After your first year, you’ll want to think about farming – there is an overlay to see how fertile the surrounding land is, the more ‘+’ symbols the better. It might be worth looking at this when you first start the game, and pick a spot nearby to come back to later. You can border it with roads (or just put down a field) and then spin-up farming when you have the population and capacity to go down this route.

    Firewood is a lot simpler to sort out. Your citizens need to light their fires and stay warm, with firewood consumption doubling in winter. You will need a Woodcutter’s Lodge with a family assigned to it so they can generate firewood for the village. Excess firewood will get stored in your Storehouse, and the Market will hand out firewood to the citizens.

    At any point you can check out how much food and firewood you have in reserve by looking for the handy barrel symbol along the top info panel — it shows you the how many months your citizens can survive if everything grinds to a halt. Hover over it with the mouse, and it will break things down separately into fuel and food reserves.

    In This Economy?

    Trading is crucial in Manor Lords. You’ll need to import goods to meet any shortcomings; perhaps you need more Hides, or you need to import Iron because there are no deposits near your starting settlement. You’ll also need funds to hire more work animals or build backyard extensions.

    Luckily, you exist within a vast civilized polity, and wandering traders feel safe enough to travel up and down the King’s Road peddling wares and looking for opportunities to turn a profit.

    Once you’ve met your initial needs and identified your starting industry, it’s time to start making some money! You’ll want to build a Trading Post and then assign a family to work there. By this point, you’ll have probably expanded beyond the initial five families you started the game with and have enough provisions to keep them happy.

    Identify what you have in excess, or at least what you can afford to sell to gain some short-term funds. Hides, while needed to promote Burgage plots to tier 2, are not an essential requirement, so you could sell early harvests of Hides. Certain “high-tier” goods require you to pay a large sum of money to establish a trade route, so selling lower-tiered items is easier provided you have enough excess to earn what you need. There is also a development tree upgrade that helps with trading.

    Law & Order

    Your lands are not completely safe – a powerful rival lord will try and stake his claim across the other regions, and roaming bandits will be a constant nuisance. Once you’ve survived your first year, you’ll want to turn your eyes towards the surrounding countryside and establish your right to rule. Some final tips to keep in mind:

    • The default scenario includes a bandit attack that, depending on the settings, will not kick in for at least two years, which gives you time to prepare.
    • Other bandit camps dotted around the map won’t attack you directly, but while they exist they will periodically steal things from you.
    • You will see the rival lord marching around with his armies. You don’t need to worry about them until you’re ready to challenge him for real.

    Your first year in Manor Lords will be the hardest, but once you’ve survived there is plenty more to do and see. You can explore farming, other industries, and start arming your militia to take on the threats around you. These lands are yours to claim, my Lord – good luck!

    Manor Lords is available on the Microsoft Store (Game Preview) and day one in PC Game Pass.

    Manor Lords (Game Preview)
    Xbox Live

    Manor Lords (Game Preview)

    Hooded Horse

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game. Manor Lords is a strategy game that allows you to experience the life of a medieval lord. Grow your starting village into a bustling city, manage resources and production chains, and expand your lands through conquest. Inspired by the art and architecture of late 14th century Franconia, Manor Lords prioritizes historical accuracy wherever possible, using it to inform gameplay mechanics and visuals alike. Common medieval tropes are avoided in favor of historical accuracy, in order to make the world feel more authentic, colorful, and believable. ORGANIC CITY BUILDING
    Manor Lords provides a gridless city-building experience with full freedom of placement and rotation. Building mechanics are motivated by the growth of real medieval towns and villages, where major trade routes and the landscape influenced how settlements shaped and developed. – Spreading outward from a central marketplace, build your residential, commercial, and industrial districts following the natural lay of the land. Establish farms based on soil fertility, position hunting grounds according to animal populations, and ensure access to adequate resource deposits and forests to provide the raw materials needed for growth.
    – Assign areas for housing and watch your residents build their homes in accordance with the historical burgage plot system. Each region will be subdivided based on your roads and the allotted space, and homes will scale accordingly.
    – Build extensions behind larger homes to generate income and resources that would not otherwise be available. Homeowners don’t just pay taxes – they grow vegetables, raise chickens and goats, and otherwise supply themselves and other townsfolk with essential needs beyond what your managed farms, pastures, and industries can provide.
    – Guide your settlements through the unique demands and opportunities of each season, enjoying the bounty brought by spring rains and preparing for the harsh snows of winter. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
    From boots to barley and hides to honey, Manor Lords features a great variety of goods fitting of the era. Materials need to be transported and processed into finished products through production chains, and you must balance the basic needs of your people against the desire to produce luxury items to ensure happiness, manufacture trade goods for export, or forge arms and armor to aid in your conquests. – Resources are littered across the map, encouraging you to expand and establish multiple specialized settlements. Extract valuable ores from your mining colonies, while villages devoted to agriculture, herding, or hunting supply the grains and meats needed to feed your growing population.
    – Unchecked expansion will have a direct effect on the environment. Herds of deer will migrate away from encroaching civilization, lack of crop rotation will worsen soil fertility, and cutting down too many trees will result in deforestation.
    – Sell surplus goods to traveling merchants or establish trade routes of your own. Manufacturing and exporting quality goods will provide wealth to upgrade your city, pay taxes to your liege, hire mercenaries, and unlock technologies for new industries, products, and tools. MEDIEVAL WARFARE
    Yours is but a small parcel of land in a vast territory, and the competing ambitions between you and neighboring lords will inevitably lead to conflict. Lead your people into battle, not as expendable units to be easily replenished, but as your beloved loyal subjects where every death is a cost worth considering. – Train a retinue of skilled warriors to fight battles alongside the levies you raise from the town militia. At times these soldiers will be needed to crush rebellions or suppress banditry, and at other times you will lead your men into battle to conquer or defend territory. When needed, mercenaries are a costly option to bolster your ranks.
    – A robust diplomacy system will allow you to communicate with other lords, using influence or threats to sway their actions. These competing lords have their own goals and will seek you out as well, and your response to their offers or insults can mean the difference between war and peace.
    – Command real-time tactical battles, taking into consideration fatigue, weather conditions, and equipment. Position your troops wisely – a smaller force can defeat a larger enemy, if commanded well.
    – Feel the cost of battle, even in victory, as each fallen soldier represents a lost person from your city. A pyrrhic victory can spell economic doom, or a winter of rationing food and firewood.

    Website: LINK

  • Interactive Engineering Corp. joins Arduino’s System Integrators Partnership Program at the Gold level

    Interactive Engineering Corp. joins Arduino’s System Integrators Partnership Program at the Gold level

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to Arduino’s System Integrators Partnership Program: Interactive Engineering Corp. (IEC), based in Ohio, is a best-in-class solution provider in engineering and manufacturing, bringing to the table a unique blend of expertise and aligning seamlessly with Arduino’s core values of industrial innovation. Indeed, their philosophy combines technical excellence in design with flexible manufacturing, to deliver solutions quickly and efficiently both in the United States and on a global scale. 

    One of IEC’s standout features – as a full-service electronics manufacturer with over 20 years of experience – is their comprehensive range of services. From PCBAs to wire harnesses, sheet metal, assemblies, and LCD displays, they offer everything needed to bring a product to market. Their ability to manufacture in large quantities ensures scalability and reliability for clients across various industries.

    As a Gold-level partner, IEC is poised to open up new avenues for accelerated product development in key verticals, leveraging the Arduino Pro range and accessing custom support services driven by our dedication to unlocking new possibilities.

    “Joining the System Integrators Partnership Program is an important milestone for us. Until now, most of our partnerships have been in the embedded and board level space, but with Arduino at our side we are ready to grow more into the machine automation field,” commented IEC’s Director of Engineering, Jeremy Nocchi.

    Furthermore, the collaborative partnership is based on a shared vision that recognizes the importance of ease-of-use for customers and accessibility, with a strong focus on retrofitting legacy solutions as a way to sustainably embrace innovation. With that in mind, Strategic Partnerships Advisor to Arduino Paul Kaeley spoke for the company: “We extend a warm welcome to IEC and look forward to a fruitful partnership that drives innovation, fosters collaboration, and unlocks endless possibilities for our customers and the industry as a whole”.

    The System Integrators Partnership Program by Arduino Pro is an exclusive initiative designed for professionals seeking to implement Arduino technologies in their projects. This program opens up a world of opportunities based on the robust Arduino ecosystem, allowing partners to unlock their full potential in collaboration with us.

    The post Interactive Engineering Corp. joins Arduino’s System Integrators Partnership Program at the Gold level appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Detecting rooftop ice buildup using an Arduino Portenta and synthetic data

    Detecting rooftop ice buildup using an Arduino Portenta and synthetic data

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    In areas that experience plenty of cold weather, icicles and ice dams can present a very real danger to the people and property nearby. In response, Eivind Holt has developed a computer vision-based system that relies on an Arduino Portenta H7, a Portenta Vision Shield, and a slew of AI tools/models to recognize this ice buildup. Best of all, the board’s low power consumption and LoRaWAN connectivity means it can be deployed almost anywhere outdoors.

    Before a model can be created, it needs copious amounts of training, data which normally comes from manually-annotated, real images. But recent advancements have allowed for synthetic datasets to be used instead, such as with NVIDIA’s Omniverse Replicator. It was in here that Holt programmatically added a virtual house and randomized icicle models, as well as configured Omniverse to move the camera around a raytraced scene in order to snap virtual pictures and annotate them with the correct label.

    Once the realistic, synthetic data had been created, Holt exported everything to Edge Impulse and trained an object detection model for the Portenta H7, although it was also tested in NVIDIA’s Isaac Sim environment via the Edge Impulse extension prior to deployment. Alert generation was achieved by connecting the LoRaWAN radio to The Things Stack and sending a small, binary payload every ten seconds if any icicles were detected.

    More information about this project can be found in its Edge Impulse write-up.

    The post Detecting rooftop ice buildup using an Arduino Portenta and synthetic data appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Free Play Days – Railway Empire, Prison Architect and TramSim: Console Edition

    Free Play Days – Railway Empire, Prison Architect and TramSim: Console Edition

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Embark on a thrilling journey with Free Play Days, featuring the strategic depths of Railway Empire, the intricate challenges of Prison Architect, and the immersive urban experience of TramSim: Console Edition! All are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday April 25 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, April 28 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.  

    Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire. 

    How To Start Playing

    Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

    Keep The Fun Going

    Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.

    Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)

    Railway Empire
    Xbox Live

    Railway Empire

    Kalypso Media

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 227

    ★★★★★

    $19.99 $9.99

    Xbox One X Enhanced

    Railway Empire 
    Your model train set just got a lot bigger! Fire up your favorite historically accurate locomotive and play your way through an extensive campaign in the Golden Age of industry in Railway Empire. Establish a wide-ranging train network connecting far-flung rural villages to bustling cityscapes in one of the 40 detailed locomotives modelled in extraordinary detail. Tap into the economic opportunities of the early United States railway system to become a powerful industrialist by optimizing the transportation of passengers and goods.  But, whilst you may have the intellect to climb to the top, do you have the cunning to stay there? Pitted against up to three rival railway magnates intent on expanding their spheres of influence. Will you create a trade and transport empire to stand the test of time, or will you be another footnote left by the wayside? Lay your tracks and begin your saga today with Railway Empire now on Free Play Days. 

    Prison Architect: Xbox One Edition
    Xbox Live

    Prison Architect: Xbox One Edition

    Double Eleven Limited

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 369

    ★★★★★

    $29.99 $7.49

    Free Trial

    Prison Architect  
    Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect. In Prison Architect, you will see the impact of your grand design on the lives of your inmates; be it a utopic center for rehabilitation, a brutal Super Max Prison or anything in between. Even when all of your prisoners’ needs are met, remember one thing – it’s still a prison and no one really wants to be there.

    Free Play Days For All

    TramSim: Console Edition
    Xbox Live

    TramSim: Console Edition

    Dovetail Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 13

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

    TramSim: Console Edition
    Urban transport comes to life in TramSim: Console Edition! Enjoy the most realistic tram driving experience ever made, with photorealistic graphics, true-to-life physics, and authentic tram controls. Carry out scenarios across the faithfully reproduced tramways of Munich and Vienna and take in the sites of these historic cities from the cab of your tram. Run to the timetable and face unique challenges across two lines aboard the Flexity and retro Type E2 trams in Vienna. Transport passengers with the unique R2.2b tram through Munich, rich with historic structures spread throughout 3 lines. Both cities are populated with dynamic road traffic and pedestrian behavior. Anyone can join in the fun! Start with beginner mode, learn in the tutorials, and master the art of tram driving, the passengers of Vienna and Munich await in TramSim: Console Edition! 

    Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news. 

    Website: LINK

  • Arduino Cloud and Opta WiFi make an injection molding machine connected and smart

    Arduino Cloud and Opta WiFi make an injection molding machine connected and smart

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    In the rapidly evolving landscape of industrial technology, three interesting trends are intertwining to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and reduce downtime. They are retrofitting, remote control/monitoring, and power metering – and together, they make for a great strategy to upgrade and improve existing machinery, reaping all the benefits of connected things and data analysis without the huge investment of completely new equipment.

    • Retrofitting industrial machinery
      Retrofitting industrial machinery involves updating existing equipment with modern technology to enhance functionality and performance. It allows businesses to extend the lifespan of their machinery while adapting to evolving industry standards and requirements.
    • Remote monitoring and control
      Remote monitoring and control enable businesses to oversee their operations from anywhere in the world. This capability not only improves operational efficiency but also facilitates proactive decision-making and troubleshooting, ultimately reducing costs and downtime.
    • Power metering
      Power metering entails tracking and analyzing energy consumption. By monitoring power usage, businesses can identify areas for optimization, reduce waste, and lower energy costs, contributing to sustainability efforts and improving their own bottom line at the same time.

    Our latest demo showcases the seamless integration of these three crucial aspects into a single solution, using Arduino technology.

    The demo in detail

    We focused on retrofitting an injection molding machine – a common piece of industrial equipment – with advanced automation capabilities. By replacing the original controller with the Arduino Opta WiFi micro PLC, we transformed the machine into a connected device.

    Now, integrating with the Arduino Cloud, users can monitor and control the injection molding machine remotely via intuitive dashboards. This connectivity allows for real-time oversight of production cycles, performance metrics, and equipment status from anywhere with an Internet connection.

    Additionally, the Arduino Opta WiFi is equipped with RS485 communication capabilities, enabling seamless integration with an external power meter – in our case, a Finder model. This provides valuable insights into energy consumption, production output, material usage, and equipment health.

    The collected data is then analyzed through dedicated dashboards, offering information about operational efficiency and potential issues. By leveraging this data, businesses can proactively schedule maintenance and repairs, minimizing downtime and optimizing production processes.

    Retrofitting for a connected future

    Many businesses today can retrofit existing machinery to embrace the benefits of connectivity and automation. Our demo provides a practical example of how common industrial equipment can become smarter, more efficient, and easier to manage. From remote monitoring and control to power metering and predictive maintenance, retrofitting offers a sustainable way to modernize industrial infrastructure.

    Unlocking potential across industries

    Moreover, the versatility of Arduino’s open-source ecosystem ensures that this solution can be adapted and applied to a wide range of existing machines and equipment, enhancing their operation effectively – whether in manufacturing, logistics, or any other industry relying on machinery. 

    To learn more about how you can leverage Arduino technology to upgrade your infrastructure and achieve tangible results, contact us today. Let us help you unlock the full potential of your industrial assets with practical, cost-effective solutions.

    The post Arduino Cloud and Opta WiFi make an injection molding machine connected and smart appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Get young people making interactive websites with JavaScript and our ‘More web’ path

    Get young people making interactive websites with JavaScript and our ‘More web’ path

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Modern web design has turned websites from static and boring walls of information into ways of providing fun and engaging experiences to the user. Our new ‘More web’ project path shows young creators how to add interaction and animation to a webpage through JavaScript code.

    A colorful illustration of a snail, a penguin, and a person with short dark hair against a blue background. There is a large question mark in the middle.

    Why learn JavaScript?

    As of 2024, JavaScript is the most popular programming language in the world. And it’s easy to see why when you look at its versatility and how it can be used to create dynamic and interactive content on websites. JavaScript lets you handle events and manipulate HTML and CSS so that you can build everything from simple animations, to forms that can be checked for missing or nonsensical answers. If you’ve ever seen a webpage continuously load more content when you reach the end, that’s JavaScript.

    Two girls code together at a computer.

    The six new projects in the ‘More web’ path move learners beyond the basics of HTML and CSS encountered in our ‘Introduction to web’ path. Youn people will explore what JavaScript makes possible in web developmnent, with plenty of support along the way. 

    By the end of the ‘More web’ path, learners will have covered the following key programming concepts: 

    HTML and CSS JavaScript 
    Navbars, grid layouts, hero images and image sliders

    Form design and handling user input

    Accessibility and responsive design

    Sizing elements relative to the viewport or container

    Creating parallax scrolling effects using background-attachment

    Fixing the position of elements and using z-index to layer elements

    		 Local and global variables, and constants

    Selection (if, else if, and else)

    Repetition (for loops)

    Using Console log

    Concatenation using template literals

    Event listeners

    Use of the intersection observer API to animate elements and lazy-load images

    Use of the localStorage object to retain user preferences

    Writing and calling functions to take advantage of the Document Object Model (DOM)

    Use setTimeout() to create time delays

    Work with Date() functions

    We’ve designed the path to be completed in six one-hour sessions, with one hour per project. However, learners can work at their own speed and the project instructions invite them to take additional time to upgrade their projects if they wish.

    Built for our Code Editor and with support in mind

    All six projects use our Code Editor, which has been tailored specifically to young people’s needs. This integrated development environment (IDE) helps make learning text-based programming simple, safe, and accessible. The projects include starter code, handy code snippets, and images to help young people build their websites. 

    A screenshot of the code editor interface showing a garden with colorful flowers, an umbrella and a watering can.

    The path also follows our Digital Making Framework, with its deliberate format of six projects that become less structured as learners progress. The Explore projects at the start of the path are where the initial learning takes place. Learners then develop their new skills by putting them into practice in the Design and Invent projects, which encourage them to use their imagination and make projects that matter to them. 

    Meet the projects: Welcome to Antarctica (Explore project 1)

    An animated image of a penguin and a seal on a snowy surface.

    Learners use HTML and CSS to design a website that lets people discover a place they may never get a chance to visit — Antarctica. They discover how to create a navigation bar (or navbar), set accessible colours and fonts, and add a responsive grid layout to hold beautiful images and interesting facts about this fascinating continent. 

    Comic character (Explore project 2)

    An animated illustration of a man with short red hair on the left, a woman with short dark hair on the right, and a yellow lightning bolt in the center.

    In the second Explore project, young people build an interactive website where the user can design a superhero character. Learners use JavaScript to let the user change the text on their website, show and hide elements, and create a hero image slider. They also learn how to let the user set the colour theme for the site and keep their preferences, even if they reload the page. 

    Animated story (Explore project 3)

    An animated image of a snail reading a book.

    Young people create an interactive story with animated text and characters that are triggered when the user scrolls. They will learn how to design for accessibility and improve browser performance by only loading images when they’re needed.

    Pick your favourite (Design project 1)

    An animated checklist with numbered boxes. A cursor hovers over the middle box. Various icons surround the checklist, including a video game controller, a guitar, a basketball, and a book.

    This is where learners can practise their skills and bring in their own interests to make a fan website, which lets a user make choices that change the webpage content. 

    Quiz time (Design project 2)

    A white question mark in the center of a purple background. Animated icons of various shapes surround the question mark, including a television, musical notes, an X, and two cards with numbers "12" and “9”.

    The final Design project invites young people to build a personalised web app that lets users test what they know about a topic. Learners choose a topic for their quiz, create and animate their questions, and then show the user their final score. They could make a quiz about history, nature, world records, science, sports, fashion, TV, movies… or anything else they’re an expert in!

    Share your world (Invent project)

    An illustration of a computer screen displaying a web page. The web page has a blue background and a white arrow cursor hovers over a blue section. A globe icon is located below the cursor.

    In this final project, young people bring everything they’ve learnt together and use their new coding powers and modern design skills to create an interactive website to share a part of their world with others. They could provide information about their culture, interests, hobbies or expertise, share fun facts, create quizzes, or write reviews. Learners consider what makes a website useful and informative, as well as fun and accessible. 

    Next steps in web design

    Encourage your young learners to take their next steps in web design, learn JavaScript, and try out this new path of coding projects to create interactive websites that excite and engage users. 

    Two young learners using a laptop, one of them points at a laptop screen.

    Young people can also enter one of their Design or Invent projects into the Web category of the yearly Coolest Projects showcase by taking a short video showing the project and the code used to make it. Their creation will become part of the Coolest Projects online gallery for people all over the world to see! 

    Website: LINK

  • Understand artificial intelligence in The MagPi magazine issue #141

    Understand artificial intelligence in The MagPi magazine issue #141

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Learn how AI really works by building your own language models, image diffusers, and smart robots

    Raspberry Pi AI Made Clear

    Our Raspberry Pi AI Made Clear feature demystifies artificial intelligence by showing you how to develop generative technologies using Raspberry Pi and open-source software. Create personal image diffusers, generate large language models, and assemble intelligent-acting robots, cameras, and speech assistants. All while keeping one eye on the ethics at play!

    Use CDP Studio and Kinematics to learn how to control industrial robots

    Control an industrial robot arm

    This month we use CDP Studio and its Kinematics framework to program a Raspberry Pi-powered robot arm, the myCobot 280 Pi we reviewed in The MagPi magazine issue 137. CDP Studio is an ‘out of the box’ software development tool to build industrial control, automation, and edge systems. Yet it’s fairly easy to get to grips with its low-code programming environment.

    Raspberry Pi 5 cases on test

    Raspberry Pi 5 cases

    We’ve got 10 Raspberry Pi 5 cases on test this month. We’ve tested cooling effectiveness and Wi-Fi signal alongside each case’s capacity for mounting HAT hardware and access ports. Keep your Raspberry Pi in the best case!

    Discover and control devices on a home network with Home Assistant Yellow

    Home Assistant Yellow

    Home Assistant has been around for nearly as long as Raspberry Pi has. You can even find it in our Raspberry Pi Imager. It’s no surprise then that Home Assistant Yellow branded hardware is pretty high quality. This neat board finds devices on your home network enabling you to take direct control of them with a dashboard interface.

    This Pi-DP10 mainframe recreation brings a classic machine back to life

    PiDP-10 Mainframe

    After tackling the PDP-8 and PDP11, Oscar Vermeulen goes mainframe with DEC’s PDP-10. PJ Evans fires up the big iron and looks at this incredible Raspberry Pi project that brings a classic mainframe computer to life.

    Get your copy today

    Grab your copy of The MagPi magazine today! Straight from our Raspberry Pi Press Store.

  • Celebrating Earth Day with a solar-powered E Ink weather station

    Celebrating Earth Day with a solar-powered E Ink weather station

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    The world just recognized Earth Day and it was a good reminder that we all have a responsibility to protect the planet. Unfortunately, many of our devices suck up energy in direct opposition to that goal. But the market has proven that we aren’t willing to sacrifice convenience. Luckily, that isn’t always necessary. To demonstrate that, overVolt built this solar-powered weather station that features an E Ink display.

    The first — and usually easiest — step in the right direction is reducing energy consumption. And it is often possible to make efficient devices that don’t require any sacrifices at all. In this case, overVolt achieved that with the use of an E Ink screen and a power-sipping Arduino Nano ESP32 board. 

    E Ink technology is perfect for this application, because a weather station doesn’t need to update often. The display only consumes power during a refresh and the rest of the time it continues showing very readable content without any power. 

    The next step was to eliminate any energy from fossil fuels. Because this weather station consumes so little power, it can run entirely on the power coming from a small solar panel. Sunlight isn’t always available, so overVolt added a lithium battery to store power through dark periods. 

    The Arduino monitors temperature and humidity with a DHT11 sensor, as well as air quality with an MQ-135 sensor. And because this is a Nano ESP32, it can also connect to the internet to pull weather forecasts. 

    While lithium batteries aren’t great from an environmental perspective, overVolt’s weather station proves that we can take positive steps without sacrificing convenience.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkD2fdQSjOU?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The post Celebrating Earth Day with a solar-powered E Ink weather station appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • 5 Google Play features for poetry lovers to try5 Google Play features for poetry lovers to tryDirector, Product Management, Google Play Books

    5 Google Play features for poetry lovers to try5 Google Play features for poetry lovers to tryDirector, Product Management, Google Play Books

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    April is National Poetry Month — the perfect time to discover your favorite poems. Whether you want to dive into a powerful sonnet or enjoy the playful simplicity of a haiku, Google Play Books has features to help you enjoy reading poetry. Here are handy tips and tricks to take your poetry reading up a level — from writing notes about your favorite lines to hearing stanzas read aloud to organizing your digital poetry book collection.

    Annotate and highlight poignant lines of poetry

    Poetry often inspires personal reflection. With Google Play Books, you can easily capture your thoughts and annotations so you can revisit them later. Highlight the lines that move you or add bookmarks for quick reference. You can even add notes and easily access them through Google Drive for when you want to reflect back.

    Customize your reading experience

    Just as every poem has its own style, every reader has their own preferences. Customized fonts, layout, lighting and more, let you personalize your poetry reading experience to match your individual taste. You can choose a font that reflects a poem’s theme or adjust the line spacing on the page so it’s easier for you to read.

    Let the poetry speak to you

    Experience poetry as spoken word with our curated poetry audiobook library. The collection features poems from a variety of genres so you can actively immerse yourself while you listen verse by verse.

    And for poems that don’t have an audiobook, Google Play Books’ Read Aloud accessibility feature provides you with the option to listen to the poem aloud. In addition to text-to-speech, you can select a natural-sounding, more human-like voice for reading aloud and change its speed to more accurately capture the inflection and emotion of the work.

    Organize and personalize your (virtual) bookshelf

    Google Play Books lets you organize and sort books on a virtual shelf, making it easier to filter by author, genre and more. You can also name a shelf — perhaps for your favorite poet or types of poetry — to better organize your library and quickly find your favorite poems.

    Become a self-published poet

    While Google Play Books is a destination for readers, our Google Play Books Partner Center helps aspiring writers to self-publish and reach potential readers in over 75 countries. After filling out basic information and agreeing to the terms, you can become a self-published poet and share your poetry with the world!

  • A guide to visualize your Raspberry Pi data on Arduino Cloud

    A guide to visualize your Raspberry Pi data on Arduino Cloud

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Hey there, DIY IoT enthusiasts! Ever build a cool gadget with your Raspberry Pi, only to get stuck figuring out how to show off its data? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Lots of makers like you face the same challenge: turning that awesome sensor data into something easy to see and interact with on your phone or laptop. 

    The good news is, there are simple and reliable ways to bridge that gap and shed light on your data without losing time.

    Visualize your Raspberry Pi data: Get started

    Raspberry Pi and other Linux-based platforms have become popular in the IoT space due to their versatility and ease of use. However, a common issue is finding an effective way to visualize their data and connect them to visualization platforms.

    At the end of the day, what do you want? You have your code which is producing data and you want to have a dashboard to visualize it both in real time and its historical evolution. Furthermore, you would like to interact directly with your application from that dashboard too!

    Let’s explore what kind of solutions you have at your disposal.

    Choosing a visualization platform for your Raspberry Pi

    You can visualize your device’s data by installing a visualization platform on your device or sending data to an external platform, self- or cloud-hosted. Each has its pros and cons, and the choice depends on your skills, time, and the complexity of the solution.

    Installing a visualization platform on your device also implies setting up local data storage, like a database. This process along with the platform installation and maintenance can be complex and time-consuming, especially for beginners.

    Transferring data to an external platform is typically easier as they usually offer a simple API to interact with them, but the type of solution can add complexity:

    • If you opt to establish your own platform and infrastructure, it may seem like you have more control over the solution. However, it can quickly become an overwhelming task for beginners, and ongoing maintenance can be even more challenging.
    • Choosing a cloud-hosted solution often seems like the most balanced option. However, it can also be complicated due to the wide range of alternatives, varying levels of complexity, and pricing models that can be difficult to understand.

    Some of these alternatives were also described in a previous article, where we explored several ways to visualize data coming from Arduino or ESP32 based boards. 

    Choosing the right programming language for your Raspberry Pi

    But now, what? You have to program your application to collect data. Selecting the right programming language can depend on many different factors. Knowledge of the environment or simply your preference can be a deciding factor. But sometimes the decision is not so simple. Here we have some insights about some popular IoT programming languages

    • Python: Python is a top choice for IoT development due to its simplicity, rich library ecosystem, and active community. Its dominance in AI allows seamless integration of machine learning models.
    • JavaScript: JavaScript, with Node.js as a server-side runtime environment, is also a go-to language for IoT device development. It’s versatile and its event-driven nature aligns seamlessly with IoT requirements.  It’s particularly popular for applications that interact with web pages, thanks to the potential for significant code reuse.
    • Node-RED: Lastly, low-code programming environments like Node-RED have become very popular for IoT. It allows you to create your applications with an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, connecting hardware and platforms, and controlling anything from tiny sensors to the cloud.

    Note: While other languages like C/C++ and Rust are also relevant, this blog post focuses on Python, JavaScript, and Node-RED due to their popularity and relative ease of use. 

    Creating IoT monitoring dashboards with Arduino Cloud 

    The Arduino Cloud is a cloud-hosted platform that provides a user-friendly environment to create customizable insightful dashboards used to monitor and control your IoT devices.

    We recently announced that you can now seamlessly connect Python, MicroPython and JavaScript applications with the Arduino Cloud.  

    The main benefit is its ease of use. You get rid of installation or maintenance headaches, while you connect your devices in minutes and visualize the data in your dashboards either from your browser or your mobile phone. You can create and customize your dashboards with an intuitive interface using drag-and-drop widgets. These dashboards provide real time interaction with your IoT devices and insightful historical information that can be additionally downloaded for offline analysis.

    But there are many other cool features:

    • Real time alerts: You can receive notifications based on criteria configured in the Cloud. Learn more in this post.
    • Mobile phone app: You can access your dashboards using the IoT Remote app. 
    • Work collaboratively: You can share your code and dashboards with others.
    • Out-of-the box integrations: You have seamless integration with popular platforms like IFTTT, Zapier, Google Services, Alexa or Google Home.

    Want to learn more? Check out this recent article announcing four new IoT monitoring dashboard features that may seem small, but pack a big punch for your connected projects. They include the ability to duplicate IoT Dashboards, IoT Value Widget customization, new data aggregation method and more.

    How to connect your Raspberry Pi to Arduino Cloud

    Connecting your Raspberry Pi to Arduino Cloud couldn’t be easier. You only have to follow these steps:

    1. Set up an Arduino Cloud account.
    2. Add your device to the Arduino Cloud as a Manual device.
    3. Create your Thing and add your variables.
    4. Create the code for your Raspberry Pi using your preferred development language and environment.
    5. Create the dashboards for data visualization.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jGudEP40hI?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    So, do you want to remotely monitor your Raspberry Pi creations and control them from anywhere? Stay tuned! Upcoming posts will showcase real-world examples of connecting your Raspberry Pi to the Arduino Cloud, enabling you to visualize sensor data and interact with your projects remotely. In the meantime, here’s a project from ProjectHub showing an integration with Raspberry PI using Python to show VCO2 data from a SGP30 sensor.

    Start with Arduino Cloud for Free

    Arduino Cloud is free to use. So, if you’re looking to streamline data visualization of your Raspberry Pi applications, consider giving the Arduino Cloud a try and leverage its full potential for your projects. You can explore the premium features for enhanced functionality.

    The post A guide to visualize your Raspberry Pi data on Arduino Cloud appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Win an ED-HMI3020 Touchscreen

    Win an ED-HMI3020 Touchscreen

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Subscribe

  • Learning from our hybrid training programme for youth and community organisations

    Learning from our hybrid training programme for youth and community organisations

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    At the Raspberry Pi Foundation, we aim to democratise access to digital skills and technologies. One of the ways we do this is via partnerships with youth and community organisations that deliver frontline services to young people experiencing educational disadvantage.

    Two smiling adults at a computer.

    In 2023 we delivered a hybrid training programme to 14 youth organisations in the UK to help youth leaders and educators incorporate coding and digital making activities into their provision to young people. The training programme was supported by Amazon Future Engineer. In this blog, we summarise what we’ve learned from our evaluation of the training and its impact.

    Youth workers feel prepared to run digital making activities

    In total, 29 youth leaders and educators participated in the training, which consisted of 12 modules delivered across 4 online sessions and one in-person day. We asked participants to complete surveys at several points throughout the programme to enable us to explore their feedback, the training’s impact on their confidence in facilitating computing sessions, and their experiences of running activities with young people.

    The educators on this programme were already well motivated to run digital making sessions. But one of the main challenges youth organisations report to us most often is that their staff and volunteers need more confidence in their ability to deliver coding activities on an ongoing basis. It was therefore great to see that, following the training, every participant felt at least moderately prepared to run coding activities, with 2 out of every 5 participants feeling very prepared. Furthermore, we recorded positive impact of the training on participants’ readiness: after the training, 4 out of every 5 participants agreed they had the skills they needed to facilitate activities for young people.

    “It was pitched right for the majority of attendees with no knowledge of Scratch[.]” – Karl Nicholson, Manchester Youth Zone

    The training was well received

    Educators found the training to be high quality and, in almost all cases, beneficial. Participants reported that attending two online sessions in preparation for the in-person training day had improved their experience of the in-person activites.

    “It was really great. The online courses are excellent and being in-person to get answers to questions really helped. The tinkering was really useful and having people on hand to answer questions [was] massively helpful.” – Liam Garnett, Leeds Libraries

    Some participants told us they struggled with the second online training session. This may be because it contained more challenging content: moving from block-based coding (Scratch) to text-based coding (Python), a transition we know many people new to programming can find difficult.

    This feedback has helped inform the next iteration of our training programme for youth and community organisations.

    A Learning Manager is supporting two adult educators during a training session.

    Youth workers are now running digital making sessions

    Since the training, attendees across the 14 organisations have reported that, so far, 39 digital making sessions have taken place, reaching 422 young people. Youth leaders and educators who have already run sessions also told us they intend to continue with coding and digital making activities with their young people in the future.

    Young learners in a coding club.

    Among these youth leaders was Marie Henry, founder of Breadline London, a grassroots charitable organisation based in Haringey, London, that supports families and young people to break the cycle of poverty through financial education, training, and practical workshops.

    Since the training programme, Marie has gone on to start a regular coding club in her local area.

    “We are immensely grateful to the Raspberry Pi Foundation team for their encouragement and unwavering support in empowering us to launch our own coding club. Their guidance, expertise, hands-on training workshops, and provision of essential equipment and devices have been instrumental in our journey towards building a positive community for our young coders.

    With their help, we’ve gained the confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to inspire the next generation of coders and innovators. We still have a lot to learn, but with them by our side, we are confident that our coding club will be a great success.

    Thank you, Raspberry Pi Foundation, for believing in our vision and helping us turn it into reality.” – Marie Henry, Founder of Breadline London

    Some of the organisations that participated in the training have not yet run sessions, but plan to start delivery within the next 1 to 3 months. They continue to face some logistical challenges, ranging from staff shortages and volunteer availability, to encouraging local young people with limited prior exposure to computing to join the digital making activities. We are continuing to support these organisations to get up and running as soon as possible.

    “Oh my what a great coding after school session I’ve had this afternoon…Scratch not only sets a starting point for children in their ITC learning, but is also a fun way to learn and build on skills they can take with them as they grow.

Planting the seeds of aspirations!” – Heather Coultard, Doncaster Children’s University

    Our ongoing support to youth and community organisations

    Our previous blog highlighted the importance of increasing young people’s sense of belonging within a coding club environment, to appeal to marginalised youth. Our findings suggest we are on the right track. Overall, participants felt positive about the training and found it to be of high quality, and it has helped them to deliver digital making sessions to young people in their communities. The organisations’ detailed feedback and impact reporting will continue to inform and improve the development of our training programmes going forward.

    We thank Amazon Future Engineer for helping us run this rewarding programme. 

    For more information about how we can support youth and community organisations in the UK in starting their coding clubs, please send us a message on the subject ‘Partnerships’.

    Website: LINK

  • Star Wars Jedi: Survivor kommt am 25. April in die Play List

    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor kommt am 25. April in die Play List

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Mach Dich bereit für den Kampf gegen die Dunkelheit in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor!

    Das von Kritiker*innen gefeierte Action-Adventure von Respawn Entertainment − in Zusammenarbeit mit Lucasfilm Games − ist ab dem 25. April 2024 für alle EA Play-Mitglieder verfügbar. PC Game Pass- und Ultimate Game Pass-Mitglieder können mit dem Abenteuer im Rahmen ihrer Mitgliedschaft noch diese Woche beginnen und das nächste Kapitel der Saga um Cal Kestis erleben.

    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor hat bereits zahlreiche Preise gewonnen, darunter IGN’s Best Action Game of the Year 2023, PC Gamer’s Best Adventure Game of the Year 2023 und einen Grammy Award für den besten Soundtrack für Videospiele und andere interaktive Medien.

    Du schlüpfst in die Rolle von Cal Kestis, der eine ungezähmte Galaxie erforscht und dabei die Hoffnung für die Zukunft auf seinen Schultern trägt. Entdecke neue Planeten sowie vertraute Gebiete mit einzigartigen Lebensräumen, Herausforderungen und Feind*innen in der Star Wars-Galaxie. Während Du die atemberaubenden Landschaften durchstreifst, lernst Du neue Fähigkeiten, Ausrüstungsgegenstände und Fertigkeiten kennen.

    EA Play bietet seinen Mitgliedern außerdem regelmäßig Belohnungen im Spiel. Hier kommen die neuesten Gegenstände, Münzen und Boosts, die ab sofort erhältlich sind:

    • Apex Legends Apex Logo (Precious Peaks) Weapon Charm – bis zum 30. April
    • Battlefield 2042 Brigade Buster – bis zum 30. April
    • EA Sports FC 24 Clubs FC Pro Black Glasses – bis zum 25. April
    • EA Sports FC 24 VOLTA FC Pro Neck Tattoo and COINS – bis zum 25. April
    • EA Sports FC 24 Ultimate Team Draft Token – bis zum 14. Mai
    • Madden NFL 24 MUT April Pack – bis zum 30. April
    • WRC Season 4 Rewards – bis zum 3. Juni
    • NHL 24 Super Hero Set – bis zum 22. Mai
    • NHL 24 WOC Coins – bis zum 22. Mai
    • NHL 24 WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier – bis zum 22. Mai

    Game Pass Ultimate-Mitglieder können im Bereich Xbox Perks in der Game Pass App oder auf der Konsole weitere Vorteile nutzen. Diesen Monat sind unter anderem folgende Vorteile verfügbar:

    • F1 23 24.000 PitCoin − bis zum 29. April
    • NHL 24 Mega Players Pack – vom 18. April bis zum 9. Mai

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate– und Xbox Game Pass PC-Mitglieder erhalten EA Play mit ihrem Game Pass-Abonnement. Mitglieder genießen großartige Vorteile, darunter Herausforderungen und Belohnungen im Spiel, spezielle Inhalte nur für Mitglieder, Testversionen ausgewählter neuer Spiele wie EA Sports FC 24 und Zugang zu den beliebtesten Serien und Top-Titel von EA, darunter die kürzlich hinzugefügten EA Sports PGA Tour und EA Sports NHL 24. Außerdem erhalten alle Mitglieder einen Rabatt von 10 % auf den Kauf digitaler Inhalte von Electronic Arts.

    Weitere Informationen findest Du auf der EA Play-Seite. Um immer auf dem Laufenden zu bleiben, folge EA Play auf Instagram oder X. Die Nutzungsbedingungen findest Du unter EA.com/EA-Play/Terms.

    Website: LINK

  • Get To Know Our Team: Chad – Senior Software Engineer

    Get To Know Our Team: Chad – Senior Software Engineer

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    Hmm. That’s a great question. I think I have two different answers. To answer the “what I’ve worked on part”, it’s really the feedback system as a whole. There’s probably not a single thing in that codebase I haven’t touched over the years, and I’ve been building that from the ground up all the way to now.

    But the favorite moment portion is definitely something that’s not related to the work I do at all. Before the lockdowns started, we had these holiday parties every year. Just a small thing with the flight team, a white elephant type deal. The cast may have changed somewhat, but there was also a static core throughout the years. So, there’s this series of cherished memories that I have with all of my teammates from each of those parties that I hold dear.

    Website: LINK

  • DIY shifter knob gets a beautiful integrated LED gear indicator

    DIY shifter knob gets a beautiful integrated LED gear indicator

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    We recently covered Vaclav Krejci’s stick shift project, in which he designed a board that surrounds the shift lever and uses Hall effect sensors to detect its position. It then displayed the current gear on a small OLED screen. The idea was that the user could mount that screen wherever they wanted on the dashboard or center console. But now Krejci is back with a more satisfying solution: an LED display built into the shifter knob itself.

    The rest of the hardware, aside from the display, is the same. A custom PCB surrounds the shift lever and contains the Hall effect sensors. Jumper cables connect those to a shield on an Arduino UNO Rev3, which looks at the signals from the sensors and calculates the approximate position of a permanent magnet attached to the shift lever. That position tells the Arduino the current gear.

    The difference is in how it displays the gear to the user. Before, it was a loose OLED screen. Now, it is a bright Pimoroni 7×11 LED matrix display integrated into the shifter knob. The knob is an inexpensive aftermarket model that Krejci modified for this project. He removed the top half of the knob and replaced it with a 3D-printed version with a cavity where the LED matrix can sit. A sheet of tinted translucent plastic helps to diffuse the light and hide everything else.

    This looks absolutely fantastic and would be really cool to see in a car.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcP48uCBzDQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The post DIY shifter knob gets a beautiful integrated LED gear indicator appeared first on Arduino Blog.

    Website: LINK

  • Upcoming and Available Xbox Games in Wired Direct 2024

    Upcoming and Available Xbox Games in Wired Direct 2024

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Hello there! I’m Leo Zullo, Co-founder and MD of Wired Productions and we really love indie games.

    Today my team hosted “Wired Direct ’24”, our blockbuster indie showcase where we revealed free updates for the games you already love – release dates for the games you are waiting to love, and announced one that youre going to love. If you caught the show live – you rock, but if you didn’t then let us bring you up to speed.

    Gori key art

    Kicking off the showcase we dropped the release date for Gori: Cuddly Carnage. Those of you who played the demo during the Xbox Winter Showcase (where you left it with five-star reviews and more hype than you can shake a bag of catnip at) will be intimately familiar with the unique brand of carnage that Gori brings to the table. But if this is the first time you’re seeing our feline friend – let us sum it up for you.

    You’re a cat. On a hoverboard. Fighting unicorns.

    Gori glamor shot

    Obviously there’s way more to it than that – it looks fantastic, has a bone-shaking soundtrack and a surprisingly heartfelt story, but at a base level it’s the fever dream neon drenched marriage of Sunset Overdrive and Devil May Cry with a splash of Conker’s adult humour for good measure that you didn’t know you needed – wrapped up in a disturbingly cute and violent package. And more Importantly – It’s launching on August 29, 2024 and you can pre-order right now!

    Karma key art

    Up next we announced Karma: The Dark World – A psychological thriller drenched in abstract Lynchian imagery, intense horror, jaw dropping Unreal five visuals, set in an alternate history take on a dystopian post war Germany.

    Karma T heads

    There’s a lot we could tell you about Karma: The Dark World, but honestly, the trailer will give you none of the answers and leave you asking ‘what the hell?’ and wanting to know more – which is right where we want you to be right now – take a trip down The Rabbit Hole.

    Lumote Key art

    We think we better try to settle pulses a little after that one, so next we’ll take a dive down to the Great Depths and check up on Lumote. Originally released on Xbox back in ’22, Lumote: Mastermote Chronicles is a beautiful 3D puzzle platformer with a reactive, mesmerising soundtrack that stole our hearts.

    Lumtoe screenshot

    Now, two years later, we are providing a free next-gen update for Xbox Series X|S – and this time you can bring a friend! With a visual overhaul and brand new co-op mode coming that lets you squish, bop and bounce with a companion by your side. Together, you can take control of the world’s inhabitants on a quest to seize control of the Great Depths from Mighty Mastermote! The free Companion Mode and Next-Gen Update is coming soon to Xbox.

    Finally – we take a trip back to the Great Ursee – A world that will be familiar to those of you that played the Bulwark demo last year on Xbox, or soared high with solo developer Tomas Sala’s previous game and Series X launch title, The Falconeer.

    Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a chill twin stick builder with a focus on verticality and a focus on giving you true freedom to paint the last great civilization across a world shattered by war, and though it only launched last month, solo developer Tomas Sala is providing the first of several sizeable updates to the game on its roadmap with the aptly named  “Trade, Tribute and Splinters”.

    Bulwark screenshot

    Check out the trailer to see how Bulwark continues to evolve, allowing you to secure and spend fresh resources, and more ways to interact with the inhabitants of the world as you leave your mark upon i

    Bulwark screenshot

    The “Trade, Tribute and Splinters” update is coming very soon, so keep your eyes peeled for the free update landing in your Bulwarks!

    That wraps up the announcements for our Direct this year. Thank you all for helping to celebrate indie games with us, and helping us bring the outstanding talent of small teams the world over to light, where you might just find your next favourite game!

    Website: LINK