Schlagwort: calcutlator

Today, we are excited to announce the Xbox Wireless Controller – Stellar Shift Special Edition as the newest member of the Shift Special Edition series. The Shift series debuted with Aqua Shift, inspired by the deep sea, and Lunar Shift capturing the awe-inspiring aura of the moon, but we knew that the Stellar Shift had to take it one step further. The Stellar Shift controller features a striking color shifting blue-purple shimmer that gives it a mesmerizing feeling of deep space vibes. Each controller has unique swirl grips that allow you to hold onto all of your gaming action.

Explore new adventures with textured grips on the triggers, bumpers, and back case that provide a better hold of the controller. Alongside is a hybrid D-pad that gives the Stellar Shift an accurate yet familiar input. While you are out making discoveries, you can utilize the dedicated Share button, which can seamlessly capture and share content with all your other friends like video and screenshots on the Xbox Accessories App. Using this app, you can also create custom controller profiles and remap your buttons to your liking. The 3.5mm jack allows you to connect any of your favorite headsets. Feel free to take your controller beyond the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, with Bluetooth technology that allows for wireless gaming on your PC and mobile devices.

One special feature of the Stellar Shift Xbox Wireless Controller you won’t want to miss out on is the unique dynamic background that is only unlocked once you connect your new controller to your Xbox Series X|S console. Dynamic backgrounds are animated augments that bring your Xbox dashboard to life. Bask in the deep purple and blue swirling design as you venture off to wherever your Xbox takes you. To access this feature, click the Settings button on your console dashboard. Under the General tab, hit the Personalization button and find the “My Background” button. Once there, you’ll be able to see Dynamic Backgrounds and can pick between this or multiple other fantastic dynamic looks to customize your Xbox experience even further. Once you have your background applied, you will retain it until you swap it for a new design. To restore this background, simply connect the Stellar Shift controller back to the console and navigate to the menu to reapply.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Stellar Shift Special Edition is available today in select Xbox markets worldwide for $69.99 USD MSRP. Check your local retailer or xbox.com for more information.

It’s time to bundle up and prepare for an arctic chill with the launch of Overwatch 2 – Season 3 on Tuesday, February 7, kicking off a month of exciting activities for all types of players with a new map, Battle Pass, and tons of other fun surprises in store.

New Reward System and Permanent Discounts on Epic and Legendary Overwatch Skins

One of the big changes for Overwatch 2 – Season 3 will be the rollout of 10 additional tiers of rewards along the free track. Part of this includes 1500 Credits to spend in the Hero Gallery in addition to 500 additional Credits for the Premium track.

If you’ve been holding out on dropping some Coins or Credits on Epic and Legendary skins, then you’re in luck. Prices have been lowered on nearly all 300 of these skins from the original game and can be found in the Hero Gallery – these will always be available for purchase with Coins or Credits.

This is in addition to the login bonuses and the in-game challenges that are part of Season 3. This will include a new, earnable Legendary Overwatch 2 Skin that will be part of an upcoming IP collaboration with Japanese Anime “One-Punch Man” to bring themed skins and cosmetics to the game, including Twitch Drops, all of which are detailed here on the official Overwatch Blog.

Take Control of the Antarctica Peninsula

Antarctic Peninsula is the first new Control map for Overwatch 2 and takes inspiration from the iconic Ecopoint base featured in the “Rise and Shine” animated short that chronicled some of Mei’s backstory. The base, created by Overwatch to help find the cause of the planet’s radical change in climate, housed many scientists, along with Mei, who were in the middle of this research when they were trapped by a massive storm. Deciding to enter cryostasis to wait for rescue by Overwatch, Mei would be the only one to survive this ordeal and awaken some 10 years later. It was from here that she dedicated herself to carrying on the work of her fellow scientists.

This snow-themed map will include several lore tidbits scattered throughout for eagle-eyed fans to find, like an ice-breaker ship stuck in the ice that attempted to save Mei and her friends, as well as an underground drilling station that hints at some of work these scientists were up to.

“There are so many areas that we think players are going to love exploring in the new Antarctica map,” mentions Overwatch 2 Art Director Dion Rogers. “But I will say that fighting in an abandoned ice breaker ship is pretty rad.”

Additional level designs will feature flanks and high ground elements that can make or break a team’s success. Also, be sure to say hello to some of the facility’s current residents…

“Antarctica is a unique map.” says Overwatch 2 Lead Narrative Designer Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie. “Not only does it hint at the mysterious answers to a number of long-standing questions about the lore, it spans a number of locations in Antarctica, offering a lot of gameplay variety, new places to explore, and easter eggs to find. It also has penguins,”

New Accessibility and Game Balancing Features

In addition to all the Season 3 details, a series of matchmaking, competitive, Hero balance tweaks, and more have been implemented to improve the overall experience in Overwatch 2 – check out the official blog for a complete breakdown of this.

There has also been a slew of accessibility updates as well, like text scalability, character portrait icons, speaker name, text color changes, background color changes, and subtitle preview. In addition, a setting to select custom colors for Group and Alerts in the UI, which can be previewed before saving for easier setup. You can find all these features as part of Overwatch 2 – Season 3.

Overwatch 2 is for Lovers in February

This month, Overwatch 2 will have two Valentine’s themed events. The first up will be a text-based dating sim (seriously) where you can choose to spend quality time with either Mercy or Genji with Hanzo… er, Cupid… as your guide. We’ll have to see how this shakes out when it launches February 13 on Loverwatch.gg, but it seems like a fun way to get to know a few of the Heroes from Overwatch a little better. If you manage to unlock the secret ending, you’ll be rewarded with a themed Play of the Game highlight. There will also be the Overwatch: Ultimate Valentine event available from February 14 to 28; stay tuned to the official Overwatch Blog for more details in a few weeks.

PachiMarchi Returns

Everyone’s favorite adorable onion… thing… is back! PachiMarchi will be part of a new limited time Kill Confirmed game mode from March 21 to April 4 where you can earn up to six unique player icons, a weapon charm, name card, and an epic Roadhog skin — if it’s anything like last time, expect another series of adorable designs to cover our favorite one-man apocalypse. Stay tuned for further details when the PachMarchi event kicks off on March 21.

Jump in and start playing Overwatch 2 today for free on Xbox Series X|S and don’t forget to stay tuned for all the awesome in-game activities on the horizon.

Overwatch® 2

Blizzard Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆2001

★★★★★

Xbox One X Enhanced

Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl. Team up with friends and dive into the reimagined PvP experience as a time-jumping freedom fighter, a beat-dropping battlefield DJ, or one of over 30 other unique heroes as you battle it out around the globe. 36 HEROES, 23 MAPS AND 6 GAME MODES Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of 36 distinct heroes. Take them into battle across 23 futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master six unique game modes. SEASON TWO IS NOW LIVE New heroes, maps, and game modes will be added in seasonal updates every nine weeks. Drop into Season Two to unlock the latest hero, Ramattra, and over 20 tiers of completely free rewards on the Battle Pass. Purchase the Premium Battle Pass to unlock even more cosmetic rewards including the all-new Mythic Zeus Junker Queen skin, legendary skins, sprays, voice lines, weapon charms, and more! A mobile phone number must be linked to your Battle.net Account to play Overwatch.

Overwatch® 2: Watchpoint Pack

Blizzard Entertainment Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆9464

★★★★★

Gear up for Overwatch® 2 with the Watchpoint Pack! The pack includes the following Overwatch® 2 in-game content: Season Two Premium Battle Pass, 7 Legendary skins (including 2 all-new Space Raider skins), 5 Epic skins, 2,000 Overwatch® Coins and instant access to all 32 Overwatch 1 Heroes as well as the new Tank hero Ramattra.* With the Season Two Premium Battle Pass you can unlock over 80 Tiers of rewards including Mythic Zeus Junker Queen, Legendary Poseidon Ramattra, and more. In addition, as a Season Two Premium Battle Pass owner you will automatically receive access to Overwatch’s latest hero, Ramattra!* A mobile phone number must be linked to your Battle.net Account to play Overwatch. *Instant Access to the Season Two Battle Pass subject to logging in to Overwatch 2 during Season Two. Provides the Season Two Battle Pass and will not award access to heroes, Battle Passes or seasonal/live content introduced after Season Two.

As the internet continues to be a central part of how we connect, learn and play, understanding how to stay safe online remains top of mind at Xbox.  Ahead of the 20th annual Safer Internet Day on February 7, Xbox is reaffirming our commitment to an online world where everyone is empowered to have fun within the boundaries they set.

As Xbox continues its safety journey, we are excited to share a few ways we are recognizing Safer Internet Day. I recently sat down with Xbox Podcast’s Jeff Rubenstein to talk about our evolving approach to safety, and how players, parents and caregivers of all ages can work together to leverage our resources in a way that fits their personal safety preferences. In addition to being a parent and my role here at Xbox, I’m also a player and a customer. Wearing these different hats has enabled me to see and experience first-hand the ways that gaming can allow for open conversations between parents, children and caregivers about staying safe while online, and also about good habits around budgeting, screen time, and more.

At Xbox, our Trust and Safety team is responsible for helping players and families have peace of mind while gaming on Xbox. We take a multi-faceted approach to safety, privacy and community health that focuses on empowering parents, children and caregivers with the tools and education to have safer gaming experiences for the whole family. We design these resources with choice in mind, with the understanding that safety is a priority not only for Xbox, but many families as well. We’ve created family-friendly resources, such as our Xbox Family Hub, as a one-stop shop for information about Xbox safety and privacy, the Xbox Data Collection for Kids website to teach kids about Xbox privacy, and we have well-established Community Standards and guidelines so players understand what types of interactions are acceptable and not acceptable on our platform.

Play the New Privacy Prodigy Game from Minecraft Education

Families and educators around the world are constantly looking for ways to help young people stay safe in the digital world where they play, learn, and build meaningful relationships. At Xbox, we know that a fun way to engage is through creative learning environments.

Today we’re launching a new immersive game-based learning experience calledPrivacy Prodigy, which is a continuation of the CyberSafe series from Minecraft Education, which includes last year’s Home Sweet Hmm. Privacy Prodigy is designed to help players from age 7-18 learn how to keep their personal data safe when they’re out in the world, whether that’s learning how to keep data protected in public places or where to store data. Each challenge is constructed to help students and their parents learn how to make more informed decisions about who should have access to their personal data and why.

This single-player experience introduces young people to the concept of areas of trust. They’ll develop the ability to identify the different types of information they need to manage and what they can share. Players will also learn strategies for protecting their personal data and ways to mitigate any issues that arise from compromised information.

Privacy Prodigy is available in the Minecraft Education lesson library. If your students, friends, family (or you!) play the Bedrock version of Minecraft at home, access Privacy Prodigy for free in the Minecraft Marketplace.

How Xbox helps keep gaming conversations safe and fun

Another important – and fun – aspect about online communities is communicating with friends and players. When playing games online, it’s common for people to share all kinds of content, from a gif to an emoji, or a simple “GG” (good game) that signals a job well done at the end of a match. With players located around the world, certain emojis, messages, and slang terms can hold different meanings depending on cultural and regional nuances.  Xbox is able to help determine what is simply “gaming lingo” and what is potentially harmful content through content moderation tools that allow for safer gaming experiences.

To help keep gaming conversations safe and fun, Xbox scans over 18 billion interactions per year with Community Sift, a moderation platform that has a team of language and culture specialists who understand more than 20 formal and informal languages, in addition to cultural and regional idioms.

Tips for parents and players for safer gaming on Xbox

1. Check in and play with your child on a regular basis

Maintain an open dialogue with kids about safe online gaming, and join in. Playing together is a great way to have an interactive conversation, while better understanding the types of games they’re playing, who they’re playing with and what online scenarios you should be discussing.

2. Create a family group and child accounts for your family

If you haven’t yet created a family group and child account for your family, it’s simple and quick. The account is age-specific and parents can get notifications related to activity. When added to a family group, parents and caregivers can easily personalize each child’s online experience based on age-appropriate limits, such as privacy, content filters and online purchases. Just follow the steps on this page to get started.

3. Customize your settings using the Xbox Family Settings app

Free to download for iOS and Android devices, you can set screen time, gain insight into gaming activity through reports, manage your child’s spending, review friend requests, and plenty more from the convenience of your phone. Learn about how the Xbox Family Settings App works here via a handy video, and download when you’re ready

4. Visit xbox.com/family for even more information for families

Head over to the Xbox Family Hub to learn more about what Xbox offers for families, from information about privacy and access to privacy tools, the Xbox Family Settings app, and our Community Standards.

And if you are looking for additional resources

As the [email protected] brand turns 10 years old this year, our indie publishing service is stronger than ever. With PC Game Pass able to put unique games in front of more players than ever, we wanted to take a look at how [email protected] is empowering developers to make their dream projects, and get them onto the screens of players across the world that are keen to find their next hidden gem.

As part of a recent [email protected] event, we were able to get an in-depth look at four upcoming games. The event gave us a first glimpse of gameplay and other details for Lightyear Frontier, Planet of Lana, Everspace 2, and The Last Case of Benedict Fox, some very different but equally exciting titles headed to PC Game Pass in 2023.

Xbox Wire also got to sit down with Guy Richards, Head of Global Independent Creator Partnerships at [email protected], to learn more about how the publisher finds great developers and titles to bring to PC Game Pass.

Richards tells us that there are two main things that ID looks for when it comes to seeking out promising new games. The first is simple – they need to be awesome-looking, high-quality, fun projects. With PC Game Pass, it’s all about quality over quantity to ensure members are getting the best possible experiences. From his perspective, that’s one of the most fun parts of the job, getting to explore as many amazing games as possible.

“We are completely aligned on viewing the games as an art form and wanting to push the industry forward from a creative perspective,” he says.

The second is focused on diversity — the team is constantly on the lookout for something different in genre, art style, theme, from developers and studios across the globe that can tell unique stories.

“We know that Game Pass members play more genres, they play more games, and 90% of them play games they wouldn’t have played otherwise,” Richards says. “So I think it’s really important for the catalogue that we’re providing members with this huge array of awesome experiences.”

Partnering with [email protected] is just the first step for a game; once the journey begins, a whole world of opportunity is unveiled. Richards details how [email protected] is able to utilize its reach to ensure that a game finds its audience. “One of the most rewarding journeys that we can go on is seeing the reaction from fans when those games are finally announced and shown,” he says.

Another asset is the millions of Game Pass subscribers that a game is delivered to on day one. Richards tells us that discoverability is a constant topic with developers.

“Trying to find a way to stand out is harder than it’s ever been, and Game Pass is a really powerful tool for enabling that,” he says.

Your friends can help with discovering new games, too: “I’ve has this personal experience with online multiplayer titles that launch into Game Pass day one, knowing that me and my friends have all got the same game library, and we can jump online to play,” Richards explains.

There’s also the more pragmatic monetary element with which [email protected] and Game Pass can support developers. Richards says that Game Pass members spend 50% more on the Xbox store than non-members, on games both inside and out the catalogue.

“This support is empowering developers to take more creative risks to build the games they want to build,” he adds. “That’s what we were built to do.”

Speaking of those games, let us talk through four titles coming to PC Game Pass through [email protected] in 2023 – and we asked each game’s developer what being a part of PC Game Pass has offered their project.

Lose yourself in a beautiful new planet in Lightyear Frontier, a fresh spin on the farming genre. Equipped with your trusty, colourful mech, you’ll set out to build a new life in a mysterious new setting filled with secrets to discover.

Using your mech as a tool you can explore lots of exciting subzones, from lush fields of crops to hidden caverns brimming with rocks and stones. Forage for new plants with special properties or collect resources for upgrades, and bring them back to base to build up your homestead.

Lightyear Frontier is far from a solitary experience, you can use the radio tower to make contact with a number of NPCs living on neighbouring planets, each with their own unique information, skills and missions that will reward you with new items and knowledge. Be sure to visit the Merchant whenever they visit your landing pad too, to trade old resources for new items, and learn about the latest goings on in the surrounding areas.

If your homestead still feels a little empty, you can invite up to three friends to come over and build it with you. Explore the planet together, collaborate to create a bigger, better base and uncover as many secrets as you can.

Xbox Wire: Why did you choose to join Game Pass, and what does it offer to you as a studio?

Joakim K. Hedström, CEO of Frame Break: “We think Game Pass is an excellent environment for a unique multiplayer game like Lightyear Frontier. With a lower barrier of entry, we hope more players will try the game out, both in single player and multiplayer.”

Lightyear Frontier lands on Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One – available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass – in Spring 2023.

Metroidvania meets Lovecraft in this side-scrolling spooky platformer. You’ll assume the role of Benedict Fox as he works to uncover his dead father’s secrets, accompanied by a friendly demon companion.

Scout around for clues that pertain to your father’s memories, and gain valuable insights to his life work as an inventor, scouring objects in detail. as you try to uncover his magnum opus. As you solve this mystery, Benedict will be plagued by spine-chilling foes, demons with a mission to stop you piecing this puzzle together.

Benedict has a number of skills at his disposal, including various melee attacks and a dangerous pistol to keep the monsters at bay. Once you’ve slain a few demons and collected their ink, be sure to visit the tattooist, where ink can be traded for new skills that’ll help Benedict take down even deadlier foes.

Xbox Wire: Why did you choose to join Game Pass, and what does it offer to you as a studio?

Bartek Lesiakowski, Creative Director at Plot Twist: “Plot Twist isn’t the biggest studio in game devel opment, but we are ambitious. As any other developer out there, we wanted to share our stories and work with others. So going with Game Pass was a natural step for us. It’s incredible how supportive the Game Pass team always been, and the marketing support is just amazing.”

The Last Case of Benedict Fox launches for Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One – available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass – on April 27, 2023.

Strap in for a starry shootout in Everspace 2, the sequel to 2017’s Everspace swaps roguelike for Rogue One to become a semi-open-world space looter shooter filled with opportunity.

Hop into your ship and pick up jobs from every corner of the galaxy in order to earn credits and unlock better loot. Mission difficulty can be adjusted for a calmer or more intense experience, but the harder you go, the more rewarding the loot will be.

Everspace 2 features a robust campaign, and includes six different companions to befriend, each with their own skills, background and questlines. Outside of missions, there’s a wealth of planets to explore, from the flaming craters of lava planets to the gorgeous depths of mysterious ocean worlds. Each location is full of secret to explore and stories to uncover.

With nine different types of ship available, you’ll always have the right firepower at your disposal, whether it’s for flying long distances or manoeuvring through a dogfight. At the hangar, your ship can be customized even further to match your needs, tinker with everything from weapons to shields, and finetune your handling, speed and other perks to your liking. You’ll be able to change your ship’s look too, for the ultimate interstellar bounty hunter experience.

Xbox Wire: Why did you choose to join Game Pass, and what does it offer to you as a studio?

Michael Schade, ROCKFISH Games CEO and Co-Founder: “Everspace 2 is our studio’s dream game. We’ve spent the last five years focused on creating an experience that calls back to some of our favorite games while crafting something that feels new and we’re excited for the millions of Game Pass players to get hands-on with what we’re building.

“The financial boost and the extra time it allowed helped us to craft a more polished experience for players everywhere.”

Everspace 2 flies to Windows PC – available with PC Game Pass – early 2023.

A lush, hand-painted world awaits in Planet of Lana. When her quaint fishing village is invaded by mysterious war machines, our heroine Lana and trusty alien sidekick Mui must embark on a cinematic adventure to save Lana’s sister.

Lana can’t make it through the world of Novo alone, and so Mui must assist with increased manoeuvrability, long distance jumps, and other unique skills –  such as a hypnosis ability – to help the pair progress. The two will uncover help along the way, like the magic stone that allows Lana to bring old structures to life. Here, Lana can learn more about the world and the machines that destroyed her village.

Inspired by the likes of Studio Ghibli and atmospheric side-scrollers like Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee and accompanied by a score from The Last Guardian composer Takeshi Furukawa, Planet of Lana is an awe-inspiring journey of growth and survival against a mechanical invasion.

Xbox Wire: Why did you choose to join Game Pass, and what does it offer to you as a studio?

Adam Stjärnljus, Creative Director at Wishfully: “It was a really easy decision to bring Planet of Lana to Game Pass. For one it lowers the financial risk which means we can focus more on being creative and be able to design the game we want.”

“And since we’re an indie studio making our debut game it’s just an incredible opportunity that enables us to reach a huge audience that might not have discovered our game otherwise.“

Planet of Lana is heading to Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One – available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass – in Spring 2023.

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!

Peachy Boy – February 8

A puzzle game that’s as hard as it is cute. Can you beat the challenging 30 levels? Each one is specially designed where you must collect the key and pass the level. Just be mindful of the stones and thorns; they’re not very safe.

Prison Tycoon: Under New Management – February 8

Craft every building, room, and path – just make sure the layout makes efficient use of the power grid and water systems. Work on rehabilitating prisoners by sending them to a variety of therapies, from a zero-gravity room to a hologram room to dance therapy. Help these inmates address their problems and return them to society!

Prizma Puzzle Prime – February 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Tile-based puzzle game with smooth and challenging gameplay, old-school isometric graphics, and excellent music. Prizma Puzzle Prime includes content from past games, new elements, enhanced graphics, visual and sound effects.

Alice in Wonderland – A Jigsaw Puzzle Tale – February 9

Solve jigsaw puzzles in a refreshing reinterpretation of a beloved classic within a beautiful style of wonderland! Featuring 12 beautiful illustrations created by Katia Numakura, with inspiration from “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll.

Hyper Shapes – February 9
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A frenetic minimalist “boss rush” where understanding the enemy attack patterns and weaknesses is key to success. Each room is a surprise and each boss a different challenge with unique mechanics. Use your power ball to defeat them and beware of their attacks — you won’t have a break.

The Experiment: Escape Room – February 10
Xbox Play Anywhere

A multiplayer escape room game that can be played competitively, co-op, or solo. While visiting a well-renowned doctor, you notice something is amiss at his office, but before you realize what’s going on, he drugs you and you fall asleep. When you wake up, you’re sitting on a chair in the back room, locked, and unable to get out of the building. Can you figure out what’s going on and escape before it’s too late?

Hogwarts Legacy – February 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In this open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books, you’ll embark on a journey through familiar and new locations as you explore and discover magical beasts, customize your character and craft potions, master spell casting, upgrade talents and become the wizard you want to be. Make allies, battle dark wizards, and decide the fate of the wizarding world!

Looking for Aliens – February 10

Aliens are among us! Can you find traces of them on Earth, the Moon, and the edges of the galaxy? Find all the clues to prove the existence of alien civilizations and discover how making fried eggs can end up in a monster attack! This hidden object game lets you see the world through an alien TV show while following the adventures of Earth resident Shaun. He must prove the existence of aliens no matter what!

Repentant – February 10

In this dramatic point and click adventure game, we’re introduced to Oliver, a former criminal, who starts to suffer remorse from the terrible deeds of his past and has since developed a dependence on alcohol. One day while in a small shop, he is a witness to a robbery committed by a young girl. Feeling this is his opportunity to atone for his sins, he reaches out to help her. But who really needs help and who is the victim?

Touchdown Pinball – February 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Score field goals, touchdowns, and show who is the greatest football pinball player. Discover all the missions and secrets, including a secret arena match where your abilities will be tested.

Raise your sword…or fist… to kick off this Anime month Free Play Day weekend. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker are available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, February 2 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, February 5 at 11:59 p.m. PDT. For Honor is available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play until February 9.

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 Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate 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 earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.

Game Details

• For Honor
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising
• Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

For Honor

Discover For Honor, a groundbreaking melee action game where you choose your warrior from the Knights, the Vikings, and the Samurai and engage in massive battles and confront bosses in intense duels. For Honor will have a free week from February 2-9. Players will have full access to the Standard Edition of For Honor, and those who want to keep battling after the free period will be able to carry on their progression and heroes to the full game once purchased with the game being discounted up to 85% off during the Free Week.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising

The prelude to Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, one of the most successful crowdfunded games of all time! Traverse New Neveah with CJ, Isha, and Garoo on an adventure to rebuild the town and expose the evil lurking in the ancient ruins. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is an action-RPG featuring a delightful cast of characters and a rich story for you to enjoy in 2.5D. Prepare for action, mystery, humor, and surprises while you seek out magical rune-lenses. You can play Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is also available to purchase at the 33% discount during the Anime Month sale.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

Answer the call of the shinobi! Create your own custom shinobi, or select your favorite character, and participate in 4v4 battles where you can unleash a multitude of ninja techniques on your opponents. Follow your ninja way and lead your team to victory! Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker will be on sale during Anime Month through Feb 14 at 90% off. The new Master Character Training Pack: Isshiki Otsutsuki DLC and Starter Pack DLC are now available! The Starter Pack DLC offers 10 ninjutsu and moonlight scrolls to get you started on your ninja way!

Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! 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.

In 2019’s Deliver Us The Moon, developer KeokeN Interactive sent players to the Moon to reactivate a vital energy source and pull Earth back from the brink of disaster. In its sequel Deliver Us Mars, out today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, the goal is to give our planet a fighting chance at a bright future – and the only way to do that involves a small crew journeying to Mars on a do-or-die mission.

Developed by a core team of around 20 people, Deliver Us Mars takes their grand vision to an even bigger canvas. Where Deliver Us The Moon had a silent protagonist witnessing events from the past, Deliver Us Mars has a voiced lead who plays a key role in the story, as well as a full cast of supporting characters. New gameplay mechanics like a thrillingly realistic climbing system, first-person zero-G sections and challenging puzzles give that adventure even more variety this time around.

In the near future, Earth has been ravaged by terrible flooding and wild storms as a result of climate change. Only the ARKs – enormous ships with the power to restore plant life and the planet’s atmosphere – can give humanity a shot at safeguarding the world for future generations. Those ARKs, though, are currently in the possession of the shadowy group Outward, who fled with the vessels to Mars and deliberately left the rest of mankind behind to start anew. Discovering the fate of the Outward colonists and the whereabouts of the ARKs are what drive your journey across Mars in this sci-fi adventure.

But that larger save-the-world story is just one layer of Deliver Us Mars’ powerful and emotional narrative. At the heart of the game is the relationship between a father and a daughter. You take on the role of young astronaut Kathy Johanson, whose father, Isaac, abandoned her years earlier to join the Outward group as they escaped to Mars. In the present, a mysterious message suggests that Isaac may still be alive – and Kathy is determined to join the World Space Agency’s mission to the Red Planet and discover the truth, even though her father is a wanted fugitive on Earth.

“It was important to have the impact of that relationship bubbling underneath the surface the entire time,” says Ellise Chappell (‘Poldark’, ‘Young Wallander’), who plays Kathy and lends her likeness to the character. “Kathy has been living with unanswered questions for years which I think influences the way she carries herself. This broken relationship informs her interests, her drive, and even her sense of humor, which I think she uses to hide a deep sadness and insecurity. It also makes Kathy feel quite unpredictable as a character – where do her loyalties lie?”

That tension of Kathy’s true motivations will keep players guessing throughout the game: has she truly journeyed to Mars to find the ARKs and save humanity, or does she selfishly want to find her father, a goal not shared by her crewmates? Or does she want both at the same time, possibly jeopardizing the mission?

“Apart from being a grand space opera mixed with a psychological family drama, which is in itself and unusual combination – one that works brilliantly – Deliver Us Mars is a game of suspense and wonder and mystery exploring the Red Planet,” says actor and Performance Director Neil Newbon (Resident Evil Village, Baldur’s Gate 3), who plays Kathy’s father, Isaac, and helped bring the motion-captured cutscenes to life in collaboration with KeokeN Interactive. “It has violent undertones without being overtly violent. I think it makes it a thoughtful and well observed piece whilst still being thrilling and captivating as a piece of storytelling. The danger and threat of violence is ever present but not glorified – and that underlying current adds to the tense experience of Kathy’s journey.”

Newbon was such a huge fan of Deliver Us The Moon that he reached out to KeokeN Interactive after completing the game. “I emailed them shortly after its release to ask to work with them about 4 years ago,” he says. Now, he’s one of the sequel’s stars, bringing a great deal of inner conflict to the role of Isaac Johanson, who players will learn about in holographic diaries once they arrive on Mars. Isaac’s regret over leaving Kathy behind years before is a key piece of the overall narrative. “I charted his life and the events that brought him to this terrible decision. It was not an easy moment but as an actor I loved working on these scenes.”

Deliver Us Mars is a game that asks players to make their own minds up about the story, and what’s worth sacrificing for the greater good. While the Outward group initially seem like the villains of the piece, Kathy’s journey across their colonies on Mars exposes a faction that was fraught with infighting and conflict about what they’ve done. Players will experience this parallel story while recovering the ARKs, and retrace Outward’s steps as they endured the harsh realities of attempting to colonize Mars (which, even with the power of the ARKs, was far from easy).

“I think Kathy, like most of the characters in Deliver Us Mars, doesn’t fall into either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ archetypes,” says Chappell. “No one is a hero or a villain in this game; each character is a complex representation of what it means to be a human, flaws and all. Kathy is an anti-hero; despite being brave, determined and highly intelligent. She can also be deceptive, short-sighted and reckless. She’s a character who has to make difficult choices which will throw what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ into question for the player.”

Players will build a strong connection with Kathy as she endures immense odds to achieve her mission. KeokeN Interactive’s goal is to create a protagonist who feels like a real person, reflecting their grounded approach to sci-fi storytelling that is consistent with the style of the first game.

Today, they can take that journey to Mars themselves, experiencing gorgeous environments, a huge variety of gameplay types and a finale that’ll stay with them for years to come.

Newbon explains how he hopes players will feel about Deliver Us Mars once they’ve finished the game. “Transported. Moved and wanting to immediately call their closest human beings and tell them that they love them.”

Deliver Us Mars

Frontier Foundry

☆☆☆☆☆25

★★★★★

Sequel to the award-winning Deliver Us The Moon, Deliver Us Mars is an atmospheric sci-fi adventure offering an immersive astronaut experience. Explore new frontiers on a suspense-fuelled, high-stakes mission to recover the ARK colony ships stolen by the mysterious Outward. A BOLD NEW MISSION
Ten years after the Fortuna mission, humanity is closer than ever to extinction. After a mysterious distress call from Mars, Earth’s youngest astronaut Kathy Johanson joins the Zephyr and its crew on one last mission: to recover the ARK colony ships stolen by the mysterious Outward, and with them, ensure the survival of the human race. OUT OF THIS WORLD GAMEPLAY
Board the Zephyr as you journey from Earth to the surface of Mars. Traverse and endure its harsh and unforgiving terrain as you quest to discover the secrets left behind by Outward. Use both brains and brawn to overcome mental and physical challenges, find the ARKs, and uncover the motivations of those behind the distress call that brought you here. A HANDCRAFTED EXPERIENCE
Experience a highly polished and absorbing narrative experience packed with engaging gameplay. Every moment is handcrafted, delivering a suspense-filled, emotion-fuelled narrative alongside music from award-winning composer Sander Van Zanten, state-of-the-art motion capture, and stunning graphics, powered by Unreal Engine. Deliver Us Mars © 2023 KeokeN Interactive B.V. All rights reserved. Published by Frontier Developments plc. ‘Frontier’ ‘Frontier Foundry’ and the Frontier logo are trademarks of Frontier Developments plc. All rights reserved. Deliver Us Mars uses the Unreal® Engine. Unreal® Engine © 1998-2023, Epic Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Unreal and its logo are Epic’s trademarks or registered trademarks in the US and elsewhere.

Season Eight Community Day is on the horizon! Set sail on Saturday, February 11 to celebrate the phenomenal Sea of Thieves community and share in a fine offering of treasures. There’ll be the traditional boosted rewards, free goodies and Twitch Drops, plus a whole range of discounts to enjoy, and as always we’re hoping to enjoy some amazing creativity and celebratory undertakings from our incredible players.

To kick things off, the Community Emissary Grade is back! To raise this cumulative Grade and unlock in-game boosts, all players need to do is tweet using #SeaOfThievesCommunityDay during the event and watch as the rewards start increasing. At Grade Five, everyone earns two-and-a-half times the regular amount of gold and reputation – and, this time, Seasonal Renown too – for handing in loot! There’s also a fixed boost to Faction Allegiance throughout the day, should you want to test your ship combat skills in the Battle for the Sea of Thieves…

Even just logging in will provide its own rewards, namely the wonderfully soothing pink-and-purple Season Eight Community Day Flag and a Scorecard Emote that will let you vote on your crew’s achievements or anything else as you see fit – both items free to players who set sail on Community Day.

Living the Stream

Beyond the in-game excitement on offer, fans have the option of watching any participating Sea of Thieves streamer during the day to earn Twitch Drops, unlocking the Celestial Steed Sails and Ebon Flintlock after an hour each. Anyone can offer Drops this time, just make sure you have Drops enabled in your Twitch account settings and Sea of Thieves selected as the game you’re streaming on the day! Or if you’re just viewing, make sure that your Sea of Thieves and Twitch accounts are linked before settling in to watch your favourite piratical content creators.

Beyond the in-game excitement on offer, stream viewers won’t be left out. Tuning in to any participating Sea of Thieves streamer for a couple of hours during the day will unlock the Celestial Steed Sails and Ebon Flintlock through Twitch Drops. Just make sure that your Sea of Thieves and Twitch accounts are linked up and settle in to watch your favourite piratical content creators.

If you’re not sure who to watch, you can always join us in the Tavern! Some familiar faces from the Rare crew will be streaming from 10am UTC, tackling Community Day challenges and generally enjoying the chaos. Not only will it count towards unlocking those Twitch Drops, you might catch a few special stream surprises…

Looking the Part

While we have your attention, Community Day seems like the perfect time to launch this Season’s Style of Thieves competition! We’ll be unveiling the theme list and submission dates on February 11, and not only is it an excuse to get dressed up, the sharpest styles will be in the running to win the fabulous Fashionista’s Finery Gloves.

To help you achieve that perfect look, the Pirate Emporium shopkeepers will be hosting a Delightful Discount Sale with a romantic slant from February 11–15. Fan favourites such as the Reaper’s Heart Pets and weapons are included, as well a range of suitably smitten emotes.

If you’re more interested in expanding your real-life wardrobe, Sea of Thieves ranges on the Rare merchandise store will offer a 30% discount with the COMMUNITYDAY code at checkout. This lasts for one day only – as does the commemorative Season Eight Community Day T-shirt and flag also available to buy during the event, so be quick!

There’s a lot on the schedule for Season Eight Community Day and we’re eager to see what you, the players, have lined up to dazzle us with in return, so mark your diaries for February 11 and we’ll see you on the seas…

Find Out More

For more information on Sea of Thieves, including full release notes on recent updates, visit the Sea of Thieves website. Updates are available for free to all Sea of Thieves players who have bought the game on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC or via Steam, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass. Simply download and install the latest Sea of Thieves update to get access.

New to Sea of Thieves? Find out about the latest free content updates on our What’s New page, get familiar with Who’s Who or pick up some gameplay tips from our Pirate Academy, which provides invaluable information on topics ranging from sailing to swordplay as you prepare for your maiden voyage. Learn more about Sea of Thieves here, or join the ongoing adventure at www.seaofthieves.com where you can embark on an epic journey with one of gaming’s most welcoming communities!

Sea of Thieves

Microsoft Studios

☆☆☆☆☆958

★★★★★

$39.99 $31.99

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Xbox Live Gold membership required to play on Xbox One; sold separately. ========= About the game
Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right. With no set roles, you have complete freedom to approach the world, and other players, however you choose. Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond? A vast open world
Explore a vast open world filled with unspoiled islands, sunken ships and mysterious artefacts. Take on quests to hunt for lost treasure, seek out cursed Skeleton Captains or gather valuable cargo for the Trading Companies. Go hunting and fishing or choose from hundreds of optional goals and side-quests. Unforgettable stories
Play through the Tall Tales to experience Sea of Thieves’ unique take on a story-driven campaign. With 11 tales to play through across two epic storylines, these immersive and cinematic quests provide around 30 hours of the ultimate pirate fantasy. Become Legend On your journey to become a Pirate Legend you’ll amass loot, build a reputation and define a unique personal style with your hard-earned rewards. Adventurer. Explorer. Conqueror. What will your legend be? A game that’s always growing
With five major expansions and almost a year’s worth of monthly updates, Sea of Thieves is a service-based game that is continually growing and evolving. Check back each month to see what new content has been added.

Season 3 of Gundam Evolution, dubbed ‘Defencer’, is arriving today, February 1, where new and veteran Mobile Suit Pilots can join the fray. This season is bringing all-new add-on content to enjoy: a new Mobile Suit, regional servers, and a whole lot more!

New Mobile Suit: Hyperion Gundam

Hyperion Gundam hails from the ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED X Astray’ manga and marks the newest addition to the Gundam Evolution roster. Pilots will be able to attain this Mobile Suit through the store or via the Hyperion Gundam Item Pack. It’s perfect for Gundam SEED fans!

Hyperion Gundam excels in holding the frontlines as well as being able to break through enemy forces. Let’s go over what makes this unit so special!

• Hyperion’s primary attack is a Beam Submachine Gun for both close and mid-range combat.
• Using the secondary attack causes Hyperion Gundam to hold up a shield to prevent damage and hold the line.
• “Forfanterie” will fire a beam that will penetrate enemy units, making it perfect for stopping an advance or making defense more difficult.
• “Armure Lumiere” deploys a barrier for quick defense in an area, perfect for holding the line or advancing without fear.
• Hyperion Gundam’s G Maneuver “Armure Lumiere Lancer” will cause this unit to charge forward while dealing damage and causing a stun on affected enemies!

Unlock Hyperion Gundam by purchasing Evo Coins or completing challenges to earn Capital in-game.

All Systems Are Ready To Go!

Gundam Evolution is an immersive, fast-paced 6v6 team shooter where you’re able to pilot iconic Mobile Suits from the smash hit ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ anime series. Jump into combat as Hyperion Gundam, Unicorn Gundam, and more from this expanding roster.

Gundam Evolution also has three different game modes that allow you to show off your teamwork and tactical skills: Point Capture, Domination, and Destruction. Coordinate with your team and align your G-Maneuvers to come out on top!

Can’t wait to start piloting your own Mobile Suit? Play Gundam Evolution now and experience these exciting Mobile Suit battles first-hand.  We’ll see you in the Hangar, Pilots!

GUNDAM EVOLUTION

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆286

★★★★★

In the new Season MOBIUS, the popular Nu Gundam and more are added! Make full use of the Fin Funnel like Amuro and aim for team victory! Many fan-favorite items related to Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack are also available. In addition, a new MAP Colony CargoBay has been added and new elements have been implemented to make GUNDAM EVOLUTION even more powerful, so experience it now! GUNDAM EVOLUTION is an online FPS title in which players take control of mobile suits from the hit Gundam anime and fight other online players in six-versus-six battles. Features fast-paced action and immersive controls. Switch between mobile suits with their own unique characteristics and cooperate with teammates to win matches.

As a Black woman working in the gaming industry, finding community has been instrumental to the success I’ve found in my career. For the past three years, I have served in the role of Xbox Researcher. At its core, my job is to understand and communicate the user experience throughout the development of a game to various developer stakeholders.

I recognize that some elements of my experience as a Black woman in gaming and in tech more broadly have been atypical, for example my first manager in tech was also a Black woman. Being managed by her was a wonderful and empowering experience to kick off my gaming career. From day one, my leadership chain has emphasized what is possible in this field and that I, and people who look like me, belong here. I’ve been able to work for and alongside diverse leaders across the Gaming organization. I’ve also connected with people who have similar experiences to my own in an employee community group for Black people at Xbox. Finding community has given me access to resources, mentorship and even friendships that are the foundation of what has made this journey great so far and supported my learning and growth.

My journey into gaming feels like I have the opportunity to build on the work of those who came before me, who experienced adversity, and pushed hard to carve out spaces where today, I can feel more confident in my career. Even though I found my niche playing JRPG, action-adventure, and strategy games while playing games with my brothers, I still sometimes feel like I don’t belong as a “gamer.” Being a gamer is only one part of my identity; I am also an avid reader and a lifelong athlete. Sometimes it seems like a “real” gamer must make gaming their main hobby and play all the newest titles. It’s not like that for me; I love gaming when a title comes out that interests me, but I also take breaks and enjoy filling my life with many other activities that fulfill me, too. One thing I appreciate is how I don’t feel like an outsider with Xbox.

To those just beginning their career, remember you don’t need to have coding experience to work in the gaming industry. My day-to-day responsibilities include reading the research others have published, reading design documentation and briefs about games, playing games to understand the user experience, and engaging in conversations with the gaming community. My job includes a lot of meetings, writing, planning, presentations, and playing games. You also don’t have to have a degree in game design; my educational background is in biological sciences, ancient Roman and world history and cultures, languages, and the science of learning. I started my professional career in teaching. Serving as a teacher has a lot of skill overlap to my current role, including developing a mindset that is always looking to learn.

Additionally, I’d advise you to seek out organizations that include diverse leaders and perspectives. Also look to align yourself with growth-oriented people who value learning. They will likely be more open and willing to help you on your journey.

I am grateful that finding and learning from a supportive professional community has helped me to find my voice in gaming. In hopes to increase representation and help others find their voice, too, here are a few ways that Team Xbox will be supporting and celebrating Black communities this year:

Gerald A. Lawson Fund Names Recipients

Xbox is honored to work with the University of Southern California on the Gerald A. Lawson Fund for Black and Indigenous Students, which advances our industry by bringing more voices and talent into gaming.

Today, USC Games announced the first Gerald A. Lawson Fund scholarship recipients, who will be known as “Lawson Scholars.” Jerry Lawson was a Black electronic engineer who pioneered work in the video game industry including the removable video game cartridge, the 8-way joystick, and the pause button. The Gerald A. Lawson Fund was supported in part by donation from Xbox.

“At Microsoft, we are committed to fostering a more inclusive industry,” said Matt Booty, Head of Xbox Game Studios. We are grateful for USC Games’ efforts to do just that with the Gerald A. Lawson Fund. We believe that providing access to higher education and resources for these students will not only contribute to their personal career endeavors but will also spark growth and advancement within our industry.” You can read more about the program here.

Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting Black communities with Xbox. The below organizations will be featured on console:

• Cxmmunity – A nonprofit organization committed to increasing BIPOC representation within the gaming and esports industry through STEAM education and career development.
• Black Girls Rock! – A global women’s movement and philanthropic organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering women and girls of color, by producing inspiring media content and providing enrichment programs for girls that foster positive identity development, critical thinking, leadership, literacy, tech, and innovation.
• Gameheads – A tech training program that uses video game design, development and DevOps to create diverse talent and bold new voices, train youth of color for the tech eco-system and prepare them for college, career and civic life.

Xbox gamers can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games and completing Game Pass Quests, completing offers in the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox, and select purchases at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply). Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Join us today and donate through Xbox. 

Artist Clif Wilson Shares Xbox Logo Design Inspiration for Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month, Xbox commissioned artist Clif Wilson to design the artwork for this year’s campaign. Clif is a 25-year-old Black, self-taught digital designer, born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland. He grew up surrounded by an array of cultures and media, which opened his eyes to the uniqueness and vastness of the Black community.  In recent years, his fascination with Afrofuturism has inspired his design work, whether that be graphics, fashion, or any other creative medium. Today his work is housed in his company, Ajaar, which acts as a means for him to creatively interact with the world around him.

In designing the Xbox logo for Black History Month, Clif shared:

“When approaching the imagery for this campaign, I was inspired by the idea of unity and exploration in the Black community. The sunset in the design represents the shared perspective in struggle as well as hope, with each sunset and sunrise being symbolic of another chance to grow and change. The theme of exploration is expressed through the imagery of the starry sky and computer board pattern in the artwork, painting the picture of a world that is full of endless possibilities and spaces to discover. Through gaming, we are able to virtually immerse ourselves into many new spaces where we can engage with different stories and the different individuals that make up the Black gaming community.”

Check out Clif’s work at Ajaar Design Services and on Instagram.

Project Amplify

In an effort to promote pipelines for Black people and youth across the gaming industry, in September of last year Xbox launched Project Amplify, a video series aimed at supporting Black youth who are interested in pursuing careers in the gaming industry. Project Amplify features video interviews of fourteen Black employees from across Xbox studios as they share their advice, insights into their current roles, and highlights from their time within the gaming industry. Interviewees include people in roles such as production, engineering, character art, licensing, game design, program management, and more. Watch the Project Amplify video series here, and check out personal journeys in the gaming industry. Read more about the Project Amplify launch and find additional resources for game designers here.

Xbox Ambassadors Features Missions for Black History Month

The Xbox Ambassadors community is celebrating Black History Month with a series of XA Missions that highlight games made by Black creators and feature Black leads. Ambassadors can unlock XP by playing, sharing, and discussing games like The Gunk and Watch Dogs 2. Join the discussion and begin unlocking exclusive rewards by becoming an Xbox Ambassador today!

The Microsoft Game Dev Blog Celebrates Black History Month

Everyone has a different path on their journey into the games industry, whether it’s through school, retail, or the military. On the Microsoft Game Dev blog, we’ll be celebrating the contributions of some of our Black and African American employees and partners who create, publish, and, above all, love games with a special entry in our Pathfinding series. Pathfinding features career advice, industry tips, and personal stories of the journey into gaming. It often takes years of persistence to build on the passion that led them toward gaming in the first place and we’re excited to give a diverse set of people a platform to share the lessons they learned along the way with anyone considering a career in the game industry.

New Gamerpics, Profile Theme, Wallpaper, and Avatar Items in Celebration of the Black Community

In partnership with Black communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a new gamerpic, profile themes, wallpaper and avatar items! The gamerpic and profile theme will be available on console and the Xbox PC app. Get your avatar items and wallpapers here. Content is subject to availability by country.

Explore Games Curated by Black Communities at Microsoft

Here at Xbox, we are committed to providing inclusive and engaging gaming experiences so that everyone can enjoy all the positive feelings and connections that games provide us. We want all players to be able to find stories they connect with and characters they relate to.

For Black History Month, we are highlighting Black creators, lead characters, and character creation options that include a variety of skin tones and inclusive hairstyles. This collection is available on Xbox, Windows, and Mobile and will exist year-round as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content that resonates with communities.

A few highlights from the full Game Pass collection on Xbox and the full Game Pass collection on Windows include:

Deathloop (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Co-created by Black developer Dinga Bakaba (now the Studio Director for Arkane Lyon), Deathloop has won numerous awards for its unique spin on first-person action adventure and the charisma of its two Black leads. The story follows two rival assassins, Colt and Julianna, playing a deadly game of cat & mouse over the fate of a retro futuristic world locked in a time loop.

League of Legends (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – The massive roster of champions in League of Legends includes characters from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, including Black champions like Ekko, K’Sante, Lucian and Senna. Each champion has a deeply engaging storyline and a unique arsenal of spells and abilities, so jump into the game and experience the dynamic stories of these characters now.

HUMANKIND (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – HUMANKIND is a turn-based strategy game in which you can create your own dynamic civilization by combining over 60 historical cultures from across the world. Explore African history and create your very own story with vibrant cultures such as the Nubians, the Bantu, the Ghanaians, the Zulu, the Nigerians, and more.

Dishonored: Death of the Outsider (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Play as Billie Lurk, the notorious supernatural assassin who plied her trade for years in Dunwall and Karnaca alongside the legendary mercenary killer, Daud. Billie is a resilient and resourceful Black woman who sheltered the empress on-the-run in Dishonored 2, now taking center stage in the third act of the Dishonored franchise.

This collection is available on the Microsoft Store on Xbox and the Microsoft Store on Windows in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United States. Visitors can find this collection at any time by searching within the Stores for “Black History” and related terms.

Xbox Plays Celebrates Black History Month with Streamer Takeovers

Every Monday during the month of February, the Xbox Plays team will be inviting some of our favorite streamers to join us on the Xbox Twitch Channel and handing over the keys to the channel for streamer takeovers in celebration of Black History Month! Tune in and catch all the action on Twitch.tv/Xbox!

February 6^th

• Kendrisite playing Minecraft (11am PT)
• SpringSims playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (3pm PT)

February 13^th

• DataDave playing Deathloop (11am PT)
• Teonawrites playing Coral Island (3pm PT)

February 20^th

• Xayd playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (11am PT)
• Prince & Pop playing Halo Infinite (3pm PT)

February 27^th

• Jade Valkyrie playing League of Legends (11am PT)
• 901thagamer playing Forza Horizon 5 (3pm PT)

February is the annual celebration of all things anime on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass from now until the end of the month.

Anime Month has returned! Throughout February, fans can enjoy discounts across anime products in games, TV, movies from the Microsoft Store and much more. There are also special discounts for Game Pass members, and you can earn 2,500 Microsoft Rewards points when you spend $50 on anime games, movies, and series in the collection.

Save up to 85% on Select Anime-Inspired Games 

Whether you are looking for a great story or sharpening your combo attacks, the Anime-inspired Game Sale has something for you. Swing into a thrilling adventure in Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising, or tap into your inner fighter in Devil May Cry 5, Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and many more. The current collection will be available through February 13, with a second collection of games and offers running from February 14 through the end of the month. Sale ends February 28, 2023.

Up to 80% off anime on Microsoft Movies and TV

Find your new favorite anime movies or TV series, or catch up on the ones you already love in our massive Microsoft Movies & TV Anime sale. Our collections feature favorites such as ‘Bleach’, ‘My Hero Academia’, ‘Attack on Titan’, and more. Game Pass members also get special discounts throughout the sale! Finally, get 2,500 Microsoft Rewards points when you spend $50 on anime games, movies, and series in the collection.

Anime for Xbox Game Pass Members

Immerse yourself in anime-inspired worlds and stories. Game Pass is celebrating Anime Month with an epic collection of games to discover, ranging from Ni No Kuni Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered to Persona 5 Royal. This collection will be available to members on Console, PC, and Mobile. Members can also earn Microsoft Rewards points with anime-themed Game Pass Quests, including Opus: Echo of Starsong (February 7) and Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (February 21). Lastly, be sure to claim your Game Pass Perk for Gundam Evolution by February 6 and for Phantasy Star Online 2 by February 28.

More Anime Treats

During Anime Month, the Xbox Plays team will be celebrating by playing various games included in the collection as a way for you to see these games in action! Join them on the Twitch.tv/Xbox channel and watch alongside others in addition for a chance to win Game Pass codes, free games, and much more.

Or return to the seas with the newest iteration of the Azur Lane collaboration, when it arrives in World of Warships: Legends on February 6!  The Azur Lane Wave IV content will be available until the new update drops on March 6. Make sure to check out our dedicated article to find out all the details.

From tomorrow until the end of the month, you may also see great anime games to play as part of each weekend’s Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. Every Thursday, a new line-up will be announced here, or you can find it on your Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection.

How to earn Microsoft Points during Anime Month Sale by region:  

MM+TV and Games: 

• US: Spend $50 and get 2,500 points 
• CA: Spend $70 and get 2,500 points
• GB: Spend £45 and get 2,500 points
• DE: Spend €50 and get 2,500 points

Games Only: 

• AU: Spend $80 and get 2,500 points

2023 promises to be a big year for Xbox and Windows PC games, with major new titles from Xbox Game Studios and our partners set to jostle for space on your hard drives and cloud devices. From ultra-anticipated RPGs like Starfield, to long-awaited blockbusters such as Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, to indie hits-in-waiting, there’s something for everyone coming this year — and a huge portion of this list will be available from day one as part of your Xbox Game Pass or PC Game Pass membership. 

With that in mind, the Xbox Wire team has come together to offer up our personal picks (in no particular order) for the year ahead. Below is just a snapshot of the big picture for 2023 — it’s clear it’s going to be a good year. 

Starfield – 2023 – Xbox Series X│S, PC (Game Pass) 

I’m far from alone in my anticipation for Starfield, and for good reason. Bethesda’s upcoming RPG introduces an entirely new frontier to explore — space. As a member of space exploring outfit Constellation, you’re tasked with adventuring across the Settled Systems in your own custom ship, seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy. Starfield is set to include over 1,000 planets to discover, and if my Skyrim playtime is anything to go by, you know I’m going to poke every single one. – Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor  

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. 

Resident Evil 4 – March 24, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S 

I own no fewer than five versions of Resident Evil 4 across my personal game collection, yet I’ve never actually finished the game. It’s one of my biggest “black marks” as a gamer, and one that I’m excited to finally rectify this year with its upcoming remake – it’s a big reason why I have this down as one of my Most Anticipated Games of 2023. Following on the heels of two great remakes (Resident Evil 2 (2019) and Resident Evil 3 (2020), RE4 remake has a high bar to hit. But from everything I’ve seen so far, this is shaping up to be a modern classic that I’m excited to add to my ever-growing game collection. – Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Minecraft Legends – April 18, 2023 – Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Windows and Steam), Cloud, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5

Minecraft has always been about allowing for creativity from its players — Minecraft Legends shows a similar level of unbridled creativity from its developers. This action-strategy game is being built to appeal simultaneously to both Minecraft fans and brand-new players — and does so through the ingenious take of familiar Minecraft ideas in new forms. Harnessing a procedurally-generated world, familiar items, focus on resources, and the frequently terrifying mobs that fans know and turning them into something wholly new (and wholly approachable for those who haven’t played the original) is a fascinating moment for this series — and one I cannot wait experience myself. – Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief  

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. 

I was unfairly cynical about Cal Kestis’ debut at first – of all those cool alien races available, you’ve given us a human? However, Fallen Order quickly became one of my all-time favourite Star Wars adventures – in game or film. The first game (which is available as part of an EA Play or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership if you need to catch up) set us up against the rising threat of the Empire and took us to some incredible worlds, and I’m confident that Jedi: Survivor will expand on those gorgeous destinations and deliver an epic new story – one that Cal deserves to be the epicentre of. – Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor 

Redfall – May 2, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, PC (Game Pass) 

Arkane is that rare thing, a studio that commands attention for its name as much as for its game concepts. If I see ‘Arkane Austin’ pop up before a trailer plays, I already want to play that game, and Redfall does not mark an exception. The studio’s rich history with immersive sims has led to some of the most fascinating worlds, mechanical tricks and level designs of recent years – Redfall’s setting across the length and breadth of a whole fictional town and its wildly unusual character classes (with the promise of more to come after launch) only point to more classic moments yet to come. But it’s the differences that really hold my attention, this close to release. A focus on co-op play (only increasing the opportunities for that now-expected Arkane mechanical magic), a strengthened interest in gunplay, and its open world setting have me snarling to end a vampire incursion with my friends. – Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. 

Dead Space – Out Now – Xbox Series X|S 

Yes, this just came out – but I haven’t had a chance to play it just yet, so I’m technically still anticipating it. I’m normally not a fan of the horror genre, but I love science fiction, which is a bit ironic since space is in and of itself a terrifying place. The original version of Dead Space wonderfully captures that fear and couples it with an unassuming but likable protagonist struggling to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance of his beloved partner and the crew of the USG Ishimura. Whether it’s my unfulfilled dreams of being an astronaut or the thought of facing unimaginable odds for the ones I love, Dead Space isn’t just one of my favorite games of all time, it’s arguably one of the greatest sci-fi horror games in the universe. It’s no surprise, then, that I’m ready to revisit this modern classic rebuilt from the ground up for next-gen hardware when it launches later this month – and the additions Motive Studios has made to weapons, loot, and exploration, I might even feel more ready to tackle the horrors of deep space head-on. – Rich Dickinson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Forza Motorsport – 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, PC (Game Pass) 

I love video games as much as I love cars. Or maybe it’s cars as much as video games. Whichever, I’m a huge fan of Forza and tend to favor the simulation of Forza Motorsport over the open-world freedom of Forza Horizon, so I’m particularly excited for the upcoming next instalment of the classic racing series. Previous versions have treated us to photorealistic looking cars, beautifully rendered tracks, and breath-taking effects, yet the developers at Turn 10 Studios are already calling the next Forza Motorsport the most technically advanced and authentic racing game they’ve ever made. I have no idea how they can make the game any better but can’t wait to find out. – Rich Dickinson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. 

Like a Dragon: Ishin! – February 21, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One 

Since dropping onto Xbox Game Pass and into my life in 2020, the Yakuza series (now re-titled Like a Dragon for all future installments) has taken me on a sweeping tour of Japan, from snowy Sapporo to tropical Okinawa. Like a Dragon: Ishin!, RGG Studio’s remake of a 2014 only-in-Japan spinoff, isn’t merely content to shift locations; it transports players back in time to 1860s Kyoto, where things couldn’t be more different. Or are they? While Ishin’s story follows real life samurai Sakamoto Ryoma, your adventure is populated by familiar faces and voices from across the Yakuza universe. Ryoma may not realize he’s a dead ringer for Kazuma Kiryu, but recurring feelings of déjà vu ensure players will feel at home, even if they’ve never been further from it. And fear not, even if you don’t have experience with this game, or even the series as a whole, Like a Dragon: Ishin! has been designed to be self-contained – even if you don’t get the references, you’re still getting a brand-new samurai tale to play through. Check out our first preview here on Xbox Wire to learn more about the upcoming Like a Dragon: Ishin! – Jeff Rubenstein – Xbox Podcast 

At the end of the workday, I rarely want to sit at my PC for more hours, no matter how good a game is. Me and my back pain don’t have to worry about that, now that Age of Empires IV is heading to consoles this year! Age of Empires IV feels like a truly modernised, slick rediscovery of the classic RTS, whether you’re storming through the single campaign or jousting with friends online. Following in the footsteps of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, which has seamlessly made its transition to Xbox consoles, I can’t wait to conquer from the comfort of my couch, and with the support of Xbox Play Anywhere, I can switch back over to the PC (or even my mobile through Xbox Cloud Gaming) if things get too serious… which they often do. – Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

Street Fighter 6 – June 2, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S 

It’s been a minute since a new, mainline Street Fighter entry debuted on Xbox, when the seminal Street Fighter IV launched back in 2009. If you’ve lost track of the series, Street Fighter 6 is likely to blow you away when it arrives in June. SF6 has already confirmed its technical chops in a closed beta featuring older and wiser versions of Ryu, Chun Li, and Guile, and inspired new characters like Luke and soon-to-be fan-favorite Kimberly. The presentation is a stunning visual treat, including the veritable monster factory that is the game’s avatar creator. But it’s my anticipation of the single-player story mode World Tour that already has me prepping combos in excitement. – Jeff Rubenstein – Xbox Podcast 

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – March 3, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Game Pass) 

Bloodborne and Ninja Gaiden are some of my favorite games, even though I’m not that great at playing them. Their haunting visuals and slick combat are what I fondly remember, not all the times I was brutally and repeatedly defeated. So, when I heard that the creative talent behind those games were working on Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, I was immediately intrigued and was fortunate enough to chat with Team Ninja’s Fumihiko Yasuda and Masaaki Yamagiwa to learn more. Will I be crushed into a pulp when I start playing? Likely. But this blend of dark fantasy, Chinese martial arts swordplay, and creative gaming talent has me incredibly excited to see how it all unfolds starting on March 3. – Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. 

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League – May 26, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S 

Task Force X (aka the Suicide Squad) contains many of the most layered and iconic anti-heroes in DC Comics, and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League lets you play as four of the most notorious of them – Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark. The Squad must take on an impossible mission to save Earth and kill the world’s greatest DC Super Heroes – the Justice League. Combined with the gaming pedigree of Rocksteady, the studio behind the amazing Batman: Arkham games, and this has all the ingredients to be something truly special — even though we don’t know that much about it (yet). For now, we’re left largely to our imaginations and a few awesome trailers, which is why it’s one of my Most Anticipated Games of 2023 because… well… I want to know more about it! Hopefully all will be revealed soon and we can dive into another one of Rocksteady’s masterpieces later this year. – Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Diablo IV – June 6, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One 

Sometimes, looking back is just as important as looking forward – a lesson Diablo IV is demonstrating months before release. Blizzard’s latest action-RPG returns to some of the series’ most fundamental ideas – a laser focus on full-bore, high-gore action-RPG combat, perilously deep customization, and a grimdark fantasy tale. But in embracing those old ideas, what I particularly love about Diablo 4 so far (not least when I played hours of the game ahead of launch), is in how it’s allowing itself to try new, complementary ideas. A truly open world allows for more loot, more combat, and more fulfilling co-op. A more cinematic approach to storytelling lets that pitch-black story at its core sing. A sharpened, high-gloss look allows for better legibility of spells, even in the thick of battle. Diablo IV is simultaneously old and new, and I’m delighted by both of those aspects. – Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief 

Dead Island 2 – April 28, 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One 

When I think about all the zombie games I’ve played over the years, the ones that stand out have a few elements in common: great characters, exciting locations, and entertaining gameplay. The original Dead Island followed this formula over a decade ago, and the long-awaited sequel is demonstrating it will too. Dead Island 2 has a cast of unlikely heroes and takes place in a zombie-infested Los Angeles, (dubbed HELL-A). Add in some dark humor and over the top zombie-slaying, who could ask for more? Looks like I’m moving to Beverly Hills. Swimming Pools. Movie stars. Survival against all odds. – Rich Dickinson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Hollow Knight: Silksong – 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, PC (Game Pass) 

To me, a sequel to Hollow Knight almost feels like an unnecessary pleasure – in 2017, developer Team Cherry managed to come out of the gates with a debut that felt unnaturally complete, from its art, to its moment-to-moment interactions, to its cloaked depths of story. And yet, Silksong already feels vital. By switching focus to bit-part character Hornet, we’re promised an entire new skillset and perspective, but built on the near-peerless foundations of the first game. My excitement is that we’re getting is less of a sequel and more of a companion piece. I cannot wait to find out what that feels like. – Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. 

Lies of P – 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Game Pass) 

If I told you that Lies of P, a Souls-like action RPG starring fairy tale Pinocchio wasn’t the biggest surprise of Gamescom 2022, my nose might start growing. It’s not just the shock factor; Just typing “Pinocchio” and “Soulslike” in the same sentence is enough to furrow the brow of anyone hearing about Lies of P for the first time, it’s how well Korean developer Neowiz is turning this concept into an awesome looking game. As you might expect, choosing whether or not Pinocchio tells the truth will have an impact in the story. However, the Pinocchio I’m familiar with wasn’t equipped with a ‘Legion Arm’, allowing players to journey through Lies of P in the way of their choosing as they seek out Geppetto. Definitely an improvement. – Jeff Rubenstein – Xbox Podcast  

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

I’ve been on an Assassin’s Creed cooldown for about five years now, and I’m just about ready for my next historical roof-hopping adventure. Mirage promises to take us back to basics, with a more focused scope and more straightforward story beat. It’s also set in ancient Baghdad, a culture and world I’m looking forward to exploring, and a lovely throwback to the environments I grew to love in the very first game in the series. I’m super excited about this reprisal of a more manageable Assassin’s Creed game, and am looking forward to a gorgeous new world that feels like an old favourite. – Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor 

The original Space Marine, for me, was a gateway into the massive Warhammer universe. At the time, it had been a while since something supplied such an amazing premise to such a rich and detailed world. It also helped that the game kicked ass, coupled with some truly amazing voice acting performances. Since then, I’ve explored a myriad of other Warhammer games, from Vermintide to Dawn of War to Total War: Warhammer. So, when the reveal trailer for Space Marine 2 dropped at the Game Awards 2021, my jaw hit the floor. It has been over a decade since the original game and from everything we’ve seen so far, it’s shaping up to be well worth the wait. I’m ready to heed the call of battle once again! – Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Replaced – 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One (Game Pass) 

Full transparency, Replaced wasn’t a game on my radar until fairly recently. But after watching the trailers and doing a little reading, it’s definitely a title I’m now hugely looking forward to playing this year, especially since it’s launching into Game Pass as an Xbox console exclusive. This action-platformer has a Shadow Complex and Deadlight vibe (both games I thoroughly enjoyed) but is set in an alternative 1980s dystopian world. The art style is beautifully crafted with a blend of pixel art and realistic looking backdrops, and the atmosphere conveys the dark and foreboding setting you’d expect from a world on the verge of collapse. Plus, there’s a dog, and it looks like you may be able to pet it. – Rich Dickinson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

It’s difficult to look forward to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 without recognizing the challenges its Ukrainian developers have endured the past year, but they have continued working on the game, and fans like me are excited to get our hands on it, and to celebrate something made against such a backdrop. In purely gaming terms, the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone is a fascinating location to set your game, and with a gritty tale, immersive sim elements, and beautiful technical execution, you have me hooked. – Rich Dickinson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Available day one with Xbox Game Pass. 

If you were looking for a series to thank for keeping the RTS genre alive, Company of Heroes 1 & 2 would be near the top of that list in my opinion, right up there with StarCraft II. These games have done a tremendous job of mixing a compelling and dramatic World War II narrative with stellar real-time strategy gameplay. Plus, the amazing destruction engine brought it all together to make these battles feel truly lived in. Now with this series returning for the first time in 10 years, on both PC and console, I’m incredibly excited to see how Company of Heroes 3 translates to the power of Xbox Series X|S. Be sure to check out this recent preview on Xbox Wire to get a sense of the hard work being put into this version of the game. – Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor 

Alan Wake 2 – 2023 – Xbox Series X|S 

After spending a full decade atop my pile of shame, I finally took advantage of Xbox backward compatibility to enjoy the original Alan Wake in summer of 2020. I was immediately drawn into Remedy’s intentionally disorienting storytelling – something they’ve since taken even further with the truly excellent Control. Despite being nearly two generations behind technologically, Alan Wake’s light-wary enemies freaked me out enough that I exclusively played during daylight hours. For the long-awaited Alan Wake 2, Remedy says they’re crafting a survival horror game – the original AW was merely a “psychological thriller” (which you can catch up on too, with the even more accomplished Alan Wake Remastered) I can’t wait… to sleep with the lights on. – Jeff Rubenstein – Xbox Podcast 

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon – 2023 – Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One 

It took until Elden Ring for me to fully get to grips with FromSoftware’s action-RPG Souls masterworks, but I’ve been an Armored Core player since day one. This grand old mech-battling series has had its gunmetal claws in the pleasure centers of my brain since I was a child, its measured tactical action and gloriously in-depth machine tinkering combining to make for something functionally unique. That Armored Core VI is seemingly a return to that formula, rather than the futuristic Soulslike many expected, is all I could have asked for. There’s no doubt we’ll see more Souls games come along, so this is a more-than welcome diversion. I’ll be knee-deep in leg units and shoulder-mounted missile launchers come launch day. – Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief 

Editor’s Note: This article originally incorrectly stated that Forza Motorsport would be released for Xbox One. This has been corrected.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is commencing its 1st Anniversary on January 31, 2023. The celebration event will commemorate the launch of the ultimate post-apocalyptic survival horror game. Our developer team has created a chock-full slate of exciting new features and content.

The 1st Anniversary will have a stacked celebration schedule, starting with in-game events, which have always played a substantial role in the post-launch support of Dying Light 2 Stay Human. Bloody Anniversary (January 31 – February 8) will allow players to experience the game with a greater chance of dismembering foes. Dropkick Weekend (February 09 – 13) is going to base an entire event around the signature Dying Light move with amped-up ragdolls and damage. Both will provide additional community objectives with extra Anniversary-themed rewards via techlandgg.com.

Dying Light veterans can look forward to collecting all three skins of characters from the original game. For the first time, it will be possible to play in the shoes of Rais or Brecken and make a comeback as the legendary hero, Kyle Crane. Their likeness will come into play with their very own weapons and paraglider skins. To receive the Rais Bundle at no cost, players must earn it via the Bloody Anniversary. The Brecken Bundle requires similar participation in the Dropkick Weekend. Finally, the Crane Bundle is going to be an exclusive reward on TechlandGG for all proud owners of our two games: Dying Light and Dying Light 2 Stay Human.

The Community Update 2.0 will once again prove to place the fans of the series at the forefront by making some of their most requested features a reality. This includes multiple quality of life updates, improvements, fixes, and notable additions to the co-op mode, such as the long-awaited cross-gen! At last, it is time to grab your friends, regardless of the console generation of your choice, to save The City together.

There is going to be a new and exciting end-game progression system in Dying Light 2 Stay Human called Legend Levels. Players will be able to earn Legend Points by completing quests, activities, and challenges to level up. With each level, they can receive Upgrade Points to boost skills, new weapons and more rewards. The new feature can be accessed after unlocking the whole skill tree in the base game.

We plan to make more announcements and teases for the entire year of 2023. This will include the reveal of a new roadmap, content updates, community activities, information about the 2nd story DLC and so much more. For more information on the 1st Anniversary and all things Dying Light 2 Stay Human, visit techlandgg.com or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is a first-person survival horror game. The virus won and civilization entered what many are now calling the Modern Dark Ages. As a wandering Pilgrim bound by no ethics or rules, travel to one of the remaining bastions of humanity, enter its strongholds, restore hope to its people and unwind the past that may now come back to haunt you.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human is available now for purchase on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Bloody Ties

Techland

☆☆☆☆☆ 86

★★★★★

Deluxe and Ultimate Edition owners of Dying Light 2 Stay Human automatically receive Bloody Ties DLC. Separate purchase is not required. Bloody Ties is the first official story DLC for Dying Light 2 Stay Human – a thrilling first-person action survival game set in a post-apocalyptic open world.
Who doesn’t want hundreds of fans chanting their name in perfect unison? Or feel like they are loved and admired while obtaining unimaginable riches at the same time? But what if to have it all, one must first pay the highest of prices?
As Aiden, you are encouraged by a promise of wealth, fame, and access to the best gear to enter a tournament where people sacrifice everything just for status. Hone your skills to defeat your enemies and make allies to obtain glory.
You will quickly realize that the quest for fame is just the beginning and you will find yourself involved in a plot for power and revenge. Features:
NEW STORY
Embark on a new adventure. Secure yourself a spot in the Pantheon of the best fighters, help your new friend Ciro in his quest to avenge his brother’s death and discover the true nature of the tournament. NEW LOCATION
Enter Carnage Hall – a place filled with wealth and splendor, where every fight is a narrative spectacle and the strongest seek fortune and fame. NEW WEAPON: SHIELD GLOVE
Discover a new way to play with the Shield Glove, and make creative combat even more creative. NEW GEAR
Obtain new gear in the tournament where strength matters the most and weapons are a symbol of status. SPECTACLES & SHOWS
Play the role of your life in Spectacles – multi-objective arena shows with unique stories narrated by Astrid herself, each resembling traditional tales and fables with a wicked twist.
Test your skill in arena challenges – special trials where you’ll that fight new mutated enemies, face murderous hordes and get to perform daredevil action.

Dying Light 2 Stay Human

Techland

☆☆☆☆☆ 917

★★★★★

$59.99 $29.99

Upgrade your experience with Smart Delivery. Buy the game once to both play it on Xbox One and get its optimized version for Xbox Series X | S Over twenty years ago in Harran, we fought the virus—and lost. Now, we’re losing again. The City, one of the last large human settlements, is torn by conflict. Civilization has fallen back into the Dark Ages. And yet, we still have hope. You are a wanderer with the power to change the fate of The City. But your exceptional abilities come at a price. Haunted by memories you cannot decipher, you set out to learn the truth… and find yourself in a combat zone. Hone your skills, as to defeat your enemies and make allies, you’ll need both fists and wits. Unravel the dark secrets behind the wielders of power, choose sides and decide your destiny. But wherever your actions take you, there’s one thing you can never forget—stay human. VAST OPEN WORLD
Participate in the life of a city engulfed in a new dark era. Discover different paths and hidden passages, as you explore its multiple levels and locations. CREATIVE & BRUTAL COMBAT
Take advantage of your parkour skills to tip the scales of even the most brutal encounter. Clever thinking, traps and creative weapons will be your best friends. DAY AND NIGHT CYCLE
Wait for night to venture into dark hideouts of the Infected. Sunlight keeps them at bay, but once it’s gone, monsters begin the hunt, leaving their lairs free to explore. CHOICES & CONSEQUENCES
Shape the future of The City with your actions and watch how it changes. Determine the balance of power by making choices in a growing conflict and forge your own experience. 2-4 PLAYER CO-OP GAMEPLAY
Play in up to four-player co-op. Host your own games or join others and see how their choices have played out differently than yours.

We Were Here Forever is the newest game in our We Were Here series of co-op puzzle adventures, releasing today on Xbox. You and a partner play the role of Antarctic explorers who find themselves trapped in a sinister castle and must work together to escape! With the introduction of cross-play, we’re opening up a world of new players to team up with. Whether you’d like to play with a friend or dive into the game and connect with a stranger, it will all be possible. Communication is everything, and you’ll have to trust your partner, as streamers Copacaxi and Icharr_ demonstrate beautifully in our latest trailer!

Our Design Philosophy

What goes into making a good puzzle? We Were Here Forever is the fourth game in the We Were Here Series, so this isn’t our first rodeo. We start with some basic principles of what an ideal puzzle looks like for our game: every puzzle should be related in some way to communication and the different challenges and kinds of fun you can have with that. Describing symbols, guiding someone to navigate a maze, mimicking sounds, pronouncing silly words, and more.

Simply put: if it doesn’t get you talking, whispering, laughing or yelling then it shouldn’t be in our games.

Puzzling on Puzzles

Inspiration for puzzles can come from many places! From a movie scene, an idea for a cool mechanic, some part of the game’s story, or even a completely abstract theme. The process of creating a puzzle is also very personal; every designer works in their own way and might use different tools. Options include building a prototype out of cardboard and boardgame components, sketching storyboards, detailed diagrams, making little movies or in-engine prototypes, and we’re sure there are many more. There have even been origami models made for certain puzzle environments!

Generally speaking, we always search for the fastest and most efficient way to ‘prove’ the core idea of a puzzle – what makes that puzzle cool and unique, and does it work? Once we have confidence in that core idea we make increasingly more detailed prototypes involving custom art, tweaks and updates to the puzzle design, placing it somewhere in the world/story, and so forth. There can be months between that first version and something that looks like the final result!

Challenges in Design (Spoilers Ahead!)

Getting the difficulty right for puzzles is one of the toughest parts of puzzle design. We have very different kinds of players enjoying the series, often for different reasons and with different levels of experience. Any puzzle should be just as interesting to a series veteran as to a brand new player. There’s also a very fine line between a challenging puzzle and a frustrating one, and getting that balance just right takes a lot of testing, tweaking and sometimes redesign.

Simply put: if players get stuck it should be because they’re not cooperating or communicating well, not because the puzzle isn’t clear or is too difficult.

Puzzles rarely make it all the way from initial idea to implementation without any changes. An example (with mild spoilers) is a puzzle where the players have to communicate with a creature using sounds – the players are separated while one has the ‘dictionary’ and the other has to do the actual communication. This means trying to mimic the sounds the creature uses to communicate, with one player translating them.

This puzzle started out with the idea of mimicking sounds, but almost everything else changed. There was originally a kind of beatboxing challenge where players had to match the rhythms of two different machines. Players had to use record players and even something resembling a drum computer or sequencer! It soon became obvious that this was really hard, and that more organic sounds were more fun to try to mimic, so a creature was introduced. The last ingredient that makes it all work was the translation element: you were actually talking to the creature. That ties it all together and gives it a purpose. But even when that was figured out, getting the details right  – the questions/answers, dictionary, controls, and level of challenge – took a whole bunch of attempts before we reached the fun final version of the puzzle.

Try the Puzzles out Yourself Today!

But that’s enough about how we made the game – We Were Here Forever is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, ready for you to dive in and explore! Grab a friend and team up to solve the mysteries of Castle Rock together! We Were Here Forever is the biggest adventure yet, following three thrilling standalone games in the We Were Here Series, each one a unique puzzle adventure you can experience with a friend. We’re happy to say that even after three games, we still have plenty of great ideas for puzzles – and long-time fans of the series agree, saying We Were Here Forever is the best game yet!

Find out if you and a partner have what it takes to escape, or if you’ll be trapped in Castle Rock… Forever!

We Were Here Forever

Total Mayhem Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 1

★★★★★

You and your friend are trapped in the realm of Castle Rock with no way out – were you betrayed, or simply not that clever? Work together to escape, explore and solve puzzles in this mysterious Antarctic adventure. Be aware, nothing is what it seems – there are dark secrets hidden in the shadows. Will you be able to escape?
Beginning in the dungeons deep in the bowels of Castle Rock, you and a fellow prisoner must seek a way out and return to stand again beneath the icy Antarctic skies – but escaping this nightmare is not so easy as just leaving the castle itself. If you can free yourself from the cells, you’ll need to make choices about where to explore next. Outside the Keep, you will discover the story of Rockbury, its inhabitants, and plans of a resistance formed against the King to escape this icy place. Hope will lead you on to an eerie Graveyard and have you descend down into the dark waters of the Foundry.
Someone, or something, has brought you here, and you are a central part of a plan centuries in the making. Only an unshakeable bond with your partner will give you any hope of survival in the face of such dreadful desire… NOTE: This game is co-op only. It requires both players to have a working compatible microphone and an internet connection.

When wishes go wrong, only SpongeBob and Patrick can make it right. Even though it was kinda their fault…

Get ready to save Bikini Bottom in the all-new platforming adventure, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake! When SpongeBob and Patrick receive a vial of Mermaid’s Tears from mysterious fortune teller Kasandra nothing can go wrong. Sorry, everything goes wrong.

The lovable pals wish their wishes just a little bit too enthusiastically. So, they end up fracturing their reality, and releasing Cosmic Jelly — the glue that holds the universe together — into Bikini Bottom, with their friends being sucked into crazy Wishworlds! Oh, and Patrick gets turned into a balloon. But he’ll still be floating beside you all the way, because that’s what friends are for. Especially balloon friends.

It’s down to you to hop, spin, bubble trap, kick, and Krusty-Krab-pizza-box-glide through seven Wishworlds to rescue your friends and deal with the unintended but devastating consequences of SponegeBob and Patrick’s actions. Each Wishworld is based on a classic SpongeBob location given a unique twist, where you’ll run into all of SpongeBob’s pals on your quest for sweet, sweet, sweet victory.

For instance, to bring back Sandy you’ll need to adventure into a Wishworld that turns Bikini Bottom into the set of a Karate movie. Learn how to pull off powerful Karate moves!

Travel to a prehistoric Wishworld and find Squidward, lost in a land-before-time version of Kelp Forest where you’ll have to negotiate tricky rolling rocks while taking the form of grunting caveman SpongeGar. And become a spongey, princely hero in a fantasy medieval level set around a huge castle. Make it to the end to serve cake to guests at what is supposed to be the best party ever, while a wicked witch attacks you because this is a SpongeBob SquarePants game.

After you’ve bounced, dodged, battled, and bantered through each of the different Wishworlds, dispatching cowboys, knights and all kinds of sneaky enemies along the way, you’ll have to use all your skills to outwit a range of madcap bosses. But that’s nothing everyone’s favorite sponge can’t handle.

This new platforming adventure features all of your favorite SpongeBob SquarePants characters voiced by the original cast, a brand-new soundtrack from the composers of Battle for Bikini Bottom, and the classic comedic charm and chaos from the show. As you save Bikini Bottom and unravel Kassandra’s secret plan, you will get to don more than 30 Spongetastic costumes – after all, as you traverse the seven Wishworlds, you’ll need to fit in. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is out now and ready to delight fans of all ages. Everybody do the Cosmic Shake!

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake

THQ Nordic

☆☆☆☆☆7

★★★★★

Wish-granting Mermaid’s Tears in the hands of SpongeBob and Patrick… What could possibly go wrong? Sure, the very fabric holding the very universe very together could come very undone, opening up portals into Wishworlds full of knights, cowboys, pirates, and prehistoric snails. But that’s nothing everyone’s favorite sponge can’t handle – with the right cosmic costume! Everybody do the Cosmic Shake! Preorder SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake NOW and receive the Official Costume Pack, including 7 additional SpongeBob costumes for FREE!

Hello Xbox fans!

All of us at NuChallenger are excited to announce that Treachery in Beatdown City: Ultra Remix is hitting Xbox on April 27th.

Explore an angry city, meet the worst people, and beat ‘em up with style! Pick your fighter, freeze time, build custom combos, and knock out your enemies, all to save the president.

Like what you’re hearing? Let me tell you more!

Fight Back against Corruption

After US President Blake Orama is kidnapped by ninja terrorists and Mayor Mike Moneybags shuts down the East Fulton police force, now-suspended police chief Antonio Santiago can sense something bigger is coming. He enlists the aid of his daughter Lisa and her two friends; Brad and Bruce, to set out to discover not only the truth; but also to find the root of the treachery in Beatdown City.

Play as three unique heroes all fit with their own unique combat abilities and skill sets. Use Lisa’s icy boxing style to throw punches and strike fear into your enemies with her MMA skills; throw your opponents like ragdolls with Brad’s professional wrestling moves, or flow like electrified water with Bruce’s deadly Jeet Kune Do meets capoeira fighting style.

Wax on, Wax off

Bring the pain with a huge variety of attacks designed to lay your enemies out flat. Mix them up with completely unique custom combos filled with grapples and finishers, and inflict an array of status ailments to finish them off. Fascist cops, entitled joggers, affluent punks, preppy jocks, angry socialites, bikers, ninjas, terrorists, ninja terrorists (?) and dozens more will learn what it’s like to be on the corner of Mess Around and Find Out Blvd.

Enter the City

Walk the streets to uncover how deep the corruption has spread. Tread through murky subterranean underground subways, the glitz and glamor of Times Square, the gritty streets of Lower East Fulton, all the way to the top of the pristine yet corrupted Moneybags News Network offices.

Treachery in Beatdown City: Ultra Remix is launching April 27th on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11 PC. For more information, please follow NuChallenger and Beatdown City on Twitter.

Hello there young Inkulinati Master in training. Now that Inkulinati is available in Game Preview on Xbox, PC and with Game Pass, I see that you are keen to learn the nuances that can give you the edge in battle, . Very well, I like that attitude. In that case, listen. A true Inkulinati Master knows how to use its strengths and exploit their enemy’s weaknesses. And the true strength lies in the mind! (and also the quill, but that doesn’t fit the emotions I’m building here so let’s just carry on). Winning a battle requires planning every move, reading your opponent’s strategy, analysing the Battlefield, and choosing the right action at the right time. Combining all these elements is certainly not easy, but with these few tips that are straight from the Inkulinati Academy, you will have a head start in become the greatest Inkulinati Master of all time.

Without further ado, let’s get straight into our seven tips to be a better Inkulinati Master!

1. Before starting the battle, gather your army wisely. Pay attention to the type of battle that is ahead. If you are facing a beast battle (a battle against beasts without a Tiny Inkulinati Master that leads them), choose your strongest beasts, regardless of their cost. Reason being – you won’t have to draw them! You will start the battle with the five beasts that you chose.

Also pay attention to who you will be fighting against and learn about the special abilities of the beasts you will have to face. Think about which of your beasts will be the best to counter these opponents. Make sure you also look at what the battlefield itself will look like. Maybe ranged units will do a better job? Or close contact is the way to go? Take your time and strategise before you start the battle!

2. Watch enemy beasts’ movement ranges, especially the green range, i.e., the Action Range. Hover over any beast to view their Movement and Action Range. Are you in the range of the attack of the enemy’s beast? If so, perhaps using the “Move” Hand Actions to change your or your opponent’s position might be the best next move to do.

3. Use elements on the battlefields. Thanks to them you can protect yourself from the archer, block the attack of a swordsman, wake up your allies, or deal additional damage to the enemy. Explosive Obstacles (like Pots of Beans) can damage up to four beasts at once! And pushing the beast into the enemy Gate will sometimes do more damage than your attack… especially when the beast has a Bonfire on the way. So use the battlefield to your advantage!

4. Watch out for boredom during your Journey. Because winning in style is so much more fun. During a battle, try to draw only as many beasts as you really need to win. Just because you can afford to draw another beast doesn’t always mean you have to! This way you will probably win the battle even faster, and at the same time, you won’t raise the price of the drawn beast unnecessarily.

5. Eliminate the Donkey! Some beasts, such as Donkey the Bard, can force a few of your units to take a Nap at once. Try not to concentrate all of your beasts in one place, otherwise they will all be forced to take a Nap. If the donkey gets in your way, eliminate it or run away from the sound of its pipes!

6. It’s not about the army – it’s about the Master. Remember, you are here to defeat the opposing Inkulinati Master, not their whole army! Those beasts are just pawns in the Inkulinati Master’s hands. Sure, eliminate them when you must to protect your Tiny Inkulinati, but the target is the opposing Tiny Inkulinati. Of course, this tip applies when you are facing other Inkuliati Masters. If it’s a Wild Encounter against beasts without a Master, please disregard this tip. It’s essential that you disregard this tip.

7. Don’t forget the Push movement! Sometimes instead of attacking with your weapons, a simple push will do a better job. You see those edges of the battliefield? Beyond them lies the dreaded nothing. If you push a beast or a Tiny Inkulinati Master of the edge, they will die in an instant. Use those edges wisely.

Keep those tips in mind when you travel across the lands, young Inkulinati Master. Refer to them, and perhaps even use them in a dramatic scene where it’s you facing against all odds and you’re thinking “what should I do next??”. And then it is I, who appears in your head, and I calmly say “Push, young Inkulinati Master. Push!”. I am certain that in no time you will be the envy of all Inkulinati Masters across the lands.

If you want to receive more Inkulinati tips, find other Inkulinati players, and provide your feedback, join our official Inkulinati Discord server. You can be an Inkulinati Master right now by playing Inkulinati  on Xbox Series X|S, on Xbox One, and with Game Pass.

Speak to you soon,

The Inkulinati Academy, on behalf of Yaza Games Team

Inkulinati (Game Preview)

Daedalic Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 5

★★★★★

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. Inkulinati is an ink-based strategy game straight from medieval manuscripts, where a rabbit’s bum can be deadlier than a dog’s sword. Take your turn in Inkulinati duels filled with unexpected tactical depth (and humour!). Embark on an ever-changing journey, build your own bestiary, defeat medieval superstars and collect perks to unleash special powers. Become a master of the Living Ink, grab your quill and build your unique strategy time after time so that you can be named the greatest Inkulinati of all time! INKULINATI IS INSPIRED BY REAL-LIFE MEDIEVAL MARGINALIA
700 years in the making, finally these bizarre art pieces can come alive in a video game and show that medieval people also had their “memes” and that they laughed from the same silly things that we do today. You’ll see sword-wielding rabbits, dogs with spears, trumpets lodged in bottoms, human-eating snails, and more. Much, much more… FIGHT LIKE AN INKULINATI
Inkulinati are a legendary group who battle one another on the pages of medieval manuscripts. They fight by drawing Beasts with the Living Ink. Thanks to this magical substance, those creatures come to life and an epic battle ensues.Move your Beasts across the battlefield, perform actions on or with them, make tactical use of obstacles and collect more Living Ink to draw new Beasts which allows you to gain an advantage over your opponent. MULTIPLE DEADLY (AND BIZARRE) BEASTS TO UNLOCK
Donkeys playing trumpets with their bottoms, bishop cats vanquishing heretics with prayers, heavy but deadly snails that eat units alive, and more. Much, much more. They all have their special skills and are waiting for your command. SPECIAL, BATTLE TIDE-TURNING ACTIONS PERFORMED BY THE INKULINATI
It’s not just your Beasts that can cause havoc and damage. Use your fists to smash your opponent’s units, draw obstacles to create barriers, relocate your units with a move of your finger, or explode your troops to create pure, pure chaos. Just remember – your opponent can do it too. ADAPT YOUR TACTIC TO EVERY BATTLE
Each Inkulinati has its own army, with different Beasts, who in turn, have different abilities, strengths, and unfortunately, weaknesses (or fortunately – depending which side you’re on). But it’s not just the armies that can influence who will win any given duel. Each Battlefield is its own domain, with its own particular dangers that you should watch out for, and opportunities that you can use. You will have to use your wits and adapt your strategy to beat the opposing Inkulinati’s army on each specific Battlefield. A SINGLE-PLAYER CAMPAIGN
Uncover the mystery and secrets of Inkulinati and face such opponents as Death, Dante Alighieri, and more. Go out into the world and start your adventure! Fight the biggest Inkulinati masters in the land, tame the untamed Beasts, build your ultimate army, try to bring back your Master from the clutches of death, and most importantly, finish your grand quest with the biggest party that the middle ages have ever seen! Howza!!! CREATE AND DEVELOP YOUR OWN CHARACTER
As any aspiring Inkulinati Master, you will get to create your own Tiny-Inkulinati. During your journey you will learn the secret techniques of drawing new Beasts and Inkulinati Hand Actions, allowing you to choose the composition of your army. You can be a brave knight that has no fear and will send his loyal troops straight at his opponents. Or perhaps you would like to play with a bit more tact? In that case, you can be a nun who with the power of prayer can confuse her enemies and heal thy own servants. Those styles, and more, are waiting to be discovered and made your own. Express yourself! EVERY BATTLE HAS ITS OWN STORY
To mark every battle in history books for all future generations to see, a procedurally generated text describes the dramatic (or hilarious) events in detail just above the battlefield.

Starting today, Xbox and Windows PC players will be able to blast away decades of dirt in the new Tomb Raider Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator, available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass!

Walk in Lara’s footsteps as you traverse the illustrious halls of Croft Manor and its sprawling grounds. Tarnished treasures, muddy motors… even dirty dinosaurs – you’ll find them all here.

The Tomb Raider Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator contains five all-new maps to wash and explore.

Deciding which locations to feature from Tomb Raider was no easy feat, but after whittling down a list of environments that were both iconic and rife with cleaning potential, Croft Manor’s undeniable appeal won our designers’ hearts. Not only is it a nostalgic place for fans of the franchise, but its owner is often too busy elsewhere to take care of the cleaning…

Speaking of which, you are summoned to Croft Manor for this very reason. While Lara is away, it’s time to spray! The revered residence has been somewhat neglected recently, and while Winston has tried his hand at buffing the odd brick, the sheer extent of the mess requires more power.

From the announcement trailer, eagle-eyed Tomb Raider fans will have recognized Croft Manor, the Obstacle Course, the Treasure Room, and vehicles such as Lara’s trusty jeep, motorboat, and quad bike. We decided to keep one level under wraps, Croft Manor’s Maze; we did send a cameraman in there, but he hasn’t found his way out yet. We hope you enjoy navigating the maze and its secrets with fresh eyes.

The Obstacle Course is a great opportunity to test your parkour skills (we’re sure Lara won’t mind) while the various vehicles will have Lady Croft regaling you with tales of close scrapes and narrow escapes.

Collecting treasures is Lara’s prize but cleaning them is yours! The Treasure room was a great opportunity to feature lots of the artifacts Lara encountered and collected in Tomb Raider’s early years – channel your inner architect as you uncover precious artifacts lost to layers of dust and grime. Well, maybe you’re not quite as delicate as an architect should be, but you’ll get the job done!

So, pack up your power washing provisions, fire up the blue van, and head on over to Croft Manor in the Tomb Raider Special Pack for PowerWash Simulator. We can’t wait to see what you do with the place!

Tomb Raider Special Pack

Square Enix Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Whilst some seek the thrill of adventure, others prefer good clean fun – that’s where you come in! Grapple with grime in the ultimate quest to defeat all dirt covering Croft Manor and its grounds, along with Lara’s trusty vehicles.
Lara’s childhood home is impressive but in need of some serious TLC to restore it to its full potential – rumour has it, the owner much prefers a life of danger to domesticity. You’ve been commissioned to undertake the ultimate cleaning caper.
Your client may be used to less-than-ideal conditions out on the trail, but only the very best will do when it comes to the Croft residence. Unwind and blast away every speck of dirt you can track down, whilst Lara regales you with tales of past adventures.
Wash and explore five new levels, including:
– The illustrious Croft Manor
– The iconic Obstacle Course
– The mysterious Croft Manor Maze
– Lara’s trusty Jeep and Motorboat
– Lara’s majestic Treasure Room

PowerWash Simulator

Square Enix Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆ 192

★★★★★

$24.99 $19.99

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Release the Pressure with PowerWash Simulator! Wash away your worries with the soothing sounds of high-pressure water. Fire up your power washer and blast away every speck of dirt and grime you can find. Build your own power-washing business and unlock new tools, upgrades and more – all with the simple satisfaction of power-washing to a sparkling finish. TIME TO CLEAN UP THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
Build up your business in Career Mode and complete a variety of dirty jobs across the dusty town of Muckingham. There’s no right or wrong; no time pressure or final score, just you and the tools you need to soak away your stress. Want a clean start? Chill out and replay your favourite jobs in Free Play. POWERWASH AND CHILL
Relax, unwind, and play with friends in Online Co-Op! Lend a helping hand to your closest pal in Career Mode, or up to 6 friends can splash around in Free Play, tackling any job the host has already completed. KEEP IT CLEAN
For those looking for a little more pressure, beat your best scores in Challenge Mode! Fight grime in different scenarios; wash against the clock in Time Challenge or test your accuracy by using as little water as possible in Water Challenge.
GOOD CLEAN FUN Graffiti, grime, moss, and mould, no dirt is too tough for your range of washers, nozzles, cleaners, and extensions. Different dirt types have different levels of toughness, so make sure you’re getting tactical with your equipment. Feeling fancy? Then customise your look with washer skins and gloves!
RELAXATION, SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
From casual, clean freaks to players looking to get into the nitty-gritty, everyone can pick up and play to feel immersed. Absorb the relaxing atmosphere and stress-free pace as you strip dirt from patios, pavements, vehicles, and public parks. Stress gets to us all, so sit back, relax, and wash your worries down the drain.
THE WORLD IS YOUR CANVAS Create art by cleaning the way you want. Your nozzles are your brushes; the neighbourhood is your canvas. Unleash your creative talents and transform ordinary dirt into exceptional artwork. Share your techniques and showcase your power-washing prowess and mud-caked masterpieces!

We are so thrilled to finally release Shoulders of Giants! Since we just launched, the whole team here at Moving Pieces are all feeling pretty reflective (as well as slightly terrified/excited in equal measures!), so I thought it might be nice to share a few thoughts on an aspect of the game that we are particularly proud of: its stylized visual graphics. I thought it might be nice to take this opportunity to talk about our inspirations behind the look of the game.

While it’s amazing to see how far photorealistic graphics can be pushed with the latest Xbox hardware, what really excited us was creating something that combined the latest graphics technologies like physically based rendering with a more stylized shading approach like cel shading. This was the basis behind our technical and aesthetic approach to the visuals for Shoulders of Giants.

We started by experimenting with what this might look like by taking early concept art and making basic worlds without any gameplay. Initially we went further into more of a traditional cel shaded look, but found that when we mixed some photoreal rendering techniques with that is where nice details really started to shine.

In terms of setting, we knew that we wanted the game to take place in a sci-fi universe, which meant having a cosmic skybox full of planets, stars and swirly clouds. We were heavily inspired by the style of sci-fi art from the 1970s and loved how it often contained giant planets in the background to help keep the horizon interesting.

The basic story of the game is that the dark and cold forces of Entropy have taken over the Universe, and it’s the players’ job to restore life and balance. One of the game’s main NPCs is an all-powerful Owl from an ancient order, and many of the levels and props found throughout the game are inspired by that of ancient civilizations, like Ancient Egypt and Greece.

We imagined levels with abandoned ruins from an ancient order scattered throughout levels that the player could explore. This was a main inspiration behind the look of the levels and their layout.

Some of the props and levels of the game also take inspiration from surrealist paintings, particularly in the last act of the game. We thought of rumbling clouds, and stairs going off into the horizon.

Taking advantage of a stylized look, we put emphasis on using color to tell the story of Shoulders of Giants. One of the biggest themes in the game is dark versus light.

The player starts every level off with the world covered in darkness and as you progress and eventually beat the level, you restore it with life and light.

Making the “light” version of our landscapes pop with color was straightforward, but making the cold, dark versions of these alien worlds sing with color was not trivial. Our art director and I spent days pouring over palettes, and eventually decided we had to re-evaluate what “dark” really meant. We decided to lean more into darkness as a concept of cold, or lack of life.

Eventually we found colors and lighting combinations that still looked vibrant and eye-catching, but still allowed us to express our themes. We created sandy deserts, white fields of snow, and caustic acid worlds glowing with green.

We can’t wait for players to hop into the world we created!

For more information, check out the game’s store page and official website, or join our discord.

Shoulders of Giants

Moving Pieces Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆31

★★★★★

Simultaneously control a sword-wielding robot and a gunslinging space frog in Shoulders of Giants, an explosively colorful sci-fi roguelike. Play alone, with a friend, or as part of a four-person team, cutting through waves of enemies on a quest to rescue the galaxy! The forces of Entropy are spreading chaos through the stars, corrupting living planets and urging on the heat death of the universe. Led by the psychic Owl, one scrappy team of space survivors are fighting to restore the balance. A mysterious mech! A sharpshooting amphibian! Together they must cut through waves of enemies and restore light and life to the galaxy! Pre-order the game for access to limited-edition dye sets with special visual effects. Dazzle your friends!

Hi-Fi Rush might have been Developer_Direct’s big surprise, getting an announcement and a launch in a single day, but that doesn’t mean its development was just as much of a whirlwind. In fact, game director John Johanes has been pitching the idea for this rhythm-action experiment for years, as far back as the original Evil Within game. And it turns out, he had a very specific, non-gaming inspiration from the very start: the films of Edgar Wright.

Speaking to the Xbox Podcast, Johanas explained that, while Tango Gameworks might be known for its horror titles, the studio had been looking for a way to do something different for quite some time:

“Probably you know our studio for making horror games with The Evil Within and Ghostwire: Tokyo, but this is something that we’ve wanted to make that [would] really completely change the image of our studio, and also pushed us as developers to what we can do, or what’s possible, even, in the game universe, because we wanted to kind of do something new, and that’s kind of where the original idea- that’s essentially how I pitched it.

“This game itself is just something that personally I always wanted to make for a really long time, and luckily timing was right internally that we just saw it as a nice palette cleanser after we finished The Evil Within 2, to kind of branch off and try something new.”

While Hi-Fi Rush draws on some very recognizable gaming influences – the rhythm genre and classic technical action games loom large – one of the starting points for all this was drawn from the world of movies:

“One of the earliest things we had– and this kind of influenced the direction on our style for how we did things – was the movies that Edgar Wright as a director would make. And I know maybe people would compare this to Baby Driver [Editor’s note: I did exactly this in our hands-on with the game, whoops], which is about music — music to tied to the images very coherently — but actually this pre-dated that significantly. There was a scene in the original Shaun of the Dead that had them fighting in a bar to a Queen soundtrack [Warning: adult language] that was choreographed to it. Maybe you saw that, maybe you remember it.

“I was like, ‘That was so cool, what if we made a game that was exactly like that?’ And so that’s how I kind of pitched it. That’s how the idea came to be, many, many years [ago] when we were still making the original The Evil Within, but [Hi-Fi Rush] finally gave us a chance to pursue that angle.”

That inspiration goes further than just the rhythmic combat concept, too. In wannabe rockstar Chai, Hi-Fi Rush also has a particularly Wrightian lead character:

“I knew I wanted this main character that was, like, not a superhero. The big reference point we used was Scott Pilgrim, especially the Edgar Wright Scott Pilgrim because I’m talking about Edgar Wright as an influence. But it’s this kind of like anti-hero, in a sense – not that they’re evil, but they’re just almost dumb.”

Hi-Fi Rush wears these influences on its sleeve, and is all the more joyful for it. This is a game that celebrates the games, music and movies that helped inspire it, and that makes its surprise release on Xbox and PC (with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass members able to play as part of their membership) all the more exciting. And, as far as this writer is concerned, if Tango Gameworks does want to head back to horror in the future, it always has Last Night In Soho to look to and keep that Edgar Wright fascination in full flow…

Hi-Fi RUSH

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆279

★★★★★

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Feel the beat as wannabe rockstar Chai and his ragtag team of allies rebel against an evil robotics enhancement megacorp with raucous rhythm combat! From Tango Gameworks, the studio that brought you The Evil Within® and Ghostwire®: Tokyo (no, really) comes Hi-Fi RUSH, an all-new action game where the characters, world and combat stylishly sync to the music! CHAI VERSUS THE WORLD Labeled ‘defective’ after a shady corporate experiment mistakenly fuses a music player to his heart, Chai must now fight for his freedom in a slick animated world where everything – platforming puzzles, enemy attacks and even the colorful gags & banter – are synced to the beat. OPEN UP THE MOSH PIT! Take on armies of corporate drones (read: actual robots) in satisfying, rhythm-amplified combat. Time your moves to pull off flashy Beat Hits, hard-hitting special abilities and even combination attacks with your allies! Want to show off? Go further and tap into the beat to amp up your skills and earn those covetous S-rank scores. ROWDY REBELS VS. BADASS BOSSES Lead a squad of colorful teammates and take the fight to the heart of an, er, heartless corporation. Square off with each department’s boss, from Production to Marketing to Finance, each more ready to protect the company’s bottom line than the last in over-the-top battle sequences accompanied by their own music tracks! GRAB YOUR HEADPHONES Tap your toes to a killer mixtape of original music, as well as songs by Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, The Joy Formidable and more! Want to show off your skills to a live streaming audience? Fret not: Hi-Fi RUSH includes a streamer-friendly alternate audio mode which replaces those licensed songs with original tracks made especially for streaming Hi-Fi RUSH.

The annual THQ Nordic & Handy Games Xbox Store sale double-jumps, jet-boosts, and smashes into action this week with savings on a massive list of games. You can demolish your competitors in full-contact racing with Wreckfest (60% off), join Fury on her apocalyptic quest in Darksiders III (70% off), or save your undersea pals in the bestselling SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated (60% off), to name but a few adventures that await! Want to mastermind an underground resistance? Through the Darkest of Times (67% off) has you covered. How about leading a ragtag bunch of outlaws to become Wild West legends, in Desperados III (65% off)? Make sure you grab a discount before the sale ends on February 6!

Every year gives us more great games to feature in our sale, and 2022 was no different – explore the planet Magalan in cult sci-fi RPG Elex II (40% off), or if you yearn for a beautiful, thoughtful journey through a world ravaged by mankind to save your fox cubs, pick up Endling: Extinction is Forever (20% off). Fellow Earthlings getting on your nerves? Vent your frustrations with Crypto-138 in Destroy All Humans! 2 – Reprobed (30% off). Or, if you seek the challenge of big game hunting, set your sights on Way of the Hunter (30% off).

That’s not all, though – two of our biggest open worlds are aching to be explored. Classic fantasy fans can dive into the rich lore of Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (60% off), or if you’re after kung-fu, gene-splicing, gun-toting animals, look no further than Biomutant (50% off). Whichever you pick up, you’re in for a massive experience filled with perilous exploration, powerful upgrades, and unforgettable characters.

Our 2023 sale lineup is our most varied yet, with savings on medieval city builder Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt (70% off), adrenaline-fueled racer MX vs ATV Legends (30% off), fantasy RPG strategy SpellForce III: Reforced (35% off), and more!

There’s never been a better time to jump into a new world, with the THQ Nordic and Handy Games publisher sale!