Schlagwort: next gen

  • EA Play: Bring Glory Home in EA Sports College Football 25, Now on the Play List

    EA Play: Bring Glory Home in EA Sports College Football 25, Now on the Play List

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Kick off Spring with some intense action this month because EA Play is delivering tons of moments to get your blood pumping on (and off) the gridiron. Starting today, players can chase greatness with their favorite collegiate teams in EA Sports College Football 25 – now on the Play List. There’s no better time to step into legendary stadiums and experience the unforgettable traditions that make college football legendary.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtdMTaNpL8k?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    Get ready for explosive on-field gameplay and the iconic atmospheres of modern-era college football with College Football 25. The game introduces CampusIQ, a suite of features that brings to life the explosiveness of college football game days through wide open, fast-paced gameplay across all 134 FBS schools in all areas of the game. In addition, fan favorite modes like Dynasty and Road to Glory set a new standard for fans ready to construct their own powerhouse program as a created coach or vie for the Heisman as a player, while the all-new Road to the College Football Playoff and College Football Ultimate Team bring fresh online experiences and ways to play.

    Want more? Now until April 24, members can score the College Football 25 Supercharge Pack by entering Ultimate Team. Members can also unlock recurring member rewards, 10% savings on College Football Points and more. 

    Alongside unlimited access to College Football 25, EA Play continues to offer great content to members and this month’s rewards include:

    • EA Sports College Football 25 Supercharge Pack – March 27 to April 24
    • EA Sports Madden NFL 25 – MUT Pack – Now to March 31
    • EA Sports F1 24 – 5000 XP Boost – Now to March 31
    • EA Sports FC 25 – Festival of Football Purple Bandana & Clubs Coins – Now to April 24
    • EA Sports FC 25 – Football Ultimate Team Draft Token– Now to April 14
    • EA Sports NHL 25 – WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier Tokens – Now to May 22
    • EA Sports NHL 25 – 3000 CHEL Coins – Now to May 22
    • Apex Legends – Gold Voidwalker Injector Weapon Charm – Now to March 31
    • Battlefield 2042 – Cloudpiercer – Now to April 28
    • EA Sports WRC – Le Maestros Pack – Now to March 31

    Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription; they can also play games like College Football 25 on the Xbox App on PC via Cloud Gaming with Game Pass Ultimate. Members can experience the world of EA with unlimited access to a collection of top titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards, 10% on EA digital purchases and more.

    Unlock the thrill of your next favorite game with up to 10-hour trials of EA’s latest titles such as EA Sports FC 25,  EA Sports NHL 25, EA Sports PGA Tour and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, in addition to access to an unrivaled collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, including EA Sports Madden NFL 25 , EA Sports FC 24,  EA Sports F1 24, EA Sports WRC and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

    Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on Instagram, or X. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.

    Website: LINK

  • Play Anywhere with the New Backbone One Xbox Edition Mobile Controller

    Play Anywhere with the New Backbone One Xbox Edition Mobile Controller

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    The power of Xbox is now in your hands—anywhere, anytime. The new Designed for Xbox: Backbone One Xbox Edition transforms your phone into the ultimate companion for gaming on mobile.

    Enjoy your games with an enhanced D-pad for precise control and magnetic adapters that secure your phone in place, even with your phone case on. Quickly access your Xbox dashboard with a single press of the Xbox button and jump straight into games like Halo Infinite and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. All this, with a look that captures the classic Xbox design, featuring a stunning translucent green inspired by the original Xbox.

    Stream with cloud gaming and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, play natively, or use remote play from your Xbox console or PC—wherever you are. Designed for low-latency and responsive controls, Backbone One Xbox Edition keeps you in the game.

    The Backbone app unifies your gaming experience, connecting your favorite titles, streaming services, and social features into one intuitive hub. And to kickstart your adventure, each purchase includes one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at no cost (for new members only), unlocking hundreds of games ready to play on the go.

    Backbone One Xbox Edition is available now for $109.99 USD through Backbone in the U.S. and coming to additional markets in April 2024. The device is compatible with iPhone models with USB-C (15 and up) and Android devices running Android 6.0+.

    Take control. Push limits. Play anywhere.

    Website: LINK

  • Forge Your Legacy: 15 Best Tips and Tricks to Master Spectre Divide

    Forge Your Legacy: 15 Best Tips and Tricks to Master Spectre Divide

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Looking to improve your Spectre Divide gameplay? You’ve come to the right place. The Santai arena is packed with thrilling gunfights, tactical plays, and high-stakes competition. Whether you’re struggling with Duality or looking to optimize your Sponsor kit usage, these strategies will give you the competitive edge you need!

    Don’t Sleep on Duality

    Spectre Divide screenshot

    Duality is one of Spectre Divide’s defining features – the capability to control two bodies with one mind. With Duality, you can defend two sites at once, cover your own cross, or even trade yourself. Mastering Duality is the key to becoming a top-tier competitor in the Santai arena- with these tips, you’ll get a head start on your path to the top.

    • Mind Your Positioning – Be careful not to place your Spectre too close to your active body. It only takes one well-placed grenade or planned rush to take you out of the round!
    • Split Your Presence – Don’t place both bodies on one site, or in one small area. It’s a big risk to concentrate your presence in a single location when you could be gathering intel or controlling multiple areas.
    • The Plant n’ Swap – Use Duality swap during a plant or defuse to cover yourself while completing the action. No need to have your team-mate cover you, leaving you vulnerable to enemy fire.
    • Silent Movement – Plan your approach carefully. Slow walking won’t trigger the sound alert for another player’s inactive Spectre, giving you the element of surprise. Jumping, falling, running, and sprinting will all trigger a “Spectre Warning” if you perform these actions too close to an inactive enemy Spectre.
    • Terrific Transfers – When you use your Puck to reposition your Spectre, enemies will be able to see the Recall line, which leads from your Spectre’s previous location to the new location of your Puck. Make sure to avoid giving the enemy too much information with your Puck throw.

    Tactical Teamwork Tips

    Spectre Divide gun pov

    Gunplay is king in Spectre Divide, but your personal skill will only carry you so far.

    1. Resource Sharing –While you can’t drop weapons for teammates during the Buy Phase, you can buy for them directly! Plus, if a teammate is upgrading or changing their weapon; you can pick up their gun from the Team Inventory for free.
    1. Weapon Economy – Pick up dropped weapons during the post-round phase to add them to your team inventory for the next round’s buy phase (editor’s note: this doesn’t carry into the second half swap).
    1. Play the Objective – Planning your next move based on planting or defusing the ZEUS is very effective to secure the win. Many players get obsessed with chasing down kills, when playing the objective provides the best chance at winning!
    1. Money Management – During the Buy Phase, don’t handicap your team by failing to coordinate your purchases. Save your cash when appropriate and buy with your team to maintain the economic advantage. More money means better guns and equipment!
    1. Defensive Patience – Staying alive as a defender is crucial. Getting a kill and then falling back to retake a site with more teammates isn’t a bad call when getting overwhelmed. You don’t need a heroic last stand – get a kill, reposition, and wait for your team to regroup.

    Sponsor Secrets

    Spectre Divide screenshot

    In Spectre Divide, you begin each match by selecting your Sponsor of choice. Sponsors provide you with powerful gear and unique abilities that you can use to get the edge over your opponents. You can pick from nine unique Sponsor kits; each with a distinct loadout to best fit your playstyle. Whether you love to throw explosives, set traps, drop smokes, or heal teammates— there’s a sponsor for you!

    1. Alternate Fire – Many Sponsor utility items have an “alt-fire” which allows you to use them in a unique way. Don’t forget to experiment with these alternate capabilities to give you even more options on the battlefield.
    1. Doorway Demolition – There are several destructible doors in Spectre Divide. Is there a pesky foe hiding behind a door? You can shoot the door to make an opening, and then throw Sponsor equipment like the Pinnacle Splinter Grenade through the hole in the door to clear with ease.
    1. Vector Dynamics – Use the Primary abilities passive reactivation to move your other body to the location of your placed beacon. This pairs very well with a fake rush, or mid peek play. Or, perform a more risky movement to give away your position, and then teleport to safety.
    1. Ryker Industries – Place your turret at a location different from where you’re standing. Your enemy will have to choose between you and the turret, giving you an edge either way: a slowed target or a distracted one!
    1. Morrgen United – Did you know that by using the alt-fire of Smoke Shift, you can actually teleport your Spectre into the smoke grenade? With this tip, you can cause mayhem behind enemy lines with ease!

    Mastering Maps

    1. Quick Map Placement – During the Buy Phase, you can open the map to quickly place both your Spectre and your Active Body on the map! Then, double tap ‘X’ if you need to swap your bodies’ locations on the map, allowing for faster setup and early positioning.
    1. Rapid Recall Zones – Keep an eye out for bright green areas on the ground in certain maps in Spectre Divide. These areas allow your Spectre to reposition even quicker if you throw your Puck into the area.
    2. Take the High Ground – To reach advantageous high ground in most maps, you need your puck to toss up to that area; swapping to that position. Keeping both bodies alive gives you the most options for getting to hard-to-reach places.
    1. Fences – Certain maps have grated fences that block your movement, but can be shot through. While they will block your active body from passing, you can toss your puck through grated fences, repositioning your Spectre onto the other side.
    1. Window of Opportunity– It’s risky, but you can toss your puck through windows or openings on any map. Execute this maneuver well and you can teleport behind your enemies, or escape from danger when you’re pinned down.
    Spectre Divide character art

    With these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to dominating your Santai matches and claiming the win. Ready to forge your legacy? You can play Spectre Divide for free on Xbox Series X|S today.

    Spectre Divide

    Spectre Divide

    Mountaintop Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 200

    ★★★★★

    Spectre Divide is the genre-evolving 3v3 tactical shooter driven by Duality. Use Duality to control two bodies in real-time, letting you defend two sites at once, cover your own cross, or even trade yourself. Master tactical gunplay and an arsenal of future tech to achieve infamy. DUALITY: ONE MIND, TWO BODIES Use Duality to freely swap between your second body—called a Spectre—at any moment to outplay the enemy team. Strategically place your Spectre to cover multiple sites across the map, play two angles at once, and quickly reinforce teammates. Death can’t stop you. Your Spectre is a second chance at victory, giving you twice the uptime so you can run it back and make sure to hit your shots the second time around. TENSE, TACTICAL, GUNPLAY Hold, peek, or push using aim-down-sights (ADS) gunplay. True-to-crosshair accuracy means you can shoot on the move. Master combinations of 20 different weapons for infinite paths to victory. FUTURE TECH ARSENAL Pick from 9 Sponsor kits, each with a distinct loadout to fit your playstyle. Whether you love to set traps, drop smokes, or support teammates—Sponsors let you flex on the opposition. Every Sponsor loadout is integrated with Duality, so grab your guns, grab your gear, and craft new ways to outplay the competition. CRAFTED FOR COMPETITION
    Earn rank as a team or a solo competitor in highly competitive ranked matchmaking. Or get your reps in with casual and custom play. Every match matters with Crews, a weekly engagement-based competition, where teams of 50-60 players compete to score the most points and move up the seasonal leaderboard. Custom networking technology and a modern anti-cheat approach means you can focus on the win instead of the playing field. VISCERAL, ANIME-INSPIRED WORLD Spectre Divide’s style is rooted in sci-fi comic book art and the classic Japanese cel animation of the ‘90s. The world has a hand-drawn look and feel, capturing the same energy and momentum as the concept sketch. The style presents clean visual reads, perfect for executing next-level plays. FORGE YOUR LEGACY No predetermined characters—this is your climb. Personalize the look of your own pair of competitors and crush the competition in style. Customize faces, hair styles, tattoos, outfits, and weapons, then live your journey to champion.

    Website: LINK

  • Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 3 to 7

    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 3 to 7

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, 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!

    Carmen Sandiego
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Carmen Sandiego

    Gameloft

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

    Carmen Sandiego – March 4
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    VILE is back on the scene, and for once, ACME and Carmen Sandiego have a common enemy. In a rare and temporary alliance, the world’s greatest thief must track down the syndicate before they can pull off their next big heist. Rookie gumshoes and seasoned detectives are invited to put their sleuthing skills to the test whether it’s in the narrative driven main campaign or the classic mode ‘The Acme Files’.

    Marshmallow Marvin: Greenwood

    Marshmallow Marvin: Greenwood

    Jolly Lobster Interactive

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Marshmallow Marvin: Greenwood – March 4
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Embark on a delightful new adventure with Marshmallow Marvin in Greenwood! Journey through a magical forest brimming with colorful mysteries, eccentric creatures, and hidden secrets. Explore every nook and cranny, where each step unveils fresh challenges and surprises for our squishy hero. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in a world full of sweetness and wonder!

    Sugarbound

    Sugarbound

    Synnergy Circle Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Sugarbound – March 4
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    The human kingdom is facing a food shortage crisis and the only option to survive is defeating the monsters from a mythical land called Sugarbound, but only a master patisserie can transform the defeated monsters into edible food! Chloé Fondant is the only hope humanity must survive (and eat delicious cakes).

    Two Point Museum

    Two Point Museum

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

    Two Point Museum – March 4
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Two Point County’s most daring adventurers have travelled to the far reaches of the known map and returned with unique artefacts to host in your museum, along with the coordinates of a new expedition location, home to an exclusive special exhibit and events! Pre-order now for exclusive Sonic themed items to decorate your museum and entertain your guests with! Or you can also start playing today by picking up Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition version of the game.

    War Robots: Frontiers

    War Robots: Frontiers

    MY.GAMES

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    War Robots: Frontiers – March 4
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Gear up for tactical mech action in War Robots: Frontiers, a free-to-play multiplayer mech shooter. Construct and customize your War Robots, squad up with other Pilots online, and fire up your engines in massive battles across the stars. Using tight team coordination and tactical gambits to edge out rivals in a variety of PvP modes: Push for all-out destruction in Team Deathmatch, fight for survival in Last Robot Standing, control points in Warp Rush, and rank up in Leagues.

    Beautiful Sakura: Racing Club

    Beautiful Sakura: Racing Club

    Cropware

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Beautiful Sakura: Racing Club – March 5
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Beautiful Sakura: Racing Club is a captivating visual novel about Kaito, a young dreamer determined to become a professional racing driver. With passion in his heart and the support of his friends, he must navigate through thrilling challenges, tough decisions, and emotional moments to chase his dream. Will you guide Kaito to victory on the racetrack and in life? The journey is yours to unfold!

    Cat President: A More Purrfect Union

    Cat President: A More Purrfect Union

    Penguin Pop Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Cat President: A More Purrfect Union – March 5
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    You’re just an ordinary teen girl looking for work after your college dreams didn’t quite pan out. But when you get lost backstage during a national debate, you find so much more: a bunch of talking cats who are running for President. And that’s not even the weird part – they all want to hire you as a campaign manager!

    Cats and Seek : Dino Park

    Cats and Seek : Dino Park

    Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Cats and Seek: Dino Park – March 5

    A trip to the Dino Park may sound awesome, and it is, but what if that trip was also full of cats to find and pet? If you have a penchant for seeking cats, the Dino Park would be thankful for your help with spotting them all! The game features 500 cats to find, along with many special cats to collect. It offers five levels dense with friendly-looking, handmade drawings, three adorable music tracks to make your game nice and cozy.

    O.W.L Projekt 2

    O.W.L Projekt 2

    Eastasiasoft Limited

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    O.W.L Projekt 2 – March 5
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Get ready for another enigmatic and challenging adventure with O.W.L Projekt 2, a 3D isometric puzzle game that will test your mind and logic skills. Once again controlling Elysion, a young being created in a mysterious experiment, you will face the enigmatic Watchers in a journey to escape and uncover secrets.

    Solid Void - Nature Puzzles

    Solid Void – Nature Puzzles

    Infinite Zone

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $4.99

    Xbox One X Enhanced

    Solid Void – Nature Puzzles – March 5
    Xbox One X Enhanced

    Immerse yourself in Solid Void, a unique puzzle experience that merges two classic puzzle styles into one addictive journey. Start by solving intricate nonogram puzzles to complete the grid. Once your grid is complete, take the challenge to the next level by placing pentomino-like blocks to complete beautiful designs.

    Care Bears: To The Rescue

    Care Bears: To The Rescue

    Forever Entertainment S. A.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Care Bears: To The Rescue – March 6
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Funshine Bear, Grumpy Bear, Share Bear, Cheer Bear and Good Luck Bear are on a mission to save the Silver Lining from Bluster’s most devious and daring plan so far! A ginormous, uncontrollable Bad Seed is wreaking havoc across the Silver Lining. If it isn’t stopped soon, the entire land and its inhabitants will be in big trouble!

    ELDRADOR® CREATURES SHADOWFALL

    ELDRADOR® CREATURES SHADOWFALL

    Wild River Games GmbH

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $33.49

    Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall – March 6
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    The adventure-filled worlds of Eldrador are in danger! Lead battle-ready creatures in turn-based strategic combat to defeat a mysterious shadowy menace. Utilize a range of accessible tactics to outsmart your opponent.

    FragPunk Pioneer Bundle

    FragPunk Pioneer Bundle

    NetEaseGames_Global

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $9.99

    FragPunk (Pioneer Bundle) – March 6

    Kick off your FragPunk fights by bending the rules in style! Purchase the FragPunk pre-order bundle to get platform-exclusive skins, stickers, and a charm as well as the first season’s premium battle pass at an exceptional value! FragPunk will be free-to-play when it releases on March 6, 2025 — this exclusive bundle will be permanently removed from the store after the pre-order period ends.

    Morkull Ragast's Rage

    Morkull Ragast’s Rage

    Selecta Play

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $17.99

    Morkull Ragast’s Rage – March 6
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    A 2D video game that combines platforming and action with a touch of exploration, control Morkull, God of Death and Darkness and Lord of the Ragast. His main mechanic – breaking the fourth wall, which allows him to communicate with you in a multitude of ways. Your objective? Help Morkull escape from the Ragast so he can rule the world and carry out his evil plans.

    Sorry We're Closed

    Sorry We’re Closed

    Akupara Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $24.99

    Sorry We’re Closed – March 6
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    An eccentric story-driven survival horror game about angels and demons that mixes fixed-camera exploration and arcade-style shooting. Michelle must use her Third Eye to see between worlds and uncover secrets. Follow her final days as she battles to break the curse placed on her by a powerful archdemon looking for love. Help (or hinder!) the lives of curious residents in Michelle’s bustling London borough as she pursues freedom from her own untimely demise.

    Split Fiction

    Split Fiction

    Electronic Arts

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 14

    ★★★★★

    $49.99 $44.99

    Split Fiction – March 6
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Embrace mind-blowing moments as you’re pulled deep into the many worlds of Split Fiction, a boundary-pushing co-op action adventure from the studio behind It Takes Two. Mio and Zoe are contrasting writers – one writes sci-fi and the other writes fantasy – who become trapped in their own stories after being hooked up to a machine designed to steal their creative ideas. They’ll have to rely on each other to break free with their memories in-tact, working together to master a variety of abilities and overcome diverse challenges while jumping between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this unexpected tale of friendship.

    Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars + Pre-Order Bonus
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars + Pre-Order Bonus

    KONAMI

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $49.99

    Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars – March 6
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    The legendary Konami JRPGs, Suikoden I and Suikoden II, have now been remastered in HD, bringing upgraded background illustrations, updated effects that breathe new life into the pixel art animation, and new environmental sound effects for an immersive experience.

    Aery - Dream Land

    Aery – Dream Land

    EpiXR Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $9.99

    Aery – Dream Land – March 7
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    In this interactive game experience, you step into the role of a small bird, soaring through breathtaking landscapes while collecting magical crystals that mark certain locations. The game is not about defeating enemies or overcoming dangerous obstacles, but rather about immersing yourself in a peaceful and tranquil environment. It is designed to relax your mind and soul, providing a soothing escape from the stresses of everyday life.

    Alter Age
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Alter Age

    KEMCO

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    Alter Age – March 7
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    Arga trains daily to measure his strength against his father, known as the world’s strongest. He learns Soul Alter, enabling him and his companions to switch between adult and preteen forms. Facing many challenges, they alternate roles in turn-based battles, using various skills and strategies to win. Explore a vast pixel world with puzzle dungeons, gather ingredients, complete quests, and uncover all of Alter Age!

    Camping Simulator: The Squad

    Camping Simulator: The Squad

    CubeCube Sports LTD.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Camping Simulator: The Squad – March 7
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Experience nature, your way. Immerse yourself in the beauty and challenges of the great outdoors with Camping Simulator. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape or a test of survival skills, this game offers a dynamic camping experience tailored to your style.

    Material Evidence

    Material Evidence

    Ratalaika Games S.L.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Material Evidence – March 7
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    You’ll need strategy and precision to clear each level full of malicious hoodlums toting bats, knives, guns, and other arms. Pick up the weapons of fallen enemies and use them to your advantage. Investigate a dangerous gang hideout, shut down an insidious drug-selling operation, and get your revenge against the notorious criminals responsible. Can you take on this challenge and defeat all your enemies?

    Steampunch

    Steampunch

    Afil Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Steampunch – March 7
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Get ready for the electrifying journey of Steampunch, a casual and challenging 2D platformer! Overcome enemies, traps, and obstacles to reach the elevator that takes you to the next level. Run, jump, and wall-slide with precision. Use double jumps and air dashes to reach secret areas and overcome challenges!

    Website: LINK

  • Monster Hunter Wilds: 6 Tips from the Developers Themselves

    Monster Hunter Wilds: 6 Tips from the Developers Themselves

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    The Monster Hunter series is packed with detail – from 14 weapon types, each effectively changing what kind of action game you’re playing, to its many items, to the huge range of monsters to take down – which can also make it overwhelming to a new player. With Monster Hunter Wilds (launching on Xbox Series X|S today) offering the biggest, most seamless hunting experience yet, it’s good to go in armed not just with a massive weapons, but with knowledge.

    With that in mind, we spoke to the game’s developers to get their tips on using some of Wilds’ newest features, ensuring that you enter The Forbidden Lands with the know-how to succeed, whether you’re a new hunter or an old hand.

    Choosing Wisely

    Monster Hunter Wilds Weapon Image

    As I mention above, just picking a weapon in Monster Hunter can be a difficult decision. With a huge variation in attack types, and some real depth to their abilities, new players can get lost in that simple choice. Thankfully, Wilds has a solution:

    “Another key learning from past games relates to the 14 weapon types. This is quite a lot of choice for first-time players and many people weren’t sure which weapon to choose, resulting in them choosing weapons that weren’t a good fit for their personal play style. To help avoid this, Monster Hunter Wilds includes an NPC conversation where players are recommended the best weapon for them to start from.”

    Don’t skip the chance to speak to your Handler Alma for a breakdown of what you want to use (but don’t forget that you can switch to a new weapon at any time you’re at camp, so don’t be afraid to experiment, either!).

    An Unexpected Hunting Tool – Other Monsters

    Monster Hunter Wilds Screenshot

    Building on the team’s work in Monster Hunter World, the new game doesn’t just build a world, but an ecosystem. With multiple monsters, large and small, wandering the maps, you’ll find that different species will react to one another, even if you’re not starting the fight. And, crucially, that can be a major advantage:

    “Wilds features much larger maps than any previous Monster Hunter title, and they have lots of monsters in them. This means that not only will you see turf wars happen between large monsters as in past titles, but there are also times when aggressive small monsters take their chance to attack large monsters. Players can utilize this behaviour to their advantage by luring their hunt target into such an attack.

    “The game is also more seamless than ever before, allowing you to hunt monsters you encounter out in the locale by seamlessly making them into quests, without having to go back to the base camp, so you can explore the area, discover a monster, hunt it, and once it’s defeated decide on what to do next. While all this is happening, there are turf wars and other encounters happening in real time, so you may for instance come across a wounded monster who’s just come out of a fight you weren’t even involved in!”

    Seikret Techniques

    Monster Hunter Wilds Screenshot

    A key part of Monster Hunter Wilds is the addition of Seikrets, animal mounts that can track monsters, and help you travel to them at speed. But they also come with the added bonus of being rideable at any time – meaning you can use them to your advantage in battle. You can also attack while mounted on your Seikret.

    “The actions you can perform while mounted on a Seikret are limited, so you generally need to dismount in order to dish out any substantial damage to the monster. However, while you are on it your Seikret it will avoid monster attacks to an extent and you can use items, so hopping on when you’re in a pinch can be a smart way to recover during a hunt.”

    Switching Approach

    Monster Hunter Wilds Screenshot

    Another key change to proceedings is that your Seikret will allow you to switch between two chosen weapons, even mid-fight. This is a major shift in how Monster Hunter works – you could pick a longsword for melee combat but switch to a bowgun when your quarry flees, or use a hammer to deal stun damage, before switching to a greatsword when your target is sufficiently hazy. The developers also suggest a more nuanced approach:

    “The most appropriate weapon for a given hunt or situation can vary greatly depending on the monster type and attack patterns, breakable parts and so on, so it’s definitely a good idea to switch weapons depending on the situation. If you really like a particular weapon, you could take two of the same weapon type with different elemental properties and use them strategically that way.”

    Sharp Focus

    Monster Hunter Wilds Screenshot

    A big change to your battles in Monster Hunter Wilds comes through a new system:

    “Wilds introduces a new “wound” system where, as you attack monsters, you will open up wounds on their body and can then attack them for increased damage. Keep attacking a wound and it will break, for even bigger damage.”

    However, Monster Hunter’s enemies often have wild attack patterns, making concentrating on a single part of their body tough – so the developers have layered in another new system to help. Focus Mode will lock you onto a monster, letting you exploit those weak spots, even using new attacks to do so:

    “Focus Mode is not only a way to let players more precisely control the camera when aiming attacks, it also highlights those wounds, making them easier to aim for. You can also use a special Focus Strike on wounds while in this mode, so it’s a good way to make it easier to aim your attacks even for less experienced players – you just need to get the distance right and line it up. You can also use Focus Mode to aim for breakable parts of a monster’s body and make it easier to break them and get the extra rewards that brings.”

    Show Your Skills

    Monster Hunter Wilds Screenshot

    Another big change comes in the form of your skills. In previous Monster Hunter games, only your armor would offer you extra skills – from gathering materials more quickly to dealing more damage. Monster Hunter Wilds adds more freedom by adding skills to your weapons, too:

    “In past titles only armor had skills on it, but with the new ability to carry two weapons, this would mean that any armor skills specific to a particular weapon would not be useful when changing weapons. This would mean players would be limited in the gear they could wear, or their weapons could be less effective. To avoid this, we’ve moved attack/weapon related skills such as Attack Boost or Guard to the weapons themselves, while more generally applicable support skills such as Speed Eater remain on the armor pieces, to allow players to bring the most effective skills for each hunt.”

    Make sure to pay attention to skills across your loadout, and ensure you’re building something that complements how you want to play.

    Monster Hunter Wilds arrives for Xbox Series X|S today.

    Monster Hunter Wilds

    Monster Hunter Wilds

    CAPCOM CO., LTD.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Pre-order to receive a bonus! 【Pre-order Bonus】
    Receive this bonus content by pre-ordering Monster Hunter Wilds:
    ●Hunter Layered Armor Set: Guild Knight
    ●Talisman: Hope Charm *The bonus content listed above may be available by alternative means at a later date. The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next.
    This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.
    Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.
    The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
    Story
    A few years past, a young boy named Nata was rescued at the border of the Forbidden Lands, an unexplored region the guild has yet to survey.
    After hearing the boy’s tale of his lone escape from a mysterious monster that attacked his village, the Guild organized an expedition into the Forbidden Lands to investigate.
    A Living World
    Environments within the Forbidden Lands can drastically change as the weather shifts constantly and suddenly. During the harsh Fallow and perilous Inclemency periods, ravenous monsters will venture out to hunt in packs, yet during the Plenty periods, wildlife is rich and abundant.
    Monsters
    The monsters who inhabit these environments have been forced to adapt to the dynamic changes that occur, using their unique characteristics to survive and thrive.
    Hunting As the world around them changes, so must the hunters and their tactics. Not only will hunters have a multitude of weapons and armor to choose from, but the art of the hunt itself has evolved as hunters learn to anticipate monsters’ behavior and familiarize themselves with their environment.
    Characters
    From hunting partners to fellow expedition members, you’ll encounter plenty of those who will support you on your journey.

    Website: LINK

  • A Minecraft Movie: New Trailer and Tickets on Sale

    A Minecraft Movie: New Trailer and Tickets on Sale

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

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

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

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

    Website: LINK

  • How we Got the “Herd” in Herdling

    How we Got the “Herd” in Herdling

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Summary

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

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

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

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

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

    Herdling campfire

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

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

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

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

    Herdling screenshot

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

    Herdling

    Herdling

    Panic

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

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

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    This April, the Horizon Festival evolves with Horizon Realms.

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

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

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

    A Selection of the Best Evolving Worlds

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

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

    • Stunt Park 

    • Ice Rink 

    • Oval Track 

    • Summer Party 

    • Neon Airstrip

    • Día de Muertos 

    • Winter Wonderland 

    • Lunar Drift Arena 

    • Retrowave Highway 

    • Cars and Coffee 

    • Stadium Maze

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

    New Dedicated Accolade Tab

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Two Ways to Dive into Horizon Realms

    There will be two different ways to experience Horizon Realms: 

    Skill Mode

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

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

    Free Mode

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

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

    Start Your Engines at the New Horizon Stadium Circuit

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

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

    Explore Nissan’s Heritage with a New Car Pack

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

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

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

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

    Pre-order Forza Horizon 5 on PlayStation 5 Today!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    PlayStation 5 Graphics Modes

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

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

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

    We’ll see you at the Horizon Festival soon!

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 8 minutes

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

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

    Evolving the Two Point Formula with New Features

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

    Two Point Museum Image

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

    Two Point Museum Image

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

    Guests Know Best

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

    Two Point Museum Screenshot

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

    Tips for Future Curators

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

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

    What Players Can Expect

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

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

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $39.99

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

    Two Point Museum

    Two Point Museum

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

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

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

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

    How To Start Playing

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

    Keep The Fun Going

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

    Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Membership Required)

    CATAN® - Console Edition

    CATAN® – Console Edition

    Dovetail Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 206

    ★★★★★

    $16.99 $5.09

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

    Worms W.M.D

    Worms W.M.D

    Team17 Digital Ltd

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

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

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

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

    BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 512

    ★★★★★

    $59.99 $8.99

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

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Summary

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

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

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

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

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

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

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

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

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

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

    Take to the Streets

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

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

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

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

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

    WoW Undermine(d) Screenshot

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

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

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

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

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 13 minutes

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

    Indie Selects February Image

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

    Cuisineer Image

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

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

    Cuisineer
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Cuisineer

    XSEED Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 25

    ★★★★★

    $29.99

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

    Turbo Overkill Image

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

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

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

    Turbo Overkill

    Turbo Overkill

    Apogee Entertainment

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 45

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

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

    Tails of Iron 2 Image

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

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

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

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

    Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

    Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

    United Label

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 74

    ★★★★★

    $24.99

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

    Robobeat Image

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

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

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

    ROBOBEAT

    ROBOBEAT

    Kwalee

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 7

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

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

    Mexico 1921 Image

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

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

    Mexico,1921: A Deep Slumber

    Mexico,1921: A Deep Slumber

    Mácula Interactive

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 4

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

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

    Mika and the Witch's Mountain Image

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

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

    Mika and The Witch's Mountain

    Mika and The Witch’s Mountain

    Chibig

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 10

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

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

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

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

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

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

    Microsoft Gaming AI Sessions at GDC 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How to Engage with Us at GDC 2025

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

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

    Monday, March 17

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

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

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

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

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

    Tuesday, March 18

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Wednesday, March 19

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Thursday, March 20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Friday, March 21

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

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

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

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

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

    Send invite links to friends to join your cloud gaming session

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) Image Asset

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

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

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

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

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

    To join a game session on a TV:

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

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

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

    Stream your own game – More cloud playable games are available

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

    Recently added

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

    Coming soon

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

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

    In Case You Missed It

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

    Breakthroughs in Generative AI

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

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

    Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) – Network Quality Indicator Update

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

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

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

    Xbox Accessories – Xbox Wireless Controller firmware update

    Xbox Accessories - Xbox Wireless Controller firmware update

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

    Help Shape the Future of Xbox

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

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

    Happy gaming.

    Website: LINK

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

    Xbox Game Studios Update With Craig Duncan | Official Xbox Podcast

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

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

    November 25, 2024

    Website: LINK

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

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

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

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

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

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

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

    Rockbeasts Screenshot

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

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

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

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

    Rockbeasts Screenshot

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

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

    Website: LINK

  • How the Guild Came Together: Dive into the Origins of The Lonesome Guild

    How the Guild Came Together: Dive into the Origins of The Lonesome Guild

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Summary

    • The Lonesome Guild is a vibrant and heartfelt action RPG that explores the power of togetherness in a world struggling with loneliness.
    • Tiny Bull Studios is an indie games studio passionate about experimenting with game design and storytelling.
    • The Lonesome Guild is planned to launch in Fall 2025 for Xbox Series X|S.

    At Tiny Bull Studios, we wanted to create a game that reflects the deep human need for connection, which emphasizes the power of friendship and collaboration in overcoming adversity. While combat and exploration are key elements of The Lonesome Guild, the game places relationships at the heart of its experience.

    The Lonesome Guild Screenshot

    Making a game about friendship and connection is very important to us. The Lonesome Guild was conceived in 2020, which was a period of isolation for a lot of us. It highlighted how much loneliness can affect mental health, relationships, and even self-identity. We saw an opportunity to create a game that doesn’t just entertain but inspires people to reflect on the importance of reaching out, supporting others, and ultimately finding strength in companionship.

    We believe that what truly sets our game apart from other ARPGs is its unique relationship system, which directly impacts gameplay. Instead of characters being mechanically interchangeable, the bond between them shapes their abilities, interactions, and progression – so you won’t just assemble your party for their skills, but you’ll nurture them and unlock new powers and quests based on their emotional growth.  

    The Lonesome Guild Screenshot

    Designing an ARPG with these relationship elements has been an adventure and a challenge for us. The team had to create a meaningful connection between the character progression, their narrative arc, and dialogue. Our biggest challenge was permeating the design with the idea that the actions taken by the player help improve the bond between this budding group of friends, all of which share a common goal but have different and Indvidual dreams and needs.

    This togetherness feature transpires not only in the narration, but also in the exploration and combat; the most impactful abilities can only be used if two or more party members are co-operating. Collaboration is key especially in the real-time challenging battles that await players.

    The Lonesome Guild Screenshot

    Together, they can share buffs or perform unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle. We hope the system incentivizes players to play with every character! Each of them has their own skill tree which players can progress through by growing closer to them through dialogue choices, exploration, and side quests.

    We’re already so excited for people to explore the vibrant world of Etere and we can’t wait to see not only the bonds between the characters, but between players and our ragtag bunch of friends too. With our 6 diverse characters each representing a different type of loneliness, we’re curious to see how each of their stories will resonate with players. Loneliness is something we all experience, and as our character Ghost, we want players to feel that we are stronger together!

    The Lonesome Guild Screenshot

    You’ll be able to play The Lonesome Guild on Xbox Series X|S in Fall 2025. We can’t wait to share more details about the world of Etere and its colorful characters!

    Website: LINK

  • Blue Prince: What You Need to Know About This Genre-Defying Game – Coming to Game Pass April 10

    Blue Prince: What You Need to Know About This Genre-Defying Game – Coming to Game Pass April 10

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Summary

    • Blue Prince arrives for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Game Pass on April 10.
    • Embark on a genre-defying experience in an ever-changing house.
    • Draft rooms, unravel mysteries, solve puzzles, and develop architectural strategies as you try to track down the mysterious “Room 46”.

    We are happy to announce that our genre-defying puzzle adventure, Blue Prince is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on April 10 – and will be available day one with Game Pass.

    Blue Prince is a difficult game to define, so we thought you might like a primer in exactly why and how you’ll find yourself exploring the shifting halls of the Mount Holly manor.

    Beginning the Mystery

    It’s not every day you inherit a sprawling manor, let alone one that is rumored to have a different floor plan each day. But that is exactly what has happened in Blue Prince, a first-person architectural adventure in which your recently deceased great-uncle has challenged you to find the hidden 46th room of the house. It’s an especially curious task given the mansion only contains… 45 rooms.

    Drafting Your Journey

    Upon entering the manor, the path you choose to take is up to you. When approaching a closed door, you are shown three different rooms and are given a choice. After your selection, the door opens and the room appears before you. In a way, you are building the house as you explore it, and each new room you create adds another layer of mystery, puzzles, and strategy to your estate. But tread carefully, for at the start of each dawn the manor will reset, and the rooms you saw today might not be the same rooms you find tomorrow.

    Treasured Trinkets

    The progress you make each day is shaped not only by which rooms you draft but also by what tools and secrets you find within them. You will discover many items that can be used in many creative ways to further your exploration and progress. Among them, you will discover keys to unlock hidden rooms, shovels to dig up treasure, compasses to guide your path, and magnifying glasses to look closer at clues. But the greatest tool is the knowledge you gain each day.

    Living Wills and Dead Ends

    As you explore this puzzling manor, your journey will take you further into Mount Holly’s depths, where you will begin to discover that there is more to the story than just a mysterious missing room. Unravel a history woven with political intrigue, blackmail, and the strange disappearance of a beloved children’s book author. The deeper you venture into the house, the more you’ll discover.

    The game’s special blend of strategy, puzzle, mystery, and repeatability, wrapped into the fabric of Mount Holly’s atmospheric and aesthetically eclectic rooms creates a wholly unique experience that will leave you pondering what lies ahead. Play Blue Prince on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Game Pass Day One on April 10.  We look forward to your arrival.

    Website: LINK

  • ID@Xbox Showcase – February 2025: Everything Announced and Revealed

    ID@Xbox Showcase – February 2025: Everything Announced and Revealed

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    IGN kicked off its annual Fan Fest event today with an exciting new ID@Xbox Showcase, bringing world premieres, Game Pass announcements, release dates, new gameplay and much more from the incredible slate of indie developers working on games for Xbox platforms right now.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8FrLCDS3hY?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    From action-roguelikes, to card games, to cozy adventures, to game genres that don’t even have a name yet, this Showcase revealed how wild and wonderful the indie space can be – it’s a celebration of what’s next for gaming.

    Read on for every single bit of news you might have missed.

    33 Immortals – Launching March 18

    33 Immortals Image

    We first saw 33 Immortals during 2023’s Xbox Game Showcase, and this long-awaited co-op action roguelike will arrive on March 18. Pitting up to 33 players against hordes of monsters and gigantic bosses, 33 Immortals captures the joy of MMO raids in a more ‘pick up and play’ context. The release date trailer showed us some of its dark cartoon looks, frenetic gameplay, and huge party sizes.

    Balatro – Out Today on Game Pass!

    This award-winning roguelike poker sensation gets a surprise Game Pass release today, but that was far from the only announcement we got. Balatro is also headed to Windows PC, and we got the fourth Friends of Jimbo collaboration update, bringing themed cards based on (deep breath) Fallout, Assassin’s Creed, Civilization VII, Rust, Slay the Princess, Bugsnax, Dead By Daylight, and YouTube channel Critical Role.

    Blue Prince – Launching With Game Pass on April 10

    Blue Prince Image

    A truly unique experience, Blue Prince combines exploration, puzzles, mapmaking, and card game systems to create a game we’ve truly never seen before. Solve the mysteries of Mount Holly manor by literally piecing its rooms together, and solving mysteries hidden throughout the house you build as a result. Discover its secrets when the game launches on April 10, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and launching day one with Game Pass.

    Buckshot Roulette – Coming to Xbox and Game Pass

    Buckshot Roulette Image

    This haunting experience makes “gambling with your life” a very literal concept, and has already captivated and horrified PC players. Transforming the (already unpleasant) game of Russian Roulette by introducing a shotgun and some dastardly extra rules, this is a true tabletop strategy game with a grim twist. In today’s show, we learned that Buckshot Roulette is on its way to Xbox and Game Pass – prepare yourself.

    Descenders Next – Launching April 9

    Descenders Next Image

    This sequel to the downhill biking Game Pass sensation, Descenders Next broadens its scope to include multiple ways to go really, really fast down a mountain. Promising to be the ultimate extreme sports game, tackle multiple biomes on snowboards and mountainboards when it arrives on April 9 with Game Pass.

    Echo Weaver – Coming to Xbox and Game Pass

    Echo Weaver Image

    This beautifully rendered “Metroidbrainia” draws from classic adventure platformers and the likes of Outer Wilds to create a time looping world where knowledge is your greatest weapon. The trailer offered clues as to how, across multiple loops, you’ll piece together the story and shape of a collapsed utopia and escape the temporal prison you’re trapped within. Echo Weaver is coming to Xbox, with Game Pass.

    Herdling – Coming to Xbox and Windows PC

    Herdling Image

    Developer Okomotive created two of the most exciting, mechanic-packed adventures of recent years in the form of Far: Lone Sails and Far: Changing Tides, so you can count us very excited for their first fully 3D outing, Herdling. In a new trailer, we saw much more of how you’ll guide a herd of curious cattle across a ruined world (and the dangers you’ll face along the way) – and learned that it’ll be coming to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC when it launches this summer.

    Hotel Barcelona – Launching 2025

    Hotel Barcelona Image

    This long awaited collaboration between legendary designers Suda51 and Swery is almost upon us. This 2.5D action-platformer pits you against the horror-inspired denizens of the titular hotel, and the new trailer dives deeper into the Slasher Phantom, a brutal game mechanic that summons echoes of the player’s past runs to aid them in battle. We also saw some of the game’s arsenal of deadly weapons and abilities, each designed to turn the tide of battle in the most gruesome ways possible.

    Jump Ship – Coming to Xbox Game Preview

    Jump Ship Image

    Developed by Hazelight (It Takes Two) and Mojang (Minecraft) alumni, this 1-4 player FPS puts you in charge of a spaceship and asks you to take on on-foot combat sections, seamlessly transitioning between the two. The new trailer gives us a taste of how you’ll have to work together to survive, not to mention its tongue-in-cheek approach to bombastic action – plus we learned that it’ll be available in early access through  Xbox Game Preview this summer.

    Lies of P: Overture – New Story Trailer

    Lies of P Overture Image

    We got a closer look at the newly announced DLC for acclaimed Soulslike, Lies of P. The Overture expansion will see Geppetto’s Puppet encounter a mysterious artifact that transports him back in time to the world of Krat in its final days of grandeur. The trailer gives us a melancholy look at Lea, the Legendary Stalker, on her relentless path of vengeance.

    The Lonesome Guild – World Premiere

    Lonesome Guild Image

    We got a world-first look at the new game from Don’t Nod (Life Is Strange, Jusant), a whimsical action-RPG full of heart, battles, and bonds that change everything. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories. Build your dream team, switch seamlessly between them to solve puzzles and fight your way through the collapsing world of Etere. The Lonesome Guild arrives for Xbox Series X|S this fall.

    Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – Coming to Game Pass

    Moonligher 2 Image

    The sequel to the beloved action-RPG that answers the question, “where do RPG merchants get their stock”, Moonlighter 2 takes on a brand new full-3D, isometric look – offering new challenges and rewards as a result. The new trailer shows both your new hometown and shop, and the adventures in store as you adventure to keep your stock flowing. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Game Pass in 2025.

    Outbound – Coming to Xbox in 2026

    Outbound Image

    This gorgeous open-world exploration game sets you off with an empty camper van and sees you turn it into the home of your dreams – alone or together with your friends. Build and explore at your own pace. Scavenge materials, craft, and build in and on top of your vehicle with modular parts. Advance in technology and efficiently use energy to power your home, while adjusting your playstyle to adapt to new landscapes and changing environmental conditions. Outbound is coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2026.

    Ratatan – Coming to Xbox

    Ratatan Image

    A new game from the creators of the beloved Patapon, Ratatan is a rhythm strategy roguelike that sees you taking increasingly huge groups of minions through a world in which you need to literally conduct your attacks – hit the rhythm and you’ll stay alive. Mix in up to four-player co-op, and you can have over 100 characters onscreen in a single fight. Ratatan comes to Xbox this year.

    Revenge of the Savage Planet – Coming to Game Pass on May 8

    Revenge of the Savage Planet Image

    We got a new look at this co-op exploration adventure by way of an in-universe commercial for the Kindred Catalog – Revenge of the Savage Planet features dozens of fresh and funny upgrades such as the goo cannon, which allows players to create slippery, sticky or flammable surfaces in the world! Or a whip to keep creatures from eating your face! Or a grapple to swing from point to point! Or a lasso to capture creatures and send them back to your Habitat for research. So many tools, so many options, so many ways to play. We don’t have long to wait to try all of this out – Revenge of the Savage Planet arrives for Xbox on May 8, and will be available day one with Game Pass.

    Rockbeasts – World Premiere

    Rockbeasts Image

    We got another world-first look at Rockbeasts, a “rock and roll band manager” game in which you playthe manager of a legendary ‘90s band (who just happen to be animals). Lead a band of misfits on a roller-coaster ride to stardom in the age of MTV, rock anthems, and bad haircuts. Rockbeasts is a story-driven, role-playing management game that puts you in the shoes of a manager of an up-and-coming rock band. Your job – take them to the top. It arrives for Xbox Series X|S this year.

    Tanuki: Pon’s Summer – Coming to Game Pass

    Tanuki Image

    We got another look at this adorable courier life sim after its debut at Tokyo Game Show. The new trailer showed us how we’ll be performing stunt-filled delivery missions alongside relaxing in its bucolic town – from baseball, to sumo practice, to drumming. Tanuki: Pon’s Summer arrives in late 2025, and it’s coming to Game Pass.

    Tempopo – Coming to Game Pass on April 17

    Tempopo Image

    The newest title from the award-winning team behind Unpacking, Tempopo is a puzzle adventure bursting with music. Playing as Hana, you enter a fantasy world in which you need to conduct the titular Tempopo creatures to solve puzzles scattered across the world’s sky islands – before heading back home and cultivating her garden. The new trailer showed off new gameplay, and revealed that the game will come to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on April 17, and will launch into Game Pass day one.

    Tron: Catalyst – Launching June 17

    Tron Catalyst Image

    From Disney, publisher BigFan, and the development team at Bithell Games, the new trailer for Tron: Catalyst gave us a closer look at our game’s protagonist, Exo, who is fighting for her survival in the arena. An explosive event has gifted Exo the ability to perceive the glitch tearing apart her home, the Arq Grid, and given her the unique ability to loop time itself. This thrilling isometric action our game offers combat, conversation, and Light Cycle exploration in the city of Vertical Slice. Tron: Catalyst comes to Xbox Series X|S on June 17.

    Ultimate Sheep Racoon – Coming to Game Pass

    Ultimate Sheep Raccoon Image

    This chaotic side-scrolling, bike riding party game got a new trailer announcing that it’ll come to Game Pass upon release – and then we saw the IGN team playing the game’s 8-player mode. They showed off a variety of different blocks that can hinder your movement or launch you ahead of the competition, two different levels with varying difficulty, and showed how the different power-ups can really make a difference in the race.

    Wax Heads – Launching Summer 2026

    Wax Heads Image

    We got a new look at this slice-of-life narrative game set around running a struggling record store. Showing off its gorgeous hand-drawn looks, the trailer shows more of how you’ll chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues  – whatever gets everyone’s groove back! Wax Heads will come to Xbox Series X|S in summer 2026.

    Woodo – Coming to Xbox

    Woodo Image

    This cozy, story-driven game showed off more of its beautiful art style and pieced-together 3D puzzles. The trailer revealed how you’ll build the story by literally building the world, pulling 3D objects from your menus to fill a scene, revealing more of the tale of main characters Foxy and Ben as you go. Woodo is on its way to Xbox Series X|S.

    Website: LINK

  • Grab a Club: PGA Tour 2K25 Legend & Deluxe Editions Now Available for Xbox Series X|S

    Grab a Club: PGA Tour 2K25 Legend & Deluxe Editions Now Available for Xbox Series X|S

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Pre-order PGA TOUR 2K25 Legend Edition for up to 7 days of Early Access (from Feb 21, 2025) + PGA TOUR 2K23 Standard Edition!* Get the Legend Edition to upgrade your play—and your look—with a staggering SIX extra content packs full of powerful upgrades, chic cosmetics, and a new playable character. Legend Edition includes: •PGA TOUR 2K25 •SUN DAY RED Pack: Red Polo, Black Hat, Black Pants and White Glove + Tiger’s TaylorMade Driver Qi10 LS •Malbon Bucket Ball Pack: 3 unique Malbon Balls •Member’s Pass: Clubhouse Pass Premium (Seasons 1-5), Clubhouse Gear Pack—one outfit per body type per season; Season 1 items available at launch •Birdie Pack: Titleist GT4 Driver, Titleist Pro V1 Ball, FootJoy Premiere Series – Field Shoes, Umbrella Hat •Starter Pack: 1 Evo Tool, 5 Level-Up Tokens, 5 Club Fittings, 3 Ball Fittings + 1800 VC •Extra Butter x adidas Pack: Playable Chris McDonald + Extra Butter x adidas cosmetic hat, jacket, and shoes REAL FEEL
    Swing your swing with new EvoSwing mechanics. MAJOR TOURNAMENTS HAVE ARRIVED
    U.S. Open Championship, The Open Championship, and PGA Championship make their 2K debut. MyCAREER AND MyPLAYER, YOUR WAY
    Be your authentic self in the most immersive MyCAREER and diverse MyPLAYER experiences ever. SEASONS—BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER
    Non-expiring Clubhouse Pass, power increases for progression, Ranked resets, content updates + more. GRAB A CLUB, GRAB A FRIEND
    Deep multiplayer matches include Stroke Play, Match Play, Scramble, and tournaments. Challenge friends cross-platform. UNLEASH YOUR INNER COURSE ARCHITECT
    Craft your dream course with new objects, cameras, tools + more in Course Designer. *Pre-order PGA TOUR 2K25 through 27 February 2025 and receive a digital copy of PGA TOUR 2K23 Standard Edition for the same platform. Digital copy of PGA TOUR 2K23 will be automatically entitled and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. PGA TOUR 2K23 must be downloaded to the platform account used to pre-order PGA TOUR 2K25 and is non-transferable. Offer not available to platform accounts that already own PGA TOUR 2K23 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of PGA TOUR 2K23 digital copy from platform account. Terms apply. Certain features of the game, including the in-game store, may not be accessible by child accounts. A child means players under the age of 13, unless local laws specify differently.

    Website: LINK

  • Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 24 to 28

    Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 24 to 28

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, 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!

    Spectre Divide

    Spectre Divide

    Mountaintop Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Spectre Divide – February 25
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    A genre-evolving 3v3 tactical shooter driven by Duality. Use Duality to control two bodies in real-time, letting you defend two sites at once, cover your own cross, or even trade yourself. Master tactical gunplay and an arsenal of future tech to achieve infamy.

    Conquistadorio

    Conquistadorio

    Upscale Studio

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Conquistadorio- February 26
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    The conqueror, who has gone through many trials in his life, decided to retire and become a hermit, to simply lie in his solitary cave away from people. But fate throws new challenges even in such a simple endeavor. The tomb where he loves to sleep has disappeared. Now he must embark on a quest to find it and solve many mysteries along the way.

    Crime Opera Fandisk: The Caterpillar Candids

    Crime Opera Fandisk: The Caterpillar Candids

    Eastasiasoft Limited

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Crime Opera Fandisk: The Caterpillar Candids – February 26
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    In this new anthology release of Crime Opera, explore a variety of short stories that take place before, during and after the events of the original visual novel, all presented in beautifully crafted hand-drawn style to convey the drama, emotion and gritty truth surrounding characters’ lives in the criminal underworld.

    Crime Opera II: The Floodgate Effect

    Crime Opera II: The Floodgate Effect

    Eastasiasoft Limited

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Crime Opera II: The Floodgate Effect – February 26
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Experience a new chapter in the mafia tale surrounding the Gallos family! This story begins 9 years after the original. Xander Gallo is now bitter, alone and out of control. He’s causing problems for not only other families within the syndicate but also for younger Gallo members as well.

    Hidden Paws
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Hidden Paws

    Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Hidden Paws – February 26
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Open cars and boxes, rummage through piles of wood, search the forests. Cats are well hidden, but they meow when you get near so listen closely and you might just be able to find them all. Features more than twelve charming winter landscapes with over 120 little cats to find.

    Rabbit Raid (Xbox Series X|S)

    Rabbit Raid (Xbox Series X|S)

    Sometimes You

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $9.99 $7.99

    Free Trial

    Rabbit Raid – February 26
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Save your family by going on an adventure as a cute bunny. Collect berries, find secrets with bonuses, throw objects at enemies or jump on them to win. Find secret stars and change costumes. Defeat the bosses and get to the last one to save the little rabbits from captivity. Explore green fields, caves, rivers, snowy mountains, icy lakes, deserts and ruins.

    Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit

    Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit

    Headup

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit – February 27
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    Crowns and Pawns is a modern-day point and click adventure. The game highlights the less-explored history of Europe. Experience the legendary stories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, bring to light the villainous branch of the KGB, solve puzzles and follow hints to reveal the secrets of the King who was never crowned.

    Glover (QUByte Classics)

    Glover (QUByte Classics)

    QUByte Interactive & Bleem!

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Glover (QUByte Classics) – February 27
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    The cult classic from the ’90s returns! Glover is a charming 3D platformer where you control a magical glove on a quest to restore balance to the kingdom. Roll, jump, and manipulate your magic ball to solve puzzles, overcome challenges, and defeat the evil glove threatening the world!

    Pirate Trails

    Pirate Trails

    Afil Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Pirate Trails – February 27
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Ready to set sail on an adventure full of challenges and treasures? In Pirate Trails, you are the master cartographer of the seven seas. But instead of sailing, your mission is to chart the best course for pirate ships to collect treasures and safely anchor at the final port. Rotate and swap hexagonal tiles to create the perfect route – but beware, a wrong path might lead your ship straight to the Kraken!

    Prison Loop (Xbox Series X|S)

    Prison Loop (Xbox Series X|S)

    Sometimes You

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $4.99 $3.99

    Prison Loop – February 27
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Embark on a journey of anomalies and repetition in Prison Loop, a captivating puzzle game. Test your observation skills, critical thinking, and ability to manipulate time to your advantage. Explore a meticulously designed prison filled with hidden secrets, atmospheric details, and haunting visuals.

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $39.99

    Two Point Museum: Explorer Edition – February 27
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    Two Point County’s most daring adventurers have travelled to the far reaches of the known map and returned with unique artefacts to host in your museum, along with the coordinates of a new expedition location, home to an exclusive special exhibit and events! The Explorer Edition brings a selection of decorative items to embellish your halls, walls and floors with bespoke designs and well-travelled statues. As well as exclusive items to help your experts replenish faster to send out on more expeditions

    Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match

    Hanoi Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match — February 28
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

    A new game concept inspired by the classic Tower of Hanoi. Assemble towers stacking pieces of the same color on a hexagonal board with a mysterious and relaxing atmosphere. Unlock blocked hexagonal cells by building a tower of the same color to open new paths and advance in the resolution of the level.

    Justice Ninja Casey

    Justice Ninja Casey

    Ratalaika Games S.L.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Justice Ninja Casey – February 28
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

    An unremarkable princess in an unremarkable castle has been kidnapped by a group of mysterious ninjas. Luckily for her, a young ninja named Casey is aware of the situation and embarks on a mission to save her because… he is the Ninja of Justice! Join Casey and learn the art of ninjutsu as he explores a land full of secrets and dangerous enemies!

    Monster Hunter Wilds

    Monster Hunter Wilds

    CAPCOM CO., LTD.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $69.99

    Monster Hunter Wilds – February 28
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds. Fulfill your duty as a Hunter, tracking down and defeating powerful monsters while forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest, as you work to uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.

    Paper Plane Arena - Shamans

    Paper Plane Arena – Shamans

    EpiXR Games

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $9.99

    Paper Plane Arena – Shamans – February 28

    An interactive game experience that is designed to ease your mind and have fun popping innocent balloons. Jump into the role of a little paper plane that is supposed to rescue the world from evil balloon demons by dashing through them. An excellent game for relaxing and blowing off some steam after an exhausting day of hassle.

    PGA TOUR 2K25

    PGA TOUR 2K25

    2K

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 26

    ★★★★★

    $69.99

    PGA Tour 2K25 – February 28
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

    The master of golf sims is back! Tee off with the world’s top golfers on the most storied courses on golf’s biggest stages. Pre-order PGA Tour 2K25 Standard Edition and receive the Extra Butter x adidas Pack, which includes actor, “pretty great golfer,” and now playable character Chris McDonald. Included are three stylish cosmetics — hat, jacket and shoes. Plus, with your pre-order (by February 27, 2025), you’ll also get PGA Tour 2K23 Standard Edition (digital) to play while you wait!

    Website: LINK

  • Atelier Yumia: New Features Explained – and a Surprise Connection to Halo

    Atelier Yumia: New Features Explained – and a Surprise Connection to Halo

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Atelier games have been around since the late ’90s, with more than two dozen titles shipped in that time – but you’re forgiven some unfamiliarity the series, as Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land will be the very first to arrive on Xbox. After playing through the first few hours of the game and speaking with producer Junzo Hosoi, it’s becoming clear that the first Atelier title on Xbox isn’t simply the latest in the series, it’s the most ambitious entry yet.

    “As a huge Xbox fan, I’m thrilled to finally bring the series to the system,” Hosoi told me via email, “But when I look at the game as a whole, I don’t describe Atelier Yumia as the next Atelier game. I describe it as a completely new JRPG series that has Atelier features.”

    My preview session bore that out; players will find familiar RPG elements aplenty – strategic, real-time battles, crafting, exploration – but they come together in way that feels altogether different from others in the genre. The secret ingredient, if you will, lies in the super deep crafting system.

    Atelier Yumia Screenshot

    “The charm of the Atelier series is about synthesis and the alchemy process,” Hosoi-san confirmed. “The game cycle is pretty unique as there is collecting in the field, fighting in battle, and utilizing the synthesis system, and all three of those things are related.”

    That charm is also evident in the playable cast of characters, especially the eponymous Yumia Liessfeldt, a more grown-up character than some past series headliner heroines.

    Hosoi-san shares more background: “Since Yumia is 21 years old, the story is about her growing into adulthood. This is shown throughout the story through her strong core values… independence and charm. With [heroes of previous titles] Ryza and Sophie, they were younger, so they needed mentors in order to grow up, but with Yumia, she has her own identity and decision-making skills.” Oh, and she owns a motorcycle!

    Atelier Yumia Screenshot

    Because Aladiss, the new continent introduced in Atelier Yumia, inherently distrusts alchemy, the game’s early hours see Yumia seeking to prove her worth. While her synthesis skills differentiate her from other characters in the game, bolstered by a new building system that crafting survival fans will enjoy, in my playthrough, it was Yumia’s battle prowess that surprised most.

    For nearly all of the series’ history, Atelier titles were turn-based affairs. The recent Atelier Ryza titles were to first to move to real-time, and for Atelier Yumia, the team heard player feedback, resulting in a huge amount ofc ombat options for players to master.

    “The mechanics of battle have been completely redesigned for this game as close and ranged combat has been added,” Hosoi-san explains. “Within the two attack zones, players can move the active character freely around the enemies or between the two attack zones in battle. You can also guard and dodge attacks in real-time and even pull off a powerful cooperation attack with other characters when an enemy is stunned. For Atelier Yumia, we are focusing on actually showing the player’s skills during battle.”

    Atelier Yumia Screenshot

    In practice, battles move quickly; players can control Yumia or shift at any time to one of her traveling companions. Placement is key; you can see when and where attacks will hit, but timing out a precision guard (or getting the heck out of the way) takes good timing. It’s not too challenging when going 1 on 1 with a regular mob, but in a multi-enemy rumble, with fewer safe areas, there’s a whole lot to account for. 

    Add in varying enemy weaknesses, opportunities to execute powerful Friend Actions, balancing offense and defense at different ranges – I didn’t expect a game this adorable to require such situational awareness! Fortunately, your squad enters and exits battle seamlessly as you explore, and it’s fast and fun to build up fighting experience, or to avoid encounters when you just wanna zipline back to town.

    As mentioned, Yumia isn’t on this journey alone; you’ll meet several companions in the game’s prologue before rewinding to an earlier point in the tale. I found one character particularly entertaining, and Hosoi-san surprised me by unexpectedly bringing up an Xbox icon when asked about Flammi, Yumia’s floating, funny little companion.

    Atelier Yumia Screenshot

    “Flammi was actually inspired by Halo’s Cortana. I wanted to make something where we could have a conversation between a main protagonist and somebody close to them who are always together. Playing Halo was so much fun and that’s why I really wanted to add a mascot for Atelier Yumia.“

    Atelier Yumia arrives at a very prolific time for Koei Tecmo: Dynasty Warriors Origins was well-received on its recent launch, Team Ninja surprised everyone with Ninja Gaiden 4’s announcement, and we’ve been spoiled with shadow drops of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Warriors: Abyss. To hear it from Hosoi-san, the positive energy is boosting everyone’s projects.

    “Within Koei Tecmo games, the brand producers get along really well with each other. We have a conference where games under development receive opinions from each of the brands, so not only do we listen to each other’s opinions, we then get to see their games in development as well. We utilize each other’s opinions to help us develop and create better games. In the end, that helps in my goal of making Atelier Yumia known worldwide as the best game in the series.”

    Website: LINK