Schlagwort: Xbox Partner Preview

Xbox Partner Preview | March 2024: Every Announcement and Trailer We Showed

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We’ve just wrapped up our second Xbox Partner Preview – a broadcast that brought you new game reveals, trailers, and news from the likes of EA, Square Enix, Sega, and many more. Over the course of 30 minutes, you got brand new looks at 14 incredible games coming to Xbox and Windows from our third-party partners.

On today’s broadcast you got first peeks at brand new games, like The Sinking City 2 and Creatures of Ava, a release date reveal for Frostpunk 2 and Final Fantasy XIV Online, a detailed look at the upcoming Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess — and we even snuck in a shadow drop in the form of the entire original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Trilogy, which is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S today!

If you couldn’t tune in, fear not! We have every single announcement and reveal from the show in handy text form waiting for you below:

Final Fantasy XIV Online Set for Full Release on March 21 for Xbox Series X|S

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1NhcPaXolQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Square Enix treated us to a first look at the release date trailer for Final Fantasy XIV Online ahead of its full launch announcement on March 21 for Xbox Series X|S. It was also announced that a Starter Edition will be available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks for a limited time from March 21 to April 19, 2024. You can start playing Final Fantasy XIV Online today with the Open Beta which is now live on Xbox Series X|S.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Coming to Game Pass in 2024

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXOOVlWDmm4?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Capcom delivered a detailed look at the upcoming Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, a unique single-player game set in a Japanese-inspired universe. First revealed in June last year during Xbox Games Showcase 2023, this new title from Capcom will release day one with Game Pass, as well as with Xbox Series X|S and Windows in 2024. For even more on Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, watch the Capcom Highlights Day 1 broadcast here on their official site on March 7, 2024, starting at 3:00pm PT. Also, check out our in-depth Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess preview here on Xbox Wire.

New Game Reveal: The Sinking City 2 Rises From the Deep

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN5voXpAd0I?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

The Sinking City 2 made a world premiere appearance during the show, with a trailer showing the iconic Lovecraftian city of Arkham, and the very unpleasant sights within. The long-awaited sequel from Frogwares is evolving into a full-on horror game, as you guide a new character through the mysteries of why Arkham is flooding, and take on some of its abominable residents along the way. Find out much more in our exclusive interview on Xbox Wire.

Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass Announced

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcEkaUF4zo?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

SEGA delivered the first exclusive details on the upcoming Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass that will allow players to dive deeper into the world of Persona 3 Reload featuring new costumes, background music, and extended story content with Episode Aigis -The Answer-. Get more details here on Xbox Wire with our detailed, first-look preview.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy Available Today on Xbox

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

As a surprise for Xbox gamers everywhere, GSC Game World launched the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (via backwards compatibility) with the cult-classics Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat all available to play today! You can learn how the iconic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Trilogy finally made its way to Xbox in this in-depth interview with GSC World.

Unknown 9: Awakening Surprises with New Exclusive Gameplay

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKP4w-mlRXQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Bandai Namco and Reflector Entertainment reintroduced us to the world of Unknown 9: Awakening, giving us a fresh look at its exciting world and showing off the hero Haroona, played by Anya Chalotra, in this exclusive gameplay reveal. You can learn more about the world of Unknown 9 with an in-depth developer update here on Xbox Wire.

Abubakar Salim Narrates In-Depth Gameplay Trailer for Tales of Kenzera: Zau

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9zekMszGu0?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Surgent Studios and EA Originals delivered a fresh look at the upcoming Tales of Kenzera: Zau, showcasing its beautiful and treacherous lands in a new trailer narrated by Abubakar Salim, and how the unique interchangeable gameplay between the mask of the sun and the mask of the moon can influence how you traverse this unique world. Look for Tales of Kenzera: Zau to launch April 23, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S and Windows.

Chucky is Ready to Bring a Bloody Good Time to the World of Roblox

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM9dbxSiI8g?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

RocketRide Games and Universal Products & Experiences revealed Griefville: Survive the Nightmare! for Roblox during today’s Xbox Partner Preview broadcast. Describing itself as a “chilling interactive experience,” it’s inspired by the beloved classic horror films of the ‘80s and ‘90s — with horror movie icon Chucky at the center of it all. And in a bonus surprise, you can experience Roblox, Griefville, and Chucky today on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S!!

New Game Reveal: Creatures of Ava, A New Creature Saver Game From Inverge Studios

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF1gac0wIOI?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Inverge Studios revealed their newest title, Creatures of Ava, where you’ll learn to understand and tame the creatures of the planet Ava and let them lead you through a variety of ecosystems – all in the hopes of saving the planet from a life-consuming infection. Learn more about how this unique game places you in the role of a creature saver here on Xbox Wire.

New Game Reveal: Monster Jam Showdown Crushes It

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI6veVpr0ts?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Jump behind the wheel of fan-favorite monster trucks like Megaladon, El Toro Loco, and Grave Digger in a new thrilling off-road arcade racing experience that’s ready to rock on Xbox. Look for Monster Jam Showdown to land on Xbox Series X|S in 2024.

The Alters Reveals Its Many Sides

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXaS327cjIc?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

11-bit Studios shared a deeper look at its upcoming emotional sci-fi game that features a unique blend of adventure, survival, and base-building elements. As Jan Dolski, you’ll play as a simple worker who creates alternative versions of himself in a desperate attempt to escape from a planet where even sun rays can prove deadly. Look for the The Alters to come to Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows.

First Berserker: Khazan Shows Off Its Visceral Combat in Action

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB25RcC05wc?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Based on the DNF (Dungeon & Fighter) Universe, The First Berserker: Khazan focuses on the betrayed hero Khazan who is seeking revenge against those who orchestrated his downfall. During today’s Xbox Partner Preview broadcast, Nexon gave us a deeper look at the fierce gameplay we can expect to see when the game arrives on Xbox Series X|S.

Frostpunk 2 Coming to PC Game Pass on July 24

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KF7z5TDeQFc?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

11-Bit Studios showed off more of its upcoming city survival game set 30 years after an apocalyptic blizzard ravaged Earth, transforming our world into a harsh, icy wasteland. In Frostpunk 2, you must face a new deadly threat that appears on the horizon — human nature and its unsatiated thirst for power. Look for Frostpunk 2 to arrive with PC Game Pass and Windows on July 24, 2024.

New Game Reveal: Sleight of Hand

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVd4bEiiCIU?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Riffraff Games revealed their upcoming title, Sleight of Hand, with an amazing cinematic trailer. This upcoming 3rd-person stealth game of hard-boiled espionage action will have you infiltrate your old witch coven using a cursed deck of cards in the rain-slicked city of taboo, where ritual magic and cursed artefacts set apart those with power from those without.

Website: LINK

06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview – Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the Newest Action Strategy Game from Capcom, Releases Later This Year
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Reading Time: 6 minutes
Summary
- Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will release day one with Game Pass as well as on Xbox Series X|S and Windows in 2024.
- Check out all the latest gameplay on the newest Capcom game set in a Japanese-inspired universe, all revealed during the Xbox Partner Preview
- Hear directly from Director Shuichi Kawata as well!
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a highly unique, Japanese-inspired single-player game that blends multiple genres to create an action-packed adventure unlike any other! First revealed in June last year during Xbox Games Showcase 2023, this new title from Capcom will release day one with Game Pass, as well as on Xbox Series X|S and Windows in 2024.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXOOVlWDmm4?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

A New Tale of the Kami Awaits

The story begins when the legendary Mt. Kafuku is covered by an evil defilement and the 12 masks, including their special powers, are stolen. Our protagonist, Soh, must work together with Yoshiro, the Maiden with divine powers, to purge and cleanse the villages of the defilement.

The masks worn by Soh and the villagers each feature a different divine power, and these powers are the key to protecting Yoshiro. As you cleanse additional villages from their evil defilement, you’ll recover more masks and work together with the various villagers that each mask unlocks to bring Mt. Kafuku back to its original beauty.

Strategic Actions with Dancing Swords and Commands

The game combines the exhilarating action of “dancing swords” with the strategic element of deciding which villagers will join you on your journey to cleanse each village. The cycle of preparing for battle during the day and protecting the Maiden and the village from evil spirits of the mountains (“The Seethe”) at night is critical to Soh’s success. Let’s look at the gameplay during both day and night.

During the day, explore the village, purge defilements, and rescue villagers so they can join you in battle. Repair contraptions to give you an advantage against The Seethe’s attacks at night.

The rescued villagers will fight alongside Soh – but the decision on which power to grant to each villager is up to you. Different masks will grant different powers that help some villagers excel at close-range attacks, while others can heal your crew. Think strategically about which villagers you enlist and where to station them ahead of battle. For example, those with superior melee attacks on the front lines, with long-range attackers in the rear. Use the terrain to your advantage, prepare your positions, and get ready for epic battle once the moon begins to rise.

Each village features the recognizable Torii gates, and ultimate success is decided upon whether Yoshiro, the divine Maiden, can successfully pass through those gates before she faces defeat at the hands of The Seethe. But watch out! Each Torii gate is connected to an evil universe, providing an entrance for The Seethe. Guide Yoshiro to the Torii gates to purge the defilement and save the village.

How to use time wisely before sunset is crucial. In addition to time management, players must strategize for their battle at night. The players’ strategies alongside resource and time management skills are put to the test.

Nightfall brings a distinct blend of intense action and real-time strategy. Protect the Maiden from the oncoming threat of The Seethe by commanding your enlisted villagers while simultaneously doing battle, facing off against The Seethe with Soh’s unique dance-like sword attacks.

In the trailer, you also got your first look at “Kagura” – traditional “dances” derived from the Shinto religion in Japan that has been passed down from generation to generation to purify the defiled. Both Yoshiro and Soh perform Kagura in their own notable ways.

We have named this unique action, in which the player purges the defilement by “dancing,” the “Dancing Sword Action.”

Need to change strategies on the fly? Each villager can be reassigned new roles and repositioned throughout the village any time at night. Protect Yoshiro by making critical calls and decisions in this ever-changing environment.

The Seethe: Evil Spirits Called Upon by the Defilement

The Seethe take many different demonic shapes and forms, with various attacks and abilities. Each enemy is inspired by various Japanese yokai – a catchall word for all manner of ghosts, shapeshifters, demons, monsters, and more – and historic folklore. The Seethe, designed carefully by the director, offers an inside look at the dark aesthetic that immerses Soh and the villagers throughout each night’s battle.

And if The Seethe aren’t enough, the latest gameplay trailer revealed the even more powerful “Festering Seethe.” Catch this intense battle against the Festering Seethe!

Hear From Director Shuichi Kawata

“I hope you enjoyed the new trailer for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess! It’s been a while since the title was announced last year, but I hope the new gameplay you just watched was worth the wait. After releasing Shinsekai: Into the Depths four years ago, we’re ready to open a new chapter for players around the world to enjoy.

This game features a very distinct blend of action and strategy genres and takes strong inspiration from various elements of Japanese culture. With all of that, we’re excited (and maybe a little nervous…in a good way!) to have everyone experience this game.

We are currently in the final stages of development, and the team is working hard to be able to deliver the best experience this game can offer, so we hope you look forward to it.”

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will Launch in 2024

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is planned for release day one with Game Pass, as well as on Xbox Series X|S and Windows in 2024. For even more on Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, watch the Capcom Highlights Day 1 broadcast here on their official site on March 7, 2024, starting at 3:00pm PT. We hope you tune in!

Website: LINK
06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview – Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass Detailed
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Reading Time: 3 minutes
Summary
- The Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass features extended story content Episode Aigis -The Answer, new costumes, and more
- General Producer, Kazuhisa Wada, shares his excitement and details of each content drop
- Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass will be available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users for free as part of the Perks program
Get ready to dive deeper into the world of Persona 3 Reload with the newly announced Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass, featuring new costumes, background music tracks, and an extended story content scenario Episode Aigis -The Answer-.

This major DLC pack follows the recent successes and achievements of Persona 3 Reload, which became the fastest selling ATLUS title in history, topping 1 million sales within its first week of release. This stunning remake is highly rated amongst critics and players alike, currently holding an 88 on Metacritic.

Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass is coming on March 12 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC and will be available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users for free as part of the Perks program. Check out the full announce trailer from the Partner Preview and get more insights from the team at ATLUS below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcEkaUF4zo?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

The Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass includes Episode Aigis -The Answer-, the beloved final chapter of Persona 3, now remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features and all the upgrades that came with Persona 3 Reload.

After unravelling the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fighting epic battles through Tartarus, and all the unforgettable events of Persona 3 Reload, the S.E.E.S. members find themselves trapped in a never-ending March 31st. Your journey will take you through the Abyss of Time as you now play as Aigis, a human-like android with the power of Persona. Undertake new challenges, and uncover the cause of this strange fate and the truth of what happened on that day…

“Persona 3 Reload would not be complete without Episode Aigis –The Answer-,” says General Producer Kazuhisa Wada. “The epilogue is sure to satisfy both those who have played the original Persona 3 FES and those who are just starting out.” He continues, “The Persona 3 Reload: Expansion Pass will be available on March 12th. Episode Aigis -The Answer-, the third and final DLC wave, will be available in September. We hope you enjoy the first and second DLC waves as you wait for Episode Aigis -The Answer-. “

Players can get the Expansion Pass starting on March 12 to gain immediate access to the Persona 5 Royal EX BGM Set and Persona 4 Golden EX BGM Set when exploring and battling in dungeons, featuring fan-favorite tracks from previous Persona titles:
“Life Will Change”

“Beneath the Mask”

“Kichijoji 199X”

“Gentle Madman”

“I believe”

“Keeper of Lust”

“Blooming Villain”

“Victory”
“Backside of the TV”

“Game”

“Junes Theme”

“Heaven”

“Long Way”

“Revelations: Mitsuo”

“The Almighty”

“Results”
In May, you’ll be able to unlock the Velvet Costume & BGM Set, which features Velvet Room themed costumes for all playable characters and exhilarating remixed tracks to further customize your dungeon experience:
- “Electronica In Velvet Room (“P4D” ver.)”
- “Battle Hymn of the Soul (t.komine REMIX “AT 1st” P3D-EDIT ver.)”
- “Battle Hymn of the Soul (Daisuke Asakura Remix)”
- “Battle Hymn of the Soul -USH ver.-”
- “Dance Hymn of the Soul (Disco In Velvet Room)”
Finally, in September, the final chapter of Persona 3 Reload arrives with the release of Episode Aigis -The Answer-, the final piece of the Expansion Pass.

The entire team would like to thank everyone who has been playing and enjoying Persona 3 Reload and can’t wait for the world to experience the conclusion to this dark and provocative tale.

Stay tuned to ATLUS social channels for more details on this Expansion Pass and Episode Aigis -The Answer-, coming soon!

Website: LINK
06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview – How the Iconic S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Trilogy Finally Made Its Way to Xbox

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Reading Time: 5 minutes
Today, during the latest Xbox Partner Preview broadcast – as a surprise for Xbox gamers everywhere – GSC Game World launched the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S (via backwards compatibility). That’s right – it’s available today!

The Legends of the Zone bundle – available on the Microsoft Store for $39.99 USD — includes all three iconic games that make up the original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Trilogy: Shadow of Chernobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat. – or you can pick up each of the games individually for $19.99 USD each. Every element from the original games has been maintained and faithfully ported to console thanks to the hard work of GSC Game World and their partners at Mataboo. This all makes for a great opportunity for Xbox gamers everywhere to get some foundational knowledge of S.T.A.L.K.E.R.’s universe in the lead-up to the launch of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, coming day one to Game Pass on September 5, 2024.

But translating these hardcore PC games to an Xbox controller has been no small feat. For a series that is known for blending a variety of genres like horror, first-person shooter, exploration, and immersive sim, it was important for the team to get it right. Speaking with GSC Game World PR Specialist Zakhar Bocharov, we wanted to learn more about what this process was like, bringing these cult-classic, hardcore PC titles to console, and some of the innovative design and UI adjustments the team had to make to bring all three games to Xbox.

“S.T.A.L.K.E.R. has been a PC franchise for a long time, so the key priorities were concentrated around adapting the experience for consoles as a whole (including, but not limited to, native controller support for console interfaces),” explains Bocharov. “We created everything from scratch, ensuring that the game was both easy to control and comfortable to play.”

For example, the team developed a weapon selection wheel and made changes to both the aiming system and the menu navigation so it could support an Xbox controller. The original S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a complex game, so while optimizing the gaming experience, the development team made it an important goal to not lose that unique gameplay loop and the feeling of overcoming The Zone’s iconic and hostile environment. This has been a project a long time in the making, so there has been significant care and attention to detail to ensure this classic PC game can be enjoyed for a whole new console audience.

“We wanted to bring S.T.A.L.K.E.R. to consoles for quite some time, and we worked closely with our trusted partners at Mataboo to make that happen,” Bocharov shares. “Despite the new release date for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, we decided to keep S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy in early 2024 to give the players some time to complete the originals before hopping into the sequel. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is a direct continuation of the plot and a standalone title, but obviously knowing the previous events and characters would help you to enjoy certain story moments, nods, and Easter eggs better.”

The version available today for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S will be close to the original version of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. experience on PC. Xbox One players will finally be able to dive into the franchise, and those on Xbox Series X|S can enjoy the game in a high-fidelity mode via backward compatibility. Later this year, the team will release a patch for Xbox Series X|S version that will bring additional graphical enhancements and other features. The console versions will also have mod support via mod.io, but this too will be a feature to roll out later as the team continues to tweak things a bit, so keep an eye on GSC’s social media channels on when these features will roll out.

“Considering the cult status of the series and knowing that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is coming to Xbox, it was logical to let players experience the original games,” explains Bocharov. “We consider these releases as finally closing a long-existing gap; all the games from the series will finally be available on all intended platforms.”

Throughout all this hard work to finally bring these iconic PC games to console, the War in Ukraine has been ever present in the hearts and minds of this game development team. Revisiting a series that helped put GSC Game World on the map so many years ago has now ensured that its legacy will extend to consoles as well — in addition to being available for a whole new bunch of Stalkers to enjoy — helps preserve a truly unique creation from this team of artists and game developers.

“The war, relocation, cyberattacks, and working between several countries complicated basically all processes within the team — including the development of the games we’re talking about today,” Bocharov describes. “Again, huge kudos to Mataboo for making this happen even during the hardest of times. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.’s legacy is now as important as ever. Usually, we say that about S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, but bringing the originals to the new platforms and letting more people experience them ensures that the truly Ukrainian franchise will go on and will be loved. It’s very important for GSC to secure this.”

As Bocharov has indicated, this will be a great primer for a new audience to become engaged in the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. before the arrival of Heart of Chornobyl later this year on Xbox Series X|S. Knowing that, we wanted to know if they had any advice for those of you who will be taking their first steps into The Zone.

“S.T.A.L.K.E.R. doesn’t own its cult status for nothing,” says Bocharov. “The blend of genres (FPS/horror/immersive sim), the highly engaging gameplay loop, the one-of-a-kind world of The Zone — all of these have been attracting new Stalkers over 16 years now. The word “unique” describes this experience perfectly. Being quite a hardcore experience, this may not be the type of game you play every day. But our super-dedicated lovely fan base proves one simple fact: if you’re into this world, you will find yourself attached to it for years ahead. Good hunting!”

You can pick up S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Legends of the Zone Trilogy today for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on the Xbox Store.

Website: LINK

06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview – The Sinking City 2 Has Mutated Into a Full-Blown Horror Game

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

“As for the detective work, it’s still there but now through a revamped system that makes it all optional. Players can now choose to investigate clues, knowing that in return they may get info that helps them progress differently. For example, engaging in some additional sleuthing may yield information on how to weaken a formidable boss or help you discover an alternate route that you had no idea about. You could, of course, progress without this knowledge, but it will be potentially easier or more engrossing to do so based on info you’ve deduced.”

It’s a major shift, and clearly one that Frogwares has put a great deal of thought into – but it’s also been a passion project that’s had to be created slowly, through some incredibly difficult real-life circumstances, given the studio’s roots in Ukraine.

“We’ve never shared this before, but we were in the early stages of pre-production on The Sinking City 2 when the war broke out in Ukraine in February 2022,” says Oganesyan. “This forced us to put all that work indefinitely on hold. Now that we know what we are capable of handling, have adapted to the situation as best as we can, and taken all the measures to ensure the stable workflow of our studio, we felt it was time to start up The Sinking City 2 again.”

Website: LINK

06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview – How Creatures of Ava Places You in the Role of a Creature Saver
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Reading Time: 3 minutes
Summary
- Creatures of Ava is a Creature Saver game in which you will have to help creatures escape from an infection that is rapidly growing on the planet Ava.
- Learn the local customs of the native people of Ava, who have a deep spiritual connection with the planet and all its life forms.
- Using flute skills, you can communicate with these creatures and see what they see and request their assistance to figure out puzzles that involve Ava’s surroundings and the natural world.
Earlier today, Creatures of Ava was announced during Xbox Partner Preview, and we’re excited to confirm it’s arriving on Xbox Series X|S in 2024. That’s why we at Inverge Studios wanted to use this opportunity to tell you more about the beautiful world of Ava.

Creatures of Ava is a Creature Saver game in which you will have to help creatures escape from an infection that is rapidly growing on the planet Ava, threatening to wipe out all living beings. Your goal is not to collect the creatures for your amusement nor hurt them — your goal is to save them.

One of our overarching goals when developing the game was to make it non-violent while remaining really fun to play. From the outset, we’ve been captivated by the notion of saving creatures from a distant planet, not for any utilitarian purpose, but simply because they’re sentient beings deserving of compassion. With that vision in our mind creating a non-violent game was essential. However, this initially proved to be one of our biggest challenges, until we settled on the flute as one of the key mechanics in the game — that really helped us realize our goal. Let me explain….

You play as Vic, a human explorer of the rescue team sent to planet Ava to save all living beings before an inevitable catastrophe. In order to save them, you will be forced to leave behind all technology and learn the local customs of the native people of Ava, who have a deep spiritual connection with the planet and all its life forms. Music is their common way of communicating and you must learn how to play the traditional flute of the natives, harmonizing with the beat of Ava.

Using flute skills, Vic can communicate with these creatures and see what they see. They can also request their assistance to figure out puzzles that involve Ava’s surroundings and the natural world. By imitating the sounds creatures make with your flute, you will be able to gain their trust, and then connect to see through them. Connecting with creatures allows you to see from their point of view and control it to interact with different parts of the environment by using their unique traits and abilities.

Vic can also use her time in Ava to investigate the infection, learn its origin, and try to stop it. A special staff – called Nafitar – from an extinct Ava civilization will allow her to cure the infection growing in the environment, as well as the one growing on the creatures.

The infection renders creatures aggressive, which challenged us to find a way to implement unique, non-violent combat mechanics. For example, you use the staff to absorb the infection while dodging the attacks of frenzied creatures. The result is you’re simply cleaning the infected part of the enemy, which is not fatal for the creatures.

At Inverge Studios, we’ve dedicated years to bringing Creatures of Ava to life and ensuring it carries a profound message for players. We’re excited for you to experience it and to connect with the diverse species that call Ava home. Stay tuned for more updates!

Website: LINK
06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview – Unlock the Powers of the Fold in Unknown 9: Awakening’s New Trailer
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Reading Time: 4 minutes
Summary
- Unknown 9: Awakening debuts exciting new trailer, a fierce heroine, gameplay, and a Summer 2024 release
- Step into protagonist Haroona’s shoes, tap into an alternate dimension, and use its potent energy to take down those who stand in your way.
- Learn what the Reflector Entertainment team has been up to since the game’s teaser trailer won gamescom’s Best Announcement award in 2020
It’s been three-and-a-half years since Reflector Entertainment and Bandai Namco Europe unveiled Unknown 9: Awakening with a teaser trailer at gamescom 2020. Well, we’re back and ready to share the fruits of our labor with the world!

Today, we are thrilled to unveil Unknown 9: Awakening’s Announcement Trailer, which reveals our tough-as-nails protagonist Haroona, a first look at the gameplay, and a Summer 2024 release.

We’d love to get you up to speed on the game, share what we’ve been up to behind the scenes, and explain why you should join the quest to uncover humanity’s best-kept secrets, so let’s dive in!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKP4w-mlRXQ?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Your Unknown 9: Awakening Refresher

The third-person action-adventure title centers on Haroona, a truth seeker with a troubled past whose connection to a shadowy dimension known as the Fold has blessed her with powerful abilities.

The last time the world caught a glimpse of the game’s heroine, she was just a child left to fend for herself on the streets of Chamiri, India, unsure of what to make of her unearthly gifts. Fast-forward to today, and Haroona is all grown up. She’s embraced her unique talents and continues to learn the ways of the Fold.

You’ll step into Haroona’s shoes following a life-changing loss. At first, revenge is all you’re after, but the Unknown 9 universe has other plans. Before you know it, in addition to seeking vengeance, you find yourself on a globetrotting journey, uncovering powerful hidden knowledge. This puts you on a collision course with the Ascendants, a breakaway faction of a secret society known as the Leap Year Society. Founded by the brilliant and ruthless Vincent Lichter, Unknown 9: Awakening’s main antagonist, this dangerous splinter group intends to use the Fold in ways that could jeopardize the future of humankind.

The question is, can you shut down this elusive organization’s master plan before it’s too late?

Building a Narrative Universe

From Reflector’s induction into the Bandai Namco Group to the trials and tribulations of creating a brand-new IP, all while finding our footing in a pandemic and then a post-pandemic workplace landscape, it’s safe to say it’s been quite the ride!

However, the last few years haven’t just been about making process and workflow adjustments. We ideated, fine-tuned our storytelling approach, and explored different mechanics and combinations to build distinctive gameplay experiences.

When it was all said and done, we didn’t just develop a video game. We built an elaborate story-driven universe for you to immerse yourself in!

The Unknown 9: Awakening video game is a gateway to the larger narrative world of Unknown 9, a universe encompassing a set of interconnected stories told across different media formats. The game’s lore seeps into every tale set within this world.

To ensure you flow seamlessly from one story to the next, our development and narrative teams dedicated much time to ironing out specific details and features to get the overarching story and its resulting experience just right.

While we’re excited to reveal the entirety of this experience to you, we’re easing you into the world of Unknown 9 one step at a time, starting with our first video game.

Harness the Powers of the Fold

Your quest begins this summer. The moment you take on the role of Haroona, you have carte blanche to tap into her impressive talents by channeling the Fold’s energy into the world.

Haroona, portrayed by actress Anya Chalotra, is fierce, quick-witted, and wields powerful skills—what those in the Unknown 9 universe call Umbric abilities. By harnessing the Fold’s potent energy, Haroona manipulates people, objects, and weapons from any distance. At the flick of a wrist, she obliterates whatever stands in her path, and her capacity to shield oncoming fire is nothing short of impressive. But what makes her a uniquely formidable force is that she can step into any of her foes, leveraging their size, skill, and weaponry to defeat whoever she’s up against.

Our design and development teams zeroed in on this unique combination of skills, devising a set of gameplay mechanics that give you complete control of your combat strategy. The resulting experience lets you choose how you take down your enemies. Whether this means sticking to stealth mode, engaging in full combat, channelling the Fold’s energy to wield Umbric abilities, or using a combination of them all is up to you to decide.

Truthfully, we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of Haroona’s true potential, the power of the Fold, and the secrets this dimension harbors. Stay tuned for additional revelations about the mysterious world of Unknown 9: Awakening, which comes out on Xbox X|S and Xbox One in the summer of 2024.

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06/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview | March 2024: We’re Back with Fresh Looks at Games for Xbox and Windows

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Today, we’re thrilled to announce the next Xbox Partner Preview, this time featuring a mix of new and upcoming games for you from publishers like Capcom, Nexon, EA, and others with more than a dozen new trailers over the course of a 30-minute broadcast.

During Xbox Partner Preview, you can learn more about combat and traversal in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, with a video narrated by Abubakar Salim himself, see new gameplay from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, get a closer look at The First Berserker: Khazan, and other great titles coming to Xbox, Windows, or Game Pass.

Our Xbox Partner Preview format is all about sharing exciting games news from our talented studios from across the globe with no frills: just new game reveals, release date announcements, and fresh new gameplay from upcoming games, coupled with unique behind-the-scenes stories from developers on Xbox Wire.

This event will be digitally broadcast on Wednesday, March 6, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT across our Xbox channels on YouTube and Twitch and it will feature updates on a variety of Xbox and Windows games that are launching on our platforms.

We hope to see you back here on Wednesday, March 6!

Q&A

What time does Xbox Partner Preview begin? Wednesday, March 6, at 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time / 6pm UK time.

How do I watch? Xbox Partner Preview will be available through a variety of outlets, and in over 40 languages. It will also be viewable with American Sign Language, British Sign Language, and English Audio Descriptions:

Please note the YouTube streams will be in 4K at 60fps, while all other channels will be 1080p / 60fps.

Is the event available in languages other than English? We will be providing subtitle support in the following languages: Arabic (MSA), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional – Hong Kong & Taiwan), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, Filipino, Finnish, French (EU & Canadian), German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazilian & EU), Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Castilian & Mexican), Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. For the first time we’ll also be supporting Bengali, Māori, Punjabi (Gurmukhi), Swahili, Tamil, Urdu and Zulu in hopes of gauging interest for future broadcasts.

Aside from going directly to a regional Xbox channel, you can find support for all languages, at YouTube.com/Xbox. ASL and AD video will be listed separately, but just click the gear icon in the lower righthand corner of our primary stream to choose the language of your choice. Oftentimes YouTube will default to a random language when you join the stream so you may also want to switch over to English if needed.

Is the show going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the Xbox YouTube channel, and American Sign Language (ASL) on Xbox’s YouTube channel and the /XboxASL Twitch channel. The /XboxOn YouTube channel will also carry a British Sign Language (BSL) feed.

I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? As announcements roll out during the broadcast, the Xbox Wire team will be publishing detailed blog posts containing key announcements right here on Xbox Wire (including localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese). A full show recap will go live immediately following the end of Xbox Partner Preview.

Co-streamer and content creator notes for the Xbox Partner Preview: We at Xbox greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream. For those planning to create post-show breakdowns of Xbox Partner Preview in the form of Video on Demand (VOD) coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

We can’t wait for you to join us on Wednesday, March 6 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT for the next Xbox Partner Preview! See you soon.

Website: LINK

04/03/2024
Xbox Partner Preview: See What’s Next From Our Incredible Third-Party Publishing Partners

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Please Note: Xbox Partner Preview will not feature any additional news, game reveals, or Game Pass information related to the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard King.

We are delighted to announce our next broadcast event: Xbox Partner Preview! This new show format will deliver a fresh mix of indie games and familiar favorites from our third-party partners like Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Remedy Entertainment, Studio Wildcard, and others with more than 20 minutes of trailers and new gameplay footage.

This event will be digitally broadcast on Wednesday, October 25, at 10am PT (1pm ET / 6pm BST) across our Xbox owned channels, showcasing updates and new looks at games coming to Xbox and Windows as well as new info on some upcoming Game Pass titles from our incredibly talented creative third-party partners from around the world.

You can expect to see the latest information on in-game activities for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, a launch trailer for Alan Wake 2, the first gameplay for Ark: Survival Ascended, a dive into the social world of Dungeons of Hinterberg, and more!

Q&A

What time does Xbox Partner Preview begin? Wednesday, October 25, at 10am Pacific time / 1pm Eastern time / 6pm UK time.

How do I watch? Xbox Partner Preview will be available to be seen through a variety of outlets, and in over 30 languages, and American Sign Language, British Sign Language, and English Audio Descriptions here:

Please note the YouTube streams will be in 4K at 60fps, while all other channels will be 1080p / 60fps.

Is the event available in languages other than English? We will be providing subtitle support in the following languages: Albanian, Arabic, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Canadian French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Maltese, Moldovan, Montenegrin, Norwegian, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Castilian Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese. While we expect to have all languages available with the show’s live broadcast, it is possible that select languages may need to be added in the days following the broadcast if they have not finished translating.

Aside from going directly to a regional Xbox channel, you can find support for all languages, as well as American Sign Language (ASL) and Audio Descriptions (AD), at YouTube.com/Xbox. ASL and AD video will be listed separately, but just click the gear icon in the lower righthand corner of our primary stream to choose the language of your choice. Oftentimes YouTube will default to a random language when you join the stream so you may also want to switch over to English if needed.

Is the show going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the Xbox YouTube channel, and American Sign Language (ASL) on Xbox’s YouTube channel and the /XboxASL Twitch channel.

I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? As announcements roll out during the broadcast, the Xbox Wire team will be publishing detailed blog posts containing key announcements right here on Xbox Wire (including localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese). A full show recap will go live immediately following the end of Xbox Partner Preview.

Co-streamer and content creator notes for the Xbox Partner Preview: We at Xbox greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream. For those planning to create post-show breakdowns of Xbox Partner Preview in the form of Video on Demand (VOD) coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

Co-streamer and content creator notes for Xbox Partner Preview: Xbox Partner Preview contains no licensed music tracks and is co-streaming friendly! We invite you and your audience to tune in for watch parties, and we can’t wait to see the VOD content you create with the Xbox Partner Preview footage afterwards, too.

We can’t wait for you to join us on Wednesday, October 25 at 10am PT (1pm ET / 6pm BST) for the Xbox Partner Preview! See you soon.

Website: LINK

23/10/2023