Schlagwort: Xbox Series X|S

  • Drop Into Halo Infinite’s Latest Operation: Spirit of Fire

    Drop Into Halo Infinite’s Latest Operation: Spirit of Fire

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Halo Infinite’s latest update, Content Update 29 (“CU29”), has arrived alongside the launch of the newest Operation: Spirit of Fire!

    The latest free update for Halo Infinite brings the legendary Mjolnir Mark IV armor core, multi-core shoulder customization alongside a slew of HCS and Silver Team-themed goodness for your Spartan, a new map, three new Operations, and much more—let’s dive into to check it all out…

    CONTENTS

    OVERVIEW

    • UPDATE OVERVIEW – Catch up on our January 19 Community Livestream which outlines the content in this update and our approach to Halo Infinite going forwards this year.
    • MAP OVERVIEW – Take a guided tour of Illusion, the new Arena map.
    • FORGE OVERVIEW – Learn more about the new features and improvements coming to Forge, including the Covenant palette, Mode Creator, and more.
    • CUSTOMIZATION OVERVIEW – Get a closer look at the Mark IV Armor Core, customization improvements, and upcoming Operations.

    OPERATION: SPIRIT OF FIRE

    As part of today’s update, all players will receive the classic Mark IV Armor Core for free. Simply jump into the game and you’ll find it waiting for you in the Armor Hall.

    This fan-favorite armor has appeared in the likes of Halo Wars and Halo Wars 2, Halo Legends, Halo 5: Guardians, and now this legendary iteration of Mjolnir has come to Halo Infinite.

    Halo Infinite image of three Spartans clad in Mark IV armor

    And what better way to kick off the update than with the opportunity to further outfit the Mark IV Armor Core?

    Enter Operation: Spirit of Fire, which runs from January 30 to March 5 and features 20 tiers of free customization rewards, including new armor attachments, coatings, weapon charms, emblems, and more.

    You know the drill with Operations now: in addition to the free pass, there are two additional premium options you can purchase.

    • 500 credits will make the Operation Pass durable (it will not expire), offers bonus XP during the Operation’s live window, an extra Challenge slot while your pass is equipped, and comes with an exclusive customization item.
    • 2,000 credits instantly unlocks all 20 tiers of the Operation Pass at purchase and includes the exclusive bonus customization item.

    The bonus customization item for this Operation is the Evolved MA5—a weapon model for your Assault Rifle that will transform the sleek and modern MA40 into the classically chunky design reminiscent of the MA5B seen in Halo: CE and Halo Wars.

    Halo Infinite screenshot of a Spartan in Mark IV armor holding an Assault Rifle with the Evolved MA5 weapon model

    When the Spirit of Fire Operation concludes on March 5, there are still two more free Operations that will take us through April 30!

    CYBER SHOWDOWN III
    MARCH 5-APRIL 2

    Themed around the concept of a “viral machine,” the latest exploration of these Created champions veers more into the realm of cybernetic horror that reflects the twisted nature of their creation. Jump into Halo Infinite on March 5 to unlock 20 tiers of new customization rewards for your CHIMERA Armor Core. 

    THE YAPPENING II
    APRIL 2-APRIL 30

    The Yappening II arrives in April to help you celebrate the season of fools with 20 tiers of Grunty goodness. 

    ILLUSION

    Today’s update also brings a brand-new map to Halo Infinite, titled Illusion.

    Illusion takes place within an abandoned ONI black site where old experiments with recovered (and familiar) Covenant technology remain.

    Described as a love letter to the map design of Halo: Combat Evolved, Illusion features a unique mid-section where a corridor possesses the traits of active camouflage—so players who go into the center will turn invisible.

    MULTI-USE SHOULDER CUSTOMIZATION

    Our multi-use journey for Halo Infinite’s customization continues with the addition of shoulder pads that can be equipped across any Armor Core.

    Like before, this multi-use expansion of armor works retroactively, so all of your current shoulder pads are multi-core enabled and all shoulders going forward will be multi-core as well.

    Following on from work that has been accomplished over previous updates to make helmets, visors, and many coatings multi-core, there are now billions of possible combinations available in Halo Infinite. We can’t wait to see the latest and greatest Spartan drip out on the battlefield!

    FORGE UPDATES

    Forge continues to evolve as we target highly requested additions, enhancements, and quality-of-life improvements. Here are some of the highlights of the new toys you’re able to play with in Halo Infinite’s Forge:

    COVENANT OBJECT PALETTE

    Halo Infinite screenshot of the Covenant object palette coming in CU29

    Need more purple? Over 70 new Covenant-themed structure pieces, primitives, accents, and decals are now available for Forgers to create exciting experiences that harken back to Halo’s roots.

    FORGE MODE CREATOR

    Halo Infinite screenshot of the Action Menu showing the option to Create Mode Prefab

    This new functionality allows players to script modes in the Node Graph like a prefab, then save, share, and play those experiences—just like you would share a mode created in the Custom Game menu.

    The Forge Mode Creator will make it easier for modes to be shared and played, hooked up to community maps, and free up map budget (as mode logic will no longer come with a map budget cost).

    To learn more about the ins and outs of the Forge Mode Creator (along with a more thorough breakdown of other additions and improvements), check out our Forge Overview blog!

    MATERIAL SWAP

    Players can now adjust up to three colors on select foliage objects and add further set dressing and detail to their maps with decals that mimic stains, foliage overgrowth, and more.

    First person perspective of a player looking at various foliage Forge objects with different colors and materials.

    FORGE AI TOOLKIT IMPROVEMENTS

    New behaviors and traits have been added to the Forge AI Toolkit, including:

    • New Squad Behavior – Wander When Idle

    Available on the AI Spawner object. When set to ON, AI units in this spawned squad will wander around their assigned AI Move Zone when idle.

    • New AI Trait Nodes

    New AI Traits include:

    • Bonus Health
    • Bottomless Clip
    • Damage Resistance
    • Health Recharge
    • Movement Speed
    • Movement Speed With Turret
    • Prevent Weapon Firing
    • Vampirism
    • Weapon Damage

    More is on the way to Halo Infinite’s Forge this year, including Flood and alien-themed palettes.

    SILVER TEAM, SILVER SCREEN

    Season Two of the Halo television series debuts on Paramount+ with a two-episode premiere on February 8, and we’ve got some unmissable Ultimate Rewards for you to earn!

    Complete all your challenges on these respective weeks to earn each of these Silver Team helmets, available across all your Armor Cores. 

    WEEK ONE: KAI-125
    JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 6

    WEEK TWO: RIZ-028
    FEBRUARY 6-13 

    WEEK FOUR: VANNAK-134
    FEBRUARY 20-27

    Visors for each member of Silver Team will also be given as free rewards! Simply log into Halo Infinite on these corresponding weeks and they will be unlocked for you.

    HCS

    YEAR ONE LAUNCH BUNDLES RETURN

    After much demand from the community, we are bringing back the first bundles for each HCS team that Halo Infinite launched with back in 2021—with some major improvements!

    The armor and weapon kits have been unlocked, which means you can now customize with these coatings for the first time ever. Additionally, they are all now multi-use which means you can wear the armor, visors, or weapon coatings on any armor, helmet, or UNSC weapon.

    If you already purchased these launch bundles when Halo Infinite released, the content will be applied retroactively. If you missed these bundles the first time around, they’re now available again for teams that are still in the Halo Championship Series: FaZe Clan, OpTic Gaming, Sentinels, Spacestation Gaming, and Cloud9.

    YEAR THREE LAUNCH BUNDLES

    Year 3 HCS bundles have also arrived with all-new designs, featuring new multi-use armor coatings as well as visors. These have been created by the teams themselves, featuring their unique branding.

    Additionally, acquire the Dracon Bandit weapon model for the M392 Bandit and Bandit EVO by grabbing the bundle that supports your favorite HCS team—the majority of the profits go to the partnered teams to maintain their involvement in the Halo ecosystem.

    SHOP 

    Head to the Shop and you will find some exciting new Halo Wars-inspired bundles, featuring the likes of Omega Team to further outfit your free Mark IV armor…

    Halo Infinite image of the Omega Team bundle

    …and the Stanchion weapon model for your S7 Sniper.

    Halo Infinite image of a Spartan holding a sniper with the M99A2S3 Stanchion weapon model

    SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING

    You can submit tickets on a wide range of topics that include reports of Audio Issues, Crashes, Game Save Corruption, Report a Player, General Bug Reports, and more.

    Operation: Spirit of Fire is live and Content Update 29 is officially ready for download!

    Explore Illusion and see what fun Easter eggs you can find, outfit your new Mark IV Armor Core and start working your way through that free 20-tier Operation Pass, take a look at what new shoulder pad combinations can perfect the look of your Spartan, check out the latest additions and improvements to Forge, and chip away at those weekly challenges to unlock the helmets of Silver Team over the next few weeks.

    PRESS KIT

    Website: LINK

  • Good Fortune & Good Adventuring Arrive in Forza Horizon 5 for Lunar New Year

    Good Fortune & Good Adventuring Arrive in Forza Horizon 5 for Lunar New Year

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    “Amid the sound of firecrackers, a year has come to an end,” and what better way to welcome the good fortune that the new year brings than with a nice drive through the Horizon Festival’s new features. This celebration will not last two weeks, though; the Horizon Festival has four weeks of content to celebrate this new lunar cycle. Each of these weeks comes with a reward car featuring some of the greatest vehicles to ever come out of the Middle Kingdom! Take it a step further and purchase the Chinese Lucky Stars Car Pack which includes three cars destined for greatness made in China and a VW that stole the country’s heart. Your luck doesn’t end there; thirteen previous reward cars make their way back to the Festival as Autoshow cars are available from January 30. Another firecracker blast from the past sets in with the extended night cycle that makes a return for this series. Gather your family for an amazing, traditional dinner, and some laps around the Horizon Festival with the Lunar New Year Update!

    Release Notes & Game Fixes

    New Features:

    • 13 Previous Exclusive Reward cars added to the Autoshow

    • 9 Lunar New Year EventLab Props

    • 1 Lunar New Year Collector Accolade

    • Chinese Lucky Stars Pack becomes available for purchase

    • 5 new unlockable Festival Playlist Reward Cars

    • Limited Timed Series Features

    — Evolving World: Stadium Drift Arena

    — Evolving World: Dragon Drone Show

    — Evolving World: Fireworks collectible

    • 2 Badges: Feeling Lucky, Lunar Dragon

    • Returning Extended Nights

    Bug Fixes

    • Improved the audio for the 2008 Aston Martin DBS

    • Fixed issues that occurred while trying to redeem a car through the message center

    • Fixed issues with players getting kicked out of the Weekly Trial

    • Solved the issue causing “Tropical Storm” and “Dust Storm” not to show up in Photo Mode during Spring Season

    • Fixed cosmetic issues on the 1970 Fast X Dodge Charger, 1966 Fast X Chevrolet Impala, and the 2022 Gordon Murray T.50

    You can find a list of issues we are currently investigating here. The Troubleshooting Hub is always open for you to leave any reports you have.

    The Year of the Dragon is Here.

    People born on a Dragon year are said to be full of energy and drive; the Horizon Festival is no different of course!

    From tracks to props, dragons will flood the Festival to celebrate the Lunar New Year along with many other features to discover.

    Crouching Tiger, Drifting Dragon

    The Stadium twists and turns into a Drift Arena!

    Whatever path you decide to take on this track, be true to yourself. The Drift Arena’s curves and bends will have you using every ancient secret of drifting to go on a complete lap. Driving around certain areas of the raceway or near its corners will trigger a smoke effect. Hold your drift, don’t let it catch you off guard!

    Besides the myriad of tight corners, multiple red dragons dance through the course creating rings you can drive through. Keep exploring the Stadium and find the Fireworks Collectible hidden inside it.

    A Dragon watches over as you burn rubber in the tight corners and twists of the Drift Arena!

    Watch a Dragon Dance Done the Horizon Way.

    Once you are done burning rubber, the Drift Arena will be hosting a Drone Show at night during the four weeks of Lunar New Year starting on February 1.

    During daytime, drones will turn into traditional lanterns that will line up in the pattern of a dragon and prance along the sky as the drones do at night.

    Building Your Own Tradition.

    The spirit of Lunar New Year celebrates creativity with nine new props to use for your EventLab creations all with a season motif.

    Give your tracks an impressive guardian and unique look using the Lunar Dragon. Provide the community with a place to moon gaze including the Lunar Lookout on your creations.

    These are the nine props and decorations added in this new update:

    • Decoration

    — Lunar Dragon Head

    — Lunar Dragon Body

    — Lunar Dragon Tail

    • Ramps & Platforms

    — Lunar Lookout

    • Walls & Fences:

    — Lunar Barrier Gold

    — Lunar Barrier Red

    • Signs & Flags

    — Lunar Flag Gold

    — Lunar Flag Red

    Firework Box

    What’s in this Year’s Red Envelopes

    The biggest hitters that ever came out of China make an appearance at the Horizon Festival as Lunar New Year’s Reward Cars. Go deeper into Chinese automotive culture and history with the Chinese Lucky Stars Car Pack which will be available for purchase for USD $4.99 / GBP £3.99 / EU €4.99 On January 30

    To top it all off, the cars our community chose to return are finally in the Autoshow; snatch these ghosts from the past before they fade away!

    Returning Rewards in the Autoshow.

    It seems luck is in your favor this year, as the Autoshow will feature thirteen cars during these four weeks.

    The long-awaited returning reward cars are here. Our community picked ten previous reward-exclusive cars from a list of options to become available on the Autoshow, and they are finally here! Get those credits ready to grab the rewards you missed starting January 30.

    Make room in your garage for three Asian newcomers hitting the Festival’s Autoshow on Lunar New Year. From racing to family, these cars are waiting to be modified and turned into your favorite ride.

    10 Returning Cars (announced with Community Choice):

    • 1990 Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer

    • 2010 Aston Martin One-77

    • 2021 Lamborghini Sian Roadster

    • 2021 Rimac Nevera

    • 2010 Ferrari 599XX

    • 1971 Porsche #23 917/20

    • 1962 Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta Lusso1990

    • 1967 Ferrari #24 Ferrari Spa 330 P4

    • 2018 Italdesign Zerouno

    • 1965 Peel Trident

    3 New Cars

    • 2019 Hyundai Veloster N

    • 2020 Xpeng P7

    • 2021 Lynk & Co 03

    Chinese Lucky Stars Car Pack

    Collect and drive four of China’s biggest golden stars!

    The latest Car Pack for Forza Horizon 5 includes 4 cars made locally and VW’s biggest hit in China. Take a deeper look at the vehicles featured in the Chinese Lucky Stars Car Pack.

    2022 Lynk & Co 05+

    Reading a plus sign at the end of a car’s name can only mean one thing: it’s time to ramp up the crazy.

    Adding 14 more horsepower and 29 lb-ft of torque, the 2022 Lynk & Co 05+ does exactly that, turning a regular SUV into a crossover vehicle with a need for the track.

    The Co 05+ has been fitted with a multi-link independent suspension system and a new body kit with wings and a front lip to improve downforce.

    Lynk & Co’s signature SUV has the power, styling, and gear to take over the Horizon Festival this series!

    2023 MG Cyberster

    The spiritual successor of MG’s TF is finally here with a dash of Chinese spice and three times to power to make the wait worthwhile.

    Enter the 2023 MG Cyberster, an electric convertible equipped with an all-wheel drive system and an engine capable of producing 536 bhp. This automotive fist of electronic fury can accelerate from 0-100 kmh in just 3.2 seconds, putting it right with the big hitters of the Festival.

    MG’s legacy combined with the best of Chinese engineering make the MG Cyberster one of your best choices for a light cruise or the harshest of races.

    2022 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Macaron

    What is not to love about the 2022 Wuling Hongguang Mini EV Macaron? Agile body, lovely name (translates to sunshine in English), electrically- powered, a paintjob you can almost taste…this lovely macaron is a warrior of the concrete jungle!

    They say, “simplicity is the key to brilliance”, and this small vehicle is designed to deal with everyday urban challenges took it as its core. This practical little car is in the race to become number 1 in your heart.

    Turn this panda into the ultimate Dragon Warrior with a few customization tweaks and skadoosh around the Horizon Festival this series!

    2012 Volkswagen Santana

    The German wonder that stole China’s heart, the 2012 Volkswagen Santana is arriving to the Horizon Festival this series.

    Considered VW’s biggest hit on the Asian continent, the Santana was one of the first European cars affordable in China. This made it the first choice for taxis and government vehicles.

    Germany’s Chinese connection will provide you with a ton of charm, countless hours of fun, and (above all) a ton of customization opportunities. Snatch yours this series with our latest Car Pack.

    If you weren’t sure how to spend those red envelope earnings, this is your sign to get the Chinese Lucky Stars Car Pack for $4.99 USD available for purchase now.

    Festival Playlist

    Four weeks of great luck and rewards come in with Lunar New Year.

    This month’s reward cars feature Horizon newcomers from the Asian continent including Hyundai, Lynk & Co, and MG.

    Take a look at five amazing reward cars you will be able to unlock this series.

    2022 Hyundai Kona

    The first week of this Festival Playlist brings a crossover SUV from Korea, the turbocharged and freshly overhauled 2022 Hyundai Kona.

    The 2022 model received a very fitting makeover with its exterior being almost entirely a new design with more sportive lines and finishes. To wrap up the changes and upgrades, the Kona was fitted with a 195-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

    Whether you want to turn the Kona into an off-roading legend or have it perform at its best on the road, you will be able to unlock and modify it to your pleasing for 20 PTS on the first week of the Festival Playlist.

    2022 Hyundai IONIQ 6

    The performance model in Hyundai’s line of electric vehicles will reach the Horizon Festival as a Series Reward for Lunar New Year.

    The 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 6 is an EV with an aerodynamic look and function that not only makes it run more efficiently, but it also allows it to perform like a sports saloon on the track. The IONIQ 6 can take off from standstill to 100 kmh in just 5.1 seconds.

    An electric car that screams performance with its flaps, aerodynamic mirrors, and wheel gap reducers, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 is a great pick for those looking to use less gas and still be fast.

    2022 Lynk & Co 02 HB

    Yes, you guessed right: HB stands for hatchback, which is another word for “I’m going to have so much fun in this car”.

    The 2022 Lynk & Co 02 HB is the Chinese company’s shot at giving the world a hot hatch they can Phoenix dance in. This model is equipped with the Volvo Drive-E 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that we have seen in the Swedish company’s S60, XC70, and V70.

    To put their own spin to it, the 02 comes with an overpower option that boosts its torque from 350 Nm to 380 Nm, and let’s this small powerhouse dash from 0 to 100 in 6.2 seconds.

    Drift Arena and a hot hatch, need we say more?

    2020 Hyundai i30N

    More power, more responsiveness, and a sportier body kit; the 2020 Hyundai i30N is getting front of line to become your favorite hatchback to drive around the Horizon Festival.

    A 2.0 – liter, 4-cylinder turbo engine capable of producing 353 Nm of torque along with its brand-new 8-speed dual clutch transmission makes this car worthy of an invitation to the hot hatch party that takes place every day at the Festival.

    Not straying too far away from its five-door rivals, the i30N can hit a top speed of 250 kmh and reach 100 from nothing in 6.1 seconds.

    If not for all the fun a stock hatchback can bring, unlock this car for 20 PTS on the third week of Lunar New Year and see what kinds of sauce you can add with your own customization.

    2023 MG MG7

    Another one of MG’s staples makes a revamped comeback in the 2023 MG MG7. This new version of a classic comes with a design that puts together luxury and sportive performance.

    The new MG7 is geared with a 2.0-liter turbo engine capable of putting out 257 hp and producing 405 Nm of torque, catering to fans of speed; and packs it up inside a stylish outside design.

    The return of the MG should be celebrated along with the New Year, and we do not know a better way to do this than taking it to the track and scoring some fast times.

    What’s next

    We travel back to Across the Atlantic in European Automotive.

    New reward cars from the greatest car makers on the planet along with a brand-new Car Pack to drive and collect.

    Along with new props and badges, this new update will bring every class to Rally Adventure Rivals!

    Website: LINK

  • Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Is Available Now!

    Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Is Available Now!

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    [Preorder Bonus Content] Hero’s Booster & Special Job Bundle ■ Hero’s Booster Pack This pack allows you to increase your party members‘ level and job rank by 1. Includes:
    – Leveling Set (Small) x 1
    – Gearworks Crafting Set (Small) x 1
    – Job Leveling Set (Small) x 1 * These consumable items grant enough EXP to raise a character’s level by 1 and enough Job EXP to raise the rank of the corresponding job by 1.
    * Please note that these items only grant as much EXP as needed and are therefore of greatest benefit when characters are their furthest from a level or rank up.
    * These items cannot be used by characters who have reached their maximum level or job rank. ■ Special Job Set This set contains the special jobs of Linebacker and Tennis Ace. – Male Job: Linebacker will be available to all male party members.
    – Female Job: Tennis Ace will be available to all female party members. * To unlock the Linebacker job, Kasuga’s Confidence must be level 6 or higher.
    * To unlock the Tennis Ace job, Kasuga’s Charisma must be level 6 or higher. [Deluxe Edition Content]
    – Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth game
    – Master Vacation Bundle EPIC EMOTIONAL DRAMA
    Two larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister… Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog who’s no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down a battle of his last days of life. BEST-IN-CLASS RPG ACTION
    Experience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes. Adapt your party’s skills to the situation with outlandish jobs and customizations to strategically subdue enemies with over-the-top moves. INFINITE ADVENTURE
    Live it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Unforgettable moments await at every step of the journey with a unique mix of quests and activities to enjoy at your leisure. This product includes the base game as well as additional content. Additional content can also be purchased separately, so please be careful not to make overlapping purchases. By using this product, you agree to this EULA: https://games.sega.com/eula/

    Website: LINK

  • ID@Xbox Presents: Indie Selects

    ID@Xbox Presents: Indie Selects

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    ID@Xbox has been helping bring amazing indie games to Xbox gamers for a decade now, and we’ve always strived to find new ways to highlight our favorites. We’ve sponsored our own dedicated showcases, we’ve featured rad games and creators in our E3 Briefings and Xbox Games Showcases, we have an awesome ID@Xbox community team, and we run monthly ID@Xbox theme sales.

    To build on that legacy we’re excited to announce that we’ve found a new way to bring attention to some of the top indie games on Xbox through our new “Indie Selects” program, which launches today!  

    Indie Selects includes a curated, dedicated collection in the Xbox Store featuring indie games chosen by the ID@Xbox team – along with support on our social and community channels, and even right here on the Xbox Wire. In the Games section of the Xbox dash, we now have a permanent hub that showcases indie games we are passionate about. A new collection, featuring various channels and rotating themes, will go live every Wednesday. 

    The first channel, which we’re calling simply “Featured Indies,” includes recent indie games that the ID@Xbox team recommends. These are games we’ve played and liked, and we feel positive indie game fans will enjoy too. Note that we’re not including titles that are in Game Pass here even if they’re fantastic, simply because they’re featured regularly in the Game Pass hub. 

    Our second channel features a rotating selection of games that fit with a weekly theme. Looking for “Games to Play With Your Cat,” or “Games that Need a Laugh Track,” or “Games for Evil Villains”? You’ll find them here. We’re working on a bunch of different, fun ideas for themes right now to roll out over the coming months, and we’ll always take suggestions for new themes (or games to include in existing themes) from players through our social channels.  

    Other channels will include themes to highlight games from around the world, games from new creators and voices, our ID@Xbox theme sales, and select games available for pre-order. Finally, we now have a channel to feature upcoming indie games that can be added to a gamer’s wishlist – one of our indie devs’ most highly requested features. 

    And now the best part: once a month – the last week of the month – we will showcase our choices for six titles to be designated our ID@Xbox “Indie Selects” of the month. The whole ID@Xbox team will vote to select their favorites and these are the six games that we feel confident you’ll love. These are games that we want to put our stamp of approval on. Not only will the Indie Selects be featured in a special collection for that week, we’ll also release a monthly highlight reel on our social channels, and publish an Xbox Wire article to dig more deeply into which games were selected, and why we like them. In addition, the developers will receive a digital award featuring the Indie Selects logo that they can show off on their own channels (example above). 

    So why are we doing this? The short answer: we love games made by independent developers, and we want more people to discover them, buy them, and play them! We know there are a lot of games out there right now, and it can be difficult for unique titles to find an audience in crowded marketplaces. With a dedicated, permanent, curated collection in the  Xbox Store, we’ll be able to bring more attention to games that we feel are particularly special – everything from current favorites, to older gems, to games from new creators from around the world. 

    Make sure to check out the collection, updated each Wednesday, with our Indie Selects being featured the last Wednesday of each month. You can find the collection on the Xbox dash by going to the store and then selecting Games from the menu on the left. From the whole ID team, thanks, as always, for supporting indie games!  

    Website: LINK

  • Sea of Thieves Dives Into Season 11

    Sea of Thieves Dives Into Season 11

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Plunge beneath the waves and get straight to the action with our latest free update!

    A new Season has begun! Introducing a complete overhaul of the Voyage system, this latest Sea of Thieves update enables you to dive to your destination of choice directly from your Quest Table, while vastly expanding the rewards and progression pathways on offer.

    Arriving on January 23rd, Season 11 brings with it a fresh 100 levels of Renown and rewards to be earned alongside all the other improvements bundled in. Like previous Seasons, the update is free for all players across all the usual platforms – just install the most recent version of the game and you’re ready to go. While it’s downloading, check out our Season 11 Launch Trailer for a quick overview of everything you’ll be able to explore!

    At its heart, Season 11 is focused on getting you to the content you want to play faster than ever before. To do that, this update introduces a Quest Table to your ship to help revamp your Voyage experience. Now, rather than having to stop at an Outpost to buy new Voyages, you’ll be able to access them directly from your ship wherever you happen to be.

    Once you and your crew have decided on what type of outing you’d like to go on – whether that’s undertaking a traditional Voyage for a Trading Company, digging into the lore of a Tall Tale or battling your way through a themed World Event like a Skeleton Fort or Ashen Lord – you’ll have two transportation options: sail to your destination in the traditional way, or, if you want to jump right into the fray, dive beneath the waves to head straight there.

    The option of diving not only makes Voyages more viable for shorter game sessions, it opens up access to World Events not currently active on your server. Even better, these on-demand Events, known as Raid Voyages, are undertaken on behalf of a specific Trading Company and offer the corresponding loot, so you’ll always know what kind of reward you’re working towards. If you’re striving to progress with a specific Company, taking on a Raid Voyage and emerging victorious will net you a nice reputation boost.

    Be warned, however! You won’t be able to take any loot with you if you decide to dive right to your next destination. To get the full payout from your hard work, you’ll need to stop by an Outpost (or The Reaper’s Hideout) and cash in first. But all is not lost if you can’t make it all the way there – rather than all rewards being tied to loot delivery, you’ll now receive some Company reputation immediately on completion of a Voyage, so you’ll never walk away with nothing to show for your efforts.

    To keep up with all these new ways of earning reputation, the Trading Companies are expanding. With the exception of The Hunter’s Call, all Companies will now enable pirates to raise their reputation all the way up to level 100. Once players hit that momentous mark, they’ll be able to unlock their first Distinction and earn some sparkling hand jewellery to show off their accomplishment. With five levels of Distinction waiting to be earned and new rewards and Quest Table options to unlock along the way, this gives even long-time players plenty of new ground to cover!

    With so many changes coming to fundamental systems across Sea of Thieves, there are bound to be a lot of questions floating around about Season 11. To answer some of the most pressing ones, and to ensure that players have all the information they need to get right to the good stuff, members of the development team took the time to sit down in front of the camera and share their secrets in our most recent Deep Dive!

    In addition to the On Demand overhaul arriving with this Season, a lot of work has gone into fine-tuning and rebalancing existing Voyages and events to give you a smoother experience and ensure the rewards (including some new rewards!) feel satisfying. Find a shipwreck or a Message in a Bottle while out exploring and you can be sure the effort you invest in it will be worthwhile. With Chests of Fortune also out there among the Fleets of Fortune marked by a distinctive red ship cloud, the emergent world is very much alive…

    And as always, a new Season includes a range of new rewards to enjoy. 100 new levels of Renown come with unique cosmetics and currency to claim, while the optional Plunder Pass purchase offers players the chance to unlock a whole host of Well-Travelled Trader ship and clothing items. Meanwhile, the intimidating Boarhunter ship, clothing and weapon bundles make their debut in the Pirate Emporium for anyone with Ancient Coins to spend!

    Everything on offer in Sea of Thieves Season 11 is out now, ready for you to explore at your leisure. If you’re not sure how the new Voyage system works, or if you’re new to the game and just finding your feet, take a moment to check out the brand new Trading Company tutorials via your Quest Table. The Pirate Lord will walk you through everything you need to know! Or if you’re an old hand looking for a bullet-pointed breakdown, make the latest release notes your next destination.

    After that, it’s time to weigh anchor and get sailing! All the excitement of the seas is closer at hand than ever before…

    Website: LINK

  • Tekken 8 Is the Bombastic Return You Want It To Be

    Tekken 8 Is the Bombastic Return You Want It To Be

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Within the first few minutes of Tekken 8’s story mode, I was whooping at the screen as I watched the iconic Jin Kazama sprout wings, throw three cars at his dad with his mind and then proceed to body slam him through a skyscraper. I knew that if the game has started on this foot, I was in a for a good time. Tekken 8 is a rambunctious, over-the-top, callback to the absurdity of the likes of Tekken 3, and you’re going to absolutely love it.

    Tekken 8‘s story mode follows Jin Kazama’s journey to take down his father, Kazuya Mishima, who is once again hosting a tournament to find the world’s greatest fighter. Contestants from countries all over the world will compete, and those that fail will face horrible consequences unless Jin puts a stop to his antics, all the while fighting to rediscover his own devilish powers. There is more to this story, of course, but one that you’ll absolutely want to experience for yourself. Don’t worry, if you’re not up to date with the story so far, Tekken 8 offers a series of short videos that’ll catch you up on the main plot.

    A combination of 32 old and new characters grace the roster this time; the Mishima family is out in force, capers between Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law are plentiful, and Kuma and Yoshimitsu are here to respectfully squeeze and slash their foes to pieces. Tekken 8 also introduces the dazzling Peruvian MMA fighter Azucena, the sleek leader of the UN independent forces Victor Chevalier, and the fierce Reina, with mysterious ties to the Mishima family fighting style. It’s the perfect combination of recognizable personalities to ease lapsed players back in, standing alongside exciting new options that slot brilliantly into Tekken 8‘s explosive narrative.

    On top of the main Story mode, each playable fighter has their own Character Episode, a digestible session consisting of five fights that rewards you with a short cutscene about what they’ve been up to surrounding the events of Tekken 8. This is an excellent return to the silliness of older Tekken instalments; watching these characters indulge in their own wacky escapades outside of the Mishima conflict is infinitely joyous. Spoiling any of these cutscenes would be a disservice to the discerning Tekken fan, so I’ll let you discover them, but I’d recommend you make a beeline for Law’s for a taste of how wacky it can get.

    Stepping back into a fighting stance can feel daunting, especially to someone that hasn’t played Tekken for a long time (myself included), but Tekken 8‘s controls are built to feel intuitive and comfortable for every type of player. The first few fights with Jin felt like stepping into an old pair of shoes; familiar moves and combos flew from the deepest recesses of my mind and landed with crystal clarity like I’d never been away. If you don’t have that basic familiarity, the new Special Style Mode is here to support newcomers and returning players one step further – pressing LB switches your controls to a much simpler style, and allows your character to perform complex, powerful moves with less need to memorize and hit the right buttons, which is a massive, welcome win for accessibility.

    While a robust single-player experience has been offered up, it’s Tekken 8‘s multiplayer and competitive modes that will entice many players. The online area feels like a whole new game in itself – you’ll need to create a custom cartoon avatar before heading to an online plaza. Here, you’ll find Arcade Quest, a hybrid of tutorial and challenge that pits you against increasingly difficult computer-controlled foes, while the new Super Ghost Battle mode lets you take on fights against an AI that will replicate your playstyle in order to help you improve. Tekken has a highly competitive multiplayer scene, so this addition makes for a nice entry into online play for the uninitiated.

    Once you’re ready to take on the world, those hunting for a simple PvP experience can head over to a set of different arcade machines; two players can sit down opposite each other and engage in a three-round fight, with options to rematch, switch characters or simply wander off after a shameful defeat. It’s a sleek, interactive system that replicates the feel of hanging out in a real arcade, rather than sitting in a static menu waiting for a match. If a player quits, you’re left to practise your moves until you’re matched with another player. In-between matches, you can explore the plaza, spectate other battles, or spend a little time customizing your avatar or Tekken fighters.

    A familiar mode also makes its return – Tekken Ball. First introduced in Tekken 3, the object of the mini-game is to defeat your opponent by thwacking a big ball towards them, using your regular moves to power up the impact of the hit. It feels exactly as I remember it; and its inclusion feels like yet another nod back to classic Tekken.

    The Tekken team has built an incredible step up for this iconic series, and it’s the perfect time to jump back in. Committed players will find more of the game they love; a belting story, stylish and fulfilling combat, wrapped up in a number of breathtaking settings and stages. This is Tekken at its very best; high-voltage, endlessly enjoyable and pushed to the absolute limit of its own rampant silliness.

    But Tekken 8 also has its eyes on the back of the room, the lapsed fans and the retired fighters. One particular battle in the Story Mode hits a crescendo as the electrifying riffs of Jin’s theme, first heard in Tekken 3, erupt into the arena. If you’re a long-time fan, or a casual onlooker from the ringside, Tekken 8 sees you, and it’s saying ‘welcome home.’

    Fist Meets Fate on January 26. Tekken 8 is available on Xbox Series X|S.

    TEKKEN 8
    Xbox Live

    TEKKEN 8

    Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    The TEKKEN series is breaking into a new era!
    The longest-running story in a video game franchise is coming back with state-of-the-art graphics and powerful new rivalries.
    Stay tuned for TEKKEN 8!

    Website: LINK

  • Diving Deeper into the World of Avowed

    Diving Deeper into the World of Avowed

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    “For us, creating these choices, like the big ones that affect the outcome of a quest, or the wellbeing of certain characters or communities are just as important as the smaller choices that you make in navigating a dialogue and, in subtle ways, influencing your relationship with another character,” said Patel. “All of it is really centered around letting the player be the main character in this setting.” 

    It’s important to note that for all we’ve now seen of Avowed, there’s much, much more to explore throughout the Living Lands. In fact, the specific quest in Shatterscarp we covered “is entirely discoverable, which means it’s also entirely missable.” In terms of scope of the game, Paramo compares with another recent Obsidian title, “it’s open-zone, size comparable to The Outer Worlds areas on the larger side, and [with] multiple paths essentially to tackle combat situations, or avoid them.” 

    According to Patel, sharp-eyed players will have much more to seek out throughout their time with Avowed: “One of the big delights of being a developer on a game like this is creating so much for players to find, and knowing that not everybody’s going to seek it out, and not everybody’s gonna find it, but knowing that the players who do are really going to enjoy the secrets they discover.” 

    Avowed launches this fall on Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC – for more information please visit the Avowed website. 

    Avowed
    Xbox Live

    Avowed

    Xbox Game Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.
    Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands – an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder? The Weird and Wonderful Living Lands
    The Living Lands is a place that feels foreign yet somewhat intrinsic to you as it feels the island itself is calling out to you for help. Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem. Visceral Combat to Play Your Way
    Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way. Dig into your grimoire for spells to trap, freeze or burn enemies, bash them with your shield, or use range bows to attack from a distance. Companions as part of your journey
    Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities. From a former mercenary to an eccentric wizard, they will be part of your journey with your choices shaping them as you help them with their quests.

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox Developer_Direct: All the News and Announcements

    Xbox Developer_Direct: All the News and Announcements

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    It’s going to be a good year for Xbox players. At today’s Developer_Direct show, we provided deep-dives into five new games launching across Xbox Series X|S, PC, Game Pass and/or cloud – all of which will arrive later in 2024. Development teams at Xbox, Bethesda, and even one of our third-party partners invited you into their studios to showcase extended gameplay, reveal key information, and more.

    During the show, we visited the studios behind Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, and Ara: History Untold to find out more about each one. Members of each development team gave us a look into their creation, with new information, and offered a tantalizing glimpse of what’s to come this year. All four of these games will arrive on day one with Game Pass, and will contribute to what’s going to be another huge year for members, delivering incredible games throughout 2024.

    Plus, in a special surprise, we heard from the team at Square Enix to learn a lot more about Visions of Mana, the first new mainline entry in the Mana series in over 15 years, and its debut on Xbox platforms. With participation from developers on 3 continents, it was a truly global show.

    Here’s a summary of everything we announced and covered during Developer_Direct:

    Avowed – Launching Fall 2024

    Xbox Series X/S, PC, Cloud – Joining Game Pass on Day One

    Avowed Image

    Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel gave us a first deep-dive into the gameplay in Obsidian’s upcoming fantasy action RPG, from its dynamic combat, to its thoughtful reactivity, to its “colorful, vibrant, strange” world set in the Living Lands. Avowed continues Obsidian’s signature style of creating games with deep themes and player choice at the forefront.

    Not only will you make narrative decisions that can impact changes in the game down the line, but Avowed is also looking to offer choice in combat. Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo discussed not only how varied your weaponry will be – with melee weapons, ranged guns and bows, and magic-based wands (even dual-wielded wands!) to name a few – but how flexible combat can be, allowing you to quickly change loadouts for enemy encounters. Swappable loadouts mean you can approach combat however feels right to you.

    Art Director Matt Hansen then explained how the Living Lands is a mysterious island made up of wildly varied regions offering visually diverse backdrops and intriguing settings to explore. With secrets hidden throughout the regions, you’ll take in barren deserts, verdant forests, blighted wastes, volcanic biomes, and more.

    That’s not all for Avowed, however – make sure to tune in to the Xbox Podcast on Monday, January 22 for an exclusive interview with some of Obsidian’s developers, offering even more information on the gameplay reveal.

    Get ready to carve your own path through Avowed when it launches this fall for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Cloud – and arrives with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass on day one. For more information please visit the Avowed website.

    Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II – Launching May 21

    Xbox Series X/S, PC, Cloud – Joining Game Pass on Day One

    Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Image

    Ninja Theory took us behind the scenes at their studio in Cambridge to take a look at Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, meet some of the team and learn more about the craft behind their new title, which is now in the final months of development.

    In the video we learned more about Senua’s new journey, which leads her to Iceland, a harsh and brutal land ravaged by myth and tyranny. We were given a new look at Senua’s experiences of the world, seen through her eyes as someone who experiences psychosis, and saw some of Senua’s visceral and violent battles with the Draugar. We also heard more detail on what players can expect from the game’s story and how binaural and spatial audio will sink player’s deep into the world of Hellblade.

    With a studio mission of crafting life-changing art with game-changing tech, Ninja Theory are pushing the boundaries of fidelity, richness and immersion. You can join Senua on her new quest, May 21. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is available to wishlist on Steam and pre-install on Xbox Game Pass now.

    Visions of Mana – Launching Summer 2024

    Xbox Series X|S, PC

    Visions of Mana Image

    In a surprise appearance, Square Enix joined the show to present Visions of Mana, the first new mainline entry in the series in over 15 years, and its debut on Xbox platforms. Series producer Masaru Oyamada presented a sneak peek at the gorgeous new RPG, sharing gameplay and behind the scenes footage before its launch in Summer 2024.

    Koichi Ishii – father of the Mana series and creator of many of its iconic monsters – discussed the implementation and design of the enemies in Visions of Mana, and introduced the adorable new animal companions, “pikuls” and explained the design process behind them.

    Oyamada then shared some details regarding the game’s score and revealed that the tracklist for Visions of Mana contains 100 songs in total, including works from musical talent who worked on previous Mana games. Oyamada also shared details of the adaptive music system that allows seamless transition from map exploration to battles, demonstrating a snippet of the background music changing as you enter or leave combat.

    Oyamada also revealed that in Visions of Mana, The Elementals will assist the player in battle in the form of specialized items, which will each have a different effect in combat. Combined with aerial combat that allows for weapons and magic to be used in mid-air, the combat is fast-paced and flexible.

    Visions of Mana launches Summer 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC!

    Ara: History Untold – Launching Fall 2024

    PC – Joining PC Game Pass on Day One

    Ara: History Untold Image

    The key leads at Oxide Games debuted an all-new look at gameplay and shared an overview of the key features coming to Ara: History Untold during today’s Developer Direct. Viewers learned more about Ara’s crafting system, unique approach to simultaneous turns, and more.

    You can learn more about this innovative new historical grand strategy game with our in-depth interview with Design Director Michelle Menard and we will have more to share in the coming months leading up to Ara’s launch this fall on PC and with PC Game Pass. For the latest breaking news follow the Ara: History Untold social channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram/Threads) and wishlist the game on Steam.

    Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – Launching 2024

    Xbox Series X/S, PC – Joining Game Pass on Day One

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htGnW6YNPjs?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The official reveal of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was debuted during Developer_Direct with over 13 minutes of gameplay footage and developer insights. This new journey starring the legendary archaeologist comes from the award-winning team at MachineGames – the minds behind Wolfenstein: The New Order and Wolfenstein: The New Colossus – in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games and executive produced by Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard. Find out more on Bethesda.net.

    Other Streams

    Blizzard held a Diablo IV Developer Update Livestream earlier today that dug into the horrors waiting for you beneath the sands of Kehjistan in Season of the Construct, launching January 23, and introduced the competitive leaderboard activity called The Gauntlet. Associate Director of Community Adam Fletcher, Game Design Manager Daniel Tanguay, Quest Designer Madeleine James, and Lead Class Designer Adam Jackson spoke about the new Seneschal companion, Hazard-filled dungeons called Vaults, a new Questline, and more – all of which surfaces in Season of the Construct. Additionally, the group gave a quick look at The Gauntlet leaderboards and wrapped up the livestream by answering questions from the community in a Q&A session.

    Shortly after Developer_Direct, ZeniMax Online Studios kicked off The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal, unveiling the game’s next major Chapter, including the new zone, storyline, and other major features. You’ll be able to read more about what was revealed on Xbox Wire and Bethesda.net as soon as that show concludes.

    Looking Ahead

    Today marks just a small selection of the games coming to Xbox this year. With our own studios and our incredible partners bringing a diverse set of incredible experiences to Xbox consoles, PC, Cloud, and Game Pass, there’s going to be something new for every kind of player. To find out more, make sure to return to Xbox Wire later this month, when we post a round-up of some of the most exciting games coming to Xbox platforms in 2024.

    Website: LINK

  • Visions of Mana: The Origins (and Future) of the Legendary RPG Series

    Visions of Mana: The Origins (and Future) of the Legendary RPG Series

    Reading Time: 7 minutes

    Visions of Mana is a game of many firsts. It’s the first entirely new mainline Mana game for more than 15 years. It’s the first game to offer such sprawling 3D worlds and freedom to explore them. And – perhaps most excitingly for the readers of this blog – it’s the first Mana game to release on Xbox!

    Of course, that means that some of you may not be entirely familiar with this franchise. You may be wondering: What makes this one of the most beloved Square Enix series out there? Why did this announcement and trailer for Visions of Mana shown at The Game Awards 2023 – and its surprise appearance in Developer_Direct – make people so giddy and excited?

    Let’s start by introducing you to this brand new adventure:

    What is Visions of Mana?

    This sprawling new single-player action RPG puts you in the shoes of Val – a curious and carefree young man and skilled fighter. One eventful night, his childhood friend is chosen as an alm – someone who must travel to the Mana Tree and rejuvenate the flow of mana power. Val joins her as the Soul Guard to protect her on her journey, and an epic adventure begins.

    As Val, you’ll explore vast areas, battle monsters, gain allies, and uncover the many secrets of this expansive world. And what a world it is! As you can see from the screenshots and trailer, it’s a beautifully vibrant game with rich colors and expressive characters.

    The beauty is matched by equally appealing combat. Aerial combat allows for physical and magic attacks in mid-air, and the grand and mysterious powers of the Elemental spirits can assist players in the form of specialized weapons.. It’s fast-paced, strategic, and endlessly satisfying.

    In short, it’s a perfect entry point for those of you yet to experience a Mana game, as it brings together everything great about this incredible series.

    What is the Mana series?

    The Mana games are a long-running series of fantasy RPGs that typically feature fast-paced, action-based combat, appealing visuals and music, and stories that center around themes of nature and the majestic Mana Tree.

    It’s one of the most immediately enjoyable series, with exciting combat, colorful worlds, and a desire to always innovate. Here’s how Mana Series Producer Masaru Oyamada defines it:

    “There are different opinions on what makes a Mana game – as the Series Creator Koichi Ishii always tries to do something new with each game after all.

    “I think we’ve managed to capture all of these elements in one consistent visual style for Visions of Mana, which really reflects the spirit of the series.”

    Masaru Oyamada, Mana Series Producer

    “But from my own perspective, I think there’s very much a distinctive Mana style that is easily recognizable to everyone. You can see it in the Tree of Mana illustrations by the great Hiroo Isono, in Mr. Ishii’s unforgettable monsters, and in the characters that inhabit these worlds.

    “I think we’ve managed to capture all of these elements in one consistent visual style for Visions of Mana, which really reflects the spirit of the series.”

    Each Mana game is a standalone adventure, with its own characters, stories and even gameplay mechanics. There’s rarely any narrative connection between them – instead they’re connected by elements like repeating monsters, such as the adorable rabites.

    In other words, you can jump into any Mana game as if it’s your first, and Visions of Mana is no different. In fact, it’s a particularly great place to start as it’s the first entirely new mainline Mana game in more than 15 years!

    A Brief History of Mana

    Yes, it’s really that many years! The Mana series is one of the longest-running and most beloved RPG series out there, harking all the way back to the long-long-ago of 1991.

    Introductions of Mana

    Final Fantasy Adventure/Mystic Quest, from Collection of Mana (2019)
    Final Fantasy Adventure/Mystic Quest, from Collection of Mana (2019)

    You’d be forgiven for not realizing the first game was the beginnings of the series, as for its North American release the first game was titled Final Fantasy Adventure, and – to make things even more confusing – in Europe, it went by the name Mystic Quest (Of course, that’s not to be confused with the 16-bit Mystic Quest, which is an entirely different game. And one that has an alternate name in Europe too – Mystic Quest Legend. As you can see, regional game-naming could get very convoluted back in the 90s).

    Whichever name it went by, Final Fantasy Adventure can be considered the first Mana game. It put players in the shoes of a bold hero who must prevent the Dark Lord and his assistant Julius from destroying the Tree of Mana and thus the world.

    Many of the elements that would come to define the series started here – action-based combat, themes of nature and the Tree of Mana, incredible music, and a strong visual style.

    Secrets of Mana

    Secret of Mana (2018 Remake)
    Secret of Mana (2018 Remake)

    Final Fantasy Adventure/Mystic Quest was a hit with players and critics alike and made a strong start for the series. But it was the second game in the series, 1993’s 16-bit Secret of Mana, where it truly defined its identity.

    This incredible RPG introduced many of the familiar monsters and gameplay elements that continue into Visions of Mana, such as the ring menu for quickly selecting spells and items. It’s also overflowing with personality – this is a game where you’ll battle ducks wearing army-issue helmets, fast-travel through a cannon man operated cannon and meet and help Santa Claus.

    It was followed up by the then Japan-exclusive Trials of Mana – another celebrated RPG of its time.

    Generations of Mana

    Legend of Mana
    Legend of Mana (2021 Remaster)

    The next game in the series, 2000’s (released 1999 in Japan) Legend of Mana, was another boldly experimental game, which gave players unprecedented freedom over how their adventure unfolded. Its beautiful visuals, sublime soundtrack and unstructured approach to storytelling made for a unique game that won many fans.

    As the new millennium progressed, more Mana games would be released, including a portable remake of Final Fantasy Adventure titled Sword of Mana, dungeon-crawler Children of Mana, the last new Mana game to be released on consoles, Dawn of Mana, and even a real time strategy game for handhelds, Heroes of Mana.

    Over the last decade, there have also been a number of rereleases and remakes, which introduced a new generation of fans to this incredible series. Even so, there was an appetite for something new – and now it’s arriving as Visions of Mana.

    “It’s been around 10 years since I took over as Mana series producer, but one of my ambitions from the beginning was to put out a completely new game on consoles.”

    Masaru Oyamada, Mana Series Producer

    Producer Oyamada explains why it was finally time for a new console adventure:

    “It’s been around 10 years since I took over as Mana series producer, but one of my ambitions from the beginning was to put out a completely new game on consoles.”

    “However, there had already been quite a gap since the previous entry when I took the reins of the series, so I was a little unsure as to how many fans actually wanted to see a new Mana game.”

    “So first, we decided to release various remakes and remasters to both renew interest among past fans of the series and give newcomers a chance to experience the series. Following the good reputation for the Trials of Mana remake, it became clear that we could realistically make the kind of game we’d long been imagining.”

    “Visions of Mana is that game.”

    Which Brings Us to Visions of Mana

    Visions of Mana Screenshot

    Visions of Mana offers a fresh new take on the series, with large areas to explore and a rich story, all portrayed with a beautifully colorful visual style.

    That was something that the team was particularly eager to capture, as Mr. Oyamada explains:

    “I asked the development team to try to create character models that captured the atmosphere of character designer HACCAN’s illustrations, and experiment to see if they could make a world that incorporated the beautiful depictions of nature from the artist Mr. Hiroo Isono.

    “During this process of experimentation, I also managed to secure the support from Mr. Koichi Ishii, the creator of the Mana series and designer of many of its classic monsters, asking him to oversee the updating of his past monster designs into 3D for current generation graphics. All this led to a world that I felt was recognizable at a glance as being from the Mana series.

    “With the visuals and the setting decided on, the team was inspired to come up with many different ideas about what kinds of battle mechanics and gameplay elements would work best in this gorgeous world, filled with nature and overflowing with the power of the Elementals. These were gradually worked up into the final game.”

    Visions of Mana will release in Summer 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and on Windows PC. To stay up to date with news about the game, be sure to follow the team on social media:

    But we’ll had hand over to Mr. Oyamada for the final word:

    “Visions of Mana takes the core elements that made the Mana series, such as the warm and inviting world, monsters and epic tales of new encounters and emotional farewells and pushes them to a new level. And it’s coming the Xbox for the first time!

    “We’re working hard to get the game ready, and I hope Xbox fans look forward to an awesome experience!”

    Website: LINK

  • Experience a Brutal Journey of Cinematic Immersion in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on May 21

    Experience a Brutal Journey of Cinematic Immersion in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on May 21

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Hello, Dom here, Studio Head at Ninja Theory. As I write this, we are now in the final few months of development on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, preparing for our launch Day One on Xbox Game Pass and across Xbox Series X|S, Windows and Steam on May 21. It was a pleasure to give you all a deeper insight into Senua’s next journey, our studio and our talented team in Developer Direct.  

    Since the release of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Ninja Theory has transitioned from being an independent team to one that sits within Xbox Game Studios. Although this has seen change for Ninja Theory, particularly in terms of the support now available to us for striving towards our ambitions, what has not changed is our passion and commitment to our studio mission – to craft life-changing art with game changing tech.  

    This might sound like a lofty mission, but it is something we are proud to have achieved before in Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – a game built in a space we called ‘Independent AAA’, where we worked with the creative spirit and freedom of independent development but strove for the types of high-end production values often only associated with AAA games. We also took advantage of the freedom that digital-only distribution offered us to create a game of the length that fit perfectly with our intended experience but could be sold at a lower price to reflect the shorter length of our story. This framework allowed us to focus on the things we really care about – taking our fans on an unforgettable journey into Senua’s unique world. 

    In Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, our approach is the same. Although we are no longer an independent studio, our creative spirit has in fact been emboldened by our joining of Xbox Game Studios, and in this new chapter of Senua’s life we have been able to push our production values way beyond what we were able to achieve previously. So, my message to players is that if you loved Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, or if you enjoy narrative-led experiences of cinematic immersion, we are building Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II for you.  

    Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II will be a game crafted from the heart – a game similar in length to the first Hellblade, with a focused narrative, and sold digital-only at a price of $49.99 USD. And you can once again expect to join Senua in understanding her world through perception puzzles led by her experiences of psychosis, in brutal and visceral combat and in traversal gameplay, this time across the harsh but beautiful landscapes of 10th Century Iceland. Crucially, all these elements are intertwined in a unique visual and audio experience, where everything is in service of Senua’s story. So, you can expect more of the same, but this time with the support to push our ambitions for immersion, fidelity and richness far further than before.  

    I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all our fans across the world. Your well wishes and support is what drives us on. In Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II we want to make it as easy as possible for you all to enjoy Senua’s journey and so we have increased the breadth of our localization to 26 subtitled languages – including Arabic, Ukrainian and, of course, the language of the land of our journey: Icelandic! 

    Know that here at Ninja Theory, our partners and collaborators across music, mental health, art and technology are working hard to bring you, once again, a special experience. We look forward to you joining Senua’s new journey on May 21.  

    Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is available to pre-install on Xbox Game Pass and wishlist on Steam now. 

    Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
    Xbox Live

    Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II

    Xbox Games Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without. Sink deep into the next chapter of Senua’s story, a crafted experience told through cinematic immersion, beautifully realised visuals and encapsulating sound.

    Website: LINK

  • Exoprimal: The Hunt Is On With a New 10-Player Monster Hunter-Themed Co-op Mission

    Exoprimal: The Hunt Is On With a New 10-Player Monster Hunter-Themed Co-op Mission

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Hi, everyone! Your local, friendly Aibius Corp. PR rep here to tell you about the latest free Title Update coming to Exoprimal, and just in time, too – Exoprimal is on sale for 50% off across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC now through January 30! Buckle up because we have two new 10-player co-op missions with boss fights – including a truly special Monster Hunter crossover – new Exosuit variants to take for a spin, a new map to explore, more rigs and modules to augment your gameplay, and out-of-this-world cosmetics that’ll have you looking like you’re living in 3043 while everyone else is stuck in 2043. Don’t check your calendar, check out what we have in store for you!

    We’re proud to share that our roster of Exosuits will be expanding with a set of unlockable β (Beta) variant suits! Just like the α (Alpha) suits before them, these suits have unique weapons that change up the way you play, adding new ways to roast dinosaurs and toast the competition. And that’s not the only roster that’s getting an upgrade: the list of missions provided by Leviathan, who we’ll remind you is our extremely stable, reliable, and trustworthy AI, is also expanding with two new 10-player co-op missions!

    Exoprimal Screenshot
    The Barrage Beta Variant Exosuit

    First up, we have the Neo Triceratops. This multi-horned terror has been uphanced on its journey through time, resulting in fun-tastic mutations that you wouldn’t see on a normal dinosaur. While a typical Triceratops is a challenge on its own, this is a particularly vicious fight that requires rival squads to work together as a team of 10. Skilled Exofighters who exhibit how teamwork makes the dream work will be rewarded with bonus existence. Do your best out there!

    In addition, Aibius Research and Development has recorded what appears to be a Rathalos from the Monster Hunter series (based on data recovered from charred Exosuits). While we’ve seen our fair share of dinosaurs, we haven’t seen anything quite like this. Rathalos is capable of flight, fire breathing, and devastating attacks with its tail, claws, and body. We’ve even received reports that small, raptor-like creatures called Velociprey tend to show up alongside the Rathalos as well. Good luck coming back in one piece! Remember, per your employee agreement, Aibius is not responsible for any on-the-job loss of pieces.

    Following in the footsteps of Monster Hunter: World, seasoned Exofighters may begin to see monster tracks across a variety of maps while working towards Dino Survival objectives. In Monster Hunter: World, gathering up enough tracks will help guide you to the monster that you’re looking for. What do you suppose that means if you gather enough of them in Exoprimal? (That’s your cue to go find some tracks, Exofighters!)

    Exoprimal Screenshot
    The new Stealth Rig in action.

    We’re also pleased to bring some additional information on this monstrous encounter to you, courtesy of Exoprimal’s development team!

    Several members of Exoprimal’s dev team have also worked on Monster Hunter titles in the past, so they felt that bringing these two worlds together was a natural fit. It makes sense, really, as both Exoprimal and Monster Hunter are about a team of people working together to take down fearsome foes. When fans expressed their hopes that there would be a crossover with Monster Hunter in the future, the Exoprimal team decided that they’d lock it in.

    In addition, the Rathalos is an iconic monster from the storied series, so it felt like a natural fit to include this flying wyvern as both a representative of Monster Hunter and as a formidable threat in Exoprimal. Based on player feedback and the popularity of 10-player missions, the dev team adjusted the scope of this boss battle to ensure it was both fun and challenging for a 10-player hunting party.

    Valentine’s Day skins.

    The dev team also made sure that the Rathalos’ movements and attacks are true to Monster Hunter, re-creating the thrill of the hunt for Exofighters while reinforcing the role-based co-op gameplay and strategy that Exoprimal is built on. We won’t spoil the details, but fans of Monster Hunter who know the tricks of the trade will have an edge when it comes to fighting the Rathalos. Meeting certain conditions will also change the in-game music. Make sure you’re communicating with your fellow Hunters – er, Exofighters – to work together and make your hunt successful!

    That about wraps things up for us, but there’s even more included in Exoprimal’s Season 3 update, including new Monster Hunter cosmetics, a new season of the Survival Pass, limited-time campaigns for Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day, and a Double XP Campaign on top of the rigs, modules, map, Exosuit variants, and boss fight missions we already mentioned. Exoprimal is available now for 50% off, so don’t miss out on your opportunity to pick it up while it’s on sale and join the hunt on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (also available with Game Pass)!

    Exoprimal
    Xbox Live
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Exoprimal

    CAPCOM CO., LTD.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 587

    ★★★★★

    $59.99 $29.99

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    Exoprimal is an online, team-based action game that pits humanity’s cutting-edge exosuit technology against history’s most ferocious beasts – dinosaurs.​​ Exosuits are grouped into different roles, and players will pilot these exosuits to hold firm against overwhelming dinosaur swarms in online-only, team-based action game modes.
    Dino Survival, the main game mode, sees two teams of five players compete in a variety of PvE and PvP missions.
    Players will be transported to the scene of the latest dinosaur outbreak and follow Leviathan’s guidance to complete objectives. The team that completes the mission first will emerge victorious. Whether players are engaging the other team directly, or fighting alongside them against a common enemy, the aim is to accomplish objectives as quickly as possible. Missions vary depending on player skill and other factors, meaning no two matches will unfold the same way.

    Website: LINK

  • How Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Builds on Rayman’s Platforming Legacy 

    How Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Builds on Rayman’s Platforming Legacy 

    Reading Time: 9 minutes

    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches tomorrow, January 18, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, and is available now with a Ubisoft+ subscription or for purchasers of the Digital Deluxe Edition. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an adventure inspired by Persian mythology and the Metroidvania genre, in which players step into the boots of Sargon – the youngest member of Persia’s most elite warriors, the Immortals – and brave the dangers of the mysterious Mount Qaf on a journey to save the kidnapped Prince Ghassan. Wielding acrobatic parkour abilities, mystical time powers, and fluid, combo-driven sword skills, Sargon discovers a world shattered by a time curse, where he’ll battle sand zombies, screen-filling monsters, and even alternate versions of himself. 

    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind Rayman Origins and Rayman Legends – and some of those games’ DNA persists in Sargon’s adventure, particularly when it comes to platforming. Like Rayman and crew, Sargon has a certain rhythm and bounce to his movements that helps make exploration a blast, and a lot of his time is spent navigating deviously designed platforming sequences that dare players to thread their way through gauntlets of spikes and traps with increasingly less room for error. To find out more about this connection, and how Ubisoft Montpellier’s experience on the Rayman games helped shape Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, we spoke with Game Director Mounir Radi. 

    Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends, and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are obviously very different games, but is it fair to say the Rayman games were a starting point or reference for The Lost Crown? 

    For the platforming aspect, yes; not for the combat. Those two things are quite different, but for the platforming aspect, the flow, we are talking about how to convey the weight of your character and the musicality. When we are talking about level design and the way you progress through levels, I like to compare Rayman and Prince of Persia to musical partitions, and this is where we used our expertise the most in mastering the flow of progression. 

    Some developers tend to build a game before a toy, and we took a lot of time to make a toy first. Before having Sargon and his animation, we worked with just a capsule. Sargon was, for one year, a capsule – and yes, it was super weird! But if you establish a good weight, a good flow, and a good feel with the capsule first – and then bring the animation, the VFX, and the background, you can upgrade this feel in phases. If it’s the other way, you might miss something.  

    We took a lot of time after that to try to figure out how to convey Sargon’s weight, and to think about his physicality. The weight, for me, is the whole thing, and we took a lot of time figuring out the lengths of specific animations to convey it – sometimes it was just about one frame. One frame, I swear it! We were like, “One frame! No, remove this frame!” We were jumping, bouncing. And it was super-important, because while this approach is super-demanding, it pays off in the end. 

    Speaking of weight – what do you need to do differently to communicate the weight of a cartoon character like Rayman, versus a more anime-inspired hero like Sargon? What needs to be different about how they move? 

    You know, when you deal with a character who has no arms and no legs, you are not exposed to the uncanny valley. Your brain can accept everything; Rayman is using his hair to fly, and that’s OK. But when you are playing with Sargon, you are in semi-reality. You are expecting specific things from his movements. Sometimes you can trick players, but you have to do it step by step, and use specific references that players may know, so they can accept new things.  

    Sargon is an Immortal; he’s part of a specific world-building logic. Even if it’s mythological, people have weight, so when we were working with our animators and VFX team, and even with the 3D models, we took a lot of time to find the right balance. It’s during special abilities, like when you parry, when you are using fancy executions, and when you use your Athra Surge abilities, that you reach the highest point of spectacularity, of superheroic capacity. During this, we bring in these flashy colors, which is our way to indicate that you just unleashed a super ability, and you performed it the right way – because these are not something you can perform without a challenge. To perform an execution, you have to parry; to perform an Athra Surge, you have to build up your gauge. 

    So we used fighting games as a reference, like Super Smash Bros. or Street Fighter, because in those games, there’s purity in the balance between each attack; one attack, one function. That’s why there’s one button in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for attacking. 

    Musicality in the Rayman games and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is something you’ve spoken about previously, with the idea that platforming has a clear rhythm. How does that affect the shape the level design takes? How do you find a beat that works consistently?  

    It’s about foreshadowing the path for the players. We used the camera to ensure that the path is super-readable, and made sure that the blocking elements of level design present a specific variety. Imagine that you’re on the ground and you have to go upward; in some games, you’d jump three times to rise three levels, so it’s hitting the same button three times – pam, pam, pam! The same button triggers the same sound, the same animation, the same VFX. That can cause fatigue, and we tried to manage this fatigue – to bring short notes, long notes, and to be sure that players have the ability to create a partition.  

    Level design offers different ways to create different partitions, and it involves a lot of iteration, because sometimes you have friction.  Wwhen you see people being exposed to a challenge for the first time, and you know that they are in the zone, and they are able to pass the challenge, that means that you got it right. That means that you took enough time to train them before, so that they could absorb the mechanics – and that now, with their reflexes, they can predict the path. They have the ability to stay in the flow. 

    One clear callback to the Rayman games is the Xerxes Coins, which echo the Skull Coins in Rayman Origins and Legends. They float in midair close to hazards that can often be very challenging to navigate, and players need not only to grab the coins, but to land safely in order to claim them. Have the developers always had that affinity for this kind of very tight “splatforming,” or is it something that developed over time? 

    It was right from the beginning. When you’re talking about exploration, people are free to experiment with different abilities in this world. So sometimes, when you have a specific path and you give players some tools, you cannot control how they beat that path, even if there’s a specific challenge. By offering them Xerxes challenges, we were more in control. We were saying, “you have to beat it like this, to play it like this, in order to play as intended.” That was our way to get players to play specific notes in a place where they’re aware of the composition. They can use the same attacks, they can use the same amulets, they can use the same abilities to progress, but when we use Xerxes challenges, we are telling our players to play with these specific conditions or elements. 

    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has a few superficial similarities with Rayman in terms of combat – the feel of the aerial slam attacks, for example – but The Lost Crown’s combat is much more elaborate and responsive, in a way that’s rare even for Metroidvanias. How did that new approach take shape? 

    First and foremost, before even going into the Metroidvania genre, we wanted it to be a Prince of Persia game. In Prince of Persia, when you venture into the world and fight against enemies, colliding with enemies is not a danger. In a lot of Metroidvanias, enemies are obstacles: if you touch them, you’ll take a hit. But that was not what we wanted to achieve here, because for me, Prince of Persia is about experimentation.  

    In the previous games, and even in the Sands of Time trilogy, the choreographic aspect of the combat was animation-driven: You press a button, you execute an animation. Sometimes it’s a flowy animation and an execution, but there’s a balance between execution and spectacle. To make sure that this new choreography is in the hands of the player, we wanted to be sure that the game is super-responsive. So the choreographic aspect is back, but now it’s the player doing their own choreography with the toolsets we give them. 

    This is a new approach, and one intended for fairness – but also because if a player uses a defensive mechanic like a parry, dodge, or even a jump, it could cancel any animation. And that was the beginning, because this is less a vertical approach to game design, and much more of a horizontal approach to game design: Give them toolsets, amulets, and special abilities, and they can compose their own playstyle. I think that’s part of the legacy of Prince of Persia, of respecting players’ cleverness. This is authored gameplay, and players are free to compose, to create, to build their own choreography.  

    Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on January 18 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC – and players with a Ubisoft+ subscription, or who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition, can start playing Sargon’s adventure right away. Secrets and danger abound throughout Mount Qaf – along with plenty of opportunities to push your combat and platforming skills to the limit – so get ready to explore, battle, and see just how warped a time-cursed mountain citadel can become. 

    Prince of Persia The Lost Crown
    Xbox Live

    Prince of Persia The Lost Crown

    UBISOFT

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 34

    ★★★★★

    $49.99

    Pre-order to get an exclusive in-game Warrior Within outfit! Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities. UNLEASH YOUR INNER WARRIOR
    Use your Time Powers, combat, and platforming skills to perform deadly combos and defeat time-corrupted enemies and mythological creatures. LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PRODIGIOUS MOUNT QAF
    Discover a cursed Persian-inspired world filled with larger-than-life landmarks and explore a variety of highly detailed biomes, each with their own identity, wonder, and danger. LIVE AN EPIC ADVENTURE
    Immerse yourself in a Persian mythological​ fantasy through an intriguing and original story as you use your wits to solve puzzles, find hidden treasures, and complete quests to learn more about this corrupted place. This game leverages Smart Delivery allowing access to both the Xbox One title and the Xbox Series X|S title.

    Website: LINK

  • Minecraft Education and BBC Earth Release New DLC Inspired by Planet Earth III

    Minecraft Education and BBC Earth Release New DLC Inspired by Planet Earth III

    Reading Time: < 1 minute

    The post Minecraft Education and BBC Earth Release New DLC Inspired by Planet Earth III appeared first on Xbox Wire.

    Website: LINK

  • Final Fantasy XIV Online Open Beta Now Available on Xbox Series X|S

    Final Fantasy XIV Online Open Beta Now Available on Xbox Series X|S

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Summary

    • Critically Acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online has officially launched into Open Beta on Xbox Series X|S
    • Boasting 4K support on Xbox Series X and faster loading times on both consoles, all progress will carry over to the full launch
    • Our Starter Guide Series offers tips and tricks to make your early steps into the realm of Eorzea even better

    It’s been a long old journey, but we’re thrilled to finally be able to say critically acclaimed Online RPG Final Fantasy XIV Online is officially available on Xbox Series X|S!

    Today’s launch into Open Beta offers Xbox players the full breadth of content available in the much-hyped Free Trial, with more to come when the full release arrives. Better yet, all progress will carry over, so let’s take a look at what’s on offer as well as give you some tips and tricks about how to start your adventures in Eorzea!

    What is Final Fantasy XIV Online?

    We covered this in detail last time, but Final Fantasy XIV Online is an online massively multiplayer role-playing game boasting a global community over 30 million adventurers strong, and widely regarded as having one of the most welcoming communities on the internet.

    Despite the title, a key point is that Final Fantasy XIV Online is a standalone game that doesn’t require any previous experience with the franchise, making it the perfect place to jump in. Expect a world filled with bustling cities, towering forests and deadly deserts, with a constantly updated and ever-engaging world taking you to the far reaches of the land—and beyond—with a captivating and ongoing story.

    If multiplayer games feel a bit overwhelming, FFXIV includes a feature called the Duty Support system that enables tackling content with a party of NPC allies as opposed to other players. This now spans all the main story dungeons currently in the game, meaning you can experience the award-winning narrative all on your own.

    What’s Available Now… and What’s Coming Next?

    Today’s launch into Open Beta brings all the content available in the Free Trial to Xbox Series X|S. This means you can enjoy the entirety of A Realm Reborn as well as the award-winning Heavensward and Stormblood expansions up to level 70, with no restrictions on playtime!

    All progress made will carry over to the full release when it arrives, giving you plenty of time to get up to speed before our newest expansion, Dawntrail arrives in Summer… but more on that another time!

    Any Tips and Tricks for Beginners?

    With a world as big as FFXIV’s, it can be a bit overwhelming to know where to start. Thankfully, our Starter Guide series has your back. The seven-part video series offers early tips and tricks for new players to get the most out of their adventures in Eorzea. The series follows the journey of new player Kaz and his mentor Mayra, who guides him through his first steps in FFXIV.

    Each episode is designed to assist with beginning your journey, whether playing solo at your own pace, or joining others to explore the world together. If you’re a more experienced Warrior of Light, feel free to share this series with friends who are just taking the first steps of their adventures!

    You can check out the whole series here: https://starter-guide.finalfantasyxiv.com/

    That’s all for today – we’re so excited to welcome you to Eorzea, and can’t wait to share more information on Dawntrail very soon indeed! Until then, happy adventuring!

    Website: LINK

  • How to Watch the Xbox Developer_Direct 2024 on Thursday, January 18

    How to Watch the Xbox Developer_Direct 2024 on Thursday, January 18

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    January 18 is going to be an incredible day for Xbox players. Developer_Direct returns this Thursday at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK, and will bring you a deep-dive into some of the biggest games coming to Xbox platforms. We’re sure you want to know more, so here are all the details on how to tune in.

    Developer_Direct will share new, extended gameplay and developer insights for the upcoming Indiana Jones game, Avowed, Ara: History Untold, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II straight from the teams at MachineGames, Obsidian, Oxide Studios, and Ninja Theory.

    It’s going to be a big day for the Xbox family, with two other livestreams taking place. Earlier in the day, Blizzard will host a Diablo IV Developer Update Livestream at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm UK. Shortly after Developer_Direct, ZeniMax Online Studios will hostThe Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK to preview 2024’s biggest update.

    When is Developer_Direct? Thursday, January 18 at 12pm Pacific Time / 3pm Eastern Time / 8pm UK time.

    How do I watch Developer_Direct? Developer_Direct will be streamed live on the official Xbox and Bethesda channels below:

    The show will also be streamed simultaneously on regional Xbox and Bethesda channels around the globe, as well as on Steam. It will also air on China’s Bilibili platform on Friday, January 19.

    I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? A full recap will go live immediately following the show (including localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese following later). Xbox Wire will also publish detailed blog posts about select games from the show.

    Notes for co-streamers and creators: 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 full post-show breakdowns of Developer_Direct in the form of 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.

    How do I watch the Diablo IV Developer Update Livestream? At 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm UK, Blizzard will unearth details about the next season’s gameplay features, Season Journey, and quality-of-life updates. Plus, Blizzard will also share information about The Gauntlet. You can watch the event on Diablo’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

    How do I watch the Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal stream? Shortly after Developer_Direct, ZeniMax Online Studios will hostThe Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK to preview 2024’s biggest update. Streamed from Bethesda’s official Twitch channel at Twitch.tv/Bethesda (with Twitch Drops!) and via global Xbox YouTube and Twitch channels, the standalone presentation will see the development team unveil the game’s next major Chapter, including the new zone, storyline, and other major features.

    Will there be updates on Activision Blizzard King games? No new information on Activision Blizzard King games will be a part of Developer_Direct. You can look forward to news from those teams later this year.

    When will the games in the show be released? All the games in this year’s Developer_Direct will be arriving later, with more details to be shared in the program.

    We’ll see you for Developer_Direct on Thursday, January 18!

    Website: LINK

  • Persona 3 Reload: How Atlus Reimagined a Classic RPG

    Persona 3 Reload: How Atlus Reimagined a Classic RPG

    Reading Time: 2 minutes

    “We’ve done a lot of surveys with users and fans, and whenever we did a survey on what people wanted to see as a remake for the Persona series, the number one answer was always Persona 3,” P3R Producer Ryota Niitsuma told me. “After Persona 5 Royal came out, the Persona team was ready for another project and we were trying to think about what to do. We were saying, ‘Hey, a remake could be pretty good. Everybody wants to see Persona 3, so this is the right time.’ The stars have aligned.” 

    Respecting the impact that the original had on players, the team wanted to preserve the core of Persona 3, while also bridging the 15 year plus gap since it released, and all of the technological advances in that timeframe.  

    “When [the original Persona 3] first came out, I really thought that both then and now that this game is just incredible, something that, even though many years have passed in the interval, the colors of them haven’t faded,” shared Game Director Takuya Yamaguchi.

    “I wanted to leave all of the parts that made Persona 3 what it was, all the parts that made up the core of how beautiful it was, as-is, but then try to address the things that have changed in the interim…  I wanted users to think that when they played this game. ‘I’m playing, not a remake of something old, but I’m playing something that is the newest entry to the Persona series.’” 

    Website: LINK

  • Latest Forza Motorsport Update Brings Daytona and More to Players

    Latest Forza Motorsport Update Brings Daytona and More to Players

    Reading Time: 5 minutes

    Get ready for race weekend with Daytona, new Spotlight cars and the Italian Challengers Tour.

    Forza Motorsport Update 4 introduces the prestigious Daytona International Speedway – a truly iconic racetrack renowned for its marvels in engineering. Meanwhile, a new Italian Challengers Featured Tour invites you to build four staples of Italy’s automotive heritage! Let’s dive into the details.

    Update 4 will be available to download on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PCs and Steam beginning on Tuesday, January 16. New events across the Career, Featured Multiplayer and Rivals will start on Thursday, January 18.

    On Tuesday we’ll share details about the fixes contained in Update 4. This version is focused on new content and events, and contains only minor fixes for car and track content compared to our previous updates. Work on game fixes to address top community issues is ongoing – look out for additional improvements in Update 5 and beyond.

    New Track – Daytona

    Daytona International Speedway is a historic, world-famous track with banked, high-speed corners and in Forza Motorsport, it features two distinct layouts. Master the high-velocity 2.5-mile Tri-oval Circuit and the technical, more challenging 3.59-mile Sports Car Circuit.

    Compete on both layouts in Career Mode and Featured Multiplayer, set your fastest lap times in any car class in Time Attack, or enjoy a Daytona race day either solo or with your friends in Free Play and Private Multiplayer. We’ll also have a special Daytona Sports Car Series in Featured Multiplayer to replicate the excitement of the iconic race weekend.

    Daytona International Speedway was built in 1959 by NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., who wanted to create a track that was faster than any other in the world. Since then, it has hosted several races including the annual Daytona 500, as well as IndyCar and IMSA. The track was renovated in 2016 with the installation of 101,500 seats, making it one of the largest stadiums in the United States!

    With the release of Update 4, select existing Builders Cup series will be updated to integrate Daytona, Hockenheim, and Yas Marina.

    Spotlight Cars – Update 4

    Spotlight cars are featured in the Showroom every week, available for you to acquire with a 30% discount using in-game credits. These cars can be used in the new Italian Challengers Tour, as well as Spotlight Series events in Featured Multiplayer and Rivals.

    Forza Motorsport VIP Members will also get an exclusive 15% discount on the 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV in the Showroom for a limited time.

    Car Pass – Update 4

    Here is your Forza Motorsport Car Pass calendar for the next 4 weeks:

    Car Pass includes 30 new-to-Motorsport cars with one released every week until Car Pass is complete. Get Car Pass today in the Forza Motorsport Deluxe and Premium Editions.

    New Career Tour – Italian Challengers

    Discover how Italian cars became an unquestionable staple of the automotive industry in Italian Challengers, the new Featured Tour in Career Mode.

    It starts with All-Wheel Driven, where Lancia stands ready to take on its historic adversaries on the track as you race iconic rally machines. Then in Roadster Renaissance, step behind the wheel of the Abarth 124 Spider and battle the iconic Mazda MX-5 to discover the shared origins of these unique siblings.

    Tour the world of luxury sports sedans – a class once dominated by Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz – and experience a fierce contender in Alfa Performance. Conclude this Featured Tour with Italian beauty, craftsmanship, and speed by racing with track-focused, high-performance Ferrari cars in Prancing Power.

    Italian Challengers series do not have to be completed in a particular week – you have until February 29, 2024, to finish this latest Featured Tour. Spotlight cars are available at a discount for the week during which they are featured. Complete all 4 series to unlock the 2010 Lamborghini Murciélago LP 670-4 SV!

    New Career Series – Classic Open Class

    With each update to Forza Motorsport, the Open Tour gets refreshed with new events and a new reward car.

    Open Tour is where you can continue the journey of your favorite cars. Cars that you’ve already built in a different Builders Cup series can be further levelled up and upgraded in the Open Tour.

    In Update 4, the Open Tour is all about racing the classics. Build your favorite cars and bring them to the track to race models of automotive history.

    All 4 refreshed Open Tour series (C, B, A, S) will be available on January 18. Complete all 4 series before February 15, 2024, to add the 1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GTA Stradale to your collection.

    New Featured Multiplayer Series – Spec and Open Events

    Here’s a look at your Featured Multiplayer calendar of upcoming events for Update 4:

    Formula Mazda Series – January 18 – February 15

    With their smooth power delivery and brilliant handling, open-wheel Mazda formula cars are an ideal entry-level series to develop a driver’s skills for racing’s top classes.

    Forza P1 Series – January 18-24

    Experience cutting-edge racecars with massive aerodynamic downforce, super-efficient engines and performance-boosting hybrid systems.

    Daytona Sports Car Series – January 25-31

    Experience the thrill of Daytona race weekend in Forza Motorsport! Every few hours, the car class cycles between Forza GT, Forza P2, and Forza Proto-H with natural time-of-day progression like the real 24-hour race.

    VW Golf GTI Spec Series – February 1-7

    Get behind the wheel of the car that gave birth to the Hot Hatch revolution more than four decades ago.

    Modern Factory Racecar Series – February 8-15

    Race through a field of ultimate track day specials in the Modern Factory Racecar series. These mid-engine production cars feature unique upgrades designed to achieve the highest performance metrics and ensure victory on the track.

    Featured Rivals – Update 4

    Set your fastest lap times across new Rivals events in Forza Motorsport Update 4. Look out for a special new event featuring the classic 1990 Mercury #15 Whistler Radar Cougar XR-7 at Daytona Tri-oval Circuit.

    Meanwhile if you have VIP Membership, check out the Titanic Tuner VIP Rivals on Road America – East Route where you can drive the 2019 Subaru WRX STI S209 Forza Edition.

    Update 4 also means the beginning of Stage 3 of the Logitech McLaren G Challenge. Sign up at Discord.gg/LogitechG to qualify for prizes, including a chance to win a VIP racing experience with McLaren!

    Once registered, set your fastest laps at Grand Oak – National Circuit in the 2015 McLaren P1 GTR. The top drivers per region advance to the semifinals in February 2024.

    Here’s the Forza Motorsport Rivals calendar for Update 4:

    Website: LINK

  • Xbox to Present Developer_Direct, Returning on January 18

    Xbox to Present Developer_Direct, Returning on January 18

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    You’re about to get an exciting look at some of the incredible games ahead with Xbox, as we present a new edition of Developer_Direct. On Thursday, January 18 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK, fans will get an inside look at a selection of highly anticipated games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass. Shortly after, ZeniMax Online Studios will host The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK to preview 2024’s biggest update.

    Presented by the game creators themselves, Developer_Direct offers an in-depth look at upcoming titles, how they’re being created, and who’s creating them. We’ll visit MachineGames in Sweden to check in on their Indiana Jones game, swing by Obsidian’s Irvine offices to see more from Avowed, head to Oxide Games’ Maryland home to learn about Ara: History Untold, and take a trip to Cambridge, England to see Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II from Ninja Theory. Please note that while this show won’t have updates on games from Activision Blizzard, you can look forward to news from those teams later this year.

    The show will be a celebration of just a selection of our slate of upcoming games from Xbox. It’s also another part of our commitment to consistently bringing Xbox players can’t-miss experiences. 2024 kicked off with a bang for Game Pass members, and you can expect that line-up to include more incredible games from Xbox and our partners as the year goes on.

    Fans should tune in on Xbox channels at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK, January 18 to see all the latest on: 

    • Indiana Jones game: MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, will reveal their upcoming Indiana Jones game, an action-adventure that puts players in the leather jacket of the legendary archaeologist. Developer_Direct will showcase more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting and story, how fans will actually play as Indy, additional details from his next globe-trotting adventure, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.
    • Avowed: The team at Obsidian will share the first deep dive into the gameplay experience fans can expect in Avowed, their upcoming fantasy action RPG, set in the fantastical, vibrant Living Lands. Learn more about how Obsidian’s expertise in building worlds with deep themes, dynamic gameplay, and thoughtful reactivity come to life in Avowed where players will have agency to make choices to shape every step of their adventure.
    • Ara: History Untold: Hear from the leads at Oxide Games – a studio founded by veterans of the strategy genre and the creators behind classic strategy titles including Civilization V – as they unveil exclusive new gameplay and share more details about the inspiration, key features, and road ahead for their upcoming historical grand strategy game.
    • Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II: Ninja Theory take us behind the scenes at their studio in Cambridge to give us some insight on how they are crafting Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II. The team will speak to the ambition and meticulous care involved in creating Senua’s journey of survival.

    Shortly after Developer_Direct has concluded, ZeniMax Online Studios will host The Elder Scrolls Online 2024 Global Reveal at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm UK, a standalone presentation where the development team will unveil the game’s next major Chapter, including the new zone, storyline, and other major features coming in the game’s biggest update this year.

    Stay tuned to Xbox and Bethesda’s official social channels for more on Developer_Direct, coming on Thursday, January 18 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET / 8pm UK.

    Website: LINK

  • Take Cult Customization to the Next Level in Cult of the Lamb’s Free Sins of the Flesh Update

    Take Cult Customization to the Next Level in Cult of the Lamb’s Free Sins of the Flesh Update

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    Cult of the Lamb’s next free update is preparing to slither into our dimension on January 16. Sins of the Flesh is our biggest expansion yet, adding a bounty of wicked new content—including a new Sin resource that lets you perform the darkest Rituals yet. Whether you’re knocking back a cool glass of Poop Juice or sneaking into the Mating Tent, there are lots more ways to be bad in this unholy update.

    There’s a cult-load of fresh, awesome stuff in Sins of the Flesh, but there’s one new feature in particular that leaders who love customizing their flock will get an extra kick out of. Joining Cult of the Lamb’s cast of eccentric characters is Berith, a silkworm clothes maker. After meeting them, a new upgrade in the Divine Inspiration tree will be revealed and will allow you to build a Tailor in your cult’s base.

    You can then use gathered materials to craft new outfits for your followers, decking them out in the hottest occult fashion. Some outfits can be customized too, letting you switch between different colors and variants. Unlock new threads by embarking on Crusades or performing certain actions—such as sinking a heroic number of drinks at the Drinkhouse, a brand new base structure. Here a follower can become a bartender, mixing up drinks and serving them to the cult to generate Sin.

    The Drinkhouse and other sinful new structures will earn you Sin, which can then be used to unlock Doctrines and perform some of the gnarliest Rituals Cult of the Lamb has ever seen. You can also make the most of love connections between followers and birth new ones in the Mating Tent—or just crack the egg and harvest the yolks, you monster. But wait, that’s not all Sins of the Flesh has to offer.

    Thanks to a selection of savvy quality of life improvements, Sins of the Flesh also makes the day-to-day business of running your cult less of a chore. Now, as you clean up after your messy followers by sweeping up poop, vomit, and burnt food, your mop will gradually level up and become more powerful. The stronger it gets, the faster it sweeps. That’s right, baby: unlockable mops! Ten of ’em!

    We’ll also accept thanks in advance for the new follower auto-level feature. When you declare a Doctrine or perform a Sermon or Ritual that upgrades your followers’ level of loyalty, anyone with a full loyalty bar will automatically upgrade to the next level. We’ve also sped up Sermons, added huge new high-level storage structures, and a heap of other new improvements designed to streamline your experience.

    You can indulge in the Sins of the Flesh yourself when Cult of the Lamb’s newest, darkest update releases on January 16. Cult of the Lamb is available now for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

    Cult of the Lamb
    Xbox Live

    Cult of the Lamb

    Devolver Digital

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 303

    ★★★★★

    $24.99

    Free Trial

    *** Don’t Starve Together Crossover Update *** Don’t let the Lamb starve in this crossover update with Don’t Starve Together! We’ve cooked up a whole new game mode, new themed decorations, and a new follower form, to satisfy your hunger. Survival Mode
    The ails of mortality plague the Lamb in Penitence mode. Eating. Sleeping. You will learn how your followers struggle to survive. But a simple bed isn’t enough for a great leader. The Leader Tent is the perfect place to get your beauty sleep. An Arachnid’s Allegiance
    Webber arrives from the world of Don’t Starve Together. Can you unwrap the quest to convert them to your cult? They just don’t starve! New Crossover Decorations
    From homages to the Deerclops and Pig society, to base necessities like the science machine and alchemy engine, you can customize your cult with a whole set of decorations from Don’t Starve Together. *** Cult of the Lamb casts players in the role of a possessed lamb saved from annihilation by an ominous stranger and must repay their debt by building a loyal following in his name. Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland worshippers and spread your Word to become the one true cult. BUILD YOUR FLOCK
    Collect and use resources to build new structures, perform dark rituals to appease the gods, and give sermons to reinforce the faith of your flock. DESTROY THE NON-BELIEVERS
    Explore a sprawling, randomly generated world, fight off hordes of enemies and defeat rival cult leaders in order to absorb their power and assert your cult’s dominance. SPREAD YOUR WORD
    Train your flock and embark on a quest to explore and discover the secrets of four mysterious regions. Cleanse the non-believers, spread enlightenment, and perform mystical rituals on the journey to become the mighty lamb god.

    Website: LINK

  • Call an Emergency Meeting in Vampire Survivors’ new Among Us themed DLC, Available Today

    Call an Emergency Meeting in Vampire Survivors’ new Among Us themed DLC, Available Today

    Reading Time: 6 minutes

    Summary

    • Embark on a brand-new adventure with 9 new playable characters
    • Explore the Polus Replica map, a reproduction of a popular Among Us map
    • Battle with 15 new weapons, and rack up 20 new achievements

    Hello, Xbox Wire readers! We hope you’ve completed your tasks, as our next DLC, Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting, is out today! If you hadn’t guessed already (or read the headline), it features characters, items and hilarious gags from Among Us, courtesy of our friends at Innersloth.

    So, what’s new? Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting adds a new map, 9 new characters, 15 new weapons, 6 new music tracks, 1 new Adventure, 20 in-game-only achievements, and space ducks. Obviously. 

    Did we say new map? We meant a BRAND NEW map! Named Polus Replica, it’s an eerily accurate reproduction of the scientific base on Polus, featuring multiple bizarre biomes ripe for exploration by Survivors and Crewmates with tasks and treasure chests galore. Unfortunately, it’s also being invaded by your average space dwellers, like aliens and robots. Oh, and those space ducks. Expect the unexpected and do NOT trust the bins. Never trust the bins. Or the chicken nuggets. In fact, it’s a good idea to remain alert at all times and not trust anything.

    The minute you land on Polus Replica you’ll be blasting away baddies with Among Us tasks turned into powerful weapons. Fire the supermassive sound waves of your Report! weapon, slice angry aliens in half with Lucky Swipe, and drop duplicitous foes to their doom with Just Vent. Survivors of all kinds should seek out one of the new gameplay mechanics we added to the DLC: Mini Crewmates! They will empower your Task-based weaponry (and just offer general companionship, which is nice). 

    On top of all this new content, daring Crewmates will also find an Adventure inside the DLC. Adventures are a remixed way to play Vampire Survivors that launched a few weeks ago. Oh, and just like our previous DLCs, Legacy of the Moonspell and Tides of the Foscari, Emergency Meeting will be playable entirely solo or in local co-op for up to 4 players. We can’t take any responsibility for suspicious behavior from your friends, however.

    Lastly we want to say a big thanks to Among Us developers Innersloth who helped us a ton to make this happen. We feel our games have a lot in common, as indie games that were discovered and championed by a great community that keeps them going(Also memes)so we couldn’t have thought of a better game and team to make our first collab with! You are the real Crewmates!

    That’s it from our side, hope you have fun being the bullet hell… in spaaaace! As always, if you want the latest on all things Vampire Survivors, make sure to follow us on X, head over to our Discord, or follow the Vampire Survivors Official Xbox Clubs page. We promise, there’s nothing suspicious on any of those.

    Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting is out now for Xbox and PC, and Vampire Survivors (base game) is available via Game Pass.

    Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting

    Vampire Survivors: Emergency Meeting

    Poncle

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 2

    ★★★★★

    $2.49

    The Survivors are desperate to hunt vampires, but are running out of places to look. Only one option remains: Be the bullet hell… in space! Gather your most trusted Crewmates, prepare to eject the Impostors, and try to survive while mowing down thousands of extra-terrestrial foes in this expansion for Vampire Survivors. Turn classic Among Us tasks into outrageous weapons, upgrading your abilities after every roguelite run to overcome impossible odds with ease. Be alert to subterfuge as you explore the vast weirdness of the Polus Replica and keep your wits about you, as suspicious eyes are always watching 👀. 9 Totally Trustworthy New Characters A cast of courageous Crewmates assembled to take on the tumultuous tasks, including: Crewmate Dino – Starry-eyed, optimistic, and unfortunately extremely tasty. Dino is a jack-of-all-trades who boosts stats whenever a task is completed (i.e. when you level up a weapon). Engineer Gino – Few Crewmates come as close to truly competent task-work as Gino, who offers a selection of passive weapons from their toolbox every few levels. Ghost Lino – Good Crewmates don’t let a silly thing like death get in the way of their tasks. Lino can float through walls at will and can’t be hurt, but can’t deal damage either… what could be the goal of such suspicious game design?! Shapeshifter Nino – Look at this bean! They can do all kinds of… wait, where did they go? And where did this snowman come from? Oh well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Guardian Pina – Everyone needs an angel on their shoulder. Pina isn’t just there for moral support, though – they boost the defences of all nearby allies, and they love taking out the garbage. Impostor Rina – A fellow Crewmate that is in no way some kind of duplicitous, well-disguised killer. One hundred percent all-natural-bean, right here. Nothing to see or think about. Scientist Mina – Mina’s scientific skill is matched only by their intense clumsiness. Thankfully, dropping potentially hazardous chemicals has a major upside when you’re besieged by extra-terrestrial monsters. Horse – It’s a horse. Neigh, etc. 15 New Weapons Transform your tasks into powerful weapons to defend yourself from Impostors, Shapeshifters, and all manner of extra-terrestrial weirdos. Blast away baddies with the supermassive sound waves of your Report! weapon, slice angry aliens in half with Lucky Swipe, and drop duplicitous foes to their doom with Just Vent. Lonely Survivors should seek out Mini Crewmates to empower their Task-based weaponry (or just for general companionship). A Brand New, Perfectly Safe Stage Polus Replica – an eerily accurate replica of the scientific base on Polus. This planet is packed with bizarre biomes ripe for exploration by Survivors and Crewmates, with tasks and treasure chests galore. Unfortunately, its also accidentally being invaded by your average space dwellers, like aliens, robots, and ducks. Expect the unexpected and do NOT trust the bins. Never trust the bins. Or the chicken nuggets. In fact, it’s a good idea to remain alert at all times and not trust anything. 6 New Music Tracks ♫ Emergency Meeting
    ♫ Hide and Survive
    ♫ No Ducks Among Us
    ♫ No Aliens Among Us
    ♫ No Ghosts Among Us
    ♫ No Vampires Among Us

    Vampire Survivors
    Xbox Live
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Vampire Survivors

    Poncle

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 462

    ★★★★★

    $4.99 $3.74

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    Vampire Survivors is a time survival game with minimalistic gameplay and roguelite elements. There’s no place to hide, all you can do is try to survive a cursed night and get as much gold as possible for the next survivor, before Death inevitably puts an end to your struggles. Starting Tips: – Take your time to grab gems and items, they won’t disappear.
    – Get two or three offensive weapons at first, but focus on levelling them up one at a time.
    – Armour and Luck are good starting power-ups to spend money on.
    – Refund power-ups often, it’s free, and try new upgrade paths.

    Website: LINK

  • The Callisto Protocol: Previously Exclusive Skins Now Free to All Owners

    The Callisto Protocol: Previously Exclusive Skins Now Free to All Owners

    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    To celebrate the holidays, The Callisto Protocol is giving away previously exclusive skins to all current and future owners starting December 21 – and we wanted to debut the news with our Xbox community.

    First, by popular community demand, everyone will receive the Gore Skin Collection, previously a Twitch exclusive, for free. So, if you missed out on the Twitch Drop at launch and want to ring in the New Year by battling your way through Black Iron Prison covered in the viscera of your enemies, now’s your chance!

    We also added the Snake, Retro Prisoner, Biophage, and AMD Radeon Skin Collections for all Digital Deluxe Edition and Season Pass owners with no strings attached. Whether you’re playing through the campaign, Final Transmission story expansion, Contagion Mode or Riot Mode – players can commemorate the New Year in style. To access the skins you need to have the Season Pass content installed on your system.

    • AMD Skin
    • Biophage Skin
    • Snake Skin
    • Retro Prisoner Skin

    With the end of the year almost upon us, we looked back at the previous twelve months. We launched four DLCs alongside dozens of updates that added new modes to the game, improved the combat, and added quality of life and optimizations. But mostly we were excited to see millions of players join us to face the terrifying creatures lurking the halls and shadows of Black Iron Prison. Since The Callisto Protocol launched, players have bludgeoned, bashed, and blasted their way through the monstrosities stalking the penitentiary – but just how many abominations did players dispatch?

    With our curiosity peaked, we dug into the numbers to see just how unrelenting The Callisto Protocol players are – and they didn’t disappoint. So, to celebrate the end of the year we want to acknowledge our amazing community for liberating the horrors of Callisto from their limbs.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3uUxcFlv7Y?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

    The skin collections will be added on December 21, 2023. With new game modes, dozens of enhancements added since launch, and now all the skin collections, it’s a great time to dive into the narrative-driven, third-person sci-fi survival horror of The Callisto Protocol.

    The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S
    Xbox Live

    The Callisto Protocol™ for Xbox Series X|S

    KRAFTON, Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆ 1051

    ★★★★★

    $69.99

    In this narrative-driven, third-person survival horror game set 300 years in the future, the player will take on the role of Jacob Lee – a victim of fate thrown into Black Iron Prison, a maximum-security penitentiary located on Jupiter’s moon, Callisto. When inmates begin to transform into monstrous creatures, the prison is thrown into chaos. To survive, Jacob must battle his way to safety to escape Black Iron Prison, while uncovering the dark and disturbing secrets buried beneath the surface of Callisto. Using a unique blend of shooting and close-quarters combat, Jacob will need to adapt his tactics to combat the rapidly evolving creatures while scavenging to unlock new weapons, gear, and abilities to outrun the growing threat and escape the horrors of Jupiter’s Dead Moon. HORROR ENGINEERING
    The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation take on survival horror from the mind of Glen Schofield. Blending atmosphere, tension, and brutality with terrifying moments of helplessness and humanity, The Callisto Protocol immerses players in a pulse-pounding story where unspeakable horrors lurk around every corner. UNCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNITED JUPITER COMPANY
    Set on Jupiter’s dead moon Callisto in the year 2320, The Callisto Protocol casts players as Jacob Lee, an inmate in Black Iron Prison. When a mysterious outbreak throws the moon into chaos, Jacob must face his darkest fears to defeat the bloodthirsty creatures that stalk him as he unravels the dark mysteries at the heart of the powerful United Jupiter Company. MASTER BRUTAL, STRATEGIC COMBAT
    The Callisto Protocol challenges players to master a thrilling blend of hand-to-hand and ranged combat, including a unique gravity weapon once used by Black Iron guards to control the prison population. Players will be forced to get up close and personal with their grotesque opponents, hacking off limbs, blasting off legs, and getting creative with whatever is at their disposal to survive each life-or-death encounter. EXPERIENCE THE ISOLATION OF JUPITER’S DEAD MOON
    One of the most hostile, isolated environments in the universe, Callisto looms large over Jacob’s desperate struggle to survive. Players must not only contend with the horrors of Black Iron Prison, but also the centuries-old secrets that plague Jupiter’s long-dead moon, both above and below the surface.

    Website: LINK

  • Deceit 2 steps out of the shadows: Join the Xbox Insiders Preview Weekend!

    Deceit 2 steps out of the shadows: Join the Xbox Insiders Preview Weekend!

    Reading Time: 3 minutes

    Greetings, Xbox Insiders on Xbox Series X|S!

    Prepare to step into the Asylum as we unveil the Deceit 2 Preview Weekend, exclusively for you from December 15th to December 18th. Deceit 2 is an immersive journey into a realm where trust dissolves into deception, and you can’t trust your own eyes. Secure your spot in this thrilling preview and experience the chilling blend of social deception and horror that awaits in Deceit 2.

    About the Game:

    Deceit 2 is a social deception game for 4-9 players with matchmaking support, taking place in a realm where trust is hard to earn. You’ll explore the Millhaven Asylum as either an Innocent, desperate for escape, or an Infected, scheming in silence — all while under the meticulous gaze of the Game Master, the puppeteer of this macabre play.

    Deceit 2 is a fusion of strategy, psychological warfare, and action. Engage in tasks, forge dubious alliances, and decipher the web of trust and treachery. With the Game Master’s narrative twists, every moment is a dance on the edge of a knife.

    Your journey in Deceit 2 is marked by Accolades and the Mastery System, rewarding your cunning and courage. Personalize your gameplay with diverse offerings from the in-game shop. Experience the game’s mechanics in the demo mode, and delve into the secretive world of Roles, a twist that adds layers of strategy and depth.

    This world of Deceit 2 is constantly evolving, promising new experiences with each update. From UI/UX enhancements to new Terrors and maps, the game grows with your involvement. As an Insider, your role is pivotal in shaping Deceit 2’s future, especially in fine-tuning features such as Roles.

    Remember, Deceit 2 in its current form is just a glimpse of what’s to come. This beta is an integral part of our journey, offering a raw, unfiltered experience. Challenges await, but so do the thrills of uncovering secrets in the dark.

    Join the Deceit 2 community and contribute to the game’s evolution. Connect on Discord, share your insights, and let your voice be heard in the development process.
    Together, we’ll craft a world where every shadow holds a story:
    https://discord.com/invite/deceit

    Dare to embrace the Ritual of Deceit? Your journey into darkness begins now.

    How to Participate:

    1. Sign-in on your Xbox Series X|S console and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary).
    2. Navigate to Previews > Deceit 2
    3. Select Join
    4. Wait for the registration to complete and you should be directed to the Store page to install the Preview

    NOTE: This Preview is only available on Xbox Series X|S Consoles.
    NOTE: Limited space is available and offered first-come first-served.

    Playtest Times:

    • Start: Thursday, December 15th, 4:00 PM GMT (8:00 AM PT)
    • End: Monday, December 18th, 4:00 PM GMT (8:00 AM PT)

    How to Provide Feedback:

    If you experience any issues while playing the Deceit 2 Preview, don’t forget to use “Report a problem” so we can investigate:

    • Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.
    • Select Report a problem.
    • Select the Games category and Deceit 2 Preview subcategory.
    • Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation.

    Other resources:

    For more information: follow us on Twitter at @XboxInsider and this blog for release notes, announcements, and more. And feel free to interact with the community on the Xbox Insider SubReddit.

    Website: LINK