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Tag: Game Pass

  • Towerborne’s Full Game Update is Available Today – Xbox Wire

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    Summary

    • Following its Xbox Game Preview release this past April, Towerborne is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Game Pass (Premium and Ultimate), is handheld verified and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
    • Towerborne will be available as a premium game for $24.99 for the Standard Edition and $29.99 for the Deluxe Edition.

    From the creators at Stoic, Towerborne is a cooperative, side‑scrolling action RPG brawler that blends fast, satisfying combat with deep customization and a hopeful, heroic tone. Venture across a crumbling world, uncover the mysteries of the City of Numbers, and fight back the corruption threatening humanity—solo or alongside friends.

    The full game launch delivers:

    • A complete story‑driven campaign
    • New biomes, enemies, and bosses
    • Offline story play with optional online co‑op
    • Hundreds of missions, bounties, and side quests
    • A premium, one‑time purchase experience

    Check out our last Xbox Wire post from Stoic’s CEO & President Trisha Stouffer for more information on what’s gone into this full game update.

    As a thank you for their great support, Towerborne Founders will also get a special treat at launch with Day 1 access to unlock Brutal Mode — the ultimate endgame challenge, deadlier AI, elite Vanguard enemies, harsher encounters, and a less forgiving battlefield built to test true combat mastery.

    • High risk, high reward, unlock after completing the Campaign to earn increased loot and prove your build, skill, and execution against the game’s toughest fights.
    • Brutal from scratch is the ultimate proving ground! Start a new save, re-earn gear and skills, and fight through the full campaign under Brutal rules. Built for players chasing peak mastery, every victory reflects smart builds, sharp execution, and true command of the combat system.

    Whether you’re returning from Early Access or stepping into the Belfry for the first time, now is the perfect time to become an Ace.

    Towerborne is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Game Pass (Premium and Ultimate), is handheld verified and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Towerborne

    Xbox Game Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    221

    ★★★★★

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    Towerborne is an exciting side-scrolling Action RPG Brawler. Rise again as an Ace, an immortal warrior reborn to defend the Belfry against the darkness beyond its walls. Journey across a crumbling world, uncover the mystery of the fallen City of Numbers, and push back the corruption threatening humanity’s survival.

    Master the Mayhem
    Experience classic combo-based brawler combat combined with a modern RPG. Customize your Ace with powerful gear, experiment with diverse combat styles, and refine your skills through relentless battles. Every fight makes you stronger, every victory opens new strategies, and every weapon reshapes your journey.

    Fight Your Way
    Whether you want quick pick-up-and-play sessions or intricate systems to master, Towerborne lets you choose your play style. Its fast-paced, responsive combat rewards timing and creativity, making every encounter feel fresh and challenging as you grow stronger.

    Grow Stronger Together
    Join forces with up to three other Aces* or venture solo with Umbra lending unique abilities to your side. Teamwork amplifies the chaos and the thrill, where synergy and strategy make the difference between victory and defeat. Rally together to fight as one.

    Take an Unforgettable Journey
    Towerborne expands beyond combat with a compelling Story Campaign designed to spark excitement and fuel unstoppable action. For players who crave more than battles, Towerborne’s full story campaign brings to life the lore, characters, and stakes of the Belfry’s survival. Explore, progress, and uncover the world at your own pace and take your Ace’s journey offline then reconnect online to fight alongside friends without missing a beat.

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    Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • 1V1 NOW by Xbox Game Pass: The 1st Official 1v1 Competition in Rainbow Six Siege! – Xbox Wire

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    For 6 years, Rainbow Six Siege has been part of the Xbox Game Pass family of products. Rainbow Six Siege is 5v5 online tactical shooter that combine raw shooting skills with map knowledge and awareness. Two teams of five play against each other, Attackers and Defenders. The objective of the attacker is to defuse a bomb placed by the defenders, the first team to win 7 rounds win the game. And for the past 10 years, Ubisoft has been running official esports competition all over the world. Teams from all over the world compete to win the prize that matters the most, the Six Invitational.

    The Six Invitational is the last event of the Rainbow Six Siege Esports year.

    This is where it all matters as we crown the world champions of Rainbow Six Siege in front of a packed audience and this year brings something new.

    1V1 NOW by Xbox Game Pass on Stage

    In 2026 R6 Esports has expanded from the regular 5v5 format by introducing a 1v1 format circuit in partnership with Xbox Game Pass, the 1V1 NOW by Xbox Game Pass.

    This is the first time in 10 years that Ubisoft has organized an official 1v1 tournament on Rainbow Six Siege.

    This format has become hugely popular in recent years, evolving from a simple training mode to a competitive format promoted by the biggest content creators in the game, such as Jynxzi or Spoit.

    This open tournament format enables players from all around the world to participate in R6 esports from the comfort of their home.

    With over 3.2k registered players from Europe/Mena, North America, Asia Pacific and South America; the best player in each region makes it to the final phase in Paris at SI.

    Rainbow Six Siege screenshot
    Rainbow Six Siege screenshot
    Rainbow Six Siege screenshot

    This is the perfect opportunity to show the world-class individual performance from players that may have gone under the radar of professional teams.

    For the first edition, the 4 representatives from each region are MlKE from NAL (North America), SelimShady from EML (Europe MENA), Lebyrinth from APL (Asia Pacific) and STK from SAL (South America). Most of them are veterans of the game who have been playing since the alpha version.

    The four semi-finalists of the 1v1 NOW Xbox will be landing in Paris for the first time in their lives.

    They will compete for a place in the grand final and share a prize pool of $5,000.

    Rainbow Six Siege Six Invitational

    Stay tuned for the semi-finals on February 14 and the grand final on stage at the Adidas Arena in Paris on February 15 via the official R6 Esports and Xbox Twitch channels.

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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Overwatch: The New Year-Long Narrative, Explained – Xbox Wire

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    Summary

    • Overwatch narrative lead Miranda Moyer tells us more about The Reign of Talon: the first complete, year-long story arc for Overwatch. 
    • The new narrative launches with immediate global conflict as Talon challenges Overwatch, and will introduce 10 new heroes, each woven directly into the unfolding story. 
    • Get ready for an Overwatch story that keeps you at the edge of your seat, with non-stop action, evolving characters, and plot twists. 

    Today, Blizzard’s Overwatch Spotlight announced the start of an exciting new story‑driven era for Overwatch, highlighted by a year-long narrative arc called The Reign of Talon, all‑new UI/UX design, and much more. Be sure to check out the full video for all of the details. As an extra treat, we’re joined by Lead Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer to dive deeper into what this new story‑driven chapter means for Overwatch. 

    For the first time in Overwatch’s history, we’re telling a complete story.   

    I don’t say that lightly. Over the past decade, Overwatch’s narrative has been about possibility – introductions, hints, and setups. We’ve met heroes, discovered conflicts, and learned just enough to know there was something bigger happening beyond the edges of the screen. But this year, we’re doing something we’ve never done before: telling a story with a clear beginning, middle… and yes, an end.  

    That means things move. When something happens in the world of Overwatch now, it doesn’t sit untouched. Objectives are set, and met. You’ll see outcomes unfold across seasons. We’re finally seeing payoff for parts of the Overwatch world that you’ve maybe wondered about for years. This evolving story will be brought to life through a variety of mediums – including Hero Trailers, motion comics, and more – so you can experience each chapter in unique ways. All these pieces will be available on our dedicated narrative viewer, organized in chapters that guide you through the year’s epic narrative.  

    At the center of this year’s Overwatch narrative is a global conflict that’s impossible to ignore. Vendetta has seized control of Talon, overthrowing Doomfist and rejecting the clandestine nature in which he operated. Where Talon once skulked in the shadows, Vendetta believes in acting loudly, decisively, and without restraint. Her goal is explicit: she wants the world, and she believes Overwatch is the only force standing in her way. Because of that, we’re not winding up to conflict: we’re starting with it. Talon strikes early, attempting to remove Overwatch from the equation.

    What’s fresh about the way we’re telling this story is how deeply our heroes are embedded in it. Every new character plays a direct role in the narrative. Those new faces are also a great vehicle to continue the stories of established ones. We’re touching so many parts of the world of Overwatch, and the more stories we develop, the more opportunities we’ll have to progress the journeys of heroes both new and longstanding.

    One of the biggest highlights for Overwatch this year is the introduction of 10 new heroes. In Season 1, which begins February 10, you’ll meet five of them at once: each with their own narrative thread which helps set the tone for what’s to come. 

    • Domina operates on the edges of Talon’s chaos, not publicly aligned with Vendetta (for fear of unsavory headlines), but more than willing to profit from the destruction she causes.
    • Emre is caught in a far more dangerous position, coerced into cooperation under the threat of catastrophic loss.
    • Mizuki finds himself torn between old obligations and the people who have become his family. 
    • Anran enters the fight on Overwatch’s side, driven and connected to the story in deeply personal ways.  
    Overwatch Concept Art
    • And then there’s Jetpack Cat, a long-running meme turned mobile support. She’s worth keeping an eye on, both for the future of her curious tale (tail?), as well as to make sure she isn’t knocking anything off counters. 

    This year’s narrative is about convergence—threads coming together, tensions peaking, and long-running questions colliding in ways that matter. Both established and new heroes will see movement in their stories, evolving amid this conflict. For Overwatch, this is the most ambitious narrative we’ve taken on. Each piece builds on the last, pushing characters and conflicts forward. 

    Join us on this new journey, and jump into Season 1 on February 10 and see it unfold for yourself. 


    Overwatch®

    Overwatch®

    Blizzard Entertainment

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    2000

    ★★★★★

    Xbox One X Enhanced

    Xbox Game Pass

    Overwatch® is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch®’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

    Overwatch® – Season 20: Vendetta

    Give the Gift of Vengeance

    Embrace the season in a flurry of festivity with a new DPS Hero, Winter Wonderland modes, holiday event, merry Mythics, and more!

    Season 20 carves a cold path with Vendetta, the ruthless new melee DPS villain fueled by ambition and revenge. But it’s not all frosty edges—celebrate the holidays in the return of Winter Wonderland! Make some merry Mischief & Magic on a whimsical new wintery map, with a midway mode twist where the props fight back in Mischief & Magic Wonderland. Earn Winter Tokens through the Winter Wonderland event to unlock festive holiday skins for Tracer, Junkrat, and Torbjörn, then step into Stadium for a fresh map with new Heroes, updates, and prizes. Top it all off with Mythic Divine Desperado Cassidy and Orisa’s Mythic Capsule Cannon packing a cascade of cheer, plus more frosty skins as you jingle all the way through Battle Pass tiers. ‘Tis the season to deck your enemies’ halls, claim your vengeance, and unwrap your rewards!

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Xbox Developer_Direct 2026 Recap: Everything Revealed, Including a Surprise New Double Fine Game – Xbox Wire

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    Developer_Direct kicked off 2026 with new gameplay and developer insights for four games coming to Xbox, all of which players can enjoy this year.

    The development teams at Playground Games (who brought two games to the show), Game Freak and Double Fine showed off Fable, Forza Horizon 6, Beast of Reincarnation, and surprise announcement, Kiln. Each brought extended new footage, looks behind the development curtain and, of course, information on when you’ll be able to play the games yourselves.

    All the games in our show are Xbox Play Anywhere titles, meaning when you buy them through the Xbox or Windows store, they’re yours to play on PC, Xbox console, or supported gaming handhelds at no additional cost – and you can pick up where you left off with all your saves, game add‑ons, and achievements.

    Here’s a summary of everything we brought to Developer_Direct today:

    Beast of Reincarnation – Launching Summer 2026

    Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, Handheld Optimized, or play it day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (see developer website for other platforms)

    Launching this summer and available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Beast of Reincarnation promises an unforgettable blend of action, strategy, and mystery. Game Freak gave us more details on Emma and her companion Koo’s adventure in a haunting, post-apocalyptic Japan.

    We learned that Emma has been afflicted by “blight” – which has removed her memories and emotions, but given her the ability to manipulate plants – and led her to meet Koo, a dog that’s become a “malefact.” Emma’s role is to hunt down malefacts, but she forms an unusual bond with Koo, setting her off on a journey through Japan circa 4026 AD.

    Game Freak call Beast of Reincarnation a “one-person, one-dog action RPG”, and have created a unique combat system to match – Emma provides classic, fast-paced action game attacks in real-time, but Koo offers added skills that can be used from a menu that slows time, more like a turn-based RPG. It makes for a game that offers a very different feeling to other action titles, adding tactical complexity to high-speed combat – which can be tweaked to your liking with three difficulty settings.

    You can learn much more about the characters, combat, world, story and the game’s dynamic tempo in our Xbox Wire article, and wishlist the game now ahead of its launch this summer.

    Fable – Launching Autumn 2026

    Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, and launching day one with Game Pass Ultimate – also available on PlayStation 5 and Steam

    The Fable team at Playground Games took us to the fairytale world of Albion, for the first in-depth look at the studio’s brand new open world action-RPG – and revealed that the game will be coming to players in Autumn 2026. Developed by a dedicated team at the UK-based studio, Fable is set to deliver everything players love about the original trilogy – choice and consequence, dry British wit and playful moral chaos – all reimagined for a new generation of players in an unmistakably Playground way.

    During the show, we learned how your story in Albion begins, how character customization will work, learned more about the game’s new take on Fable’s morality system and saw brand-new gameplay that showcased combat – with enemies old and new – as well as the game’s unique living population of NPCs. Fable will be a fresh new beginning for this much-loved franchise and will be coming Autumn 2026 to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam, PlayStation 5 and Game Pass Ultimate.

    Check out our in-depth interview with Fable GM & Game Director, Ralph Fulton here.

    Forza Horizon 6 – Launching May 19, 2026

    Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam, Xbox Play Anywhere, Handheld Optimized, or play it day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at launch – coming to PS5 later in 2026

    Forza Horizon 6 is speeding towards players in 2026, with the announcement that the much-anticipated next instalment of the Horizon series will be landing on May 19 this year. As part of the Developer_Direct show,  the Forza team at Playground Games revealed first-ever gameplay showcasing the breathtaking landscapes of Japan in all their glory, and lifted the curtain on the spectacular cars that will be gracing the cover of the game – the 2025 GR GT Prototype, which is making its video game debut in Forza Horizon 6, and the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser.

    Forza Horizon 6 will feature the largest and densest map of any Horizon game to date, full of verticality, diverse biomes, seasonality and breathtaking driving experiences – all elevated by Japan’s unique car culture. And just when you thought things couldn’t get better, the team provided an overview of the new features players will enjoy as part of Forza Horizon 6 – including Customizable Garages and The Estate, an overhauled car roster (with 550 cars to collect and customize at launch) as well as new shared experiences, Drag Meets and Horizon Time Attack Circuits.

    For an in-depth look at what’s new in Forza Horizon 6, check out our interview with Design Director, Torben Ellert here.

    Kiln – Launching Spring 2026

    Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, Handheld Optimized, or play it day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – also available on PlayStation 5 and Steam

    We joined Double Fine in their game-turned-ceramics studio in San Francisco, California to learn more about Kiln, an Online Multiplayer Pottery-Party Brawler (say that ten times fast!), arriving this spring.

    Double Fine’s new foray into fun asks the question: what would it look like for a game to combine the beautiful expression of creation with all of the chaotic fun of destruction? Turns out it’s a team-based arena battle game which asks you to craft ceramic battle armor on a realistic pottery wheel, and where your abilities are determined by the kind of pot you make.

    We took a turn on the clay-splatted wheel to learn all about the 4v4 action of Kiln, the wide variety of crafting tools at your disposal, and what each size and shape of crafted pot means for your combat abilities.

    You can catch more of the action in their smashing Announce trailer now and get fired up for the ultimate throwdown by wishlisting Kiln today. Help the team sculpt the game before it launches this Spring by signing up for their upcoming closed beta test, and joining the Double Fine Action Insiders. Find out about the game’s story, mechanics, and more in our hands-on preview on Xbox Wire.

    Looking Ahead

    As with every Developer_Direct, today’s show marks just a selection of the games coming to Xbox this year. 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Xbox, and offers a moment to honor the games, creators, teams, and players that have inspired play for decades  – and we’ll be celebrating that all year long. With the likes of Gears of War: E-Day and Halo: Campaign Evolved still to come, we’ll be returning to some of our most beloved franchises, not to mention introducing new worlds of our own, and those from our incredible third-party partners. It’s going to be an incredible year – make sure to stay tuned to Xbox Wire and Xbox social channels to keep up to date with everything we have to show you.

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Fable: Answering the Big Questions After that Long-Awaited Developer_Direct Deep-Dive – Xbox Wire

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    The Living Population of NPCs is a fascinating addition – what does that offer the player?

    Fulton: The Living Population is our cast of over 1,000 NPCs, each with roles, personalities and routines. That whole concept of persistent NPCs, each of whom is unique in a whole bunch of ways that you can go and interact with and mess about with, is incredibly complex.

    When you start working on it, you realize that every settlement has to have enough houses with enough beds, for everyone in the settlement to go and sleep in at the end of the day. It was a fun day when we explained that particular requirement to our environment art team [laughs], but they rose to the challenge like they do with everything.

    In games, you don’t normally have to connect the dots quite so precisely. You know, you’re just building a nice-looking town. But in Fable it also has to be a functional town.

    As an example, early in development we couldn’t work out why one town was so empty during the day. And when we zoomed out into debug mode, it was because NPCs were getting up to go to work, but they lived too far away from their jobs. So, they started walking to work, but didn’t get there before their schedule told them to turn around to go back to bed.

    It’s required a lot of working through, but it pays off because, honestly, as you play the game, you get to know the names of the individual NPCs. You get to know what they like, what they’re looking for in a partner, where they live, where they work, all that kind of cool stuff. It’s an extra dimension to traditional NPCs.

    Does the Living Population tie into the main quest?

    Fulton: Tying the main quest and the Living Population together in a really overt way didn’t seem like the right way to go, so we’ve deliberately linked them in the lightest possible fashion. You know, there are some times when characters in the main quest will reference your reputations, or the things you’ve done previously – but we never want to force a player to have to go and interact with those things in order to progress the main quest.

    We know there are some players – we call them ‘Bards’ – who are just going to play through the main story. They’re going to start at the start, and they’re going to get to the end, and that’s going to be their experience. That’s entirely fine, that’s a totally respectable way to play.

    But there are some players, who we call ‘Architects’, who we know are going to go and mess around with the systems and just see where they can push them, see what they can achieve with it, and we want them to have the freedom to do that at any point as well.

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, and More – Xbox Wire

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    Welcome back to your routine “what am I going to play next?” suggestion list! We’ve got some favorites, some surprises we snuck in last week (and a cheeky reminder to join us for our fourth Developer Direct for even more games coming your way). Let’s get to the games!

    Available Today

    Resident Evil Village (Cloud, Console, and PC)
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in the Resident Evil series. Set years after Resident Evil 7 biohazard, players follow Ethan Winters into a haunting European village, fighting for survival against brutal enemies as danger and mystery lurk around every corner.

    MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Available on day one with Game Pass! A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.

    Coming Soon

    Death Stranding Director’s Cut (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) – January 21
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now available on Xbox Game Pass! Take on the role of Sam Porter Bridges on his mission to deliver hope to humanity. Are you ready to unite the divided – one more time?

    RoadCraft (PC) – January 21
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    In the wake of natural disasters, RoadCraft calls on you to rebuild what’s broken. Operate a fleet of over 40 authentic construction vehicles to clear debris, repair roads and bridges, and restore essential infrastructure. Tackle realistic challenges solo or in cooperative play across expansive, physics-driven environments shaped by destruction and recovery.

    Ninja Gaiden Ragebound (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 21
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    A brand-new side-scrolling entry to the Ninja Gaiden series from the team behind Blasphemous, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound redefines the classic platformer saga in a spectacular, thrilling and challenging ninja adventure.

    The Talos Principle 2 (PC and Xbox Series X|S) – January 27
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    A thought-provoking first-person puzzle experience that greatly expands the first game’s philosophical themes and stunning environments with increasingly mind-bending challenges.  Born into a new world where biological humanity is extinct but human culture lives on in a city of robots, get swept up in a mind-bending adventure involving a mysterious megastructure hiding enormous powers.

    Anno: Mutationem (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 28
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    Welcome to the neon-covered, 2D-meets-3D Cyberpunk world of Anno: Mutationem. In thisAction-Adventure game with RPG elements you become Ann: a highly skilled, combat-trained lone wolf on a personal mission in the giant Metropolis, full of sinister mega-corporations, mysterious fringe groups and creatures more bizarre than words can express.

    Drop Duchy (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 28
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    Build your duchy piece by piece in this refreshing hybrid rogue-lite game. Use block-dropping mechanics to collect resources, recruit troops to fight against belligerent armies, and let every block shape your realm, leading your path to victory! Complete Edition includes all additional content.

    MySims: Cozy Bundle (PC) – January 29
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Befriend cute characters and discover creative adventures across retro re-releases of two lovable games in MySims: Cozy Bundle. Use your imagination to rebuild a town in MySims and help a cute magical land become an even better place in MySims Kingdom. There are stories to uncover, locations to explore, and lots of characters with big personalities to meet.

    Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 29
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    Your craft is death. Purge the relentless Tyranid swarms as legendary Space Marine Demetrian Titus in a spectacular new campaign, solo or in three-player co-op, and save the Imperium as your own Space Marine in endlessly brutal PvE and PvP games with 6 playable classes to choose from!

    Indika (Cloud, PC and Xbox Series X|S) – February 2
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Indika is a story-driven adventure set in an alternative 19th-century Russia, following a young nun on a surreal journey of self-discovery. Blending dark humor with serious themes like faith, morality, and religious authority, the game mixes exploration, light puzzles, brief action moments, and symbolic RPG elements. Its narrative is enriched by retro-style arcade flashbacks and a strange companionship with the devil himself, creating a unique experience that balances comedy and tragedy while pushing the boundaries of conventional game design.

    Final Fantasy II (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – February 3
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    A remodeled 2D take on the second game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Our epic tale begins with four young souls orphaned during the struggle between the Palamecian Empire and the rebel army. On their journey, the youths join forces with the white wizard Minwu, Prince Gordon of Kashuan, Leila the pirate, and many others. Behold the beautiful and sometimes tragic twists of fate that await you on your adventure.

    In Case You Missed It

    Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (PC) – Play today!
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Command the checkpoint in a collapsing city. Screen survivors, manage scarce resources, and hold back the undead. Every choice matters and one mistake could unleash the plague beyond your walls.  

    DLC / Game Updates

    The Sims 25th Birthday Bundle (PC) – January 22
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Celebrate a Sim-sational New Year with EA Play on the Xbox PC app. This month, embrace classic chaos with re-releases of The Sims and The Sims 2, coming to EA Play on January 22. Keep the cozy vibes rolling with MySims: Cozy Bundle joining The Play List on January 29.

    Grounded 2 Garden Update (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 27
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Explore the new Community Garden biome in The Toxic Tangle update, packed with hidden paths, twisting trellises, and earthy caverns. Battle new creatures, craft Tier III gear, and ride the Ladybug Buggy with its water cannon as you face fresh challenges across the Garden.

    Dead by Daylight – Stranger Things DLC – January 27

    The battles fought. The pain endured. All of it leads back to him. Stranger Things Returns To Dead by Daylight: Vecna, Dustin, & Eleven Enter The Fog.

    Sea of Thieves Season 18, Act 2 (Cloud, PC, and Console) – January 22
    Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass

    The Trading Companies are calling on Emissaries to raid Molten Sands Fortress and recover valuable treasure from its vault! During the event, those who reach Emissary Grade 5 can accept a special quest that will awaken this fiery fort. Which flag will you fly?

    Leaving January 31

    The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to tie up any loose ends, or save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!

    • Shady Part of Me (Cloud, PC, and Console)Cataclismo (PC)
    • Starbound (Cloud, PC, and Console)
    • Lonely Mountains Snow Riders (Cloud, PC, and Console)
    • Paw Patrol World (Cloud, PC, and Console)
    • Citizen Sleeper 2 Starward Vector (Cloud, PC, and Console)
    • Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (Cloud, PC, and Console)

    Excited to see you all back here in just a few days for our next Developer Direct! In the meantime, go charge your batteries and get those games downloaded. Cheers!

    Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.

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    Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • EA Play: Usher in the New Year with Rewards for Battlefield 6 and More – Xbox Wire

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    Usher in the new year with new member rewards for Battlefield 6, Madden NFL 26, Apex Legends, and more!

    January Member Rewards

    A new year comes with endless possibility … and a new batch of rewards to claim, starting with Battlefield 6 — EA’s latest title and the new standard of FPS combat. Purchase Battlefield 6 with your 10% member discount on the digital version of the full game and grab an EA Play Deployment Pack, EA Play Season 1 Pack, and Battle Pass XP Boost.

    As we head into the year 2026, keep building your dream roster with a Madden Ultimate Team EA Play January Pack. Launch Madden NFL 26 and enter Ultimate Team from Jan 1-31 to claim your Pack.

    Compete for rewards with a Football Ultimate Team Draft Token in EA Sports FC 26, available in Ultimate Team from Dec 25 to Jan 29.

    Unlock tiers of the Podium Pass to earn prizes even faster, and race to the top step of the podium with the EA Play 5,000 XP Boost for F1 25.

    Pick up the Gold Broodling Weapon Charm in Apex Legends and equip it to your favorite weapon before battling for glory, fame, and fortune in style.

    Sim-sational New Year

    Celebrate a Sim-sational New Year with EA Play on the Xbox PC App. This month embrace classic chaos with re-releases of The Sims and The Sims 2, coming to EA Play on Jan 22. Keep the cozy vibes rolling with MySims: Cozy Bundle joining The Play List Jan 29.

    EA Sports Week

    From goals to touchdowns, there’s a way for every sports fan to score during EA Sports Week. You can get up to 60% off select EA Sports games, only until January 26. Or try them out during Xbox Free Play Days from Jan 15-18 or for up to 10 hours anytime with a Game Pass Ultimate or EA Play membership.

    To learn more about EA Play, check out X and Instagram, or visit here. For more details on all the EA Play member benefits this month, visit the EA Play Member Benefits site. Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details.

    Members can experience the world of EA with unlimited access to a collection of top titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards, 10% on EA digital purchases and more.

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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • How to Watch Xbox Developer_Direct 2026 Next Thursday – Xbox Wire

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    Developer_Direct returns next Thursday, January 22 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK, and will kick off Xbox’s 25th anniversary year with a look at some of the incredible games in store for players.

    As we shared previously, the show will include exclusive gameplay and developer insights for Playground Games’ Fable and Forza Horizon 6, as well as Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation – all presented directly by the people making the games, and recorded in their studios.

    Here are all the details on how to tune in:

    When is Developer_Direct? Thursday, January 22 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK.

    How do I watch Developer_Direct? Developer_Direct will be streamed live on official channels, including:

    The show will also be streamed simultaneously on regional Xbox channels around the globe, as well as on Steam. It will air on China’s Bilibili platform later the next day.

    The YouTube stream will be broadcast in 4K/60, and as with any live broadcast, there may be dips in streaming quality based on your bandwidth.

    Is the event available in languages other than English? Developer_Direct will be streamed live on YouTube.com/Xbox with English captions, and our other live languages will be available via regional Xbox channels.

    The languages we will support live on our Xbox channels are: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, LATAM Spanish and Turkish.

    Shortly after the broadcast concludes, we will add the following additional languages to YouTube.com/Xbox: Arabic (MSA), Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Czech, Dutch, Filipino, Canadian French, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Hindi, Māori, Persian (Farsi), Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Thai, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.

    The easiest way to find your preferred language is to go to your region’s Xbox page, or by viewing on the official Xbox YouTube channel and clicking the gear icon in the lower right corner.

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

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

    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 video-on-demand coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

    We’ll see you for Developer_Direct on Thursday, January 22!

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Star Wars Outlaws, Resident Evil Village, and More – Xbox Wire

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    Welcome to the new year, friends! Happy to be back with more games and more fun. Let’s get to it!

    Available Today

    Brews & Bastards (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    Brews & Bastards is an intoxicating, twin-stick shooter, overflowing with action-packed combat, potent brews and outlandish bosses. Select from a group of inebriated heroes and descend, drink, and destroy your way through hordes of drunken demons in search of the stolen Brew Stone.

    Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    Rediscover the dark whimsical tale of Little Nightmares, now enhanced in stunning 4K and 60 FPS. Play as Six, a lone child trapped in The Maw, a massive vessel inhabited by monstrous, distorted versions of adults. Sneak, hide, and survive in a world where your childhood fears come to life.

    Coming Soon

    Atomfall (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 7
    Now with Game Pass Premium

    A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England. Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.

    Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC) – January 7
    Now with Game Pass Premium

    Lost in Random: The Eternal Die blends dynamic real-time action, tactical combat, and risk-reward dice mechanics for thrilling second-to-second battles. Unravel an original stand-alone story as Queen Aleksandra, the once great ruler of Random on a mission for vengeance and redemption.

    Rematch (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7
    Now with Game Pass Premium

    Step onto the pitch in Rematch, a third-person, team-based football game where every pass, volley, and tackle matters. Designed for 5v5 online play, Rematch puts you in full control of one athlete, with no offsides, no fouls, and no downtime. Pass smart, play with purpose, and win together.

    Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 7
    Now with Game Pass Premium

    Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enhanced for a new generation, this edition brings quality of life and graphical improvements.

    Final Fantasy – (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC) – January 8
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    “Earth, fire, water, wind… The light that once shone within the four Crystals was lost. Become the Warriors of Light, restore power to the Crystals and save the world.” A remodeled 2D take on the first game in the world-renowned Final Fantasy series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. All the magic of the original, with improved ease of play.

    Star Wars Outlaws (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 13
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game, set between the events of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Explore distinct locations across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as scoundrel Kay Vess, seeking freedom and the means to start a new life, along with her companion Nix. Fight, steal, and outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.

    My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – January 15
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    Take the magic of friendship to new heights in a mystery adventure for one or two ponies. Playing as Sunny, Hitch, Izzy, Pipp, Zipp, or Misty, use your special abilities to stop the unstable magic that’s sending Zephyr Heights out of control! And have tons of fun with hilarious minigames and countless pony customizations. 

    Resident Evil Village Key Art

    Resident Evil Village (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 20
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    Resident Evil Village is the eighth main entry in the Resident Evil series. Set years after Resident Evil 7 biohazard, players follow Ethan Winters into a haunting European village, fighting for survival against brutal enemies as danger and mystery lurk around every corner.

    MIO: Memories in Orbit (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – January 20
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Available on day one with Game Pass! A hand-crafted metroidvania set within a vast, decaying world reclaimed by nature and robots. Play as Mio, a nimble android exploring labyrinthine environments, battling rogue machines, and uncovering lost memories in a richly atmospheric adventure filled with secrets and danger.

    Leaving January 15

    The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in to tie up any loose ends, or save up to 20% off your purchase to keep the fun going!

    • Flintlock The Siege of Dawn (Cloud, Handheld, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
    • Neon White (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
    • Road 96 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
    • The Ascent (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)
    • The Grinch Christmas Adventures (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC)

    I hope your last year treated you well with lots of high scores, achievements unlocked, and GGs. We’ll be back soon with even more games so keep it tuned here, or with us on social for Xbox and Xbox Game Pass. Talk soon!

    Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.

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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Xbox to Bring Cloud Gaming to Select Hisense and V homeOS-powered Smart TVs – Xbox Wire

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    As we step into the new year, many of us are looking for fresh ways to play, connect, and explore. That’s why we’re excited to announce a new partnership with V (formerly VIDAA) that expands where your gaming adventures can happen: the Xbox app is coming to select Hisense and V homeOS-powered Smart TVs in 2026.  

    This partnership is all about giving you more freedom and flexibility to play how you want. Xbox Game Pass subscribers – including Ultimate, Premium, and Essential subscribers – will be able to stream hundreds of games, from new releases to fan favorites, directly through the Xbox app on supported TVs via Xbox Cloud Gaming.  

    With the Xbox app, you’ll be able to explore a variety of great games including Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and many more. As an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, you’ll also unlock unlimited cloud gaming, giving you the flexibility to play games across different devices, including select games you already own. It’s all about giving you more freedom to play your way. 

    Expanding the Xbox Cloud Ecosystem 

    Our vision is to make sure your games, your community, and your achievements are always within reach. Bringing the Xbox app to select Hisense and V homeOS-powered TVs is another step toward making gaming available across a broad range of devices, to meeting you wherever you want to play.  We’ll share more details on the Xbox Cloud Gaming experience with Hisense TVs in the coming months. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire and follow our social channels for the latest updates.

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    Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Xbox cloud gaming comes to newer Amazon Fire TV models

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    Xbox has brought cloud gaming gaming to some Amazon Fire TV models. These include the Fire TV 4-Series and the Fire TV Omni QLED Series. This lets people play Xbox games directly on the television, without needing a bulky console or even something like a Fire TV stick.

    Gamers do need a couple of things. First and foremost, this service requires a subscription to Game Pass. Plans start at $10 a month and shoot all the way up to $30 per month. They’ll also need a compatible wireless controller, though most Bluetooth-enabled gamepads should work.

    Amazon

    The feature works for every game on the Game Pass platform and will also stream many titles that people own outright via the “stream your own game” feature. This won’t work with everything, but hundreds of titles are supported.

    Amazon says this is just the beginning and that more TV models will receive the functionality in the future. Xbox Game Pass became available on select Amazon streaming devices earlier this year. Today’s move makes sense, given that Fire TVs and the company’s streaming sticks use the same OS.

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    Lawrence Bonk

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  • Get Cozy with Co-op This Holiday Season – 14 Mega Multiplayer Picks on Xbox – Xbox Wire

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    It’s that time of year again, when friends and loved ones huddle together, safe from crisp winter air, looking for entertainment. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered, with a vast array of multiplayer games that can be enjoyed together across console, PC, and supported gaming handhelds.  

    Whether you’re looking for quick bursts of action to keep the family entertained, a cozy co-op adventure with a partner, or something casual to catch up with friends online, Xbox has something to offer for every gaming fan this holiday season. Here’s some highlights, ranging from 2025 releases to timeless games worth revisiting: 

    Multiplayer Party Time

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    Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Getting Started with Xbox Cloud Gaming – Xbox Wire

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    Consoles and PCs now have a powerful new partner offering even more ways to play: the cloud. With Xbox Cloud Gaming, you have access to a huge and dynamic library of the latest and greatest titles, wherever there’s a compatible screen, a stable internet connection, and a cloud-supported Xbox Game Pass subscription.

    Xbox Cloud Gaming is now out of beta and available with Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium, and Ultimate subscriptions, meaning it’s easier than ever to check out cloud streaming. Overall cloud gaming hours have gone up 45% since this time last year as the service has rolled out to millions of new gamers around the world, with particularly strong uptake in Argentina and Brazil.

    Below we’ll go over where you can play and everything you need to get started (which you’ll likely already have).

    What is Xbox Cloud Gaming?

    Xbox Cloud Gaming is a benefit included with most Game Pass plans that allows you to play games anywhere you have a compatible, internet-connected device (such as a PC, TV, or even your phone). Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you stream your games like you stream your shows and movies, through apps and browsers on the devices you already have – and it’s playable with a variety of game controllers and other input methods.

    What You Will Need

    Xbox Game Pass

    Unlimited cloud gaming is included with Xbox Game Pass Essential, Premium, and Ultimate plans. Xbox Game Pass is our monthly subscription service that provides access to an ever-growing library of games, online multiplayer, in-game benefits for popular favorites like League of Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone, store rewards, and more with each plan. In addition to streaming from the cloud, you can also download Game Pass titles directly to your preferred console, PC, or handheld device for offline play.

    Xbox Game Pass Essential offers unlimited cloud gaming for as low as $10/month and access to more than 50 games. Xbox Game Pass Premium includes everything from Essential as well as access to 200+ games across console, PC, and supported devices for $14.99/month. For the best all‑around experience, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate delivers unlimited cloud gaming, 400+ games across console, PC, and more devices, day‑one new titles, online console multiplayer, plus added benefits like EA Play, Fortnite Crew, and Ubisoft+ Classics, as well as in‑game benefits across Riot titles and Rewards with Xbox — at no extra cost.

    Supported Platforms

    The following devices currently support Xbox Cloud Gaming (with more details here):

    • Xbox Consoles – Xbox One and later. Why stream games to a gaming console? It can be a great way to try a title before you download, or to play newer Xbox Series X games on your trusty Xbox One.
    • Windows PCs – Windows 10 version 20H2 and later
    • Mac Computers – MacOS 14.1.2 and later
    • Windows Handhelds – Including ROG Xbox Ally, ROG Xbox Ally X, Logitech G Cloud, and Razer Edge
    • Steam Deck
    • Android Phones and Tablets – Android OS 12.0 and later
    • Apple Phones and Tablets – iOS 14.4 and later
    • Smart TVs and Streaming Devices – Including those from LG, Samsung, and Amazon Fire
    • Meta Quest VR – Including Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, Meta Quest 3, and Meta Quest 3S
    • Cars – Coming soon!

    Internet Connection

    Whatever device you choose to play on, it’s recommended that you have an internet connection speed of at least 20 Mbps to ensure a stable connection while cloud gaming. If you don’t know what your connection speed is, you can use any number of free online speed tests, such as Speedtest.net, Fast.com, or MeasurementLab.

    Where possible, it’s recommended that you play over a wired, Ethernet connection, but it’s also possible to play over 5 GHz Wi-Fi or 5G with capable devices. If your wireless router is dual-band, broadcasting at both 5 and 2.4 GHz, you may need to make sure that your device is properly set up to only connect over the 5 GHz network.

    Controller

    Most games require a gamepad to be connected to your device, either wired or wirelessly. If you have nearly any kind of contemporary game controller, Xbox Cloud Gaming probably supports it, allowing you to use whatever hardware you already have on hand. This includes Microsoft’s own official Xbox controllers and those made by direct partners, as well as a wide range of verified controllers from third-party manufacturers, such as 8BitDo, GameSir, Backbone, or even Sony’s DualSense.

    See a full list of supported manufacturers here.

    Many games are also playable by mouse and keyboard as well as touch, for devices that support those respective modes of input.

    If you really want to game in style, check out the Xbox Design Lab for a variety of special branded and customizable controllers to suit your personal sense of style.

    Supported Regions

    Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported in a growing list of currently 29 countries all over the world, including India most recently. If you’re not sure whether yours is included, find out here.

    Cloud Gaming Guide

    What You Can Play

    Xbox Game Pass

    In total, the Xbox Game Pass library includes hundreds of games across all genres, ranging from indie curios to the biggest AAA blockbusters. At this time, more than two thirds of those are enabled for cloud streaming, with more coming all the time.

    Game Pass Ultimate subscribers are also given access to EA Play and Ubisoft+ Classics, which adds additional cloud-playable titles to their libraries from those respective publishers.

    Stream Your Own Games

    Many titles not included in Game Pass are still cloud playable, which means that you can stream them if you own them. Progress is saved and shared across all platforms, so you can pick up and play your games your way, wherever you are. See the full list.

    How to Get Started

    The main division between ways to play with Xbox Cloud Gaming is whether you connect through an app or through a web browser. While the means may be slightly different, the results are the same.

    App

    For consoles, the process is as simple as tabbing over to your library and Game Pass, then selecting a cloud-enabled game. The other devices listed above might just require the additional step of going to their respective app store and downloading the Xbox app first if it’s not already installed, then opening it and signing in to access your library.

    Browser

    For devices running Android, MacOS, and iOS, the cloud streaming works through a web browser, rather than a dedicated app. First make sure that your browser version is supported here and update if necessary. Then navigate to Xbox.com/play, sign in, and start gaming on the cloud. Selecting the Menu button, then Add to Home Screen will make it easier to access directly.

    Steam Deck requires going to desktop mode and installing Microsoft Edge, with detailed instructions linked above.

    Cloud Gaming Guide

    See You in the Cloud

    That should cover everything you need to get started with Xbox Cloud Gaming. If you have any additional questions, our rigorous support pages have you covered. Otherwise, you should go check out the available library and start playing something.

    Happy gaming!

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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • From Our Worlds to Yours: Thank You for an Incredible 2025 – Xbox Wire

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    What would you like to say to your players after releasing Ninja Gaiden 4 this year?

    Our deepest thanks to everyone who has played the game, from the Master Ninjas who have been supporting the series for a long time, to those who are playing the series for the first time! Our days were spent developing the game so that players can enjoy the series’ signature intensity and a variety of actions to overcome difficult situations, so I’m happy if you experienced even a bit of the game! I think the flavor of the action really comes through the more you play it, so please continue to enjoy the different characteristics of the two Master Ninjas, Yakumo and Ryu! – Hirayama

    To everyone who has supported Ninja Gaiden over the years, and to those how have started playing the series from this entry, thank you for playing the game. I enjoy watching your gameplay videos and comments on social media every day. In this game, we aimed for the revival of pure action that transcends time, and the three companies put everything into developing it. The action is really exciting and it’s a stoically made game, so those of you who have played the game please continue to thoroughly study it… and those who haven’t played it yet, I’ll be thrilled if you give this feel good slash action a try! – Nakao

    How does it feel to have the game out there after development?

    First of all, to be able to deliver a new numbered title in the series after 13 years is something that our entire team is truly happy about. We continuously debated and adjusted the game towards its launch, and once it was released it felt like it passed in an instant so I didn’t feel anything immediately, but as I saw social posts and videos being posted every day, little by little I began to feel joy. – Hirayama

    For our development team, there are many members who, during the golden age of slash action games, were players or were involved as developers. So, while we had confidence in the game itself, I felt more nervous and excited than I have ever been before. And my current feeling is of relief, since the action has been well received. – Nakao

    Are there any stories about how players have engaged with your game that you’d like to reflect on?

    For a long time, we were in the dark while developing this game but seeing everyone playing and reacting to it at gaming events was a big driving force in development, and we made use of it in the final adjustments towards launch. Thank you again for your support! Post-launch, we are checking every single piece of feedback, so please look forward to future in-game updates! – Hirayama

    Although I’ve mentioned it several times, we’ve been receiving a lot of feedback that, “the action definitely feels good!”, and it’s the part we’ve put our most effort into, so I am extremely happy that everyone is pleased with it. In this game we’ve taken the big challenge of mixing the best parts of Ninja Gaiden with the best parts of PlatinumGames’ action, so nothing makes me happier than hearing everyone enjoying the action. – Nakao

    What is your studio most looking forward to in 2026?

    We are really looking forward to everyone playing “The Two Masters,” the additional content currently in development! In addition to new weapons for Yakumo and Ryu, we are planning on an additional story and other replayable content. We’re working hard to deliver it as soon as we can, so please wait a little bit longer! – Hirayama

    There are many games coming out next year, and as always, several action games will be released, so as an action game maker we are looking forward to seeing these games. For us, in 2026 we are planning to release additional content for Ninja Gaiden 4, “The Two Masters,” which we are currently hard at work developing. Not only is there content such as a new story, but above all the new weapons for each character will provide a new play experience unlike any of the previous weapons, so we hope you look forward to it! – Nakao

    [Back to Top]

    Xbox Play Anywhere

    NINJA GAIDEN 4 Standard Edition

    Xbox Game Studios

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    447

    ★★★★★


    $69.99

    $48.99

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.

    Return of the Legend
    Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.

    Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
    NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.

    An Ancient Enemy Returns
    An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Free Play Days – Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, NBA 2K26, Fallout 76, Ark: Survival Ascended and More – Xbox Wire

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    Before the end of the year, you’ve got some gaming to do with Free Play Days! NBA 2K26, WWE 2K25, PGA Tour 2K25, Ark: Survival Ascended and The Forgotten City (Console and PC) are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday December 18 until Sunday, December 21.

    Enjoy even more time with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Zombies and MP Only), unlocked until December 22.

    Fallout 76 is free for all Xbox members to try from December 16 until December 23 (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).

    How To Start Playing

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

    Keep The Fun Going

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

    Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)

    NBA 2K26 Standard Edition

    2K

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    490

    ★★★★★


    $69.99

    $27.99

    NBA 2K26
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
    Pick up and play NBA 2K26 during the Xbox Free Play Days to hit the court with your favorite NBA teams and compete against friends in Play Now. Experience an all-new immersive MyCareer storyline on New Gen consoles, manage a star-studded lineup in MyTeam, and climb the ranks in The City.


    WWE 2K25 Standard Edition

    WWE 2K25 Standard Edition

    2K

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    563

    ★★★★★


    $69.99

    $23.09

    WWE 2K25
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
    Rule beyond the ring this weekend as WWE 2K25 joins Xbox Free Play Days! Xbox players (US and Canada only) who purchase WWE 2K25 between now and January 7 will receive a 15,000 VC Pack to use in-game and a $5 Xbox Gift Card.


    PGA TOUR 2K25

    PGA TOUR 2K25

    2K

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    218

    ★★★★★


    $69.99

    $27.99

    PGA Tour 2K25
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
    Step onto the course in PGA Tour 2K25, where precision, power, and authenticity define every swing. Take on iconic Majors in MyCareer, customize your MyPlayer, and battle friends across multiplayer modes. While you play, don’t miss our Swing into Holiday event, 12 days of daily free rewards for you to redeem to keep your season rolling!


    ARK: Survival Ascended
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    ARK: Survival Ascended

    Studio Wildcard

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    831

    ★★★★★


    $44.99

    $22.49

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    Ark: Survival Ascended
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
    Respawn into a new dinosaur survival experience beyond your wildest dreams… as Ark is reimagined from the ground-up into the next-generation of videogame technology with Unreal Engine 5! You awake on a mysterious island, your senses overwhelmed by the blinding sunlight and brilliant colors bouncing off every surface around you, the azure waters of a verdant Island lapping at your bare feet. A deep roar echoes from the misty jungle, jolting you into action, and you stand up – not afraid, but intrigued. Your new world awaits… step through the looking-glass and join it!


    The Forgotten City
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    The Forgotten City

    Dear Villagers

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    331

    ★★★★★


    $29.99

    $5.99

    The Forgotten City
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere
    Try The Forgotten City for free for a limited time on Xbox Series X|S! Discover the ruins of a mysterious underground city, travel 2,000 years into the past, and unravel the secrets of its downfall by cleverly exploiting the power to wind back time. Explore a world filled with moral choices and intricate mysteries, accompanied by a cast of characters as intriguing as they are unforgettable. The fate of the city is in your hands. Plus, enjoy an 80% discount on the game for the occasion!

    Free Play Days For All


    Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 - Cross-Gen Bundle

    Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Cross-Gen Bundle

    Activision Publishing Inc.

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    427

    ★★★★★


    $69.99

    $48.99

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
    Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery
    For a limited time from December 16 through December 22, play a selection of Multiplayer and Zombies content in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 for FREE. During the Free Trial period, play select BO7 Multiplayer modes and maps including the fan-favorite “Nuketown 2025” remastered with stunning visuals and refined combat flow. Plus, enjoy the Zombies experience and try your hand in the thriller “Ashes of the Damned”. Last but not least, in celebration with CODMAS, take delight in the “Sleighjacked” MP Map, decorated for the gift-giving season, or drop into Holiday Havoc, a festive moshpit combining your favorite modes with holiday cheer. Don’t miss all of this and more!


    Fallout 76

    Fallout 76

    Bethesda Softworks

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    1321

    ★★★★★


    $39.99

    $31.99

    Xbox One X Enhanced

    Xbox Game Pass

    Fallout 76
    Discover a new desert biome called Burning Springs, located in post-nuclear Ohio, where an intelligent Super Mutant called The Rust King rules over Deathclaws and raiders. Play solo or join together as you explore, quest & face off against the Wasteland. Try Fallout 76 for free, now through December 23.

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

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    Danielle Partis, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Planet of Lana II – Expanding the Story for an Ambitious Sequel – Xbox Wire

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    Summary

    •  Game directors Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Martin Eriksson reveal what to expect from the story of this anticipated sequel.
    • Learn more about how the planet of Novo has evolved, and what to expect from the narrative.
    • Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf will be released in 2026 for Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

    Just like its predecessor, Planet of Lana II’s story is told in a made-up language, and without subtitles. We want players to think of the narrative as another puzzle to be solved and allow them their own interpretation of the characters, their relationships and motivations. But in this article, we thought it would be fun to invite Xbox Wire readers to learn a bit more about how Novo itself has changed since the first game, and what to expect ahead of landing on this beautiful, beleaguered planet this time around.

    A Changing Planet

    The first Planet of Lana followed 11-year-old Lana on a heartfelt rescue mission after her sister and village were taken by cold, mysterious machines. With her adorable companion Mui at her side, she crossed a world filled with danger and discovery to protect their beautiful planet, Novo. But what she uncovered was only the beginning of a far bigger story…

    Chaos grips Novo after the arrival of advanced alien technology, forcing its many tribes to adapt or perish. A new society—The ruthless Dijinghala—uses the technology to strip the planet’s resources and, when Lana’s niece gets caught in the middle of this exploitation, Lana and Mui set out on another adventure to reclaim Novo’s future. But things get increasingly more complicated along the way as they are forced to confront their own past, as well as that of their home world.

    Different Factions, Different Challenges

    Since the events of Planet of Lana, three major factions have emerged on Novo and they all have very different attitudes towards the arrival of the machines.

    • Tailo Village – Nestled among a calm cove in Novo’s southern lakelands, Lana’s home village has adopted a nuanced attitude to the presence of the machines, and largely made them a part of everyday life. They are used for agriculture, fishing and other infrastructure – the relationship is one of symbiosis and harmony.
    • Wemari Village – Hidden deep within the ancient Wemari forest, this protective community is very sceptical – if not downright hostile – to the strange machines that now roam the Novo wilderness. This skepticism means players will have to tread carefully while exploring this beautiful, but deadly part of Novo.
    • The Dijinghala – A new society emerging in the desolate North is quickly turning into a threat to all free peoples of Novo. Hungry to power their insatiable march toward modernity, The Dijinghala are repurposing the machines to scour the planet’s precious natural resources. Of course, players can expect some sticky situations to arise when they inevitably cross paths with these ruthless excavators.

    More of Novo to Explore

    To set the stage for this planet-wide conflict, players will gain access to an array of new environments to explore; From snowy mountains, deep oceans, ancient forests, forgotten ruins and even urban areas to mention a few. All of them are packed with fresh creatures and gameplay variation to discover during the 6-8 hour campaign.

    And of course, with new parts of Novo to explore comes new secrets to discover of its shadowy past – attentive fans are sure to come away with many new pieces of the long forgotten puzzle that is Novo’s human and non-human history alike.

    Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf will be released early 2026 and will be available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from day one! Wishlist now and go play Lana and Mui’s first adventure in the wait up to their epic continued journey, and follow @PlanetOfLana on social media to stay up to date.


    Planet of Lana II
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Planet of Lana II

    Thunderful Publishing AB

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    The saga continues. Their home saved, a deeper journey begins.

    Embark on an unforgettable cinematic puzzle journey with Lana and her loyal companion Mui. Whether you’re a returning hero or a new adventurer, step into a world where a new, ancient mystery emerges from Novo’s hidden depths. But as they scour these depths, a new threat will put their unbreakable bond to the ultimate test, guiding Lana to confront her destiny amidst encroaching shadows.

    Planet of Lana II is a cinematic puzzle adventure framed by an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies.

    Key Features:

    Unique, Evolved Companion Gameplay: Experience Lana and Mui’s profound, evolving bond. Guide Mui with enhanced precision for deep exploration and collaborative puzzle-solving.

    Solve Diverse & Clever Puzzles: Tackle a wider array of physics-based puzzles, including hypnotizing spectacular creatures and controlling new hybrid robots for unique solutions.

    Master Stealth & Wit: Carefully navigate dangerous situations using refined stealth mechanics and tactical wit to outsmart foes.
    Survive Challenging Action Sequences: Use your reflexes and master Lana’s new agility with wall jumps, run-slides, and faster movement to survive thrilling, dynamic action sequences.

    Discover an Epic & Deeper Story: Immerse in a longer, more profound sci-fi saga. Confront Lana’s own demons and unveil the planet’s darkest secrets across stunning, diverse worlds, including new underwater chapters.

    Return of an Acclaimed Composer: Experience Takeshi Furukawa’s critically acclaimed score, from the original Planet of Lana. His mesmerizing compositions seamlessly elevate every emotional beat and cinematic moment.

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Xbox Cloud Gaming with Game Pass Up 45%, Now Available in Nearly 30 Countries – Xbox Wire

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    We’re bringing Xbox to more players around the world across devices including console, PC, and mobile, making it easier than ever to connect and play. With more ways to play, thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming, more people can jump in and play their favorite games, meaning more people to ready up with, throw down against, and build memories with. 

    Players are streaming their games more than ever — cloud gaming hours from Game Pass subscribers has increased 45% compared to this time last year. And, console players are embracing flexibility, spending 45% more time cloud streaming on console and 24% more on other devices.  

    People play across the globe in many different ways and our ambition at Xbox is to reach players wherever they live and however they choose to play. Earlier this month, we expanded Xbox Cloud Gaming to India, the fastest-growing gaming market in the world, which surpassed 500 million gamers this year. With the addition of India, Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available in 29 countries. We’re also seeing exciting momentum in Latin America in countries like Argentina and Brazil which have shown double digital growth in play time and active players. Players in Argentina and Brazil can also now stream using the Xbox app on LG TVs and Amazon Fire TV, adding even more ways to play. To keep pace with this demand, we’ve expanded in-region server capacity, delivering shorter wait times for gamers. This expansion is all about meeting the community’s enthusiasm and making sure every session is instant and seamless.

    Xbox Cloud Gaming Brings Great Games to a Variety of Devices 

    What sets Xbox Cloud Gaming apart is the ability to quickly jump in and play great games on devices you already own, including consoles, PCs, handhelds, smartphones, tablets, Smart TVs, Fire TV, VR headsets like Meta Quest, and yes, even coming soon to cars! This  fundamentally changes how and where players experience games, from action-packed adventures like The Outer Worlds 2 to independent gems like Ball x Pit and Blue Prince.

    Our library keeps growing with hundreds of games ready to stream through Xbox Game Pass, plus over a thousand more in the Stream your own game catalog, with new games being added all the time. Xbox Cloud Gaming allows players easy access to games they already own, with no downloads required, on any screen. And now, multiple Xbox Game Pass plans include access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, offering more choice, flexibility, and ways to play.

    This expansion reflects our commitment to making gaming more fun and accessible no matter how, where, or what you play – and this is just the beginning, with more great experiences and games to come across devices.

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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

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  • Young Suns, a Cozy New Life-sim in Space, Soars into Game Preview – Xbox Wire

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    The Ko_Op team is proud to present to you our latest project: Young Suns, a narrative-rich life sim set in an optimistic alternate future of space. You play as one of the few people entrusted with their very own spaceship. The people of Jupiter have just freed themselves from predatory corporations, and it’s up to you to help the friendly citizens build a better tomorrow.

    We’re launching right now as a Game Preview title, included with all tiers of Game Pass. We have a ton of updates on the way, but first, let’s talk about what we’ve got in the game already.

    The game is playable and fun for its intended pattern of play: checking in for an hour or two daily, slowly building up your perfect ship-home, and making new friends.

    Your Ship is Your Home

    In Young Suns your ship is your home. Wherever your adventures take you, your ship is your home among the stars — a space to cultivate, make, and repair. Rearrange a messy living room, perfect a reading nook, or place knickknacks in your cockpit. During your travels, you’ll collect souvenirs, furniture, and clothing from the people, flora, and fauna you meet to remember your journey by.

    The world is full of these discarded treasures to find and repair at your Workbench, restoring once-loved pieces to their former glory. Decoration is fully co-operative, so invite some friends over for a ship-warming party.

    Currently the game features over 80 decoration items to discover and use, along with changing the colors and patterns of walls and floors. Co-op decoration is fully functional. We will be regularly adding new furniture sets, decoration items, and more, throughout the Game Preview period.

    Fly Your Home on Adventures

    Young Suns

    Fly your ship to planetoids, ruins, and stations with a crew of up to three friends, or entirely on your own. At each of these locations you can dock your ship and set out on foot, exploring the location, harvesting alien plants, scavenging resources, and recovering lost goods.

    There’s a collaborative map table for planning your journey, and extra materials you find can be stored in the ship’s cargo hold. You may even run across NPCs doing their own tasks out in the world, strike up conversations, and learn about what’s been going on around Jupiter.

    Flying in space is a relaxing experience, with accessible controls and a chill, dynamic, multi-layered soundtrack.

    Story & Characters

    Young Suns

    The game has 30 fully realized characters, each with their own backgrounds, unique looks, and story arcs. Jupiter is full of diverse and interesting people to meet: grumpy mechanics, fixated scientists, fussy academics, bright-eyed idealists, wise old veterans, and fresh revolutionaries keeping the flame alive.

    Full character quests and evolving relationships are coming, but right now you can start learning their stories and following them in their work, with most characters having over 2 months of unique daily chat content.

    We are extremely proud of the narrative content we’ve got in store, and will be rolling out additional characters, multi-character storylines, and personal bond relationships over the next year.

    Young Suns

    The Future

    Young Suns

    Young Suns will be growing and expanding along with the community, and that’s reflected in both the story and development process. We’re excited to share an early look with Game Preview and to develop Young Suns in close collaboration with players, who’ll be able to contribute feedback and suggestions as it evolves over the next year.

    Upcoming improvements include expanding the playable area of space, new tools and interaction modes, additional minigames (mining and rigging), new biomes, space wildlife, as well as additional NPCs, quests, furniture, and outfits — a lot!

    You can follow our update roadmap, learn more about the game’s development, and join our community for support and feedback at www.youngsuns.com. Join us!


    Young Suns (Game Preview)
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Young Suns (Game Preview)

    KO_OP

    ☆☆☆☆☆

    ★★★★★

    $19.99

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    Free Trial

    This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.

    Young Suns is a 1-4 player narrative life sim set on Jupiter in an optimistic alternative future, intended for one-to-two hours of daily play, alone or with friends.

    Build your home among the stars, and take it with you on adventures!

    FOLLOW OUR DEVELOPMENT—A GAME THAT GROWS ALONGSIDE YOU

    👷🏽 Young Suns is still in early, active development. Playing the game now is recommended only for players interested in following the game’s development, participating in the community, and contributing feedback and suggestions.

    🧑🏽‍🏭 While core features are present, many you’d expect are still in development, and some content—especially quest content—is missing. Even in this state, the game is playable and fun for its intended pattern of play: checking in on a world for an hour or two a day, slowly building up your perfect ship-home, and making new friends among the stars.

    🗓️ To follow our update roadmap, learn more about the game’s development, and join the community for support & feedback please visit www.youngsuns.com.

    BE YOURSELF AMONG THE STARS—HELP BUILD A FUTURE FOR EVERYONE

    The people of Jupiter are newly free, and they’ve entrusted you with your very own ship. There’s a lot of work to be done, if we want to make this a better world! Visit planetoids, ruins, and stations with a crew of up to three friends, or entirely on your own. Take on quests from the friendly citizens of Jupiter. Decorate and customize your spaceship. Build relationships with a huge cast of lovable characters, and help rebuild & improve society, for everyone.

    KEY FEATURES

    ◌ 30 FULLY REALIZED CHARACTERS, with unique looks, behaviors and over 2 months of unique daily chats. Learn their stories, and help with the many problems faced by the people of Jupiter.

    ◌ CREATE YOUR CHARACTER and alter any aspect of your look during play—character creation is only the beginning. Recolor clothing to match your style.

    ◌ YOUR SHIP IS YOUR HOME. Personalize your spaceship with 80+ discoverable recipes and items. Paint the walls, stack your shelves—create your perfect cozy nest.

    ◌ THAT’S NOT JUNK, IT’S TREASURE! Find and repair damaged furniture, clothing and tools. Use them yourself, gift them, or donate them to the common cause.

    ◌ GROW AND THRIVE. Upgrade your tools to perform harder jobs. Improve and expand your ship.

    ◌ OPEN WORLD EXPLORATION. Fly your ship to fantastical planetoids, derelict ruins, and converted space stations on your journey through a newly-reclaimed region of Jovian space.

    ◌ SPACE IS BEAUTIFUL. Featuring a dynamic fully-composed soundtrack, gorgeous colorful visuals, and deep, characterful writing.

    Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at www.youngsuns.com.

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    Will Fulton, Xbox Wire Editor

    Source link

  • Football Manager 26 Console: 7 Tips For New and Returning Players – Xbox Wire

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    Football Manager 26 Console is out now, ready for you to step into the dugout and take your favourite team to footballing glory.

    Delivering instinctive play, FM26 Console brings new foundations for you to shape your football destiny. Optimised for play with a controller, FM26 allows you to zone in on the managerial essentials while experiencing much of the classic thrills and depth Football Manager is known for the world over. And, thanks to Smart Delivery, you’ll get the best available version of FM26 Console whether you play on an Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S or via Game Pass.

    FM26 Console is packed with new additions, from the series’ most immersive Match Day experience, to new playable leagues thanks to fresh licences, and the introduction of Women’s Football.

    Whether you’re an experienced manager or a series newcomer, your first couple of hours in the hotseat are vital. Here are seven top tips to help you start strong wherever your story begins.

    Craft Your Game World

    The first job in any Football Manager save is creating your game world and deciding the nations and leagues that you want to load. FM26 Console lets you load up to 10 nations (or 5 on Xbox One), so think about the sort of challenge you want as a manager and which competitions you want to be playable. For example, if you want to compete at the top end of the Premier League, focus on loading the other top leagues in for a more immersive experience in continental competitions.

    If you’re curious about jumping in to Women’s Football, include both men’s and women’s divisions to move seamlessly between the two and explore new horizons. Whatever combination you go for, take your time to decide as the world you build shapes your story with FM26 Console.

    Define Your Style and Personality

    Football Manager 26 Console Screenshot

    The next step is to create your manager. FM26 Console’s enhanced character creator offers more visual and stylistic options than ever – greater customisation options mean you can define your visual self with more clarity.

    You’ll also shape your Coaching Style and Personality through a short set of questions that define how you feel about football and what sort of leader you are on the touchline.

    Think carefully here – the selections allow you elevate the things you care about most and deprioritise those that are less important to you. They should also match the challenge you’re taking on. If you’re stepping in with a proven title-winner, high-energy, attacking football is expected. But if you’re an underdog looking to upset the odds, a motivator with strong pragmatism and defensive coaching will be more appropriate.

    Master Your Bookmarks

    Football Manager 26 Console Screenshot

    You’ve built your world, crafted your character and defined the sort of manager you want to be. It’s now day one in the dugout and you’ve landed in FM26 Console’s revamped UI. This UI is designed to be smarter and more intuitive to navigate – and key to that are the new Bookmarks.

    Simple, quick shortcuts to key game areas, Bookmarks are always accessible at the top of the screen and can be adjusted at any time to suit your preferences. Quick navigation between the core essentials of football management means you’ll always stay focused on what’s important.

    Get to Know Your Squad

    Football Manager 26 Console Screenshot

    After you’ve sorted your Bookmarks, a vital task will be familiarising yourself with your Squad.

    Take time to review what you’ve got at your disposal across your first team, reserves and youth squads. Where are you strong? What’s an area of weakness? Where have you got talented prospects ready to break through?

    Reviewing your squad depth and understanding what you’re working with will help to shape your tactics and define your transfer plans.

    Build Your Tactics with Your Staff

    Football Manager 26 Console Screenshot

    FM26 Console adds new tactical depth with separate In and Out of Possession formations, new player roles, and a dynamic visualiser showing how your team behaves in every phase. That level of detail allows you to express more control over how your side plays the beautiful game, but at the start of your save you should keep things simple.

    When you set up your first tactic, the process is a familiar one. You’ll begin by choosing a style of play before setting your formations. At each stage, you’ll get recommendations from your backroom team on which options works best with your current squad.

    Even if you’ve got a philosophy in mind, lean on their advice as you’re getting up to speed – and then focus on tinkering and adapting as the season progresses to get the edge on your rivals. 

    Dive Into the New TransferRoom Tools

    Football Manager 26 Console Screenshot

    TransferRoom, football’s digital marketplace, is changing the way clubs in real life do transfer deals and it’s now doing the same for FM26 Console. This is thanks to the introduction of two new tools – Requirements and Pitch Opportunities.

    Requirements are a way for you to communicate directly with every other club in your game world and outline your specific requirements in the transfer market. Conversely, Pitch Opportunities allows you to see what other clubs in your game world are looking for in the transfer market.

    Having studied your squad, you should know where you need to make new additions and where you may have players that are surplus to requirements. Dive into these tools to target signings and offload players efficiently. With TransferRoom, Recruitment has never been this streamlined.

    Savour Your First Match Days

    Football Manager 26 Console Screenshot

    Squad assessed, tactic created and new signings made. Before long, it’s time for kick-off.

    In FM26 Console, match days bring new levels of depth and drama thanks to gloriously upgraded visuals and the inclusion of new volumetric animations taken from real-life matches. These animations bring every moment to life, delivering smoother, more realistic player movement and adding new cutscenes, lighting, and sky effects to every stadium.

    In your first few games as manager, take in as much of the action as possible. It’s not just because of the visuals (although they are great) – but watching how your team plays will allow you to make some early tactical tweaks to help your side hit the ground running.

    After those first few games, you’ll be fully immersed in the world of football management.

    In FM26 Console, every decision, tactic, and transfer reflects your vision. Football belongs to you – now it’s time to change the game.


    Football Manager 26 Console
    Xbox Play Anywhere

    Football Manager 26 Console

    SEGA

    ☆☆☆☆☆
    121

    ★★★★★

    $59.99

    PC Game Pass

    Xbox Game Pass

    CHANGE THE GAME – PLAY NOW
    New foundations set the stage for you to shape your football destiny.
    Delivering instinctive control, a redesigned UI combines with the series’ most immersive match day experience to bring you closer to every match-defining moment.

    MADE WITH UNITY
    Savour the richest Match Day experience in series history with gloriously upgraded visuals and on-pitch details, from lighting to cutscenes and stadiums, that bring new levels of depth and drama.
    Every attack has more personality thanks to fresh motion capture and volumetric animations, while new controller shortcuts between highlights better empower you to tinker from the touchline.

    WELCOME TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE
    Immerse yourself in football’s most-watched league with the Premier League fully-licensed for the first time.
    Authenticity reaches new heights as you pursue domestic football’s biggest prize with the full broadcast experience from the best seat in the house.

    ADVANCED TACTICAL INNOVATION
    Explore the cutting edge of football tactics with the introduction of in and out-of-possession formations.
    Redefined player roles and new tools showing how your team adapts in every phase of play levels up your pre-match prep.

    CLOSER TO THE ACTION 
    A redesigned UI delivers smoother, smarter navigation. Flow through match planning at your pace, with the key info delivered when and where you need it, driven by the new Portal which connects you to the footballing world.

    INTRODUCING: WOMEN’S FOOTBALL  
    Break new ground as women’s football debuts, seamlessly integrated into FM26 as one footballing world.
    Explore new horizons with 14 playable leagues across 11 nations, including top competitions like the WSL and NWSL, and discover new stars with the biggest women’s football database in games.

    TRANSFORMATIVE TRANSFER TOOLS
    Harness the power of TransferRoom™, the professional game’s online transfer marketplace, to shape your title-winning squads with even greater insight.
    Sign and sell players more easily with the introduction of Requirements and Opportunities, giving you more targeted control in every window.

    YOUR MANAGER, YOUR WAY
    Express more of your personality and style in every career with a revamped manager creator.
    Craft your look with enhanced character options before developing a career backstory unique to you and your life in the dugout.

    In FM26 Console, football belongs to you and your vision. It’s time to change the game.

    By using this product, you agree to this EULA:  https://games.sega.com/eula

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Fortnite Crew, The Crew Motorfest, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, and More – Xbox Wire

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    This week we have a couple of Crews for you to join in our recurring, “Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass” announcement (looking at you Fortnite and The Crew Motorfest!). So, grab your favorite controller (come on, we all know there’s one you like more than the others), charge up your mouse, and let’s get to the games!

    Get Fortnite Crew with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

    Fortnite Crew is available today with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Included with Ultimate is access to the current Battle Pass, OG Pass, LEGO Pass, and Music Pass. In addition, get 1,000 V-Bucks each month while you’re subscribed.

    Fortnite Crew includes a bonus benefit: Rocket Pass Premium in Rocket League! Get the current Rocket League Season’s Rocket Pass Premium, plus future Seasons’ while you’re still subscribed. With Rocket Pass Premium, you’ll unlock the premium track of the Rocket Pass!

    Coming Soon

    Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault (Game Preview) (PC) – November 19
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Available on day one with Game Pass! Dive deep into this action RPG with roguelike elements and a tale about new beginnings. Live the double life of a fearless adventurer and a crafty merchant. Dive into vibrant dimensions brimming with shiny loot and pesky enemies. Grow your shop, tinker with weapons and gadgets, as well as make your mark among a ragtag community of castaways.

    Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 19
    Now with Game Pass Premium

    A papercraft adventure game where you’ll meet the many good and not-so-good folks of Limbo, a place where souls with deep regrets are cursed into repeating the same day on a loop.

    Revenge of the Savage Planet (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 19
    Now with Game Pass Premium

    In a future knocked off its axis by corporate greed and stupidity, you have been made redundant and abandoned on the far edge of space with little gear and no safety net. You must explore every nook and cranny, collect dozens of upgrades, and turn over every mysterious alien rock if you want to get revenge on your former employer and return to Earth.

    Monsters are Coming! Rock & Road (Handheld & PC) – November 20
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Beware, monsters are coming! In this tower-survivor rogue-lite on wheels, you gather resources and prepare defenses for an ever-moving city, protecting it from unrelenting hordes, while boosting potential through enhanced player progression. Are you prepared to face an unstoppable army of darkness? Can you reach the Ark?

    The Crew Motorfest (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 20
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    The ultimate car culture festival has settled down in one of the most breathtaking places on Earth: Hawaii. Enjoy a variety of thrilling driving activities and choose how you want to have fun with more than 700 vehicles: cars, motorcycles, and even boats and planes! The best part: The Crew Motorfest has just started its 3rd year of free content updates, bringing new islands to explore, new car customization features, a race creator tool, NASCAR, and even more to the game.

    Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – November 25
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    An all-new title crafted by renowned studio Don’t Nod, known for their acclaimed titles such as Life is Strange and Vampyr. Immerse yourself in an intimate narrative action RPG, taking you on an exhilarating journey between life, death, love, and sacrifices.

    Kill It With Fire! 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 25
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    Take on the arachnid menace alone or with friends in full campaign co-op. Wage the arachnid war across time and space and exterminate every last spider across the multiverse or jump into Spider Hunt PVP and play as the eight-legged menace for the first time!

    Marvel Cosmic Invasion (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – December 1
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Available on day one with Game Pass! A cosmic battle awaits! Choose between 15 Marvel heroes in this frenetic action beat ‘em up to fight against the deadly Annihilation Wave threatening the galaxy. From New York City to the depths of the Negative Zone, the future of the Marvel Universe will be fought for across the stars!

    Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – December 2
    Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass

    Embark on a new narrative journey by the creators of Life is Strange. Film your summer of 1995 and create memories of a lifetime with your new friends. 27 years later, confront the dark secrets that made you all promise to never speak again after that fateful summer.

    In Case You Missed It

    Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Cloud, Console, Handheld, and PC) – Available now
    Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

    Available on day one with Game Pass! In Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the biggest Black Ops ever. Squad up with friends or play solo in a thrilling and innovative Co-op Campaign, harness near-future weaponry in a signature Multiplayer experience packed with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch and descend into the next twisted chapter of Round-Based Zombies in the heart of the Dark Aether.

    DLC / Game Updates

    Halo Infinite – Operation: Infinite – Available today

    Operation: Infinite offers a mighty mission packed with armor, progression updates, and more. Earn 2X Career Rank and 2X Spartan Points, claim 200 never-before-seen customizations from The Exchange, challenge yourself in a refreshed slate of Ranked Seasons, and brave a new Husky map just in time for the Halodays.

    Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Valley of Memory – Available today

    Valley of Memory is a free Assassin’s Creed Mirage update launching today! Explore AlUla’s deserts and oases, uncover family secrets, and face a ruthless gang of robbers. Enjoy enhanced gameplay with mission replay, smoother parkour, and new customization options.

    League of Legends: Play the new Darkin Champion, Zaahen – November 19

    Defy death and defeat with Zaahen, the Darkin warlord who ascends in combat to become unstoppable as the battle rages on – even with the odds stacked against him. Instantly unlock League of Legends’ newest top laner with Xbox Game Pass on November 19.

    Revenge of the Savage Planet: Bingo Brawl Mode – November 19

    Revenge of the Savage Planet adds more modes, more customization, and more ways to play! The core game adds a competitive mode called Bingo Brawl, a bunch of new ways to tweak your experience with Remix Mode, plus suits, Habitat items and more! So much game! So much fun! Grab a friend and play together. What could go wrong?

    In-Game Benefits

    The First Descendant: Assemble Bundle (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S) – Available now

    Gear up with the Assemble Bundle!  Express your style with brilliant weapon skins, colorful Descendant paints, dynamic sprays, a stylish back attachment, and daring makeup options. Suit up and get ready to experience thrilling action across a sprawling battlefield!

    Assassin’s Creed Mirage: Guardian Pack (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available today

    Keep the secrets of the First Civilization deeply buried in the sand by dressing yourself as a guardian of the old temple. This Pack contains a Costume and a Mount Skin.

    Leaving November 30

    The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon, so be sure to jump back in or start fresh before they go! Save up to 20% off your purchase to keep them in your library.

    • Barbie Project Friendship (Cloud, Console, and PC)
    • Lords of the Fallen (Cloud, Console, and PC)
    • Octopath Traveler (Cloud, Console, and PC)
    • Octopath Traveler II (Cloud, Console, and PC)
    • SteamWorld Build (Cloud, Console, and PC)

    Don’t forget to tune back into Xbox Wire on November 20 for all the updates from the Xbox Partner Preview for even more news. Talk soon!

    Note: Games with a ‘Handheld’ designation represent those that are optimized for handheld play.

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    Mike Nelson, Xbox Wire Editor

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