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Tag: Sea of Thieves

  • 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

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    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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  • Level Up Your Look: Xbox and Crocs Launch Exclusive Gaming-Inspired Classic Clogs – Xbox Wire

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    Game-mode: enabled. Xbox and Crocs have teamed up to release an exclusive collection. 

    Ready up with this controller-meets-clog design that reimagines the iconic Xbox controller with fixed buttons and joysticks into the perfect shoe for couch co-op and kicking back – complete with cushioned footbeds adorned with Player Left and Player Right, which give expert-level comfort to support your next session. 

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    Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

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  • Banjo-Kazooie director Gregg Mayles confirms he’s left Rare

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    Gregg Mayles, the director of Sea of Thieves and designer on Donkey Kong Country, has announced that he’s left Rare. News of Mayles’ exit in July 2025 during a across Xbox Games Studios, but the short poem he today makes it official.

    With a 36-year tenure at the studio, Mayles saw its transition from an exclusive Nintendo partner to a Microsoft subsidiary. He helped design games like Battletoads, created Banjo-Kazooie and when studio founders Tim and Chris Stamper left in 2007, stepped up and became Rare’s creative director. Mayles also led the team behind Sea of Thieves, one of Rare’s modern successes.

    The studio has been supporting Sea of Thieves with new content since it was released in 2018, but was also working on a new project, Everwild, that was . The game went through a troubled development process over the last few years, and Rare with Mayles taking over as director. Microsoft’s decision to cancel the game and layoff staff at the studio this summer is likely one of the reasons he left.

    Losing Mayles is just one example of Microsoft’s self-inflicted wounds from 2025. The company not only made cuts at and Forza Motorsport developer , it also increased the prices of both Xbox consoles and Game Pass Ultimate. All of these changes are seemingly in service of shifting the Xbox business into something that’s more focused on subscriptions and game publishing, but the transition definitely seems like a painful one.

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    Ian Carlos Campbell

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  • 10 Xbox Exclusives We’d Love To See On PlayStation

    10 Xbox Exclusives We’d Love To See On PlayStation

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    In a twist no one saw coming, it is heavily rumored that Xbox might put some of their games onto PlayStation platforms. It’s a move that could see a huge shift in the entire hierarchy of the video game industry. While the stand-out titles we hope will appear on PlayStation are Halo and Gears of War, all the speculation got us thinking about the other Xbox exclusives we would love to see on PlayStation.

    Sunset Overdrive

    Imager Source: Xbox Game Studios

    Insomniac Games is best known for making PlayStation franchises like Ratchet and Clank and Marvel’s Spider-Man now, however back in 2014 they released the Xbox One exclusive Sunset Overdrive. Colorful and kinetic, of all the games on this list Sunset Overdrive is the game I’d most like to see on PlayStation.

    The open world of Sunset City is a parkour playground where players zip across the city on grind rails and bounce from building to building. Jet Set Radio meets Ratchet and Clank as the player character tries to save the world from an evil energy drink that is turning people into hordes of orange mutants.

    Ryse: Son of Rome

    Image Source: Xbox Game Studios

    Ryse: Son of Rome was an Xbox One launch title back in 2013. A third-person hack and slash, it was developed by German studio Crytek and recounts the life of fictional Roman general Marius Titus. Marius is deployed to Britain and plays an important role in the historic Roman invasion of the island, even capturing the legendary tribal leader Boudica, before fending off a barbarian horde alongside Emporer Nero.

    The game received mixed reviews at launch but with graphics that still hold up today, an interesting premise, and a unique setting, it would be cool to see Ryse: Son of Rome move over to PlayStation.

    Quantum Break

    A scene from Quantum Break.
    Image Source: Remedy Entertainment

    Remedy Entertainment’s Quantum Break was the studio’s biggest experiment in multi-media storytelling yet when it was released in 2016. The time travel narrative was told both in-game and via live-action television episodes interspersed between levels. Quantum Break starred Shawn Ashmore (The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan), as a man caught in the middle of a time travel experiment gone wrong.

    The game is a third-person shooter with the player combining firearms and time-bending superpowers to manipulate the environment and enemies around them. The cast list also included Aiden Gillen (Game of Thrones), Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings), and the late Lance Reddick (John Wick).

    Hi-Fi Rush

    Chai
    Image Source: Tango Gameworks

    Shadow-dropped onto Xbox Series X|S in January 2023, Hi-Fi Rush is a vivid, cell-shaded rhythm-action game from experienced horror developers Tango Gameworks and published by Bethesda. In the game, players control Chai, an aspiring rockstar who accidentally gets a music player fused to his heart.

    The world moves in rhythm and matching the beats during combat increases Chai’s combo score. The game was a sleeper hit on release with critics complimenting Hi-Fi Rush’s style and soundtrack as it reached 2 million players in just four months.

    Sea of Thieves

    Is Sea of Thieves Down? How to Check Server Status
    Image Source: Rare

    Developed by Rare, Sea of Thieves got off to a rough start when it was first released in 2018, but in the years since has turned itself around and is now one of the most popular multiplayer games around. In this sea-faring adventure, ghost ships, reanimated skeletons, and Krakens stand in the way of you and your crew’s quest for fame and treasure.

    Centered on ship combat, Sea of Thieves has a chaotic open world, a healthy player base, and still receives regular updates. With a new adventure almost every month, including a free cross-over with The Legend of Monkey Island series, there is a lot for players to dive into.

    Grounded

    Grounded gameplay
    Image Source: Obsidian Entertainment

    What if Honey I Shrunk The Kids was a survival game? That’s the basic premise of Grounded, a co-op title developed by Obsidian Entertainment. After they are accidentally shrunken to a minuscule size, a group of teenagers have to survive the terrors found in the grass and soil of their backyard.

    The game features the usual genre tropes of scavenging resources, gathering supplies, and building bases, but places them in a unique environment full of giant (in comparison to your player character at least) insects and some of the scariest spiders to ever appear in video games. Luckily for players with arachnophobia, Obsidian implemented a feature that allows them to make the frankly terrifying Wolf Spiders a little more palatable.

    Ori Duology

    ori and the will of the wisps
    Image Source: Xbox Game Studios

    2015’s Ori and The Blind Forest and its 2020 sequel Ori and The Will of the Wisps are a pair of beautiful Metroidvanias from Austrian developer Moon Studios. In the platformers, players control two spirits, Ori and Sein as they traverse the mysterious Forest of Nibel and set out to bring light back to the forest.

    The sequel meanwhile gave the characters 3D models, new abilities, and a larger world to explore. Both games received widespread praise for their art design and presentation.

    Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

    Image Source: Xbox Game Studios

    A fascinating examination of psychosis and grief, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice follows titular Pict warrior Senua as she travels to Helheim to rescue her partner’s soul from the goddess Hela. Exploring both Norse mythology and Celtic culture, Hellblade features a mix of puzzles and combat encounters.

    Hellblade has some really interesting sound design as the voices in Senua’s head (called Furies) help guide her on her journey, so playing with headphones is a must. Developed by Ninja Theory, a sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, is scheduled to release in 2024.

    Killer Instinct (2013)

    Riptor from Killer Instinct
    Image Source: Xbox Game Studios

    Allow me to rattle off just a few of the characters on the roster of 2013’s Killer Instinct: an alien with ice powers, a The Ring-style spirit trained in the ways of the samurai, a Battletoad, the Arbiter from Halo, and a fire-breathing velociraptor. If that doesn’t pique your interest in Iron Galaxy’s fighting game I don’t know what will!

    Fighting games are as popular as ever and Iron Galaxy has worked hard to keep Killer Instinct online for nearly a decade. The core game went free-to-play in November 2023 (with a paid Anniversary edition available) and cross-platform tests with PC players began in February 2024. The game is still alive and kicking (pun intended) and it would be cool to play as a fire-breathing raptor on Sony’s platforms.

    Dead Rising 3

    Nick Ramos with crossbow in Dead Rising 3
    Image Source: Capcom

    Dead Rising 3 is the third installment in Capcom’s zombie-slaying franchise. It features a new protagonist, mechanic Nick Ramos, and transfers the action into an even bigger playground. Rather than a mall, Dead Rising 3 is set across a whole city. The story, which begins three days into the latest zombie outbreak, has Nick looking for a way to escape the city of Los Peridos.

    As is tradition, Dead Rising 3’s campaign puts players on a timed deadline and equips them with a bunch of crazy improvised weapons. This time around the franchise’s trademark Psychopaths are based on the Seven Deadly Sins and, while it probably doesn’t reach the heights of Dead Rising 1 and Dead Rising 2, it’s the only game in the series not on PlayStation and that’s a shame.

    What do you think of the current state of Xbox and their potential plans? Let us know in the comments below.

    About the author

    Alex Johnson

    Alex has been writing about games for over four years and if there is one thing he fears in life it is writing a bio. He studied film at the University of Lincoln, has a small obsession with Fortnite and hopes to actually finish a FromSoftware game one day.

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    Alex Johnson

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