Combining classic 1930s “rubber hose” animation, explosive gunplay and an unrelenting cartoon world, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is shaping up to be a truly unique treat – but there’s much more to this game than first meets the eye.
Shortly after announcing a March 19, 2026 release date, we were treated to a deep dive into the game at the ID@Xbox Showcase, directly from the developers at Fumi Games in Warsaw, Poland. You can watch the full deep dive below, or read on to find out all the new details we learned along the way:
“More Than Just an Old-school Shooter”
If there’s one thing to take away from today’s documentary, it’s that MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is far more than just a retro shooter in even more retro clothing. While at its core the game is a first-person shooter (more on that later), there are more layers of gameplay than you might think.
For a start, the main character – war veteran-turned-private investigator, Jack Pepper – is not just running and gunning through the whole game. From the beginning, Jack is presented with not just one, but three separate cases to solve, each of which will take him across the city of Mouseburg to unravel their secrets.
Each case requires you to both take down enemies in your way and also to find clues – whether those are physical objects, information learned by talking to NPCs, or even photographs you might take. Clues can then be taken to a classic string-adorned corkboard in Jack Pepper’s office, located in the HUB, where each piece of evidence must be placed in the correct place to unlock new revelations and destinations.
With a range of levels to explore, this game is not just a simple Point A-to-Point B shooter.
The Hub
At the core of all that sleuthing and exploration is the game’s hub world, which is set roughly in the middle of the city of Mouseburg. The hub contains three key locations: Jack’s office, the local pub, and Tammy’s workshop. But there’s more here than just a series of menus. NPCs offer conversations with tidbits and clues, weapons can be upgraded at the workshop, and minigames provide players with more gameplay experiences. Once you’re ready to leave, heading to the next level is as easy as jumping into Jack’s car and driving across the beautiful overworld map of Mouseburg to your next firefight.
Cartoon Combat
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire’s combat draws on classic shooters like DOOM and BioShock, with some added touches to ensure gunplay remains fresh throughout. With a philosophy of “challenging but fun”, you’ll be pitted against waves of enemies and collect an entire arsenal of cartoon weapons, from the expected (like a Tommy Gun) to much more “experimental” firearms (picture a brain in a jar that fires psychic waves, with devastating consequences).
Most guns also come with an upgradable alt-fire mode, requiring you to collect weapon schematics over the course of the game. But beware – enemies will see changes too, with additional types and variants being introduced as you dive deeper into the world.
And to boot, bosses might even throw in whole new mechanics of their own! We even saw a ghost-like creature named the Third Wife, which requires you to weaken her with a flashlight before you can start pumping lead.
Making the Past the Future
And, of course, the cheese in the room – we need to talk about how this game looks. While environments are rendered in 3D, every single character, enemy, UI element and weapon has been painstakingly hand-drawn in 2D and animated to resemble the classic 1930s “rubber hose” animation. The way everything in the world bounces, stretches, and bends is a tribute to that distinctive cartoon art style (even weapons continue to dance and wiggle when Jack remains stationary). As you could imagine, this has taken an enormous amount of work from Fumi Games, reinforcing how much of a labor of love every single frame of this game is for the team.
To add to the challenge, MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is entirely in black-and-white, which had to change how Fumi approached traditional game and level design. Whereas most games can use colour to help guide players, Fumi needed to achieve that goal through use of light and animation, giving the entire game a very unique look from a player’s perspective. Even here, we’re seeing a tribute to classic cartoons, with interactable objects dancing in place, waiting for you to find them.
And to complete that tribute to the past, we even learned that Fumi has added customizable audio filters to the game! You can choose to play with more crisp and “clean” music, or add degradation and other filters to help everything sound as if it’s being played from an old-school phonograph cylinder. This attention to detail – and to how players might want to experience the game – is clear across everything Fumi has touched.
Mouse: P.I for Hire comes to Xbox Series X|S on March 19, 2026.
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire
PlaySide
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
MOUSE: P.I. For Hire is an action-packed first-person shooter that draws inspiration from the classic cartoons of the 1930s. Its black and white rubber hose visuals are drawn by hand, frame by frame, delivering a striking vintage aesthetic. Unravel layers of corruption with a thrilling noir-fueled detective story, lively environments to explore, an original big band jazz soundtrack, and a fully-loaded arsenal of cartoon weapons and devastating power-ups.
DEADLY INVESTIGATIONS
Meet Private Investigator Jack Pepper, a former war hero-turned-detective in a world where danger lurks even in the smallest mouse hole. Uncover the truth when a simple missing persons case quickly escalates into a complex web of intrigue, with corruption, kidnapping and murder all on the docket. Investigate the seedy underbelly of Mouseburg, battle heavily armed gangs and crooked cops, and discover clues to reveal the conspiracy buried underneath the surface.
LOCK, LOAD & LAUGH
From crackling machine guns to explosive firepower, each weapon in Pepper’s arsenal is designed to deploy non-stop cartoon chaos. Arm yourself with an array of classic, creatively twisted and experimental firearms, and consume powerful upgrades when you need that extra spinach-loaded punch! Lethal encounters and manic boss battles await in this boomer shooter-inspired, retro-vibed adventure – and the denizens of Mouseburg never go down without a fight.
A CITY OF SECRETS
Explore a diverse city playground, from dark streets to classic film studios, opulent opera buildings, poisonous swamps and underground sewers. With a myriad of cases to solve and collectibles to find, Mouseburg is truly a detective’s delight! Use every tool at your disposal to wall-run, grapple-hook and double-jump through this unrelenting cartoon world.
FEATURES
– Black and white, hand-drawn rubber hose animation, inspired by cartoons of the 1930s
– Fast-paced FPS combat, where constant movement is key
– A thrilling single-player campaign that unravels a complex web of crime and corruption
– Over 20 noir-infused levels, teeming with mice, rats and shrews
– Fully-loaded arsenal of over a dozen unique weapons and equipment – with a cartoon twist
– Devastating consumable power-ups, capable of turning the tide of any battle
– Unlockable movement abilities and Metroidvania-inspired level traversal
– Original jazz soundtrack, featuring a big band orchestral ensemble
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, coming in 2026 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
This fully-rebuilt campaign will introduce remastered 4K visuals, beloved Halo weapons and vehicles, plus brand-new story content.
We spoke to key leads at Halo Studios about how the team is utilizing 25 years of community feedback and technology to build on what makes Halo timeless.
It’s official; Halo marks the next chapter for the franchise with Halo: Campaign Evolved, a complete Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original campaign from Halo: Combat Evolved, including some brand-new surprises.
The original Halo: Combat Evolved is a stalwart of gaming history, a cultural icon that helped define the first-person shooter experience. For Halo Studios, bottling the impact of that original campaign and all of its special moments is the ultimate goal – for new players and long-time fans alike.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a modern evolution of that iconic story, thoughtfully brought to life in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning new 4K visuals, updated animations, remastered music, and re-recorded voice lines. Halo Studios is also bringing in a roster of beloved weapons and vehicles from later Halo titles, and adding three new bonus campaign missions, all designed to expand and celebrate the adventure that started it all.
Halo’s legacy of cooperative play continues here, supporting the original two-player local split screen experience on console, and, for the first time, up to four players in online co-op across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Ahead of announce, I was able to speak to several key leads at Halo Studios, and gathered up some unique insight on how the team seeks to capture the tone and feel of the original game for a new generation, all the new lore and gameplay additions, and ultimately, while staying true to what has always made Halo special at its core.
Back to Where It All Began
Halo: Combat Evolved is where it all began, and for the team at Halo Studios – who have gone through an evolution of their own – there was no better place to start building this new generation of Halo. As Executive Producer Damon Conn puts it, remaking the very first campaign from the ground up was a perfect opportunity to craft an ideal entry point for new players and modernize areas that could better match today’s expectations for pacing and clarity (yes, we mean The Library, and we’ll get to that shortly).
“We wanted to start where it all began, with the original campaign that defined Halo,” Conn explains. “Starting here means people that have never played the game before will be able to understand the story from the very beginning, and that can help us chart a course forward with new Halo stories.”
“Focusing on the campaign experience means we can concentrate fully on really capturing the atmosphere, tone – the emotional impact of what made the first campaign so special and iconic.”
How Will Campaign Evolved Preserve the ‘Halo Spirit’?
Keeping that classic Halo “feel” is of course of prime importance, and capturing that took the team all the way back to the source material – the original Combat Evolved campaign as it was first presented in 2001. TThe goal was to understand how modern updates to systems and environments could complement, not replace, the essence of the original experience – to make it feel just as players remember, only smoother and more seamless than ever before.
“The campaign has been rebuilt to feel handcrafted and immersive, true to what players remember, not just visually, but emotionally,” adds Conn.
How Will Campaign Evolved Update Existing Missions?
Preserving the Halo spirit means the team has taken great care to not modernize for the sake of modernization. It’s not about rebuilding Halo: Combat Evolved’s story and spaces to ‘fit in’ with a roster of today’s games, but to ensure that its original feel has evolved to suit modern players. Every change has been shaped by the same question: Does this still feel like Halo?
“Because this is a remake, we’ve been able to carefully rebuild almost every level and every encounter with more fidelity,” says Max Szlagor, Creative Director. “As we’re building the technology for this game, we’ve had to do it piece by piece, which included reevaluating all of the individual elements as we’re revisiting them in the original game.”
“And now the campaign supports up to four-player co-op, we had to think about how all of the original encounters and spaces can scale to accommodate that many players.”
The Library is a perfect example to demonstrate how the team is thoughtfully enhancing existing spaces in an authentic way. Halo: Combat Evolved’s seventh campaign mission is a key example of where it felt right to make tweaks to several areas to create a new experience that balances nostalgia with the expectations of today’s gamers.
“We learned from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary that there was still an appetite for things like better wayfinding, navigation, and diversity in enemy encounters,” Szlagor says. “In The Library specifically, which features several Flood encounters, we wanted to reevaluate the pacing and enhance the environmental storytelling. We’ve added new lines to Guilty Spark, which guide players through the level, and there’s new dialogue that gives more insight into the narrative as it plays out.”
“We’re not changing the stories, it’s about refining and adding context to this moment, and other levels like it, so players can stay on track.”
What New Elements are Halo Studios Adding to the Original?
In Halo: Campaign Evolved, you’ll be able to wield nine additional iconic weapons from across the Halo series inside the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle and Needle Rifle, giving you more ways to approach every encounter.
“Some of the weapons we’re bringing in could be used against you in Halo: Combat Evolved by the enemy, but you weren’t able to pick them up yourself.” Szlagor says. “Now, you can, and it feels natural because of how you can do that in other Halo games, it reflects the evolution of the series.”
Players can also look forward to two firsts for the campaign — you can now hijack vehicles and even pilot the Covenant Wraith tank for the first time in Halo: Combat Evolved.
For challenge seekers, Halo Studios is also featuring the most Skulls ever in a Halo campaign, for even more ways to modify the campaign experience.
And perhaps most exciting, the team has added three brand-new prequel missions set before the events of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, which introduce entirely new environments, characters and enemies, which we’ll find out more about very soon.
Oh – and you can sprint now, if you’d like, or disable it if you don’t.
How Are Halo Studios Using Unreal Engine 5?
The Halo spirit is not just about the debut’s impact – the studio is effectively incorporating 25 years of player feedback and technological advancement into Halo: Campaign Evolved. The latter is supported by the team’s pivot to Unreal Engine 5, which, with the foundation of Halo’s legacy code, will support the game’s development. It’s not an entirely new ecosystem for Halo Studios – they’ve dabbled quietly with Unreal projects in the past – and that has only reinforced that the tools on offer, combined with original resources, are what Halo needs to futureproof itself for the generations to come.
“Given that Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remake, it is critical that we deliver gameplay that is 100% authentically Halo at its core, ” says Greg Hermann, Game Director on Halo: Campaign Evolved.
All of the new content created in Unreal Engine 5 is layered on top of code and systems carried directly over from the original games. That legacy code is instrumental in maintaining that authentic “Halo feel” within gameplay. It means that Halo Studios can achieve the desired visual goal with Unreal’s photorealistic rendering capabilities, with the simulation systems of Halo living and breathing beneath it, Hermann adds.
“For future titles, we will continue to push the boundaries of technology while ensuring the core Halo gameplay for that game can be seen, felt, heard, and evolved where needed.”
How are Halo Studios Balancing Serving New and Core Players?
While the team knows its tools best, it’s the Halo community that plays a fundamental role in how Halo Studios moves forward.
“Our player-first approach has informed so many decisions for the better,” Szlagor adds. “When we introduce new features or make creative choices, we’re constantly checking in with players through our user research studies and our Halo Insider program. Their feedback helps us stay grounded in what feels authentic to Halo.
That commitment to player input also extends beyond the studio walls. Halo: Campaign Evolved will be playable for the first time at the Halo World Championships, giving our players an early hands-on look at how the game is coming along. Halo: Campaign Evolved doesn’t seek to replace the original game, but instead, offer a modern experience that can stand proudly beside it. When new players launch the game for the first time, it must recapture the indescribable feel of picking up Halo for the first time 25 years ago on the original Xbox. That’s the moment we all remember so fondly, a moment that the Halo team recalls as “transformative”, that it wants to share with as many players as possible.
“We’re so excited about bringing Halo to those who may not have had chance to play it in the past,” Conn adds. “At its heart, Halo is about connection, we’re thrilled to meet a new generation of players on their platforms of choice to fall in love with Halo the same way we did. We’re not trying to rewrite Halo’s legacy – we’re trying to immerse you in it like never before.”
“This is Halo for everyone.”
Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming in 2026 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Xbox Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Experience Where the Legend Begins
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls, plus three brand-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.
Play it your way: solo, in 2-player split-screen co-op (console only), or up to 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression support. Whether you’re discovering Halo for the first time or returning to the ring after 25 years, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers an adventure that feels both timeless and brand new.
Discover the Ringworld
After crash landing on a mysterious ringworld known as Halo, the Master Chief is tasked with helping the remaining humans survive against overwhelming Covenant forces. Alongside his AI companion Cortana, he uncovers Halo’s dark secrets and fights to avert the annihilation of all life in the galaxy.
Key Features
The Complete Campaign, Rebuilt
Battle through the original missions, newly rebuilt with enhanced level design, updated cinematics, and improved wayfinding, refined to keep the pace moving without losing the wonder, tension, or heroism of the original.
Cinematics and Audio Overhauled
Iconic vistas, alien architecture, and sci-fi wonders are reborn with all-new visuals, cinematics, and animations. The soundtrack has been remastered, the sound design updated for greater immersion, and new voice performances recorded with the primary cast.
Combat and Weapons Expanded
Classic Halo combat feels instantly familiar yet sharper than ever. Sprint, aim, and engage with refined precision. For the first time in Halo: CE, you can wield 9 additional iconic weapons from across the series, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, and Needle Rifle, giving you more ways to approach every fight.
Three New Prequel Missions
Join the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson in a brand-new arc set before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, featuring new environments, gameplay, characters, and enemies.
Play Solo or with Friends
Experience the full campaign in 2-player split-screen co-op (console only) or 4-player online co-op, complete with crossplay and shared progression across console and PC.
Drive, Hijack, Wreak Havoc
Whether you’re racing across the map in a Warthog or flipping it over with friends, vehicles have always been at the heart of Halo’s fun. Now they go even further: for the first time in Halo: CE, you can hijack enemy rides and pilot a fully drivable Wraith, creating unforgettable chaos.
Remix Your Campaign for Endless Replayability
Use the campaign remix feature to return to any mission and remix the experience with the most gameplay-modifying “Skulls” ever in a Halo campaign. These optional modifiers add challenge and variety with randomized weapons, enemies, and environments.
“It taps into the same psychology as real survival training: the need to test yourself, to see if you can do better with what you’ve learned,” says Dean Hall, answering my question about what it is about Icarus: Console Edition’s gameplay that will create a “just one more run” compulsion for players. And he should know. After all, the founder and creative mind of New Zealand-based studio RocketWerkz is a master of both real-life and digital survival.
A veteran of the New Zealand armed forces, which included time with the Singaporean military, for the past 16 years Hall has become known as the godfather of the survival genre, thanks to a games portfolio that includes the iconic DayZ and more recently Icarus, which is coming to Xbox for the first time in early 2026 as Icarus: Console Edition, courtesy of Grip Studios.
Taking Survival to the Stars
Set in a future where humanity journeys into the stars, Icarus: Console Edition will see players – either solo or in a party of up to four – drop onto the partially terraformed eponymous planet to recover priceless exotic matter. When it launches early next year, the game will bundle both the base game and New Frontiers Expansion into one, bringing a mammoth 128 square kilometers of land across six wildly contrasting biomes for Xbox players to explore, thrive and – hopefully – survive in. “It’s the full package that we wished we could have launched on PC four years ago,” he explains. “We started with the Earth-like terraformed parts of the planet, and the New Frontiers Expansion adds the alien regions where the terraforming failed.”
These dominantly alien environments form the map of Prometheus, which not only features more extraterrestrial-like settings, but also strange – and hostile – new creatures, resources and materials, and equipment. It also introduces a storyline revealing what some of the corporate factions exploring and exploiting Icarus have been up to… (Spoilers, it probably isn’t something altruistic for humanity!)
Prior to the original PC launch of Icarus in 2021, Dean’s survival games had been Earth-based, but the far-future, intergalactic setting opened a new layer of creative conceptualizing for him and the team. “There are a lot of survival games, but with Icarus, we focused on making the environment a strong antagonist,” he says. “It takes the survival genre as you know it, and layers on deep progression through character and mount talent trees, layers in missions to pull you through – even in open-world – and adds storms as a continuous tensor to the experience.”
Observe, Orient, Decide, Act
Dropping onto an alien planet would be a shock and awe experience for even the most hardened of pioneers, but Hall explains that his advice to newbies landing on the planet’s hostile surface in Icarus: Console Edition is the same he’d give talking to new soldiers in a real-world platoon: “[I’d recommend they use] situational awareness: Observe, Orient, Decide, Act.” He adds, “Icarus: Console Edition is a lot about preparation, and that’s good because some of the best systems in the game are around preparation. Build houses, explore cautiously, and take combat on your terms – not on the world’s. And be ready for changes.”
Thinking back to his time in the New Zealand Royal Air Force and New Zealand Army, he says there are similarities to be found between IRL survival and what players will experience in Icarus: Console Edition. “I think with good immersion, you can get emotional reactions that are similar to the real-life experience. This is what training in the military is about: you drill something until you respond automatically, overwriting the emotional components. I think games can be an excellent way to experience emotional ups and downs, which is what immersion in a survival game is all about.”
Hall describes graphics, gameplay, a sense of progression and a game’s environments as critical to layering that immersion into the player experience. It’s something he and the team at RocketWerkz kept in mind as they developed Icarus on PC. “As you play, you can see how we learned and adapted as time went on,” he adds.
“The whole idea with Icarus was to try and layer in reasons to continue playing a survival game, as a play session can tend to get stale after a while. This is such a shame, because you’ve built up so much. Initially, we focused on individual missions, but then figured out how to allow the chaining of those missions inside a single open-world session,” he explains. “The most fun came from weaving together the experiences in missions with a great backstory, as well as a really deep sense of progression both in the world and on your character and mounts through talent trees. This is something I really wish survival games did more of, and I think (eventually) we did very well with Icarus.” And of course from 2026, Xbox owners can experience it too, in Icarus: Console Edition.
Balancing for Both Solo and Squads
As with the original release, Icarus: Console Edition will be fully realized for both solo players and those looking to take on the planet with a group of up to seven others. Getting that balance right can be a daunting task, but it’s something that Hall planned for right from the start:
“One of our design pillars [was] that it should be fun to play alone. This is something we think many survival games drop the ball on. One thing we did just for solo players was add a Solo Talent Tree, a whole set of talents and buffs that only apply when you’re playing alone.” He shares that this levels the playing field, reducing the grind for solo players who don’t have a team backing them up.
“We really wanted your character to matter to the player, so you feel the pain when they die. [There are] multiple talent trees so you can specialize your character into hunting, building, gathering or even something like fishing. In a small group, survival becomes a team effort: dividing tasks, covering each other, and combining these skills. With a full team, you get something closer to an expedition: there’s energy, chaos, trust and that feeling of being part of a living mission.”
Coming to Xbox Series X|S a little over four years after the original game launched on PC, Hall reveals that he’s excited for the new cohort of prospectors, extraplanetary explorers and terraformers to see what he, RocketWerkz and the passionate Icarus PC player-base have built: “It took a long time, and a lot of working with the community on PC to get the game to where it is now. I’m pretty envious of Xbox gamers, who are going to be coming into Icarus: Console Edition fresh after so much iteration.”
Icarus: Console Edition is coming to Xbox Series X|S in early 2026. Wishlist now.
ICARUS: Console Edition
GRIP Studios
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
ICARUS: Console Edition
Land on ICARUS, a planet broken due to failed terraforming. Once meant to be humanity’s second home, it is now a hostile frontier of toxic skies, savage wildlife, and relentless storms. Every drop from orbit is a fight for survival. Build shelter, craft weapons, hunt for food, and seek your fortune in exotic matter.
Survive alone or with up to four players in this uncompromising PvE survival game from the creator of DayZ.
The New Frontiers Expansion is included from the start, transforming ICARUS: Console Edition into a larger, deadlier but more rewarding survival experience. Discover new maps, missions, creatures, and rewards.
________________________________________
A PLANET THAT FIGHTS BACK
ICARUS resists your presence; poisoned air, lightning storms that tear apart structures, wildfires that spread unchecked, and predators that stalk in the shadows. It feels like the planet itself wants to drive you back into orbit.
· With New Frontiers added from the start, you can explore two 64 km2 maps of handcrafted terrain across forests, mountains, deserts, and caves
· Harvest every tree, rock, and creature
· Adapt to extreme weather and natural disasters
________________________________________
NEW FRONTIERS INCLUDED
The Prometheus region, once sealed off by the UDA, is now open. Terraforming failed here completely, leaving raw alien landscapes intact but warped. This expansion expands ICARUS far beyond its original borders:
· New Map & biomes: Alien grasslands, volcanic wastelands of molten lava, and dangerous swamplands
· Six Narrative Missions: A chained story across Prometheus as you pursue a mysterious whistleblower for the UDA
· New Creatures: Face Needlers, Dracs, Dreadwings, and other mutated apex predators, evolved to dominate these zones
· New Exotics: Discover a volatile new exotic with unique effects on the flora, plus new exotic plants and over 30 additional workshop items
· New Items & Resources: Mine obsidian, clay, scoria, crystallised miasma, and super-cooled ice; craft 100+ new items including weapons, food, recipes, and building tiers
________________________________________
THREE WAYS TO SURVIVE
· Open World: Establish permanent bases and explore freely
· Missions: Timed contracts where extraction is everything
· Outposts: Low-pressure zones for creative building and experimentation
________________________________________
PROGRESSION & REWARD
· Tech Tree & Talents: Advance from primitive tools to advanced tech
· Specialisation: Focus as a hunter, builder, or survivalist
· Orbital Workshop: Trade exotic matter for permanent upgrades and equipment
Exotic matter remains the ultimate prize; rare, unstable, and deadly to pursue.
________________________________________
SOLO OR CO-OP
Up to four players can share each drop, combining skills and resources to endure. Prefer to go it alone? Survive solo with a Solo Talent Tree for maximum challenge.
Note: ICARUS: Console Edition does not support cross-play.
Great co-op starts with great combat. That’s why we built Ember Knights around fast-paced, responsive hack-and-slash gameplay from day one.
Designing for synergy changes everything. We reworked weapons, skills and relics to encourage meaningful teamwork and powerful combos.
Ember Knights: Heroes of the Nexus Edition is now available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC with online crossplay.
Before we even found the name and final concept for Ember Knights, we had already built a strong core combat loop centered around fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay with tight controls. We then expanded on that foundation by introducing co-op, which ultimately gave rise to Ember Knights, available today for the first time with crossplay on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.
With the first closed beta and demo back in late 2020, we saw the appeal of the co-op element firsthand as friends, partners and community members played together. That’s when a core vision for our game took shape: a fast-paced, action-packed hack-and-slash roguelite that would feel just as rewarding solo as it would in co-op.
Based on feedback from the demo, we rethought our approach to run layouts – shifting from a free-roaming dungeon structure to a room-by-room design. We also redesigned the rooms so that, in most cases, all four players would remain visible on screen at the same time.
In addition to these structural changes, we re-evaluated the synergies between weapons, skills and relics to offer more meaningful collaboration. Each weapon plays a distinct role on the battlefield – from crowd control to short/long-range DPS to skill-based combos – and the same applies to skills. The goal was to create constant interactions and synergy between players.
For example, one player might equip the Rift Hammer, focusing on stunning enemies with powerful strikes and AOE skills like Rupture or Cyclone. Meanwhile, a teammate could wield the Guardian Bow, leveraging relics that deal bonus damage to stunned enemies.
This interplay only deepens as you experiment. Skills and relics interact in unexpected ways, encouraging teams to adapt their builds to complement each other’s strengths. Want to build a team of explosive pyromancers? That’s totally viable with skills like Molten Boulder or Ember Fire, and relics like Combustion Stone – which deals bonus damage when setting enemies on fire – or Fury Charm – which increases damage against burning enemies.
This design philosophy has guided us throughout Early Access, the 1.0 launch and beyond.
Community feedback post-1.0 has also played a crucial role in shaping the co-op experience. One common request was for an easier mode to help introduce the game to players new to the genre. Whether it was a hardcore roguelite veteran wanting to play co-op with newcomers, or a parent introducing their kids to the genre, Easy Mode was created to welcome more players into the experience.
Our ultimate goal has always been to make the game as accessible and fun to play together as possible. That’s why Ember Knights: Heroes of the Nexus Edition, released on October 16, includes full local co-op, online multiplayer and online crossplay between PC and Xbox Series X|S. Whether you’re sitting on the couch or syncing up with friends across the country, you can now jump into the Nexus and face the forces of Praxis – together.
Ember Knights : Heroes of the Nexus Edition
Twin Sails Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 4
★★★★★
$24.99
In this fast-paced action rogue-lite, play as Ember Knights, the last spark of hope of a universe in turmoil. Praxis, the mad sorcerer, has syphoned the life out of the Ember Tree and fled through the four Prime Worlds spreading corruption in his path.
In solo or co-op (up to 4 players), use powerful weapons and skills to hack and slash deadly hordes, defeat epic bosses, free the decaying Prime Worlds and restore energy to the Ember Tree!
A BLAZING ACTION ROGUE-LITE
Legendary warriors, the Ember Knights, are skilled in the wielding of the universe’s most powerful weapons, each with their own modification system! However, the sword doesn’t make the knight… Through action-packed combat rooms, you’ll need to chain your attacks and perfectly time your swings to unleash fiery attacks.
Agile and fearless, use your pace and dodge to outsmart, counter, and stun your enemies!
IGNITE DEADLY COMBOS
With 7 distinct weapons, 9 modifications per weapon, 20 skills, and well over 100 relics, there are hundreds of deadly builds to create.
From a fire spreading scythe wielder to a relentless damage resistant spellcaster to a poison spreading archer with summons, forge your own build during your runs.
In co-op, coordinate with your friends to set up combos and synergies between your playstyles.
FACE PRAXIS’ HORDES
Beasts, specters, sorcerers, mechanized amphibians, and creatures of all sorts… Fight over 60 unique monsters and variations each with their own unique attacks and behaviors.
In addition, be prepared to face challenging Elites and Champions; the most resistant and deadliest versions of Praxis’ devoted minions. You will have to adapt your playstyle to each encounter and learn from your mistakes if you wish to succeed.
INCUR THE WRATH OF THE BOSSES
The real challenge for the legendary Knights will lie in the epic bosses and their corrupted variations. From the Royal Phalanx to the Plague Bringer, Praxis will summon anything in his power to stop you.
Try different builds, upgrade your Ember Tree, and don’t fear death. Persistence will be your key to victory!
WRATH OF THE ARCHITECT DLC – INCLUDED
Included in the Ember Knights: Heroes of the Nexus Edition, the Wrath of the Architect DLC is changing the entire game: with a new final boss – The Architect, 4 new bosses and 4 new mini-bosses in altered versions of the Prime worlds filled with altered hordes of enemies with new attacks and patterns.
To help the knights, 2 powerful new weapons (Hyper Gloves & Ember Buster) and 9 devastating new skills are added to their arsenal.
Bounty Star is out October 23 on Xbox on PC and Xbox Series X|S, available with both Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere.
This 3D action game blends mech combat with light base-building and farming.
Customize your mech and upgrade your garage and homestead as you discover the tragic story of protagonist Clem McKinney.
We here at Dinogod are happy to convey that Bounty Star: The Morose Tale of Graveyard Clem is being released on October 23. It will be available through Xbox Game Pass on both Xbox on PC and Xbox Series X|S, as well as through Xbox Play Anywhere.
Bounty Star is a 3D action game that blends customizable mech combat with some light base-building and homesteading. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to run a solo bounty hunting operation on the edge of a dangerous desert region that’s a little too sick with thieves, bots and beasts – Bounty Star will scratch that itch.
You will assume the role of Clementine McKinney, aka Clem, aka “Graveyard Clem” (although you must never call her this cursed moniker). Clem is a broken, but powerful ex-soldier who attempts to shed the guilt and shame of her past and become a legitimate force for good in the Red Expanse, a post-post-apocalyptic version of the American Southwest. Maybe even a bounty hunter can be a hero.
What Happened to Clem?
We don’t want to give too much away, especially since you will experience the terrible event that sets Clem on her path immediately. But we can say that she made a tactical decision that had tragic consequences.
The story of Bounty Star asks some key questions that Clem does her best to answer as you watch her grow:
What does it mean to be a soldier? A protector? A deliverer of harsh justice? Can you be all 3? Do they matter?
How responsible are we for the actions of others?
What guilts are rightly held, and how do we manage them?
What does it mean to be an extremely, singularly powerful one-person force? What does being a mech pilot do to your soul?
Don’t be surprised when these questions of enormous gravity promote a little self-sabotage, addiction, loving rage and therapeutic journaling. Fingers-crossed that our Clem figures it out before it’s too late.
Mech Combat and Customization Tips
In Bounty Star, you want to bring a well-suited mech to any bounty. Take good stock of all the equipment you own to make a loadout that does well by you on your next outing.
Before pursuing any bounty, pay attention to the enemy list, and take note of their strengths and weaknesses. Certain weapons are more or less impactful, depending on what you’re slapping around.
The Red Expanse is a harsh desert region, so you must also be cognizant of the temperature. Tune your thermals properly or you’re going to be shutting down left and right.
We recommend always eating before a bounty, as it’s an inexpensive way to turn up certain engine properties, like speed, hit points, melee damage, etc.
Play with the different systems to get a feel for what they all do and how they work together. Bounty Star’s enemies are pretty high-pressure combatants, but there’s no wrong way to win! Explore and experiment.
Garage Operation Tips
Clem’s home base is an old-world garage and tune-up shop at the edge of the game world. It is here that she intends to make just enough money to move on to the next lonely place. But the garage is still a functional and powerful location, full of potential.
Making food is great, but can be pricey. Use the garden plots in the backyard to grow your own ingredients. Note that upgrading your garden plots streamlines the watering and maintenance of your growables.
To maximize the payout on any successful bounty hunt, make sure you prepare some fuel and ammo. The further away the bounty is, the more it costs, and the nastier the weapon, the more expensive the ammo.
You will eventually be able to raise and care for some critters – these will both provide useful ingredients and be another way to make some cash. Crucially, you can pet the critters.
If you’re the kind of player who likes to collect all the combat systems, then utilize the garage to maximize your profits. Making money is expensive! While some combat systems are out in the field, many can be purchased or built in the garage.
Time to Hunt
There’s a lot to learn and do. If you’re ever wondering about something, go check out Clem’s extensive in-game library, or spend some time in the safe practice space.
Enough talking – step into that war machine, right some wrongs, learn some things about yourself and make some money.
Go on now, git.
Bounty Star
Annapurna Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Bounty Star is an over-the-shoulder third-person action game that marries mech combat and customization with farming and base building. The player takes on the role of a broken but powerful ex-soldier named Clem — a war veteran, talented fighter and expert mech pilot. Clem attempts to shed the guilt and shame of her past and become a legitimate force for good in the Red Expanse, a post-post-apocalyptic version of the American Southwest.
Key Features: third-person character action, mech combat, mech customization, light farming, light base building, narrative experience
Customizable Mech Action
You pilot the Desert Raptor MKII, a Mech of extraordinary power. It is a highly-customizable battle vehicle that can be equipped with a variety of offensive systems: heavy, high-powered melee weapons, steam powered hydraulic siege weapons, explosive firearms, and more. It can also be equipped with a variety of defensive systems; high-speed thrusters, boosters for dashing, riot shields, and more .
Become A Bounty Hunter
The Red Expanse is a rich farming and mercantile region plagued by violent criminals and dangerous beasts. The government that remains in this post-post-apocalyptic outsources justice to experts like Clem—bounty hunters who are free to pursue their targets into whatever dangerous corners of the world they hide. She’ll fight her way through many corners of the region and deal with these marks as she sees fit.
Upgrade And Maintain Your Garage
Clem comes into an isolated and run-down garage that serves as a suitable base of operations and home—just barely. Build out water and power supply lines, grow and cook food, produce ammunition and fuel for combat, and raise animals. This decrepit ruin has a lot of potential, but it will have to grow alongside Clem.
No Man’s Sky Breach is free to existing Xbox and Game Pass players now.
Uncover the tragic fate of the lost Fireship Arcadia corvette ship in No Man’s Sky’s all-new “Breach” update.
Salvage the wreck of the long-lost Fireship Arcadia corvette and earn exclusive ship parts to use in your own ship creations.
Well, we suspected that the No Man’s Sky Voyagers update was going to cause some excitement in the universe, but never did we expect such a huge influx that we would see player numbers we’ve not seen since our launch… nine years ago!
It was genuinely humbling to see huge number of Xbox and Game Pass travellers return to the game or pick it up for the first time and start putting their minds to creating wildly imaginative ship creations with the all-new corvette customisation feature.
The sheer joy of seeing people realise, in real-time, that they could invite their friends onto their custom-made ships and then jump out of it together to space-walk or sky-dive was incredible to witness.
Our next update is called Breach and it leans into that thrill introduced in Voyagers. It is free to download today for existing Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox and PC Game Pass players.
In Breach, players will traverse a desolate and abandoned universe and on their travels encounter the abandoned remains of ill-fated corvette ships, all ripe for scavenging ship modules to add to your corvette-building arsenal.
Among the spoils you will find an array of corvette pieces including rare vertical parts which unlock a whole new range of build configurations for the more creative designers. There is also a set of Atlas-themed parts for those wanting to demonstrate their allegiance to the all-seeing entity.
The jewel in the crown of these wreckages is the Fireship Arcadia, the fate of which you will learn as you venture through Breach. But you will have to face your fears and make a leap of faith into the black as you space-walk through these eerie systems to glean its unique remnants.
The spooky Breach Expedition embraces the darker side of the universe and will also lure the bravest Travellers towards the ominous and foreboding purple-star solar systems which players first glimpsed in Worlds Part II back in January. The planets in these systems are particularly foreboding with their deep, abyssal oceans, unearthly entities and the notoriously imposing and volatile gas giants.
The tiny No Man’s Sky team have been running on more cylinders than even I thought they had this year with barely a breath taken between Worlds Part II, Relics, Beacon and the epic Voyagers. We’re still having a lot of fun, and, from the looks of our player numbers, so are many of the Xbox community.
No Man’s Sky’s Breach Expedition is available for existing players on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and PC Game Pass today.
No Man’s Sky
Hello Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 1104
★★★★★
$59.99
$23.99
Xbox One X Enhanced
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 29 major updates up to and including Worlds Part I.
Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.
In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.
Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.
Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.
Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…
Keeper, the otherworldly new adventure from Double Fine, arrives today.
Launching on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, and Steam. It’s an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and available day one with Game Pass.
Read a note from Creative Lead, Lee Petty, as his beautiful passion project arrives.
Hi there, my name is Lee Petty, and I’m a Creative Lead here at Double Fine Productions. I’ve been at Double Fine for almost 20 years! I was the Art Director for Brütal Legend and Broken Age, but was also the Creative Lead for Stacking, Headlander, Autonomous, and RAD.
My new game, Keeper, was inspired by the events of the last few years. Like most, I thought a lot about isolation and connection with others. I’ve always been into hiking, backpacking, and spending time outdoors with my family. During the pandemic, it became even more important to me. I wondered if the wildlife around me would be all that is left in the future. Would it continue to develop, to evolve? I thought of the mycelium, the vast underground networks that connect fungi, and how they are also used by trees to share nutrients and communicate with each other.
I imagined an isolated island in a far-flung future without humans. What sorts of life would evolve there? Would this life still be possessed with a need to connect with others and to have a purpose?
When thinking about what this world could look like, I was inspired by Surrealist painters, like Max Ernst and Salvador Dali, who created vibrant, dream-like worlds that are both familiar and unlike anything else. Some of my favorite movies, like ‘The Dark Crystal’ and ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’, are about strange, otherworldly places and unusual forms of life, and both present as family-friendly films but have weirder, darker undercurrents. This comes through in Keeper too, giving it a gameplay style that I like to call “Weird, but Chill”.
A story told entirely without words, Keeper is the tale of a long-forgotten Lighthouse on a post-human island, which awakens after eons of lying dormant. The Lighthouse’s ancient masonry crumbles and it falls to the ground, but then it grows legs, stands up, and sets off on a journey toward the mountain peak at the center of the island, joined by a spirited seabird companion, named Twig.
It’s a psychedelic tale of companionship and an adventure of mystifying metamorphosis, all set in a beautiful and surreal otherworldly realm beyond understanding.
It’s a game which is very much about the unexpected, and we have gone to great lengths to preserve the mysteries and surprises the game holds. I’m really excited for you all to discover them for yourselves as you play – and I’d like to ask you to please consider how you talk about these surprising elements, ideally preserving some of the mystery for others wherever possible. Thank you for playing!
Lee & The Team at Double Fine Productions
Keeper
Xbox Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 200
★★★★★
$29.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
From Lee Petty and Double Fine Productions, Keeper is a beautiful and surreal otherworldly adventure, and a story told without words.
On an island in a long-lost sea, a forgotten lighthouse stands dormant in the shadow of a distant mountain peak. As withering tendrils spread and coalesce, it awakens. Taken with a mysterious sense of purpose and joined by a spirited seabird, it embarks upon a heartening tale of unlikely companionship, an odyssey of mystifying metamorphosis, and an unexpected journey towards the center of the island, into realms beyond understanding.
Gothic horror returns with a brutal new vision, now playable solo or in 3-player co-op.
Mark your calendar: Painkiller launches on Xbox Series X|S on October 21. For Anshar Studios the opportunity felt both familiar and thrilling. This was a cult classic with a legacy of speed, brutality, and gothic flair. The project came with a clear set of constraints: cooperative gameplay and a need to honor the original’s DNA. For Anshar, these weren’t limitations: they were a creative opportunity.
Movement, Mayhem, Mastery: The New Painkiller Formula
The original Painkiller was known for its bunny-hopping movement and dual-mode weaponry, giving players a kinetic edge in combat. Anshar’s new installment amplifies that philosophy with dashing, sliding, wall bouncing and hook shots, which turn every arena into a vertical playground. The movement isn’t just fast; it’s fluid, empowering players to outmaneuver enemies. Combat becomes a symphony of destruction.
Classic weapons like the Stakegun and Electrodriver return, now enhanced with elemental effects and physics-based interactions. Fire, ice and electro elements combine to create emergent chaos. Impaling, freezing and chain-reacting enemies rewards experimentation. This is a shooter that invites creativity, where every fight is a puzzle and every solution is pure chaos.
Fun-Fueled, and Unapologetically Brutal
Painkiller’s signature gothic horror aesthetic gets a brutal facelift in Anshar’s reimagining. Purgatory is now split into three thematic chapters: Gothic, Sand and Nature. Each is dripping with atmospheric horror. The environments are twisted, the enemies tormented and the bosses massive, grotesque and ruthless.
But amid the darkness, the game never loses its sense of fun. Over-the-top action remains the focus, now enhanced by a 3-player cooperative mode that adds strategic depth to the chaos. Players can coordinate weapon synergies, manage Tarot card builds, and dominate the battlefield together. The Tarot system itself returns with dozens of cards that shape playstyles and amplify abilities, giving players the freedom to craft their own brand of destruction.
This isn’t just Painkiller with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a full-throttle reinvention, built inside a box and bursting out of it with style. Painkiller arrives on October 21 – pre-order today!
Painkiller
3D Realms
☆☆☆☆☆ 3
★★★★★
$39.99
Painkiller is a modern reimagining of the classic franchise, featuring online co-op for up to three players and offline play. Battle hordes of demons and titanic terrors across richly detailed gothic environments.
Trapped in Purgatory, you are sentenced for your transgressions against Heaven. But the Voice of the Creator gives you a chance to redeem yourself. As one of the Champions, you are to stop the fallen angel Azazel who is about to unleash his demonic armies onto Earth. You will face hordes of enemies, demons with unique powers and three monstrous children of Azazel – the Nephilim.
Will you succeed in your mission and earn your salvation?
Purgatory Is Your Playground – Jump, dash, and hook across vast biomes while fighting enemies with a host of new and classic Painkiller weapons.
Grotesque Terrors Await – Challenge a variety of enemies ranging from hordes of smaller demons to titanic terrors.
Unleash The Pain – Utilize tarot cards to enhance your abilities and combine them with other players to obliterate your foes.
Choose Your Character Wisely – Play as one of four distinctive characters – Ink, Void, Sol and Roch – and take advantage of their unique perks to boost your energy, health, power and damage.
Just Dance 2026 Edition returns on October 14 with a fresh batch of new features – but one is catching everyone’s eye this year: Camera Controller mode. Developed by the Just Dance production team at Ubisoft Paris, this innovation lets players use their entire body as the controller, simply by using their smartphone’s camera. It’s a small revolution that makes dancing even more fluid, precise … and fun!
We spoke with Apolline Wasik (Data Scientist), Caitlin Baltus (Score Level Designer) – two key members of the development team – and OfHugo, a Star Player from the Just Dance community who tested the feature during its beta phase.
A Fresh Direction for Just Dance
The idea for the Camera Controller began in late 2021, when Xbox announced the end of Kinect support. “Through the development of Camera Scoring, we wanted to offer an alternative that lets players dance freely without a controller,” explains Apolline Wasik. This new mode relies on the smartphone’s camera and leverages advances in 3D human pose detection. “We had to explore ways to adapt these models to the specific context of Just Dance.”
This project also responds to a long-standing request from the community: “For a long time, our players were asking for an alternative to Kinect. Then, we wanted to take things further with the scoring algorithm, which measures how closely the player’s movements match those of the coach. […] Thanks to this technology, we’re now able to pinpoint exactly which parts of the body are off and deliver a more accurate, full-body score.”
A More Immersive – and More Rewarding – Way to Learn
With Camera Controller, the feeling of freedom is instantaneous. “It introduces a stimulating learning curve: players see their scores improve gradually as they replay the same choreography, because they’re progressing and refining their movements,” says Apolline.
For Caitlin Baltus, the feature fills a gap that had been missing since the franchise became a unified platform with Just Dance 2023 Edition: “Camera Controller is the feature we needed since the shift to a unified Just Dance platform. […] Just Dance has a competitive legacy on Kinect, which was by far the preferred setup for our core community because of the freedom it provided. […] This way of playing aligns perfectly with our core gameplay – dance itself. It encourages learning the art of dance beyond the game.”
And most importantly, it enables a fairer and more inclusive experience: “Kinect had limitations related to game environment that made scoring imprecise. These issues are no longer relevant with our new in-house technology. It gives back to our community their favorite mode of play – only now, improved!”
From the Players’ Side: a Return to Roots
For OfHugo, the release of this feature was a turning point: “Since nearly the beginning of my Just Dance journey, I always used Kinect. When the game was no longer released on Xbox One, it felt like a real blow to me, in terms of both enjoyment and comfort. […] When the beta launched, it felt like hope again. And after trying it, far more than hope: the test was a success!”
He goes on: “[It’s] an intuitive and pleasant experience, [with] effective detection allowing freedom of dance and play again! […] Now, when I play solo, I use only the Camera Controller mode. […] Scoring without a controller, with the whole body taken into account … for me, it’s the only true way to fully play Just Dance.”
And even though he now often plays in multiplayer, he remains convinced of the solo mode’s power: “When I myself started – transitioning from Wii to PS4 to Xbox One – the Kinect experience is what turned me from a casual player into … well, a Star Player!”
Tech Built Hand in Hand With the Community
Player feedback was central throughout the development process. “Observing qualitative feedback across different choreographies helped us confirm the robustness of the algorithm,” notes Apolline.
Caitlin also emphasizes the importance of direct community feedback: “From a quality standpoint, we could observe in real time how the community was approaching this new Controller and internally adjust our design rules accordingly to deliver better challenges. […] Watching streams, videos and top‑player feedback greatly helped us refine our rules.”
An In‑House Innovation, a Team Challenge
Developing the Camera Controller represented a first for Just Dance: “It’s the first time we’ve integrated a Machine Learning algorithm at the heart of the game. […] It was crucial to always refer back to the game context when designing the feature. […] We even built our own dance motion database with help from volunteers within the Just Dance production team, to train a model specific to the game.”
It was a major challenge – one tackled alongside the ongoing production of regular choreographies. “We had to deliver a true ‘live Kinect’ experience and take Camera Controller even further, all while continuing to produce new choreographies,” recalls Caitlin.
“The beta, with 15 songs produced in just two weeks, allowed us to define the design rules, which we then had to test, refine, and share with other level designers around the world.”
Looking ahead, Apolline sees promising challenges: “The quality of 3D pose estimation models continues to improve. One of the challenges will be adapting them to the game context and making them run on phones, despite their growing complexity.”
An Emotionally Charged Launch
After months of work, the release of Camera Controller in Just Dance 2026 is a source of pride for the team. “The enthusiasm from players motivates us to capitalize on this feature and develop more innovations,” says Apolline.
Caitlin summarizes with emotion: “Seeing community feedback gives meaning to my work and drives me for future projects. […] I had difficulty obtaining consistent scores due to my hair texture and body type. I am so happy to now offer a more inclusive experience. […] The official launch marks a new beginning for Just Dance.”
One thing is certain: with the Camera Controller, dancing has never felt more free—and Just Dance has never been closer to its players!
Create unforgettable memories with Just Dance 2026 Edition!
ENJOY 40 HOT NEW SONGS
From the hottest hits to timeless classics, there’s a song for everyone and every moment in our all-new tracklist featuring:
– APT. by ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
– Abracadabra by Lady Gaga
– Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan
– Houdini by Dua Lipa
– Azizam by Ed Sheeran
– VIVA LA VIDA by Coldplay
– Counting Stars by OneRepublic
– Hung Up by Madonna
– All Star by Smash Mouth
– DRIP by BABYMONSTER
And many more!
BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO THE PARTY
Dance solo, in co-op, or get competitive:
– Dance with up to 6 players in local multiplayer!
– Team up for an unpredictable dance showdown in the new Party mode!
– Or compete to prove who has the best moves in Challenge mode!
DISCOVER ENDLESS WAYS TO DANCE
There’s a Just Dance experience for everyone:
– Use your whole body with Camera Controller mode on your phone.*
– Get active with Workout mode, tracking calories burned while playing.
– All content you own from the 2023, 2024, 2025, or 2026 Editions of Just Dance is available in one place!
– Dance to hundreds of songs with 1 month of free access to Just Dance+.**
*A smartphone with the free Just Dance Controller app is required to track your moves including in the Camera Controller Mode, no additional accessories required!
**Just Dance+ is a streaming service, playable via Just Dance 2026 Edition, that grants access to additional songs. Terms and conditions apply. Requires Ubisoft Account, console account, persistent internet access, and the payment of a fee and/or an ongoing subscription fee. Age and territorial restrictions apply.
Internet connection, Ubisoft account, Microsoft Account and Game Pass Ultimate or Core (subscriptions sold separately) required to access online multiplayer/features.
Aurélien Lévêque, Game Director at Virtuallyz, discusses the challenges of remastering such an iconic adventure game.
Find out how the studio strived to find a balance between improving upon Benoît Sokal’s vision and staying true to the original.
Released in 2002, the first Syberia left an impact on the adventure genre. Three sequels followed, and enriched the universe created by the author Benoît Sokal. Now, 2025 sees the arrival of a remaster of the first episode, which takes what made the success of the original, all while adding elements to bring it up to modern standards.
Between Remake and Remaster
Even though Syberia – Remastered logically presents itself as a remaster, the teams at Virtuallyz and Microids Studio Paris decided to modernize the game to speak to a broader audience. They immersed themselves into what had been done for Syberia – The World Before released in 2022, as Aurélien Lévêque, Game Director at Virtuallyz, explains: “The backgrounds have been entirely modeled after the original 2D plans, so we had to imagine some missing viewpoints. Even the characters have been entirely modeled and animated in 3D.”
“Fun fact: at the start of the project, we didn’t have enough 3D models for all the characters, so we used Felix Smetana, the receptionist at the Kronsky Hotel, everywhere when working on the cutscenes. After seeing him so many times, he ended up becoming the team’s mascot. Thankfully, we got the opportunity to work with the team at Microids Studio Paris, which developed Syberia – The World Before and Amerzone – The Explorer’s Legacy, to help us achieve the level of quality we aimed for.”
Taking advantage of this 3D modeling, the development team were able to completely revamp the camera to make the game more enjoyable and readable, all the while allowing players to better locate themselves in the environment. Moving protagonist Kate around has also been greatly improved, as Aurélien goes into details on the matter: “We took inspiration from many elements in The World Before, starting with the character controller, meaning the way Kate moves around using a controller or computer mouse. Microids Studio Paris also helped us with putting the camera in place.”
Always with modernization in mind, the team tried to make choices that would satisfy both old fans and new players who want to discover the series. As such, they decided to implement a quest journal in the vein of what was present in The World Before, and to offer two different game modes: Story Mode, which gives hints so that players won’t stay stuck too long, and Adventure Mode, in which no help is provided and is thus way closer to the original experience.
Preserving Benoît Sokal’s legacy
The team did everything to find the right balance between the wish to improve the author’s vision and staying true as possible to the DNA of the original. Thus, if the original cutscenes have simply been upscaled, the backgrounds have benefited from a complete overhaul. Used to the Unity engine, Virtuallyz and Microids Studio Paris were able to greatly improve the visuals to enhance Benoît Sokal’s vision without altering the geography of the locations. In addition, by using the HDRP (Unity’s High Definition Render Pipeline), Virtuallyz was able to make the whole experience more immersive than ever, as Aurélien points out: “The HDRP is a rendering pipeline made for next-gen or current-gen consoles. It enables more realistic lighting, but also more control on ‘material PBR’ (Physically Based Rendering), generally used to add a sense of realism and texture to objects. All those factors allowed for an improvement of the scenery, as well as for the characters.”
The sound design was also reworked. Given that the original plot hasn’t been modified, the decision to keep the original dubbing and music was made quite early into the project. However, the devs have improved some old sounds that didn’t age well, and created new ones (such as the crackling of the chimney fire) to emphasize the immersion. Aurélien adds: “We worked on FMOD so that the voices and sounds would take into account the acoustics of the rooms or of the exterior.”
The studio faced some challenges with the cutscenes, especially as they were trying make the direction smoother while also making sure that everything would be consistent, no matter the language.
“As each language uses a different duration, we had to design an ingenious system so that the cutscenes would adapt to the duration of each sound,” Aurélien explains. “A lot of work was done to make sure that everything would interlink perfectly, and we even added new animations with travelling effects to make the whole thing more dynamic and harmonious.”
The team made all those improvements to improve Benoît Sokal’s original vision and give Syberia a new lease of life. Get ready for a one-of-a-kind journey across Europe in Syberia – Remastered, releasing on November 6 on Xbox Series X|S.
Syberia – Remastered
Microids
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$29.99
More than 20 years after its original release, Syberia is reborn in a fully modernized version. Rediscover its iconic locations and unforgettable characters through a stunning visual overhaul, redesigned gameplay, and the same captivating storytelling that made it a classic.
Kate Walker, a brilliant lawyer from New York, is sent to a remote village in the French Alps to finalize the sale of an old automaton factory. But what begins as a routine assignment soon turns into an extraordinary journey across Eastern Europe and its snow-covered landscapes.
Accompanied by Oscar, a loyal and one-of-a-kind automaton, Kate sets out to explore mysterious and forgotten places, filled with eccentric characters, as she follows the trail of Hans Voralberg, a genius inventor pursuing a seemingly impossible dream: finding the last living mammoths on the mythical island of Syberia.
An unexpected, thrilling, and deeply emotional voyage that will challenge everything she thought she knew.
First released in 2002, Syberia became a reference in the adventure genre, praised for its unique atmosphere, sharp writing, and the richness of Benoît Sokal’s artistic vision. This remaster is a new opportunity to (re)discover the masterpiece, following in the footsteps of other titles from Benoît Sokal such as “Syberia: The World Before” and the newly released “Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy”.
KEY FEATURES
– A faithful and stunning overhaul:
Meet Syberia’s iconic characters fully redesigned and explore the game’s most emblematic locations brought to life in beautifully enhanced 3D. Every environment has been carefully rebuilt with an art direction that stays true to Benoît Sokal’s unique style, offering an even deeper immersion into his singular visual universe.
– Reimagined mechanical puzzles:
Enjoy a fresh take on the game’s intricate puzzles, redesigned to provide a smoother and more intuitive experience while preserving their essential role in uncovering the secrets behind Voralberg’s genius.
– A modernized gameplay experience:
Rediscover Kate Walker’s journey with an updated user interface, improved 3D navigation, and more fluid controls tailored to today’s standards, all without compromising the game’s contemplative and narrative soul.
– A rich and immersive world:
From the alpine town of Valadilène to the frozen edges of Eastern Russia, Syberia transports you into a world of mystery, automatons, and poetic machinery. Dive into a clockpunk adventure where realism blends seamlessly with dreamlike wonder.
– A moving and unforgettable story:
Experience a deeply human narrative, as Kate Walker’s legal assignment turns into a profound journey of self-discovery. Filled with unexpected encounters, emotional choices, and moments of awe, Syberia’s tale blurs the line between strangeness and the sublime.
Experience big sequel energy with The Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. The world needs a hero, but you will have to do. Embark on your own action-packed sci-fi RPG adventure with a new crew, new weapons, new enemies, new colony, and a new controller.
These designs are out of this world featuring the iconic The Moon Man and the galactic rifts that threaten to destroy all of humanity. With your new controller, your ultimate weapon, you’ll rise to the occasion and be the hero that Arcadia system desperately needs. Both controllers are available now with Xbox Design Lab.
To be the hero Arcadia needs, you’ll need to be well equipped. The Xbox Wireless Controller on Xbox Design Lab offers endless customization to help you play your way, whether its guns blazing or stealth combat. Choose from a variety of button styles curated for your chosen The Outer Worlds 2 color scheme.
You can enhance your controller with a variety of upgrades, including metallic triggers that shine like the rifts of Arcadia, a metallic D-Pad, rubberized side and back grips, and even topcase engraving for a personalized touch. Whether you’re exploring The Outer Worlds 2 or embarking on any other adventure, this controller is ready to go with Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth compatibility. It connects seamlessly to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, PCs, as well as iOS, Android, and cloud devices. Plus, with the dedicated share button, you can easily capture and share photos and videos of your heroic moments with friends.
The Elite Series 2 version of this design comes with all the features you’ve come to love, including adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger lock for even more precise gameplay. For even greater customization, you can add back paddles for enhanced input control and limitless customization with exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox accessories app. Immerse yourself deeper into The Outer Worlds 2 with the 3.5mm jack—just connect any compatible headset to experience the action-packed Arcadia system like never before. Plus, just as you shift between different paths in the game, the controller’s dynamic features ensure you’re always ready for whatever the galaxy throws your way.
If you’re ready to become the hero the galaxy needs, head over to Xbox Design Lab today to design yours. These controllers are available today, starting at MSRP $94.98 for the Xbox Wireless Controller and MSRP $184.98 for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 exclusively at https://www.xbox.com/accessories/controllers/the-outer-worlds-2-xbox-controllers. Visit Xbox.com for more information.
The Outer Worlds 2 launches October 29 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Battle.net, and Steam — and day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Pre-order The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition now to get up to 5 days early access and the Commander Zane’s Anti-Monopolistic Battle Pack.
The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition
Xbox Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 24
★★★★★
$99.99
Pre-order The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition now to get up to 5 days early access and the Commander Zane’s Anti-Monopolistic Battle Pack.
The Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition includes:
– The Outer Worlds 2 base game
– Up to 5 days early access
– DLC Pass for 2 future story expansions*
– Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Premium Prize Pack
– Access to The Outer Worlds 2 Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
* Story expansions available as released
The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!
As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions – your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.
Explore a New Frontier
The Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink!
Your Commander, Your Way
Build your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own -whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb!
Enlist Your Companions
Recruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together.
When ‘Capcom Presents’ flashed across the screen during watching last week’s Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 Broadcast, my pulse quickened as I prepared for something familiar from one of my favorite publishers – only to be surprised by a world I’ve yet to explore: Monster Hunter Stories.
Even if you’ve sunk dozens of hours into Monster Hunter World and the more recent Wilds as I have, you may find yourself in a similar situation. But there’s never been a better time to get acquainted, as Monster Hunter Stories, a beloved spin-off series of the legendary Monster Hunter franchise, makes its Xbox debut next month, with the first two games arriving on November 14.
The day after that announcement, at Tokyo Game Show, I found myself with a controller in hand to get acquainted with the next entry in the series, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, itself coming to Xbox on March 13, 2026. After an hour of exploring this new world, my ignorance has been supplanted by anticipation. If you’re new to this series – or only know the mainline games – here’s what makes Stories unique:
A Sunnier Take on Monster Hunter
The first thing players are you’ll likely to notice is how different Monster Hunter Stories games look; the cel-shaded art style is vibrant and inviting—a sharp contrast to the gritty realism of the mainline games. Infused with rich, bright colors across its sunny vistas, verdant fields, misty mountains, Monster Hunter Stories presents a world you want to get lost in.
Monster Hunting Action, One Turn At a Time
Beyond its outer appearance, you’ll feel how different Stories is from mainline Monster Hunter when you first get into combat. As you approach your first monster, rather than attacking outright, you’re thrown into a turn-based RPG battle. After being introduced to an initially simple rock/paper/scissors mechanic, Monster Hunter Stories quickly layers on a lot more.
While ‘turn based’ may conjure thoughts of a deliberate, repetitive experience – there is a lot going on here: balancing attacks and skills, attack types and weaknesses. And you’re not just controlling the human rangers; your monster companions – called “Monsties” – can be called into battle, each with unique abilities. Want to switch tactics mid-battle? Swap Monsties on the fly or mount up for a powerful special attack.
You’ll Ride a Lot More than Seikrets
Speaking of mounts, the Monstie you’re riding offers up different mobility options throughout the open world. The Monster Hunter Stories 3 demo started me out with a Rathalos called, appropriately enough, Ratha – though I was able to easily switch via a radial menu to a lizard-wolf type of monster you might recognise from Monster Hunter World, called Tobi-Kadachi. Tobi could go where Ratha can’t, bounding straight up a vertical rock formation. After looking around and marking points of interest, I realized Tobi had another trick up its fur: it was less wolf and more flying squirrel, allowing me to glide straight to a chest I had spotted and marked. Very fun.
Ratha also has a trick: when mounting it, pressing RT brings up an aiming reticle, and releasing allows it to do what wyverns do best: spit up explosive fire, assisting with breaking things, revealing resources, or initiating battle… sometimes even ending it before it starts. Again, very fun.
It’s Still Monster Hunter
Despite Monster Hunter Stories’ RPG trappings, in just about every element, its Monster Hunter DNA shines through. From hunting down monster materials, to forging new equipment, to collecting bugs, fruits, and metals as you explore the world, to the chatty Felynes, you’ll never forget you’re in a Monster Hunter world, even while inhabiting a different part of it.
Most “Monster Hunter” of all are the tough-as-leather beasts that survive even the strongest attacks you can dish out, meaning that combat isn’t just a test of skill, but of attrition. After taking down a pair of bosses with unique, stylish finishers, my demo came to a close. My takeaway: even if you’ve spent dozens of hours in Monster Hunter World or Wilds, Stories will surprise you.
Monster Hunter Stories
– Purchase early to get Navirou’s “King” and “Queen” Outfits.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
– Purchase early to get Ena’s “Kamura Maiden Outfit.”
*Bonus content is available to customers who pre-order the game by 23:59 on 11.13.2025.
*This content may be made available separately at a later date.
*Outfits for Ena and Navirou are purely cosmetic and only change the characters’ appearance.
Both Monster Hunter Stories games included in one collection!
Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG series that takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it in new and exciting ways! No longer are you hunting monsters, but raising them! Featuring heroes known as Monster Riders, you will live alongside monsters and form lifelong bonds with them.
Game Introduction:
The first game tells the story of a Rider who confronts a calamity known as the Black Blight that has overtaken the world, all while learning to live together with Hunters. The second game is set four years later, when a new hero unravels the epic story surrounding a legendary Rathalos, one foretold to bring ruin to the world.
Game Features:
■ A turn-based RPG set in the world of Monster Hunter! Monster Hunter Stories features a strategic battle system which is easy to get the hang of, even for those who struggle with action games. Use Power, Speed, and Technical attacks to guess and overcome your opponent’s attack patterns to inflict heavy damage and win head-to-head battles! Build up your Kinship Gauge to use skills or try your Monsties’ unique Kinship Skills!
■ Turn popular monsters from the series into your Monsties! Explore the field using Monstie abilities, hatch eggs that you find along the way, and turn various monsters into Monsties! This game features many popular monsters from the Monster Hunter series, including Zinogre, Nargacuga, and Lagiacrus. Also featured is the Rite of Channeling, a ritual that awakens dormant abilities in your Monsties, allowing you to raise original Monsties and take on powerful enemies!
■ Online features that allow you to create a powerful party with the Monsties you have raised and enjoy battles with other players!
*The items in this set can be purchased individually. Please be careful not to purchase the same item twice.
MONSTER HUNTER STORIES 3: TWISTED REFLECTION
CAPCOM Co., Ltd.
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
Twin Rathalos, born in a twist of fate.
Embark on a new adventure in the third installment of the turn-based RPG series set in the world of Monster Hunter! Become a Rider in the Monster Hunter Stories series as you hatch and build kinship with friendly monsters known as Monsties, then explore and battle alongside them in a world full of potential!
Set two centuries after a conflict that divided neighboring kingdoms, the drums of war are reignited as twin Rathalos—long thought extinct—hatch from a single egg: an omen of destruction.
Two kingdoms, two Riders, and two Rathalos; their fates now intertwined. As calamity encroaches, seek hope beyond the border and into forbidden lands.
Limited Bonus
Pre-order to get Navirou’s “King” and “Queen” Outfits!
*Bonus content is available to customers who pre-order the game by 23:59 on 11.13.2025.
*This content may be made available separately at a later date.
*These outfits are purely cosmetic and only change Navirou’s appearance.
Monster Hunter Stories is an RPG that takes the world of Monster Hunter and expands upon it in new and exciting ways! No longer are you hunting monsters, but raising them! In this deep story featuring heroes known as Monster Riders, you will live alongside monsters and form lifelong bonds with them. The first installment of the Monster Hunter Stories series returns, fully voiced in Japanese and English, with additional features such as a new museum mode where you can listen to music and view concept art, allowing you to dive even deeper into the world of Monster Hunter Stories.
Story:
As the hero of the story, you were born in a village of Riders who raise monsters for a living. You’ll overcome trials and tribulations as you grow as a Rider, and leave your village to embark on an adventure. Your destination: the world of Hunters, who make their living by hunting monsters. Although their lifestyles are vastly different, you must learn to live and work together with Hunters, and in turn, bring the world of Hunters and Riders ever closer.
Things take a dark turn as a calamity known as the Black Blight appears, threatening the entire world and upending peaceful lives that were taken for granted… Both Riders and Hunters alike will be put to the test in order to challenge this threat.
The keys to saving the world are the Kinship Stone and its hidden power, along with the truth of the “Legend of Redan,” which describes the long-kept secret of the Riders’ origins!
Game Features:
■ A turn-based RPG set in the world of Monster Hunter! Monster Hunter Stories features a strategic battle system which is easy to get the hang of, even for those who struggle with action games. Use Power, Speed, and Technical attacks to guess and overcome your opponent’s attack patterns to inflict heavy damage and win head-to-head battles! Build up your Kinship Gauge to use skills or try your Monsties’ unique Kinship Skills!
■ Turn popular monsters from the series into your Monsties! Explore the field using Monstie abilities, hatch eggs that you find along the way, and turn various monsters into Monsties! This game features many popular monsters from the Monster Hunter series, including Zinogre, Nargacuga, and Lagiacrus. Also featured is the Rite of Channeling, a ritual which awakens dormant abilities in your Monsties, allowing you to raise original Monsties and take on powerful enemies!
■ Online features that allow you to create a powerful party with the Monsties you have raised and enjoy battles with other players!
■ All updates are included! You will find all the monsters added in updates to the original game, such as Kushala Daora, Teostra, and Rajang, as well as expanded endgame content and additional character editing parts, making this the complete package!
*There are other bundles that include this product. Please be careful of duplicate purchases.
Limited Bonus
Purchase by 23:59 on 11.13.2025 to receive the Kamura Maiden Outfit for Ena. This outfit lets you dress Ena as a hub maiden from Kamura village, as featured in Monster Hunter Rise!
*May become available at a later date.
*Changes Ena’s appearance only.
*Monster Hunter Rise rated TEEN
A new adventure awaits you in this second installment of the turn-based RPG series set in the world of Monster Hunter! Become a Rider and form bonds with friendly monsters known as Monsties to fight alongside them as you take part in an epic story.
You play as the grandchild of Red, a legendary Rider. The story begins with a fateful encounter with Ena, a Wyverian girl who has been entrusted with an egg with the potential to hatch into a legendary Rathalos which could wreak havoc if awakened to its destructive power.
Embark on a journey which will test the bonds of friendship in a changing world, and discover the truth behind the legends of old.
Our goal with Game Pass has been clear: deliver unmatched value, benefits, and a deep library of games for our players. Since launching in 2017, we’ve steadily grown our subscriber and creator satisfaction – and today, creator participation and player engagement in Game Pass are at an all-time high. But we have the opportunity for Game Pass to help more players find the creators and games they love.
We know not everyone wants the same thing in their Xbox experience, so we’re evolving Game Pass to offer more flexibility, choice, and value to all players, whether you love day one releases, discovering hidden gems, or playing across multiple devices and screens and across Xbox consoles, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud.
Starting today, we’re introducing three upgraded Game Pass plans based on how players play: Essential, Premium, and Ultimate. Each includes expanded game libraries, including PC titles, unlimited cloud gaming, in-game benefits (including Riot Games titles), and a revamped Rewards with Xbox experience. Today’s Game Pass Core subscribers will automatically move to Essential, Standard subscribers will transition to Premium, and Ultimate subscribers will remain in the Ultimate plan.
It’s all a part of our commitment to meet players where they are, so you can choose what works best for you, no matter how or where you love to play.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Just Got Its Biggest Upgrade Yet
Ultimate has been upgraded for players who want the best of everything. We’re rolling out our most expansive upgrade yet, including more day one games than ever before, Fortnite Crew & Ubisoft+ Classics for the first time ever, enhanced Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming quality up to 1440p, Rewards with Xbox, and more. Now players can have it all.
Ultimate subscribers now get access to over 75 day one releases a year. That includes some of the most anticipated upcoming games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, High on Life 2, Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4, and The Outer Worlds 2. These join a growing library of more than 400 games playable on Xbox consoles, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud on supported devices, with more than 45 new games added today. Think of hits like Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hollow Knight: Silksong, plus exclusive benefits like access to EA Play.
We’re also welcoming major additions to the Ultimate experience. Starting November 18, Fortnite Crew – an $11.99/month value – will be included in Ultimate, with access to the Fortnite Battle Pass, 1,000 V-Bucks each month, and more. This is just the beginning of Xbox and Epic’s work together toward an open gaming ecosystem where friends can play and create together, anywhere, across devices. And today, Ubisoft+ Classics (valued at $7.99/month per platform) joins Ultimate, offering access to a curated selection of Ubisoft games playable on console, PC, and cloud, like Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and more.
Cloud gaming is also getting a major boost. Ultimate subscribers exclusively enjoy our best quality streaming and shortest wait times, so it’s easier than ever to jump into your favorite games. Xbox Cloud Gaming has also officially exited “Beta,” as part of our commitment to make gameplay smoother and more responsive. And we’ll keep expanding the Stream your own game collection for all subscribers. Keep an eye on Xbox.com/Play for the latest list of cloud playable games.
Ultimate subscribers can now earn up to $100 per year (100k points globally) in the Store just by playing games. With our upgraded Rewards program, players can get up to 30% value on select Game Pass games, with 4x points on purchases of games and add-ons, 10% back in points on select Game Pass library titles and add-ons, and up to 20% off select Game Pass games.
Xbox Game Pass Premium – More Games, More Flexibility
Premium has been upgraded to offer even more flexibility and value for those who want to play on their own terms at exceptional value. Premium provides access to a broader library of great games and extends the Xbox gaming experience across console, PC, and cloud.
We’re now giving Premium subscribers more games than ever before, from gaming’s biggest hits to hidden gems, now with access to 200+ games on Xbox console, PC, and supported devices, all still at $14.99. This library, with more than 40 new games available today, is also now playable on PC, including timeless hits like Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5, and Grand Theft Auto V. Plus, Premium subscribers get newly added fan-favorites like Diablo IV and Hogwarts Legacy starting today, and new Xbox-published games within a year of their launch (excludes Call of Duty titles).
Cloud gaming is also expanding in Premium. Subscribers now enjoy unlimited cloud gaming, including select games you own, and newly added in-game benefits in some of the biggest games like League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X, instantly unlocking cosmetics, characters, and more to enhance your gameplay.
Premium also brings new value through Rewards with Xbox. Premium subscribers can also get up to $50 per year (50k points globally) in the Store just by playing games, earning 2x points on purchases of games and add-ons, plus 5% back in points on select Game Pass library titles and add-ons.
Xbox Game Pass Essential: A Great Way to Get Started
Essential is for players who want the essence of everything Xbox. With access to games across console, PC, and cloud, Essential makes it easy to jump in and start playing, whether you’re diving into solo adventures or teaming up with friends.
Our revamped Essential plan now includes unlimited cloud gaming, online multiplayer, in-game benefits, and Rewards with Xbox, plus a curated catalog of 50+ games playable on both console and PC.
The Essential library is now fully playable on PC, featuring standout titles like Hades, Cities: Skylines – Remastered, Stardew Valley, and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. You also get unlimited cloud gaming, allowing you to play games, including select games you own, on the devices you choose — giving you more freedom to play your way.
Subscribers also get access to in-game benefits in some of the biggest games like League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Overwatch 2.
And with our Rewards with Xbox program, Essential members can earn up to $25 per year (25k points globally) in the Store just by playing. You’ll also get points on purchases of games and add-ons.
Getting Started with the New Xbox Game Pass Plans
As we continue to evolve Xbox Game Pass, we’re focused on delivering more value, more benefits, and more great games across every plan. Whether you play on console, PC, cloud – or all three – there’s a Game Pass option designed to fit your playstyle.
With the latest upgrades, Ultimate is now priced at $29.99/month, reflecting the expanded catalog, new partner benefits, and upgraded cloud gaming experience. Standard subscribers will be upgraded to Premium remaining at $14.99/month, offering exceptional value for players who want flexibility and access to new Xbox-published titles within a year of launch. Core subscribers will be upgraded to Essential remaining at $9.99/month, providing a curated library, online multiplayer, and cloud gaming for those who want to jump in and start playing.
We regularly evaluate exchange rates and market conditions, so pricing may vary by region. For the most up-to-date information on plan features and pricing in your area, visit the plan picker on Xbox.com.
We continue to add more games to Xbox Game Pass. Check out the latest games available starting today below, along with in-game benefits available across each plan. As a reminder, game titles, features, and availability vary over time, by region, Game Pass plan, and platform. Learn more about supported regions here.
Ultimate – Available Today
Hogwarts Legacy (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed II (PC)
Assassin’s Creed III Remastered (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag: Freedom Cry (PC)
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (PC)
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: China (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: Russia (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD (PC)
Assassin’s Creed Revelations (PC)
Assassin’s Creed Rogue Remastered (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Assassin’s Creed The Ezio Collection (Cloud and Console)
Assassin’s Creed Unity (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Child of Light (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Far Cry 3 (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Far Cry Primal (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Hungry Shark World (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Monopoly Madness (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Monopoly 2024 (Cloud, PC, and Console)
OddBallers (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Prince of Persia The Lost Crown (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Rabbids Invasion: The Interactive TV Show (Cloud and Console)
Rabbids: Party of Legends (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Rayman Legends (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Risk Urban Assault (Cloud and Console)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Skull and Bones (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
South Park: The Stick of Truth (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Starlink: Battle for Atlas (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Steep (Cloud, PC, and Console)
The Crew 2 (Cloud, PC, and Console)
The Settlers: New Allies (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Tom Clancy’s The Division (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Trackmania Turbo (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Transference (Cloud and Console)
Trials Fusion (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Trials of the Blood Dragon (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Trials Rising (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Uno (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Valiant Hearts: The Great War (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Watch_Dogs (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Wheel of Fortune (Cloud and Console)
Zombi (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Premium – Available Today (also in Ultimate)
9 Kings (Game Preview) (PC)
Abiotic Factor (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Against the Storm (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition (PC)
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (PC)
Age of Mythology: Retold (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Ara: History Untold (PC)
Arx Fatalis (PC)
Back to the Dawn (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Battletech (PC)
Blacksmith Master (Game Preview) (PC)
Cataclismo (PC)
Cities: Skylines II (PC)
Crime Scene Cleaner (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Diablo (PC)
Diablo IV (PC and Console)
An Elder Scrolls Legends: Battlespire (PC)
The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard (PC)
Fallout (PC)
Fallout 2 (PC)
Fallout: Tactics (PC)
Football Manager 2024 (PC)
Frostpunk 2 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Halo: Spartan Strike (PC)
Hogwarts Legacy (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Manor Lords (Game Preview) (PC)
Minami Lane (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Minecraft: Java Edition (PC)
Mullet Madjack (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
My Friendly Neighborhood (Cloud, PC, and Console)
One Lonely Outpost (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Quake 4 (PC)
Quake III Arena (PC)
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC)
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition (PC)
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Sworn (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S)
Terra Invicta (Game Preview) (PC)
Volcano Princess (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Warcraft I: Remastered (PC)
Warcraft II: Remastered (PC)
Warcraft III: Reforged (PC)
Wolfenstein 3D (PC)
Essential – Available Today (also in Ultimate and Premium)
Cities: Skylines Remastered (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S)
Disney Dreamlight Valley (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Hades (Cloud, PC, and Console)
Warhammer 40,000 Darktide (Cloud, PC, and Console)
More Rewards with Game Pass
Editor’s Note (October 1): We’ve clarified the pricing information for Ubisoft titles.
Face off against AXL, the terrifying new tarantula boss.
Craft an entire suite of tarantula-themed gear, from armor to a candlelit throne.
Build smarter with the streamlined BUILD.M grid system, and power up your Buggy with seamless PEEP.R and Hot Pouch support.
Brookhollow Park just got a lot more… hairy. And a lot more scary! Grounded 2’s newest update unleashes AXL, a colossal tarantula with enough legs, fangs, and fur to make even the bravest teens scrambling to fine-tune their loadouts. But don’t worry—you’ll have the tools to fight back, and they’re every bit as fearsome as the towering arachnid they come from.
Defeating AXL opens up a whole new frontier of power. You can forge an imposing tarantula armor set, wield the devastating Tarantula Bow and Spear, and even decorate your base with spidery flair. From larger-capacity chests to flickering candles to the kind of throne Yoked Girth would envy, you’ll have plenty of eight-legged style to show off.
This update also makes it easier than ever to turn your park empire into an architectural masterpiece. The streamlined BUILD.M grid system is here to make placing, snapping, and perfecting your creations more intuitive, giving your wildest blueprints a chance to shine.
Meanwhile, your Buggy is getting a serious quality-of-life glow-up: with both PEEP.R and Hot Pouch integrated, you can scan, swap, and stock up without ever leaving the driver’s seat. Pair that with a hauntingly stylish new Praying Mantis armor set, complete with plague doctor vibes and some nifty healing tricks, and you’ve got more ways than ever to customize your playstyle.
Not only that, but we are excited to announce Japanese and Brazilian localization have been added to Grounded 2 with this update. More languages will be added throughout development, so keep your eyes on our socials and the road map for future announcements!
Hairy and Scary is all about dialing up the intensity while keeping the spirit of play alive. It’s spooky, it’s stylish, and it’s brimming with new ways to survive the tiny terrors of Brookhollow Park. And if you think this is where the surprises end, think again. The backyard has a few festive frights tucked away for October, so keep your eyes peeled for holiday surprises lurking just around the corner.
Grounded 2’s Hairy and Scary update is available now in Game Preview for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud, and in Early Access on Steam. Jump in today with Xbox Game Pass, and prepare yourself—it’s hairy, it’s scary, and it’s only getting wilder from here.
Grounded 2
Xbox Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 485
★★★★★
$29.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. Survive a sprawling open world alone or in co-op with friends. Craft weapons, forge armor, and build bases while exploring the park on your trusty Buggy mounts. Unravel hidden mysteries and face unexpected threats. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you.
Shrunk to the size of an ant, you’ll find once-familiar spaces turned into a sprawling, uncharted frontier. Survive alone or in co-op with friends, crafting weapons, forging armor, and building bases as you explore manmade playgrounds overgrown by nature. Traverse this new realm on trusty Buggy mounts—your capable allies—and uncover the mysteries lurking beneath bright colors and towering structures. But stay wary: something else is out there, and it hasn’t forgotten you.
Survive, Adapt, Overcome
The world is relentless, but so are you. Shape your adventure with unique archetypes, each offering distinct abilities to match your playstyle. Whether you rely on precision, cunning, or sheer strength, you’ll need every advantage to survive against the threats lurking in the park.
Stronger Together
The perils of the park are daunting alone, but with friends, every challenge becomes an adventure. Work together to build, fight, and uncover the secrets buried beneath the grass. Whether you’re facing danger side by side or continuing your journey in a shared world, survival is always better with allies.
Because Walking is Bogus
They scurry, they fight, and now—they help you survive. Hatch, raise, and ride your own insect friends – Buggies! Saddle up and traverse through the park, fight on them or alongside them in battle, or use them to gather resources and build your base. The right partner could mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving.
A Shadow That Follows You
The threat is always there—watching, learning, waiting. You don’t know where it’s coming from, only that it never leaves. The deeper you dig, the closer it gets. Some mysteries should stay buried, but it’s too late now. It knows you’re looking. And it’s ready. Every answer drags you deeper, every step invites something closer. You were never alone. You thought you were in control. You were wrong.
Clear out those weekend plans, we got tons to explore with Free Play Days! PGA Tour 2K25, Rematch, Dungeons 3, Bassmaster Fishing and Trailmakers are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from September 25 until September 28.
Diablo IV is free for all Xbox members to try from September 23 at 10:00 am PDT until September 30 at 10:00 am PDT.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days For All
Diablo® IV – Standard Edition
Blizzard Entertainment
☆☆☆☆☆ 984
★★★★★
$49.99
$22.49
Diablo IV Try Diablo IV’s newest class Spiritborn up to level 25 in the free trial and experience all the latest major updates, as well as the new Season, Season of Infernal Chaos. Season 10 takes gameplay to chaotic heights, with updates that encourage deeper build experimentation and mastery through powerful seasonal Uniques and deadly class-tailored seasonal powers. The chaos persists in endgame with revamped Infernal Hordes, now overtaken by new, relentless Chaos Waves. Carry your progress into the campaign after the trial with a full game purchase, on sale now!
Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)
Dungeons 3
Kalypso Media
☆☆☆☆☆ 294
★★★★★
$29.99
$7.49
Dungeons 3 Wake from your fitful rest Little Snots! Today, The Absolute Evil, with the help of Microsoft, summons players back to one of the best and Evil-est dungeon sims, Dungeons 3. Seven peaceful years have passed since Thalya first took command of the forces of Evil to wage war on the Overworld (by the way she throws an even bigger fit in the sequel, but that’s a discussion for another day.) A certified epic from the folks over at Realmforge Studios and Kalypso Media, Dungeons 3 is a hilariously evil and evilly hilarious, strategic romp where all wretched deeds and storyline updates are beautifully narrated by the fan-favourite Dungeons narrator, whether Thalya likes it or not! The Generous Evil has also decreed that Dungeons 3 shall have a 75% discount, and all Evil DLCs and the Complete Collection shall have a 60% discount from the 25th of September until the 6th of October.
PGA TOUR 2K25
2K
☆☆☆☆☆ 214
★★★★★
$69.99
$41.99
PGA Tour 2K25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S From September 25 through 29, PGA Tour 2K25 Standard Edition is available to play free as part of Free Play Days. Enjoy putts, pars, and precision like never before with PGA Tour 2K25! This weekend make a name for yourself in the Transatlantic Showdown. Battle it out on the course with a USA vs Europe showdown packed with themed rewards, a new Challenge Map, and no shortage of pride. Have your say on the main stage as global rivals go head-to-head.
REMATCH
Sloclap, Kepler Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆ 292
★★★★★
$29.99
$23.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Rematch Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere Step onto the pitch in Rematch, the fast-paced team football experience where timing, movement, and collective play matter most. From September 25–28, Xbox players can jump in free during Free Play Days. This weekend also marks the kickoff of Rematch Season 1, including full cross play, competitive 3v3 ranked matches, fresh cosmetics, and more.
Trailmakers
Flashbulb Games
☆☆☆☆☆ 341
★★★★★
$29.99
$8.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Trailmakers Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere Build, explore, and race your way through limitless creativity in Trailmakers. Whether you’re crafting a rugged off-road buggy, a sleek race car, or even an aircraft to conquer the skies, Trailmakers gives you the tools to bring your imagination to life and put your inventions to the test across exciting open-world challenges. Even better: if you’re ready to keep building after Free Play Days ends, you can grab Trailmakers at a massive 70% off during and after the event. Don’t miss this opportunity to own the game at its best price yet and continue your creative journey without limits.
Bassmaster® Fishing
Dovetail Games – Fishing
☆☆☆☆☆ 213
★★★★★
$39.99
Bassmaster Fishing Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere Grab those shades, attach that lure and get ready to reel in a prize catch – Bassmaster is back for Free Play Days! In Bassmaster Fishing, anglers can relive the thrill of big bass fishing in locations around the USA. Cast out in the same place, at the same time as the real pros this weekend as they compete in the 2025 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Toledo Bend.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core 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.
The Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2025 Broadcast just wrapped up, bringing you a fresh look at what’s coming to players around the world this year and next from our creative teams, our incredible partners across Asia, and beyond.
From Xbox Game Studios, Forza Horizon 6 is coming in 2026 with Japan as the setting, we offered a deep-dive into the difficulty settings coming to Ninja Gaiden 4 (developed by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames), announced that a Japan World Update arrives in Microsoft Flight Simulator and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 today, and revealed new gameplay for Age of Mythology’s Japan-inspired Heavenly Spear expansion, which launches next week. Activision revealed Japan-set maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and Bethesda showed off some of the best Japanese-created C.A.M.P.s built for Fallout 76 following its recent updates.
Our partners across Asia and the rest of the world brought even more. We saw a world premiere for Gungrave Gore: Blood Heat, Square Enix surprise-released RPG Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven for Xbox, and Capcom showed off more of Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection – along with the news that the first two games in the series are on their way to Xbox. IO Interactive brought star power, with the reveal of a lead character in 007 First Light, as well as a Bruce Lee-themed mission in Hitman: World of Assassination. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, with 25 different games included in the show.
Several games featured in the broadcast will be available for Game Pass subscribers, including Terminull Brigade, Winter Burrow, and show-closer Forza Horizon 6. Game Pass continues to deliver unmatched quality, with many new releases making up Metacritic’s best reviewed games of 2025 so far, including three of the current top five: Blue Prince, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Hollow Knight: Silksong. And the momentum isn’t slowing down. Still to come to Game Pass subscribers this year, in order of release: Keeper, Ninja Gaiden 4, The Outer Worlds 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and much more.
And the majority of titles in the show also have Xbox Play Anywhere support, empowering people to play the games they want, wherever they are, and with whatever device they’re using. That includes on-the-go, with the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds arriving on October 16 – and playable on the showfloor at Tokyo Game Show.
But you want to know everything, right? Read on to learn about everything announced:
Age of Mythology: Heavenly Spear Offers a New Look Ahead of Launch Next Week
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5
Age of Mythology: Retold’s next expansion, Heavenly Spear takes players to Japan, where they’ll encounter new gods, new monsters, new powers, a new story, and more. The brand-new 12 mission campaign focuses on Yasuko, a farmer’s daughter who takes on a new destiny when she discovers a magical spear. As war looms and chaos spreads across the land, Yasuko must uncover the relic’s secrets and prevent it from falling into the hands of Kagemasa, a ruthless warlord who seeks to imprison the sun goddess Amaterasu and claim godhood for himself.
Heavenly Spear launches on September 30, with preorders open now on most platforms. Those who purchase the Age of Mythology: Retold – Premium Editionwill receive Heavenly Spear upon launch.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Introduces Japan-Set Multiplayer Maps
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one on Game Pass – also available on Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
The teams from Treyarch and Beenox made an appearance to offer a first look at a few Multiplayer maps set in Japan, coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Toshin offers a look at 2035 Tokyo, combining well-defined lanes and some really fun set pieces – including a cat cafe, a karaoke bar, and a crashed train. Den offers a different vibe – set in the countryside outside Tokyo, this map centers around a Japanese castle that’s been repurposed as a Guild base.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches on November 14, with the Early Access Beta beginning on October 2, and the Open Beta from October 5.
Fallout 76 Developers Thank the Japanese Community
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Game Pass – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
It’s been a busy year in Appalachia. This year, Fallout 76 has seen the release of The Ghoul Within (which allowed players to play as Ghouls for the first time), Gone Fission (which introduced brand new fishing mechanics and quests), and, most recently, C.A.M.P. Revamp, which added newfound flexibility to building tools in the game.
Fallout 76‘s developers made an appearance in the show to thank Japanese players for embracing each new update, and even showed off some of the most impressive Japanese-made C.A.M.P.s created so far.
Forza Horizon 6 Will Take Us to Japan in 2026
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Steam. Coming to PlayStation 5 post-launch
Forza Horizon 6 closed the show by announcing that the beloved open world racing series will return in 2026, this time taking players to the breathtaking landscapes of Japan. A teaser trailer gave us callbacks to each of the previous games, before giving us a taste of the gorgeous new world we’ll be exploring – with Mount Fuji dominating a landscape that includes serene waters and urban environments, as cherry blossoms flutter on the breeze.
Forza Horizon 6 will arrive in 2026, and you can learn more right now on Xbox Wire – we interviewed the developers to answer some of the biggest questions about moving the series to Japan. Wishlist now on Xbox and Steam.
Microsoft Flight Simulator: Japan World Update and New Local Legend Revealed
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass – also available on Steam
Microsoft Flight Simulator’s World Update 20: Japan is massive! This latest free update adds 23 new photogrammetry areas to the simulator, covering over 20,000 square kilometres.
The regions included add major Japanese cities like Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka, Sapporo, Tokyo, as well as five new highly-detailed, handcrafted airports, and 67 new points of interest, including Osaka Castle, one of the most important historical locations in Japan, Fukuoka Tower, the tallest seaside tower in Japan, and more.
In addition to World Update 20: Japan, we also saw a new Local Legend, the famous Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (NAMC) YS-11.
World Update 20: Japan is a free content update for all Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 simmers and the NAMC YS-11 is available now in the in-sim marketplace for $19.99. The sky is calling!
Ninja Gaiden 4 Challenges You to Become a Master Ninja
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – also available on Steam, PlayStation 5
Team Ninja and PlatinumGames unveiled a first look at the difficulty design in Ninja Gaiden 4, showcasing dynamic enemy placement and aggressive AI that scale with difficulty levels. The game stays true to its punishing roots, while introducing a new hero mode and adjustable assists that can ease newcomers into its signature high-speed combat. A stand-alone training mode – a first in the series – lets players sharpen their skills before diving into battle. You can read more on Xbox Wire now.
Also revealed ahead of the show were two sword-inspired creations. First, Ryu Hayabusa’s Dragon Sword and new protagonist Yakumo’s Takeminakata were forged and brought to life by master swordsmith Yuya Nakanishi. Then, the exciting new Ninja Gaiden 4 Xbox Design Lab standard and Elite Series 2 controllers were made available for purchase. Ninja Gaiden 4 launches October 21. Preorder now to unlock the Dark Dragon Descendant Yakumo Skin at launch, and grab the Deluxe Edition for bonus cosmetics, in-game items, and access to future gameplay content: The Two Masters.
007 First Light: Gemma Chan Joins the Ensemble Cast
Xbox Series X|S – see developer website for other platforms
British actress Gemma Chan (‘Eternals’, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, ‘The Creator’) makes her video game debut as Selina Tan, MI6’s Head of Tactical Simulation, in 007 First Light. Selina Tan is a senior MI6 official who leads Tactical Simulations, a program to train elite recruits. Formerly a psychology and strategy academic turned immersive tech expert, she now applies scientific precision and strategic insight to British Intelligence.
In 007 First Light, play as James Bond, a young, resourceful, and sometimes reckless recruit in MI6’s training program, and discover a new standalone, re-imagined origin story of the world’s most famous spy. Find out more on Xbox Wire.
Aniimo: Meet Even More Creatures
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Highly-anticipated creature-catching ARPG Aniimo introduced a number of the fascinating creatures who inhabit the world of Idyll. The TGS trailer gave players a first look at how a number of Aniimo interact with each other and their environment to create totally unique opportunities for discovery and gameplay! Get more details on the new creatures on Xbox Wire.
Double Dragon Revive Offers a Deeper Look Into ‘Extra Mode’
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One – see developer website for other platforms
New details are here for Double Dragon Revive! Beyond the main Story Mode, today we showcased the challenging Extra Mode. This mode will test your skills with over 50 missions. Clear them to unlock character-specific episodes, offering new story perspectives. Join forces with a friend in two-player co-op, online or locally! Double Dragon Revive launches October 23, 2025. Pre-order today!
Dragon Quest I & II 2D-HD Remake: A Brand-new Area, Ocean Floor Revealed
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake isn’t just offering a new way to play these timeless RPGs – it’s also opening up an entirely new area to explore. Producer Hayasaka Masaaki guided viewers through Ocean Floor, showing the player’s party meeting a mermaid, and being invited to save the area. You’ll explore the desecrated underwater town of Mersea, battle a multitude of monsters, and solve the mystery of what’s befallen this hidden region. Dragon Quest I & II HD Remake arrives on October 30, 2025.
Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake – A Beautiful Revival of the Classic Horror Experience
Xbox Series X|S – see developer website for other platforms
Koei Tecmo’s classic is reborn, more beautiful and horrifying than ever in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake!
Fatal Frame Series Director Makoto Shibata, talked about the remake’s improvements over the original, including graphical and audio enhancements to help turn up the fright, while bringing the Japanese horror classic to a whole new audience. He also touched on how the Camera Obscura has evolved, and new action additions to help players battle the evil spirits haunting a village of never-ending night. Coming early 2026, wishlist now!
Gungrave Gore Blood Heat Revealed
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Fans got their first look at Gungrave Gore Blood Heat – this world premiere showed off the cult classic action game, rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, showcasing explosive new action. The demo highlighted Grave’s iconic dual-gun shootouts enhanced with brutal close-quarters combat and a revamped stylish action system. Players also witnessed newly designed enemy characters and explosive interactions that elevate the battlefield intensity. Find out more about the project on Xbox Wire.
Hitman: World of Assassination – Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee Joins Agent 47 in a New Mission
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud – see developer website for other platforms
Set in the dazzling arena of an international martial arts tournament at the Himmapan Hotel in Bangkok, this mission introduces a high-stakes twist: Agent 47 must protect the undercover Agent Lee, who has infiltrated the tournament that doubles as a recruitment tool and cover for leadership meetings of Concord Union.
Lee must not only win but also earn the final prize: a duel with the Union’s elusive leader – The Dragon Head. Play for free from September 25 to November 20. Find out more on Xbox Wire.
Hotel Barcelona Reveals Multiplayer Modes Ahead of Release Tomorrow
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
The legendary creators of Hotel Barcelona, Hidetaka “Swery” Suehiro and Goichi “Suda51” Suda, made an appearance to unveil the game’s multiplayer options – and it’s more than just a bolt-on, crowdpleaser mode. The game will offer up to three-player co-op, introducing new layers of complexity and strategy. There will also be a PvP invasion system: invaders step into someone else’s run and become adversarial doppelgängers, locked in mortal combat until one player falls – with rewards given to the victor.
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Mistfall Hunter premiered an exclusive developer update introducing Solemn Needles, the game’s second map, confirmed for launch. Set within a bleached and sacred forest, Solemn Needles highlights the Divine Anchor – a relic whose lingering power draws enemies – alongside Hastine’s Fall, where the corpse of a giant still radiates divine strength, and the shadowed Witchery Woods, dense with secrets.
The video underscored that the hunt is far from over—sharpen your blades, ready your gear, and prepare to step back into the Gyldenmist soon.
Monster Hunter Stories – The Whole Series, Coming to Xbox
Monster Hunter Stories 3 available on Xbox Series X|S, Monster Hunter Stories 1 and 2 available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One – see developer website for other platforms
Monster Hunter Stories is a turn-based RPG series where you hatch, raise, and train Monsters.
The latest entry in the series, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, will be available on March 13, 2026. In a surprise announcement, we also say the announcement that the first entry, Monster Hunter Stories, and its sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, will both be available on Xbox from November 14, 2025. Pre-order begins today with a limited-time discount!
Project Evilbane Shows Off Its 4-Player Action-RPG Combat
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Project Evilbane has unveiled its second trailer! After fierce battles and hard-won victories, the heroes now face the ultimate enemy with the power to destroy the world. The trailer hints at relentless combat and new challenges ahead, promising epic moments and strategic action.
Players can already experience the game through a pre-alpha test available via the Xbox Insider Program. Project Evilbane is a dynamic 4-player co-op action RPG where teamwork, skill customization, and intense boss battles will shape the fate of a shattered world. The fight for humanity has just begun!
Rhythm Doctor On Call From December 6
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Thanks to its robust toolset and 7th Beat’s unique gameplay design ethos, Rhythm Doctor is one of the only games in existence able to act as a video editor for its own trailer. Everything in the spot is a single shot without any cuts or splices; all the effects, layered shots, and jumps between different songs are achieved in-game, set to a mashup of songs that represent less than half of the game’s total tracklist. And you’ll be able to play Rhythm Doctor on December 6.
Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven – Out Now for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
The Seven Heroes of legend are back seeking revenge, this time on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC! Signature Saga franchise systems like Glimmers and Formations were shown in action as well as Surprise Attack and United Attack – new additions for this remake. Experience the key freeform scenario system, where your choices and actions change the way the story unfolds. Inherit stats and abilities from previous Emperors, continue to grow stronger, and put an end to the Seven Heroes once and for all.
Starsand Island Gets a First-Ever CG Trailer
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Play Anywhere – see developer website for other platforms
Starsand Island unveiled its first-ever CG trailer, highlighting the game’s cozy, heartwarming island setting and key features like open-ended farming and creative DIY building. The footage also ended with a subtle tease of multiplayer elements, sparking excitement for future cooperative experiences.
Sudden Strike 5: Coming 2026
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC – see developer website for other platforms
In this Xbox-exclusive trailer, witness the return of strategic WWII combat in Sudden Strike 5! Harness the tactical brilliance of authentic Generals from each faction, combining their strengths with your own in an enhanced Doctrine System. Tackle difficult secondary objectives to secure the advantage, or charge straight towards your primary target with overwhelming force, secure your position and prepare to advance in Sudden Strike 5, coming 2026!
Terminull Brigade Brings the Nullverse to Xbox with Neon Genesis Evangelion Crossover
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms
Terminull Brigade invited fans back to the Nullverse with a CG trailer featuring the Rogueteers defending their digital realm. The showcase teased a Neon Genesis Evangelion collaboration, giving fans a glimpse of the crossover content. The trailer concluded with the announcement of Terminull Brigade launching for consoles and Xbox on PC, expanding the game to new platforms. Find out more about this unique game on Xbox Wire.
Winter Burrow, A Cozy Woodland Survival Game, Debuts Release Date Trailer
Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, Xbox Play Anywhere, or play it day one with Game Pass – see developer website for other platforms
Winter Burrow’s new trailer tells the story of a young city mouse returning to the harsh winter wilderness. Narrated by a wise, unseen elder mouse through a whimsical nursery rhyme, we see the mouse face hunger, cold, and other perils. Each verse of the rhyme offers guidance, from cooking stews to knitting sweaters and braving the forest.
Along the way, new friends lend their support as the mouse learns to survive. The trailer ends with the burrow transformed into a safe haven, a refuge against the cold, and with the reveal of the release date: November 12, 2025.
Dead by Daylight: Sinister Grace features a gruesome new Killer: The Krause.
Some may be familiar with the Krasue, a grotesque creature originating from Thai culture. For the unaware, a Krasue is a woman cursed with a terrible fate, doomed to spend her nights as a horrifying disembodied head. She floats through the air, entrails dragging beneath her, as she hunts to feed on its next victim.
There’s a haunting sense of duality surrounding The Krasue. For all you know, she could be walking among you, waiting to transform when the sun goes down. Such is the tragic nature of the curse, and it’s one of many aspects that initially drew the Dead by Daylight team down this folkloric rabbit hole.
Enter the Sinister Grace Chapter, which brings the fearsome yet fascinating creature into The Fog as a Killer. By day, Burong Sukapat was a beautiful and talented opera performer. By night, The Krasue’s curse awakened, plunging her into a nightmare of torn flesh, sopping blood, and insatiable hunger.
When the Killer Design team first learned they would be bringing The Krasue to life, Game Designer Louis Langlet got to work.
“I really like mythology and folklore in general, so I enjoyed researching the Krasue,” he explains. “What a horrifying creature.”
Maintaining the horror of her appearance was a pivotal part of the design process. In other words, the gore bar was about to be raised.
“We dedicated a lot of efforts to meeting the gore standard we wanted with this Chapter,” says Langlet. “The flesh shredding, the guts unrolling, the husk of your body taking a few last steps as it melts into blood. Elements were polished to really make the character feel disgusting. Not to mention that while in Head Form, you’ll have a great view of your fluttering organs.”
When you load into a Trial as The Krasue, you’ll be able to swap between two Forms to pursue your prey. Human Form – which can fire projectiles that infect and curse Survivors, slowing them down – and Floating Head form. While using the latter, you’ll move faster and gain the ability to strike with your appropriately named Intestinal Whip.
Having access to both forms, with the ability to freely swap between them, grants players freedom to approach the hunt in different ways, raising the skill ceiling and flexibility.
“When we begin the design process, we try to make it fun and engaging for Killer players without making it feel completely oppressive for Survivors,” he explains. “We realized early on that we wanted The Krasue to infect Survivors with a projectile, to create the feeling of a curse. We also wanted to ensure that using the Power felt dynamic, so we could avoid repetition for both sides. Of course, giving a Killer multiple abilities can present balance challenges, so we had to be careful.”
The Krasue fires a Leeching Gland at Vee Boonyasak, Sinister Grace’s new Survivor.
The team worked hard to ensure that both forms synergized effectively as a well-oiled machine, eventually finding the sweet spot. “One of her most effective tools is the Head Form’s mobility, which was balanced by adding a cooldown,” explains Langlet. “For instance, we didn’t want you to traverse in Head Form and instantly switch back to Body Form to attack a Survivor. It would have been too strong, and you’d never need to use the Intestine Whip. Everything has been tested and iterated at length.”
“While you ultimately have to hit a Survivor multiple times to down them, you have access to several tools that make that process feel intuitive and engaging.”
Beyond her forms, The Krasue can create pressure by forcing Survivors to engage with a unique side-objective: curing their infections with Glowing Fungus.
“The Fungus is an important piece of the balance puzzle,” says Langlet. “Survivors tend to beeline straight for Generators, so Killers can sometimes need an additional source of pressure. Ideally, an infected Survivor will feel the need to seek out Fungus rather than doing a Generator.”
As for newcomers looking to step into the nightmare as The Krasue, Langlet has a few tips to get you started.
“Think of the Body Form as a setup and use it to curse as many Survivors as you can. Remember, your projectile will splatter on the walls, which is the most efficient way to infect. Once Survivors are infected, you can really go wild in Head Form, using your mobility to catch up and damage them with your Intestinal Whip.”
Dead by Daylight: Sinister Grace is available today on Xbox, featuring the gruesome Krasue and energetic Vee Boonyasak.
Dead by Daylight
Behaviour Interactive Inc.
☆☆☆☆☆ 1721
★★★★★
$29.99
$23.99
Trapped forever in a realm of eldritch evil where even death is not an escape, four determined Survivors face a bloodthirsty Killer in a vicious game of nerve and wits. Pick a side and step into a world of tension and terror with horror gaming’s best asymmetrical multiplayer.
Choose between playing an unstoppable Killer and one of 4 Survivors trying to evade a gruesome death. Each character has their own deep progression system and plenty of unlockables that can be customized to fit your personal strategy. Work together to escape, or stalk and sacrifice every Survivor.
This Edition of Dead by Daylight gives you access to a roster of 7 Killers (The Trapper, The Hillbilly, The Wraith, The Nurse, The Hag, The Huntress and The Doctor) and 9 Survivors (Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel, Jake Park, Dwight Fairfield, Ace Visconti, Nea Karlsson, Bill Overbeck, Feng Min and David King). It also includes two cosmetic add-ons packed with outfits for various characters.
When we set out to launch Ninja Gaiden 4, we asked ourselves: what if the blades of legend weren’t confined to the game? What if Ryu Hayabusa’s iconic Dragon Sword and new protagonist Yakumo’s Takeminakata — weapons rooted in centuries of lore — could be forged in the real world? That question brought us to Kyoto, Japan, where ancient swordsmithing traditions met the next chapter of Ninja Gaiden.
In association with master swordsmith Yuya Nakanishi and the Masahiro Tantoujou Sword Forge, we set out to create real-life versions of the Dragon Sword and the Takeminakata. These aren’t just props — they’re living, breathing testaments to craft, power, and story.
The Stories of the Swords
The Dragon Sword has always been more than steel. In-game, it’s the ancestral blade passed down through the Dragon Lineage for generations.,
Combined with the Eye of the Dragon, a sacred jewel granted to Ryu by his childhood friend Kureha, the blade now displays its full power, transforming into the “True Dragon Sword.” With this legendary blade in hand, Ryu has purged the encroaching forces of evil and saved the world time and time again.
Yakumo’s Takeminakata has also been passed down through generations of the Raven Clan, who have actively collected cursed blades to utilize with Bloodbind Ninjutsu. Yakumo uses Bloodbind Ninjutsu to share the life force of blood with Takeminakata and the accursed armaments to maximize their destructive potential.
The Creation Process
Creating these blades in real life took months. Hundreds of hours. And no compromises. Each artisan at Masahiro Tantoujou Sword Forge approached their part of the process with the same dedication Ryu and Yakumo bring to battle — patience, discipline, and unwavering focus.
The result? Two swords that don’t just mirror their in-game counterparts — they embody them. When you see the Dragon Sword’s gleam or the Takeminakata’s raven feather-imbued blade, you’re not just looking at steel. You’re looking at the legacy of the Dragon Clan and the Raven clan, and the Master Ninjas that define Ninja Gaiden 4.
This collaboration is more than a celebration of a game. It’s where story meets steel, and where fantasy becomes something you can hold in your hands. Because in Ninja Gaiden 4, legends aren’t imagined — they’re forged.
NINJA GAIDEN 4 Preorder Deluxe Edition
Xbox Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
$89.99
Pre-order now to receive the Dark Dragon Descendant Yakumo Skin at launch
Experience a return to the intense, high-octane action of NINJA GAIDEN with the Deluxe Edition! The Deluxe Edition includes:
• NINJA GAIDEN 4 base game
• Future Gameplay Content “The Two Masters”*
• Traditional Dark Blue and Legendary Black Falcon Ryu Skins
• Blade of the Archfiend Ryu Weapon Skin
• Divine Chimera and Raven Master Yakumo Skins
• Divine Chimera Yakumo Weapon Set
• 50,000 Bonus NinjaCoin
• Additional In-Game Items such as Life Elixirs, Incense of Rebirth, Kongou Iron Brew, and more!
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.
*For release date when announced, see https://www.xbox.com/games/ninja-gaiden-4.
NINJA GAIDEN 4 Preorder Standard Edition
Xbox Game Studios
☆☆☆☆☆ 4
★★★★★
$69.99
Pre-order now to receive the Dark Dragon Descendant Yakumo Skin at launch
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.
What happens when a couple of Legobricks decide to chase their dreams of exploring space? You’ll find the answer in Lego Voyagers, the next brick-based adventure from the talented team at Light Brick Studio.
Light Brick has always been inspired by the Lego brick and the limitless ways it connects us – through storytelling, creativity, and the simple joy of building. Their debut title, Lego Builder’s Journey, invited players to create with bricks. With Lego Voyagers, they’re taking things one step further: this time, you don’t just build with the bricks, you become one.
Two Bricks are Better than One
In Lego Voyagers, you’ll tumble, jump and snap together as you explore a playful universe – and because bricks are always stronger when connected, the entire experience has been designed as a cooperative adventure. Whether online or side by side in couch co-op, you and a friend will solve challenging puzzles together, combining diverse thinking and the magic of teamwork to progress.
Because Lego Voyagers is fully cooperative, the team strived to make it as easy as possible to share. That’s why the game includes a Friend’s Pass – allowing you to invite a friend for free. For Light Brick, it’s a simple extension of their belief that play is best experienced together.
A Living, Buildable Universe
The world of Lego Voyagers is built from the same selection of Lego bricks you’d find in real life (1,694,756 to be exact – the devs counted) – meaning every structure you see could, in theory, be recreated with actual physical Lego bricks. This brick-built universe encourages curiosity and creativity with every tumble and snap. There’s rarely just one solution to a puzzle, instead players are encouraged to think outside of the box, experiment with different approaches, and discover surprising new outcomes. Rather than finding one straight answer, it’s more about enjoying the kind of open-ended play that the world of the Lego brand naturally inspires.
Storytelling Without Words
One of the most unique aspects of Lego Voyagers is how it communicates. The game tells its story entirely without dialogue (human dialogue, that is). Instead, the story relies heavily on visual cues, evocative music and environmental storytelling to guide players. In Lego Voyagers, Light Brick makes a point of visually establishing ideas before they’re needed, so that when players encounter a puzzle or narrative beat, it feels familiar and fair. This careful layering keeps the experience understandable without words while still leaving plenty of room for interpretation.
Composer Henrik Lindstrand – who also scored the critically acclaimed Lego Builder’s Journey – returns once again with a handcrafted soundtrack. This time, he expands his instruments to include his childhood Casio keyboard, giving the music a nostalgic coming-of-age feel. In Lego Voyagers, Lindstand works with recurring themes or leitmotifs that follow the characters and events, giving players a sense of familiarity and helps them connect emotionally with the story.
Lego Voyagers invites players to reflect, experiment, and form their own understanding of the story. The game asks open questions about friendship, connection, and how we navigate challenges together. Light Brick hopes these comments spark conversations long after the controller is set down. What does it mean to stay connected? How do we support each other when the path ahead isn’t always clear? The team doesn’t want to dictate the answers – and the game encourages players to find their own.
Looking Ahead
Lego Voyagers is playful, heartfelt, and true to the Lego brand. It’s a game about friendship, creativity and most of all – connection – built on a brand that has been inspiring players for generations. Lego Voyagers is out now! We can’t wait for players on the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One to set out on this journey together. Grab a friend, bring your curiosity and see what happens when a couple of bricks reach for the stars.
LEGO® Voyagers
Annapurna Interactive
☆☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
From the makers of LEGO® Builder’s Journey comes a new 2-player co-op adventure about friendship and play. When two friends make it their mission to rescue an abandoned spaceship, they embark on a journey beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately learning the value of being connected.
● Experience what it feels like to be a LEGO brick. Tumble, jump, snap together, and build your way through rich brick worlds.
● Unravel a poetic, non verbal narrative, set in beautiful brick built environments, supported by an atmospheric soundtrack.
● Cooperatively solve the game’s many challenges and discover how two bricks are better than one. Play locally on the same screen, or online.
● Invite a friend to join your adventure for free with the Friend’s Pass. As long as one of you owns LEGO Voyagers, you can both play the full co-op experience together.
LEGO Voyagers asks open questions about building friendships, sharing dreams, and giving space.
It reminds us that while playing and being creative is for all shapes and sizes, it’s always better when you share it with a friend.
The critically acclaimed RPG is coming January 22, 2026 to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC via the Microsoft Store.
Experience the story that changed gaming forever in a bold new way.
Step into Midgar – one of the most immersive and iconic videogame settings of all time.
Final Fantasy Remake Intergrade is coming to Xbox on January 22, 2026!
For many fans this is amazing news, but we realise there will be many players who have never experienced the world of Final Fantasy VII before. You’ve probably heard of the game, but you may be wondering: why is this such a big deal?
We will explain, but before we can talk about Final Fantasy Remake, we must discuss the legendary game that came before.
What is Final Fantasy VII?
1997 saw the release of a very special game: Final Fantasy VII. This RPG wasn’t just a critical and commercial hit – it was a literal gamechanger. Many credit it with popularizing the Japanese RPG across the West, especially since it was the first mainline Final Fantasy game to release outside of Japan or North America. For many players it was the first JRPG they ever played.
And what a place to start! Final Fantasy VII still stands as one of the greatest games in the genre. It had it all – an amazing story, brilliant command-based combat, incredible production values, unforgettable soundtrack and some of the most iconic characters in gaming. Even people who have never played the game will recognize the likes of Cloud and Sephiroth.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first game in a trilogy of full-length RPGs that reimagine this beloved game at a scale rarely seen in gaming. It offers an even deeper story, more insight into the characters and setting, new scenarios not featured in the original game, a fast-paced, modern combat system, an incredible soundtrack, and far more beyond.
If you’ve never experienced Final Fantasy VII before, it’s an amazing way to experience the story and characters that changed gaming forever. If you did play Final Fantasy VII the first time round, you’ll get to experience the world and its characters in a brand-new way.
Director Naoki Hamaguchi explains it best: “Our goal with Final Fantasy VII Remake was to capture everything that made the original game so special, but bring it up to date with the latest technology so that new players could be just as excited as players of the original game were when that released.
“For new players, this is where the story of Final Fantasy VII begins. If you’ve seen characters such as Cloud or Sephiroth in other games, and wondered where their story started, this is the game.”
The Story That Changed Gaming Forever
But what’s so memorable about that story? Well, here’s the basic setup.
The game takes place in Midgar – an industrial city controlled by the Shinra Electric Power Company. This immoral organisation uses massive reactors to suck mako from the planet – a substance used as a power source to give people comfortable lives, power the company’s weapons of war and more.
But mako is also the lifeblood of the planet, and the more Shinra uses, the more it harms the world.
The story begins when mercenary Cloud Strife joins the Shinra resistance group Avalanche on a mission to sabotage one of these planet-harming reactors. This dangerous mission sets off a chain of events that will change him and the city forever – and put him face to face with an enemy long thought dead: the sinister Sephiroth.
It’s a thrilling adventure, full of surprises that we don’t want to ruin here. But what really makes it stand out are the characters. The main cast of Cloud, Barret, Tifa and Aerith are some of the most beloved in gaming, and Final Fantasy VII Remake goes deeper into their personalities than ever before.
Even side characters get richer, more layered personalities – by the end of the game you’ll think of them as friends.
An Iconic Setting
Then there’s Midgar – the game’s iconic setting. It’s a cliché to say the city is like a character in its own right but… well, Midgar is like a character in its own right.
…what? Sometimes clichés can be right.
Known as the ‘City of Mako’, it’s a vast circular metropolis comprised of a top plate where the more well-to-do residents and Shinra employees live, and slums beneath which are… less pleasant.
Because of the top plate covering the sky, the people in the slums are forced to rely on artificial suns for light. Combined with the lifeless earth caused by the mako-sucking reactors, and mutated fiends that roam the wastelands between sectors, it’s a hard life for many who live there, but there’s life and community too.
It was an instantly memorable setting for the original game’s opening act, but Final Fantasy VII Remake brings Midgar to life like never before. With a full-length adventure set in this city, you get to really explore each area, get to know its people, and discover whole new parts of the city that weren’t in the original adventure.
Hamaguchi says that it was important that this city didn’t just look good – it also felt like a believable place: “At the start of development, the game designers and scenario writers created documents that detailed the setting and the world, including the economic status of the different regions.
This information was invaluable in helping us define which elements of the environment could be shared across areas, and which should be region-specific – right down to the ratio of text on the posters and the look and feel of the inhabitants in those areas!”
21st Century Combat
As you explore the city, you’ll encounter numerous threats – from snarling fiends to Shinra’s ample army of troopers and war machines.
Ironically, this is a good thing because it means there’s plenty of opportunities to battle – and Final Fantasy VII Remake has one of the best combat systems out there. It’s a hybrid system that combines elements of the original game with fast-paced action gameplay.
Here’s how it works: you attack, block and dodge in real time and as you do so, you’ll fill your ‘ATB’ gauge. Once it’s full, you can press a button to slow down the action and select a command for your fighter or their allies to carry out. Alternatively, you can set moves to shortcuts to unleash them without slowing down the action. It makes for fast-paced, exciting battles where skill and strategic thinking are both rewarded.
“We intentionally designed the game to be welcoming to all types of players – if you’re a fan of action games, or prefer something more tactical, there are different control modes that allow the game to be played to your preference,” Hamaguchi adds.
There are four playable characters (five including the extra episode’, and you can switch between party members instantly. Each one has their own very distinct playstyle, from Cloud’s quick and stylish swordplay, Tifa’s powerful single-target martial arts, Aerith’s magical might and Barret’s powerful ranged attacks.
Then there’s FF7R EPISODE INTERmission – a two-chapter tale that takes place concurrently with the main story. It focuses on ninja Yuffie Kisaragi – an excitingly agile fighter who offers another playstyle to dig into!
As you can hopefully see, Final Fantasy VII Remake is more than just a simple revisitation of a landmark game. It’s a boldly ambitious, incredibly high-quality and – most importantly – wildly entertaining adventure that’s a perfect introduction to this incredible world. We can’t wait for new players to discover it for themselves on Xbox – and take their first steps on an unforgettable journey.
Final Fantasy VII RemakeIntergrade launches January 22, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC via the Microsoft Store. Thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere, you can play the game across console, PC, even the new ROG Xbox Ally, picking up where you left off each time.
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
SQUARE ENIX
☆☆☆☆☆ 8
★★★★★
*Please note that FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE Digital Deluxe Edition contains certain items not available in this bundle.
The award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE* retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar, with breathtaking visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and additional story elements.
This RPG delivers unforgettable characters, a powerful narrative, and a hybrid battle system that blends real-time action with strategic, command-based combat.
It also includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a side story starring Yuffie Kisaragi that offers a fresh perspective running in parallel to Cloud’s journey.
■ STORY
Mako, the lifeblood of the planet, is also a highly valuable energy source.
The Shinra Electric Power Company exploits this essence, draining and refining it to fuel their reactors, and in doing so, has all but seized control of the world.
But resistance rises. A ragtag group of idealists, known as Avalanche, is determined to protect the planet.
In the city of Midgar, Cloud Strife, ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, joins Avalanche on their mission to blow up Reactor 1.
As the echo of the blast ripples through Sector 8, the city is set ablaze. In the flames, a fallen nemesis from Cloud’s past appears, challenging his memories and his identity.
Once more begins a story that will shape the destiny of the entire world.
*This game is a partial remake of FINAL FANTASY VII, first released in 1997. It is the first title in a multi-part series based on the original game. It reimagines the Midgar portion of the story with expanded scenes, new characters, and additional narrative layers.
■ FF7R EPISODE INTERmission
Play as Yuffie Kisaragi, a young ninja from Wutai, as she infiltrates Midgar on a mission to steal the ultimate materia from the Shinra Electric Power Company.
STUNNING VISUALS
Explore Midgar like never before with stunning visuals and richly detailed environments that bring the city’s layered, industrial districts to life, all while staying true to the spirit of the original game.
DYNAMIC COMBAT WITH STRATEGIC DEPTH
The innovative battle system combines strategic command-based gameplay with fast-paced action. Seamlessly switch between characters, harness the power of materia, summon iconic creatures, and unleash devastating limit breaks.
ICONIC CHARACTERS, UNFORGETTABLE STORY
Follow Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, as he joins Avalanche to take on the Shinra Electric Power Company. Cloud and his allies Barret, Tifa, and Aerith are pulled into a battle that will decide the fate of the planet.
EXPANDED CONTENT
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE offers quests, mini-games, and missions set in expanded areas of Midgar. Encounter new characters and experience exciting content that adds even more depth to the story.
ICONIC SOUNDTRACK
The epic soundtrack has been fully remastered, with re-arranged and orchestrated tracks that dynamically respond to the action, offering an immersive, emotionally charged musical experience.
■ Content included in this product
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE contains the following content:
– FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE full game
– FF7R EPISODE INTERmission (Episode featuring Yuffie Kisaragi)
– Weapon: Cacstar
– Armor: Midgar Bangle
– Armor: Shinra Bangle
– Armor: Corneo Armlet
– Accessory: Superstar Belt
– Accessory: Mako Crystal
– Accessory: Seraphic Earrings
– Summoning materia: Carbuncle
– Summoning materia: Chocobo Chick
– Summoning materia: Cactuar
*The additional weapons, armor, accessories and summoning materia can be obtained from the Gift Box accessible via the main menu.
*The weapon “Cacstar” can only be used in FF7R EPISODE INTERmission (Yuffie episode)
