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Minecraft Legends: A Major Update and a New Lost Legend

Boxville: How a Team of New Developers Created their First Game During Wartime

The year 2020 was tough in all meanings – COVID restrictions and business problems. Before we created Boxville, I tried to cope with all this stress by diving into immersive games, but not suspense ones, rather those which give a feeling of safety and coziness. Soon I realized that there are not so many anti-stress games around. Almost all of them brought you some drama, which was more than enough in my life. So I decided to make a game for myself and for those who needed the same. I needed a safe place to rest off all everyday stresses.

But what to start with if you have absolutely no experience in game development and even no connection to this sphere? I started by experimenting with Unity and with gathering a diverse team of unique specialists. Some members of our team came from the “previous life”, other ones were found by coincidence. The only thing which united us all – nobody had previous experience in game development. All processes looked like constant experiments with everything – from engine customization to animation creation and even sound recording. Everything was done as we felt right and not as it is common in the industry.

The first part from the concept creation till the demo release was challenging but fun, till the war came into our lives. War brutally broke in with huge blasts of Russian rockets right near our homes in the early morning on February 24, 2022. A new reality unfolded quickly: empty streets, long queues for food, and harsh curfews. All this was accompanied by constant blasts and gunfire.

Game development paused because our team was disrupted, someone had to move to safer regions, and someone lost their development equipment and regular workplace because of occupation. One month later, when we coped with the first shock, we decided to resume our workflow. Although sometimes it was not easy to motivate yourself to work especially as this work requires positive and creative energy, the process of creating something beautiful and contrasting with our new reality was a healing in itself. Also, one of the biggest supports in these hard times was our small but loyal community – we tried to keep them informed about the game development process and overall situation and they paid us back with their support and care.

Generally speaking, there were a lot of difficulties even without the war. Indie game developers do not have so many funding possibilities everywhere in the world, but in Ukraine, they are even more limited because there is no possibility to start a Kickstarter campaign from Ukraine, so you have to use some intermediaries to launch the campaign. Also, not all platforms are working with Ukrainian studios, and trying to get development equipment is another developer’s pain. As with all great stories, ours has a happy ending – we managed to create and release our game Boxville, despite all difficulties and obstacles and now we are happy to bring it to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on August 16, 2023. I hope Boxville will bring you a cozy and warm atmosphere and take your stress away.

Boxville

Triomatica Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$9.99

Get it now

Boxville is 2-in-1: an animated film and a puzzle game.

Boxville is an adventure puzzle game about speechless cans living in the city of boxes and drawing doodles on cardboards to tell the stories.
Boxville is good for playing alone to dive into the atmosphere and challenge your brain with sophisticated logic puzzles and riddles, or playing with a friend or family to share unique audio-visual experiences and solve the puzzles together.

Design
The core idea of the game is that it’s not just a game – but also an animated film that you can watch and play at the same time.
We designed Boxville’s gameplay with the purpose of taking away your anxiety and stress. You can explore and observe the world without rushing and pressure.
The game is full of environmental quests and logical puzzles that we have carefully picked from among hundreds of options.

Story
Boxville is a city of boxes populated with old cans. They live quiet and happy lives with their everyday routines and habits. But one day, unexplained earthquakes disturbed their idyll…
Blue Can (our hero) lost his best friend because of that. He started his search but it is not so easy to move through the city after earthquakes. He has to find a way to move forward, return the friend back home and discover the real reason for all those earthquakes. There are many adventures, new friends and it’s not only friends that are waiting for him on the way.
He has to be curious, inventive, careful, and to help others, to reach his goal.

Björka Madness Update: from Bunny Battle Nemeis to Tony and Clyde in the DCF Universe

Summary

Explore the crossover between Bunny Battle Nemesis and Tony and Clyde.
Dimension-crossing adventure and time-traveling quest.
A new level of excitement to both games in “Björka Madness”

The new update, called Björka Madness, showcases the boundless creativity of DCF Studios as we push the limits to create captivating stories and unforgettable experiences for indie game enthusiasts. Slicing and dicing thugs with a massive axe is not only super fun but also firmly rooted within the chronology of the DCF Universe, making it an essential addition to our cannon.

Let’s delve into the captivating world of the DCF Universe together. As a passionate member of our team, I am driven by the pursuit of crafting exceptional game experiences and narrating intriguing stories. This passion has culminated in the vast DCF Universe, where you can immerse yourself in intense combat in Cruz Brothers, engage in gunfights in Tony and Clyde, and now face hordes of enemies in the recently released Bunny Battle Nemesis Demo – a prelude to our upcoming title.

Each of these titles is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the DCF Universe, inviting you to uncover the myriad cross-content references and hidden Easter eggs scattered throughout. However, in this update, we bring the connection to the forefront – General Björka, a lead character from Bunny Battle Nemesis, makes a bold entry into Tony and Clyde.

Without divulging too much, the update takes us on an epic adventure, with General Björka crossing dimensions and traveling through time to face a new challenge – Her thirst for revenge against those who disturbed her beloved home in Bunny Battle Nemesis, drives the thrilling embedded narrative, intersecting with the events of Tony and Clyde’s encounters with the Vedetta’s Mob Family.

This time-traveling, dimension-crossing escapade not only offers an abundance of fun but also aligns perfectly with the chronological sequence of our Xbox title releases, enriching your engagement with the captivating extra content of the DCF Universe.

Are you ready to embark on this unique journey? Hunt down humans with a formidable Bunny General wielding an axe in Tony and Clyde Bjorka Madness – an experience that redefines the game!

Tony and Clyde

DCF Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
29

★★★★★

$9.99

$3.29

Get it now

People sometimes ask me who Tony and Clyde are. And I tell them:
They’re not simple thugs from the streets. But they’re not highly trained criminals or professional robbers, either.
NO WAY! There’s more to them than just that. You see.
Some like a bit of the good life: the big piles of money, the glamour of being reverenced in the streets.
Others are addicted to the adrenaline rush of an ongoing heist, combined with the smell of recently burned gunpowder, followed by the sound of empty shells falling on the ground.
While some simply enjoy watching the world burn, especially when they’re the ones with the empty can of gas in hand.
But Tony and Clyde are different.
Why?
Well, because Tony and Clyde want the whole package!

Suit Up for Madden NFL 24 Early with EA Play

Madden NFL fans: start the biggest Madden season early with Madden NFL 24! EA Play members can hop into a 10-hour trial of the game right now – three days before release. With early Madden NFL 24 access, you’ll experience new gameplay depth that delivers more control and realism on Xbox Series X|S through the next evolution of FieldSENSE, and the debut of SAPIEN Technology which makes characters more human and anatomically correct.

EA Play members can perfect their tackling skills by jumping into Madden NFL 24 now and earn member-only rewards, including a special Welcome Pack for Madden Ultimate Team – featuring four Elite Players – as well as recurring Ultimate Packs throughout the season.

In addition to Madden NFL 24, here are even more member content and rewards available now in EA Play:

Battlefield 2042 Lacuna Vehicle Skin – Now to September 1
Apex Legends Terminal Bliss Weapon Charm – Now to September 11
Apex Legends Resurrection Supercharge Pack – Now to September 11
Need for Speed Unbound Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 (2021) – Aug 16 to October 9
PGA TOUR EA Golf Polo Shirts – Now to September 20
NHL 23 WOC August Bag – Now to August 31
F1 23 5000 XP Boost – Now to August 31
FIFA 23 Futties Super Loan Pack – Now to August 21
FIFA 23 FUT Hero Jay-Jay Okocha Tifo Set – Now to August 31
FIFA 23 Pro Clubs Women’s Tournament Neck Tattoo – Now to August 31
FIFA 23 VOLTA Australia Outfit and Coins – Now to August 31
FIFA 23 FUT Season 8 XP Boost – Now to August 31
Madden NFL 24 MUT EA Play Welcome Pack – Available now!
Madden NFL 24 MUT EA Play August Pack – Now to August 31

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play at no additional cost with their Game Pass subscription. Members enjoy great player benefits, including in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, trials of select brand-new titles like F1 23 and Super Mega Baseball 4, access to a collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, and 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content.

Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.

Xbox Introduces Enforcement Strike System

Summary

Xbox’s new enforcement strike system educates players about enforcement severity, cumulative effect of multiple enforcements, and the total impact on their standing.
Players can receive a total of eight strikes; each strike remains on record for six months.
Each strike results in a suspension from Xbox’s social features for varying lengths of time.
Every player will begin with a blank slate, or zero strikes; previous enforcements must still be completed.

We are constantly improving our safety measures and bringing more systems and tools in place that empower players to respectfully interact with one another – because everyone deserves a place to comfortably be themselves online, free from harassment and bullying. One of the most common questions we get from players through feedback, posts, and appeals is how repeated enforcements impact their gameplay, how they escalate, what they escalate to, and how they know when their account is back in good standing. To help address this, we are introducing a new enforcement strike system.

The new system attaches strikes to every enforcement, ranging in severity based on inappropriate activity. Each player will now have a view of their enforcement history including strikes and the overall impact these have on their player record. This revised system gives players a better understanding of enforcement severity and the cumulative effect of multiple enforcements. Enforcement transparency is about giving players clarity into how their behavior impacts their experience. Our content moderation efforts are not changing as a result of the new enforcement strike system.

As always, when a player believes they have witnessed a violation of Xbox’s Community Standards, we encourage them to report. All reports are evaluated, there are no automated enforcement actions based solely on the fact that a report was made. No volume of inaccurate reports results in an enforcement. Only reports that have been reviewed by the Xbox Safety Team and determined to be accurate result in an enforcement.

With the new system, enforcements will also include strikes based on the severity of their actions. The system is similar to demerit strikes used in driver’s license systems in many countries. For example, a player that has received two strikes will be suspended from the platform for one day, whereas a player that receives four strikes will be suspended for seven days. Players have a total of eight strikes and, once reached, will be suspended from Xbox’s social features like messaging, parties and party chat, multiplayer and others for one year from the enforcement date. All strikes received stay on a player’s record for six months. Today, players will all begin with a blank slate, or zero strikes. Any previous enforcements, such as suspensions, must still be completed; new enforcements as of today will result in strikes.

With these changes, Xbox is evolving enforcement to focus on protecting players. This is why even suspended accounts remain functional for single-player experiences and players do not lose access to purchased content. However, for the most serious violations – including illegal activity – Xbox retains the ability to permanently suspend all functionality of an account including access to purchases.

In 2022, fewer than 1% of all players received a temporary suspension, and only 1/3 of those received a second. Our data shows us that players typically stop inappropriate behavior after one enforcement, quickly learning what is and is not acceptable based on the Xbox Community Standards and how to better engage on our platform. The strike system is designed to further empower players to engage positively and appropriately on Xbox and with the community. We’ll share data and updates in our bi-annual Transparency Report.

Below is a visual of what players will see in their enforcement history:

Like before, players will still have the ability to appeal eligible enforcements. Where applicable, if an enforcement is reversed, the corresponding strike will be removed. For more information, visit the FAQ on Xbox Support.

Below are some additional safety resources:

See your enforcement history
Join Xbox Ambassadors and become part of our community working to make gaming fun for everyone
Read our Xbox Community Standards
Read our latest Xbox Transparency Report
Remain informed on How to Report a Player and How to Submit a Case Review

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Sea of Stars, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Gris, and Firewatch

Sometimes you want a chill game that lets you explore sorrow (in game, I don’t want to explore sorrow IRL). Sometimes you want to explore wild environments while exploring mysteries, escaping flesh monsters, or even be the monster yourself. Some highly specific things you might want, and what a crazy happenstance, we’ve got just those games coming soon. Let’s take a look!

Available Today

Everspace 2 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S)
Step into the pilot seat in this fast-paced single-player space shooter where brutal challenges stand between you and epic loot. Embark on a sci-fi adventure where massive, handcrafted areas are packed with secrets, puzzles, and perils! Level up, craft, and loot better gear to survive on the edge of space.

Coming Soon

Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 17
Making a return to the Game Pass library, Firewatch is a single-player, first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio. You’ll explore a wild and unknown environment, facing questions and making choices that can build or destroy the only meaningful relationship you have.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 18
Available on day one with Game Pass: Take on the role of one of the notorious Slaughter family, or their victims, in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a third-person asymmetrical horror experience based on the groundbreaking and iconic 1974 horror film. Experience the mad and macabre for yourself in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Sea of Stars (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 29
Available on day one with Game Pass: Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

Gris (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 5
Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.

Play Starfield Up To 5-Days Early Starting September 1

Game Pass members can save up to 10% on the Starfield Premium Edition Upgrade and play up to 5-days early starting September 1 on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. Members who upgrade their Standard Edition to the Starfield Premium Edition also receive the Shattered Space Story Expansion upon release, the Constellation Skin Pack and access to the Starfield Digital Artbook and Original Soundtrack.

In Case You Missed It

Quake II (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Quake II is back with a vengeance with an all-new, enhanced release of id Software’s legendary 1997 shooter on Xbox! Battle the monstrous Strogg in blistering-fast single player and co-op shooter action or take your skills to the arena with online and local multiplayer. With upgraded graphics, modern updates, cross-play functionality and so much more, there’s no time to wait – experience the enhanced Quake II on Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC today. Read more about the release of Quake II on Xbox.

DLC / Game Updates

Madden NFL 24 Early Access Trial – Available now
You’ve got 10 hours to show ’em what you’re made of in Madden NFL 24 starting now. PC Game Pass or Ultimate members on Xbox Series X|S can experience the newest iteration of FieldSENSE, more realistic character movement, and smarter AI. Plus, members can unlock the EA Play Welcome Pack.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Overwatch 2 New Heroes Starter Pack – Available Now
New adventures await! This bundle includes instant access to Sojourn, Junker Queen, Kiriko, Ramattra, Lifeweaver, and our newest hero Illari. Each of these heroes will come with a Legendary skin and other in-game cosmetics. This Perk requires Overwatch 2 to use.

Madden NFL 24 MUT Welcome Pack – Available Now
Try Madden NFL 24 and claim your EA Play MUT Welcome Pack to upgrade your Ultimate Team with new players!

Fallout 76 Lunchtime Bundle – Available August 17
Prepare to face the dangers of the Wasteland with these useful tools for survival and unlock new perks with Perk Packs. This pack includes: Perk Packs, Repair Kits, Carry Weight Boosters, Lunchboxes, and Scout’s Banners. Requires Fallout 76 base game.

Leaving August 31

The following games will be leaving the Game Pass library soon, which makes it a good time to wrap up where you may have left off or jump in fresh. Be sure to use your membership discount to save up to 20% off to keep them in your library!

Black Desert (Cloud and Console)
Commandos 3 – HD Remaster (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Immortality (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Nuclear Throne (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Surgeon Simulator 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Tinykin (Cloud, Console, and PC)

That’s a wrap! Stay tuned on social at @XboxGamePassPC and @XboxGamePass for more games. Catch you next time!

Everspace 2: “Everyone Gets a Better Game Because of Xbox Game Pass”

Until one of us masters the art of interstellar travel, humans will always have an innate curiosity about space. We pore over fictional portrayals of astral colonization and visualize futures where Earth is just one port of call on our starlit adventures.

The standard view of a sequel is that it’ll do what the first game did, but bigger. Everspace 2 is different.

Yes, like the first game, this is a third-person, space-based looter-shooter. But where Everspace was a roguelike, Everspace 2 is full, open-world action-RPG. Everspace focused on short runs through increasingly difficult trials – Everspace 2 boasts a 30-hour campaign. Everspace was all-action – Everspace 2 has a more expansive mood, preserving those bursts of combat but slotting in gentler exploration, trading and story beats.

Games just don’t make this kind of shift very often, especially when the originals had already built a loving fanbase. So why did developer Rockfish decide to make such a drastic change? Ahead of the game’s launch on Xbox Series X|S on August 15, we had the opportunity to sit down with Rockfish CEO, Michael Schade to discuss the studio’s ambitious move, how it was always part of their plan, and how Game Pass helped it become a reality.

Schade tells us that the decision to build the original Everspace as a roguelike was driven by two main factors – creative direction, and resources.

“When we made the first Everspace, we actually didn’t have the budget to really follow the vision that we had to make an open-space action RPG,” Schade tells us. “We delivered on that vision, but it was a compromise.”

Fortunately, the success of Everspace allowed Rockfish to craft a prototype for Everspace 2, and really lean into the open-world approach that the team had envisioned for the first game. With more emphasis on exploration, the roguelike elements made less sense, according to Schade.

“Everspace has a procedurally generated course that you have to follow, and if you stick around too long in one place, a giant battleship jumps in and makes sure you either move on or you die,” Schade explains. “In Everspace 2, you can go to other star systems, you can go back, take it at your own pace, and nobody is chasing you.”

The roguelike element also made it more difficult to tell a compelling story. In Everspace, your character is a clone pilot, and every time they die as part of the game’s loop, there is a narrative explanation for dying. In Everspace 2, there is a cohesive story between characters that unfolds as you play, and things to discover in each of the game’s areas.

“We start with a typical space setting, there are a few space stations, there are some asteroids, the stuff that you would expect,” Schade says. “Then you move into the next system, Union, which has these gigantic trading hubs and you can immediately tell there’s more going on.

“If you go to the system Drake, which we brought into Xbox Game Preview, you will see water planets, ice planets, and lava planets. We wanted to make sure that wherever you are in Everspace 2, you have a distinct feeling of being in a different place.”

We wanted to make sure that wherever you are in Everspace 2, you have a distinct feeling of being in a different place.”

Space For Everyone

Everspace 2 is a third-person, open-world looter shooter that puts you in control of a sleek spaceship, with a selection of galactic locations to explore. Throughout its 30-hour campaign, you can customize your ship, purchase upgrades, and tweak its capabilities to suit your playstyle. The game draws comparisons to other space simulators; from the classic Windows dogfighting escapade Freelancer to modern, monumental management experiences like Star Citizen.

However, what sets Everspace 2 apart from similar games of its ilk is its approachability. It’s not devoid of choice and responsibility, but it makes those processes digestible for those that want to experience customizability without being bogged down in complex management systems.

Everspace 2‘s controls are extremely intuitive, especially while playing with a controller. Flying your ship feels fluid, whether you’re cruising through a vast void or navigating through a small tunnel system. You can access all of the important functions at the click of a button without having to flick through bulky menus or memorise a series of button pushes.

“Accessibility was very, very high on our list because there are fantastic space sims out there already, and we didn’t want to do something that somebody else had done already,” Schade explains. “We wanted to have this feeling of intense space combat and deep exploration but make it very easy to dive in and really get as lost in the world as possible.”

Rockfish arrived at this moment prepared – Schade always had a console port in mind, so the UX was designed to accommodate controller users, whether they’re playing on PC or on a console.

Schade notes the ongoing appetite for high-end, complex space sims, and points out that it’s an extremely ambitious genre and the list of features is demanding, especially for a smaller studio. Space game fans crave a bit of everything, he says; they want trading, shipbuilding, base building, and exploration to name a few aspects, spread across huge interstellar distances. Then there’s the planetary element – every explorable area has to be unique and offer a reason to go there.

“There are so many constraints you have to keep in mind, especially on the technical side of things,” Schade says. “I don’t want to say it’s impossible, but in games that are handcrafted, it takes so much development time and resources to make it happen.

“I understand from a user point [of view] that it would be great to have it all. So this is why we made some deliberate choices to focus the gameplay on what happens on the planets and in orbit.”

Everspace 2 isn’t looking to rival any other games out there. You might say it actually serves as a gateway into the genre, an easygoing, exciting story set in a sci-fi world that might encourage a player to hop into a similar game later down the line.

“The more space games there are and the bigger the variety, that’s better for all of us,” Schade says. “You can play one space game after the other because they always bring something different to the table.”

The choice to hone in on specific elements does not mean Everspace 2 was compromised in any way – quite the opposite. The success of the original Everspace, plus a partnership with ID@Xbox meant the game had access to more time and resources than might otherwise have been possible. The Rockfish team was even able to add one additional year to their development plans thanks to working with Xbox and launching on Game Pass.

“Ironically, not only is it good for Xbox and PC users, it’s also good for players on other platforms: everyone gets a better game because of Xbox Game Pass,” Schade tells us. “The extra funding helps us stay independent, and we can deliver the game when we think it’s ready – and it is.”

Everspace 2 launches on Xbox Series X|S tomorrow and is available to play with Game Pass.

EVERSPACE™ 2

ROCKFISH Games

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

Get it now

PC Game Pass

EVERSPACE™ 2 is a fast-paced single-player spaceship shooter with worthwhile exploration in space and on planets, tons of loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting. Experience a thoughtful sci-fi story, set in a vivid, handcrafted open world full of secrets, puzzles, and perils.

In the campaign, you will make some friends with their own story to tell. They will join you on side missions and provide certain benefits in the endgame, where vicious encounters and brutal challenges will stand between you and that next epic loot drop.

EMBARK ON AN EXCITING JOURNEY
Discover alien species, unveil mysteries, find hidden treasures, and defend your valuables against outlaw gangs. But don’t get cocky: there will be some high-risk/high-reward areas waiting for you where grabbing that ultra-special gear and getting out alive will require some serious piloting skills and all your talent for improvisation.

LET THE LASERS DO THE TALKING
Annihilate your foes the EVERSPACE™ way: Dodge, dash, roll, and boost guns blazing into frantic dogfights, leaving only a trail of space scrap behind. Use a wide range of weaponry and abilities to defeat a large variety of opponents like drones, fighters, heavy bombers, and powerful gunships all the way to massive capital vessels. Always look around and use your environment to your advantage, and gain the upper hand even if you are outnumbered.

MAKE THE WORLD YOUR OWN
Enter the world of EVERSPACE and explore it at your leisure. Cluster 34 is brimming with main and side missions, activities, events and secrets to be uncovered. So fire up your hyperdrive and shape your legacy among the stars.

HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY
Expand your private ship collection from a virtually endless supply of ships, composed of various unique ship classes and optimize your build to perfection. Cleverly combine modules, weapons, devices, and perks to fit your individual playstyle and the current objective.

EPIC LOOT AWAITS
Hunt for the next better gear and be ready to constantly re-evaluate your current setup. Look for loot that fits your playstyle but be willing to leave your comfort zone and try something new. Be ready to find and exploit synergistic effects between equipment, perks, devices, and ships to fully maximize their potential.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES
Roam the world looking for the best deals on certain commodities, becoming the part-time trader you always wanted to be. However, prices will vary based on supply and demand, so you better check about the latest offerings before you set course to the next trading station. Always be on the look-out against ambushes during interstellar travel.

Game-Themed Anime to Watch on Crunchyroll After Redeeming the Game Pass Ultimate Perk

As we recently announced, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now get 75-days free of Crunchyroll Mega Fan, a premium subscription for the global anime brand. However, with over 1,300 titles in the catalog, which ones should you watch first?

With that question in mind, we scoured the archives for shows that Xbox players will want to start watching now – these are gaming-themed animations and can serve as a great entry point into the otaku world.

Animes Based on Game Franchises

Persona 5 The Animation – Episodes: 28

‘Persona 5 The Animation’ follows the same story as the game, featuring the teenager Ren Amamiya, who lives a normal life in Tokyo during the day but roams the city at night with his group of friends, the Phantom Thieves, as they awaken entities known as Personas. They enter the minds of corrupt and malevolent individuals to change their hearts.

Fans of the series can also watch the anime ‘Persona 4 The Golden Animation’, an adaptation of the game with the same name, currently available on Game Pass, as is Persona 5 Royal.

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a – Episodes: 12 (season one)

An adaptation of the acclaimed action game Nier: Automata, which depicts planet Earth in a distant future where humanity has taken refuge on the Moon after an invasion of mechanical alien beings. The anime presents its own interpretation of the game’s events, with some changes to the plot, but still revolves around the android soldiers 2B and 9S, who are on Earth to investigate mysterious phenomena. The first season has recently concluded, with a second season already announced.

Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai – Episodes: 101

‘The Adventures of Dai’ is not based on any particular game, but it contains many elements found in iconic JRPG franchise, Dragon Quest. It follows the story of Dai, a human who lives among monsters who has his life changed when an ancient Dark Lord is resurrected, leading him to become a warrior with the mission of saving the world.

The anime will also serve as inspiration for a new game in the Dragon Quest series; Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventures of Dai will be released later this year on Xbox and Windows PC.

Anime with a Gaming Theme

Just because an anime isn’t an adaptation of a famous franchise doesn’t mean it can’t also be about video games. The following titles uses gaming culture as a backdrop to tell their stories:

New Game! – Episodes: 24

This anime presents a situation that is not often explored, showing the daily life of a game development studio through the eyes of the protagonist Suzukaze Aoba, a rookie artist who joins the team working on the sequel to her favorite game, the fictional Fairies Story 3.

Gamers! – Episodes: 12

The story of ‘Gamers!’ revolves around a group of students who come together out of their passion for video games in a school club. With plenty of humor, the animation focuses on the different types of relationships each of them has with the hobby, whether it’s a competitive spirit or simply to spend time having fun.

How to Redeem the Crunchyroll Mega Fan Subscription with Game Pass Ultimate Perk

Game Pass Ultimate members who are new or returning to Crunchyroll Mega Fan will be eligible to claim the 75-day free trial (not valid for previous trial users in the past year) through the Perks gallery on their Xbox console, on the Xbox app for Windows PC, or through the Xbox Game Pass mobile app on iOS and Android. Once the Perk is claimed, members will be directed to the Crunchyroll site to activate their subscription. Make sure you claim this offer by October 20, 2023!

This Week on Xbox: Battles, Brawls, Bros, and Bandicoots

Crash Team Rumble is Available to Try for Free

Summary

The newest Crash Bandicoot game is available to all Xbox players via a Free Trial – available now!
Choose from fan favorite characters Crash, Coco, or Dingodile, and take the fight online with friends and foes in public or private matches.
Unlock new cosmetics, progress through the Free Season 1 Battle Pass, and carry over your progress to the full game if you upgrade.

An All-New Spin on Crash is available to try absolutely free for a limited time! From August 11 – August 14, download the Crash Team Rumble Free Trial and jump into chaotic 4v4 Wumpa Fruit collecting madness. Play with your friends and foes alike in either public competitive matches, or private matches, and race to be the first team to collect and bank enough Wumpa to claim victory!

Pick from Crash Bandicoot Series Favorites

For newcomers to Crash Team Rumble, this team-based competitive platformer features heroes and villains from the Crash universe, all with unique playstyles and abilities. In the Free Trial, players can choose from Crash, Coco, or Dingodile, who fit into the unique categories of Scorer, Booster, and Blocker respectively.

Crash is an All-Rounder character who is easy to pick up and play. With fast movement and high Wumpa capacity, he helps the team pick up and score Wumpa Fruit in a flash. Coco is a Booster, meaning she’s a supportive character for the team. As Coco, players use her Quantum Wall ability to zone enemies out of locations, while also capturing Gem Pads that boost the team’s score. Finally, there’s Dingodile, a powerhouse Blocker who excels at knocking out opponents and defending your team’s Wumpa Bank.

While there are even more Heroes available in the full game, the Free Trial is a great opportunity to try each unique role, and see what playstyle fits you!

Equip Game Changing Powers

Each Hero can be equipped with a Power that further customizes their moves and abilities. In the Free Trial, players can use either the Flytrap Spitter or the Healing Fridge.

The Flytrap Spitter is a helpful plant buddy that fires projectiles at any opponents that enter its line of sight. If an enemy is hit, they’re slowed down for a period of time, making these a huge annoyance for any would-be attackers on your team’s Wumpa Bank!

The Healing Fridge supports the team by providing healing for any teammates who walk into its area of effect. Whether you’re a Blocker who needs a bit of extra healing to survive on the enemy Wumpa Bank, or a Scorer who wants to stay alive to capture a huge Wumpa haul, it’s a great tool to keep your team in the fight longer!

There are even more Powers available in the full game, which can be unlocked by earning Badges while playing. While the other Powers aren’t available in the Free Trial, any progression you make during the Free Trial carries over upon purchase of the Standard or Deluxe Edition!

Carry Over Progression into the Full Game

Season 1 is currently live, which features a completely free 100-Tier Premium Battle Pass (must be redeemed by September 12, 2023). Full of unique cosmetics, skins, banners, music, and more, players can customize the look of their Heroes with a wealth of quirky and stylish accessories! In addition, Heroes and Powers can be unlocked by earning Badges while playing in Competitive matches. New Heroes and Powers cannot be selected during the Free Trial, however any players who upgrade to the full game will carry over their unlocks and progression, allowing them to instantly play with any new Heroes or Powers available.

Season 1 Continues to Rawk with New Hero N. Gin

Earlier this summer saw the explosive release of Ripper Roo, a long-time Crash villain with a penchant for TNT and mayhem. That’s not all for Season 1 however, as Dr. N. Gin, a jetpack-powered Booster, will also be making his Crash Team Rumble debut! Support your team by activating Relic Stations, capturing Gem Pads, and bringing the beatdown to the opposing team. While N. Gin is not available in the Free Trial, he’ll be releasing soon for all Crash Team Rumble players as Season 1 continues, making this the perfect time to drop in.

The Crash Team Rumble Free Trial is available today for the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. For more information, head to the official Crash Bandicoot site and be sure to follow @CrashBandicoot on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok for more news and updates.

Crash Team Rumble™ – Deluxe Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
32

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

This Edition includes:

– Crash Team Rumble™ for Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S
– Premium Battle Pass Unlock for Seasons 1 + 2*
– Digital Proto Pack. Includes:
— 8 ‘Blocky’ hero skins
— ‘Pixelated’ Shadow
— ‘Get On My Level’ In-Game Victory Music
— ‘Blocky’ Hat
— ‘Blocky’ Backpack
— ‘Blocky’ Score FX
— Unique Banner
– 25 Tier Instant Unlock for Season 1 Premium Battle Pass*

Get ready to dash, jump, slide, and bounce into an all-new way to Crash.

Crash Team Rumble™ takes Crash Bandicoot™ in a brand new direction, placing the series’ iconic heroes and villains into a 4v4 team-based competition. Players will duke it out across diverse and dangerous maps as both teams race to be the first team to collect and bank enough Wumpa fruit to claim victory! Rise as a hero, or feed your inner villain across a wild and N.Sane cast of characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities. Teamwork is integral to every match, as players must work together to battle the opposing team, defend their own Wumpa Bank, and capture key points around the map to boost their score.

There’s more to come for Crash Team Rumble™, with additional heroes, modes, maps, rewards, and more coming soon!

*Limited time only. Season 1 Premium Battle Pass and 25 Tier Instant Unlock must be redeemed by September 12, 2023. Season 2 Premium Battle Pass (or equivalent version) must be redeemed by December 4, 2023. Season dates subject to change.

Activision account and internet connection required. Online Multiplayer on console requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold (subscription sold separately).

For more information, please visit www.crashbandicoot.com for more details.

© 2023 Activision Publishing Inc. ACTIVISION, CRASH TEAM RUMBLE, CRASH BANDICOOT and CRASH are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.

Crash Team Rumble™ – Standard Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
35

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

This Edition includes:

– Crash Team Rumble™ for Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S
– Premium Battle Pass Unlock for Season 1*

Get ready to dash, jump, slide, and bounce into an all-new way to Crash.

There’s more to come for Crash Team Rumble™, with additional heroes, modes, maps, rewards, and more coming soon!

*Limited time only. Season 1 Premium Battle Pass must be redeemed by September 12, 2023. Season dates subject to change.

Activision account and internet connection required. Online Multiplayer on console requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold (subscription sold separately).

For more information, please visit www.crashbandicoot.com for more details.