Free Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and Wreckfest

Free Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and Wreckfest

Ah snap, here we go again with tons to play this weekend with Free Play Days! Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition (Console + PC with XPA) is available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday November 13 until Sunday, November 16.

Grand Theft Auto Online (Series X|S) is free for all Xbox members to try from November 11 until November 17 (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required). New to GTA Online? Find out where to get started here.

Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story and Wreckfest are free for all Xbox members to try during Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential membership not required).


How To Start Playing


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


Keep The Fun Going


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


Free Play Days (Game Pass Membership Required)


Xbox Play Anywhere

Train Sim World® 6: Standard Edition

Dovetail Games


47


$49.99

$34.99

Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Expect the Unexpected in Train Sim World 6! Face new challenges as you master the tracks and trains across 3 new routes. Brand-new gameplay includes Train Faults and Random Events with new locomotives and units on routes encompassing stunning British coastline, busy Leipzig and suburban New Jersey as well as the ability to bring your existing Train Sim World collection with you. Save 30% until 23rd November!


Free Play Days For All


Grand Theft Auto Online (Xbox Series X|S)

Rockstar Games


670

Xbox Game Pass

Grand Theft Auto Online
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Play GTA Online for free now through November 17 and experience the dynamic and ever-evolving online universe where you can rise from street-level hustler to become a kingpin of your own criminal empire. Get started with GTA$4,000,000 in the Career Builder, enjoy stunning visuals with three detailed graphics modes, and all the latest content playable solo or with friends.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Rubber Bandits

Flashbulb


243


$9.99

$1.99

Rubber Bandits
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
Rubber Bandits throws 1-4 players into a wild party brawler to steal, smash, and scavenge as much cash as you can! Prepare for hilarious physics-based combat with wacky weapons and a huge lineup of criminal characters.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Soccer Story

No More Robots


211

$19.99

Soccer Story
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere
The world might as well be over Soccer Inc. has closed every local stadium, team and tournament. What kind of world can survive without the beautiful game? Thankfully a magical soccer ball has chosen you, our Savior of Soccer! Grab your ball and boots, then save soccer for free now as part of Xbox Free Play Days!


Wreckfest

THQ Nordic


399


$29.99

$11.99
Xbox Game Pass
Free Trial

Wreckfest
Break the rules and take full-contact racing to the limit with Wreckfest! Expect epic crashes, neck-to-neck fights over the finish line and brand-new ways for metal to bend – These are the once-in-a-lifetime moments that can only be achieved in Wreckfest, with its true-to-life physics simulation crafted by legendary developer Bugbear, who also brought you FlatOut 1 & 2! Burn rubber and shred metal in the ultimate driving playground!


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

The post Free Play Days – Grand Theft Auto Online, Rubber Bandits, Soccer Story, Train Sim World 6: Standard Edition and Wreckfest appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Walmart’s Pokémon TCG Black Friday Drops Start Today, Here’s What’s Up for Grabs

Heads up, Pokémon TCG collectors, as another hot limited-time drop is hitting Walmart as part of its early Black Friday sales (that are starting today!)

Whilst it’s going to be hell catching these deals, paid Walmart+ members will get five hours of early access; music to the ears of any fellow Pokémon trainers, I’m sure.

So what’s up for grabs? From Nov. 13, 4 pm PT / 7 pm ET, Walmart will open the floodgates for three Pokémon TCG Special Collection boxes for Walmart+ members.

Outside of preordering new sets, it’s next to impossible to find Pokémon TCG products like these at market value, never mind MSRP, so this deal isn’t to be missed and is well worth getting a Walmart+ membership for.

Selling for $24.99, at MSRP, each box contains eight booster packs and features three foil promo cards that differ depending on the set you pick up: Snorlax ex + Blissey ex, Greninja ex + Kinggra ex, or Incineroar ex + Torterra ex.

If you’re not already a member, it’s admittedly a slight drag that you’ll essentially have to add the membership cost onto the price to pick this up and avoid the eye-waterlingly high resale prices, but needs must.

It’s $12.95 per month, or you can opt for an annual membership which is half off right now, and down to $49, previously $98. That’s not a bad deal at all, and includes a whole lot more than just early access to Pokémon cards. So make sure to get that boxed off and logged in ASAP to avoid missing out on this top Black Friday deal.

Best Pokémon Cards To Chase From These Sets

Whilst I wish you all the luck in the world, the chances of pulling top chase cards from these boosters is ridiculously difficult.

If you’re like me and don’t have the money to spend on endless sealed product, you’ll likely savew money in the long run just buying your chase cards instead.

Here’s the top five you could pull from these boxes, complete with where to buy links and up-to-date market value information.

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN.

MacVulpes InCulkin stares at a guy spitting blood, as Fallout season 2’s latest trailer sets up many family searches

Ok, before you get angry, all I know is that the Home Alone guy’s playing someone either in Caesar’s Legion or who dresses as a member of Caesar’s Legion, not that he’s nailed on to be wolf hat bloke. I just liked the headline. Now that disclaimer’s out of the way, Amazon’s Fallout TV series has gotten another trailer ahead of its December 17th debut.

As previous trailers have outlined, this chain of episodes is set in NEW VEGAS. That’s NEW VEGAS, the setting of obscure 2010 RPG Fallout: NEW VEGAS. There are characters, factions and things from NEW VEGAS, which the established cast will be interacting with because they’re heading to NEW VEGAS. Capische?

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Red Dead Redemption Coming to Nintendo Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, New Rating Suggests

Rockstar’s cowboy classic Red Dead Redemption is now cleared for launch on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

A new ESRB rating has popped up for Red Dead Redemption on modern consoles (where it will come rated M for Mature, due to blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content and use of drugs).

The rating also mentions “zombies”, likely referring to the games’ beloved Undead Nightmare expansion — so fans should probably expect this to come too.

Rockstar is yet to make this new version of Red Dead Redemption official, but it does now have 12 months to fill since the most recent delay to Grand Theft Auto 6 — which is now slated for launch November 19, 2026.

Originally released back in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Red Dead Redemption is now also officially available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PC. Of course, you can play the PS4 version on PS5 (and the Xbox 360 version on Xbox Series X/S) but no native version for modern consoles exists, yet.

(Of course, no modern console version of Red Dead Redemption 2 exists yet either, but one thing at a time.)

Earlier this month, Rockstar was criticized by fans and employees alike after it fired more than 30 staff it said had leaked confidential company details. Workers organized a physical protest outside Rockstar offices in response, and more than 200 employees signed an open letter that alleged the job losses were an attempt at union busting.

All fired staff are believed to have been members of the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) union members, organized via an external Discord channel. This week, the IWGB confirmed it had filed a legal claim against Rockstar — to which the company is yet to respond.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

220 Rockstar staff sign letter to management calling for “immediate reinstatement” of fired workers

Over 200 staff at GTA 6 developers Rockstar North have signed a letter to management calling for the “immediate reinstatement” of 31 workers fired recently by the company. Rockstar claimed they fired these staffers for “gross misconduct”, subsequently accusing them of sharing confidential info publicly. UK union the IWGB, of which the fired staff were members, have accused Rockstar of union busting and filed legal claims against the company.

The union have also held protests outside Rockstar North and Take-Two’s UK offices.

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Pokémon Pokopia Trailer Showcases Animal Crossing-Style Gameplay — Plus A Mysterious Pale Pikachu, Mossy Snorlax and Professor Tangrowth

An extended trailer for Pokémon Pokopia has offered a deep dive into the upcoming Animal Crossing-like life sim, and a curious first-look at some all-new Pokémon designs.

The start of the game will see you help out an original character, Professor Tangrowth, who seems to be Pokopia’s main quest giver. This looks to be a unique-colored Tangrowth in an outfit, rather than a new regional form.

Weirder still, however, are a ghostly pale version of regular Pikachu, and a mossy Snorlax that has a pale flower growing out of his head. Again, these are not specified to be new regional forms, but the trailer deliberately leaves it unclear exactly what these new designs are meant to suggest.

Over on the freshly-updated Pokémon Pokopia website, these creatures are given character names, though still appear to be based on the species’ regular forms. For example, “Mosslax” is described thus: “Moss has grown all over this Snorlax, and a flower sways atop its head. How long has it been asleep?”

Amid the ruins of an old town, Prof Tangrowth and other creatures soon give your main character quests to tame the world’s landscape using Pokémon abilities, create new environments to attract more Pokémon, and so on.

Once you’re up and running, multiple Pokémon can work together on more complicated projects, such as building houses and other ameneties like fountains.

As well as copying other Pokémon abilities (Water Gun from Squirtle, for example, to water plants), you can fully transform into a couple of species to help you travel around quicker. You can surf by transforming into Lapra, and fly by transforming into Dragonite, for example.

Multiplayer for up to four people is supported, as is GameShare — allowing you to play with others who don’t have the game themselves on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

Earlier this week, Nintendo confirmed Pokémon Pokopia’s March 5, 2026 release date and surprised fans by revealing it would be the first Nintendo-published game physically released via Switch 2 Game-Key card.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Assetto Corsa Rally looks the part as it heads into early access, but I’ve found its driving a numb struggle

If you sit and look at one of Assetto Corsa Rally’s gorgeously-rendered Alfa Romeos, Lancias, or Fiats in the car preview screens, there’s a palpable elegance and beauty to their forms.

Sadly, anyone watching me attempt to wrestle them through the Welsh woods or along tight stretches of French tarmac over the course of six hours so far would have rarely seen any elegant or beautiful driving. There are times, especially in long sweeping turns, when things start to feel as satisfying as they should. Most of the time though, Assetto Corsa Rally with a wheel feels a lot like you’re skating on ice, rather than the gravel and tarmac it currently offers.

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Pokémon Pokopia Reveals “Peculiar” New Forms In Extended 10-Minute Trailer

Meet Peakychu, Mosslax, and Smearguru.

Today we got an in-depth look at Pokémon Pokopia, the upcoming Switch 2 exclusive which launches on 5th March 2026.

And the Extended Trailer didn’t skimp on details; in Pokopia, you’ll be teaming up with Professor Tangrowth to help restore an island that was once populated by people and Pokémon. That involves rebuilding structures, watering the grass, setting up fishing rods, laying rocks, grass, and flowers, and tons more.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Sacred 2 Remaster: Behind the Scenes of A Legendary RPG

Sacred 2 Remaster: Behind the Scenes of A Legendary RPG

Summary

  • Sacred 2 Remaster is coming to Xbox Series X|S on November 11, 2025.
  • Set in the sprawling fantasy world of Ancaria, Sacred 2 offered a unique RPG adventure full of unique characters and stories.
  • Find out how the remaster aims to honor the original game’s legacy while building a modern experience for new and returning players.

Sacred 2 is an action RPG that first made its debut in the early 2000s, quickly earning a loyal following for its ambitious world and distinct personality. It offered a massive, seamless map filled with sprawling towns, dense forests, scorching deserts, and perilous dungeons—all ripe for exploration. Its roster of diverse characters came with rich backstories and unique combat styles that set it apart from other RPGs of its time.

But what truly made Sacred special was its tone. It wasn’t afraid to be funny, mixing dark fantasy with tongue-in-cheek humor and quirky charm. Players could customize their combat arts to match their playstyle, and the innovative Light and Shadow campaigns let you experience the story from two opposing sides, depending on your character’s alignment. Sacred 2 was rough around the edges, but fans embraced its imperfections—and over time, it became a beloved cult classic.

All of this is why today’s news feels especially meaningful: Sacred 2, the iconic RPG, is now available on Xbox Series X|S for the very first time. This marks a major milestone—not just for the franchise, but for the millions of fans who’ve called Ancaria home for over two decades.

At its core, Sacred 2 is more than a game—it’s a piece of modern art. Video games are one of the most powerful storytelling mediums of our time, and this remaster is our tribute to that legacy. It’s a love letter to the fans, a celebration of 20 years of adventure, and a promise that the world of Ancaria will continue to evolve.

Bringing Sacred 2 to life on today’s platforms has been a technical challenge, but one the team has embraced wholeheartedly. Our team rebuilt the game engine from the ground up to ensure a smooth, immersive experience across all devices. Xbox players will enjoy the same rich gameplay as PC players previously experienced.

This remaster isn’t just a visual upgrade. It’s a celebration of everything that made the original Sacred unforgettable: the humor, the chaos, and of course, the Blind Guardians. We’ve preserved the soul of the game while enhancing it for a new generation of players While we couldn’t include everything from the community patches over the years, we did our best to include material that added to the player experience where possible.

We placed a lot of importance and effort on making the experience smooth for Xbox players- regardless of if players enjoyed the game 20 years ago or are brand new to the franchise. Our graphics have stayed true to the original to preserve the original look and feel of the game. We’re excited to welcome the community back to Ancaria, and we’re committed to supporting the title post launch. Our future updates will be influenced by community support and feedback, and we’re looking forward to the future of Sacred.

Sacred 2 Remaster launches today, and is available on Xbox Series X|S.

Sacred 2 Remaster

THQ Nordic GmbH


33

$29.99

Ancaria stands on the brink. T-Energy, the mysterious power source that once brought prosperity, now fuels corruption, conflict, and chaos. In the midst of war and betrayal, six heroes rise — each with their own fate, abilities, and path through a living, breathing open world.

In this remaster of the beloved action RPG Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, players return to a massive fantasy realm filled with hundreds of quests, dangerous dungeons, and unique combat arts to master. Battle monstrous creatures, uncover ancient secrets, and shape your character through loot, leveling, and deep customization.

With refined combat mechanics, a modern UI, full controller support, and all expansions included, the remaster brings new life to a fan-favorite — whether you’re revisiting Ancaria or setting foot in it for the first time.

Forge your legend. The fate of Ancaria awaits.

The post Sacred 2 Remaster: Behind the Scenes of A Legendary RPG appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Death Stranding Anime Series Confirmed for Disney+ in 2027, Concept Art by Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 Character Designer Released

An all-new original animated series based on Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding series is coming to Disney+. It has the working title of Death Stranding Isolations.

Announced today, November 13, the series will “bring to life a new story based on the award-winning Death Stranding video game to life for audiences across the world” in 2027. Kojima was joined by series director Takayuki Sano to announce the partnership with Disney+, and shared concept art by Ilya Kuvshinov, who served as character designer for Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045.

Death Stranding Isolations’ story will be told through “a traditional, hand-drawn 2D animation style,” with some of Japan’s top “animation talent at E&H production […] working to bring the series to life.”

We have only the image above to go on — there’s no video as yet — but we do have a story synopsis:

Somewhere in North America, just as Sam Bridges walks through the continent in order to save America, the someones are also trying to deal with their isolation in their own way. An old man trying to realize salvation through ways outside of the connection advocated by Bridges. A female warrior who tries to kickstart a world of constant fighting. A boy with a grudge against Bridges. A girl who embraces loneliness.

On the precipice of the end of humanity and the world, their fates and hopes converge, as another story of Death Stranding begins.

With Death Stranding 2 out the door, Kojima is still busy working on a number of new projects, including horror game OD for Xbox Game Studios. He revealed the first trailer for it last month, sparking speculation that it is connected to P.T. in some way. The mysterious game will star Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Sophia Lillis, Hunters’ Udo Kier, and Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer, with the trailer showcasing Lillis’ character in a spooky house, lighting candles before meeting a malevolent figure.

There’s a lot going on with Death Stranding, too. There’s a Death Stranding live-action movie in the works, which Kojima and director Michael Sarnoski have confirmed will tell a new story instead of retelling the events of the games. In other words, those hoping to see some of Death Stranding’s real-life movie stars reprise their roles for the live-action film may be out of luck. There’s also a seperate Death Stranding animated film, called Death Stranding: Mosquito.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.