2K is hosting a limited-time Free Play Days event this weekend, giving Xbox Game Pass members the chance to jump into a few of 2K’s greatest hits from February 5 to February 8.
NBA 2K26, PGA Tour 2K25, Risk of Rain 2, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, Lego 2K Drive and TopSpin 2K25 are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and Essential members to play from Thursday February 5 until Sunday, February 8.
Enjoy Sid Meier’s Civilization VIon both console and PC during Free Play Days.
How To Start Playing
Scroll down and 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, 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 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.
NBA 2K26 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S NBA 2K26 is joining the Xbox Free Play Days line-up ahead of NBA All-Star Weekend, giving you the chance to suit up with friends and sharpen your skills ahead of the prestigious event, starting February 13. Lace up and play against the world’s best players in Play Now, start in the All-Star Game in MyCareer, and assemble a collection of past and present superstars in MyTeam. Compete for bragging rights and XP to earn thematic cosmetics and other rewards during Season 4 of NBA 2K26.
PGA Tour 2K25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S The competition is fierce at the WM Phoenix Open. Prove you have the guts for Sunday in special in-game tournament Quests and Ranked Tours events. Equip for the win with the latest from Titleist, Barstool, Breezy, and WM Phoenix Open X adidas gear. Plus, climb the ranks faster than ever with Double CHP XP all weekend. Aim for Greatness. Save 60% on PGA Tour 2K25 Standard Edition (Digital) on Xbox until February 19, 2026.
Risk of Rain 2 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Jump into Risk of Rain 2 and see if you can escape a chaotic alien planet. Fight through hordes of frenzied monsters and enormous bosses. Combine loot in surprising ways. A unique scaling system means both you and your foes increase in power. Play with your friends in 4-player online co-op or on your own.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Build an empire to stand the test of time for free during Free Play Days! Experience the award-winning strategy game and watch your cities physically expand across the map as you research new cultures and technologies. Play as one of history’s iconic leaders—from Cleopatra to Trajan—and pursue victory through military might, scientific superiority, or cultural dominance. Choose your path to greatness and leave your mark on history.
Lego 2K Drive Welcome to Bricklandia, home of a massive open-world Lego driving adventure. Race anywhere, play with anyone, build your dream rides, and defeat a cast of wild racing rivals for the coveted Sky Trophy! In Lego 2K Drive, your awesome transforming vehicle gives you the freedom to speed seamlessly across riveting racetracks, off-road terrain, and open waters.
TopSpin 2K25 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S The TopSpin franchise returns with TopSpin 2K25 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Experience exhilarating gameplay and immersive game modes, resulting in the ultimate tennis simulation. Featuring tennis legends Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and a cast of other playable pros, TopSpin 2K25 offers competitive single-player and multiplayer modes, and all four historic Grand Slam tournaments. Take the court in casual exhibition matches, travel to larger-than-life venues and storied Grand Slam arenas, prove you’re the best MyPlayer in the world on the TopSpin World Tour, and make a name for yourself.
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.
Today marks a monumental step for Guerrilla as a studio, as we announce our new chapter in the Horizon universe: Horizon Hunters Gathering.
With the very first ideas that shaped the world of Horizon, we dreamed of players hunting machines together. We started with a small group of Guerrillas – including myself back in the days as Design Director – and began exploring what that could look like. Drawing on our experience from the Killzone multiplayer titles and the momentum of Horizon Zero Dawn, we set out to bring cooperative action into the Horizon franchise.
Since then, the team and the game have grown tremendously. Throughout its development we’ve done extensive testing, patching, and feedback iteration. One of my favorite moments was our first in-studio playtest with the entire team: a special milestone where the vision and hard work from every discipline finally came together in a playable form. It’s always nerve-wracking to share early builds, but moments like that test, as well as today’s announcement, make it worthwhile.
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Horizon Hunters Gathering is a cooperative action game (developed by Guerrilla for PS5 and PC) that lets up to three players team up as heroic Hunters to protect a world under threat from deadly machines. Combat is tactical, reactive, and deeply skill-based, building on the tactical precision of the Horizon games while embracing the dynamics of team play.
The foundation of Horizon Hunters Gathering centers around challenging and replayable hunts. Today we’re revealing two game modes: Machine Incursion, a high-intensity mission where waves of machines pour out from underground gateways, led by a formidable boss; and Cauldron Descent, a longer, multi-stage trial in which ever-changing rooms push Hunters to their limits, from brutal machine encounters to hidden doors that promise power and reward for teams prepared to open them.
Both modes will be available in our upcoming closed playtest through the PlayStation Beta Program on PS5 and PC. We’re excited for players to get hands-on and help shape the game with their feedback.
In Horizon Hunters Gathering, you choose from a roster of uniquely skilled Hunters – each with distinct melee or ranged playstyles and weapons – and select Hunter roles further embedded with a rogue-lite perk system to craft the build that best suits your style and your team.
These Hunters have their own motivations and personal struggles, which comes together in new stories we want to tell in the world of Horizon. The game has a narrative campaign which will introduce new mysteries, characters, and threats, but we’re keeping it under wraps for now. What we can say is that Hunters Gathering is fully canon and its story doesn’t stop at launch!
As you hunt dangerous machines in the wilds, you’ll travel through a range of environments that bring missions and stories to life. Each location offers its own atmosphere, challenges, and opportunities for your team to explore and master together.
Between missions, you’ll return to Hunters Gathering: a vibrant social hub where players can connect, prepare, and celebrate victories together. Here, you can customize your Hunters, visit vendors, upgrade gear, and team up for your next adventure.
Though it’s still early on, you can expect more regular development updates and playtest announcements from us in the coming months. To stay in the loop on all the latest news about the game, we’ve launched a brand-new Horizon Hunters Gathering Discord – we’d love to see you there!
On a personal note, this is both an exciting and daunting step for us. Multiplayer games have always been part of our studio’s DNA, and it’s where I began my own career. Bringing a co-op hunting experience into the Horizon universe is something we’ve envisioned for a long time, and we’re approaching it with care, ambition, and passion. I hope the coming months give you a sense of the scale and complexity of what we’ve been building – or better yet, let you experience it yourself in a playtest.
On behalf of everyone at Guerrilla, thank you to our Horizon fans and creators who support and believe in us. And welcome to all new Hunters excited to join us on this adventure. Horizon Hunters Gathering is about taking on challenges together – and we’re just getting started.
Bethesda has trumpeted the news that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be squeezed onto a proper Switch 2 Game Card for its physical release — though other titles coming to the console will just be codes in a box.
During today’s Partner Direct broadcast focusing on upcoming games coming to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Bethesda boss Todd Howard briefly appeared to welcome a swathe of games coming to Nintendo’s newest console.
In a press release sent to IGN following the broadcast, Bethesda has now detailed its launch plans further, and announced on social media that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would get a full-fat cartridge launch, rather than on one of Nintendo’s widely-disliked Game-Key Cards.
Bethesda’s social post has received a string of praise, with many fans wondering how the game has been made to fit onto a Switch 2 cartridge. “Wow, totally unexpected,” wrote Digital Foundry veteran and game preservation fan John Linneman in response.
As announced (and leaked) earlier today, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch digitally and physically on May 12. The game’s DLC, The Order of Giants, will also be available download separately on that date.
Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition launches digitally on February 24 and physically on April 28. Skyrim Anniversary Edition is available digitally already, and will come in a box on April 28. Finally, Oblivion Remastered has a vague “2026” launch window for now.
It took them long enough, but Sony and Guerilla have finally announced that other online Horizon game (the one that isn’t an MMO), and it’s called Horizon Hunters Gathering. On the offset it sort of looks like a Monster Hunter clone gameplay wise, especially being a co-op action game, though there are some definite differences between the two.
Square Enix is planning to “share more updates than ever before” on its Final Fantasy 7 Remake project this year, according to game director Naoki Hamaguchi.
“We’ve announced that FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH will launch on June 3.
“With the addition of Switch 2 and Xbox, the game will be released as a full multi‑platform title.
“This year, we plan to share more updates on the FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Project than ever before.
“We look forward to celebrating together with even more players around the world.”
We’ve announced that FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH will launch on June 3. With the addition of Switch 2 and Xbox, the game will be released as a full multi‑platform title. This year, we plan to share more updates on the FINAL FANTASY VII Remake Project than ever before. We look… https://t.co/GFImeiPiC7pic.twitter.com/f0TaiDHlhJ
— 浜口直樹 /FFVII REBIRTH launches on Switch2&Xbox Jun 3 (@nhamaguc) February 5, 2026
This is exciting news for Remake fans, who have been on the edge of their seats for the last few years, waiting for news of the third game in the trilogy, which we have yet to see at all. Though Hamaguchi didn’t outright say it, this feels like a tease for a reveal this year. Rebirth left the story on one heck of a cliffhanger, with players left doubting whether the game’s most famous twist really took place or not. The third game has a lot of work to do to land the plot plane set up by Remake and Rebirth, and it will be interesting to see how Square Enix does it. Fans have already been speculating as to what Part 3 will be called, following the “Remake” and “Rebirth” titles as well as “Reunion” on the recent Crisis Core remake. Popular suggestions include Reincarnation, Revival, Reawakening, Redemption, and Return.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was also excellent, with us giving it a 9/10 and saying it “impressively builds off of what Remake set in motion, both as a best-in-class action-RPG full of exciting challenges and an awe-inspiring recreation of a world that has meant so much to so many for so long.”
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Fans of 2023’s Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, got a delightful surprise this morning during the Nintendo Partner Direct, with the reveal of a surprise sequel coming to Nintendo Switch. It’s called Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, and it’s coming out in just two weeks, on February 19.
The Mermaid’s Curse follows a young pearl diver named Yuza who one day, while working, sees a ghostly version of himself. This sets off a chain of other strange incidents: corpses washing up, a girl with no memories, and townsfolks with ulterior motives. As Yuza, you’ll question people around the island to try and find out what’s going on, while also diving into the waters of the bay for clues. All of it has ties somehow to a centuries-old legend of a mermaid, and true to form, it all seems kind of creepy!
The original Paranormasight debuted in 2023 on Switch, PC, and mobile. While thematically similar, it told a different mystery story with different characters, and it’s unclear if there will be narrative times between The Seven Mysteries of Honjo and The Mermaid’s Curse. The first Paranormasight was well-received, and currently stands at an 85 critic score and 8.9 user score on Metacritic. We’re still waiting to hear if the new game will come to other platforms, but given the mobile and PC releases of The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, it seems like a reasonable expectation.
You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Nintendo Direct right here.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Retro PC game sellers GOG have faced criticism recently for using a piece of artwork made using AI tools to promote their store’s new year sale. The storerunners have since claimed that this banner was a work-in-progress asset which slipped through onto the store by mistake. Now, the platform’s managing director has revealed that the company are “not planning on making absolute statements in either direction” in terms of their future AI use, following the backlash.
Konami has stepped out from the shadows to gift us with a rather lovely shadow drop on Switch and Switch 2. Yes, Super Bomberman Collection is out today for both consoles and will feature a total of 7 unique games.
So we’ve got Super Bomberman 1 through 5 along with the original Famicom versions of Bomberman 1 and 2. A new Boss Rush mode has also been added, while GameShare is available for those who want to dive into multiplayer.
Set Sail with These Tips to Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
Joyce Tammany, Marketing Manager, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined
Summary
Get some useful tips on Vocations and learn about quality-of-life features for Dragon Quest VII Reimagined.
Learn how you can utilize a variety of strategies and utilize shortcuts to succeed in battle.
Dragon Quest VII Reimaginedis available today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
Whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned Dragon Quester, you’re in for a treat with Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, available today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title! It builds on the beloved original turn-based RPG with fresh visuals, refined gameplay, and tightened pacing for an unforgettable adventure through past and present. Even if you’ve played the original, there are plenty of new features, so here’s my advice for making the most of your journey!
Mix up your Vocations
Like many other RPGs, playable characters in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined can be assigned to a job class – called “Vocations” in DQ terms. And if you’ve played an RPG before, then you know it’s important to have a balanced party. Having only Warriors may seem beneficial when fighting strong enemies, but you’ll have a tough time keeping your party healed without a Priest.
Fortunately, you’ll have a lot of flexibility to play with different Vocations, thanks to the new Moonlighting feature, which allows your party members to hold two different Vocations at once! You can even change their Vocations in the middle of a dungeon if you need to fine-tune your strategy. (I recommend keeping one Vocation maxed out while you try a brand new one, so you’ll always have some strong spells and abilities.) Just keep in mind that after maxing out one Vocation, the accompanying skills are removed once you switch to another.
Tip: If you need a little boost in training, look for an item called the “Seed of Proficiency,” which adds a level to your current Vocations.
Set the speed of battle…
Whether you’re looking to breeze through a dungeon or savor every moment, you can adjust the battle speed to your liking. You can also try the auto-battle feature and sit back while your party works for you. You can also set different auto-battle strategies for each character.
For example, “Show No Mercy” really packs a punch, but it also depletes your magic points quickly, leaving you possibly defenseless in the middle of a quest. “Focus on Healing” ensures your characters don’t die, though you can get caught in a loop if your characters don’t fight back. When in doubt, use “Fight Wisely” for a solid balance.
Tip: Bosses will be harder than normal enemies, so I recommend switching to manual inputs and settling in for some classic, cozy, and challenging turn-based battles.
…and customize your challenge
Instead of only offering pre-set difficulty levels, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined also lets you adjust several settings to make your adventure easier or harder. You can deal more (or less) damage, change the amount of Vocational Proficiency, experience, and gold you earn, or stop enemies from attacking you on the world map.
Tip: If you want to level up your Vocations faster while still enjoying a good challenge, just toggle the setting for proficiency earned to the max!
Beat vicious enemies for accessories
If you notice enemies that are a different color from their regular counterparts, those are vicious enemies. They’ll be harder to beat, but they’ll drop useful accessories if you defeat them.
Tip: If you have the resources to survive the fight, don’t pass up the opportunity to take them down!
Get a closer view during gameplay
The diorama-like graphics of Dragon Quest VII Reimagined especially shine with the normal camera, but it might be positioned a bit farther away than you’re used to.
Tip: If you want to inspect anything closer, there’s always the appropriate toggle in the settings.
Add shortcuts to the directional pad
Some very useful commands can be mapped onto the directional pad so that you don’t have to always go into the menu. At first, you can only assign the “Heal All“ ability to the d-pad, but you’ll unlock more options throughout your journey, like the “Career Sphere”!
Tip: One unlockable option is “Nose for Treasure” which will help you locate undiscovered treasure to help get that sweet, sweet loot.
Play the Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Demo!
Sometimes the best way to start is to jump right in! The free Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Demo covers the first several hours of the game – perfect for helping you get your sea legs if this is your first Dragon Quest.
Tip: Your save data from the demo will carry over to the full game when you’re ready to set sail — and you’ll also get an exclusive costume for Maribel.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC as an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined Digital Deluxe Edition
Purchase DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined early and receive a costume for your Hero along with other helpful items.
[Early Bird Bonus]
・Trodain Togs (appearance changing costume for your Hero)
・Seed of Proficiency x3
*These items will only be available to customers who purchase the game by 23:59 on 4 March 2026.
*The “”Seed of Proficiency”” is an item that can be obtained by progressing in the game.
*These bonus items can be received from the “”Claim Special Rewards”” menu in-game.
[Purchase Bonus]
・Green Slime Shield
*This bonus item can be received from the “Claim Special Rewards” menu in-game.
Includes the full game, “Additional DLC Sets”, and 48 hours of early access to the full game. Embark on an epic adventure ahead of everybody else!
[Contents]
・DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined base game
・DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined “Additional DLC Sets”
Additional DLC – The Road of Regal Wretches
Additional DLC – Luminary’s Livery
Additional DLC – Jam-Packed Swag Bag
・48 hours of early access
・White Wolf Costume (Appearance changing costume for Ruff)
*After the launch of DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined, the “Additional DLC Sets” and each additional DLC will also be available for individual purchase. Please be careful to avoid making duplicate purchases.
*Some items in the additional DLCs can also be obtained by progressing in the game.
*To play The Road of Regal Wretches, you will need to progress in the game and unlock the battle arena.
*The Road of Regal Wretches can be accessed by talking to the She-Slime at the battle arena reception desk.
*Contents such as the costumes and items can be received from the “Claim Special Rewards” menu in the game.
*The content included in this bundle is also sold separately. Please be careful to avoid making duplicate purchases.
Purchase DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined early and receive a costume for your Hero along with other helpful items.
[Early Bird Bonus]
・Trodain Togs (appearance changing costume for your Hero)
・Seed of Proficiency x3
*These items will only be available to customers who purchase the game by 23:59 on 4 March 2026.
*The “”Seed of Proficiency”” is an item that can be obtained by progressing in the game.
*These bonus items can be received from the “”Claim Special Rewards”” menu in-game.
[Purchase Bonus]
・Green Slime Shield
*This bonus item can be received from the “Claim Special Rewards” menu in-game.
“There’s more to the world than this island… And we’re going to prove it!”
Set sail on an adventure spanning past and present in DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined!
As a bright-eyed young fisherman’s son, you’ve lived your entire life on the peaceful island of Estard. Your journey begins with a simple question: is there more to the world than this small island kingdom?
On a quest for answers, you and your childhood friends discover the Shrine of Mysteries and are swept back in time. There, you uncover the shocking truth that entire lands have been sealed away by a malevolent force.
The fate of the world now rests in your hands.
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined brings a timeless classic to life in a whole new way with charming diorama visuals, updated gameplay mechanics, and a streamlined story,.
For seasoned adventurers, rediscover a tale of plucky companions that is brimming with joy and heartbreak. For fledgling heroes new to the series, this is a great place to begin your DRAGON QUEST journey.
■A Diorama Brought to Life
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined blends a beautiful diorama art style with Akira Toriyama’s iconic character designs to make every encounter feel vibrant, heartfelt, and full of adventure. From lush forests and bustling towns to ancient ruins and whimsical monsters, every environment is bursting with color and personality.
■Travel through History to Restore the Present
Scattered stone fragments unlock portals to long-lost eras with their own challenges to solve. Restore the islands, solve mysteries, and make allies in the past to breathe life back into the present.
■A Beloved Tale with a Streamlined Narrative
DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined is told through a series of vignettes with an overarching narrative. The main story has also been streamlined to make the journey more accessible to all players.
■Classic Combat, Improved!
The battle system in DRAGON QUEST VII Reimagined has undergone significant changes. Turn the tides of battle with new vocational perks. Each vocation has its own unique ability, from all-out attacks to those that support your allies. Battle speed adjustments and an auto-battle feature are also available. Battles can progress without interruptions between each turn, depending on the tactics selected for the protagonist and allies. While on the field, players can pre-emptively strike monsters and instantly defeat them If the monster is weaker than the party.
■Moonlight and Level Up Two Vocations at the Same Time!
Customize your playstyle with the new Moonlighting mechanic. Having two vocations assigned at once provides access to the skills, magic spells, and unique perks from both.
*There is also a bundle product that contains this product. Please be careful to avoid making duplicate purchases.
Wait, Leon Kennedy is in Resident Evil: Requiem? Yeah, okay, we’ve known that for a bit now, perhaps longer than Capcom wanted us too. But what is news today is that the long-rumored Leon S. Kennedy amiibo is real, and coming alongside the previously announced Grace Ashcroft amiibo this summer.
This was announced during today’s Nintendo Partner Direct, which showed a trailer for Reqiuem mostly containing footage and news we’ve seen already. We knew about the February 27 release date, the Gold Editions of Resident Evils 7 and 8 releasing alongside it, and the special Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. We’d also already heard about the Grace Ashcroft amiibo before.
But we didn’t actually know about Leon. He was, uh, strongly suspected, even before we officially knew he was going to be in the game, something Capcom tried to keep hidden way longer than was necessary. Since his officialy reveal at The Game Awards, we’ve seen a sudden surge of love for the classic protagonist, with fans referring to him as a “Hot Uncle” and comparing him to Keanu Reaves. He’s set to be getting a roughly equal amount of screentime to fellow protagonist Grace, so it only makes sense they’d both get amiibos.
You can catch up on everything announced at today’s Nintendo Partner Direct right here.
