The team at 505 Games, in collaboration with Leenzee Games, is excited to present the latest trailer for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers—an action-packed soulslike adventure set to launch day one on Xbox Game Pass in 2025.
This new trailer, unveiled at the recent Xbox Partner Preview, gives players a deeper dive into the world of Wuchang, showcasing epic boss encounters, powerful spells, and the intricate combat mechanics that define this highly anticipated title. Whether you’re a fan of the soulslike genre or new to action-RPGs, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers promises a journey filled with dark lore, intense battles, and immersive storytelling.
The trailer opens with the ominous Ming Army Inspector, a boss who casts a chilling atmosphere as he walks past a haunting forest of hanging bodies, delivering a speech about the crumbling Ming Dynasty and his vengeful quest to purge traitors. The stakes are set high from the start, establishing the dark tone that fans can expect from the world of Wuchang. As the trailer unfolds, we are treated to stunning CGI of Wuchang herself as she ignites her ancestral sword—a weapon passed down through the Bai family. This flaming blade is not just for show; it is a symbol of her past, one that ties directly into her mission and the lore woven throughout the game.
Weapons and Spells
In the gameplay segments of the trailer, players witness Wuchang wielding a range of weapons, each with their own unique style and abilities. The Cloudfrost’s Edge, a long sword that exemplifies precision and elegance, is one of her primary tools for battle.
Alongside it, the Firearm Blades, dual weapons with explosive capabilities, showcase her versatility in combat. In one breathtaking scene, we see her switching between these weapons, seamlessly combining swordplay with magic in the Featherweave combat style to block, parry, and unleash devastating attacks on her foes. The fluidity of her movements and the responsive controls provide players with a true sense of mastery over combat, whether they prefer close-range sword strikes or ranged assaults with spells.
Speaking of spells, the trailer highlights a series of powerful magical abilities, such as Echoes of Lu Hongliu, where Wuchang releases a thunderous roar, launching enemies into the air and dealing devastating damage. This ability, like many others in the game, is acquired through overcoming formidable foes. Players will need to harness these skills to survive the dynamic environments filled with enemies ranging from soldiers of the Daxi Army to supernatural beasts like the Corpse Swallowing Mussel—a monstrous creature mutated by the remnants of dark magic. Each spell, such as the Thunderfall from Nine Heavens or the Soul-igniting Lotus Fire, offers strategic opportunities, allowing players to stun enemies, deal area damage, or even gain temporary invincibility.
The new trailer also showcases some of the unique weapon arts and combat styles players will master throughout the game. For instance, wielding the Enigma Spear allows Wuchang to strike enemies from a distance, utilizing long-range precision attacks that add variety to her combat repertoire. The trailer also introduces the Cinder Dragoncoil, an axe that unleashes fiery damage, perfect for taking down larger, more resilient monsters. Switching weapons mid-combat allows Wuchang to adapt to different threats, whether it’s countering the attacks of low-ranking officers or unleashing explosive strikes against colossal bosses.
Finally, fans of intricate combat mechanics will be thrilled to see the Featherweave system in action. This allows for fluid weapon and spell transitions, giving players the freedom to craft their own combat style. Timing dodges, spell casts, and weapon switches will be crucial, especially when facing off against the trailer’s final highlight: a climactic battle between Wuchang and the Ming Army Inspector. This epic showdown promises to test players’ skills and decision-making, making it clear that Wuchang: Fallen Feathers isn’t just about brute force but also about mastering the rhythm of combat.
A Look At Enemies and Bosses
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers also introduces a wide variety of enemies and bosses, each designed to test players’ adaptability and strategic planning. From the Ornithropized Exiles—humanoid enemies plagued by ancient curses—to the terrifying Bird People Chief, players must confront not only physical threats but also the lore and mysteries tied to these characters. The trailer showcases intense battles with the Lady of Snow Castle, a boss whose attacks merge with her snow fox companion, creating a multi-phase battle that will challenge players to use every skill in their arsenal.
Beyond the action, the trailer highlights the richly crafted environments that players will explore. The diverse landscapes range from serene, lush villages to ominous, darkened forests that transform into menacing nightmares as the story progresses. Each setting is rendered with stunning detail using Unreal Engine 5, capturing the essence of ancient China while blending in elements of supernatural terror. These environments aren’t just for show; they are dynamic, interconnected spaces where players’ decisions can influence the story’s outcome, leading to multiple potential endings and quests that shape the fate of Shu.
The Xbox Partner Preview trailer for Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has delivered a thrilling preview of what’s to come, blending a dark narrative with fast-paced, action-packed gameplay.
With a launch set for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC in 2025 as a day one Game Pass title, this epic soulslike adventure is poised to captivate fans with its deep lore, challenging combat, and beautifully rendered world. As we build up to the release, stay connected by following Wuchang’s official channels on X, Facebook, Instagram and Discord.
Don’t miss any updates on the journey that awaits—wishlist the game now and prepare to face the darkness.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.
Become Wuchang, a skilled pirate warrior struck by amnesia, who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. Explore the depths of Shu, enhancing your arsenal and mastering new skills harvested from fallen foes. Evolve your fighting style by sacrificing elusive Red Mercury and further develop new techniques obtained throughout your action-packed journey. Augment the weapons in your repertoire with powerful enchantments, allowing for a unique approach to combat and strategy that suits your personal style.
Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. Your quest for truth will take you through forgotten temples, overgrown ruins, and shadowed paths fraught with peril. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust.
Immerse yourself in a rich storyline, dynamic combat system, and breathtaking visuals that offer an unforgettable adventure through lands veiled in chaos and death. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands.
Here’s some good news for collectors of physical games. Black Myth: Wukong is getting a disc version for PS5. Previously a digital-only game, Wukong’s physical edition doesn’t have a set release date, but it’s available to preorder now for $64.99 from most of the usual retailers (see it at Amazon) And for those who like physical editions to future-proof your ability to play games, the publisher has confirmed that the entire game is on the disc, with no download required.
The physical PS5 edition of Black Myth: Wukong only comes in one edition, but it includes a code for the extra items included in the digital deluxe edition. Those include the following:
Bronzecloud Staff
Folk Opera Mask
Folk Opera Almsgiving Armor
Folk Opera Leather Bracers
Folk Opera Buskins
Wind Chimes
Selected Digital Soundtrack
What Is Black Myth: Wukong?
Black Myth: Wukong originally launched on PS5 and PC on August 19 (the game is also coming to Xbox at some point, though it’s unclear if a physical edition will be available for that platform).
The game, made by the Chinese developer Game Science, has been incredibly popular since launch. It’s an action-RPG based on Chinese mythology and the story Journey to the West.
“As GameScience’s debut action game, Black Myth: Wukong is mostly a great success, despite some major technical black marks and localization issues that are likely to cause some frustrations at launch. Combat is fantastic thanks to a great balance of careful resource management and lightning-fast, twitch-reaction gameplay that tested my skills as much as Elden Ring ever has, despite being a more traditional action game than FromSoftware’s style. Not only that, but there are a ton of exciting boss battles, a great variety of enemies, and the world they inhabit is an absolute treat for the eyes and ears. Its story has its moments but relies a bit too much on having prior knowledge of the events of Journey to the West, and it really could have used a map to make its rewarding exploration measure up to the strength of its combat. That said, its strengths more than carry it through, making Black Myth: Wukong a great action game that could be even greater if GameScience can squash the bugs.”
Other Preorder Guides
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN’s board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Threads or Bluesky.
Shotgun King developers Punkcake Délicieux have quietly rolled out another ticklish oddity in the shape of Build The Sun, a work-in-progress 2D god sim. In Build The Sun you preside over a tribe of alarming yet cute inkblot creatures, who sometimes remind me of Pikmin and sometimes, of that awful ‘roided-up panther monster from the opening stretch of Another World. Your objective is, indeed, to build the sun, because there isn’t one: the game’s pastoral pixelart world is engulfed in darkness.
NCSoft, the South Korean MMO specialist behind the likes of Throne and Liberty, Guild Wars 2, and Lineage, has confirmed a significant restructure of the company amid a sweeping round of layoffs.
South Korean news agency Yonhap reported on comments from NCSoft co-CEOs Taek-Jin Kim and Byung-Moo Park, who blamed the incoming layoffs and reorganization on the company’s ongoing financial troubles. “We feel a deep sense of responsibility and offer an apology to all employees,” they said.
The co-CEOs added that “as a result of operating in a way that most of the manpower and functions are concentrated at the headquarters, financial performance has continued to deteriorate and we are at risk of becoming a chronically loss-making company,” and that this situation “is seriously damaging the creativity and challenging spirit that NCSoft originally possessed.”
NCSoft, established in 1997 and headquartered in Seoul, now plans to develop new video games in the form of independent studios, each with their own culture and process, it said. Throne and Liberty, recently published globally by Amazon Games to huge player numbers on Steam, is now its own game studio.
NCSoft is now split into four divisions: NCAI, Studio X, Studio Y, and Studio G. (Studio X is the studio behind Throne and Liberty.) It’s unclear at this stage what NCSoft’s troubles mean for ArenaNet, the Bellevue, Washington-based studio behind Guild Wars. Earlier this year, Guild Wars 3 was said to have been in development, although work continues on Guild Wars 2.
Some video games will be canceled, howoever, alongside layoffs via a voluntary retirement program, the co-CEOs confirmed. “Major changes are inevitable for the survival and future of the company, and we promise active support and compensation to those affected,” they said.
Earlier this month, Amazon Games announced that Throne and Liberty had seen more than three million players in just a week following its global launch. Originally billed as a Lineage sequel, Throne and Liberty is an MMO with PvE and PvP set in a dynamic and seamless world. It suffered numerous delays over the course of a development cycle spanning several years.
Throne and Liberty finally launched on October 1 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S, and soon proved a hit on Steam with an impressive player concurrent peak of 336,300. Throne and Liberty remains one of the most-played games on Valve’s platform. Neither Sony nor Microsoft make player numbers public.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Netflix have shut down one of their more trumpeted video game initiatives – a Californian studio known as team “Blue” and stocked with former Halo, God Of War and Overwatch developers. It was a major plank in Netflix’s on-going efforts to extend their film and TV streaming empire to what Nic insists on calling the “greasy screen”.
The mobile version of HAL Laboratory’s Part Time UFO has been delisted from storefronts as of today, the game’s official Twitter has announced. But don’t worry, the Switch version isn’t going anywhere.
Shared on Bluesky by AK, Part Time UFO’s original mobile release is no longer available to download on mobile devices. The game originally launched on phones in 2017 in Japan, before getting a worldwide release in 2018, and an expanded Switch version in 2020.
Immerse Yourself in the Game: The Next Evolution of the Xbox Wireless Headset
Mekias Bekalu, Product Marketing Manager, Xbox Accessories
Sound shapes the way we experience games, adding dimension and depth to every action, interaction, and atmosphere. From the epic swell of a battle soundtrack to the quiet tension of a stealth mission, audio plays a crucial role in creating unforgettable gaming moments. That’s why we’ve refreshed the Xbox Wireless Headset, introducing key enhancements to elevate your audio experience to new heights.
Now featuring Dolby Atmos at no additional cost, this updated headset delivers immersive, spatial audio that brings games to life in vivid detail. We’ve also improved battery life, offering up to 20 hours of playtime*, upgraded the microphone with enhanced auto-mute and voice isolation for crystal-clear communication, and now feature Bluetooth 5.3. Combined with its sleek, all-black design, the new Xbox Wireless Headset remains an essential addition to any gaming setup.
The new Xbox Wireless Headset delivers an exceptional sound experience, powered by advanced spatial audio technology. With built-in support for Dolby Atmos, Windows Sonic, and DTS Headphone:X*, you can experience sound with stunning precision, allowing you to pinpoint every footstep, explosion, or whisper. Dolby Atmos, now included at no extra cost, transforms your audio experience by revealing depth, clarity, and details like never before, creating a sound experience you can feel all around you.
Clear communication is essential, whether you’re strategizing with your squad or catching up with friends. The upgraded Xbox Wireless Headset includes advanced auto-mute and voice isolation, ensuring your voice comes through loud and clear while minimizing background noise. Direct pairing with Xbox consoles, along with Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for PC and mobile devices, allows you to seamlessly switch between platforms without the need for dongles or extra setups (see xbox.com/headset-compatibility for more details). Plus, with Qualcomm S5 Gen 2 technology, you’ll enjoy ultra-low latency wireless connectivity for smooth, uninterrupted gameplay.
Long gaming sessions require maximum comfort, and the new Xbox Wireless Headset is designed with that in mind. Its adjustable headband and plush earcups provide a snug, comfortable fit, while the sleek, all-black design effortlessly complements any gaming setup. With up to 20 hours of battery life* on a single charge, you can focus on gaming without the hassle of frequent recharges. The extended mic boom ensures your voice is heard clearly, even during the most intense moments. Need to adjust your audio mid-game? The intuitive on-ear controls make it easy to fine-tune your game/chat balance without interrupting the action. And for players who want even more control, the Xbox Accessories app offers deeper customization, allowing you to tailor the headset to your personal preferences.
The new Xbox Wireless Headset is available now in select Xbox markets worldwide for $109.99 USD ERP, visit Xbox.com or your local retailer, including the Microsoft Store, for more information.
*Audio customization available via the Xbox Accessories app for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11 devices. DTS Headphone:X may require additional purchases, app downloads, and supported hardware. Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone:X require supported content. Battery life varies significantly with distance from console, additional accessories, usage and other factors. Testing conducted by Microsoft using pre-production units.
The wait is almost over and we’re beyond excited for PlayStation VR2 players to seize their Sense controllers and dive into the explosive world of Vendetta Forever on October 24. The debut game from visionary indie developer Meatspace Interactive, published by nDreams, this frenetic puzzle-shooter pays bombastic homage to classic action cinema, set to a pulsing synthetic soundtrack. Alongside what makes Vendetta Forever so special, today we want to show off some new PS VR2 gameplay and reveal the features players can enjoy when the title launches this Thursday on PS5.
Come on baby, do the Lo-Kill-Motion
Shoot to kill. Kill to move. Lo-Kill-Motion is the new mechanic that propels players acrobatically through Vendetta Forever’s maze-like arenas. Take down enemies, seize their weapons in mid-air, and take their place. Rinse, repeat, and reload. Each scene is loaded with iconic weaponry, spanning the all-time classics to the deviously improvised. Whether you’re scoped in with a sniper rifle or flinging a humble pencil (seriously), you’ll always have an outrageous arsenal at your disposal.
Harnessing the immersion of PS VR2
We loved digging into the possibilities of the PS VR2 hardware and Vendetta Forever is full of features to maximise your stylish shooting immersion. Feel subtle differences between some of the least subtle weapons in the business. Every weapon in the game – from agile silenced pistols to hefty rocket launchers – will handle differently thanks to the Sense controller’s adaptive triggers. Immersion is maximized through the Sense controller haptics and headset feedback, allowing you to feel incoming damage and death-defying explosions. PS VR2 players can enjoy a few visual perks as well. Your view is mirrored on the TV at 4K, with a stabilized camera for optimal spectating and streaming your wildest moments. In-game you can enjoy real-time shadows, dialed-up lighting, and post-processing.
A behind-the-scenes peek at some early scene compositions
Vendetta Forever comes from the idiosyncratic game design brain of MeatSpace Interactive’s founder and solo indie developer, Zander Dejah. Zander’s well familiar with the power of PlayStation hardware. Having worked on Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge and Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series, he’s experienced at crafting immersive VR worlds. For Vendetta Forever, this is a labour of love that goes all-in on gunplay purity. It’s unapologetically the game this VR fanatic dreamt of making – focused entirely on making the player feel really damn good.
“From day one, the goal with Vendetta Forever was to craft all-action scenes that put player power at the centre of everything, rather than lengthy cinematics or dialogue scenes. This game is about fulfilling that ultimate player fantasy of starring in their own action movie show-stopping vignettes. It’s fast-paced, rewards strategic thinking on the fly, and achieves that sense of shooter flow state in VR.
After working on some narrative heavy hitters in the past, this game has really been the opportunity to make the hyperactive shooter experience I’ve always wanted to play. It’s VR-first and when it comes to immersion, ‘feel’ beats ‘real’ for me. I think it’s an experience frenetic shooter fans have been craving and I can’t wait for PS VR2 players to dive in.”
– Zander Dejah, MeatSpace Interactive
10% off pre-orders with PlayStation Plus
Get prepped for cult action paradise with a 10% pre-order discount, exclusively for PlayStation Plus members! Come launch acrobatically blast your way through 60 unique scenes with 20 modifiers, 50+ iconic weapons, and 50+ achievements to shoot for. Vendetta Forever launches on October 24 on PS VR2.
If you’ve ever wondered what the arcade classic Rampage would be like if you had to play as a puny human rather than one of the skyscraper-smashing goliaths, then Kong: Survivor Instinct might be your answer. This 2.5D Metroidvania platformer takes place amidst a crumbling coastal cityscape while Kong and his kaiju combatants duke it out in the background, making it seem at first glance a bit like a Shadow Complex situated within Shadow of the Colossus. It’s a novel enough concept, but basic environmental puzzle design and uninspired combat mean that Survivor Instinct is unable to reach the towering heights of its ideas, and as I begrudgingly pushed crates and collected keys to make my way through each ruined urban rabbit hole I could never really shake the impression that Kong seemed to be having considerably more fun than I was.
Not that actually playing as Kong would be a guaranteed good time, of course – 2023’s Skull Island: Rise of Kong was such an unmitigated disaster that the aftermath of its self-destruction is probably still being studied by scientists from the Monarch organization. Kong: Survivor Instinct is a notably better game than that, but once the novelty of having the iconic angry ape messing about in the middle distance fades it just doesn’t have the level of creativity or player freedom that other superior games of this ilk released in recent years – such as Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown or Blasphemous 2 – have so expertly displayed.
It also doesn’t have much of a story beyond “Don’t get smashed by the monkey.” We play as David Martin, a single dad in search of his daughter who’s gone missing in the midst of the spectacular, city-ravaging royal rumble that’s currently sweeping along the west coast of the United States. The elevator pitch of David’s personality is basically a sort of middle-aged Nathan Drake who’s apparently forgotten how to be funny (almost every time he kills a labrador-sized spider he deadpans “I was never fond of spiders”), and the handful of survivors he meets along the way don’t even pretend to be real characters. There are also a couple of appearances from the villainous Alan Jonah, who was last seen in 2019’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters – there he was played by a typically cold and ruthless Charles Dance (AKA Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones), but here he’s voiced by a somewhat subdued soundalike. None of these details really matter, though, since Kong: Survivor Instinct’s slight amount of story is stretched thin over its six-hour frame until it suddenly snaps apart during its jarringly abrupt and underwhelming conclusion.
Kong: Survivor Instinct’s slight amount of story is stretched thin over its six-hour frame until it suddenly snaps apart.
Surface Tension
The story may be weak, but the look and feel of its crumbling 2.5D environments is undoubtedly its strength. David’s quest leads him from smoldering suburban outskirts to devastated downtown areas and the mysterious subterranean facilities below, and each dilapidated diorama is rich with precise detail and convincing depth. Kong: Survivor Instinct does perhaps try a bit too hard to convince you that every structure you explore is an unstable one with the repetitive routine with which it collapses the floor beneath your feet or drops chunks of the ceiling onto your skull, and that does get old pretty fast. However, it also allows you to scamper along the roofs of cars suspended by the webs of a towering arachnid, and navigate your way through the slanted corridors of an apartment building that’s been violently upended by Kong, so there are some more interesting platforming sections among them.
It’s just a shame that so much of the exploration is built around the same pushing of crates and shooting of padlocked gates. The very best Metroidvanias – like Hollow Knight or Metroid Dread – gradually empower you with new tools and abilities that incentivise you to backtrack through the world and unlock previously unreachable areas, but Kong: Survivor Instinct is comparatively light-on when it comes to evolving the ways in which you interact with your surroundings. Here, by contrast, David is given a sledgehammer to smash through weakened walls and eventually a grappling hook to scale up to specific anchor points, but otherwise his progression is always painfully obvious and consists of the same rehashed circuit boxes to shoot or generators to repair, copied and pasted along the winding path towards each mission objective.
This general absence of ingenuity also drains the enjoyment out of its combat, which is primarily geared towards melee attacks since ammunition for David’s pistol is so scarce. There is some nuance to each scrap with Jonah’s soldiers – you can block or parry their blows to open them up for a counter attack or grab them to use them as a human shield when their more heavily armed comrades open fire, and I was pleased to discover that you can even shoot them in the leg to drop them to their knees so that you can deliver a series of finishing blows a la Resident Evil 4. At the same time, there’s a stiffness to each scrap, particularly when David finds himself surrounded, and since he’s unable to jump or climb while he’s locked in a combat stance there were times where I’d knock an enemy off a ledge, only to find myself unable to drop down and continue the fight. Annoyingly, the only way forward was to reload my save.
Furthermore, rather than introduce any interesting new enemy types that require you to adapt your methods of attack, Kong: Survivor Instinct just gradually ups the numbers of foes in each encounter while keeping your combat abilities exactly the same. David’s pistol can be upgraded to carry more rounds per magazine to help counter the swelling hordes, but there are no other firearms to find despite the fact that every other goon you come across in the story’s second half seems to be toting a pump-action shotgun. When you consider that outside of the human soldier types there are only a couple of small spider-like enemies to contend with – and absolutely no boss fights whatsoever – Kong: Survivor Instinct’s combat feels flatter than a kaiju’s couch cushion overall.
Raze the Roof
While there might not be any traditional boss fights, Kong: Survivor Instinct does feature a handful of sequences that could best be described as boss flights. At specific points during the story, Kong or one of his rival titans will spot you through the window of a structure and you’ll be suddenly forced to flee, with the monster punching wrecking ball-sized holes in your path that require some pinpoint platforming to evade. (Sadly, none of these titans is Godzilla.) These sections certainly inject a burst of excitement and urgency into the adventure, although they also involve a fair amount of trial and error to get around instant deaths, which did lead to some frustrating repeated checkpoint restarts at times. Still, watching one of these monolithic beasts unwrap the building you’re trapped inside of like a kaiju kid on Christmas morning is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular tricks that Kong: Survivor Instinct has up its sleeves – even despite the seismic impact these high-intensity moments seem to inflict on the frame rate while playing on PlayStation 5.
Unfortunately, those are the only times that Kong and company have a measurable impact on the action. Elsewhere, these goliaths are only ever glimpsed – either having an incidental tussle in the distant background, or when you summon one by collecting the requisite number of biowaves scattered around each level to clear a blocked path towards a level’s exit in a game of supersized simian Simon Says. It’s certainly a treat to watch Kong casually pick up a connected row of train carriages like they’re steel sausage links and violently wrench them apart, but the operative word here is “watch.” Once these path-clearing actions have been performed, it’s straight back to the same plodding puzzle-platforming and uninspired combat.