Adventure mode was one of my favourite things about Dwarf Fortress, mainly because it made the infamously complex management game more approachable by letting you play it like a more traditional roguelike. I’m excited, therefore, that Adventure mode is coming soon to the Steam version of the game, and excited even more so that it’s aiming to make it even more accessible.
A new update on development which outlines exactly how the new premium version of Adventure mode differs from the original, including its plan for tutorials to guide new players.
Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Delta ring today.
It’s important we note that some updates made in these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.
Details can be found below!
System Update Details:
OS Version: XB_FLT_2402ZN25398.3443.240122-2000
Available: 4 p.m. PT – January 25, 2024
Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – January 26, 2024
New Features and Experiences
We have exciting news! Delta users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.
Settings – Access Restrictions
We have updated the Access restrictions page in Settings by moving the existing options under a new menu for Access restrictions options. Additionally, we have added new options to allow use of the Edge web browser, setting Home console, and to delete profiles on sign out. To view these new options, navigate to Settings > System > Accessrestrictions.
Fixes Included
Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:
Installation
Various fixes to further improve unexpected issues when installing or updating games and apps.
System
Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.
While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.
Audio
We have received reports of users experiencing intermittent issues with audio across the dashboard, games, and apps. If you have experienced issues, be sure you have the latest firmware updates for your TV and other equipment. If you’re unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance.
Note: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware updates, please submit feedback via Report a Problem immediately with the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”. Be sure to include as much information as possible:
When did the issue start?
Did you lose audio just in the game/app or system audio as well?
Does changing the audio format resolve the issue? If yes, what was the format before and after?
Does rebooting resolve the issue?
What does your setup include? Equipment, layout, etc.
And any additional information you can provide to reproduce the problem.
Networking
We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to their network as expected on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
Workaround: Wait a minute for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide. Learn more here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.
As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.
If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.
When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.
Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.
For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!
Reikon Games was previously responsible for the isometric shooter Ruiner, which received generally positive reviews upon its 2017 launch. In 2021, the studio began teasing its next project dubbed Codename: Final Form, which was planned to be published under Plaion (owned by Embracer Group)’s Prime Matter label.
Reikon’s layoffs come on the same day as a mass layoff of 1900 from Microsoft’s games division, which itself is happening in the midst of an ongoing maelstrom of industry layoffs. An estimated 10,000 developers were impacted last year, and already in the first month of 2024 Kotaku’s ongoing tracker estimates nearly 6000 developers have been let go. In recent interviews, some industry leaders suggested that the situation will remain dire for months to come.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
It’s been a good few years for relaxing, puzzle-strategy games about spreading nature’s glory. The future looks bright, too, thanks to Preserve, which seems to blend Dorfromantik’s lush hexes with Terra Nil’s gradual ecological recovery. You’ll find the announcement trailer below.
Back in 2022, Blizzard announced that they were working on a survival game set in an “all-new universe”. Not much more was known about the game except that the studio were actively ramping up recruitment, seemingly after having been working on the project since 2017.
These will only be available for a limited time, so make sure to get your preorders in quick. Check them out on Best Buy and GameStop’s websites below.
Preorder the Pastel Pink Joy-Cons for Princess Peach: Showtime
If you’re looking to get your hands on the game itself, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered there, too. In our Princess Peach: Showtime preorder guide, we’ve listed links to where you can preorder the game (in both physical and digital formats) at a variety of retailers for $59.99. And if you want to see more of this game before you preorder it, check out the latest trailer for it which shows off her latest transformations into Ninja Peach and Cowgirl Peach.
Alongside new Nintendo games that are worth keeping on your radar, there are plenty of Nintendo-related deals to check out right now as well. In our roundup of the best Nintendo deals today, we’ve gathered together a variety of discounts, from games to SD cards. When it comes to the former, you can even save on some of last year’s biggest releases, like the physical version of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom which is discounted right now at Walmart. If you want to see what deals are available for other consoles, we also have roundups for PS5 deals, Xbox deals, and general video game deals.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
When I sat down at my desk after lunch today, I thought, I’m just going to give this demo for Balatro a tiny go, just to get my head round its poker-based roguelike deckbuilding. Cut to several hours later and I’ve had to forcibly shut the game down and wrench myself away from it just to write this post, because listen, you need to go and play Balatro’s demo right now, because hot damn this is the good stuff if you’re into roguelike deckbuilders. I also say this as someone who’s never played or understood a game of poker in her life, because let’s face it, regular poker is quite boring. Balatro, on the other hand, is poker that’s turbo-charged with magic Joker cards, tarot card multipliers, and blind conditions that make a successful hand increasingly tricky to pull off. And it’s coming out in full real soon, too.
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they’ve been chewing over. Today, Alana reflects on playing Golden Sun in 2024, and how it allows players to figure things out for themselves rather than relying on tutorials. Warning — minor early game spoilers ahead…
Golden Sun is good – really good. That’s not surprising at all to most people, but to me, someone who played it back when it first launched 23 years ago and bounced off of it, it’s a bit of a relief.
Experience the thrill of wrestling, navigate through treacherous temples, and race to the finish line with Free Play Days! WWE 2k23, Phantom Abyss and MX vs ATV Legends are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday January 25 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, January 28 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals! Read more about Game Pass Core at Xbox Wire.
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate Required)
WWE 2k23 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Become a WWE Legend in WWE 2K23 during Xbox’s Free Play weekend! As the highest rated game in WWE 2K franchise history, the ultimate wrestling simulation takes you behind the scenes and into the action to experience firsthand what it’s like to compete on the biggest stages in sports entertainment.
WWE 2K23 features a bevy of engaging and immersive modes; ascend from a promising prospect to a WWE Superstar in MyRISE, recreate the greatest matches of John Cena’s career in 2K Showcase, call the shots as a general manager in MyGM, take complete control of your favorite WWE Superstars in Universe mode, and collect WWE Superstars and Legends to assemble a dream team in MyFACTION.
All Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can take advantage of even stronger savings starting January 9 and ending January 30 with a special 50% discount on the Season Pass, featuring five DLC packs with over 20 Superstars and Legends! Enjoy the latest iteration of the WWE 2K franchise like never before and explore all of WWE 2K23’s endlessly fun modes—so you can prepare for the arrival of WWE 2K24.
In case you didn’t hear, WWE 2K24 has officially been announced and you can pre-order it today! Secure your copy of the WWE 2K24 and receive a digital-only version of WWE 2K23, so you can keep the party going even after the Xbox Free Play weekend is over!
Phantom Abyss Optimized for Xbox Series X|S Phantom Abyss is a massive asynchronous multiplayer game that casts players into procedurally generated temples and tasks them with retrieving the sacred relics hidden within deadly chambers. Intrepid adventurers will dodge scores of hidden traps, leap treacherous chasms, and flee relentless guardians through branching paths until one of the relics are claimed or the devices of death overwhelm them. Be warned, you only get one attempt at each temple and failure means you will never see that temple again.
MX vs ATV Legends Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart Delivery Race your way to victory on bikes, ATVs and UTVs in MX vs ATV Legends! Featuring massive new open environments, plus a career mode that lets you experience all the risks and rewards of becoming a world-famous professional rider. Become an off-road racing legend in your own right! Your time is now!
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 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.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Core and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 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.
Hey everyone, are you ready to continue Aloy’s epic adventure on PC? On March 21, you’ll be able to explore the Forbidden West, battle awe-inspiring machines and encounter new tribes. Horizon Forbidden West is the beloved follow up to Guerrilla’s critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn, and this Complete Edition for PC also includes the Burning Shores expansion, which continues Aloy’s journey and takes players to a treacherous volcanic archipelago after completing the main quest.
Today we are excited to announce that the PC version of Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is now available for pre-purchase with bonus content, including:
Blacktide Outfit and Blacktide Bow* (available only with pre-purchase)
Nora Legacy Outfit and Nora Spear* (available only when linking your Steam account to PlayStation
Network)
2 Special Outfits (Carja Behemoth Elite and Nora Thunder Elite)
2 Special Weapons (Carja Behemoth Short Bow and Nora Thunder Sling)
In-game Resources Pack including ammunition, potions, and travel packs
In-game Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike Piece
Exclusive Photo Mode pose and face paint
Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PC features unlocked frame rates, customizable graphics settings and a broad range of performance-enhancing technologies, including NVIDIA DLSS 3 upscaling and frame generation. AMD FSR and Intel XeSS are also supported. For players with high-end hardware and extra headroom, image-enhancing NVIDIA DLAA is also available. The game leverages DirectStorage for quick loading times on PC.
On your journey in the far-future post-apocalyptic world of Horizon, you will discover a variety of highly detailed environments, including lush forests, sunken cities, vast deserts and impressive mountain ranges. With ultra-wide support, you’ll be able to take in the vistas in a panoramic view. Gameplay is supported in 21:9 ultra-wide, 32:9 super ultra-wide and even 48:9 resolutions with compatibility for triple-monitor setups.
Fully customizable mouse and keyboard controls let you traverse the Forbidden West and fight ferocious machines on your PC the way you want to. The game also features extensive controller support, including Steam Input support for remapping and customization of your peripheral of choice to your preferences. Use a PlayStation DualSense controller for the most immersive experience, with adaptive triggers that let you feel the tension in the string of your bow and haptic feedback that makes you feel the impact when you’re engaging in melee combat.
On behalf of everyone at Nixxes Software and Guerrilla, we can’t wait for you to jump back into the world of Aloy on PC! Head over to Steam or the Epic Games Store now to pre-purchase or wishlist the game.
