Dread Delusion developers Lovely Hellplace and their sinister backers at DreadXP have announced Entropy – a turn-based party RPG inspired by classic Japanese RPGs, which retains Dread Delusion’s fungal pixel aesthetics.
Like Final Fantasy 9, it starts with a theatre show. You play a rank thespian initially equipped with a simple prop sword. But then horrible creatures crash the stage, and it’s time to armour up your troupe and quest forth to snuff out a demon incursion. What’s the best Shakespeare line to invoke here, hmm. Ah yes: “target their elemental weaknesses!” Hamlet said that before he shanked Polonius through the curtain. No, don’t google to check, dear reader – I am in haste. Quickly, watch the below trailer.
Circana has released data for game and hardware sales for July 2025 in the US, and despite a competitive month, Donkey Kong Bananza has made a bit of a splash.
Taking You Back to School: Indie Selects for August 2025
Raymond Estrada, Deron Mann, Steven AllenID@Xbox Hall Monitors
Every Wednesday, dive into the Indie Select Hub—your gateway to a fresh, curated indie collection plus four themed spotlights that rotate weekly! You can always find this collection hub in the Xbox Store and on Xbox.com/IndieSelects.
Indie Selects is back for another month and, in honor of the new school year, we are pleased to inform you that the (definitely, absolutely real) ID@Xbox School of Independent Gamers has put together a curriculum of indie games that will give you an education in new ideas, advanced mechanics, and “having a really good time”. Here are the courses we think you should attend this month:
Platforming, Ninjas, and You with Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
Interpretive Loot-and-Shoot with Wildgate
The Politics of Ratshaking with, er, Ratshaker
Adrenaline 101 with Killing Floor 3
Illusionary Architecture Theory with Monument Valley 3
Advanced Communication and Coordination with Ready or Not
Here’s more on what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
From the studio behind the Blasphemous series, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is a new 2D action platformer that serves as a side-quel to Ninja Gaiden (NES), with all the modern-retro polish that publisher Dotemu (Streets of Rage 4, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge) has become known for. Players control Kenji, a student of Ryu Hayabusa (franchise main protag, former Halo 3 armor), who’s merged with a rival ninja, Kumori, to fight off a demon invasion… and maybe the CIA.
If you’re wondering whether this can capture the gratifying difficulty of classic Ninja Gaiden, well, I’d say the game is called “Ragebound” for a reason (please don’t roll your eyes). It’s hard but it feels rewarding.
A combination of compulsive storytelling and satisfying gameplay mechanics helped me overlook the hours I’ve accumulated fighting the same boss, or when navigating the unforgiving level design. The emphasis on combat mastery and skill has been a staple of the modern series, while the tight platforming, pattern recognition and frankly, punishing enemy placement has been around since its first title on the NES. Developer The Game Kitchen has done an excellent job of bridging the two eras of Ninja Gaiden – leveraging a refined, classic 2D formula as the base while interweaving the combat complexity of the later installments.
Don’t be discouraged by the promise of difficulty, though – Ragebound does a great job of onboarding new players, and the difficulty curve is pretty graceful between acts. It doesn’t feel sudden, rushed or unexpected and instead played well into the narrative. Things got harder as the situation for Kenji became worse, which made sense, so I couldn’t really be mad (even if I frequently was). Regardless of what this game put me through, I could not put it down – I recommend this to you if you’re into old-school action and gameplay, if you’re a fan of the franchise… or if you just like ninjas – Deron Mann
A NEW TWIST TO THE SIDE-SCROLLING NINJA GAIDEN SERIES EXPERIENCE
From the acclaimed team behind Blasphemous, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound successfully unites the classic lore and gameplay of the Tecmo-developed (now KOEI TECMO GAMES) NINJA GAIDEN series from the classic era with the depth and intensity of the modern 3D entries. The best of both eras come together to create an epic and thrilling adventure.
DIVE INTO AN UNTOLD CHAPTER OF THE NINJA GAIDEN SAGA
Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father’s will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu’s absence.
To stand against this new threat, Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from the Hayabusa Village, rises to the challenge! Trained by Ryu, he fights fiercely but soon finds himself in desperate straits. Forced to tap into forbidden power, Kenji sets aside centuries of animosity and forms an alliance with the sinister Black Spider Clan, convinced that combining their souls and skills is the only way to protect the world out of the Demon Lord’s grasp!
OLD SCHOOL GAMEPLAY WITH A BRAND-NEW POLISH
Combining old-school feeling with modern precision, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound retains the pick-up-and-play action of the classic titles, while introducing new layers of depth.
Alongside the new protagonist, Kenji Mozu, is the skilled assassin Kumori. Take control of these two powerful ninjas simultaneously and unravel their interconnected stories.
Use the Ninja Fusion to unleash devastating abilities and obliterate your enemies. NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound features impeccable mechanics that are easy to learn but hard to truly master, challenging the skills of even the most seasoned fans of the NINJA GAIDEN series!
A SPECTACULAR PIXEL ART SHOWDOWN
Step into a reimagined version of the classic NINJA GAIDEN universe, brought to life through stunning, meticulously crafted visuals. Every enemy is recreated with a level of detail that was once impossible.
The brutal, nostalgia-filled aesthetic of NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound pays homage to the past while pushing the boundaries of modern pixel art, making every battle a feast for the eyes.
Do you have what it takes to become a true ninja master?
Wildgate is a team-based PvPvE extraction shooter that throws players into the chaos of deep space, blending high-stakes spaceship battles with close-quarters crew combat. Each match features 20 space pirates called Prospectors split into squads of four. The mission? Dive into space, raid PvE dungeons for loot, upgrade your ship, outgun rival crews, secure the mysterious artifact, and make your escape through the Wildgate. The game features a variety of weapons and abilities to contend with, deadly environmental hazards, and, of course, loot worth fighting for. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like if Sea of Thieves and Overwatch had a baby—this is it.
From the very first match, it’s clear to me that Wildgate isn’t your typical multiplayer experience. Coordination over voice chat isn’t just helpful, but essential. You and your crew will be leaping from asteroid to asteroid, raiding different spots in pursuit of loot, upgrades, and the elusive artifact that everyone’s after. That means the faster you can be in and out, the less likely you are to run into an unexpected ambush.
But running and gunning is just half the battle, as your crew will have to coordinate piloting the ship, performing repairs, and boarding rival ships. With the right team, few things are more satisfying than hopping onto an enemy ship, picking it clean, and making a daring escape. But I’ve also been in squads that were either eerily silent or loud and chaotic – both of which can make the experience feel overwhelming or, worse, made us cannon fodder for more organized crews. You truly need to find a squad for this one.
Customization in Wildgate is impressively well-designed. Each of the characters you have to choose from, called Prospectors, have unique traits, loadouts, and a signature ability that can dramatically shift the tide of a match. Traits can include not needing to breathe, healing while aboard your ship, seeing through walls, or punching through enemy hulls, all of which can lead to some wild and memorable encounters with rival crews. The same goes for weapons, gear, and unlockable ships offering plenty of room for creative builds and min-maxing opportunities.
Wildgate’s design is layered and impressively polished, yet it still feels like it’s in its initial stages – there’s so much scope to grow from here. This could easily become a standout in the fiercely competitive extraction shooter genre as more content rolls out. If you’re a fan of the genre already, this needs to be in your queue – and if you’re a newcomer, get yourself a crew and come aboard – Raymond Estrada
Blast off into high-stakes spaceship battles and intense first-person shootouts, where no two matches are ever the same. If you want to claim the ultimate prize — the mysterious and priceless Artifact — you’ll need to improvise on the fly, whether it’s chasing down rival crews and stealing their gear, repairing your damaged ship, or scanning for precious resources.
Your ship is your home and lifeline — for you, and your prospector crew. Keep it topped up with ice, fuel and ammo so you’re ready for anyone or anything the Reach throws at you.
EPIC SPACESHIP BATTLES
Blast your enemies with hi-tech cannons and gadgets, lure them into deadly traps, or even mess with their ship… as long as they don’t sabotage yours first. When your perfect plan goes out the airlock, there’s only one option… wing it!
NEW ADVENTURES, EVERY MATCH
Stay one step ahead as you and your crew navigate the Reach — a vast, procedurally-generated map that changes with every game.
UNIQUE PROSPECTORS
Choose from a variety of daring prospectors, each with their own abilities and tools. Whether you’re a brave pilot or a clever trickster, there’s no wrong way to commit space crimes!
EXPLORE THE REACH
The Reach is a dangerous, unpredictable place, filled with deadly hazards and treasure beyond your wildest dreams. Navigate through cosmic storms, battle space vermin, and plunder alien ruins for lost caches of loot. Just make sure you beat the other prospectors to the punch, or you’ll fly away empty-handed!
OUTRUN OR OUTGUN
The Artifact is the most valuable object in the known universe. Be the first to find it, snatch it, and pass through the Wildgate, or destroy the ships of every other crew and be the last crew standing.
I still remember my first time booting up the original Killing Floor – the frantic reloads, the eerie silence before a wave, and the absolute panic when a Scrake rounded the corner. Killing Floor 2 dialed it all up: better weapons, bloodier battles, and a glorious soundtrack that made every fight feel like a metal concert in a warzone. So, when Killing Floor 3 dropped, I didn’t hesitate. I was already home.
Developed by Tripwire Interactive, Killing Floor 3 is a co-op FPS that throws you and your squad into the heart of a sci-fi nightmare. You’ll face relentless waves of Zeds – genetically engineered monstrosities that are faster, meaner, and somehow even uglier than before. The combat is crunchy and satisfying, the maps are drenched in neon and dread, and the pacing keeps you constantly on edge.
It’s everything longtime fans love, but sharper. The atmosphere feels like Doom and Aliens had a baby, raised in a bunker lit by strobe lights and soaked in adrenaline. I’ve spent hours perfecting my loadout, yelling “Cover me, I’m reloading!” with unnecessary action hero bravado , and laughing with friends as we barely survived wave ten.
Tripwire Interactive knows exactly what makes this franchise tick – and they’ve delivered a third chapter that’s as brutal and brilliant as ever. If you’ve been with the series since the beginning, Killing Floor 3 feels like a love letter to the chaos we grew up with – just louder, faster, and somehow even more fun. And if you’re new? Welcome to the party. Just don’t forget to heal your teammates. Or at least pretend you tried – Steven Allen
It’s 2091. Join up with Nightfall, the last line of defense against megacorp Horzine’s inhuman army of monstrous zeds. The future is in your hands… if you can survive long enough to reach it.
Killing Floor 3 is the next installment in the legendary action/horror series. This intense FPS puts you in the boots of a Nightfall specialist joining forces with up to five teammates to battle waves of Zeds, earn dosh, unlock skills, and build the ultimate arsenal.
KILLER CO-OP
Assemble the ultimate zed extermination squad for frenzied 6-player co-op. You can also brave the battlefield alone in tense single-player mode.
RELENTLESS ZEDS
Brace yourself for the most lethal zeds yet. Every enemy has been redesigned and retuned with smarter AI; making them faster, deadlier, and more strategic than ever.
SURVIVAL TECH
From flamethrowers to shotguns to katanas, you’ll have an expansive arsenal at your disposal. Customize your own unique brand of bloodletting with hundreds of mods, gadgets, and skills to choose from.
DANGEROUS LOCATIONS
Drop into a variety of treacherous hot zones where you’ll have to contain the further spread of the Outbreak. Thankfully, you can use the environment to your advantage by activating turrets, fans, and other devastating traps.
MORE GORE
Our MEAT System returns to deliver even more realistic carnage. Featuring additional points of dismemberment and persistent blood, the game responds to your attacks with gruesome authenticity.
Monument Valley 3, the newest installment in the acclaimed puzzle series, has arrived on Xbox. Renowned for its serene, visually captivating gameplay, this series challenges players with clever puzzles while immersing them in stunning, artful environments. With its fixed perspectives, Persian-inspired aesthetics, and mesmerizing Escher-like architecture, this latest chapter continues to offer a soothing yet stimulating experience that’s as beautiful as it is brain-bending.
New to the series? No worries! While Monument Valley 3 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, it tells a completely standalone story. With minimal dialogue and text, the game relies on subtle visual storytelling through movement, animation, and atmosphere to convey its themes. The crux of the story is that the world is crumbling, the water is rising, and you must find a way to restore light back into the world by navigating architecture-based puzzles.
After the introduction, you’ll find yourself guiding the protagonist, Noor, to the exit of each area by moving parts of the environment around – the architecture bending reality through optical illusions. Structures that go across an axis can sometimes blend into one another, changing the structure of the environment just by altering its perspective. At times, it feels like solving a living Magic Eye puzzle – spotting the hidden path can make your eyes work overtime.
The puzzle difficulty in Monument Valley 3 ramps up nicely. Early levels gently ease you into the game’s signature perspective-shifting mechanics before gradually presenting more and more intricate challenges that will have you scanning every detail for clues. A standout new feature in this installment is the addition of a boat, which you can navigate across rising waters. This mechanic adds a new layer of complexity, especially in puzzles that require you to coordinate movement between multiple areas to progress.
Monument Valley 3 is a beautiful, bite-sized puzzler that is very enjoyable while it lasts. I would recommend it for anyone that enjoys a calm serene puzzle but won’t get frustrated when the answer is literally staring you in the face – Raymond Estrada
Set sail for adventure in MONUMENT VALLEY 3, a brand new story in the award-winning Monument Valley series.
Guide Noor, an apprentice lightkeeper, through impossible monuments, shifting landscapes, and tranquil seascapes to uncover the Sacred Light and save her home.
Monument Valley 3 takes you beyond the monuments and into the open sea. As Noor, you’ll navigate stunning, changing environments, solve mind-bending puzzles, and uncover the secrets of the Sacred Light. With her village threatened by rising tides, Noor must chart her own course—and discover her own strength—in this stunning, emotional adventure.
Sail between geometry, manipulate architecture to reveal hidden paths, and let the iconic soundtrack guide you forward. With new mechanics, breathtaking visuals, and the series’ signature charm, Monument Valley 3 is a voyage like no other.
Features:
– Defy Perspective: Rotate and manipulate the environment to reveal hidden paths, solve intricate puzzles
– Uncover The Mystery: Help Noor unlock the secrets of this ever-changing world.
– Beautiful Art: A stunning world inspired by modern design, global architecture and hand-crafted, personal stories.
– Every Update Included: Full Story is included, with brand new updates to come
Adventure awaits—will you uncover the light that guides the way?
ustwo games are proud independent developers, best known for the award-winning Monument Valley series, Land’s End, Assemble with Care and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure.
Every so often, a game comes along that defies neat descriptions. RatShaker is one of those. It’s short, strange, and unlike anything else I’ve played on Xbox and that’s exactly why it stuck with me. This isn’t the kind of game where you grind levels or chase loot. Instead, RatShaker asks you to slow down, lean into the absurd, and let yourself experience something that feels more like an experiment than a traditional adventure. The controls are simple, the pacing deliberate, and yet the effect is oddly captivating.
This is a game for players who appreciate the unconventional. If you enjoy titles like What Remains of Edith Finch, The Stanley Parable, or Don’t Touch Anything, you’ll likely find RatShaker intriguing. It’s perfect for those who value atmosphere, experimental design, and games that make you think (or squirm). If I had to pin it down, I’d call RatShaker a surreal narrative experience with elements of psychological comedy. It blends interactive storytelling with absurdist humor and a touch of eerie tension – think walking simulator meets performance art.
What impressed me most was how RatShaker balances its humor and its tension. It never feels like it’s trying to be a blockbuster or a polished crowd-pleaser – instead, it leans fully into its own identity. You’re invited to play along, to laugh, to feel uneasy, and, above all, to experience something you probably didn’t expect when you pressed start. It’s the kind of game I recommend not because it’s “fun” in the conventional sense, but because it’s memorable.
You’ll finish RatShaker in one sitting. It’s roughly 1 to 2 hours, depending on how much you explore or linger. It’s designed to be brief but impactful. You might finish RatShaker in an evening, but you’ll likely be thinking about it the next day, wondering how such a simple idea managed to get under your skin in such a playful way. If you’re looking for something different, something you can’t quite compare to anything else, RatShaker won’t be easily shaken after you finish – Steven Allen
RATSHAKER – The Ultimate Solution to All Your RAT Problems!
Tired of pests taking over your space? Say goodbye to them for good with RATSHAKER, the revolutionary new way to deal with unwanted pests! Just take and shake, and RATSHAKER does the rest. No traps, no mess, no unmarked disposal barrels!
With RATSHAKER, you take control! Feel the satisfaction of watching the meter rise as you shake that rat into submission. The more you shake, the closer you get to solving your problems for good. Fast-acting, easy to use, and highly effective, RATSHAKER ensures your space stays problem-free in no time.
Developed by Void Interactive, Ready or Not is a co-op FPS that puts you in the boots of a SWAT officer called in when things go from bad to worse. Hostage rescues. Barricaded suspects. Active threats. The tension is relentless, but the game makes it thrilling, not overwhelming. You don’t need to memorize military jargon or master complex controls. Just grab your gear, trust your squad, and try not to flashbang yourself (again). So, it started with a simple plan: hop online, play a few rounds, and maybe not embarrass myself. I’d heard Ready or Not was intense, but I figured, how hard could it be? Then came the mission.
A quiet suburban house. The briefing said, “hostage situation.” My brain said, “don’t mess this up.” We stacked up at the door, flashbangs ready, hearts pounding. Two floors cleared. One room left. The hallway was silent, too silent. Lights flickered. A suspect shouted from behind the locked door. My team waited for my signal. I nodded. Breach. Flash. Chaos. Victory. Fist-bump.
Since then, I’ve spent countless evenings laughing, learning, and slowly mastering the art of clearing rooms without yelling “clear!” into empty hallways. It’s got the tension of Rainbow Six Siege, but with more breathing room and a slower, more deliberate pace. Ready or Not doesn’t ask if you’re prepared, it surrounds you with silence, pressure, and the kind of intensity that makes you lean in. And once you’re in, you won’t want to leave – Steven Allen
Become an elite SWAT commander and bring order to a city overwhelmed by chaos and corruption.
Lead a team of highly-trained SWAT officers through harrowing, high-risk missions against violent, cruel and calculated criminals to stop the city from spiralling into disorder. Equip real-world weapons and gear to tackle missions inspired by current events against Los Sueňos’ ruthless criminal element.
Every decision, from squad selection to tactical breach and engagement is the difference between life and death.
Are you ready?
FEATURES
Take Command
Ready or Not delivers an immersive SWAT experience. Equip your team with authentic weapons and gear, deploy into high-stakes, real-world inspired missions to secure locations concealing unknown criminal threats and potential civilians. Every mission demands tactical precision and situational awareness. Bullets from known and concealed threats react realistically with the environment, passing through walls, furniture and bodies. Cover your six, clear your corners, apprehend the threats and rescue the innocent.
The Weight of the Badge
Shoulder the weight of being a SWAT commander entrusted with confronting Los Sueňos’ criminal corruption and stopping it from overwhelming the city’s citizens. Every tactical decision matters, every outcome is yours to bear. Your choices in the field dictate mission success, the survival of your squad and the safety of hostages. Squadmate and hostage deaths take a profound psychological toll on surviving team members, affecting their performance or ending their careers altogether.
True Tactical Gameplay
Ready or Not is a true tactical shooter. Every mission is a high-stakes, life-or-death operation. Strategically forge your squad of elite SWAT officers, equip them with the right weapons and gear for the mission, position your team to tactically breach criminal strongholds and quickly identify and neutralize threats in tense, life threatening scenarios. Follow the rules of engagement, communicate with your team, and execute flawlessly – failure is for the unprepared.
Your Mission is the Story
Ready or Not confronts you with a raw, unflinching mirror of real-world crime, exposing the horrors of human trafficking, drug running, illegal arms dealing, militant extremism and terrorism through interwoven storylines that span multiple missions. Grapple with moral dilemmas as you’re forced to balance your duty to exercise constraint in the face of Los Sueňos’ most vile criminals.
Cross-Comradery
Team up with friends to stem the tide of crime infesting the city. Enhanced with crossplay, Ready or Not supports up to five players in a co-operative tactical experience on all platforms. Communicate effectively to increase your tactical precision, watch your squad’s back and successfully complete your mission.
Fifteen years since its last release, the Skate series returns with an entry that turns a whole city into a skater’s paradise. The newest Skate is a free-to-play open world where you can take on a series of challenges, spectate other skaters, team up with friends, or challenge other players to throw down and trade tricks.
Electronic Arts pulled the curtain back on Skate with a hands-on preview of Early Access ahead of its September 16 release. I shredded and slammed across the city of San Vansterdam for nine hours and saw a whole lot of what developer Full Circle has to offer. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.
Flick-It returns — When it was released back in 2007, Skate introduced the “Flick-It” control system, where executing tricks is done with fast flicking movements of the right control stick, to better simulate the sense of pulling off ollies and kickflips. Full Circle says that it didn’t rebuild Flick-It, it “resurrected” it, with improvements to the controls to make them easier to learn and use for newbies, but with all the nuance veterans expect.
Flick-It comes with three control schemes. The Streamlined version makes snapping off tricks intuitive and a bit easier than in previous games, with flicking up on the right stick enough to ollie and your character pushing your skateboard automatically as you steer with the left stick.
Classic feels familiar to Skate fans—pushing the skateboard is done with Square or X, and you need to flick the stick down to set and then up to jump, with lots of different patterns for more complex tricks.
Finally, there’s the Experienced level, which provides even more nuanced control but removes the Flick diagram from your screen.
If you need a hand remembering the moves, Skatepedia is always just a menu away to show you how to do every trick in the game.
A city of skating — San Vansterdam is a big, open place, and the game dots many locations with challenges to put you through your paces.
Lines task you with doing tricks and hitting a certain score along a specific series of obstacles, grabbing icons along the way.
In Own the Spot, you’re looking to hit a high score in a location, while trying to knock out a certain set of tricks in a single sequence.
Session gives you a free-form, timed opportunity to rack up a high score in a larger location.
And in Stunt challenges, you fling yourself off high places and ragdoll through ridiculous requirements. These ones were my favorite of everything I played in Skate, and they’re always hilarious.
There are also missions that will teach you the ropes of how to play and perform different tricks if you’re new to Skate
Parkour and Exploration — Finding skate spots off the beaten path is another big part of the fun of San Vansterdam. You can hop off your board anywhere by hitting Triangle and then use X to jump and climb walls or scale buildings to look for new places to Skate
San Vansterdam also has rotating community parks you can find around the city, so there’s always something fresh to Skate
Quick Drop lets you make your own spots — You’re not stuck skating the spots and challenges the developers have created, either. Pressing down on the D-pad opens up your radial Tool Box, where you can find the Quick Drop menu. You can instantly add your own ramps, grind rails, and other objects to any location to create your own spots, or improvise a solution to a problem, like jumping a big gap. Other players can skate your Quick Drops, too.
Progression and Customization — Clearing missions and leveling up your reputation in each neighborhood unlocks new customization and drop items. Credits you earn from rewards can be used to buy more random cosmetics from each neighborhood to unlock new looks, decks, and other options.
Spectating and Spectaporting — The big benefit of Skate’s always-online, free-to-play nature is you’re constantly able to play with other skaters. Tapping the Touchpad on your DualSense controller brings up the map and menu tabs, where you can find your social options. Here, you can see everyone else in your server, spectate what they’re doing, and even instantly “spectaport” to their location to say hi or skate the same spot. Full Circle says servers will support up to 150 players at a time, so there will always be other people skating San Vansterdam with you.
Replay editor — It’s quick and easy to create clips of your best moments (or most painful fails). You can access the Replay Editor from your Tool Box menu at any time, which captures the last few minutes of your session and lets you edit, save, and share videos.
Grabster — One of the cooler ways skate makes San Vansterdam feel alive is by supplying it with a ton of diegetic music, coming from everything from store displays to passing cars’ speakers. You can grab any song you like by holding R3 to add it to your personal playlist.
Even over just a handful of hours in San Vansterdam, it’s clear Skate puts a ludicrous amount of skating opportunities on offer, with plenty of ways for players to have fun together and get creative, as well.
The good news is that you can see for yourself when Skate hits PlayStation 4 and Playstation 5 in Early Access on September 16.
Sony has announced its PlayStation Plus monthly lineup of games for September 2025, which includes a Xbox-published title and a hugely popular farming sim.
Further solidifying the friendship between Xbox and PlayStation, next month’s list is headlined by Psychonauts 2, the platform-adventure from Tim Schafer’s Doublefine Studios, which is of course owned by Microsoft. This quirky sequel launched to positive reviews (and no, you don’t need to have played the first).
Next up is Stardew Valley, the charming life and farming simulation which really doesn’t need much introduction. If you don’t yet own a copy or three of this beloved indie game, now’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about. Just don’t expect to do anything else for the next dozen hours, as it gets its hooks into you.
Finally this month, there’s Viewfinder. A mix of photo mode and first-person puzzle game, this well-received indie first launched in 2023 and boggled all our brains with its perspective-warping levels and extremely smart gameplay.
All three games will be available to claim from September 2 onwards. And, as ever, you have just a couple of days left to add August’s PlayStation Plus games to your library. Act now to nab Lies of P, Day Z and My Hero One’s Justice 2, before they leave the subscription service on September 1.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
Regardless of what’s been said about the game to date, Resident Evil: Requiem’s director and producer want you to know that the title — scheduled for release in 2026, the series’ 30th anniversary year — has more going on than a simple focus on nostalgia.
It’s perhaps an odd thing to hear, as Capcom itself has highlighted how Resident Evil Requiem will return to the survival horror series’ roots back in Raccoon City, after several games set elsewhere. And it’ll be there, in the crumbling remnants of the series’ past, that Capcom has also promised players will find answers to lingering story threads and open questions from decades ago.
But despite all of this, and despite the huge ongoing speculation over Leon S. Kennedy’s potential presence in the game (something Capcom specifically declined to comment on to IGN), Capcom is keen for Requiem to be seen as more than just a look back into the franchise’s past. Speaking to IGN last week at Gamescom, in a question specifically about the current focus of fan debate, producer Masato Kumazawa made it clear that Requiem would end up being as much about the series’ future, as well as its origins.
“We love checking out the conversations that are happening,” Kumazawa said, “but this isn’t a game which is entirely focused on looking back. And we’re back in Raccoon City, but that’s not the only location in the game,” he revealed.
Indeed, while Requiem’s release has lined up with the Resident Evil series’ 30th anniversary next year, Kumazawa made clear that this was not the project’s initial plan — perhaps suggesting that fans expecting some kind of long-planned grand finale might need to adjust their expectations.
“It’s coming out in the 30th anniversary, but it wasn’t planned that way,” Kumazawa said. “It just ended up with the development was finished and the game is ready to release in 2026, which is the 30th anniversary.
“It wasn’t built in to be an anniversary title that is only backward facing,” he continued. “So there’s a lot more to the game than just the series’ legacy. We didn’t call it Resident Evil 9 after all. There’s a clue in the logo type, but ultimately the name is Resident Evil Requiem.”
When asked by IGN whether Capcom felt the need to cater to fans who want to see familiar things return, Requiem director Koshi Nakanishi said this was “tough to answer without getting into too much we’re not ready to talk about yet.”
“We know that people expect to be surprised or pleasantly surprised whenever they, like you say, they get the connections or they’re happy to see this or that they’re familiar with coming back,” Nakanishi said, without mentioning any character in particular.
“But I’m sure that people will be happy when they see how we’ve managed to blend a fresh approach and a fresh new character with also things that fans will recognize.”
We’re back again, gang. Bang bang. The Doom modder behind Fallout: Bakersfield, which recreates the city of Necropolis from the original Fallout as the backdrop to irradiated boomer shooting, has followed up their first trailer in ages with some more footage of the mod in action.
Alexander ‘Red888guns’ Berezin, the modder in question, caught most of us off guard last month, when he whipped out that trailer for a GZDoom WAD plenty had assumed wouldn’t ever see the light of day. After all, Berezin had plenty of other stuff on his plate. He’s definitely working hard to show it off now, though.
In honor of the 34th anniversary of Mario Kart, which was released in Japan on August 27, 1991, IGN Dealsis giving away a Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle to one lucky winner! (That’s not all: IGN Deals Twitter/X is ALSO giving away a Mario LEGO set; you can enter until Sept 1).
So… what’s the catch with this Switch 2 giveaway? We want to invite you to be part of our email Deals $quad. So by entering this giveaway, you will be opted into our IGN Deals’ newsletters for the latest and greatest deals sent straight to your inbox each day. Enter for the giveaway, but stick around for the killer curated deals. That’s it! See details on how to enter this sweepstakes below.
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Mario Kart first hit the Super Famicom on August 27, 1992, and to celebrate its anniversary I’m giving away a LEGO Mario Kart set. To enter, make sure you’re following this account and reply #mariokartanniversary for your chance to win. pic.twitter.com/0wxL75Zqgv
We built the Mario Kart LEGO set earlier this year, and it’s truly a build that everyone can love. Casual builders will appreciate its bright primary colors and its chunky parts, while experienced LEGO builders will appreciate the intricacy of the Kart’s construction.
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As a reminder, this is the same base game as the 2022 3D platformer, with a bunch of new content in the shape of additional ‘Star-Crossed’ levels, new Mouthful Modes and more. It also makes the most of the Switch 2’s boosted power, offering crisp 60fps gameplay, no matter which mode you play.
No Man’s Sky Voyagers Update Ushers in a Whole New Dimension to Ship-Building
Sean MurrayFounder, Hello Games
Summary
On our 9th anniversary, the 6.0 update for No Man’s Sky, Voyagers, is available today, free to existing Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass players
Players can now build their own large multi-crew starships, and are able to customize them inside and out.
Fellow travellers can be invited to journey with you in your new starship. Why not set to autopilot and hang out as you watch the universe whizz by?
Ship customisation is just one of a large number of quality of life updates ushered in by Voyagers, our biggest update of the year.
It’s been gratifying to see so many Xbox and Game Pass players return to the No Man’s Sky universe to take command of the all-new planetary settlements after the Beacon update a few months ago. In the background, the tiny team at Hello Games have been hard at work and today we’re pleased to reveal perhaps our biggest update of the year. The Voyagers update launches today and is free to existing players.
Spaceships have always been my favourite thing, the coolest thing. Give me any sci-fi film or novel or game, and I want to talk to you about the spaceships in it! I can draw you a map of the Millennium Falcon, or the Nostromo – those are important characters in those worlds. I know for our team and our players it’s that same feeling. Your ship is maybe the most important character in No Man’s Sky.
What if we could build our own ships? With real interiors, med-bays, sleeping quarters, war rooms? What if we could get out of the cockpit seat mid-flight, wander around, look out the window as the universe flies by? What if we could share our ship with friends, to build a crew and adventure together? That’s a fantasy we’ve had for the longest time. I’m sure players never thought it would happen, but it’s something we’ve been working towards for years.
This has been just a huge undertaking for our small team. Starships move at incredible speed, and to add a player calmly walking around inside a ship that is hurtling through space brings up all sorts of physics and game development problems (suddenly you have to think about relative space!).
We went even further, allowing networked crewmates to walk about inside too, networking with each other, whilst also travelling at vast speed on a networked ship. To take it even further we allow players to edit and decorate those ships around them, whilst pulsing through space or flying over a planet. It’s one of the harder game development problems!
Building your own ship, decorating it with friends, your own space that you share together – there really isn’t anything like it. Those moments where you look out the cockpit as a Space Station spins into view. Opening the airlock to rush out and discover a new planet, our returning home to your new custom ship from a hazardous environment. It feels so different and new.
Voyagers is version 6.0 of No Man’s Sky, which for us represents a big milestone. It’s honestly one of our biggest updates ever, and what I love about it is it opens up a whole new path that we will want to build on and expand in future.
Really though, we see each update as another step on a much longer journey. Sometimes we will put a lot of work into something that the community will perceive as small, but we know is important for the future. Sometimes something that was easier for us is actually really meaningful to the community – those are great too! The most satisfying part is when we’ve put in a lot of hard work for something we know is really meaningful to players, and I think Voyagers is luckily one of those updates – a lot of hard work to create something really meaningful for the future.
The best thing about No Man’s Sky continues to be the community. Something about the game attracts the best, most welcoming players. As long as players keep coming back to enjoy the content we’re making, and as long as the team is enjoying coming up with crazily ambitious stuff like Voyagers, then we are happy!
Behind the scenes, our new game, Light No Fire, is really coming along well. Honestly we always presumed that No Man’s Sky would have sailed off into the sunset long before Light No Fire ever saw the light of day. If anything, from a player and team perspective, No Man’s Sky is more vibrant now than ever, and both projects are benefitting from each other.
The Voyagers update (6.0) is available now, free to existing players. Our journey continues.
No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 29 major updates up to and including Worlds Part I.
Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.
In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.
Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.
Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.
Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…
– The Ultimate Solution to All Your RAT Problems!
