How WWE 2K25’s Island is Breathing New Life into Wrestling Video Games

Malik Prince, Xbox Communications Manager

Summary

WWE 2K25’s The Island is a first of its kind, free-roam experience for the series.
On the latest episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Creative Director Lynell Jinks explained how this new feature came about.
WWE 2K25 launches early access on March 7 with the Deadman Edition and The Bloodline Edition. Players around the world can jump in on release day, March 14.

For decades, video games and WWE have formed an undeniable bond. Beyond being the most painless and advisable way to live out your dreams of becoming a WWE Superstar, the two have also shared a similarly passionate fan base. From the greatest wrestling game of all time (my opinion), No Mercy on Nintendo 64, to the iconic SmackDown series, developers around the world have repeatedly returned to recreate the magic of the squared circle. And now, the WWE 2K series walks down the ramp once again with WWE 2K25, launching with the Deadman Edition and The Bloodline Edition on March 7, and the WWE 2K25 Standard Edition on March 14.

The folks over at 2K Games and Visual Concepts have the massive task of bringing players something fresh every year. And to be sure, with the all-new Showcase featuring The Bloodline’s Dynasty, intergender matches, over 300 playable characters, improvements to fan-favorite modes like MyGM mode and so much more, they’re doing just that.

But the team wanted more. A mode that would require them to step out of their comfort zone (and the ring). Enter… The Island, a first-of-its-kind feature to let WWE 2K players rule beyond the ring. This brand-new online mode available on Xbox Series X|S allows you to enjoy a free-roam, WWE-inspired experience that can include up to 50 players at a time on Xbox Series X|S. To see this new feature in action, I was invited to WWE 2K25 Creator Fest, an annual event for creators and community, and spoke with some of the team behind the creation of The Island.

Fans of the WWE 2K series’ sibling franchise, NBA 2K, may recognize the concept from “The City,” but on the latest episode of the Official Xbox Podcast, Lynell Jinks, Creative Director of WWE 2K25, explained how it was really a starting point from which to build – but also touched on the creative dilemma this raised.

“It’s trying to figure out how the hell we not only develop a game that people are extremely passionate about, and support all the modes that they’re accustomed to — and add new match types and new stories — but build an online environment with 49 of your other closest friends on [a] server [to] play matches, go through the story and progression, and unlock cool things,” Jinks says.

Upon starting The Island you’re presented with a backstage report from WWE announcer Cathy Kelley that fans have been left reeling from an announcement made by Roman Reigns earlier in the day. Cut to the Original Tribal Chief (OTC) himself, with The Wiseman Paul Heyman ever by his side, announcing that there’s a vacancy on The Island of Relevancy, a name fit for the ever-present struggle of a WWE Superstar.

Heyman then goes on to drive home the true motivation for you as the player — a competition like no other will soon take place. You will be thrust on to The Island and the winner will be granted a WWE contract and, of course, the respect of your OTC. And in that moment, I truly couldn’t help but wonder which prize was more valuable — the prospect of a life-changing WWE contract, and its seeming equivalence to gaining reverence from Roman. This entire segment felt so much like it was pulled straight from an episode of “Monday Night Raw,” which contributed to giving the mode the proper motivation and the necessary weight.

The experience starts with crafting your MySuperstar. WWE fans know that it takes more than executing fancy moves to make a name for yourself – it’s about the whole package, including your presentation. The greatest WWE Superstars all have notable levels of flair and aura.

It’s at this point that The Island almost becomes a role-playing game to me. You truly build your MySuperstar from the ground up, selecting options and moving sliders across several different categories including gender, background, archetype, body type, weight class and more. My build is a high-flying, heavyweight, social media influencer who specializes in speed named Malik Millions. With 49 other players joining you in this space, I felt that MySuperstar specs and background would not only look the part and turn heads, but be respected as I roamed across the mode’s districts.

And then you’re off, free to explore The Island. If you’ve ever been to WWE World at WrestleMania, think of The Island as the virtual representation of that but taken to a whole new level. In addition to other players, you’ll see NPC members of the WWE Universe roaming around, branded shops like Nike for you to drip-out your Superstars, pop-up shops that play on the various gimmicks of other WWE Superstars and much more. At the center of this opening location is a towering reminder of why you’re competing on The Island of Relevancy — a looming golden statue of OTC Roman Reigns towers over the hub as if almost to remind you that he’s always watching.

The locations of The Island are just as flashy as the players who roam it. Taking place across four distinct, themed districts from the neon-lit Arcade of Tomorrow to the Undertaker-inspired Deadlands. Each location brings with it unique vibes and challenges for players to explore. My time at the event was limited so I didn’t get to dive into each district as deeply as I wanted, so you can bet exploring each will be near the top of my to-do list when the game releases. From a quick glance, they’ll of course be welcoming players who don’t keep up with WWE programming, but members of the WWE Universe will get the most out of it.

“[We’re] trying to focus on making sure that people are having fun with their friends in this online world where it’s just WWE pop culture, right? There’s so much fanfare in there. You’re just like, ‘oh, look at that Easter egg,’” says Jinks.

And as with any great rivalry in WWE, all roads lead back to the ring. You’ll compete in arenas themed after the district they’re located in and come with pre-defined match types. In Arcade of Tomorrow, an Extreme Rules match was presented where you’re tasked with winning by any means necessary. Once selected, you’re put into matchmaking to take on another real-life player’s MySuperstar.

Themed arenas aside, it’s once I stepped in the ring for a match that it became apparent that that’s where years of constant innovation and refinement pays off with WWE 2K25. From the moment I locked-up against my opponent, I was hit with new and returning aspects of gameplay.

My favorite by far was chain wrestling, a visual ballet-esque dance between competitors that has become a staple of early match strategy in WWE bouts. You and your opponent compete across a series of controller inputs that require you to outwit your rival. You use the left stick to select one of a few different maneuvers and then compete against your opponent to fill up a circular meter that allows you to either execute that move or counter.

Attacks turn into submission holds, which then get reversed and allow you to re-take control. It felt like the most rewarding game of rock-paper-scissors (that also happened to allow you to inflict pain on your opponent and showcase a high level of in-ring technique). Seeing MySuperstar use a cartwheel to get out of an arm wrench and seamlessly enter a hold of his own and knowing I was in control as the player the whole seemingly provided a new dimension of agency.

As you progress through each match, you can continue to take your opponent to school in the way you see fit or fulfill in-match objectives that will increase the score of your match which is graded on a 5-star system. Whether it’s on The Island or just in exhibition matches, the gameplay feels as polished as it’s ever felt in any wrestling game I’ve played in my 25 years of playing, dating back to WrestleMania 2000.

Every emotional up and down can be experienced in one of these matches. From a triumphant comeback to a classic David vs Goliath upset, to the build up to a sick announcer table spot. When you see tiny details like a wrestler using the ropes to drag themselves off the mat to their feet, it’s one of countless reminders of why I love the art form of professional wrestling and why WWE 2K25 simply gets the storytelling right. Perfectly leaning on its simulation roots but allowing you to be as wild as you want to be within those bounds.

Another result of The Island’s inclusion in the game is that, for the first time in WWE 2K franchise history, intergender matches are allowed. I played a match in which Rhea Ripley took on her ex-lover Dominik Mysterio and got all the payback she’s been due – a storyline that historically wouldn’t have been possible in previous games. Even small details such as the commentary adjusting were accounted for.

For years the WWE 2K games have added modes and matchups to sweeten the offerings but it’s hard not to walk away from this event and my time with The Island feeling like this is one of the most impactful additions in a long time, if not ever. The team continually communicated the influence that this mode had on their development cycle. It’s not just adding a mode. It’s the time it takes to build each space, the insistence to build out the infrastructure for a stable open-roam space, the dedication to study WWE history for the hardcore fans, the level of dedication to the scripting within the mode and fleshing out the personalization and customization. It’s ensuring all these pieces come together to accomplish the goal of “fun” that the team was laser-focused on.

All of that barely scratches the surface of the time you’ll spend on The Island. As I was playing, it truly dawned on me that the yearly task of building a game that can live up to the expectations of WWE video game fans is a daunting yet rewarding one. However, Producer of WWE 2K25, Bryan Williams best stated what continues to drive the team. The answer is a relentlessly passionate group of developers: “This is the best group of people that I’ve worked with…and I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years.”

The Island is merely one of the many experiences you can expect when WWE 2K25 launches in early access on March 7 with the Deadman Edition and The Bloodline Edition, then March 14 for WWE 2K25 Standard Edition. Players who purchase the Deadman Edition on Xbox Series X|S will walk away with something even more special from the team at Visual Concepts: a dynamic background featuring The Undertaker.

WWE 2K25 The Bloodline Edition

☆☆☆☆☆
336

★★★★★

$129.99

Pre-order

Pre-order* WWE 2K25 The Bloodline Edition for up to 7-day Early Access and WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (digital) while you wait!

The Bloodline Edition includes:
•The Bloodline Edition Bonus Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite Collection Greatest Hits Roman Reigns
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite Series 114 Jey Uso
-The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S only): Family Above All Hoodie, OTC Shirt, Yeet Tank Top + Sunglasses
•WrestleMania 41 Pack (Available Summer 2025)**
-WrestleMania 41 Arena
-MyFACTION Persona Card: New playable Superstar (TBA)
-MyFACTION Persona Card: WrestleMania Main Event #1 (TBA)
-MyFACTION Persona Card: WrestleMania Main Event #2 (TBA)
•The Rock Nation of Domination Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: The Rock (Nation of Domination) (not available for individual purchase)
•Ringside Pass
-Season Pass
-5 post-launch DLC Character Packs
-SuperCharger
-Superstar Mega-Boost
-MyRISE Boost
-100K VC
•Deadman Edition Bonus Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Undertaker ‘90
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Undertaker**
-Usable Urn**
-Brother Love Manager
-The Island Cosmetic (Xbox Series X|S only): Undertaker ‘95 Mask
•Wyatt Sicks Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Cards: Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erick Rowan
-The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S only):
-Uncle Howdy Mask
-Nikki Cross Mask
•15,000 VC

RULE BEYOND THE RING
In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S—an immersive WWE-themed world with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR.

2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE’S DYNASTY
The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.

EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise! Chain wrestling makes a return, plus Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more.

MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM 4-player online multiplayer! Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.

YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
New upgrades give greater control over your Universe experience. Promos are back with multiple types and outcomes featuring new cutscenes and branching choices.

A UNIFIED MyRISE
Your Superstar takes center stage in an all-new intergender storyline with new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, objects + more.

A ROSTER FOR THE AGES
WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth “Freakin” Rollins, Undertaker, “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more.

*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Digital copy of WWE 2K24 will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K25 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K24 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K24 from platform account. Terms apply.

**Exact release date of the WrestleMania 41 Pack content, Mattel Greatest Hits Undertaker and Usable Urn to be announced post-launch and subject to change.

Certain features of the game, including online multiplayer, communication and other online features, may not be accessible by child accounts. A child means players under the age of 13, unless local laws specify differently.

Purchase grants a license to the digital product subject to the Terms of Service (“ToS”) and Privacy Policy in game and at www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy. Access to special/bonus/online features, content, services, or functions (“Special Features”), may require single-use serial code, additional fee, and/or online account registration (minimum age varies). Special Features may require internet connection, may not be available to all users or at all times, and may be terminated, modified, or offered under different terms in accordance with the ToS. See https://bit.ly/2K-Online-Services-Status for availability of certain Special Features. Violation of the ToS may result in restriction or termination of access to game or online account.

WWE 2K25 Deadman Edition

☆☆☆☆☆
270

★★★★★

$99.99

Pre-order

Pre-order* WWE 2K25 Deadman Edition for up to 7-day Early Access and WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (digital) while you wait!

Deadman Edition includes:
•Deadman Bonus Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Undertaker ‘90
-MyFACTION Persona Card: Mattel Elite “Greatest Hits” Undertaker**
-Usable Urn**
-Brother Love Manager
-The Island Cosmetic (Xbox Series X|S only):
Undertaker ‘95 Mask
•Season Pass
-5 post-launch DLC Character Packs
-SuperCharger
•Wyatt Sicks Pack
-MyFACTION Persona Cards for:
Uncle Howdy
Dexter Lumis
Nikki Cross
Joe Gacy
Erick Rowan
-The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S only):
Uncle Howdy Mask
Nikki Cross Mask
•15,000 VC

EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in WWE 2K! Chain wrestling makes a return, plus Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving and more.

MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM, now featuring online multiplayer! Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.

YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
WWE 2K’s sandbox mode receives new upgrades to give players greater control over their Universe experience, including the long-awaited return of Promos! The new system includes multiple promo types and outcomes with new cutscenes and branching choices.

A UNIFIED MyRISE
Your Superstar takes center stage in an intergender storyline, infiltrating NXT to fight for dominance over the entire WWE Universe. Includes new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, and new storylines involving Bayley, Kevin Owens, Jey Uso, Bianca Belair, and other Superstars.

**Exact release date of the Mattel Elite Collection Greatest Hits Undertaker and Usable Urn to be announced post-launch and subject to change.

WWE 2K25 Standard Edition

☆☆☆☆☆
200

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Pre-order now to get the Wyatt Sicks Pack.* Plus you’ll receive WWE 2K24 Standard Edition (digital) to play while you wait!**

Wyatt Sicks Pack includes:
•MyFACTION Persona Cards for:
-Uncle Howdy
-Dexter Lumis
-Nikki Cross
-Joe Gacy
-Erick Rowan
•The Island Cosmetics (Xbox Series X|S Only):
-Uncle Howdy Mask
-Nikki Cross Mask

RULE BEYOND THE RING
In a franchise first, step outside the ropes and onto The Island for Xbox Series X|S—an immersive, WWE-themed world filled with epic arenas, challenges, and live events. Fight to join the Bloodline with “The Original Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns, as you upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR through multiple storyline chapters.

EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise! Additional features include the return of chain wrestling, Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving, and more.

MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM, now featuring online multiplayer. Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.

YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
New upgrades give greater control over your Universe experience featuring commentary-driven promos with new cutscenes, branching choices, and multiple outcomes.

A UNIFIED MyRISE
Take control of your Superstar from the women’s or men’s divisions in a singular multi-gender MyRISE storyline where Bayley, Kevin Owens, and other Superstars infiltrate NXT in an attempt to take control of the entire WWE universe. Featuring new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, and more—plus new ally storylines involving Jey Uso, Bianca Belair, and other WWE Superstars.

*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Uncle Howdy Mask cosmetic and Nikki Cross Mask cosmetic included for Xbox Series X|S version of WWE 2K25 only. Items will be automatically entitled in-game. The Wyatt Sicks Pack is included with Deadman and The Bloodline Editions. Terms apply.

**Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2025. Digital copy of WWE 2K24 will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K25 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K24 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K24 from platform account. Terms apply.

Software Terms of Service (ToS) in game and at www.take2games.com/legal. Non-transferable access to special features, such as exclusive/unlockable/downloadable/online & bonus content/services/functions/multiplayer services, may require single-use serial code, additional fee, and/or non-transferable online account registration (minimum age varies). See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. Online and certain special features require internet connection, may not be available to all users or at all times, and may be terminated, modified, or offered under different terms without notice. For more information on the availability of online features and services visit https://bit.ly/2K-Online-Services-Status.

The post How WWE 2K25’s Island is Breathing New Life into Wrestling Video Games appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Elden Ring: The Board Game Review

Not many games in the past decade have generated as much buzz in the zeitgeist as FromSoftware’s Elden Ring. In a time when board games based on video games are becoming commonplace, it was only a matter of time before FromSoftware’s behemoth made its way to the tabletop. Steamforged Games – creators of other major video game adaptations like Resident Evil, Monster Hunter World, and FromSoftware’s Dark Souls – took up the flask to do just that. Now, after a highly successful crowdfunding campaign in 2022, Elden Ring: The Board Game (referred to as just Elden Ring going forward) is nearly in the hands of backers and available for preorder for everyone else. Rise, Tarnished. It is time to fight once more.

Elden Ring is a campaign board game, meaning you and your fellow players progress through a series of scenarios, leveling up and improving your characters as you play through the story. Steamforged Games has created three of these “campaigns” for prospective Tarnished to choose from – Realm of the Grafted King, The Weeping Peninsula, and Stormveil Castle – with Grafted King serving as the larger “base game” and the other two as standalone expansions. These expansions can be tackled on their own or played after Grafted King, allowing you to carry over your characters and continue their adventure, growing ever stronger in the process. Depending on which box you purchase, you will have access to different classes, including the Vagabond, Samurai, Astrologer, and Prophet in the Grafted King (base game) box; the Hero, Prophet, Astrologer, and Bandit in Weeping Peninsula; and the Confessor, Prisoner, Samurai, and Vagabond in the Stormveil Castle box.

This game is an imposing thing, arriving in large boxes filled with fearsome-looking monster miniatures, hundreds of cards, cardboard tokens, tiles, and a plethora of books containing rules, combat maps, and scenario guides. It’s one of the most intimidating games in my collection, made even more terrifying by the fact that I only own one of the campaigns – I have yet to get the other two boxes or any of the bonus boss sets that can be added in. For such a large game, Steamforged has knocked Elden Ring out of the park in terms of production value, featuring some of the most detailed miniatures I’ve seen, along with great-feeling cards and sturdy cardboard components.

Scenarios come in a handful of varieties that do a good job of keeping things fresh, so you’re not doing the same thing back-to-back. However, not every scenario type lands as well as others. Narrative scenarios ask you to read paragraphs of story, choose different actions to take (potentially making skill checks), and then draw the appropriate card to see what happens. While these are well-written and I appreciate the inclusion of skill checks, this type of scenario didn’t do much for me – if I wanted to do a bunch of reading or storytelling, I’d simply read a book or play Dungeons & Dragons.

By far, my favorite are Exploration scenarios, which excellently capture the spirit of discovery and the feeling of never knowing what lies beyond the next hill – something that almost defines the source material. In these scenarios, you and the other players explore a region of the map, flipping and placing random tiles as you work to complete various quests. Tiles can contain enemies, items, Sites of Grace, or other surprises for you to uncover and take advantage of. I’m a big fan of the “grow as you go” approach to map creation in board games – whether it’s in Betrayal at House on the Hill or Clank! Catacombs – as it enhances both the sense of discovery and the game’s replayability due to the random nature of tile placement. These scenarios offer a balanced mix of everything Elden Ring has to offer – combat, story, and exploration – without feeling overwhelming.

The remaining three scenario types are strictly combat-focused: Gauntlet, Dungeon, and Boss scenarios. Gauntlets throw you into incredibly difficult encounters with mobs of enemies and special rules sprinkled in. Dungeons are similar but culminate in a strong boss at the end. Finally, Boss scenarios – where you and your friends square off against the game’s true threats – are the ultimate test of your builds and teamwork. Between these scenarios and the encounters you stumble upon while exploring, Elden Ring is a combat-heavy experience, which isn’t a bad thing considering that the combat is really solid.

Combat takes place on grids formed from ring-bound notebooks included with the game. Some fights require multiple books to be laid out in a multi-page spread, creating a battlefield where players and enemies move strategically in their struggle to defeat one another. Attacks with spells and weapons have specified ranges, but depending on the row you’re standing in, players can gain additional boons – such as dealing extra damage, modifying turn order, or blocking more effectively. My friends and I frequently found ourselves deep in deliberation over positioning, trying to survive the onslaught of incoming attacks. Alas, even our best-laid plans often led to our demise – because the enemies in this game are TOUGH.

Basic enemies each have a card displaying their actions, with symbols indicating attack placement, movement, and other mechanics. It takes some time to get used to what all the symbols mean, but it’s manageable. Once an enemy has taken its listed actions – or passed if it can’t fulfill all the steps – its turn ends. That’s straightforward and relatively easy to manage. Bosses, however, are terrifying. They have entire decks of actions, each with its own place in the initiative order. Sometimes, you get lucky and their attacks land last. Other times, they pounce on your party before you can react. It’s brutal and unforgiving, but thanks to scalable health pools based on player count, the fights never felt unfair. Every boss battle was exciting and full of tense moments where we held our breath, hoping to stagger the boss or dodge a devastating attack. Despite just being miniatures moving on a grid, the combat offers surprising depth and strategy that makes it shine.

Elden Ring forgoes dice entirely, opting instead for a card-driven deck-building experience.

One aspect that may surprise players is that Elden Ring forgoes dice entirely, opting instead for a card-driven deck-building experience. Players play cards from a deck dictated by their equipped weapons, skills, and gear. However, damage dealt and mitigated – along with special effects like Bleed – are determined by a separate Attribute deck. Different Attribute cards contain symbols representing Strength, Dexterity, and other stats, with attack and defense decks favoring certain symbols over others.

Character progression is a core component of campaign board games, and Elden Ring is no different. Similar to the video game, not only can you level up your class for new abilities, but you can also customize your character by swapping weapons, armor, accessories, and Attribute cards, as well as increasing overall stats through Trait cards. This is all managed via the Rune system, which functions as an equipment load limit. Your total Rune count increases as you progress in the campaign, allowing more customization. However, the tracking method is lacking – Steamforged provides small Rune cards to track your total, but they aren’t abundant enough for every player and add to the card clutter. A simple tracker, like the one used for health, would have been far more effective. As it stands, the best method is to track Runes on paper, which feels clunky. Hopefully, a better solution will emerge from the community or Steamforged itself.

Despite Elden Ring’s strengths, my initial experience was frustrating – not due to the game itself, but because I started with Stormveil Castle, the third campaign. While technically a standalone expansion, it assumes your characters have completed earlier quests and starts with adjustments to gear, runes, and decks. This made it overwhelming to set up for fresh players. I strongly urge anyone interested in this game to start with Realm of the Grafted King.

Where to Buy

Get it at Steamforged Games

A Hotline Miami-Inspired Game Developed By A Japanese Hip Hop Group? Count Us In!

Give us a cooler premise, we dare you.

Games don’t come much cooler than Sonokuni. This is a Hotline Miami-inspired action game developed by the Japanese hip hop group Don Yasa Crew and, just when you thought that premise couldn’t get any sweeter, it’s coming to Switch.

Inspired by Japanese mythology, Sonokuni will see you playing as a lone assassin, Takeru, tasked with taking down a surreal superpower. To do so, you’ll have to punch, kick and parry your way through opponents, all while bending time to make the action feel that bit more cinematic — another mark in the ‘coolness’ column for additional bullet time.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

A Guide to Help You Become a True Hero in Slime Heroes

Hi there, Xbox Wire readers — do you have what it takes to become a hero? Today, we at Whitethorn Games are here to help you do just that in 3D action-adventure Slime Heroes — available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One!

In Slime Heroes you’ll take on the role of a slime, the unlikely hero who must save the world from a mysterious corruption. You’ll embark on a journey to explore the expansive 3D world — alone or with a friend — where you’ll encounter ferocious enemies, challenging but approachable puzzles, and uncover lost treasures. As you battle your way through the many obstacles in your path, you’ll gain magical skills that you can dynamically combine to create unique and powerful magic attacks that can take down even the most corrupt minions and bosses. You’ll discover a touching story of overcoming expectations, friendship, and forgiveness as you progress because even slimes can be heroes!

Now, this is quite the challenge for a small slime, so we’re here with a quick start guide to help your slime become the hero they were meant to be.

Explore a Stunning Open World

Dive into an open world that features six distinct regions filled with hidden secrets that will help you through your journey. As you explore off the beaten path, the world will open up, revealing hidden areas and barriers to unlock that will allow you to return to previously explored areas more easily.

You’ll also discover secret puzzle and challenge rooms, and challenging boss dungeons. While the rooms are completely optional to visit, by entering them and completing their challenges, you’ll gain some very helpful items to help you on your quest to save the world.

And be sure to search areas thoroughly, as there are many hidden items to be found throughout the world. From hats that give your slime powerful buffs to potent magical skills to big deposits of shards to help level up your slime, you’ll never know what you’ll find high up on a slightly out-of-view ledge or a crumbled-looking wall! Returning to previously-explored areas can fetch you some great items too, as the new powers you gain will help you reach even more secret areas.

Take Your Slime to The Next Level

Very early on, you’ll meet Orion, who will need a little help from you! They will provide you with a place where you can save your progress and recover your health. They’ll also help you level up your slime — for a price. As you defeat enemies, you’ll collect shards that you can exchange there to boost your slime’s health, strength, magic, and speed. Be sure to return frequently to Orion’s spot to cash in your shards and gain that extra bit of power.

Now, what about increasing your health bar? That’s where those puzzle and battle rooms come in! The archaeologist, Pazmut, waiting outside is also eager to help you save the world. By defeating these rooms and returning tomes to them, you can earn extra hearts to increase your health bar.

Orion can also help you figure out your best build. Visit them to check out the practice arena, where you can test out new weapons and hat combinations, as well as different skill combinations so that you can perfect the build that fits your playstyle perfectly.

Become the Ultimate Magic User

The world of Slime Heroes is full of magic, and even a small slime can become a powerful mage. As you defeat enemies, you’ll collect special skills associated with that enemy’s attack: powerful projectiles, twirling tornados, and more with a total of 18 skills to find. Take full advantage of these skills by combining them in your primary and secondary skill slots to create new, powerful skills. Placing two of the same skill in each slot makes that skill more powerful but consumes more MP. Combining two skills will create a new power, while swapping the skill into different slots will create a new power.

You can also find elemental skills to add to your basic skill combinations that will provide an added punch to your magic attacks. As well, earn powerful ultimate skills by defeating boss dungeons, and equip them in your ultimate skill slot. With ten elemental attacks and seven ultimate attacks to collect and combine with your skills you’ll be able to magically defeat any enemy.

Skills can be changed up on the fly at any time, allowing you to adapt to any challenge with ease. There are thousands of skill combinations you can make, so keep mixing and matching until you find the ones that best suit your play style.

Gear up with Weapons and Equipment

Slime Heroes has a variety of weapons and equipment earned by defeating bosses as you progress in the game. Each weapon comes with its own set of stats, so experiment a bit in the practice arena to figure out which ones best suit your play style and combat situation.

As for equipment, what works better for a slime than a jaunty hat? Like weapons, each hat comes with its own set of stats, from stat bonuses to bonus skills. And like skills and weapons, you can change them up at any time — even during battle — so you never have to sacrifice fashion over function.

Call in a Friend

While you can play Slime Heroes alone, saving the world is a big job for a little slime. It’s always more fun to play with a friend! Invite a friend to play at any time. With both couch co-op and online multiplayer, you can team up and tackle it together to take down the vicious enemy in no time flat!

A Game for Anyone

Making sure games can be played by anyone, regardless of ability, skill, or experience with the genre is a value shared by Whitethorn Games and Pancake Games. Because of this, the team has put a lot of effort into making Slime Heroes as accessible as possible. You can explore them in the settings menu once you start your game. Some of these include multiple difficulty settings including sliders to increase or decrease enemy, world, or player damage, and puzzle timing, visual accessibility features to adjust cursor size and colour, character outline and a guiding arrow, button remapping, disabling flash effects, and more.

We hope these tips will help you on your journey to save the world in Slime Heroes. Don’t forget to pick up your copy on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One today to discover even more as you save the Guardians and save the world!

Slime Heroes

Whitethorn Games

☆☆☆☆☆
1

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

Journey with your fellow slimes to save the ancient guardians from a mysterious corruption taking over the land. Explore a whimsical world filled with secret passageways, challenging puzzle dungeons, and forgotten treasures. Consume special gems and dynamically combine them to create unique magical skills. Level up and fight back against the corrupted minions to restore the land.

Dynamic Abilities
-Collect an arsenal of skill gems consumed from defeated corrupted creatures.
-Dynamically mix skill gems to craft unique skill sets at any time.
-Discover all the different types of enemies to complete your gem collection.

Co-Op
-Jump into your friends’ game at any time and drop right into the action.
-The entire game can be played with a friend.
-All loot is shared; no fighting over that one pretty gem.
-Create different magical abilities that complement each other when playing with a friend.

Expansive World
-Discover secret passageways and challenging puzzle dungeons in a whimsical open world.
-Find the six gods of the realm and defeat the corrupted version of each. Once freed they will aid you on your quest!

The post A Guide to Help You Become a True Hero in Slime Heroes appeared first on Xbox Wire.

First look at the DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition

Commemorate The Last of Us franchise with a brand-new controller; here’s a first look at the DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition. Created in close collaboration with the creative team at Naughty Dog, this striking design features glossy trophy icons printed across the surface that call back to key moments, characters, and events from The Last of Us Part I and The Last of Us Part II.

To share more about the controller’s design and inspiration, here’s Head of Studio and Head of Creative Neil Druckmann and Graphic Designer Megan Mehran from Naughty Dog:

“We were excited by the chance to memorialize The Last of Us franchise in a controller that fans and our own team would love. We wanted to ensure that both installments of The Last of Us are represented, via trophy icons printed in black gloss across the controller body. Among the trophies, three particular images will immediately stand out for TLOU fans: The firefly, moth, and wolf. Players will recognize the Fireflies’ iconic spray-painted logo that originated in Part I, while the moth and wolf represent the intertwining lives and duality between Ellie and Abby in Part II.“

The DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities for $84.99 / €84.99 / £74.99. Pre-orders start on March 14, 2025 at 10am local time at direct.playstation.com (where available) as well as participating retailers, with launch on April 10, 2025. The exact launch date and availability for the controller may vary by country/region.

We’re thrilled to share this new design with the community during an especially exciting time for new and old TLOU fans alike. In the coming months, PC players will be able to continue the acclaimed story of this iconic franchise with The Last of Us Part II Remastered, launching on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on April 3, 2025. Fans can also follow Joel, Ellie, and Abby’s emotional journeys in the highly anticipated second season of The Last of Us, premiering April 13, 2025, on HBO and available to stream on Max.

direct.playstation.com Purchase Information

Starting March 14, 2025 at 7am PT in the U.S., and 10am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order the DualSense wireless controller – The Last of Us Limited Edition through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities. When ordering directly from PlayStation, enjoy free launch day delivery for eligible pre-orders – visit direct.playstation.com for more details.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is getting a Barber Mode and by golly, I hope I can actually be a barber

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is getting a major patch on 13th March, developers Warhorse have announced. It will enhance the bracingly mucky RPG with modding tools and a “trove of updates”, including what the devs ambiguously refer to as Barber Mode. Going by the promotional image they’ve knocked together, this is just a selection of beards and haircuts for protagonist Henry. But it is not yet 13th March, so let us dare to dream. Let us imagine that the update will let Henry become a barber, cutting a swathe through the innumerable beards and fringes of 15th century Bohemia.

After a quiet year beneath the waves, The Sinking City 2 has resurfaced with a brand new trailer and an official Kickstarter campaign launch.

Exactly one year after its announcement, the new trailer for The Sinking City 2 gives us our first look at pre-alpha gameplay and the expected focus on Lovecraftian horror first, with survival, and investigation gameplay mixed in that developer Frogwares is embracing as its signature style. The team has also published a developer deep dive with a more detailed look at what the team is planning for combat, exploration, and optional investigation.

Alongside these trailers, Frogwares has launched a Kickstarter today to help get the game over the finish line. In a statement, CEO Wael Amr explained that the Kickstarter funding was necessary due to the ongoing war in Ukraine:

After 3 years of this horrid war hanging over our daily lives, we’ve learned to adapt, though it has never been easy. In 2023 when we released Sherlock Holmes The Awakened with the help of Kickstarter and our loving fans, we built ourselves a safety net that saved us more than once. From power outages and the need for team members to relocate on short notice, to having to pause development for days, this safety net was crucial. Given that The Sinking City 2 is a far more complex and demanding game, we’ve decided to take the same route as before.

Frogwares has faced numerous challenges over the years in its work on both the original The Sinking City, and now its sequel. In addition to the immense challenges of developing games during wartime, Frogwares was locked in a publishing rights struggle over the first The Sinking City with original PC publisher Nacon that resulted in the game being pulled from some platforms back in 2020. Fortunately, Frogwares won full publishing rights last year, and announced it had settled its disputes.

The Kickstarter for The Sinking City 2 is live now, with a target of $105,000 USD.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Monster Hunter Wilds joins GeForce Now, providing a sneaky Steam Deck performance workaround

Trying to run Monster Hunter Wilds on the Steam Deck is a futile endeavour, as is trying to run it on any other PC hardware that might variously be called cheap, old, or otherwise low-end. However, today’s arrival of the beast-stabbin’, consent-grantin’ RPG on Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming platform does enable a sort of bodged alternative: a way to play Wilds on this most modest of handhelds, potentially at a sturdy 60fps.

Random: Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom’s Depths Hide A Mysterious, Unused Big Hole

Spelinker.

You know, we had a sneaky suspicion that Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom would have some legs on it. From people’s ridiculous Ultrahand creations to glitches to challenge runs, it feels like players are always discovering something weird or new.

Well, fans have now found a huge hole (ahem…) tucked underneath the Hebra Depths, and Gaming Reinvented has provided a breakdown of how to reach it.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Monster Hunter needs a full-scale rebirth, but its contradictions are fascinating

Monster Hunter Wilds is the fastest-selling game in Capcom’s history. It continues to lord over the Steam charts, with peaks that might cause Counter-Strike 2 to glance momentarily down from its Olympus of user-created hats, and while people are still booting the dung out of the PC version’s performance, verdicts upon the beast-punching as a whole are glowing.

To suggest that now is the time to go back to formula is probably pure contrarianism, but Wilds makes my brain itch. Building on (and hopefully not just recapping) Brendy’s excellently ambivalent Monster Hunter Wilds review, I think the series is balancing on the edges of contradictions that extend throughout its design, from the combat through the user interface to the world and narrative themes. I think it’s been doing that for years, in fact, but Wilds, for me, is where Monster Hunter’s confusion about itself has come to a head.

Category: Video Games