How to Build an Xbox Controller With Xbox Design Lab

Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

Xbox Design Lab is a one-stop shop that allows you to create your very own controller. From the controller itself to every external component, Xbox Design Lab is a hugely customizable platform that lets you create controllers for yourself, or as a truly personal gift for the Xbox player in your life.

But before you get started, There are a lot of options to choose from – let us break down every single one, to help you create the perfect Xbox controller:

Choose Your Controller

The key question before you begin using Xbox Design Lab is: which Xbox controller do you want to design?

Xbox Wireless Controller – Starting at $69.99 USD, the Xbox Wireless Controller is our standard model, bringing you high performance at an affordable price. With textured triggers and grips, a hybrid D-Pad, and Bluetooth technology that allows you to connect it to multiple devices. Click here to start creating an Xbox Wireless Controller.
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Starting at $149.99 USD, the Elite Series 2 makes our premium controller better than ever. With refined components, paddle slots offering extra options, adaptable elements like adjustable thumbsticks and hair trigger locks, and rubberized grips as standard, this controller delivers pro-level performance. Click here to start creating an Xbox Eliter Wireless Controller Series 2.

Customize Components

Once you’ve chosen your controller, Xbox Design Lab gives you 10 different customization options, allowing you to make a controller that’s uniquely yours. And if you can’t quite decide as you go, Xbox Design Lab allows you to preview your controller at any time, as well as save designs to your own personal gallery, allowing you to create multiple options to compare before you pick the final one.

Body

Applied to the entire front case, your choice of Body makes a statement. With the Xbox Wireless Controller, choose from a variety of matte finishes, or from a selection of gorgeous patterns, including the swirling Vapor designs, the multi-toned Shift patterns, bold Camo looks, our vibrant Pride design, or special, game-inspired designs like the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 top case and the Fallout top case. With the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, choose from matte finishes, our new Cipher series – which adds a transparent case that allows you to see through the case to the components inside, or game-inspired designs.

Back

Your choice of Back encompasses everything behind the grips on your controller. With all the standard colors available in the Body category, you can choose to match the front of the controller, or create a two-tone pop of color.

Grips

For a small extra cost, you can add rubberized back and side grips to your Xbox Wireless Controller, offering an extra level of control in the hand. Rubberized grips come as standard on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.

Bumpers

Your choice of Bumper color encompasses the two buttons on the top of the controller, and the case in between them. On the Xbox Wireless Controller, choose from all the standard colors available for the Body and Back. For the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, choose from an array of metallic finishes.

Triggers

The Triggers are key to controlling many games, and come with multiple options. With the Xbox Wireless Controller, all the standard colors are available, but Xbox Design Lab also offers a variety of metallic options, allowing you to add a stately point of difference from the rest of the design. On the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, choose from a series of metallic designs that can blend in with your bumpers, or choose a different tone to create a standout design.

D-Pad

On the Xbox Wireless Controller, choose from all the standard colors available in other categories, or pick a metallic hue. On the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, pick from the classic four-direction D-Pad, or our unique Faceted design for extra control. Both D-Pad choices offer a variety of single-tone metallic finishes, or pick our new multi-toned Chroma designs for a truly standout look.

Thumbsticks

On the Xbox Wireless Controller, thumbsticks can take on any of the standard colors available on the rest of the controller. Take more control with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – pick the color of the metal base, as well as separate colors for both the thumbstick ring and topper.

ABXY Buttons

On the Xbox Wireless Controller, pick from seven different designs for the iconic Xbox buttons, from classic colored looks to different two-tone treatments. With the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, get even more choice with 20 different treatments, including colored variants that allow you to create even more specific looks.

View, Menu, Share Buttons

On the Xbox Wireless Controller, choose from 5 different designs for the central buttons on your controller. With the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, pick from 24 color options to help bring your design to life.

Engraving

For that final touch, both controller types allow you to add a 16-character engraving. Add a name, a Gamertag, or a personal message to make the controller truly theirs.

Pick a Pre-Made Design

If you’re looking to create a controller to celebrate a particular game, we may already have what you need. Xbox Design Lab is always adding new ‘Inspired By’ designs that celebrate games on Xbox – pick a pre-configured design, make any changes you see fit, and show your fandom. There’s also the Xbox Design Lab Game Collection, which offers extra-special designs for the likes of Fallout and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – all of which can be customized further.

Choose Some Elite Extras

If you’re opting for an Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, Xbox Design Lab offers a number of extra adjustable elements for the premium controller, all of which can be customized to fit your design. The Carrying Case and Charging Pack helps you take your controller anywhere in safety. The Paddle Pack adds a number of easily added extra paddles for the back of your controller, which can be used by adjusting options on your console. The Thumbsticks and D-pad Pack offers both D-Pad options and multiple interchangeable thumbsticks to let you swap how you want to play, game-by-game. And the Everything Pack includes all of the above in a single package. If you already own an Elite Series 2 controller, you can also opt to purchase the additional accessories packs by themselves.

Adaptive Thumbstick Toppers

We collaborated with community members, charity organizations, and a hospital involved in adaptive gaming and 3D printing to design complimentary 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers with Xbox Design Lab. Available to download, these designs can be 3D printed to create thumbsticks that meet multiple accessibility needs – and are available for both the Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. Xbox Design Lab also offers thumbstick topper designs for the upcoming Xbox Adaptive Joystick, coming in early 2025 for select Xbox markets.

You now have everything you need to start creating a unique Xbox controller – head over to Xbox Design Lab to start experimenting!

The post How to Build an Xbox Controller With Xbox Design Lab appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 500: Celebrating 30 Years of PlayStation (Part 1)

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Hey y’all, Episode 500 is finally here! Thank you to all the loyal listeners for making this momentous episode possible. Can you believe the show started back in 2011? Whether you’ve been with us for the entire run or are a new listener, we appreciate you.

This week, the crew hears from listeners and developers about some of their favorite PlayStation games and memories. The podcast crew also dives into their favorite games on the original PlayStation and PlayStation 2. But the celebration doesn’t end here! We’ll continue to feature listeners and developers leading up to PlayStation’s 30th anniversary on December 3.

Stuff We Talked About

Next week’s release highlights:
- Spirit Mancer | PS5
- Towers of Aghasba (Early Access) | PS5
Stellar Blade x Nier: Automata DLC and Photo Mode
Players Choice Winner – Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for November:
- Grand Theft Auto V
- Dying Light 2: Stay Human
- Like a Dragon: Ishin
- MotoGP 24
- The Sims 4: Island Living
- And more…
LEGO Horizon Adventures is out now
Special listener/developer favorite PlayStation games segment
The podcast crew highlights personal top games for the original PlayStation and PS2 (to be continued…)

The Cast

Sid Shuman – Senior Director of Content Communications, SIE

Tim Turi – Content Communications Manager, SIE

Brett Elston – Manager, Content Communications, SIE

O’Dell Harmon Jr. – Content Communications Specialist, SIE

Thanks to Dormilón for our rad theme song and show music.

[Editor’s note: PSN game release dates are subject to change without notice. Game details are gathered from press releases from their individual publishers and/or ESRB rating descriptions.]

Anniversary: 20 Years On, Metroid Prime 2 Represents The Franchise At Its Experimental Best

Crossing worlds.

Following up on Metroid Prime was never going to be easy. Although many (this writer included) were sceptical of Retro Studios’ abilities to move Metroid into the 3D, first-person realm, the team not only managed to put its own spin on an established Nintendo franchise successfully, but it also created one of the greatest games of all time.

How the heck are you supposed to top that? Well, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes doesn’t quite reach the same heights as its predecessor, and it’s often regarded as the lesser entry in an eventual trilogy (though to be honest, even the worst Prime game is better than the majority of games out there). That said, it will always remain one of my personal favourites in the franchise thanks to its bold experimentation with parallel worlds.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

How Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind Remixes Lore While Staying Authentic

Category: Games

November 15, 2024

How Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind Remixes Lore While Staying Authentic

Dan Amrich, Content Editor, Digital Eclipse

Summary

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is a 2D brawler with a 90’s look, coming to Xbox Series X|S in December.
Follow the team in a brand-new story inspired by 30 years of Power Rangers lore.
Rita’s Rewind captures the personalities of the original Rangers cast, and features voice talent from X-Men ’97.

You know what’s fun? Time travel. It’s particularly useful when you’re making a game based on a huge franchise with 30 years of history – like, say, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. So, if you’re going to add to that rich lore, you’d better be prepared to consider three decades of worldbuilding across TV, movies, games, and comics. This is exactly what the team at Digital Eclipse took on during the making of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind.

Devoted fans know every episode, every battle, every line of dialogue. Rangers history means a lot to fans because it represents the hours of imagination and emotion they’ve invested in these characters and events that have brought them so much joy, and as such, crafting a new story worthy of that franchise and, by extension, the respect of its fans, is no small task.

Our springboard for the story of Rita’s Rewind was the 30th anniversary Netflix special, Once & Always. In the special, Robo Rita – a synthetic, 100 percent evil evolution of the franchise’s original villain, Rita Repulsa – creates a time portal and kidnaps Power Rangers from different eras.

Rather than simply retell that story, we thought up a “what if?” scenario – if you’re an evil sorceress with a time portal, wouldn’t you be tempted to go back in time and mock your earlier self for all those dumb mistakes? Imagine battling your greatest foes during their earliest, weakest days and using all your future knowledge to obliterate them in the past. It’s a dream team and a nightmare scenario at the same time. (And just to be clear, none of this is canon, so chill out and have fun.)

Our story team enjoyed digging deep into Rangers lore to come up with something that felt new, but remained aligned with everything fans know by heart. Once we decided on the core plot, we came to some realizations: If Robo Rita knows the same 30 years of history that fans know, she can start plucking enemies from other eras and dropping them where they don’t belong, which can both confuse and delight fans. The feathered Tenga Warriors, a staple of MMPR season 3, now appear early in our first episode, which takes place in season 1.

And which of Rita’s creepy champions could we borrow from other timelines in the name of interesting gameplay mechanics? Weaving elements from different periods of Power Rangers history makes every detail even more important to incorporate. It’s not something that writes itself — it can actually get kind of tricky. But like I said, it’s also fun.

We also worked hard to get the personalities of Jason, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Zack dialed in, and accurately reflect their characters from the early years of MMPR. For instance: Billy’s always going to use the most perplexing, erudite verbiage possible to explain science stuff to his teammates; otherwise, he wouldn’t sound like Billy. And when Kimberly doesn’t quite grasp what Billy’s talking about, Trini often steps in to put it in plainer terms. We think those types of elements make a project “feel right” as a Power Rangers adventure. Hopefully, fans who see those details will realize our dev team respects the franchise as much as they do.

Throughout Rita’s Rewind, we’ve tried to balance Power Rangers authenticity with nostalgia, which often polishes memory into something more than it actually was. As a “what if” retelling of the first 20 or so episodes of the TV show, the story of Rita’s Rewind takes place in the mid-90s, so we wanted to make our gameplay an idealized version of the arcade games of that era, too.

In gameplay segments that recall some of arcade gaming’s greatest titles, Rita’s Rewind players will drive at high speed, fight giant monsters, blast hundreds of enemies, and punch anything that gets in their path. Brawlers are back in a big way lately, thanks to innovative development teams injecting new life into a long-abandoned genre. We’re honored to have the chance to contribute to this renaissance, and we think we’ve got a game that will feel very familiar yet ultimately fresh.

In fact, when we showed Rita’s Rewind at PAX West this year, we heard some people walk by our brand-new game and shout “Oh yeah, I remember playing that back in the day!” Uh, no, you don’t – but thank you, because that’s exactly our goal.

The current resurgence of 90’s nostalgia isn’t limited to games; bands like Oasis and Blur are back on stage, and the celebrated X-Men animated series has returned as X-Men ’97. As a result, we were thrilled when we were able to leverage the talents of three actors who worked on that series, as well as several other professionals. Here’s a quick cast rundown:

Red Ranger: A.J. LoCascio (“Gambit,” X-Men 97 and “Han Solo,” LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga)
Yellow Ranger: Holly Chou (“Jubilee,” X-Men 97 and “Chiki,” Blue Eye Samurai)
Black Ranger: Isaac Robinson-Smith (“Bishop,” X-Men ’97 and “CO Cunningham,” Batman: Arkham Shadow)
Pink Ranger: Christina Vee (“Shantae,” Shantae and “Noel Vermillion,”BlazBlue)
Green Ranger: James Willems (“Dolph,” Camp Camp and “Rich Dad,” Psychonauts 2)
Robo Rita: Ally Dixon (“Eep,” The Croods: Family Tree and “Nikki Narwhal,” Thelma the Unicorn)

That leaves the Blue Ranger, which is where things get personal. I’ve been a SAG/AFTRA actor for several years before joining the team at Digital Eclipse (that’s me singing in The Sims: Bustin’ Out for the original Xbox!), so I was honored to be able to perform the role of Billy. I’m proud to add my voice to a professional cast that delivers dialogue with intensity and energy, offering a perfect match to the game’s frenetic arcade action.

From super-scaler gameplay segments that feel like they came straight from a vintage arcade to a story filled with chronological impossibilities, every critical element of Rita’s Rewind revolves around time. There’s just one more critical date: December 10, 2024, which is when you’ll be able to play the game on Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. We hope you’ll enjoy spending time with Rita’s Rewind!

The post How Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind Remixes Lore While Staying Authentic appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Photo Mode returns in Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, launching February 14

Lara Croft’s legendary adventures continue on February 14 with the release of Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered! As we patiently await her return, we’d love to take a moment to explore some enhanced features created specifically for this remaster.

This latest collection not only revitalizes Lara’s adventures but also brings back a fan-favorite feature Photo Mode to capture all the thrilling moments you encounter.

Explore and capture iconic moments

As you swan-dive back into Lara Croft’s darkest adventures, you’ll have the ability to capture and share in the beauty and excitement of your adventures with your friends.

Whether you’re scaling the Great Pyramid of Giza in The Last Revelation, sneaking through a high-security complex in Chronicles, or uncovering dark secrets in the shadowy streets of Paris in The Angel of Darkness, Photo Mode lets you freeze, frame, and capture your most memorable moments.

Photo Mode features

New Poses and Outfits: In addition to including all of the poses and outfits from Tomb Raider I-III Remastered, this new collection will include even more as an added bonus. Tailor each shot to reflect her adventurous spirit and style.

Customizable Shots: Set up your scenes with ease using adjustable camera angles, depth of field, and zoom effects. Create the perfect composition to showcase the remastered environments.

Dynamic Expressions: Choose from a range of expressions to bring Lara’s character to life in your photos. Highlight her bravery, determination, or curiosity with ease.

Seamless Integration: Use Photo Mode anytime during gameplay to capture those spontaneous, unforgettable moments. Whether it’s a breathtaking view or a dramatic encounter, your perfect shot is always just a menu away.

Step-by-Step Guide

Activate Photo Mode: Photo Mode activates by holding down both of your sticks on the DualSense controller.
Frame Your Shot: Adjust the camera angle, zoom, and depth of field, using the on-screen controls and find your desired composition.
Hit the Dressing Room: Pick from various outfits from across the Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered collection. Equip her with different weapons for an added touch of sass.
Express Yourself: Select Lara’s expression to convey the right mood for your shot. What are we feeling today: a victorious and joyful smile, or a bombastic side-eye?
Strike a Pose: Pick your favorite pose from across our Tomb Raider I-VI Remastered collection! Whether it’s a fierce battle stance or a triumphant pose, have fun customizing it to your liking.
Capture and Share: Once you’re satisfied with your shot, use the Create button on your controller. Share your best shots with the community and join fellow fans in celebrating Lara Croft’s legacy.

How about a First Look?

As you swan dive into even more details around Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered, the Photo Mode feature isn’t the only exciting addition! Alongside capturing epic moments, fans can look forward to new collectible achievements and unique art badges, each one a striking tribute to Lara’s legacy.

And for those who remember the heart-pounding encounters with the nearly indestructible mini-bosses, we’re thrilled to showcase a new look at two of Lara Croft’s most formidable foes: the relentless Bronze Bull and the fearsome Minotaur from The Last Revelation.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered launches on PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 on February 14, 2025. Head over to PlayStation Store to pre-order if you haven’t already.

The Rally Point: Field of Glory: Kingdoms is an elaborate building game in a grand strategy jacket

Four thousand words of notes. Hoboy. Field of Glory Colon Kingdoms is definitely thought-provoking.

It was also complaint-provoking in the fairly long period where I didn’t understand what it’s trying to do. Reaching that point, luckily for you, means we can cut out a lot of the “confused whingeing” subsection of those notes. Though it still has its shortcomings, I’ve come to appreciate that I was reading Kingdoms all wrong. Although it talks big about characters, politics, and religion, they’re not what it’s about. It’s about building.

Sony Just Released a $700 PS5 Pro, So Will Microsoft Do the Same With Xbox? Phil Spencer Says It’s Unnecessary

Sony just released a $700 PS5 Pro, a mid-gen console upgrade that offers better performance than the base PS5.

While we still don’t know how well the PS5 Pro is selling, thoughts have inevitably turned to whether Microsoft will follow suit and offer a mid-gen console upgrade of its own. After all, Microsoft has form when it comes to mid-cycle hardware refreshes, offering a more powerful version of the Xbox One.

According to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, though, times have changed, and while he failed to definitively rule out releasing a more powerful Xbox Series console, it doesn’t sound likely.

Speaking to Rolling Stone, Microsoft’s gaming boss questioned the value of a mid-gen refresh, suggesting it is unnecessary given the diminishing returns developers are seeing with increased horsepower.

“We think about hardware that can create unique value for our players or creators on our platform,” he said.

“We don’t need to do incremental hardware for our own benefit. Does a new device really give you a unique experience on screen in some way? [It’s] less like the old days, going from the original Xbox to 360; that was standard definition to high definition. Now, [it’s] harder to show the benefits.”

This isn’t the first time Spencer has cast doubt on a possible Xbox mid-gen upgrade. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Spencer doubled down on Microsoft’s focus on expanding Xbox’s audience via new devices, saying: “To reach new players, we need to be creative and adaptive of new business models, new devices, new ways of access. We’re not going to grow the market with $1,000 consoles.”

All this doesn’t mean Microsoft is getting out of the console business. In fact, in the Rolling Stone interview Spencer confirmed: “we’ll definitely do more consoles in the future, and other devices.” What form they take, however, remains to be seen.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Riviera: The Promised Land Remaster Gets Western Release Date On Switch

Sting’s GBA RPG returns later this month.

Dept. Heaven fans will have a chance to revisit the origins of Sting’s unusual series this month as Riviera: The Promised Land is coming to Switch in North America and Europe on 28th November 2024 (thanks, Gematsu!).

The remaster launched in Japan in February 2024, and back then, we had our fingers crossed for a Western release. It did make it to Steam back in July, but you know we were waiting for that Switch version. Well, it took all year, but we’re finally here, and it’ll cost USD $34.99 / GBP £30.19, with a 15% launch discount until 5th December

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 18 to 22, 2024

Category: Next Week on Xbox

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 18 to 22, 2024

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Standard Edition

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
46

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Microsoft Flight Simulator – November 19
Game Pass Ultimate / PC Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Available on day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass! From Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studios, pursue your aviation career with dynamically generated missions, compete against other pilots, and explore the most detailed digital twin of the world to date. Set out on your global adventure with our largest fleet of aircraft as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 takes simulation to new heights of authenticity and realism. Pre-install today to answer the call on day one! Playable on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.

Genshin Impact

COGNOSPHERE PTE. LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Genshin Impact – November 20 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A free-to-play open-world adventure RPG that brings players to the visually stunning world of Teyvat. During their adventures, players will explore various regions with unique cultures and landscapes, meet a diverse cast of characters, and master the art of element-based combat. Players with a Game Pass Ultimate membership can receive in-game bundles upon the game’s launch and after subsequent version updates, as well as play Genshin Impact on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Ratopia

Cassel Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Ratopia – November 20

This is the tale of a princess from the fallen kingdom of Ratropolis, determined to establish a Utopia while battling constant threats from natural disasters and predators. Explore and find the remains of the great old rats. Bring prosperity to the city through great expeditions.

Galaxy Kingdoms

Afil Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Galaxy Kingdoms – November 20 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Enter a universe filled with challenges and excitement in Galaxy Kingdoms, a pixel art adventure game that promises to capture your heart and imagination. As Magnus, a skilled Bounty Hunter, you will begin your journey in Greenhaven, completing missions to earn money and explore new planets.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Pre-order

GSC Game World

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

Pre-order

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl – November 20 – Game Pass/ Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Discover the vast Chornobyl Exclusion Zone full of dangerous enemies, deadly anomalies and powerful artifacts. Unveil your own epic story as you make your way to the Heart of Chornobyl. Choose your paths wisely, as they will determine your fate and shape the future of humankind in the end. Playable on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S.

Spellagis

Eastasiasoft Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Spellagis – November 20 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A survival shooter where you take the role of a mage beset by swarms of blobs, snakes, ghosts, maggots and more. Wield your staff and fire magical projectiles to slay your foes, then collect coins they drop to buy items from the shop to keep stacking the deck in your favor, from spell enhancements and protective summons to food for quick health boosts.

AMEDAMA

IzanagiGames

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Free Trial

Amedama – November 21 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Lacking a physical form, shift your soul to other bodies on the quest to find your sister. Possession puts you in complete control of whoever and whatever you inhabit, giving you access to a variety of weapons and fighting styles. Depending on your current body, you’ll face different foes and encounter new faces on your incorporeal journey.

Sprawl

Rogue Games, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Sprawl – November 21 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A hardcore retro first-person shooter that’s certain to test your reflexes as you battle through onslaughts of enemies in an atmospheric cyberpunk megapolis. The best-in-class “boomer shooter” is available on Xbox Series X|S and it’s never been more fun to bullet-time head-shot corporate mercenaries while you sprint and wall-jump through grungy 90s anime-inspired cities.

Super Rolling Heroes Deluxe

JanduSoft

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$10.49

$8.39

Pre-order

Super Rolling Heroes Deluxe – November 21 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Destroy, bounce, explode! Roll downhill with Super Rolling Heroes Deluxe, a 3D platformer all about maintaining momentum, pulling down every object, avoiding deadly obstacles, and collecting some nice shiny gems too.

ARIDA: Backland’s Awakening

Aoca Game Lab

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Arida: Backland’s Awakening – November 22

A story of survival and adventure in the Brazilian backlands. Face the drought to explore the more arid regions, gather resources and discover clues about the fate of the young Cícera.

Aery – Peace of Mind

EpiXR Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$11.99

Pre-order

Aery – Peace of Mind – November 22

An interactive game experience that is designed to relax your mind and soul. You jump into the role of a little bird, explore beautiful landscapes and collect magical crystals that mark certain landscapes. Because there are no enemies or any other danger in this game you will be able to lean back and enjoy the scenery and the sensation of flying.

Buck Blastem

Cascadia Games LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Buck Blastem – November 22 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Planet Lago is in danger! With its patron hero gone longer than expected, it is a world descended into chaos. Now with the heroic Buck’s return, there is a chance for peace for this once edenic world. Buck must destroy a horde of cybernetic pests including deadly scorpions, giant flies, and cybernetic spiders.

Burst Hero

Happy Player

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Burst Hero – November 22 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A pixel roguelike shooting survival game. You can choose heroes with different abilities and use various weapons to resist a steady stream of enemies. In the battle, you can customize your build by weapons bullets and cards. Each battle will have different experiences and challenges.

The Ouroboros King

Dolores Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

The Ouroboros King – 22 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The Ouroboros King combines the strategic depth of chess with the build variety and replayability of roguelikes. Assemble a formidable army, discover powerful relics, and buy surprising gadgets to defeat the Coven. Combine classic and new fairy chess pieces, relics that give them bonuses, and consumable items that grant you temporary advantages to create a formidable army.

Project 13: Taxidermy

Dolores Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Project 13: Taxidermy Trails – November 22 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Welcome to Project 13: Taxidermy Trails, a Walking Simulator set in a mesmerizing Taxidermy Museum. In this immersive experience, you assume the role of a kidnapped Probant forced to find a way to escape. Complete all 13 Walks to get out of this Nightmare.

Uragun

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Uragun – November 22 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Choose your path and rewards allowing you to research new skills, mod your mech and its weapons and grow stronger. Every fight will take place in a selected location of a beautiful and devastated world. Your quest will bring you to places like a deserted Barcelona, Industrialized Nairobi, the mines hidden in the snowy mountain rifts of North America or an overgrown and futuristic Hong Kong.

Sky Roll!

Entity3 Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Sky Roll! – November 22 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get ready to tilt and roll to the goal in ‘Sky Roll!’ Tilt the floor, roll the ball, avoid obstacles, jump gaps, go fast! Attempt to complete all 120 levels and find all 360 red coins. Packed with hours of game play and challenging levels!

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 18 to 22, 2024 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Players Are Using Its New Pistol to Turn the Game Into Ghostbusters 40k

This week, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 received a new update (patch 4.5) and with it the hotly anticipated Neo-Volkite pistol.

The Neo-Volkite pistol is a powerful thermal ray weapon that shoots lethal beams that burn enemies to ash. It’s available for the Assault, Vanguard, and Bulwark classes and is limited to Operations, Space Marine 2’s three-player co-op focused PvE mode.

And it’s there that Space Marine 2 players are teaming up to form a three-pronged Neo-Volkite pistol death stream, rekindling memories of all those moments when the Ghostbusters use their iconic Proton Packs to trap ghosts.

The Neo-Volkite pistol is unique among Space Marine 2’s armory in that it blasts a heat ray onto enemies, dealing accumulative thermal damage. Focusing on one enemy ramps up the damage until it generates a localized explosion for huge damage to your target and all nearby enemies.

Players have found that while the Neo-Volkite pistol is fun to use, it isn’t that effective especially on harder difficulties where ammo is scarce. At least, that’s the case in isolation. But what happens when all three players use the Neo-Volkite pistol to concentrate three heat rays onto the pesky Terminids? You get satisfying, Ghostbusters-style alien death, that’s what.

Redditor Crimsas demonstrated this in action, showing just how effective three Neo-Volkite pistols all trained on a single, powerful Termanid enemy (in this case a Carnifex) can be brought down to size.

Neo-Volkite My Beloved 🫠
byu/Crimsas inSpacemarine

All we now need is a mod that replaces the Neo-Volkite pistol model with an actual Proton Pack and we’ve got Ghostbusters 40k edition.

Publisher Focus Entertainment has said it’s limiting the Neo-Volkite pistol to Operations mode for now “as we continue to experiment with balancing in PvP.” It will be added to Eternal War mode in Space Marine 2’s next major update alongside a new Operations map, a new enemy, and the Dark Angels cosmetics. So, hopefully it won’t be long before even PvP is filled with a spot of Ghostbusters action.

In September, Saber Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits told IGN how the breakout success of Space Marine 2 had “changed everything” for the company. Eagle-eyed fans have spotted the Space Marine chapter now all-but confirmed to get a cosmetic pack after the Dark Angels, too.

Image credit: Crimsas / reddit.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.