Can a combat game be … cozy? It may seem like a contradiction, but after spending over two years layering a cozy game on top of our existing battle royale game, Super Animal Royale, we think we have an answer. But why did we end up gambling on this approach in the first place?

Community-led Coziness

When the first version of Super Animal Royale made its debut seven years ago, many players were drawn in more by the cute animals than the machine guns. For many, it was their first battle royale. This wholesome community turned our short, pre-match lobbies into surprisingly friendly social spaces. In the two minutes before each match, players chatted, danced, and invented their own rituals, including a banana-worshipping cult that’s now a canonical part of our lore.

The creativity and organic community building we saw in these tiny intervals between fights to the death made us wonder what would happen if we gave them a fully persistent social space without limits.

A Whole New World

The result is Super Animal World, an MMO-style Social Hub layered on top of the existing game. Instead of returning to menus and two-minute waiting rooms between matches, hitting play now brings you straight to the island in a 64-player space with fishing, bug catching, hamsterball races, shops, and story quests.

You can explore the Social Hub for as long as you like, chat with characters, accept quests, and then matchmake into Super Animal Royale or our other competitive modes. When you die (or do the winner dance), you respawn back in the Hub to regroup, claim rewards, and head out again for your next battle. We call this new loop the Circle of Super Life.

Find Your Own Pace

Rounds of battle royale in Super Animal Royale are quick, with a winning match often wrapping up in under seven minutes, so the game has always lent itself to that “just one more round” loop. Super Animal World keeps it easy to queue right back into battle, but it also makes the time between matches more meaningful.

You can relax with friends, add to your fish collection, explore new corners of the island, or push a questline forward before your next burst of adrenaline. And for players more interested in socializing and collecting than the competition itself, the Social Hub can be the main attraction. The new structure is both more immersive and more flexible, and we are excited to see the different ways people choose to play now that it’s finally in their hands.

Lore to the Fore

From the beginning, Super Animal Royale has had richer storytelling than you might expect from a multiplayer title, with every corner of the island intentionally crafted to hint at the contents of the secret lore bible we’ve maintained since 2018. Until now, all that lore has been confined to environmental details and external projects like our animated YouTube series, Super Animal Royale Tonight. Super Animal World’s new quest system brings all that storytelling front and center, with over 200 characters to meet, over 350 quests to complete, and over 140,000 words of dialogue to keep the lore hounds in our community busy.

These quests aren’t all talk, though: they’re also the best way to learn to play Super Animal Royale. From the early days, we’ve watched cozy gamers trying their first battle royale parachute onto the island without much instruction, only to be overwhelmed by experienced players. For new players, the quests offer a less punishing way to engage with our combat modes, complete with natural breaks for socializing and exploration.

Visit Super Animal World Today

Super Animal World is a big bet for a small indie team like ours, but it gives us a whole new foundation to build on for years to come. The expansion is available now on Xbox as a free update to Super Animal Royale. Xbox Game Pass members can also claim new Game Pass benefits to celebrate the release.

Layering a cozy game into a battle royale may sound like a mismatch, but we’ve found that these contrasting elements combine into a richer, more satisfying game. We can’t wait to see you give the game a try and step onto Super Animal World, the coziest place to kill your friends.

Super Animal Royale

Pixile Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
454

★★★★★

Get it now

It’s a fight for furvival! Super Animal Royale is a 64-player, frenetic, top-down 2D battle royale where murderous animals fight tooth, claw, and machine gun across an abandoned safari park. Collect and customize your favorite critters and weapons, then put them to work in solo matches or team up as a squad of up to four players!

With the free Super Animal World expansion, the island has become a living Social Hub where you can relax between matches, meet NPCs, take on story quests, and enjoy cozy activities like fishing, bug catching, and hamsterball racing before dropping back into your next fight to the death. Never return to the main menu, with everything you need available in-world.

Key Features
– Survival of the Fittest: Scavenge a variety of powerful weapons, armor and items to become the apex predator in intense 64-player online matches.
– The Superest World: Explore a massive, beautifully illustrated 2D island and discover its hidden lore, by chatting with its inhabitants and scouring its rich environments for clues.
– Different Stripes for Different Fights: Collect hundreds of animal breeds and customize them with thousands of cosmetic items, weapons, outfits, and even umbrellas!
– Evolving Events & Updates: Enjoy an endless stampede of new content, including seasonal outfits, animals, and weapons to collect.
– The Fast and the Furriest: Flatten your foes while rolling dirty in a Hamster Ball, or mount a Giant Emu and peck your way to the promised land.
– Battle Beyond Royale: infect or be infected by The Cluckles in The Bwoking Dead, or join SAW Security Forces and SASR rebels to capture and control flags in SAW vs Rebellion, a control point mode.
– Cozy Life Between the Chaos: relax and explore Super Animal World with friends between rounds, with seamless matchmaking between the Social Hub and competitive modes, then respawn back to continue the Circle of Super Life.

Introducing the all-new Xbox Wireless Controllers – Fallout Pip-Boy and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Fallout Pip-Boy.

Vault Dwellers have few options at their disposal to survive against the post nuclear landscape, but thankfully Vault-Tec has provided one S.P.E.C.I.A.L. tool, the Pip-Boy! While the first Fallout designed controllers were focused on Vault Boy and all his different incarnations, we wanted Fallout fans to be able to gear up with the same tech that their characters use. The Xbox controller designs replicate that warm green hue that emits from your own personal Pip-Boy, with instantly recognizable game HUD icons to match.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Fallout Pip-Boy is available for pre order, for a limited time, at Microsoft Store. For those looking to create their own unique design, both Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 are available now with Xbox Design Lab.

This Fallout-themed masterpiece pays homage to Vault Boy and his iconic S.P.E.C.I.A.L. traits, featuring a striking green metallic D-Pad and a custom Fallout topcase that radiates craftsmanship and heritage.

Fallout fans, from the games to the TV show, can enjoy the limitless possibilities of customizing this Xbox Wireless Controller with Xbox Design Lab. The black basis of the top case and side caps allows for true fan expression. You can select colors that line up with your favorite groups from the franchise, like the Brotherhood of Steel, NCR, Minutemen or even the Tunnel Snakes! The customization options expand even further with metallic triggers and D-Pad. There is even the ability to engrave the topcase on your controller, which is available for free for a limited time this holiday season. This controller is ready to go with Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth compatibility. It connects seamlessly to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, PCs, as well as iOS, Android, and cloud devices. Plus, with the dedicated share button, you can easily capture and share photos and videos of your heroic moments with friends.

For those strong enough to take on Deathclaws and the worst the wasteland has to offer, you’ll want all the premium features available with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. This means adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks for even more precise gameplay. RPG fanatics will love the additional customizable options like added pack paddles and exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox accessories app. Just like how your play style will swap between saves, you can easily swap your controller profiles, allowing dedicated button mapping for different needs.

Ready to start another adventure? These controllers are available today, at https://www.xbox.com/accessories/controllers/fallout-pip-boy-xbox-controllers.

It’s been a while since we’ve had to answer this question. What is Dome Keeper?

To keep it simple, Dome Keeper is a roguelike action game where you explore an alien planet through mining; collect resources and gadgets, and upgrade your dome to keep it safe from the monsters which will relentlessly attack it in waves. Sounds simple, right? But anyone who has played it before, or even watched someone else play, may raise an eyebrow reading this, because Dome Keeper is way more than that.

Since its release on Steam back in September 2022, Dome Keeper has become one of Raw Fury’s most popular titles, gathering more than two million players. It started as a tiny, passion game jam project from René and Anne Habermann, co-founders of the German studio Bippinbits. As their idea started to grow and become more ambitious, they defined some of the core pillars of the game. It wouldn’t be just another roguelike, but deliver a very clear and unique player experience:

• No matter how skilled you are in the genre; everyone can play. But once you learn the basics, Dome Keeper encourages you to be curious and explore. The underground depths hide more secrets than you think…
• Minimalism… with a twist. You will begin your journey as the Engineer, and after winning your first run you can to play with the Assessor. Each character has their set of skills and strengths: Find ways to master them as you discover new upgrades and gadgets.

• Dome Keeper combines resource management and action with real-time gameplay, in a core loop that will keep you making decisions and adapting your tactics constantly. As time passes, the monsters’ waves will become more vicious, and sometimes unpredictable. Take risks to gain rewards, in a constant push and pull.
• Immersive mood and aesthetic. From its mesmerizing soundtrack to its distinctive color palette and animations (which you’ll have to pay attention to for information about the monsters and their behaviour), Dome Keeper’s worldbuilding filled with subtle secrets will captivate instantly.

And Yet More… We Have Pets!

The fact that Dome Keeper relies on a minimalist visual style doesn’t mean it can’t have the thing everybody loves in games: Pets! These lovable cosmetics companions will stay at the dome and wait for your return. In addition to the three you can unlock in-game, here are two more available in the paid DLCs:

• The Vigilant Owl is part of the Engineer Gear Pack, along with an additional equipment for this keeper, the Hardened Suit, and two exclusive music tracks
• The Sea Dragon is included in the Assessor Gear Pack, along with an additional equipment for this keeper, the Arcane Cloak, and two new music tracks

Easter Egg: Learning from the Best

We have a special gift for all of you: Some advice, tips and tricks to become a pro keeper, coming from the master himself: René Habermann, Dome Keeper’s Game Director.

• All the domes and keepers in Dome Keeper are quite different from each other. If you are used to one, trying out another one might feel a bit strange or even weaker. It is important to give every option a chance and understand the differences between  playstyles.

• Mining every third row means you will uncover all the tiles, and even though you won’t miss any resources in Dome Keeper, it is not a very efficient way to dig. This strategy is called “strip mining”, and many of you are probably familiar with it, especially if you’ve played Minecraft. It is better to try to estimate iron clusters, or leave a bit more space, as clusters are a few tiles large. Additionally, there are gadgets that help you locate resources, which speeds up things. All this won’t make a difference on the lower difficulties, but for some of the harder assignments you do not want to be strip mining, believe me.

• Find gadgets that accentuate your playstyle. Experiment with different ones, even if they do not seem great at first. If you play assignments, adjust your loadout and the gadgets you choose for the task. For example, if you expect many weak monsters to attack, think about how you can improve your area of effect damage and what gadgets would be stronger in this case. This is much better than playing the same strategy for every assignment.

• And finally, do not forget about the battle abilities of the primary gadgets. They can very much increase your survival rate!

Dome Keeper is available to play with Game Pass, and both DLCs can be purchased separately or as part of the Deluxe Bundle on Xbox Series S|X and Windows. We can’t wait for you to discover what lies in the depths of our planet!

Dome Keeper

Raw Fury

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$17.99

$14.39

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Defend against waves of alien monsters in this unique roguelike action mining game. Use the time between attacks to dig beneath the surface in search of valuable resources and relics – deliver them back to your dome to unlock powerful upgrades and useful new gadgets.

But it won’t be long until the relentless monsters return – do you risk delving deeper into the mine? Or return to base and prepare for imminent attack? The choice is yours, but make it quickly!

Dig

Use your drill and keeper equipment to quickly dig out tunnels and explore the depths beneath your dome. Each run has its own unique, procedurally generated map filled with resources and caves to discover, along with additional gadgets to obtain. ​

Defend

Protect your dome by operating its powerful weaponry to defend against waves of monster attacks. Upgrade, repair and repel a variety of enemy types that approach across air and ground, each with their own unique attack methods and movement patterns.

Develop

Spend resources to unlock useful upgrades. Improve dome defences, enhance the impact of your drill, or increase movement speed – choose carefully and strategise to increase odds of survival.

Discover

Customise your setup and find a playstyle that works for you by choosing from two unique keeper types, four different domes, and four primary gadgets. Pick a run modifier, adjust difficulty settings and discover dozens of secondary gadgets while you dig through the earth.

We’re thrilled to launch the Indie Selects Demo Fest! Starting today, discover over 30 amazing game demos — now including PC and Handheld titles for the first time! All demos are free to download and play anytime from December 9 through 31.

Explore the full collection in the Indie Selects Demo Fest section on the Xbox Store and at Xbox.com. We’d love for you to share your feedback with the developers — it’s a great way to help shape the final experience!

Please note: most demos represent early builds and may differ from the final release, including regional availability, as developers continue polishing their games.

We’re also excited to share that 4 newly announced games below are coming to Xbox!

Knuckle Jet (Rain Games)

Ready for something off the wall? Meet Knuckle Jet — a jetpunk action platformer from the creators of Teslagrad! Soar as Anastasia, ricochet off walls, and smash foes with the mighty Knuckle Jet. Mix and match gear for wild gameplay twists — fashion sense optional! Team up in 2-player couch co-op to topple Baron Tychoon, or throw down in Knuckleball for some friendly chaos.

Megabattle (MadCat)

Create your deck, build your robot, and dive into a roguelite adventure full of surprises! Design your own fighter, experiment with unique strategies, and discover countless ways to battle. Just one rule: don’t die!

Raging Bill (Artpunk Studio)

Raging Bill is a single-player sandbox of pure chaos. Play as Bill — ex-MMA champ turned billionaire — whose island paradise spirals into madness: party crashers, UFOs, zombies, dragons, and more. Inspired by Goat Simulator and Duke Nukem, it’s a mix of combat, stunts, puzzles, and freedom.

Built in Unreal Engine 5 with Lumen, Nanite, and Chaos physics, the 5km² world is packed with biomes, secrets, and retro Easter eggs. From jetpacks to hoverboards, every moment is designed for fast-paced, shareable fun. Created by Jérôme Tissot (Muttonheads) under Artpunk Studio, this is indie gaming turned up to 11.

Reef Defense (Swift Creek Games)

Dive into Reef Defense, a fast-paced strategy challenge where crustaceans are coming for your eggs! Build clever defenses, plan your moves, and fight to keep your reef safe. Can you outlast the swarm, or will the crabs feast tonight?

In addition to the new reveals, dive into a diverse mix of creative games you can play right now! See the lineup below for all participating titles and amazing developers in this year’s Indie Selects Demo Fest.

Aikyam (Thousand Stars Studio), Xbox

Amazing Frog? (Fayju), Xbox

AWAYSIS (17-Bit/Cult), Xbox/PC

Biped 2 (Meta Publishing), Xbox

Boxes: Lost Fragments (Big Loop Studios/Snapbreak), Xbox

Cash Cleaner Simulator (Mind Control Games/Forklift Interactive), Xbox

Cassette Boy (Wonderland Kazakiri/Forever Entertainment), Xbox

Coffee Talk Tokyo (Chorus Worldwide), Xbox

ColorBlend FX: Desaturation (Pi-Dev Bulgaria), Xbox

Cyberawar Neon City (CyberMonkey Studio/GoGo Games), Xbox

Deck of Haunts (Mantis Games/Dangen Entertainment), Xbox

Empire in Decay (Siesta Games), Xbox

Froggy Hates Snow (Crying Brick/Digital Bandidos), Xbox

Go North (Gazuntype), Xbox

Incantation (Softstar Entertainment/Eastasiasoft), Xbox

Junkster (Stormcloud Games/4J Studios), Xbox

Kejora (Beranjin Creative/Soft Source), Xbox

Knuckle Jet (Rain Games), Xbox/Handheld

Limbot (Ionized Studios), Xbox

Lost in Loss (Soroka Games), Xbox/PC

Mark of the Deep (Mad Mimic/Light Up Games), Xbox/PC/Handheld

Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland (Pepita Digital), Xbox

Megabattle (MadCat), Xbox

Pathologic 3 (Ice-Pick Lodge/HypeTrain Digital), Xbox

Raging Bill (Artpunk Studio), PC/Handheld

Realm of Ink (Leap Studio/4divinity), PC/Handheld

Reef Defense (Swift Creek Games), Xbox/PC/Handheld

Relooted (Nyamakop), Xbox

Rhythm Towers (Innoloop), Xbox

RoadOut (Rastrolabs/Dangen Entertainment), Xbox

Showgunner (Artificer/Klabater), Xbox/PC

Star Ores Inc. (BlackBeak Games/Three River Games), Xbox

STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator (Ternox), Xbox/PC/Handheld

Tenebris Somnia (Saibot Studios/New Blood), Xbox/PC

Townseek (Whales and Games/Super Rare Games), Xbox

Under Par Golf Architect (Broken Arms Games), Xbox

Worshippers of Cthulhu (Crazy Goat Games/Crytivo), Xbox

Head over to your Xbox and start enjoying these incredible game demos now! And yes, we’d love to hear what you think. Connect with us on Twitter,  Instagram,  Discord, Twitch, Bluesky and YouTube. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire to learn more about what Team Xbox has planned. Your next favorite game is waiting!

New Hawkins Helicopter Tour Company Takes Off… Huey in the Hands of a Local

September 9, 1987 – Hawkins might still be recovering after last year’s quake disaster, but one local entrepreneur tells The Hawkins Post that it’s the perfect moment to launch something “fun, cultural, and absolutely not suspicious!”

Enter Hawkins Heli-Tours, the brand-new chopper service, offering visitors a bird’s eye view of our town’s most iconic landmarks. An oddly timed endeavor for a city in lockdown that’s not permitting any tourists.

The company boasts you can “take to the skies for one hell of a ride” over our slice of small-town Americana, with sights like Palace Arcade and Family Video, our cozy patchwork of residential streets, or the always-photogenic Lovers Lake.

Behind the project is Murray Bauman, a familiar face to locals, self-proclaimed culture lover, and man of, depending on who you ask, either great vision or very strange timing…

“I figured, why not?” Bauman told our reporter, adjusting his aviators. “Our skies are already crawling with more patrols than a bad action movie. Might as well make one of them useful. Plus, I like helicopters. They’re…liberating.”

Still, a few eyebrows have been raised…

Hawkins Heli-Tours operates a sleek Bell UH-1H “Huey”, a model not exactly common in civilian tourism.

Residents have whispered about late-night flights, odd cargo loads, and even rumors of… well, “unusual exchanges” out by the old forest road or around the radio station. Bauman innocently waves off these claims: “Contraband? Please. This isn’t Miami Vice!”

Yet the question lingers. With ongoing curfews, increased patrols, and the town still in quarantine after last year’s incident, some wonder whether the company is really a scenic joyride, or the cover for something stranger happening over Hawkins.

As our local SQWK DJ is known to say: “Today’s weather, 70 degrees, sunny, and with a high chance of helicopters overhead” so as always in our town: keep your eyes on the sky…

Experience Hawkins today in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Cloud. Make sure your simulator is updated to the latest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, visit the in-sim Marketplace, select the Stranger Things Expansion and get to work!

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – Standard Edition

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
657

★★★★★

$69.99

$55.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Standard Edition
Explore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Standard Edition includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports.

Fly with Purpose
·       Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet.
·       Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses.
·       Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.

Advanced Simulation
·       Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism.
·       New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion.
·       Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.

Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin
·       Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet.
·       Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers – all influenced by seasonal changes. The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences.
·       The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.

The team at Chaos Manufacturing is thrilled to announce our debut game, Sol Shogunate–what we call a “samurai space opera.” So, what does that mean? Sol Shogunate is a single-player third-person action RPG where you play as the ultimate samurai in an alt-future setting that pays homage to the majesty of feudal Japanese tradition.

The “space opera” part has two meanings. Space opera is a sci-fi subgenre that speaks to sci-fi universes filled with drama and adventure. But it’s also a nod to the strong musical component that is at the core of our game. We’re marrying combat, story, and music into an experience that we hope players will remember long after the credits roll.

A Lone Ronin Against the Sol Shogunate

In Sol Shogunate, players step into the role of Yuzuki, the last surviving heir of a once-powerful samurai family. Following her family’s massacre, she’s on a bloody quest for vengeance. Her story becomes far more than a personal vendetta, however, as she unearths the buried histories and lies underpinning the powerful shogunate that dominates the solar system.

Yuzuki’s adventure starts on our moon, where gleaming megacities have been constructed inside lunar craters, towering above sprawling industrial districts. These cities use artificial gravity to create the illusion of Earth-like environments, including neon-soaked entertainment hubs with high-speed rail lines that cut across the surface and space elevators that stretch into orbit.

A Katana Forged for the Future

Yuzuki is the ultimate samurai, genetically engineered to dominate the battlefields of tomorrow. The way of the sword in Sol Shogunate honors samurai tradition while embracing futuristic engineering possibilities. Players can infuse attacks with various types of energy to break through defenses, stagger enemies, and create tactical openings. This is an RPG, too, and players will experience progression including gene splice upgrades that allow players to tailor Yuzuki’s abilities, from enhanced perception to bio-ceramic armor–including the gold lacquered kintsugi effect you can see in our announcement trailer–that transforms her into a living weapon.

Intense Action Scored by Electric Sound

Music is at the heart of Sol Shogunate. We believe a great soundtrack can turn a thrilling action sequence into something more, experiences we hope players will find unforgettable. We are collaborating with Japanese rock acts like AliA to build major encounters that feel like interactive music videos, with every strike amplified by driving, emotionally charged tracks.

The Moon and Beyond

Sol Shogunate is our team’s love letter to Japan’s history, art, and culture, and each metropolis is inspired by a different era of Japanese history. Each biome holds secrets tied to the shogunate’s rule and to a long-forgotten war that set the stage for Yuzuki’s fate.

Exploration is built around verticality and discovery. To navigate these zones, players will traverse vertical districts using gravity assist gear, and even uncover hidden layers within each biome, discovering clues that will unlock mysteries about Sol Shogunate’s rich backstory.

Looking Ahead

Sol Shogunate is early in development and we’re going to release it only when it’s ready for you to unleash your inner Space Samurai. The team at Chaos Manufacturing is excited to share more with you in the future, so be sure to follow @SOLShogunate on X to follow along on our journey!

Even on a hopeful future Earth, a little extra vigilance is needed to help ensure unwanted elements are kept at bay. That’s why there’s the Defense Matrix, Overwatch 2’s comprehensive suite of player protection and integrity systems designed to safeguard the fairness and quality of every match.

The goal is simple: make Overwatch 2 as fun, fair, and welcoming as possible for everyone. From fresh gameplay updates to robust anti-cheat measures, we’re committed to fostering a community where everyone can thrive. Let’s look into a few of the biggest initiatives we’ve rolled out since the launch of Defense Matrix.

Of Mice and Keyboards: A New Era for Console Players 

A much-requested update for those of you on console introduced native Mouse and Keyboard support, allowing you to join a new Competitive environment and test your skills on an even playing field. Anyone using Mouse and Keyboard on console will now join the Mouse and Keyboard Pool (formerly the PC Pool), while those sticking with controllers remain in the Controller Pool.

To ensure fairness, those using Mouse and Keyboard must switch to the appropriate pool, or their inputs will be disabled for gameplay. Additionally, aim assist is disabled in the Competitive Mouse and Keyboard Pool, even if a controller is used. These changes aim to maintain competitive integrity while giving you the freedom to choose your preferred peripherals.

For anyone on console sticking with controllers, aim assist remains available in Cross-Play matches with PC friends. Plus, coming up in Season 20, new settings will allow you to fine-tune aim assist strength, window size, ease-in, and smoothing to better suit different play styles and heroes. 

Level Up Your Competitive Play Squad 

Overwatch 2 has always been a game best enjoyed with friends, but Competitive Play hasn’t always made it easy to group up if your ranks were too far apart. Enter Wide Groups, a feature that allows you to queue for Competitive matches with your friends, no matter their rank.

Wide Groups are defined by the skill gap between the highest- and lowest-ranked players in the group. For example, groups with Diamond or lower players that are more than five Skill Divisions apart, or groups with Masters players more than three Skill Divisions apart, are considered Wide Groups. Any group with a Grand Master or Champion player is also classified as a Wide Group, regardless of the skill gap. 

Additionally, a new Modifier will adjust skill progression for Wide Groups, ensuring lower-ranked players aren’t unfairly boosted by higher-ranked teammates. Solo players and Narrow Groups will remain unaffected, as they’ll only be matched with others in similar situations. This change aims to reduce the need for alternate accounts and make Competitive Play more accessible for friends of all skill levels. 

Chat Check: Filtering Out the Disruption 

Disruptive chat and gameplay behaviors have no place in Overwatch 2. That’s why we’ve implemented Real-Time Text Moderation, a system that hides potentially harmful messages from the lobby. Anyone can choose to view and report these messages if necessary. This technology (which is also deployed in World of Warcraft) aims to make Overwatch 2 a friendlier place to play.  

Our machine-learning technology continues to improve, identifying and addressing harmful behaviour in both text and voice chat. Those who engage in disruptive behaviour can expect corrective actions, including silences, suspensions, and bans. Your reports play a crucial role in building a safer environment—if you witness disruptive conduct, please take a moment to report it through the in-game tools. Every report, no matter how small, helps us uphold our commitment to a welcoming community for all players. Any offensive behaviour is still subject to strict enforcement of Blizzard’s In-Game Code of Conduct. 

Swinging the Ban Hammer: Over 1 Million Cheaters Banned 

Cheating undermines the competitive integrity of Overwatch 2, and we’re proud to announce that over 1 million accounts have been banned for cheating since the game’s launch. This includes players using aimbots, wallhacks, and other cheats, as well as those grouping with known cheaters. Our efforts to combat cheating are ongoing, with even more anti-cheat technologies in development to detect and block hacks more effectively.

The Overwatch team is steadfast in its mission to ensure that every match is as fair and as inclusive as possible. We’re here to help ensure that every match is determined by skill and teamwork, not unfair advantages. 

Stay up to date on all of our Defense Matrix initiatives and more on the Overwatch 2 news site. Our work to safeguard fair and welcoming play is never finished; we’re constantly striving to enhance our technology, policies, and community tools in multiple ways. As we push each other and the game ever higher, we remain committed to keeping our community informed about the latest improvements—so stay sharp, remain respectful, and join us as we set new standards for competitive gaming together.

Overwatch® 2

Blizzard Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
2000

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Xbox Game Pass

Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based hero shooter game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 or 6v6 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40+ distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.

Overwatch 2 – Season 19: Haunted Masquerade

Masks, Mythics, and mayhem descend as Season 19 gets spooky with a Haunted Masquerade!

Season 19 creeps in… ambitious and cloaked in mystery! The Haunted Masquerade event introduces a spooktacular mode where mystical masks grant buffs, twisting every battle into a spectral spectacle. Then Stadium transforms under the eerie moonlight, unveiling new Heroes, a cursed map, fresh features, and match-defining Gadgets forged in shadow. Across the season, the festive spirit of Halloween stretches wide as Mythic cosmetics rise from the crypt, and a treasure trove of twisted tricks & treats awaits those brave enough to claim them. Welcome to the Haunted Masquerade, ENTER IF YOU DARE