Category: Xbox

Good news! It’s Game Awards season. Even better news! Game Pass members can play 16 of the nominees right now, with a 17^th — Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield — still to come next year. Taking place on Thursday, December 8, the Game Awards celebrate the very best of gaming in the last year, and there have been some incredible nominees included as part of Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass in 2022.

From beautiful experiments in interactive storytelling, to soundtracks perfect for emptying the ranks of Hell, and much, much more, make sure to check out our list of every single Game Awards nominee included in Game Pass:

As Dusk Falls
Nominated: Games for Impact, Innovation in Accessibility

While As Dusk Falls is nominated for its extensive accessibility features (full details here), few titles go to go so far to reach people who don’t normally play games at all. In our experience, agonizing over decisions with a friend or loved one who doesn’t identify as a gamer is a unique and memorable experience, made easier by the fact that players can bypass the controller in favor of an app on their phone. Going further, seamless Twitch integration allows a huge group of viewers to influence decisions in-game, an endlessly entertaining metagame. But even if your preferred way to play is solo, controller in hand, As Dusk Falls’ frequent, meaningful decision making elevates the narrative genre in thrilling, edge-of-your-seat fashion.

Citizen Sleeper
Nominated: Games for Impact

Citizen Sleeper gives you a lot to unpack during its narrative RPG journey, living out a life on the run as a digital consciousness in an imperfect artificial body. At its core, you’re trying to break free from your corporate owners who want their investment back – but you’re not the only one hiding out on remote space station, The Eye, from those eking out a living, to bounty hunters, to fellow refugees. Citizen Sleeper weaves a tale that’s both an allegory for capitalism gone awry and the persecution of the weak by those in power. Holding this game steady is an exceptionally told, deeply human core story, with a tangible world and compelling characters to befriend, betray, or simply exist beside. That story isn’t done being told just yet. Following the free DLC Flux and Refuge, the next piece of Citizen Sleeper’s story is set to arrive next year.

Dune: Spice Wars
Nominated: Best Sim/Strategy

It has been many years since we last set our real-time strategy feet on the planet of Arrakis in the classic Dune: 2000 (featuring the legendary John Rhys-Davies as the Atreides Mentat). The wait was worth it. Dune: Spice Wars is a true return to RTS form featuring a world full of giant sand worms, political intrigue, ruthless warlords, and the all-powerful spice that flows through everything — including your keyboard and mouse. It’s still in Game Preview, set for a full release in 2023, but what we’ve played so far has us excited for what’s to come from developer Shiro Games.

Immortality
Nominated: Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Performance (Manon Gage)

Nominated for three awards, it’s safe to say Immortality has been a winning experiment into how to use good ol’ fashioned Full Motion Video to create a thoroughly modern game. A story earned by you, not told to you, Immortality plays out across three time periods, and three different films, with startling performances from its actors, none more so than its lead, Manon Gage. The deeper you dig (using frames of the films themselves to discover new clips), the darker things become — until eventually you realize that this is by no means the mystery you went in assuming it was. Immortality earns its Mature rating and strays from the typical “choose your own adventure” style, becoming something you’ll never quite have played before, both in style and substance.

A Memoir Blue
Nominated: Games for Impact

A Memoir Blue tells the story of a star athlete and the bonds shared between a mother and daughter and is a tranquil option to some of the more tense, skill-based games you may have been playing — perfect for when you just want to relax and unwind. The game is an interactive narrative, steeped in symbolism, beautifully rendered with a variety of art styles, and featuring a splash of puzzle and point-and-click adventure elements. Its story of familial love, childhood reminiscence and musings on the nature of success have earned it a deserved spot in the Games for Impact category.

Metal: Hellsinger
Nominated: Best Score and Music

When you have a game featuring the vocal talents of Serj Tankian (System of a Down), Randy Blythe (Lamb of God), and Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), it’s easy to see how this excellent rhythm action game secured a nomination for Best Score and Music. While yes, the soundtrack does indeed kick ass, it’s when you’ve started to fire your rhythm-based attacks to the double-bass beat that the harmonious — and very metal — destruction takes shape, sending you tearing your way through hordes of demonic creatures, and seeking vengeance through the domain of Hell.

No Man’s Sky
Nominated: Best Community Support

No Man’s Sky served up yet another incredible year of content for its players, who have been able to experience four massive (and free) updates in the form of Sentinel, Outlaws, Endurance, and Waypoint. With that level of support, it’s easy to understand how it’s been nominated in this category. Hello Games’ galaxy-sized sci-fi sim remains one of the most unique and expansive gaming worlds that you can play in today, and only continues to grow, with community features to try out, tons of quality-of-life improvements, and even space whales.  It’s been said so often that it’s becoming a little clichéd, but there honestly hasn’t been a better time than now to play No Man’s Sky.

Norco
Nominated: Best Debut Indie

By turns maudlin and almost hilariously bizarre, Norco wears the skin of a ‘90s point-and-click adventure but implants a novelistic tale of the near future. The story of Kay, who returns home to her industry-ravaged hometown after the death of her mother, Norco weaves together climate change, the proliferation of AI, late-stage capitalism, and even folk-horror into the most singular gaming story of the year. Even among those heady concepts, it’s a deeply personal game, both for its characters and, you sense, its small team of first-time developers.

A Plague Tale: Requiem
Nominated: Game of the Year, Best Performance (Charlotte McBurney), Best Action/Adventure

Anything you’ve heard about A Plague Tale: Requiem likely started with the rats. While a playthrough of the story will have you encountering literally millions of the filthy little rascals, it’s the human cast of Amicia, Hugo, and some surprising new faces that truly stands out. The evolution of the main characters after the first game (brought to bear by some wonderful acting performances), and the towering scale of what they explore and endure has stayed with us weeks after completing the journey. A must play.

Return to Monkey Island
Nominated: Innovation in Accessibility

The unexpected and thrilling return of Guybrush Threepwood and the zombie pirate LeChuck was perhaps gaming’s most nostalgic new game this year. Fittingly, the newest installment of the iconic point ‘n’ click adventure series also saw the return of the iconic series’ creator Ron Gilbert, joined by co-writer Dave Grossman, bringing their sense of humor and singularly hilarious puzzles to a technicolor Caribbean that has seen considerably better days since we last saw it. Daring pirates will swash and, indeed, buckle with an evolution of classic adventure game controls, adding context-sensitive interactions, reactive dialog trees, and an easy-to-use inventory system to help make pirating a breeze. These features and more helped secure this nomination for Innovation in Accessibility.

Scorn
Nominated: Best Art Direction

Leading up to its release, we were looking to answer the question of what Scorn is. First-person adventure game? Shooter? A little of both? We explored that question with the game’s developer at launch, but it wasn’t until we started playing and diving into world that we understood quite how that the game wanted us to feel something more than fit neatly into a specific genre. A lot of that emotion while playing can be drawn from its outstanding visuals, pulling you into its nightmarish, bio-technological world almost immediately, and pitting you against bizarre creations and one (literally) puzzling encounter after another.

Starfield
Nominated: Most Anticipated Game

Saying that Starfield is a “Most Anticipated Game” is just scratching the surface of how excited we are to jump into this massive open-world universe. Most of us have spent a considerable amount of time in Bethesda’s other iconic open-world RPGs (looking at you Skyrim), so the chance at being able to explore a slew of worlds makes us incredibly excited about the experiences that are in store. We’ll have more to share in the coming months about Starfield – which will be available on day one with Game Pass — here on Xbox Wire.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
Nominated: Best Action Game, Best Multiplayer

Grab your nearest controller and jump into this retro-inspired beat ‘em up that brings back memories of token-filled arcade machines, greasy pizza, and bizarre, oversized mouse mascots. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is some of the most fun we’ve had this year either online or via couch co-op, battling back Shredder’s goons and shouting “Cowabunga!” at the television. It’s arcade nostalgia at its finest, with an awesome soundtrack, beautiful pixel art, and tons of unlockables that round out a complete arcade experience in your home. It shouldn’t be missed.

Total War: Warhammer III
Nominated: Best Sim/Strategy

With a mix of both real-time and turn-based elements, along with the epic Warhammer Fantasy license on full display, Creative Assembly’s third and most accessible entry in its unique Total War series allows you to take control of a massive army of Chaos Gods, humans, Daemons, or other outlandish legions as you attempt to conquer the Realm of Chaos. Sure, there are diplomacy options should you wish to talk your way to victory, but we prefer negotiating with a massive army, one that can vanquish even the most powerful of gods and lay waste to the mightiest of militias [lets out guttural roar]. It’s a truly titanic end to a trilogy that’s helped redefine the grand strategy genre.

Two Point Campus
Nominated: Best Sim/Strategy

The follow-up to the warmly received Two Point Hospital has us looking back on our university experience thinking: did we have enough fun? Guiding college students to success in courses such as Gastronomy and “Funny Business” while ensuring they have facilities to eat, sleep, play, and poop may sound like a lot. Thankfully, the way Two Point Campus chunks objectives into bite-sized steps means it feels less like a weed-out course and more like a chill elective. Plus, you can plop a Crazy Taxi arcade machine right in your student’s dorm… why didn’t our school’s dean think of that?

Tunic
Nominated: Best Indie, Best Action/Adventure, Best Debut Indie

Don’t be fooled by Tunic’s cute little fox hero character and whimsical art style; this game’s soul-crushing difficulty may lead to controller-throwing fits of rage. Thankfully, the game has a few tricks to aid in your journey. If you manage to survive the first hour or so, you’ll be treated to an amazing experience, especially if you enjoy a challenge and figuring things out on your own. Its brilliant level design is sure to make you smile as you discover hidden paths and shortcuts, but the game’s real treasure is the creative in-game guide you compile along the way, simultaneously offering a never-before-seen approach to puzzle design and a gorgeously nostalgic look back to game manuals of yore.

Vampire Survivors
Nominated: Best Debut Indie

Sink your teeth into one of the year’s biggest surprises and a legit game of the year contender. This instantly gratifying, gothic rogue-lite (survivor-like?) will have you weaving through hundreds… nay… thousands of pixel skeletons, mummies, zombies, werewolves, and more as you strive to survive as long as you can. The unlockable levels, awesome power-ups, and unique heroes add to an already very strong replay dynamic that will keep you coming back for more – you haven’t seen anything until you get to the last couple of minutes of run, trust us.

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Winter is a great time to keep warm indoors and catch up on that backlog, either by gathering with friends and family or taking some time to yourself. Speaking of backlog, we’ve got another super cool line-up of game demos ready for you! Partnering with Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards, we’re excited to share even more chill games that you can add to your Xbox Store wish list. Starting December 6 and running through December 12, you’ll be able to play over 20 demos of upcoming unreleased games for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One!

A few things to keep in mind:

• These demos will only be up on the Xbox Dashboard for a week. Some might be re-published to the Demo channel later, but many will simply disappear at the end of the week, so check them out while you can.
• The developers would love to hear what you think. Hit them up on social media or through their websites. If you like the game, tell them! If you have constructive criticism, they would love to hear that too.
• These “game demos” are not the norm. Typically, the demos you see in our Demo channel are created after the game is completed (or nearly completed) and represent an almost final to final version. Think of these akin to “show floor demos” and not necessarily indicative of the final product. You’ll get to experience these games early – some way early – which gives you the chance to provide your feedback! You should also note that these games will continue to evolve and become more polished as they near release.

We’ll announce the full list on December 6, but here are some games you’ll want to keep in mind:

Inkulinati – Yaza Games

Inkulinati is an ink-based strategy straight from medieval manuscripts, where a rabbit’s bum can be deadlier than a dog’s sword. Embark on an ever-changing journey and become a master of the Living Ink. Build your own bestiary, defeat medieval superstars, and collect perks to unleash hidden powers.

Rhythm Sprout – SURT/tinyBuild

Handcrafted rhythm action with original music and a wacky story mode. Fight charming bosses in rhythm battles. Run to the beat through juicy 3D environments. Remix the levels with modes for infinite challenge and replayability. The demo features 5 colorful tracks, refreshing game modes, and self-aware demo-exclusive story.

Thirsty Suitors – Outerloop Studios/Annapurna Interactive

Thirsty Suitors is a game about culture, relationships, family pressures, and expressing oneself. Can Jala handle her demanding parents, reconcile with her exes, and mend broken friendships in time for her sister’s wedding? Will she be ready for the impending visit of Paati, the family’s terrifying and judgmental matriarch? Through the game’s story, Jala will confront her exes in cinematic, turn-based battle sequences.

Tin Hearts – Rogue Sun/Wired Productions

Guide a troop of tin soldiers through a beautiful, toy-filled world full of magic and mystery. Solve increasingly elaborate puzzles, forge new paths for your toys to follow and discover a deeply emotional story, in Tin Hearts – an immersive puzzle adventure game from members of the team that brought you Fable.

There will be so many unique games to discover and enjoy! When you get the chance to check it out, we’d love to hear what you think. Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Twitch, and YouTube. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire to learn more about what Team Xbox has planned and as always, stay warm and toasty while you game on!

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Today, we proudly share a sneak peek into the development of Transport Fever 2: Console Edition, and how we managed to bring the full transport tycoon experience to Xbox.

Transport Fever is a very popular and highly rated transportation tycoon franchise on PC. Its latest entry, Transport Fever 2, delivers a level of size and detail never before seen in the genre. The goal of the game is to build a successful transportation company by constructing railroads, streets, water and air lines. Starting in the 19th century, the player connects towns and industries to transport both passengers and cargo. In addition to a customizable free game mode, there is also a fully-fledged campaign mode with challenging missions set in real-world transportation history.

After the huge success of Transport Fever 2 on PC, it was only logical to bring the experience to consoles as well. Not only that, but no efforts were spared to give the console community the full experience that made the game great on PC. In order to achieve this, the engineers at Urban Games had to pull some rabbits out of their engineers’ hats.

Always providing the freshest layer of paint

One of the most cherished features of Transport Fever 2 are its highly detailed vehicles. The game comes with more than 200 lovingly hand-modeled trains, ships, and airplanes, each sporting multiple 4k textures and normal maps.

On PC, it is easily affordable to have all the models and textures in memory whenever needed, as a typical rig has 16 GB of RAM and a GPU with a dedicated extra memory. Consoles, however, are built differently. They have a unified architecture with an overall smaller amount but ultra-fast memory. The key to make it work on consoles is texture streaming, which allows to clear textures of models that are not in view anymore. Moreover, this technology is used in Transport Fever 2 to constantly load textures at the highest affordable resolution to present the stars of the show, like the classic Class A 3/5 steam locomotive, in their best coat of paint at all times.

Keeping the ground like a console pro

A trademark of Transport Fever 2 are its huge maps. During development of the game, it was always paramount to provide a real sense of scale. The engine should allow for maps where a high-speed train, such as the famous Japanese Shinkansen, can really make use of its superior speed. So, a lot of effort was put into designing a highly effective terrain rendering pipeline that can handle maps of more than 120 sq miles of size with a detail resolution of almost 1 yard. Central to this is a dynamic terrain tessellation algorithm on the CPU that, while costing a bit of extra memory, makes sure the engine can render these maps on a wide variety of PCs.

Now, enter the world of consoles with their incredibly well-designed GPUs and graphic APIs. Here, the hardware can be leveraged very well for terrain rendering by making use of the GPU tessellation feature. This feature generates the render mesh for the terrain fully on the graphics card, saving valuable processing time for the complex economy and city growth simulations. While generating more triangles, the hardware approach still costs less memory overall due to its efficiency. So vast maps can be viewed from a bird’s view high up in the sky and seamlessly zoomed in down to individual rocks on a riverbank.

Inspiring the inner architect

Finally, let’s talk about constructions, a central and defining part of the Transport Fever 2 experience. Constructions are large assemblies that consist of dozens of assets, street segments, ground decals and terrain modifications. Think of structures like airports, train stations, docks, highway crossings, and many more. Anything that is needed to build a vast transportation empire.

For a smooth construction experience, it is key that the player really feels that he has precise control over the building placement. On PC, constructions are typically built using the mouse. As the average PC user is very well adjusted to this method of input, it is sufficiently performant to calculate the entire construction each frame and place it under the cursor. However, on consoles, the best way of building constructions is to have them always kept in the center of the screen and move the camera along the map for placement. And moving the camera needs to be as smooth as silk.

So, for the console release of Transport Fever 2, the construction preview pipeline was overhauled. All dynamic calculations are now performed in the background while a static preview of the structure and its underlying ground plan are shown. Not only are constructions now completely stable in terms of FPS, but they also give feedback to the player on what environment features the construction would tear down when built.

Let’s get tycooning on console

We are very excited to bring the Transport Fever franchise to consoles for the first time ever with the release of Transport Fever 2: Console Edition on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One in February 2023, and we hope you will enjoy it as much as we did developing it.

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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!

Swordship – December 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A futuristic lightning-fast dodge ’em up which flips the script on the traditional arcade shooter. Turn both the tide of battle and enemies on themselves by dodging, weaving and diving your way through an onslaught of enemies hell-bent on tearing your Swordship apart.

Togges – December 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Plunge into the colorful world of Togges. This unforgettable sandbox adventure is a combination of both something new and totally familiar. Solve puzzles by spreading and stacking these cute blocks called Togges around the cosmos to save the galaxy from the threads of the void.

Hindsight – December 6

What if the physical objects of everyday life, the possessions we hold close, were actual windows to the past? From the creator of Prune, Hindsight is a poignant narrative game exploring the sum of a woman’s life.

Bot Gaiden – December 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Bot Gaiden is all action, execution, and speed! Ninja robots Robyu and Bytron race to recover the power skulls that have been stolen by each of Giorqio’s 6 Hench-bots. Slicing everything in their path, they must reach their destination quickly.

Mech Armada – December 8
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Create and command custom mechs to outmaneuver The Swarm in this post-apocalyptic tactical turn-based rogue-lite. Leverage the terrain, learn each Mech’s unique skills, and use strategy and resources to survive an ever-changing series of battles to give humanity hope.

Terror of Hemasaurus – December 9

Play as a giant monster and wreak havoc on humanity in this retro city smash ‘em up! Punch buildings, slap helicopters, eat humans, kick cars — enjoy multiple ways to cause carnage! Satisfying arcade action and mindless destruction for up to 4-players!

Dobo’s Heroes – December 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

On a faraway planet, Dobo is a worldly renowned hero. He’s inspired the work of millions of people. But something had made Dobo shut himself off from the world. Fortunately, his family, especially his grandchildren, are trying to bring him back to life in this puzzle platformer where you need to help Dobo leave the depths of his world.

Hello Neighbor 2 – December 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass: Hello Neighbor 2 is a stealth horror game about uncovering your creepy neighbor’s secrets. Play against a complex opponent controlled by an advanced AI that learns from you and all the other players! As time passes and the Neighbor adapts to the players’ patterns, his own behavior will change and surprise you. Will you be the one to outsmart the Neighbor and find out what he’s hiding? Pre-order now and start playing today!

Firefighting Simulator – The Squad – December 7
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Start the siren of your fire truck, grab your hose, and fight realistic fires to save lives. Discover over 30 diverse deployment locations spread across the city inspired by the North American West Coast. Equip yourself with authentic firefighting gear such as helmets, firefighter boots, and a breathing apparatus model by well-known firefighting equipment manufacturers.

Chained Echoes – December 8
Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass: Valandis is at war. The three kingdoms have been fighting for centuries. Peace seems to be no option. And yet, a magical weapon of mass destruction leads to a fragile one. One, which won’t last. Prepare yourself for an adventure in a world full of wonders, magic, mechs, charming characters, airships, and vicious foes. Will you be able to make peace everlasting with your heroes?

The Rumble Fish 2 – December 8

A legendary arcade game developed by Dimps in 2005, this fighting game gained popularity for its smooth visuals powered by S.M.A as well as the high level of strategy driven by its 2-gauges system. The console version contains new features such as an Online Versus Mode, a first for the series. It uses Rollback Netcode, which corrects lag between players, making for a streamlined experience online.

Afterglitch – December 9

An experimental third-person exploration sci-fi game where you play as an astronaut on a multidimensional journey to find an extraterrestrial civilization. Discover the hidden secrets of existence, embark on an extraordinary adventure beyond space-time, and explore unique fragments of parallel worlds without physical boundaries and limits.

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Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 14 to 18

Welcome, new hunters! We’re excited to share that Monster Hunter Rise is coming to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, plus Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, on January 20, 2023!

In Monster Hunter Rise, you’ll combine the series’ signature hunting action with exciting new acrobatic combat

Enjoy silky smooth action on Xbox Series X with the choice between 4K resolution and up to 60 FPS, or 1080P resolution with up to 120 FPS. Get lost in the atmosphere of the hunt with immersive 3D audio on both Xbox Series X|S systems. It’s a great time to jump in for Game Pass subscribers, and you can even continue hunting via Game Pass Cloud. You can also join the hunt by purchasing the game digitally starting at $39.99, with preorders (including a sweet bonus!) available now.

In Monster Hunter Rise, you’ll encounter a slew of new monsters inspired by Japanese folklore, like the flagship Wyvern of Malice, Magnamalo. Of course, iconic and beloved monsters from past titles also return, rounding out a roster of fearsome beasts that are sure to test your skills.

Through the game’s story, you’ll travel to the serene Kamura Village, home to everything you’ll need as a hunter. Unite with a colorful cast of characters as you become the village’s foremost hunter, some of which you’ll team up with to face the encroaching Rampage – a catastrophic event where hordes of monsters descend upon the village. Uncover the mystery behind the Rampage as you strive to forge a future for the people of Kamura.

Seasoned hunters experienced with Monster Hunter World and Iceborne will feel right at home with the signature gameplay experience the series known for. Choose from 14 weapon types, each with their own unique playstyle and deep and rewarding mechanics to master. Defeat powerful monsters, and use materials carved from them to craft more and more powerful weapons and armor as you rise through the hunting ranks.

Monster Hunter Rise introduces several new unique elements to the hunter’s toolkit, with an emphasis on being more maneuverable and agile than ever. Wirebugs let Hunters shoot a special silk to unleash special attacks unique to each of the 14 weapons. Hunters can use them quickly zip up into the air and up walls, recover more quickly from impactful hits, maneuver into the right position to nail that perfect hit, and dodge a devastating hit just in the nick of time. Wyvern Riding is another unique Wirebug ability, where you can wreak havoc by controlling a monster, temporally turning one into an ally!

The familiar Palico Felyne friends are back to lend their support, but this time they’re joined by the new Palamute Canyne companions. They’re a hunter’s best friend with their own set of special abilities, and you’ll be able to ride on Palamute’s back to quickly get around during a hunt. And yes, you can pet them!

Choose to go it alone, or team up with up to three others online for cooperative hunts. You’ll be able to hunt together and continue your progress whether you’re hunting on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or via the Xbox app for Windows PC.

At launch on Jan. 20, the game will come equipped with content and Event Quests from the previously released title updates (up to version 10), offering dozens of hours of intense hunting action and plenty of rewards to earn. This includes a number of fun collaborations quests from other series, where you’ll take on special themed quests to earn gear themed after Street Fighter, Okami, and Mega Man, just to name a few.

In Spring 2023, the hunt gets even bigger with the launch of the Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak massive expansion, taking hunters on a journey to the kingdom to become a Master Rank Hunter and battle new threats, like the bloodthirsty Malzeno.

For the latest information on Monster Hunter Rise, keep an eye on the official Monster Hunter Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Happy hunting, and see you in Kamura!

Monster Hunter Rise

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$39.99

Pre-order

Pre-order bonus
– Palamute Retriever Costume layered armor
– Palico Forest Cat Costume layered armor
– Novice Talisman for some extra assistance in the early stages

Rise to the challenge and join the hunt! In Monster Hunter Rise, the latest installment in the award-winning and top-selling Monster Hunter series, you’ll become a hunter, explore brand new maps and use a variety of weapons to take down fearsome monsters as part of an all-new storyline.

Ferocious monsters with unique ecologies
Hunt down a plethora of monsters with distinct behaviors and deadly ferocity. From classic returning monsters to all-new creatures inspired by Japanese folklore, including the flagship wyvern Magnamalo, you’ll need to think on your feet and master their unique tendencies if you hope to reap any of the rewards!

Choose your weapon and show your skills
Wield 14 different weapon types that offer unique gameplay styles, both up-close and from long range. Charge up and hit hard with the devastating Great Sword; dispatch monsters in style using the elegant Long Sword; become a deadly maelstrom of blades with the speedy Dual Blades; charge forth with the punishing Lance; or take aim from a distance with the Bow and Bowguns. These are just a few of the weapon types available in the game, meaning you’re sure to find the play style that suits you best.

Hunt, gather and craft your way to the top of the food chain
Each monster you hunt will provide materials that allow you to craft new weapons and armor and upgrade your existing gear. Go back out on the field and hunt even fiercer monsters and earn even better rewards! You can change your weapon at any of the Equipment Boxes any time, so the possibilities are limitless!

Hunt solo or team up to take monsters down
The Hunter Hub offers multiplayer quests where up to four players can team up to take on targets together. Difficulty scaling ensures that whether you go solo or hit the hunt as a full four-person squad, it’s always a fair fight.

Enjoy an exciting new storyline set in Kamura Village
This serene locale is inhabited by a colorful cast of villagers who have long lived in fear of the Rampage – a catastrophic event where countless monsters attack the village all at once. 50 years after the last Rampage, you must work together with the villagers to face this trial.

Experience new hunting actions with the Wirebug
Wirebugs are an integral part of your hunter’s toolkit. The special silk they shoot out can be used to zip up walls and across maps, and can even be used to pull off special attacks unique to each of the 14 weapon types in the game.

Buddies are here to help
The Palico Felyne friends you already know and love from previous Monster Hunter adventures are joined by the brand new Palamute Canyne companions!

Wreak havoc by controlling monsters
Control raging monsters using Wyvern Riding and dish out massive damage to your targets!

Fend off hordes of monsters in The Rampage
Protect Kamura Village from hordes of monsters in an all-new quest type! Prepare for monster hunting on a scale like never before!

*This content is also available as part of one or more bundles. Please check your previous purchases to avoid duplication.

Monster Hunter Rise Deluxe Edition

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Pre-order bonus
– Palamute Retriever Costume layered armor
– Palico Forest Cat Costume layered armor
– Novice Talisman for some extra assistance in the early stages

Includes Monster Hunter Rise and the Deluxe Kit content in one package!

Main game “Monster Hunter Rise”
– “Kamurai” Hunter layered armor set
– “Fish Collar” Palico layered armor piece
– “Shuriken Collar” Palamute layered armor piece
– “Jump” gesture set
– Samurai pose set
– “Kabuki” face paint
– “Izuchi Tail” hairstyle

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The Mist Stirs – Join the Valheim Public Test to Preview of the Latest Biome!

Hello, Neighbors, and welcome back to town! We’ve missed you.

Today is the day. For those brave enough to pre-order Hello Neighbor 2’s Deluxe Edition, you can jump in now and begin your investigation into the strange and twisted town of Raven Brooks ahead of the crowd on December 6. Put on your best reporter’s cap, finish your fifth coffee, and get ready to stake out the movers and shakers in the neighborhood. Everyone’s hiding something, and all clues point to the infamous and reclusive Mr. Peterson.

A Whole Town of Trouble

Hello Neighbor was a story of personal curiosity. Your neighbor (local architect and inventor Mr. Peterson) had been building something strange at night. Playing as local snoop Nicky Roth, you delved into the mysteries of the Peterson house one night at a time, picking apart his personal secrets, especially what he was keeping down in this basement…

In Hello Neighbor 2, this is now a professional problem. As overcaffeinated reporter Quentin, you’re out to crack this town’s many missing person’s cases, Nicky Roth amongst them. You’ll begin at the old Peterson house (patrolled by the local police) but your instincts say that this case will need you to hit the streets and infiltrate the homes of the town’s most trusted figures. Could the reclusive taxidermist be up to something? Gerda, the local baker? Could this conspiracy go as high up as the mayor!? There’s a scoop here, and you’re not stopping until you have it… Or it has you.

The Deluxe Edition: For the Investigator Who has to Know It All

Hello Neighbor 2 launches on December 6, but those pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition can start immediately. Better yet, at launch, Deluxe Edition owners receive three pieces of DLC, including one powerful snooping tool (the remote controlled Hello-Copter, letting you safely surveil suspects at range and pilfer items with its retractable grappling claw) and two massive side-missions: Back To School and Late Fees.

In Back To School, Quentin investigates the sprawling Raven Brooks Middle School for clues. With no sign of students, there’s clearly something strange happening here, but to crack the case you’ll have to avoid the gaze of the old groundskeeper and his loyal pack of dogs as they patrol its halls. Will this trip to school be an educational expedition, or a lesson in pain?

Late Fees leads Quentin to the local library, a strange, crumbling building with its own set of secrets. Unlike the other townsfolk you’ll meet, the Librarian doesn’t mind you wandering the grounds, but she’ll spring into action if you make too much noise, or disturb even a single shelf. Solve this case and you’ll be in the town’s history books. Fail, and you’ll be the one checked out.

Stop the Presses!

Get your best snooping shoes on – it’s time to get sneaky, and learn what’s happening in Raven Brooks. It’ll take smarts to crack the puzzles sealing the town’s doors, and no shortage of speed and intuition to outrun and evade the ornery locals. Each opponent you’ll face has a unique AI personality, but all of them have one thing in common: They really don’t want you snooping around. Will you find where Mr. Peterson is hiding out, cracking the case? Or will you end up as another face on a missing person poster?

Hello Neighbor 2 hits Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on December 6, with the regular version coming to Game Pass on day one. Pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition lets you start playing now, complete with the DLC missions and Hello-Copter.

See you around the neighborhood!

Hello Neighbor 2 Deluxe Edition

tinyBuild

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

Get it now

Pre-order now Hello Neighbor 2 and receive exclusive instant access to the Hello Neighbor 2 Beta experience. With your pre-order of the Deluxe Edition you also get 5 days of Early Access to the game prior to its release and three DLCs coming to your consoles at release.

Hello Neighbor 2 Standard Edition

tinyBuild

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$39.99

Pre-order

Pre-order now any edition of Hello Neighbor 2 and receive exclusive instant access to the Hello Neighbor 2 Beta experience.

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The Game of Life 2 is a life simulator board game, based on the Hasbro classic, The Game of Life, and it’s available now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! It’s a bright, fun, new interpretation of the original that brings the gameplay and life choices up-to-date for a younger, modern audience. So, whether you’re a veteran of the crossroads, or brand new to the game, there’s plenty to discover and enjoy!

The Game of Life is a much-loved title played by millions of families around the world, and The Game of Life 2 has received an amazing reception. Millions are now playing across multiple platforms, and we‘re here to share some of the choices they’re making!

In the original board game, the aim is to reach the end with the most money. However, in our modern world the drive to “get rich” is often balanced by the need for a healthy lifestyle. So, in The Game of Life 2, you can choose to earn points for wealth, happiness, and knowledge. 

So far players have chosen:

• 24% Wealth
• 34% Knowledge
• 42% Happiness

Perhaps these choices reflect our modern world, or they could be the result of players prioritising fun choices in-game. The important thing is, you get to own your journey!

One of the original mandatory Stop spaces is right in front of the Chapel, where you get married. There’s no choice, it’s marriage or game over. So, in The Game of Life 2, we decided to make this optional. So far:

• 39% Stay single
• 61% Get married

Another essential action in the original game is having children. When you land on a baby space, you must add a child to your car. We decided to interrupt this pattern by making “having babies” a clear choice, with the option to adopt pets instead! So far:

• 43% have chosen pets
• 57% have chosen babies

As for new career options, the top choices are:

• Robotics Engineer
• Astronomer
• Chef

And when it comes to the “Dream House”, it seems most players are opting for “detached” or “remote”, with the most popular choices being:

• Mansion
• Forest House

Of course, we’ve kept some of the traditional choices, and going to College is still coming out as the most popular option vs. going straight into a career. All those Astronomers and Robotics Engineers are planning ahead!

• 20% Career
• 80% College

When it comes to the end game, the original gave you the choice of two retirement homes. In The Game of Life 2, you can choose to continue your journey and fulfill your “bucket list”. And it seems people are happy to embrace the adventure:

• 42% Retirement
• 58% Bucket List

Another new addition that has really shaken up gameplay is an extra “second chance” crossroad later in the game. If you want, you can put off getting married or going to college or investing in a home. If you don’t go to College at the beginning, you can go later, or go back and get a Masters! These changes have significantly changed the way players approach the game. Instead of feeling locked-in to set expectations and a single goal, the new ways to win, second chances, and added choices make the whole experience more representative of our modern times. The Game of Life 2 includes cross-platform multiplayer, so you can join your friends and family on their preferred device or console. We’re delighted with how players have been making the most of every choice, and we can’t wait for you to make lives of your own on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S!

The Game of Life 2

Marmalade Game Studio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$23.99

Get it now

It’s the modern version of Hasbro’s board game, played by 50 million families and friends around the world. Live in the Classic City PLUS the Fairytale Kingdom and Haunted Hills worlds: included in the game! Each comes with new outfits, vehicles, careers, houses, and items to unlock!

Modern Gameplay

• Make big career, relationship, and financial choices early or late in the game
• Collect points for happiness and knowledge as well as wealth
• Retire to a luxury home or keep going!

Customisable and Unlockable Items

• Customise your pink, blue or purple peg at the start of every game
• Unlock new avatars, outfits, and vehicles

Ultimate Life Collection

• 7 amazing worlds await in the Ultimate Life Collection! Buy the base game AND every world together in the Deluxe Life Collection!

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We have games available for you to play today, games “coming soon” (fake but should be real trademark here), and even something you can play now that maybe you didn’t know we slipped in last week! Let’s get to the games.

Available Today

Eastward (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Welcome to the charming world of Eastward – population declining! Journey through a society on the brink of collapse, discovering delightful towns, strange creatures, and even stranger people! Wield John’s trusty frying pan and Sam’s mystic powers on an unusual adventure into the unknown.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season (Cloud, Console, and PC)
After years on the road facing threats both living and dead, a secluded school might finally be Clementine and AJ’s chance for a home. But protecting it will mean sacrifice. In this gripping, emotional final season, your choices define your relationships, shape your world, and determine how Clementine’s story ends.

Totally Reliable Delivery Service (PC)
Buckle up your back brace and fire up the delivery truck, it’s time to deliver! Join up to three friends and haphazardly get the job done in an interactive sandbox world. Endure cruel ragdoll physics, pilot your favorite vehicle, and complete the tasks at hand to the best of your ability. Delivery attempted, that’s a Totally Reliable Delivery Service guarantee!

Coming Soon

LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 6
An unforgettable experience through the Star Wars galaxy with the biggest roster of LEGO Star Wars characters and vehicles to date, new immersive combat mechanics, a vast array of planets to explore, and much more! Players will relive the epic narrative of the Skywalker Saga told through the lens of hilarious LEGO humor. Choose the beginning of any trilogy, including Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: A New Hope, or Star Wars: The Force Awakens and start your journey on December 6 for Cloud, Console, and PC.

Hello Neighbor 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 6
Available on day one with Game Pass: Hello Neighbor 2 is a stealth horror game about uncovering your creepy neighbor’s secrets. Play against a complex opponent controlled by an advanced AI that learns from you and all the other players! As time passes and the Neighbor adapts to the players’ patterns, his own behavior will change and surprise you. Will you be the one to outsmart the Neighbor and find out what he’s hiding?

Chained Echoes (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 8
Available on day one with Game Pass: Valandis is at war. The three kingdoms have been fighting for centuries. Peace seems to be no option. And yet, a magical weapon of mass destruction leads to a fragile one. One, which won’t last. Prepare yourself for an adventure in a world full of wonders, magic, mechs, charming characters, airships and vicious foes. Will you be able to make peace everlasting with your heroes?

Metal: Hellsinger (Xbox One) – December 8
Game Pass members will be able to jump into Metal: Hellsinger on Xbox One consoles on December 8! Previously released on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S with Game Pass, Metal: Hellsinger is a rhythm FPS brimming with diabolical enemies, powerful weapons, and metal music. Strike terror into the hearts of demons as you fight your way through eight Hells on an infernal journey to achieve the purest of goals: Vengeance.

High On Life (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 13
Available on day one with Game Pass: From the mind of Justin Roiland comes High On Life. Humanity is being threatened by an alien cartel who wants to use them as drugs. It’s up to you to rescue and partner with charismatic, talking guns, take down Garmantuous and his gang, and save the world!

Potion Craft (Console and PC) – December 13
Potion Craft is an alchemist simulator where you physically interact with your tools and ingredients to brew potions. You’re in full control of the whole shop: invent new recipes, attract customers and experiment to your heart’s content. Just remember: the whole town is counting on you.

Hot Wheels Unleashed – Game of the Year Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 15
Get ready to drift, boost, jump and crash on the iconic orange tracks with the most beloved Hot Wheels cars! Hot Wheels Unleashed – Game of the Year Edition is coming soon to Xbox Game Pass. Let’s ignite the fun!

Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan (Cloud, Console, and PC) – December 15
A wholesome, creature capture, 2.5D Adventure-Puzzle-Platformer with over 30 hours of gameplay! It is a family-friendly, openly accessible, RPG-infused adventure in which you must save whimsical creatures by bringing back color to the world you once knew!

In Case You Missed It

Battlefield 2042 (Cloud, Console, and PC) EA Play – Available now
PC Game Pass and Ultimate members can now join the fight with EA Play! Battlefield 2042 is a first-person shooter that marks the return to the iconic all-out warfare of the franchise. In a near-future world transformed by disorder, adapt and overcome dynamically changing battlegrounds with the help of your squad and a cutting-edge arsenal. Learn more about Season 03: Escalation here!

DLC / Game Updates

Need for Speed Unbound: Early Access Trial with EA Play – Available now
Drivers, start your engines! PC Game Pass and Ultimate members can try Need for Speed Unbound for 10 full hours with EA Play! Race against time, outsmart the cops, and take on weekly qualifiers to reach The Grand, Lakeshore’s ultimate street racing challenge. Pack your garage with precision-tuned, custom rides and light up the streets with your style, exclusive fits, and a vibrant global soundtrack.

Conan Exiles: Chapter 2 – December 6
The online multiplayer survival game set in the savage lands of Conan the Barbarian continues to expand. After the arrival of sorcery in the massive Age of Sorcery Update, Chapter 2 now drops brand-new features and content into the simmering situation in the Exiled Lands. Hunt down sorcerer NPCs across the map and bring them back dead or alive for valuable rewards. Experience the new Witch Hunt Encounter as you explore, taking on several unique boss-level sorcerers.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

3-Month Free Trials of Apple TV+ and Apple Music – Available now
Don’t forget to claim your perks! From now until end of March, Ultimate members can claim a 3-month free trial of Apple TV+ and a 3-month free trial of Apple Music. Enjoy Oscar-winning films, Emmy-winning shows, and more with Apple TV+. Also, get over 100 million songs, all ad-free, and listen across your devices with Apple Music. Learn more here!

Leaving December 15

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon which means it is the perfect time to shuffle your play list and hit these before they go! Remember to use your membership discount to save up to 20% to keep any Game Pass games in your library.

• Aliens: Fireteam Elite (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Breathedge (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Lake (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Neoverse (Cloud and Console)
• Race with Ryan (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Rory McIlroy PGA Tour (Console) EA Play
• Transformers: Battlegrounds (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Remember that The Game Awards is just around the corner, and that many of the nominees can be played in Game Pass right now (check out our collection on the Xbox Game Pass mobile app)! As always if you want to get into the games with your friends, the first month is only $1, so that’s a very easy game night sorted. We’ll be back with more Game Pass updates soon!

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Hey everyone! It’s Pip here, marketing lead at publisher No More Robots, and if the World Cup has got you excited for some soccer (or football), I’m here to announce that you can pick up your ball, put on your shinpads and save soccer in our brand-new RPG Soccer Story! Get ready to take on the terrible Soccer, Inc. and restore the beautiful game to its rightful place at the top of the table Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S and with Xbox Game Pass starting today!

A year ago, the top teams came together to compete in the world’s biggest tournament, but tragedy struck when a great calamity brought a halt to not only the competition but also soccer as a sport! Since then, no one outside of the very suspicious Soccer, Inc. and their referees has been allowed to play, and it’s up to you, the saviour of soccer, to head to the pitch and remind everyone why this wonderful sport deserves their support once more!

Play Through a World Full of Quirky Characters, Puzzles and Hidden Secrets

The open world of Soccer Story is full to the brim with soccer-adjacent sports to play, quirky characters to chat to, as well as puzzles and riddles to solve. Around every corner and in every building there are new ways to power up your team and take the fight to Soccer Inc., whether that be by collecting team upgrades to beat the top teams or by helping the locals reform their squads and take to the pitch – it’s up to you to get soccer back on top!

Each zone is being controlled by a different member of Soccer Inc., but with the help of your magical ball you’ll be able to drive away the terrible referees and clear up their mess. From spotting the hidden ninjas in the Zen Zone to destroying sandcastles and reforging the Shark Idol in the Beach Zone, each area has its own challenges and issues. Can you become the champion of the hurdles in the Athletic zone and conquer the tricks and traps of Fut Golf?

Build Your Soccer Career and Do Battle against the Fiercest Soccer Teams Like Literal Sharks, Toddlers, Old-Age Pensioners and Ninjas

If you want to take the fight all the way to the heady heights of the Apple Cup and defeat Soccer Inc. once and for all, you’ll have to gather your team and take on each region’s finest for the Regional Cups – each one guarded by teams weirder and wilder than the last. You’ll need to hold your nerve as you face down OAPs, ghosts and a team of literal sharks in order to make your way to the top, and none of them will go down easy.

As you progress though each cup, mighty animal captains will help you discover your true powers and harness the skills to make Soccer Inc. pay! Beating each in a 1v1 showdown will grant you abilities to really kick your enemies where it hurts, and the power to defeat whoever dares to stand in the way of a good, old-fashioned kick-about!

Once You’ve Saved the World, Grab Some Friends and Play Ball

Once the soccer bug has bitten you, (and who can blame you with the world cup really heating up too!) grab some friends and find out who really is the saviour of soccer by playing some local multiplayer matches! Run your own tournaments from the comfort of your own home or play co-operatively to take down the best teams Soccer Story has to offer! Choose your favourite team, whether that’s the hometown heroes of Soccer Town or one of the teams from around the world and head to one of our state-of-the-art stadiums and become top your own personal leagues!

Soccer Story is out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! Grab boots and head to the pitch, you’ve got a wide world to explore, bad guys to defeat and a magical ball to kick at every one and everything! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do, and you bring soccer home once and for all!

Soccer Story

No More Robots

☆☆☆☆☆
63

★★★★★

$19.99

$17.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

It’s been a year since The Calamity™ tore apart the very foundations of soccer as we know it, and since then, Soccer Inc. has made dang well sure that not a soul has been allowed to even look at a soccer ball, let alone kick it.

Soccer may have been banned across the world… but now there is hope! A magical soccer ball has chosen you, our Savior of Soccer!

Soccer Story is a physics-driven adventure RPG, where every problem can be solved with your trusty magic ball. Along the way, you’ll need to best bad guys in 1v1s, compete in a range of different sports (with your soccer ball, of course), and sometimes use your brain just as much as your balls

In a world that has long forgotten The Beautiful Game, can you remind them why soccer is top of the table, and best the most formidable teams, including the local toddlers and a group of sharks?

-Drop your soccer ball and play anywhere! The world is full of goals, puzzles and secrets – it’s up to you to find them!
-Play a single-player story full of quirky characters, quests, rogue refs and wacky soccer-adjacent sports
-Build your soccer career and do battle against the fiercest soccer teams like literal sharks, toddlers, old-age pensioners and ninjas
-Save soccer and restore peace and harmony to the world
-Grab a friend for a four-player local multiplayer match mode with a full roster of teams and animal captains

Yes, Soccer Story has multiplayer matches too!

Grab up to 3 friends, and convince them that soccer is the ultimate sport by challenging them to local multiplayer matches!

With a whole host of teams and captains to choose from, find your personal playstyle and hold your own tournaments at home across the many pitches, from home matches at Soccertown to the vast Soccer Inc Stadium!

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Xbox Game Studios Game Camp was founded in 2020 on the belief that extraordinary talent resides everywhere. The goal of the program is to enable people from traditionally marginalized communities and non-traditional backgrounds to realize their potential in the gaming industry and grow thriving games communities and industries in places all over the world.

In this Q&A series, we aim to highlight the stories of Game Camp Alumni with unique game creation journeys. Today, we will be chatting with the CEO & Creative Director of LemonJuice Game Studio Austin-Taylor Caldwell, about his experience at Game Camp and his current project, Beyond the Nightlight, a 3D horror adventure game that sheds light on mental health and addiction.

Tell us about yourself (if applicable: your team and the game you’re working on)?

My name is Austin-Taylor Caldwell. Like most other individuals in the gaming industry, I grew up playing video games. However, to think about making a career in gaming was laughable to me from a young age. I was raised in the poorest county in my state where resources and connections to the tech industry were extremely far and few. Fast forward to 2020, I decided to jump into the deep end and founded LemonJuice Game Studio to make cinematic games within the horror genre. From solo development to Game Camp, LemonJuice now stands at 20 members who are working closely together on our current title, Beyond the Nightlight. It is a 3D horror adventure game that centers around mental health and addiction in hopes to shine light on the topic and potentially help those struggling with these illnesses every day.

Why did you decide to center Beyond the Nightlight on mental health and addiction?

Beyond the Nightlight centers around the study that when we die our brains have seven minutes of activity left, during this time is when our life ‘flashes before our eyes.’ Our protagonist Jolene is in her final seven minutes and does not know it yet. She races through this odd world in a porcelain doll body, chased by Death, to reclaim her memory of what happened to her and how she can get a second chance at life.

I lost my mother in 2019 to drug addiction and that was probably the hardest point in my life. A year later, I found out from my therapist that I have both depression and anxiety…which didn’t help the situation. Beyond the Nightlight is built from real trauma and experiences from real people to show the players that do struggle with similar if not exact issues, that they’re not alone.

“Xbox Game Studios Game Camp taught me things I would have otherwise taken 10 years to learn. Game Camp helped me identify my “superpower” in development and focus on that instead of spreading myself thin.”

Austin-Taylor Caldwell, CEO & Creative Director of LemonJuice Game Studio

Walk us through your game creation journey before you attended Xbox Game Studios Game Camp?

Before Game Camp, I taught myself game design through Unreal Engine Documentation and a ton of YouTube. Working a full-time job made devoting time to learn game development difficult, but not impossible. I would wake up a couple hours early to get through a few lessons or add a new feature to my project, then go into work and use my lunch to research various systems or solve some problems I may have run into that morning. Returning home after work was when I really put in the work by staying up way later than I should to continue adding features to my project and learning everything I could to make a playable product.

What are some of the key takeaways you learned from your experience at Xbox Game Studios Game Camp?

Xbox Game Studios Game Camp taught me things I would have otherwise taken 10 years to learn. Game Camp helped me identify my “superpower” in development and focus on that instead of spreading myself thin trying to be distinguished in every department. That alone is invaluable, but more than that it also taught me how to manage a team, communicate and network to establish long lasting relationships, how to create and manage a development pipeline, and so much more. Game Camp truly changed my life.

What excites you about the game creation process?

Seeing the first prototype is a feeling words cannot describe. Spending days on days crafting this world and seeing it come to life is enthralling. Directing that is extremely fun to me and seeing others get inspired and watching their eyes light up over a new idea they propose is truly what makes game development so beautiful.

What are some unique challenges your dev teams overcame? Were there any tools/services that helped overcome this?

The biggest challenge we faced was switching our 2D project from Unity to the 3D project it is now within Unreal Engine. Having to rebuild the code in a different language took a bit to get off the ground, but Unreal Engine Documentation helped us as a team get our bearings together and now, we are back up on the ground and sprinting!

Tell us about the tools you are using for game development and why.

We are utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and Quixel Megascans for Beyond the Nightlight . We decided to work within Unreal Engine 5 as the amount of tools provided free of cost truly tip the scales on what we can accomplish. Plus, having Megascans that we can use with ease and easily import into Unreal Engine is amazing for painting a very detailed and immersive environment.

Can you tell us about your experience working with an Xbox Game Studios mentor and what you learned from them about the game creation process?

Working with our mentor, Rosa Dachtler, was a great experience. She was extremely helpful and always available to help in any way she could. Particularly, she guided and supported us as we made an extreme switch in production with only 2 weeks of production time left. She taught us how to build a powerful narrative around action-packed gameplay and how departments can better communicate with each other throughout the design process.”

Now that you’ve attended Xbox Game Studios Game Camp, what’s next for LemonJuice?

Game Camp readied LemonJuice with the tools and knowledge needed to dive headfirst into the industry. We are currently in the final stages of wrapping up our prototype for Beyond the Nightlight. We intend to bring it to publishers so LemonJuice as a collective can work on this project full time and be equipped with the necessary tools to make it as beautiful as we have envisioned. I have always dreamed big, and it is still my dream and goal for my company to become a 1st or 2nd party studio for Xbox Game Studios.

To learn more about Xbox Game Studios Game Camp visit xbox.com/gamecamp.

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