The countdown to Grounded 2 is nearly over, and we’re gearing up to welcome players back to Brookhollow — only this time, the world is bigger, the bugs are bolder, and the park is ready to play in so saddle up! As we get closer to the Game Preview/Early Access launch on July 29, 2025, we’re excited to announce the Minotaurs, Myrmidons, and Mants: Oh My! Founder’s Edition, available for purchase starting at launch.

This edition is packed with stylish cosmetics to help you stand out while exploring Brookhollow Park. You’ll get the game plus unlock four premium character skins, each with their own custom emotes: the mighty Minotaur, the stoic Myrmidon, the elusive Rogue, and the fearsome Mant. You’ll also get access to “ONYX-PRO, Inside the Game” — a digital artbook and soundtrack that takes you behind the scenes of Grounded 2’s development and will be updated throughout Game Preview/Early Access — and a decorative set of Tool Effigies called the Tools of Yore, perfect for showing off your adventuring spirit at home base.

Correction — almost perfect. The Tools of Yore aren’t actually exclusive to the Founder’s Edition. They’re a gift to every player who joins us in Grounded 2, whether you’re playing through Game Pass, purchasing the standard edition, or picking up the Founder’s Edition down the line. It’s a simple “thank –you” from the team, for stepping back into the tiny world with us.

Players can always start their adventure with the Standard Edition of Grounded 2, or by playing day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. If they decide they want the additional cosmetic items — none of which affect gameplay or progression — and the digital artbook and soundtrack, the Minotaurs, Myrmidons, and Mants: Oh My! Founder’s Edition will be available as a Founder’s Pack upgrade as well.

In addition to new cosmetic options and the digital artbook and soundtrack, we’re also continuing our commitment to accessibility. Grounded 2 will launch into Game Preview and Early Access with a wide array of features designed to support different playstyles and player needs. This includes Arachnophobia Safe Mode, colorblind options, subtitle customization, narration through Read to Me, adjustable reticles, control settings, and more. We’re also committed to supporting the same localized languages from the original Grounded, starting with English, French, Castilian Spanish, German, Italian, Latin American Spanish, and Simplified Chinese at Game Preview/Early Access—with more languages to be added over time. These tools and options are just the beginning — we’ll continue building on them with community input throughout development.

Grounded 2 launches July 29, 2025, in Game Preview for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and Xbox Cloud, in Early Access on Steam, and with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. And with Xbox Play Anywhere, a single purchase lets you play with Xbox consoles and Xbox PC with full cross-saves – at no additional cost. The Standard Edition during the Game Preview/Early Access period is $29.99 USD while the Founder’s Edition will be available for $39.99 USD, and the Founder’s Pack upgrade will be available to $10.00 USD. We’re incredibly excited to explore what comes next with you. This world is meant to grow and evolve, and that only happens with your feedback, creativity, and curiosity.

So, grab your gear, round up your team, and meet us in the park. And don’t forget to join the conversation in our official Discord — we’ll be there, keeping an eye out for your base builds, bug tales, and all the wild stories that only Grounded 2 can deliver.

Grounded 2

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. Survive a sprawling open world alone or in co-op with friends. Craft weapons, forge armor, and build bases while exploring the park on your trusty Buggy mounts. Unravel hidden mysteries and face unexpected threats. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you.
Shrunk to the size of an ant, you’ll find once-familiar spaces turned into a sprawling, uncharted frontier. Survive alone or in co-op with friends, crafting weapons, forging armor, and building bases as you explore manmade playgrounds overgrown by nature. Traverse this new realm on trusty Buggy mounts—your capable allies—and uncover the mysteries lurking beneath bright colors and towering structures. But stay wary: something else is out there, and it hasn’t forgotten you.

Survive, Adapt, Overcome
The world is relentless, but so are you. Shape your adventure with unique archetypes, each offering distinct abilities to match your playstyle. Whether you rely on precision, cunning, or sheer strength, you’ll need every advantage to survive against the threats lurking in the park.

Stronger Together
The perils of the park are daunting alone, but with friends, every challenge becomes an adventure. Work together to build, fight, and uncover the secrets buried beneath the grass. Whether you’re facing danger side by side or continuing your journey in a shared world, survival is always better with allies.

Because Walking is Bogus
They scurry, they fight, and now—they help you survive. Hatch, raise, and ride your own insect friends – Buggies! Saddle up and traverse through the park, fight on them or alongside them in battle, or use them to gather resources and build your base. The right partner could mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving.

A Shadow That Follows You
The threat is always there—watching, learning, waiting. You don’t know where it’s coming from, only that it never leaves. The deeper you dig, the closer it gets. Some mysteries should stay buried, but it’s too late now. It knows you’re looking. And it’s ready. Every answer drags you deeper, every step invites something closer. You were never alone. You thought you were in control. You were wrong.

With Ratshaker, you take control! Feel the satisfaction of watching the meter rise as you shake the cartoon Rat into submission. The more you shake, the closer you get to solving your problems for good.

Fast-acting, easy to use, and highly effective, Ratshaker ensures your space stays problem-free in no time. But make no mistake, this is no ordinary game. This is a ritual. You must perform it. It is coming for us.

Launching today on Xbox Series X|S, this $3.49 nightmare will burn itself into your psyche. You are not prepared. You never were.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, our most unhinged Rat-gineers have curated ten of the most rat-tastic, most cursed reasons why Ratshaker will change your life—forever.

1. Ratshaker Deceives Your Mind

You will be lulled into a state of confusion as the world around you is not what it seems. You will see a Ratshaker Meter overhead while a 2D cartoon Rat rests firmly in your fist.
Gaze upon The Pale Fields and despair, for you are not ready for the descent into self-destruction you will endure in just a few shakes.

2. A Balance of Horror and Humour

Ratshaker will mercilessly throw you into a blend of liminal dread and absurdism that you need to experience.
You’ll wonder why you’re laughing at all. Maybe the game is laughing at you. It knows what you have done.

3. The Golden Voice of the Rat

Did you expect the Rat in Ratshaker to have a deep, silky, posh voice as it screams with every shake?
Of course it does! Not only does the Rat look absurd, it talks! The Rat offers its commentary as you spiral.

• You can skip the Rat’s commentary with just a quick squeeze!

4. Many Have Been Cast Into the Basement

Countless content creators have willfully given in to the strange call from the other side of the meat wall—beckoned to open the door with a fist full of Rat and jump right in.
From Markiplier’s climactic playthrough of the original build, to that guy from two doors down who just hates having fun, many of them went on to make videos—scared and confused—about what Ratshaker is.
They could not stop shaking. They loved it. They had to.

5. Feel the Burn. Wiggle Until It Hurts. Can You Endure?

Ratshaker will challenge your “I can press the A button really fast” championship that you and your friends made up.
Unnecessary quick time events have nothing on the finger punishment that is shaking this cartoon cross-eyed Rat.

Seriously, it calls for some real handwork. Shake it!

6. Nostalgia Will Snare You. You Can’t Escape Its Trap.

Don’t let the pixelated visuals fool you! There’s something in the walls, something shaped like your guilt. You know what you did (or are going to do)!
You can shake (and/or squeeze) that silly Rat all you want, it’s not going to save you. Your surroundings might look familiar—but there is something waiting around the next corner. Always.

7. Completionists Love Shaking the Rat

You’ve done this before. What’s a few more shakes? Collect everything to fill that Rat-shaped hole in your soul.
From clever achievement names to two different outcomes you deserve, Ratshaker gives you the feeling that maybe it really was all your fault, and you need to go back.
Go back and face it again and again and again and again and again. Over and over. Forever.

8. Secrets That Only Appear on Special Occasions

Ratshaker will regularly drag you back to your favourite suffering chamber, 2778-B.
During those cold winter months, remember who gave you a gift? That’s right. Ratshaker.
Boot the game up during the festive season and receive a twisted surprise.
Come Valentine’s Day, fire it up again and receive something even stranger!

9. No Matter How Fast You Are, It Never Ends

They tried to run through as fast as possible—all just to start again. What about you? Do you prefer ripping it off like a sticky bandage, or do you just like to take it all in?
Sink deeper into the atmosphere, feel the negative space pulse with every inch it gets closer to you.
Maybe you should try to clear it in seven minutes. Don’t let it get you.

10. The Hive Mind Is Growing. Join Us

Take the first real breath in six years. Go on. Breathe in. Breathe out. There are people out there with eyes like ours.
You and I are the same. You want Ratshaker, I want Ratshaker for you.
We’ve already tasted the cycle of eternity. What about you?
You don’t want to be left out here alone, out here in The Pale Fields. Something is out here. Something is watching.

Just. Shake. The. Rat.
Join us. Ratshaker, Ratshaker, Rat, Rat, Rat.

Ratshaker can soon be yours!
Don’t miss the gaming phenomenon that is the simple act of shaking a cartoon Rat and walking through your personalised torment.
All for the low, low price of a coffee…

Ratshaker

Dark Product

☆☆☆☆☆
4

★★★★★

$3.49

Get it now

RATSHAKER – The Ultimate Solution to All Your RAT Problems!
Tired of pests taking over your space? Say goodbye to them for good with RATSHAKER, the revolutionary new way to deal with unwanted pests! Just take and shake, and RATSHAKER does the rest. No traps, no mess, no unmarked disposal barrels!

With RATSHAKER, you take control! Feel the satisfaction of watching the meter rise as you shake that rat into submission. The more you shake, the closer you get to solving your problems for good. Fast-acting, easy to use, and highly effective, RATSHAKER ensures your space stays problem-free in no time.

Ride around on your bike, your tractor, a bug in the park, or with your friendly neighborhood RoboCop in the next batch of games coming to your download queue. However you’re getting around, we have some games for you!

Available Today

High On Life (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

High On Life returns to Game Pass today! Humanity is threatened by an alien cartel who wants to use them as drugs. It is up to you to rescue and partner with charismatic guns to take down Garmantuous and his gang to save the world!

Coming Soon

RoboCop: Rogue City (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

A new guy is in town, and with him, a wave of crime floods into Old Detroit. With chaos on the streets, it’s up to you to restore order in this explosive first-person adventure. Become the iconic, part man, part machine, RoboCop, and fulfil your prime directives: protect the innocent and uphold the law.

My Friendly Neighborhood (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Something is amiss with everyone’s favorite Saturday morning puppet show! For years, the colorful cast of The Friendly Neighborhood delighted audiences across the globe with their cooky capers and educational adventures. Play as Gordon, a repairman sent to find the underlying cause of this disturbing dilemma. Fend off puppets and solve puzzles in this survival horror adventure.

Back to the Dawn (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 18
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

A gripping prison escape RPG woven with crime, corruption, and hidden agendas. Step into a maximum-security facility where every inmate has a past—and a plan. You’ll have to fight to survive, investigate, and ultimately break free before the time runs out.

Abiotic Factor (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 22
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Abiotic Factor is a survival crafting experience for one to six players set in the depths of an underground research facility. Caught between paranormal containment failure, a military crusade, and chaos from a dozen realms, the world’s greatest minds must survive against the universe’s biggest threats.

Wheel World (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 23
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! You are Kat, a young cyclist with one mission: save Wheel World from total collapse. Explore a stunning open world filled with impressive vistas, hidden secrets, and races that will test your skills. Customize your bike with an endless array of parts, from sleek speedsters to off-road beasts — there’s no limit to how you can ride.

Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 24
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a Souls-like action RPG set in the dark final days of the Ming Dynasty. Play as Wuchang, a pirate warrior battling memory loss and a deadly curse, as you master brutal combat, evolve your skills, and uncover the truth behind a world consumed by chaos.

Grounded 2 (Game Preview) (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – July 29
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. Survive a sprawling open world alone or in co-op with friends. Craft weapons, forge armor, and build bases while exploring the park on your trusty Buggy mounts. Unravel hidden mysteries and face unexpected threats. But something else is out there — and it hasn’t forgotten you.

Farming Simulator 25 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 1
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Farming Simulator 25 invites you to join the rewarding farm life. Build a farm along winding rivers and historic grain elevators in North America, surrounded by ponds in Central Europe, or in a lush East Asian landscape filled with rice paddies near a neon-lit port city. Whether you build your legacy single-handedly or cooperatively in multiplayer – it’s your farm, you decide!

In-Game Benefits

Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members get access to these in-game benefits with your membership. Benefits can vary by game, region, and time.

Fragpunk: Unlock Lancers & Weapon Skins (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 30
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Unlock all current Lancers and Groovy Night Series Weapon Skin Bundle Access, including five extreme tier (with Model VFX, Kill VFX and Skin Animation) weapon skins! Get day-one access to every new Lancer after release, and the Extreme Skin Bundle refreshes every 4 months. Let’s break the rules together!

Asphalt Legends Unite: Exclusive Monthly Gift Bundle (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 30
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Unlock the Acura NSX GT3 Evo car, 10 card packs, and 500,000 credits to upgrade your collection and take the lead on the track! This benefit requires Asphalt Legends Unite to use.

Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Super Animal Royale: Summer Perks Bundle – Available now
Unlock the Super Animal Royale Summer Xbox Perks Bundle to claim your place at the top of the food chain with style this summer season! –

Apex Legends: Prodigy Supercharge Pack – Available now
Join the Apex Games ready for battle with the Prodigy Supercharge Pack. This collection of content will trick out specific weapons and Legends in special gear. This pack includes two character skins (Fuse and Revenant), two weapon skins (Volt SMG and Charge Rifle), and two banners (Fuse and Revenant).

Leaving July 31

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Jump back in before they go or use your membership discount to save up to 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library.

• Gigantic (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (Cloud, Console, and PC)

We’re adding more games over time to the Stream Your Own Game collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Visit Xbox.com/Play to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.

I’m excited to see you all in the park in Grounded 2, and maybe I’ll even be brave enough to turn off arachnophobia mode (unlikely!). Until next time, we’ll chat with you over at Game Pass, PC Game Pass, or Xbox. Cheers friends!

Irem Collection Volume 3 featuring a fantastical trio of upgraded arcade shoot ’em ups is available digitally!

The latest venture between ININ, Tozai Games, and Irem is a collection of classic shooters from the late 80s and early 90s.

The collection includes the 1987 coin-op classic Mr. Heli, a defining title in the cute ’em up genre with multidirectional scrolling. Also featured is 1992’s Mystic Riders, a charming shooter with dodge-rolls and boomerang attacks. Rounding it out is Dragon Breed, a fantasy take on classic titles like R-Type, starring a massive fire-breathing dragon. Once overlooked, these standout shooters are now hailed as hidden gems.

Each has its own unique style and flavor, showcasing just how diverse shooters could be during this Golden Age of arcades. Like all shooters of this era, these games present a considerable challenge. After all, they were designed to steal your cash one quarter at a time and are therefore by no means easy.

So, to support players who didn’t grow up battling through the unforgiving arcades of the 80s and 90s, these games now include a range of added gameplay options. Let’s explore how the designers have refreshed them for today’s generation.    

A range of customization options has been included to make playing these classic joystick-and-button arcade games more intuitive and user-friendly on modern consoles. You can fully remap the controls to suit your preferences—assign the fire button to any button on your joypad, making the controls feel natural and responsive for your playstyle. This flexibility ensures that the gameplay feels smooth and approachable, whether you’re a longtime arcade enthusiast or a newbie.

There are several other gameplay adjustments available, too . You can tailor the experience by adjusting the number of lives you begin with. This makes it possible for you try out at challenging sections or extend your play sessions. Difficulty levels can also be adjusted, allowing the games to be made more forgiving or more challenging. There’s even an autofire feature, which can be turned on to help you avoid wearing out your thumb during prolonged battles—especially useful in these fast-paced shoot-’em-ups where constant firing is essential. Altogether, these enhancements help preserve the feel of the original arcade titles while making them more enjoyable for today’s players.

In addition, quick save/load and rewind options make the gameplay a little more accessible. If you’ve never played these games, you will certainly need these options– please believe that!

Expect ambushes around every corner, and boss battles that absolutely take no prisoners!

The designers have gone the extra mile to enhance the visual and competitive experience for modern players. A selection of display filters is included. These upgrade the appearance of the original graphics to better suit your needs. They range from various CRT-style effects that recreate the look of classic arcade monitors to multiple color palettes that can subtly or dramatically alter the game’s aesthetic. Whether you’re after authenticity or a fresh visual twist, there’s a setting to match your taste.

On the competitive side, worldwide leaderboards have been added, giving you the chance to see how your high scores stack up against players from around the globe. Whether you’re aiming for the top spot or just looking to improve your personal best, the leaderboards add a new layer of fun and challenge, encouraging you to hone your skills and keep coming back for more.

Don’t miss these hidden arcade treasures, Irem Collection Volume 3, available on Xbox One, Series X|S! Also, don’t forget that previous collections: Volume 1 and Volume 2 are also digitally available on the same Xbox consoles!

Irem Collection Volume 3

ININ Games

☆☆☆☆☆
5

★★★★★

$24.99

Get it now

ININ is back with Volume 3 of the IREM Collection, delivering a trio of fantastical shoot ’em ups! This time, it´s magic, machines, and mayhem.

Mr. Heli (Battle Chopper)
Meet Mr. Heli, the quirky, legged chopper with a whole lot of firepower! Debuting in Japanese arcades in 1987, this multidirectional “cute ‘em up” shooter lets you pilot through inventive stages filled with puzzle-like maps, hidden paths, and massive bosses. Mine crystals, earn cash, and upgrade your arsenal to keep those rotor blades spinning!

Mystic Riders
Magic meets mayhem in Mystic Riders, the 1992 fantasy shooter where you ride broomsticks and battle giant sky turtles, flaming demons, and other mythical creatures. Use your broom as a boomerang to block projectiles, dodge-roll past dangerous hazards, and blast through vibrant worlds. Don’t go it alone – team up in local co-op as Mark the wizard or Zeal the witch for an enchanted ride through arcade history.

Dragon Breed
Finally, from brooms to dragons – the 1989 arcade gem Dragon Breed throws you into a biomechanical nightmare! Ride into battle on the mighty dragon Bahamoot who can shield you from danger and scorch everything in your path. Think R-Type meets fantasy apocalypse – with wings.

Features:
– Three high-fantasy and sci-fi horizontal shoot ‘em ups from IREM.
– Included Versions:
– Mr. Heli/Battle Chopper: Arcade (English/Japanese), PC Engine (Japanese)
– Mystic Riders: Arcade (English/Japanese)
– Dragon Breed: Arcade (English/Japanese)
– Optional controller enhancements, including rapid-fire button assignment and customizable control layouts.
– Quick save/load and built-in rewind to keep the action flowing.
– Display filters to recreate that original arcade look and feel.
– Worldwide leaderboards to show off your high-score dominance.
– Local 2-player co-op in Mystic Riders for magical tag-team action.
– Packed with bizarre enemies, massive bosses, and legendary gameplay.

Experience the magic, machines, and mayhem of IREM’s arcade brilliance – all in one explosive collection!

The time has come. After 1,460 days of development (yes, I counted!), my solo passion project Greedland is now live on Xbox Series X|S! I’m VaMP He, and I’ve built this game for players who crave unapologetic, screen-filling carnage. Get it now with 20% off launch discount!

Survival 101: Pro Tips from the Dev

Maximize your alien slaughter efficiency

• Embrace the Weapon Synergy

Combine the ” Plasma Disc” with ” Frost Mutation”—frozen mutants shatter like glass. Dozens of deadly combos await.

• Movement is Your Lifeline

Dodging > Shooting early onUnlock ” movement upgrades” to outrun swarm mechanics!

• Co-Op = Double the Mayhem

Local co-op isn’t just fun—it’s strategic. One player distracts the large mutants while the other blasts its weak spot!

Roots in the Internet Café Era

Like many born in the 80s/90s, I spent my childhood sneaking into local internet cafes with saved pocket money. We’d crowd around PCs playing CS and Red Alert, and there’re also other gems not that popular:  my personal obsession was a game we knew then as Alien Shooter. I’d replay its early levels repeatedly, never tiring of its simple joy. Later, I secretly bought a copy of Alien Shooter 2 and be hooded – though I only discovered years later it was actually Crimsonland! That core loop of weird weapons plus endless monster waves plus pure progression joy became my gaming heartbeat. After a decade developing mobile/web games that didn’t fulfill me, I knew it had to to be up to me to recreate that magic.

The Crucible of Creation

Greedland’s journey mirrors classic roguelite design: brutal setbacks met with stubborn resolve. It began in 2021 as a spare-time project after Black Myth: Wukong’s reveal. When streamers unexpectedly spotlighted the demo, it hit over 50,000 wishlists – attracting an investor. I gambled: quit my job, rented an office… only for funding to vanish weeks later.

My wife’s unwavering support pulled me from despair. Juggling code with diaper changes and milk prep for our newborn, I rebuilt the game alone – swapping an impossible RPG dream for lean, Vampire Survivors-inspired action. The 100,000-plus demo players who played for “dozens or hundreds of hours” became my lifeline. After the PC debut, now the game finally comes to Xbox!

Greedland isn’t just a game. It’s proof that dusty arcade magic still lives – and it’s ready to devour your Xbox.

Greedland

E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆
17

★★★★★

$12.99

$10.39

Get it now

In this game, you’ll face an unimaginable number of alien mutants that appear rapidly from all around your field of vision. You’ll destroy more than 20,000 enemies per game and the endless mode for hardcore gamers who want to challenge themselves. You will use a handy weapon to carve a path of survival on the battlefield. But as the battle progresses you’ll unlock more battlefield weaponry like the plasma disc, orbital cannon, and devastator. Equipped with these devastating heavy weapons, you’ll be transformed into a mobile arsenal on the battlefield! The game offers dozens of different styles of weapons and battlefield support props, you will have more than hundreds of free matching options, so please give full play to your imagination and enjoy the fun of harvesting the battle! Another highlight of this game is that each weapon has its own special firing effect.The air waves from explosions and the dead ray from laser weapons give you varying degrees of satisfaction. Local cooperative mode is available. Embrace the chaos of true online and local cooperative.