As I drifted my large Desert Raptor MKII mech through an expansive desert canyon, crowded full of rocket-wielding hover bots and gun-toting bandits, I got the sense that Bounty Star might be onto something special here. My mech, assembled from a variety of parts looking like it was built in someone’s garage (because it was), dispatched these challenging foes with a variety of heavy melee attacks and cannon fire. It took me a few tries to come out on top, but as I neared the end of my brief hands-on time, Bounty Star left me eager to come back to its world later this year when it launches for Xbox Series X|S.

In Bounty Star you play as Clem, a talented fighter and mech pilot who is managing some personal trauma as a war veteran looking to make up for some of her past actions – and hopefully become a force of good. Her adventure takes place in an area known as the Red Expanse, reminiscent of what can best be described as a post-apocalyptic American Southwest.

“I was in Sedona, Arizona, surrounded by landscapes much like those in the game, and I couldn’t help but think how perfect they would be for an immersive action game setting,” explains Creative Director & Designer Benjamin Ruiz. “The desire to create something visually stunning and set in a beautiful desert was really the spark for Bounty Star. Everything started to fall into place from there. I began outlining the concept that very morning, inspired by those breathtaking views. That was about five years ago. It took a year or two before production officially began, but the idea was simmering for a while before we really got started.”

Ruiz explained to me that he always dreamed of creating a Western, and Bounty Star is very much rooted in that genre, but blending a lighter take on the Armored Core style of mech gameplay that his creative team loves.

“We really wanted to focus on the everyday life of a bounty hunter,” Ruiz adds. “There’s a base-building aspect where you’re preparing food, managing resources like clean water, and even raising chickens — really digging into the experience of survival in the desert. We aimed to find an exciting intersection between these elements: the fun of a Western, the detailed life of a bounty hunter, and the thrill of piloting a mech in the open desert. That’s how Bounty Star came together.”

As I explored Clem’s run-down garage that serves as her base of operations and home, with power lines strewn about, a make-shift kitchen in the corner to cook food (which can give her stat bonuses in combat), and barrels full of munitions hiding in plain sight, the world of Bounty Star is blending some of my favorite things about what it would be like to live out this life in a sci-fi Western, giving me strong “Firefly” and “Serenity” vibes where you don’t have much, but what you do have you can call home; it has potential.

Customization is one of the other key elements of Bounty Star and from what I could tell it seemed open-ended enough where I could either play with any type of mech that I wanted to assemble, provided I had the resources to put it all together. Ruiz reinforced that assumption for me.

“There are a couple of different approaches you can take,” Ruiz elaborates. “You’re always going to need both a melee weapon and a firearm, but you can lean into one or the other, depending on your preferred play style. For instance, some players might focus on heavy armor and charge straight into combat, becoming a slow but nearly unstoppable force. Others might prefer lighter builds, prioritizing speed and agility over sheer toughness.”

As Ruiz explained to me further, the customization system lets you tweak around seven core properties and choose from a variety of firearms, melee weapons, and support systems. He mentioned that even some of the QA testers were creating builds that would skip healing altogether, blasting through encounters at high speed. So, it seems you’ll have plenty of flexibility to create unique mech builds and experiment with different combat strategies when going up against a variety of enemies.

Enemies are not the only thing you’ll encounter in Bounty Star. There will also be a handful of key NPCs you’ll interact with. One of them is the Marshall, who’s not only responsible for assigning your bounties but also happens to be an old friend. There’s also a merchant who offers you some of the best gear available in the game, operating on the shadier side of things and brings a different energy compared to the Marshall according to Ruiz. He mentioned that overall, while the cast of other characters isn’t huge, the ones you meet are designed to have meaningful and memorable interactions with you in the game.

And one cannot be a bounty hunter without some bounties, and it sounds like there’s going to be a wide variety of mission designs to keep you engaged. Bounties generally work the same way throughout the game according to Ruiz. With Bounty Star running on a day-night cycle, there will be days where you’ll find story bounties on the board, alongside a couple of side bounties. Each one of these will send you to a specific part of the world, which will be distinct combat arenas of various shapes and sizes.

“Sometimes your goal is to capture a particular target because they’re a wanted criminal; other times, you’re tasked with clearing out all adversaries in the area,” Ruiz adds. “Some bounties require you to be more careful and apprehend someone, while others are straightforward combat challenges. There are also optional objectives for players who enjoy replayability, such as completing a bounty within a certain time or using a specific loadout. Ultimately, Bounty Star is very much a third-person arena experience, but we’re focused on providing a variety of ways for players to have fun and approach each mission uniquely.”

Much like Clem’s makeshift home, Bounty Star seems full of potential, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it all comes together later this year when it launches on Xbox Series X|S.

Get ready to solve a mystery set in the Taisho era in Atlus’ supernatural action-RPG, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, which is available starting today on Xbox Series X|S.

Raidou Remastered marks the first time Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army can be played on modern consoles. This fan-favorite Shin Megami Tensei spin-off combines action-packed gameplay with detective drama – and, as a standalone story, it’s the perfect game for new and returning Raidou and Shin Megami Tensei fans.

Raidou Remastered is a faithful recreation of the iconic 2006 RPG, but with additional bells and whistles afforded by modern technology, such as an overhauled battle system, enhanced graphics and full VO in the main story. While it’s technically a remaster, you’ll find we have so much more in store than your traditional touch-ups. Want to learn more about all the enhancements and quality of life updates you’ll find in this next-level remaster? This is the place for you!

Overhauled Battle System

Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army was a unique entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series not only because of its mystery-driven narrative, but because it is a fast-paced, action-RPG. I know, quite a departure from the original Shin Megami Tensei combat style. Raidou Remastered takes the original game’s distinctive real-time action combat and evolves it with features from the game’s sequel, King Abaddon, as well as a host of new combat elements unique to this game.

Character progression is the key to success in Raidou Remastered. You can learn two types of Summoner Skills from your weapons – Combat Skills and Sword Skills. These skills take effect automatically when equipped and will give you a host of abilities and buffs. These skills can provide brand new, powerful attacks, increase your stats, and more. The difference between a student and a master detective is one who mixes and matches skills based on enemy weaknesses.

Raidou Remastered shifts the battlefield from 2D fixed camera angles to a 3D arena where you can move, dodge, and jump, adding a whole new level of strategy to combat. You’ll also now have two allies to battle by your side, with over 120 different new and returning demons to choose from. Quick side note: demons will not only fight by your side, but also help you crack the case as you investigate, so make sure you utilize your demons out in the world to find clues, eavesdrop, and more. Additionally, to save you the time and effort, if you are overleveled for particular demon battles, you will auto-defeat your enemies. Talk about efficiency!

Enhanced Graphics & Full Voice Over

If you played the original, you’ll quickly notice that the character models and 3D environments have been enhanced quite a bit. These adjustments add new detail and vibrance to the already gorgeous artwork, while still retaining the spirit of the original game. You’ll also notice the game’s user interface has received some much-needed streamlining, allowing you to summon, strike and search with ease.

One of the most exciting evolutions from the original game is that Raidou Remastered has full voice acting! This key update adds to the game’s drama and intrigue, making it so you can better immerse yourself in the story and world of Raidou Kuzunoha. You can also switch between English and Japanese voice over at your leisure. We recommend trying both – each cast is incredible! The voice cast features some familiar names, so keep an ear out and see if you recognize anyone.

… And More!

This is just the beginning of the improvements and updates you’ll find in Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army. There’s enhanced save game functionality, which gives you not only more save slots, but autosave and quick save abilities – phew! Raidou: Remastered also introduces five difficulty levels, including the most difficult “Detective Legend” mode, unlocked through New Game+. If you decide to take on the ultimate challenge and put your skills to the test with maximum difficulty, good luck! You will need it.

This is just a taste of a few of the upgrades and enhancements you can find in this next-level remaster. I don’t want to spoil all the surprises for you, so the only way to see for yourself is to pick up your controller and play!

To learn more about Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army, you can visit the game’s official website, and follow the official Atlus West pages on Facebook, Instagram and X. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is available now on Xbox.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army

SEGA

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

Get it now

The story of apprentice detective and Devil Summoner extraordinaire Raidou Kuzunoha XIV returns in this remastered classic! Call upon your demons to solve supernatural mysteries and dispose of enemies.

As a special pre-order bonus, receive the cosmetic Raidou Glasses. With these glasses that were popular in the Taisho Era, his charm will increase beyond what one can handle.

*The pre-order bonus will be given for purchases made before 00:00 local time, Thurs, June 19, 2025.

Undertake the case of the century in this must-play classic from ATLUS. The studio behind Shin Megami Tensei remasters “Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army” with revamped visuals, QOL updates, new VO, and an overhauled battle system!

Taisho 20, in the Capital—

A young heiress approaches the Narumi Detective Agency with a strange request…to kill her. Without any further explanation, the girl is kidnapped. Apprentice detective Raidou Kuzunoha XIV, who moonlights as a Devil Summoner assigned to protect the Capital, is on the case. Raidou investigates all across the city, which includes entering the Dark Realm—a dangerous juncture between the real world and the netherworld where demons abound.

Become Raidou Kuzunoha and work with your allied demons to unravel the mysteries that block your path. What was once a missing persons matter soon spirals into a conspiracy that will shake not only the Capital, but the entire nation.

KEY FEATURES

An Enhanced Yet Faithful Remaster:
The supernatural action RPG classic returns, now revamped with visual, audio, and combat enhancements for modern consoles while staying true to the original game’s style. A brand-new UI, full VO, expanded 3D environments, and more invites both veterans and newcomers alike to a nostalgic and thrilling gameplay experience.

A Supernatural Detective Mystery:
Channel your inner detective in a gripping, supernatural adventure with a charming cast of complex characters. Uncover the truth behind collusion swirling around the Capital with unexpected twists and turns ahead. Use both your mind and the might of your demons to leave no stone unturned.

A Fantastical Taisho Era Adventure:
Navigate the historic streets of a fantastical 1930s era in Tokyo or delve into the haunting Dark Realm where demons lie in wait. With over 120 demons to summon, choose your allies wisely to prevent humanity from being consumed by darkness.

Back in 2023, we shared some of the inspirations behind our narrative horror Still Wakes the Deep, which inspired its themes and structure, both in its grounded ’70s setting and its more fantastical horror elements. We took inspiration from a wide variety of sources, from classic horror films like The Thing and Annihilation to more unusual sources like Kes and Rosemary’s Baby.

For our new story expansion, Siren’s Rest, we wanted to explore the Beira D oil rig in a whole new setting, which comes with its own set of inspirations. Set in 1986, 11 years after the events of the original game, you’ll play as saturation diver Mhairi, who sets off on a journey beneath the North Sea to discover what happened on the Beira D. The ocean is a rich vein for exploring all kinds of tales, and these are just a few things that helped us craft this new story:

Thalassophobia

The fear of deep water is the origin of the entire psychological palette of Siren’s Rest. And for any players who haven’t felt this… we hope that Siren’s Rest will give them a chance to get a taste of this phobia.

We trawled through hundreds of articles of people experiencing this condition, people creating art about it, portraying it in a variety of thrilling and sensual ways. One thing that struck us: many thalassophobic photographs juxtapose a human with some yawning abyss or some looming form. The feeling you have isn’t just that this is a scary setting – rather, you feel a sense of enveloping dread for the person. Whoever that person is in that photograph, no matter how nonchalant they appear… you feel that they are in way over their heads (literally). They are facing their doom. That sense of overconfidence against the unknowable depths is something we wanted to capture in the game.

Even just an image like this we found on Reddit of an oceanic abyss gets the creative juices flowing. Also, did you know that a thick mysterious cloud called a brine pool can form in the bottom of the sea that creates these strange images? We wanted to hold that tension, between beauty and dread, at the heart of every visual design choice.

‘Last Breath’ (2018) and Saturation Diving

Saturation diving – named for the technique used to extend how long a diver can remain underwater – is an extraordinary profession. Dangerous, meticulous, weirdly poetic – everything deserving art to be made about it. It’s as dangerous as an astronaut going on a spacewalk… but far darker and far less well known. You are under tremendous pressure, literally, that messes with your mental state. You see things. You hear things. And all you are is a tiny flickering flame amid the everdark. This tension, loneliness, and thrill  are all portrayed beautifully in the documentary ‘Last Breath’.

And for a more day-to-day explanation, just check out this Reddit AMA that was done a few years ago. Understanding what it means to live and work under such extreme conditions helped ground our narrative in real human stakes, even as the story veers into the surreal.

‘Blue Planet II –The Deep’

This episode of ‘Blue Planet II’ served as a powerful entry point for us into the mystery and otherworldliness of the ocean’s most unreachable places. Nature’s own level design and art design is off the charts! The strange colours, mysterious beings. Our wonderful Earth with its impossible underwater geographies provided us with a visual vocabulary for portraying the bottom of the sea not as some strange spectacle, but with this all-consuming silent awe…

Dante’s ‘Inferno’

As clear a metaphor as it gets, right? Dante’s descent through Hell, in gripping 14^th Century poetic language, of increasing delusion as one moves further into tender darkness – influenced how we approached the structure of Siren’s Rest.

“Love, which quickly arrests the gentle heart,
Seized him with my beautiful form
That was taken from me, in a manner which still grieves me.”

‘The Descent’ (2005)

This film is two decades old and still stands up incredibly well. It’s a Dante’s ‘Inferno’ story brought up to the modern-day. Definitely not for the faint-hearted, for sure! Its classic structure and masterful rhythm of making tense progress in unfamiliar, claustrophobic physical spaces is a huge inspiration.

Submerged corridors, the pitch-black crevices of the story’s setting, technical, sophisticated characters whose psyches are run ragged, the mix of terror and hope and dread – it’s all there.

‘The Lighthouse’ (2019)

A recent dark masterclass in isolation, yearning, and the mind tricks that these feelings can conjure up. The film portrays two men (played by Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe) unravelling under the weight of routine, myths, and their own strange company. Those parallel the emotional current running beneath Siren’s Rest – a deep, almost delirious human longing – for connection, for redemption, for closure…

A central relationship between two characters who are equally isolated, equally alone with their thoughts and expectations – that stuck with us. The surreal juxtaposition between the raw, unforgiving environment, the arcane chores needed for survival, and the distantly warm conjuring of lost memories… we certainly hoped to capture that.

The Unexplained Ocean Sound, “Julia”

Sometimes even just a sonic phenomena can serve as an inspiration. A low-frequency sound, recorded by NOAA on March 1st 1999 and dubbed “Julia”, remains unexplained. The sound was loud enough to be detected across the Pacific Ocean and lasted for about two minutes and 43 seconds. An absolute treasure trove of strange explanations exists, spanning from giant sea creatures to aliens, naturally.

Julia’s inclusion in our early discussions around Siren’s Rest served as a symbol of the unknown – the uncanny idea that something might be out there, massive or silent, beyond our comprehension…

Màiri Mhòr nan Òran

The Hebridean poet Màiri Mhòr nan Òran shares a name with our protagonist, and her work comprises much of the emotional tone of Siren’s Rest. Her verses, rooted in exile, land, and longing, speak to the cultural and personal ruptures at the heart of this new story. They anchor the narrative in a Scottish identity that feels both deeply local and profoundly mythic – a legacy we feel incredibly privileged to portray.

The Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest DLC expansion arrives today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.