RedSec: An Epic Free-to-Play Destination Built on Battlefield’s Iconic DNA
The post RedSec: An Epic Free-to-Play Destination Built on Battlefield’s Iconic DNA appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Category: Xbox
Building the Foundation for Expansion in Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven
Summary
- Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven arrives today for Xbox on PC, the game’s biggest expansion yet. It will come at a later date to the Xbox Series X|S version.
- All Under Heaven adds China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia to the map for the first time, building on existing systems in clever ways to incorporate new cultures.
- Paradox worked closely with historians and community members to ensure historical accuracy.
All Under Heaven is the biggest expansion we’ve ever made for Crusader Kings III, and, arguably, one of the most ambitious add-ons in Paradox history. It adds thousands of new provinces and characters, so it is large in pure numbers. But it is also big because of its scope and themes, adding a new region to Crusader Kings for the first time. Finally, the drama of medieval China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia is coming to the game!
The Crusader Kings titles have generally focused on the history of medieval Europe and the Mediterranean. Crusader Kings II expanded the map to India and North Central Africa, and these regions were in Crusader Kings III at launch. So, expanding the story of the Middle Ages beyond the titular crusade realms is not in itself new. But the differences between, say, medieval China and the Holy Roman Empire are so immense that simply adding a new map would not do justice to the history.
One of the immediate challenges is that the idealized feudal system we use to represent the political battles of Europe is entirely inappropriate for Tang and Song Dynasty China. There was no sense of mutual hierarchical obligations in the Chinese politics of the era.
Fortunately, we were able to test some ideas about how to model China in All Under Heaven in an earlier expansion, Roads to Power. That DLC introduced the idea of the Administrative Empire – a realm that had governors, not vassals (an important historical distinction). We used this design to further distinguish the Byzantine Empire from its Western counterparts. If this design worked here, it might be appropriate to adapt it to East Asia. Ultimately, the Byzantine model, where governors competed for influence with the ruler, proved to be a closer fit for medieval Japan, which is, like Byzantium, easily abstracted as noble families jockeying for position. China required something special.
Imperial Chinese bureaucracy was highly professionalized, with subjects competing in official examinations. Earlier Crusader Kings III expansions had introduced travel and tournaments, so couldn’t the exams be made into similar activities for characters? In the game, characters can organize or attend exams, traveling to the exam location and passing tests defined by the exam host. Good performance on these exams would then be tracked and make characters eligible for higher office. The better the performance, the better the job.
These are just two examples of how we adapted systems designed in previous expansions to bring a little more historical flavor and distinction to East Asia in All Under Heaven.
But the biggest challenge for us, I think, was facing the relative weakness of the team’s historical knowledge about the region. Coming from Europe, it is easy to absorb – or at least know where to find – reliable history for our own continent. How can we promise a plausible historical simulation if we are not starting from a strong historical foundation.
As with most Paradox grand strategy games, we start with what we have on the team. We are fortunate to have some trained historians with us – people who not only know a lot, but are very aware of what they do not know and what needs to be fleshed out.
Paradox is very fortunate to have a large global audience for its strategy games, and we were able to make use of that audience by inviting members of Asian communities to comment on design and art decisions. Working closely with our community members, we were able to avoid errors, both big and small, from making sure that we were using the proper terminology when referring to medieval Asian societies to double-checking the colors used in art and character clothing.
The simple fact is that, for the most part, the real authorities on a nation’s history have deep roots in that society and can point us to the correct sources. Even when some historical facts are a matter of debate – an inevitable fact of life when dealing with the Middle Ages – knowing the ground of that debate and the key issues at stake is very helpful in guiding our content team in the development of the game
All Under Heaven is the biggest expansion we’ve ever done for Crusader Kings III, and required a great deal of effort to design and complete. Having a strong development foundation has made this herculean task much easier than it could have been, given the ambitions we set for ourselves.
We look forward to our community digging into the expansion and writing new stories in exciting new realms.
Crusader Kings III: Starter Edition
Paradox Interactive
Assume the throne with confidence as you take your first steps into Crusader Kings III, the award-winning role-playing strategy game that drops you into a rich medieval world of power, drama, and intrigue. Expand the power of your dynasty through warfare, diplomacy or underhanded scheming, assuring the safety and security of your realm through the generations across many centuries.
The Starter Edition gives you access to the base game, one Major Expansion, one Event Pack, and some cosmetic additions to make your first forays into Crusader Kings III a deep and filling experience.
The Crusader Kings III: Starter Edition includes:
– Crusader Kings III: Whether you start as a lowly count or a mighty emperor, no throne is safe as you compete for power against thousands of other nobles for prestige and dominance. Write your own histories, with a wide range of personality types, ambitions, and cultural preferences. Play as a haughty duke, a pious prince, or a cunning queen, and then play as their heir as the wheel of time grinds on.
– Tours and Tournaments: Host thrilling tournaments, grand feasts and splendid weddings to bolster your prestige or win new honors for your dynasty. Travel to distant lands on pilgrimage or inspect your vassals on a grand tour of your realm – whether to extort taxes or bolster loyalty.
– Friends and Foes: Deepen your relationships with those around you, forming lasting friendships with childhood companions, bitter rivalries with distant foes or eternal love with a beauty of your choosing.
– Garments of the Holy Roman Empire: Immerse yourself in the Holy Roman Empire with a collection of outfits for both commoners, warriors and rulers of Central Europe.
– Elegance of the Empire: Based on the garments and regalia of Emperor Henry II and the Empress Cunigunde, this pack includes not only new robes and dresses, but historically appropriate crowns and other items.
– Fashion of the Abbasid Court: Give your court a dashing new look with a set of outfits and cosmetic clothing options for the Middle East and North Africa.
The post Building the Foundation for Expansion in Crusader Kings III: All Under Heaven appeared first on Xbox Wire.
“Every Lane Needs a Purpose” – How Treyarch Crafts Multiplayer Maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Summary
- We talk with Design Director Matt Scronce and Senior Director of Production Yale Miller about the map design process Treyarch is employing for the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
- Treyarch has crafted some of the most detailed and compelling Multiplayer maps the Call of Duty series has ever seen, following a three-lane map design philosophy that creates a natural flow for players to learn.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Cloud, Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Boxes are important.
That’s one of my favorite takeaways from talking with Design Director Matt Scronce and Senior Director of Production Yale Miller at Call of Duty: Next recently, where we had a chance to sit down and chat about the map design process Treyarch is employing for the upcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and how important a well-placed piece of cover (e.g., a trash can) can help bring balance to the overall flow of a map.
Over the years, Treyarch has crafted some of the most detailed and compelling Multiplayer maps the series has ever seen – who can forget Nuketown? Part of that is understanding how these maps feed into a “three-lane” design philosophy, in which two side lanes and a central lane connect the two team spawn locations, creating a natural flow for players to learn — Treyarch has refined this over the years and will continue to do so now with the upcoming Black Ops 7 Multiplayer.
“Every lane needs a purpose,” explains Scronce. “If this lane has a power position, for example, like a building, then you most likely want an opposing power position, likely another building. Toshin, one of the new maps set in Japan, is a very good example of that where you’ve got two power positions looking over the street — the street can get a little dicey, so you want to stay on the move there, but you also want your buddies watching over your flank straight ahead.”
As I touched upon earlier, cover placement is another big piece of a balanced lane, Scronce tells me. “If I don’t have cover, I’m just in the open. Whether it’s a trash can or a crate or a rock, if I can post-up at this piece of cover, then most likely you want the opposing player to have another piece of cover, so we can have kind of a proper head-on engagement.”
My experience on Toshin during the recent Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Beta confirmed much of what Scronce detailed. That city street between the buildings? In every match that landed on Toshin, I found it to be one of the biggest danger points where teams would mix it up, with each side being naturally driven to that point through alleyways, shops, and apartments. It’s clear a tremendous amount of work goes into crafting every one of these Multiplayer maps, taking chokepoints, lanes, and other considerations into account, and that it must be hard to know when to check a map off as “ready” to be deployed.
“It’s tough: because the team is so passionate about all the maps, they want to continue going forever,” says Miller. “That’s why things like the Beta are so crucial for us. It’s a lot of looking at how a team and the overall community plays on the map.”
To get it to a point where Treyarch feels a Multiplayer map is ready to be deployed, the team goes through a ton of playtesting in the studio, until it feels like they’ve created the best map possible for their players — in the sense that it feels fair, balanced, and the average player could learn the map and get better at it, and doesn’t feel like there’s any spot that’s exploitative in the sense of single power position where you can see the whole map.
“Another huge one is visibility,” adds Miller. “So much work goes into it because you have interiors, you have exteriors, you have lines of sight. If someone’s hiding in the back of a building, but there’s a doorway here and it’s looking down onto a lane, if you’re on the other side, can you see them? Does it make sense how you move through it? Then as you start to layer things like visuals, additional cover… you start seeing different sight lines. You’re smoothing something down and you look for those problem spaces – it’s like whittling wood and trying to get it as smooth as you possibly can. And if we’re playing a bunch and no one’s seeing a huge cut or a nick, to continue that analogy, then we feel like we’re in a pretty good spot.”
Call of Duty maps are well known for showcasing some truly great-looking maps (Hijacked and Carrier come to mind), but part of that “awesome” is also ensuring these maps have good visual landmarking as well. Not only should the map play well after a few turns, as a player you need to be able to figure out “Where the hell am I?” when you spawn in, so you know you’ll be able to call out where you’re at to your teammates so they can come help you.
“That’s why the Betas are so important to us,” says Miller. “Because there are things that we’re trying, but how’s the community reacting? There will be changes to maps post-Beta absolutely, there’s no question. The team’s already debating this stuff.”
“It’s a conversation between design and production,” adds Scronce. “If it’s up to design, they’re never done (making the map). I was talking to our level design director (during Call of Duty: Next) who was back at the offices watching the stream, and he was like, ‘Hey, we should address this…’ We’ve been known to make changes to maps that are already out in retail based off player feedback. If we have time and we feel like it will make the map better, we will try our hardest to make that change.”
One of the things that made Black Ops 6 Multiplayer stand out was introducing a new way for players to move through the maps with Omnimovement – a feature that allows you to sprint, slide, and dive in any direction with a full 360-degress range of motion. It was perhaps one of the biggest game changers to come to Multiplayer in years. New for Black Ops 7 will be wall jumps, which have given matches an even greater level of verticality and speed, in addition to a refined version of Omnimovement. When the crafting process starts, I wanted to know at which point do these new and distinct gameplay features play a role in how a map is built – is it from inception or later in the process?
“I think it can be both, but usually it’s from inception,” Scronce tell me. “Where a map like Blackheart, for example, which was in the Beta, that map has wall jumps that go over a grinder. So, for sure, new mechanics are considered. I think, when everything turns out the best is when everybody’s kind of aware and driving towards the same goal. But there are maps where you start playing them, and then you’re like, ‘Oh, it’d be really cool if I could do this…’ That might not be a wall jump opportunity, but perhaps a sneaky, clever opportunity. Maybe we’ll put a piece of plywood down to tell you that you can jump here, and the team will shape it a little bit more.”
“When we’re looking at stuff and talking about different maps, before they’re even starting paper design, it’s like, ‘What’s the intention of this map?’” adds Miller. “Do we want it to be a big map, but [have] the engagements be close? What are the goals? And some of it could be we want this to be a map where it’s about finding flank routes and moving constantly, versus a map where it’s about finding good cover, posting up, and kind of head-to-head battles.”
No player wants every map to play the same way, which circles back to how features like Omnimovement and wall jumps can feed into making each of these maps feel distinct, whether they are leaning into these new features or not. “You can kind of learn from that in the design. And then, of course, the community figures out other ways of being successful in maps… and we make changes,” Miller says.
Treyarch has confirmed they’ve already begun implementing key improvements and updates for launch (see Beta patch notes), thanks to some key takeaways from the recent Black Ops 7 Beta. One of those is having Open Matchmaking with minimal skill consideration as a default for Black Ops 7 Multiplayer (like the Open Moshpit approach tested during the Beta). They also confirmed they’re focused on keeping players together from match to match more often, and that persistent lobbies will be available at launch, with more details and confirmed changes to be shared in the coming weeks.
At the end of the day, Scronce tells me that making sure a map is competitive, fair, and fun are part of the ethos that the team drives to during their creations. “Whether you want to tune out and play Nuketown all day, or spend the night diving into Ranked, you should be walking away feeling that it was a fair fight, no matter which side you’re on.”
Now in the lead-up to the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Treyarch is taking all their collective experience over the years of crafting best-in-class Multiplayer experiences into the newest Call of Duty title. Knowing the team’s stellar track record, and what we’ve personally been able to play ourselves recently during the Beta, this year’s Multiplayer offering is shaping up to be one of the best. November 14 can’t get here soon enough.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 launches November 14, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Cloud, Battle.net, Steam, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and available day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Vault Edition
Activision Publishing Inc.
$99.99
Pre-order any digital edition and receive:
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty®: Warzone
*:
— Reznov Challenge Pack – unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins
— Guild Override Weapon Camo – unlock the Guild Override dynamic Weapon Camo
The Vault Edition includes:
– Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7
— Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox PC versions of the game
– BlackCell (1 Season)**
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– Operator Collection
— 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7
– Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 (available at launch)
In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.
The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite team on a covert mission to the sprawling city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.
Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience.
Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape.
Game requires a Game Pass Core subscription (sold separately).
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.
*Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 14th, 2026.
**BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Black Ops 7 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Black Ops 7 Battle Pass only.
Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.
Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Vault Edition Upgrade
Activision Publishing Inc.
$30
Upgrade to the Vault Edition and receive the following bonus content*:
– BlackCell (1 Season)**
— Includes: Battle Pass, 20 Tier Skips, 1,100 CP and more
– Operator Collection
— 4 Operator Skins: Harper, Karma, T.E.D.D. and Reaper EWR-3
– Mastercraft Collection
— 5 Mastercraft Weapons
– Ultra GobbleGum Pack for Zombies
— 8 GobbleGums of Ultra rarity for Black Ops 7
– Permanent Unlock Token for Black Ops 7 (available at launch)
*Requires existing ownership of the digital version of the Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Cross-Gen Bundle on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC (sold separately), or active subscription to select Game Pass plans (Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console).
**BlackCell, Battle Pass, Call of Duty® Points and Tier Skips will be accessible in Black Ops 7 upon availability of the Season 1 Battle Pass in-game. Redemption applies to one Season of the Black Ops 7 Battle Pass only.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.
Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 – Cross-Gen Bundle
Activision Publishing Inc.
$69.99
Pre-order any digital edition or subscribe to select Game Pass plans* and receive:
– Items for immediate use in Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty®: Warzone**:
— Reznov Challenge Pack – unlock the SOG Reznov Operator Skin. Plus, get access to unlock the Stalingrad Reznov and Memory Reznov Operator Skins
— Guild Override Weapon Camo – unlock the Guild Override dynamic Weapon Camo
Includes:
– Cross-Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7
— Includes Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Xbox PC versions of the game
In Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7, Treyarch and Raven Software are bringing players the most mind-bending Black Ops ever.
The year is 2035 and the world is on the brink of chaos, ravaged by violent conflict and psychological warfare. David Mason leads an elite JSOC team on a covert mission to the sprawling Mediterranean city of Avalon. While there, they discover a sophisticated plot that won’t just plunge the world into chaos, it will pull them into their own haunting pasts.
Squad up or go solo in an innovative Co-Op Campaign that redefines the Black Ops experience. Take on high-stakes challenges across a wide spectrum of environments, from the neon-lit rooftops of Japan to the Mediterranean coast, and even into the deepest corners of the human psyche.
Multiplayer explodes out of the gate with 16 electrifying 6v6 maps and two 20v20 maps at launch. From futuristic Tokyo vistas to the frozen, unforgiving wilds of Alaska, every environment is brimming with danger and opportunity. Master a cutting-edge arsenal and outmaneuver your enemies with an evolved Omnimovement system.
In Treyarch’s legendary Round-Based Zombies mode, the nightmare begins where reality ends. Trapped in the heart of the Dark Aether, the crew is thrust into a vast, ever-shifting hellscape. This isn’t just survival. It’s a descent into madness.
Game requires a Game Pass Core subscription (sold separately).
TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required for PC, other security measures may be enforced. Learn more at https://support.activision.com/tpm.
*Requires active subscription to Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass PC, or Game Pass Console. Subscribers must login to Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC by November 14, 2025 to redeem the Reznov Challenge Pack and Guild Override Weapon Camo.
**Call of Duty®: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty®: Warzone on Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One / Xbox PC required to redeem. Sold / downloaded separately. Must be redeemed by November 14th, 2026.
Content, features, services, online play, and support not available in all regions, and may vary, change, or terminate.
Requires an Activision account and acceptance of the Activision Software License and Services Agreement. A mobile phone number linked to your Activision account may be required to play Black Ops 7.
Additional storage space may be required for mandatory game updates.
For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.
©/TM/® 2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2025 Id Software, Inc.
The post “Every Lane Needs a Purpose” – How Treyarch Crafts Multiplayer Maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Wreckreation: An Open World Sandbox Racer that Lets You Build Your World, Your Way
Strap in and floor it—Wreckreation is the huge open-world racer where you don’t just drive the track, you drop it mid-drift. Sling loops hundreds of meters in the air, stitch ramps across canyon mouths, make it rain obstacles, traffic, and total mayhem—then blast through your own chaos at breakneck speed while your friends pile in. It’s part battle racer, part sandbox fever dream: build, race, wreck, repeat until your map is a highlight reel of near-misses, jaw-dropping stunts, and glorious slow-mo carnage.
From Tutorial to Total Mayhem
Fire up Wreckreation and you’ll first rip through an intro race to get a feel for the handling and earn your initial Wreckreation License Points—your main progression path. The intro race will showcase a skytrack with loops, turns and ramps to get you into the feel of what Wreckreation is all about. The Wreckreation License will showcase the points you have earned from races. As you progress you will earn more track pieces and cars to make your experience all the more fun. When you finish the intro race you will find yourself in a playground-style parking lot with Live Mix unlocked and several Live Mix track pieces to play around with until you decide to take to the roads.
From there, the world is your… oyster? Car graveyard? Junkyard? But a massive one because you have over 406,000 square km to explore with 454 km of roads to tear up! But whatever you do, that part’s up to you— as well as how chaotic you want it to be. Create Sky Tracks with friends, barrel around the vast world at breakneck speed, or scratch that arcade racing itch with Takedown Races and Road Rages. The choice is yours at your own pace.
What is Live Mix?
Live Mix is the real-time world editor. It lets you change the track and world while you’re driving. In Live Mix you can place track pieces on the fly. Ramps, loops, jumps, pipes, moving obstacles and many more things – anywhere, even into the sky or over the sea. You can change the worlds settings instantly: toggle the time of day, traffic density, even the weather just at the press of a button.
Live Mix also lets you edit live in shared sessions so everyone you are playing with can immediately race on what you place. With those same friends you can make Mix Modes, these are events on demand. Be it a race, stunt event or other mode, you will be able to create it and play it with your friends in your session to test out the new tracks you build together.
Build Like A Manic Mastermind
When it comes to creation, your only limit is your imagination… and, okay, the skybox. Want enough loops to induce G-force giggles? Done. Want spinning smashers, pop-up hazards, and cheeky traps that punt your crew into a smoky heap? Double done. With 400+ track pieces and objects with over 1200 variations—from giant jumps and savage drops to banked curves, hang times, and outrageous loops—no two races will ever look (or explode) the same. Show off your builds to your friends, or even collaborate and create tracks with them!
Meet the Storm
Rolling up to your freshly minted track, what will you face? The Cyclone? The Vortex? THE MAELSTROM? Why choose—throw them all in. These death-defying loops and hoops will test your driving skills to the MAX! Get your heart pounding and your palms sweaty (you’re seated, so your knees are safe), pin the throttle, and cause maximum destruction before your rivals do it to you.
Wreckreation launches October 28 on Xbox Series X|S.
Wreckreation
THQ Nordic
Because Infinite Power is Infinitely Fun
What if a single key could open up an entire 400 square kilometer driving game universe? You’ve probably thought about it. The seemingly infinite number of what-ifs inside your head after pouring countless hours into racing, open world and building games. Wreckreation is exactly that. Developed by Three Fields Entertainment, the UK-based team comprised of veteran arcade racing game developers, Wreckreation finally hands you the keys to your own MixWorld. This will be a MixWorld that you can decorating and personalize, either alone or in collaboration with your friends online. A place of your own where you can continually strive to outrace, out-stunt or even out-crash yourself and others with courses, tracks and game modes designed by you – or your friends – but yours will probably be better.
The post Wreckreation: An Open World Sandbox Racer that Lets You Build Your World, Your Way appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Halo: Campaign Evolved – Answering the Big Questions About This Ambitious Remake
Summary
- Halo: Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, coming in 2026 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
- This fully-rebuilt campaign will introduce remastered 4K visuals, beloved Halo weapons and vehicles, plus brand-new story content.
- We spoke to key leads at Halo Studios about how the team is utilizing 25 years of community feedback and technology to build on what makes Halo timeless.
It’s official; Halo marks the next chapter for the franchise with Halo: Campaign Evolved, a complete Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original campaign from Halo: Combat Evolved, including some brand-new surprises.
The original Halo: Combat Evolved is a stalwart of gaming history, a cultural icon that helped define the first-person shooter experience. For Halo Studios, bottling the impact of that original campaign and all of its special moments is the ultimate goal – for new players and long-time fans alike.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a modern evolution of that iconic story, thoughtfully brought to life in Unreal Engine 5 with stunning new 4K visuals, updated animations, remastered music, and re-recorded voice lines. Halo Studios is also bringing in a roster of beloved weapons and vehicles from later Halo titles, and adding three new bonus campaign missions, all designed to expand and celebrate the adventure that started it all.
Halo’s legacy of cooperative play continues here, supporting the original two-player local split screen experience on console, and, for the first time, up to four players in online co-op across Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Ahead of announce, I was able to speak to several key leads at Halo Studios, and gathered up some unique insight on how the team seeks to capture the tone and feel of the original game for a new generation, all the new lore and gameplay additions, and ultimately, while staying true to what has always made Halo special at its core.
Back to Where It All Began
Halo: Combat Evolved is where it all began, and for the team at Halo Studios – who have gone through an evolution of their own – there was no better place to start building this new generation of Halo. As Executive Producer Damon Conn puts it, remaking the very first campaign from the ground up was a perfect opportunity to craft an ideal entry point for new players and modernize areas that could better match today’s expectations for pacing and clarity (yes, we mean The Library, and we’ll get to that shortly).
“We wanted to start where it all began, with the original campaign that defined Halo,” Conn explains. “Starting here means people that have never played the game before will be able to understand the story from the very beginning, and that can help us chart a course forward with new Halo stories.”
“Focusing on the campaign experience means we can concentrate fully on really capturing the atmosphere, tone – the emotional impact of what made the first campaign so special and iconic.”
How Will Campaign Evolved Preserve the ‘Halo Spirit’?
Keeping that classic Halo “feel” is of course of prime importance, and capturing that took the team all the way back to the source material – the original Combat Evolved campaign as it was first presented in 2001. TThe goal was to understand how modern updates to systems and environments could complement, not replace, the essence of the original experience – to make it feel just as players remember, only smoother and more seamless than ever before.
“The campaign has been rebuilt to feel handcrafted and immersive, true to what players remember, not just visually, but emotionally,” adds Conn.
How Will Campaign Evolved Update Existing Missions?
Preserving the Halo spirit means the team has taken great care to not modernize for the sake of modernization. It’s not about rebuilding Halo: Combat Evolved’s story and spaces to ‘fit in’ with a roster of today’s games, but to ensure that its original feel has evolved to suit modern players. Every change has been shaped by the same question: Does this still feel like Halo?
“Because this is a remake, we’ve been able to carefully rebuild almost every level and every encounter with more fidelity,” says Max Szlagor, Creative Director. “As we’re building the technology for this game, we’ve had to do it piece by piece, which included reevaluating all of the individual elements as we’re revisiting them in the original game.”
“And now the campaign supports up to four-player co-op, we had to think about how all of the original encounters and spaces can scale to accommodate that many players.”
The Library is a perfect example to demonstrate how the team is thoughtfully enhancing existing spaces in an authentic way. Halo: Combat Evolved’s seventh campaign mission is a key example of where it felt right to make tweaks to several areas to create a new experience that balances nostalgia with the expectations of today’s gamers.
“We learned from Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary that there was still an appetite for things like better wayfinding, navigation, and diversity in enemy encounters,” Szlagor says. “In The Library specifically, which features several Flood encounters, we wanted to reevaluate the pacing and enhance the environmental storytelling. We’ve added new lines to Guilty Spark, which guide players through the level, and there’s new dialogue that gives more insight into the narrative as it plays out.”
“We’re not changing the stories, it’s about refining and adding context to this moment, and other levels like it, so players can stay on track.”
What New Elements are Halo Studios Adding to the Original?
In Halo: Campaign Evolved, you’ll be able to wield nine additional iconic weapons from across the Halo series inside the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle and Needle Rifle, giving you more ways to approach every encounter.
“Some of the weapons we’re bringing in could be used against you in Halo: Combat Evolved by the enemy, but you weren’t able to pick them up yourself.” Szlagor says. “Now, you can, and it feels natural because of how you can do that in other Halo games, it reflects the evolution of the series.”
Players can also look forward to two firsts for the campaign — you can now hijack vehicles and even pilot the Covenant Wraith tank for the first time in Halo: Combat Evolved.
For challenge seekers, Halo Studios is also featuring the most Skulls ever in a Halo campaign, for even more ways to modify the campaign experience.
And perhaps most exciting, the team has added three brand-new prequel missions set before the events of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, which introduce entirely new environments, characters and enemies, which we’ll find out more about very soon.
Oh – and you can sprint now, if you’d like, or disable it if you don’t.
How Are Halo Studios Using Unreal Engine 5?
The Halo spirit is not just about the debut’s impact – the studio is effectively incorporating 25 years of player feedback and technological advancement into Halo: Campaign Evolved. The latter is supported by the team’s pivot to Unreal Engine 5, which, with the foundation of Halo’s legacy code, will support the game’s development. It’s not an entirely new ecosystem for Halo Studios – they’ve dabbled quietly with Unreal projects in the past – and that has only reinforced that the tools on offer, combined with original resources, are what Halo needs to futureproof itself for the generations to come.
“Given that Halo: Campaign Evolved is a remake, it is critical that we deliver gameplay that is 100% authentically Halo at its core, ” says Greg Hermann, Game Director on Halo: Campaign Evolved.
All of the new content created in Unreal Engine 5 is layered on top of code and systems carried directly over from the original games. That legacy code is instrumental in maintaining that authentic “Halo feel” within gameplay. It means that Halo Studios can achieve the desired visual goal with Unreal’s photorealistic rendering capabilities, with the simulation systems of Halo living and breathing beneath it, Hermann adds.
“For future titles, we will continue to push the boundaries of technology while ensuring the core Halo gameplay for that game can be seen, felt, heard, and evolved where needed.”
How are Halo Studios Balancing Serving New and Core Players?
While the team knows its tools best, it’s the Halo community that plays a fundamental role in how Halo Studios moves forward.
“Our player-first approach has informed so many decisions for the better,” Szlagor adds. “When we introduce new features or make creative choices, we’re constantly checking in with players through our user research studies and our Halo Insider program. Their feedback helps us stay grounded in what feels authentic to Halo.
That commitment to player input also extends beyond the studio walls. Halo: Campaign Evolved will be playable for the first time at the Halo World Championships, giving our players an early hands-on look at how the game is coming along. Halo: Campaign Evolved doesn’t seek to replace the original game, but instead, offer a modern experience that can stand proudly beside it. When new players launch the game for the first time, it must recapture the indescribable feel of picking up Halo for the first time 25 years ago on the original Xbox. That’s the moment we all remember so fondly, a moment that the Halo team recalls as “transformative”, that it wants to share with as many players as possible.
“We’re so excited about bringing Halo to those who may not have had chance to play it in the past,” Conn adds. “At its heart, Halo is about connection, we’re thrilled to meet a new generation of players on their platforms of choice to fall in love with Halo the same way we did. We’re not trying to rewrite Halo’s legacy – we’re trying to immerse you in it like never before.”
“This is Halo for everyone.”
Halo: Campaign Evolved is coming in 2026 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, supports Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Play Anywhere and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
Halo: Campaign Evolved
Xbox Game Studios
Experience Where the Legend Begins
Halo: Campaign Evolved is a faithful yet modernized remake of Halo: Combat Evolved’s campaign. Experience the original story rebuilt with high-definition visuals, updated cinematics, and refined controls, plus three brand-new prequel missions featuring the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson. A broader arsenal of weapons, vehicles, enemies, and gameplay-modifying “Skulls” – optional modifiers that change combat in fun and challenging ways – add fresh tactics and endless replayability.
Play it your way: solo, in 2-player split-screen co-op (console only), or up to 4-player online co-op with full crossplay and cross-progression support. Whether you’re discovering Halo for the first time or returning to the ring after 25 years, Halo: Campaign Evolved delivers an adventure that feels both timeless and brand new.
Discover the Ringworld
After crash landing on a mysterious ringworld known as Halo, the Master Chief is tasked with helping the remaining humans survive against overwhelming Covenant forces. Alongside his AI companion Cortana, he uncovers Halo’s dark secrets and fights to avert the annihilation of all life in the galaxy.
Key Features
The Complete Campaign, Rebuilt
Battle through the original missions, newly rebuilt with enhanced level design, updated cinematics, and improved wayfinding, refined to keep the pace moving without losing the wonder, tension, or heroism of the original.
Cinematics and Audio Overhauled
Iconic vistas, alien architecture, and sci-fi wonders are reborn with all-new visuals, cinematics, and animations. The soundtrack has been remastered, the sound design updated for greater immersion, and new voice performances recorded with the primary cast.
Combat and Weapons Expanded
Classic Halo combat feels instantly familiar yet sharper than ever. Sprint, aim, and engage with refined precision. For the first time in Halo: CE, you can wield 9 additional iconic weapons from across the series, including the Energy Sword, Battle Rifle, and Needle Rifle, giving you more ways to approach every fight.
Three New Prequel Missions
Join the Master Chief and Sgt. Johnson in a brand-new arc set before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved, featuring new environments, gameplay, characters, and enemies.
Play Solo or with Friends
Experience the full campaign in 2-player split-screen co-op (console only) or 4-player online co-op, complete with crossplay and shared progression across console and PC.
Drive, Hijack, Wreak Havoc
Whether you’re racing across the map in a Warthog or flipping it over with friends, vehicles have always been at the heart of Halo’s fun. Now they go even further: for the first time in Halo: CE, you can hijack enemy rides and pilot a fully drivable Wraith, creating unforgettable chaos.
Remix Your Campaign for Endless Replayability
Use the campaign remix feature to return to any mission and remix the experience with the most gameplay-modifying “Skulls” ever in a Halo campaign. These optional modifiers add challenge and variety with randomized weapons, enemies, and environments.
The post Halo: Campaign Evolved – Answering the Big Questions About This Ambitious Remake appeared first on Xbox Wire.
How to Build Your Perfect Party in The Lonesome Guild
Summary
- The Lonesome Guild is an ARPG that combines narrative and real-time party combat.
- Mix and match heroes, skills, and support abilities to create dynamic synergies and powerful combos.
- Deepen bonds and personalize abilities through branching skill trees to unlock the strongest powers.
At its heart, The Lonesome Guild is a story about loneliness, and the strength that comes from facing it together. Developed by Tiny Bull Studios and published by Don’t Nod Entertainment, the game blends storytelling with party-based real-time combat, environmental puzzles, and exploration.
For today, let’s take a closer look at combat! Every encounter and challenge encourages you to think not only about how to fight, but who should fight and who they should fight alongside. Each character brings their own skills, combat style, and progression system, making every fight in the world of Etere a delicate dance between strategy and action.
The Guild is a group of six misfits, all brought together by Ghost, the protagonist. You control a group of three characters in combat. Each has a clear purpose, but the true magic lies in how they interact with one another.
- Da Vinci: Jack of All Trades, brings utility to the team, dealing both magical and physical damage while also providing healing support.
- Mr Fox: Glass Cannon, focuses on DPS using both ranged and melee abilities, magical and physical, and can boost the team’s attack speed.
- Ran Tran Trum: Tank, wields strong physical skills to engage enemies and taunt them. He also provides shields to improve the party’s durability.
- Mauhen: Magical Healer, uses magical ranged attacks to stay out of enemies’ reach. He can both heal allies and deal damage, as well as debuff enemies and remove their damage resistances, enhancing the party’s overall effectiveness.
- Chaska: Brawler, delivers high DPS, both magical and physical, and can grant lifesteal to the party, rewarding aggressive playstyles.
- Sarangalyn: Poisonous Witch, a sneaky warrior who primarily uses ranged magical skills and applies poison. She helps the party by reducing skill cooldowns, allowing for more efficient use of abilities.
As a core design pillar, we’ve always viewed the party as a single, cohesive entity, one whose build is defined by the heroes chosen to form it. We encourage experimentation; each hero has two equipped skills (out of four available), a unique support ability, and a customizable skill tree (the Relationship Tree). The result is a party with six active skills and three support abilities that can synergize in multiple ways. At on top of it all is the Ghost Power, a finishing move that can also be customized based on the party’s composition.
One of the simplest examples of character synergy is found in the supports. For instance, Chaska gives the party lifesteal, while Mr Fox boosts attack speed. Together they create a brief but powerful vampirism effect for the entire team. Another example is the combination of Davinci and Ran Tran Trum, who provide instant healing and a damage-absorbing shield, allowing for a more defensive approach to combat.
To further encourage switching characters during battle, allies will occasionally request to be controlled. If you switch to them, the hero will temporarily enter the Emblaze state, allowing them to deal increased damage, bypass resistances, and generate more Ghost Bar, which can be used to perform support abilities and the Ghost Power. Learning when and how to switch between characters is key to mastering each fight.
Every character has their own Relationship Tree, where you can spend skill points to customize your abilities and playstyle. Even at maximum level, it won’t be possible to unlock the entire skill tree, but you can respec at any time to experiment with new combinations and strategies.
However, the most powerful upgrades will remain locked until you reach a sufficient relationship level between Ghost and the corresponding character. You can increase relationship levels through dialogue choices, main or side quests, and exploration, by discovering special items that can be given as gifts to your companions.
For the completionists, it’s possible to max out relationship levels with all characters, while those who skip side content will need to choose which characters to prioritize, though you always have the option to backtrack and explore hidden content to strengthen the bonds between characters.
The Lonesome Guild offers a fun and fully customizable experience for everyone. Even though it’s narrative-driven, it packs a punch! Challenges and greater strategy wait for those who seek them. The game is ready to play your way right now on Xbox Series X|S!
The Lonesome Guild
DON’T NOD
$24.99
$21.24
A TALE OF TOGETHERNESS IN A WORLD APART
The Lonesome Guild is a single-player top-down action-RPG all about togetherness. Embark on a heroic adventure as Ghost, a spirit who wakes to find they hold no memories. The world has become shrouded by loneliness and the mist just keeps spreading, corrupting everyone in its path. Now it’s up to you to get the band back together… even if they’re meeting for the first time.
SIX MISFITS, ONE GOAL
The ragtag group of unlikely friends you’ll recruit each will bring their own story, quirks, motives, and abilities. Switch seamlessly between the 6 of them during exploration and combat to navigate Etere, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies!
BOND & BATTLE
Relationships are the heart and soul of The Lonesome Guild – it’s a party, literally. As your friendship grows, so does your power with new abilities and combos. A party can only be strong if each member is strong too – unravel your new friends’ stories and help them find peace. Unlock side quests, new abilities, and heartfelt chats by the campfire. Together, we’re unstoppable!
FIGHTS THAT KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES
Three difficulty levels, a roster of cool abilities, one very powerful Ghost power. Test your might in intense battles where you can switch between characters whenever you fancy and ambush enemies with clever combos. Build your dream team and fight your way through Etere.
A WORLD WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Etere is full of charm and secrets, mystery and treasures to uncover. From unearthing old secrets in the ruins to gathering round campfires in the forest, there’s always something new around the corner in The Lonesome Guild. Solve puzzles, explore vibrant landscapes, and find shiny things as you restore balance and hope to the world.
The world might be lonely, but you don’t have to be.
The post How to Build Your Perfect Party in The Lonesome Guild appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Outbreak: Shades of Horror Brings Co-op Survival Horror to Xbox in 2026
Summary
- Releasing on Xbox Series X|S in 2026 with smooth 60+ FPS gameplay, advanced ray tracing, and more.
- Tons of modes, maps, weapons, characters, and costumes.
- New seasonal events and game crossover events.
Welcome to your new favorite nightmare, Survivors! My name is Julia Wolbach, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Dead Drop Studios. I’m delighted to share new details with you today about our upcoming co-op survival horror title Outbreak: Shades of Horror, which will be releasing on Xbox Series X|S in 2026. Players will navigate the city of Cypress Ridge at the opening of a zombie apocalypse that threatens to annihilate all human life. Do you have what it takes to escape the city alive?
Enough Content to Feed the Undead for Years
Outbreak: Shades of Horror is filled to the brim with action-packed modes, breathtaking maps, diverse playable characters, and nearly limitless costume customization. You will access it all from Cypress Reel, the town movie theater that serves as the last line of defense against the zombie horde; the theatre also functions as an expansive hub world and player lobby. From this hub you can jump into Story Mode for a terrifying survival horror campaign where you’ll manage resources, solve puzzles, and carefully deal with powerful zombie creatures as you race to escape Cypress Ridge; stand your ground, build defenses, and defend innocent civilians against hordes of zombies and monsters in Invasion Mode, or shoot, loot, and reach the evac point quickly before your enemies become too powerful in Raid Mode. If that isn’t enough action for you, take a stroll into the arcade for bonus Mini-Games that test your skills and reflexes.
Play your way, either offline in single-player or in online co-op over Xbox Live. You can even switch between first-person and third-person gameplay at the press of a button! Across every mode, take control of and level up dozens of playable Survivors, each with their own loadouts, stats, and abilities. The more you play, the more you unlock; new items, weapons, and costume customizations allow you to mold each character to your desire.
A Bloody Affair that Takes Full Advantage of Xbox Series X
Built in cutting edge Unreal Engine 5.6, Outbreak: Shades of Horror pushes Xbox Series X|S to its limits. Enjoy detailed and realistic metahuman characters, advanced ray tracing, and dazzling megalights, all at a smooth 60+ FPS.
Explore sprawling atmospheric landscapes featuring brilliant weather effects. Our water utilizes ray traced translucent reflections and refractions resulting in exceptionally realistic lighting around wet surfaces. When it comes to precipitation, you’ll find thousands of lit particles that interact with the environment, offering a fully immersive experience. Feel the dread in hauntingly lit tunnels and leaky passageways and watch chaos unfold across Cypress Ridge with exploding helicopters, screaming banshees, gory dismemberment, and so much more. Thanks to megalight technology, volumetric shadowing is supported on almost every light source, so the blood-pumping thrills and spine-tingling scares are off the charts!
A Constantly Evolving Hellscape
Seasonal and game-crossover events keep the game active and fresh. Enjoy a variety of challenges, special maps, new characters, special cosmetics, and more.
The Halloween season brings both tricks and treats to Cypress Reel’s decor. You can expect new tasks to clear to unlock Seasonal Tickets; these items allow you to unlock new themed cosmetics that can be freely mixed-and-matched as you see fit! A special Invasion Mode map has been added featuring an expansive pumpkin patch and a rocky castle to defend at dusk. Future seasons, such as Winter Wonderland, will bring even more to conquer; you may even discover new Mini-Games to play in the Cypress Reel arcade!
Outbreak: Shades of Horror seeks to bring back old haunts from Dead Drop Studios games of yesteryear. The first crossover to be featured is Dinobreak, which meshes classic survival horror with ballistic dinosaur blasting. Check out the Dinobreak booth in Cypress Reel and do some target practice before you dive into the T-Rex sized Dinobreak Raid Mode map. Crush added missions to earn Crossover Tickets; similar to our Seasonal Tickets, these are your key to unlocking bonus Dinobreak-themed cosmetics. Future game-crossovers are sure to delight with new surprises for new and veteran players alike!
Humanity Teeters on the Edge of Oblivion
Hold out just a little bit longer until Outbreak: Shades of Horror swarms onto Xbox Series X|S in 2026! Try not to be distracted by the next-gen visuals and lighting as you battle for your existence in a city ravaged by the undead. Will you survive Cypress Ridge or rise up to chow down on your friends instead? Our wishlist page will be available soon. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire and social for updates!
The post Outbreak: Shades of Horror Brings Co-op Survival Horror to Xbox in 2026 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 27 to 31
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox on PC, 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!
The Outer Worlds 2 Preorder Premium Edition
Xbox Game Studios
$99.99
The Outer Worlds 2 Standard Preorder Edition
Xbox Game Studios
$69.99
The Outer Worlds 2 – October 29
Game Pass – Xbox Play Anywhere
The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness! Pre-order to receive the Commander Zane’s Anti-Monopolistic Battle Pack at launch.
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage 30th Anniversary Edition
SEGA
$49.99
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage
SEGA
$19.99
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage – October 29
The pioneer 3D fighting series continues to evolve as Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage takes the gameplay of Virtua Fighter 5 to new heights: Rollback Netcode and crossplay support let you take on any challenger, anywhere, across the globe in the most intense battles yet. A brand-new single-player mode, “World Stage” lets you Challenge powerful rivals on a solo quest to become the ultimate fighter.
Zumba – Marble Zombie Invasion
EpiXR Games
$4.99
Zumba – Marble Zombie Invasion – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
This game plunges you into a charmingly creepy marble-shooter world! Play as a cute zombie captain, mouth brimming with marbles, and fend off endless rolling waves before they breach your defenses. Aim your chomping cannon, fire to match three or more identical marbles, and watch them shatter into ghoulish confetti.
ARC Raiders – Deluxe Edition
Embark Studios
$59.99
ARC Raiders – Standard Edition
Embark Studios
$39.99
ARC Raiders – October 30
Xbox Play Anywhere
In ARC Raiders, gameplay flows between the surface ruled by lethal machines, and the vibrant underground society of Speranza. Craft, repair and upgrade your gear in the safety of your own workshop, before venturing topside to scavenge the remnants of a devastated but beautiful world. Play solo or in parties up to three, navigating the constant threat of ARC’s machines and the unpredictable choices of fellow survivors. In the end, only you decide what kind of Raider you are – and how far you’ll go to prevail.
Asterix & Obelix – Mission Babylon
Microids
Asterix & Obelix – Mission Babylon – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S This time, our heroes leave their beloved village for a long journey through the Parthian Empire, a faraway kingdom under threat from Roman invasion. Their mission? To save Monipehni, the King of the Parthians, who has fallen victim to a deadly poison brewed by Bahmbuhzeli, a treacherous sorcerer allied with Caesar. Experience a story full of humor, epic battles and unforgettable encounters in a thrilling platform game!
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
$59.99
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake – October 30
Xbox Play Anywhere
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the first two legendary adventures in the Erdrick trilogy, brought together in one package. Enjoy the traditional turn-based battles the series is known for. Attack with an assembly of weapons and let loose all kinds of spells and abilities to slay the many menacing monsters. Anyone who pre-orders the digital version will receive a free trouble-free travel kit in the game.
Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition Pre-Order Bundle
Natsume Inc.
$39.99
Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition – October 30
Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition invites you to leave behind the hustle and bustle of city life for the charm and simplicity of Alba Village — your childhood hometown. Nestled among lush greenery and sparkling rivers, Alba is known for its fresh-caught fish, delicious homegrown veggies, and warm-hearted community.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Atari
$49.99
$44.99
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Step into the arena and choose your fighter! Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection includes all the essential games from Mortal Kombat‘s early years. Experience the legendary origins of the franchise with the iconic arcade classics that started it all — alongside a curated selection of most-loved home versions and rare, fan-favorite releases — a celebration of the franchise’s groundbreaking legacy.
PAW Patrol
Rescue Wheels: Championship
Outright Games Ltd.
$39.99
Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels Championship – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Va-room! The Rescue Wheels crew is revved up and ready to race! Join Chase, Skye, Marshall, Rubble, Zuma, Rocky, and Roxi, in epic races across Adventure Bay and beyond. You can even cause mischief with Boomer & Frank or Mayor Humdinger. Pick your Pup Racer, each with unique skills like launching tennis balls or spinning out rivals. Master drifting, turbo boosts, and epic signature stunts to rule the dirt roads. Play solo or challenge friends in multiplayer—every racer can be a champion! Grab your best Pup Pals and let’s Rox and roll!
Simon the Sorcerer Origins
ININ Games
$24.99
Simon the Sorcerer Origins – October 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Thirty years after his first appearance on the screen, Simon is drawn into a foreign world by an ancient prophecy, that will tell his origins. This world is populated by powerful yet mostly useless wizards and strange creatures. On his journey, Simon must solve a series of tricky puzzles, operate alchemical devices, and learn powerful spells. And yes, he also has to taste a few disgusting stews!
Beneath
Wired Productions
Beneath – October 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Descend into the abyss and face your deepest fears in Beneath, a Lovecraftian first-person survival-horror action adventure. Seasoned diver Noah Quinn’s routine expedition plunges into chaos, trapping him in the depths of the ocean, where an ancient evil lurks. As supplies dwindle and nightmarish creatures close in, Noah must confront horrifying mutations, creeping madness, and a sinister conspiracy that threatens humanity itself. With his daughter’s life hanging in the balance, Noah is pushed to his limits in a desperate race against time. Can he uncover the truth and stop an ancient horror from surfacing, or will the abyss consume them all?
Halls of Torment
Chasing Carrots
Halls of Torment – October 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
Halls of Torment is a horde survival game with a pre-rendered retro look reminiscent of RPGs from the late 90s. Choose one of many hero characters and descend into the deadly Halls of Torment. Fight unholy horrors from beyond and survive wave after wave of enemies until you face one of the tormented Lords. Strengthen your hero with character traits, abilities, and items. Create a new powerful build during each run. Explore various underground expanses and find new powerful items that enable you to venture even deeper into the abyss.
Silly Polly Beast
Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Silly Polly Beast – October 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
An otherworldly, story-driven shooter with aggressive gunfights and terrifying monsters awaits you. This is the story of a girl who, by the will of fate, faced the beast – and in order to become free, she was forced to study its nature. How far can you go in the fight for your freedom? Embrace your inner demon or be consumed by it.
Space Chef
Kwalee
Space Chef – October 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A three-course meal of an adventure: restaurant manager, light survival RPG, and life sim, all set in the zany universe of the Horseshoe Nebula. As the galaxy’s (soon to be) premiere chef, it’s up to you to seek out the finest ingredients from alien planets, cook delicious dishes, and serve them to customers in the comfort of your fully-customizable space trailer.
Wreckreation
THQ Nordic
Wreckreation – October 28
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Developed by Three Fields Entertainment, the UK-based team comprised of veteran arcade racing game developers, Wreckreation finally hands you the keys to your own MixWorld that you can decorating and personalize, either alone or in collaboration with your friends online. A place of your own where you can continually strive to outrace, out-stunt or even out-crash yourself and others with courses, tracks and game modes designed by you – or your friends – but yours will probably be better.
Abyssal Drift
Rebelião Studio
Abyssal Drift – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Abyssal Drift is a minimalist 1-bit puzzle game where you control a lone jellyfish on a mysterious journey through the abyssal depths. Your goal is simple: find the hidden key in each stage to unlock the door that leads to even deeper areas. But don’t be fooled with each level, the puzzles become more challenging and the obstacles more treacherous.
Beebo & Luna
Xiamen Emprom Information Co., Ltd.
At the edge of the universe lies an oracle house, home to a witch named Luna and a cat with a strange meow called Beebo. As you focus on your work or studies, the melody of time transforms into the radiant light of stars. Use this stellar energy to exchange for exquisite outfits and decorations, dress up Luna and Beebo, and create a cozy, serene corner that reflects your personal style. Sometimes, mysterious travelers are guided by the stars to this place, weaving dreamlike tales of romance and warmth with you.
Card Collector Trading Shop
PlayWay S.A.
$7.99
$7.19
Card Collector Trading Shop – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Play the role of a collector-turned-business-owner. Open a card market and become rich. Build, manage and develop your own collectible card shop where you can trade, collect and battle with the rarest and most valuable cards from the legendary Beast Lords series featuring unique and powerful creatures!
Carnage: Battle Arena
BoomBit
$9.99
Carnage: Battle Arena – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Get Carnage now and discover a new kind of racing game! Driving fast and getting to the finish line is only one of the multiple challenges that await you. Wreak havoc on the streets thanks to the extensive destruction model that lets you not only damage vehicles, but also cause visible changes in the environment. After a long battle, the location will look nothing like it used to at the start!
Colorful Boi 2
Webnetic s. r. o.
Get ready for a pulse-pounding platforming challenge in Colorful Boi 2! With 74 meticulously designed levels, you’ll test your reflexes, precision and patience against a gauntlet of devious traps and hazards. Can you conquer the ultimate platforming test and become the Colorful Boi champion?
Death Park 2: 4k Remaster
EpiXR Games
$5.99
Death Park 2: 4k Remaster – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Are you ready to fight your nightmares and various monsters that have flooded Farland? Can you cope with all puzzles that await you in this horror story? You have to visit 8 huge locations including streets, hospital, cemetery, sewer and military base. You will be able to move between the real world and the world of sleep to solve riddles and fight a scary clown and various monsters.
Halloween 1985
Eastasiasoft Limited
Halloween 1985 – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
When monsters steal Pumpkman’s pumpkins on Halloween night, it’s up to you to get them back! Dash through 5 vibrant, quirky levels, outsmarting classic foes like Dracula, The Mummy and The Witch. Jump, dodge and battle your way to their lairs, then take on the big boss in a final showdown! With 3 game modes, a retro chiptune soundtrack and high-score chasing just like the golden age, this pixel-art platformer delivers fast-paced, nostalgic fun.
Hell Is Other Demons
Alchemy Games
$12.49
Hell is Other Demons – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Hell is Other Demons is an acclaimed fast-paced action-platform shooter, with Roguelite elements. Explore a sprawling, hand-crafted world full of demons, insanely over-the-top boss fights and a heavy synthwave soundtrack. You grew up with the bullet hell arcade shooters which rewarded fast-decision making and creativity? Hell is Other Demons is crafted with expertly executed mechanics and bold, unforgettable style.
Journey of Johann: Cave Explorer
Xitilon
Journey of Johann: Cave Explorer – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Journey of Johann is an action-adventure platformer with puzzle elements. Make your way through levels and a boss with different challenges and obstacles. Collect goblets, secrets and beat time trials. Use your weapons as tools such as climbing, blocking hits and defeating enemies. The game was designed with speedrunning in mind.
Lonely Guardian (Xbox Series)
Afil Games
Lonely Guardian – October 29
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Lonely Guardian is a relaxing and accessible 2D platformer where you play as a Foo Dog, a mythical creature from East Asian culture. Your sacred mission is simple: collect the Mystic Pearl, rescue a lost pup and reach the temple gate in each level. With clear and intuitive gameplay, the game combines light exploration, precise jumps and a purifying roar that defeats yokai, breaks stone blocks and opens hidden paths. Everything is designed to be instantly understood, without tutorials or complicated menus.
Catnigma
Bad Minions, Little Giant
Catnigma – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Catnigma is a magical puzzle game where you control a flying cat on a quest to satisfy its endless hunger for fish. The cat moves continuously in the chosen direction until it hits an obstacle, and it’s up to you to use your wits and magical tricks to collect every fish in the level.
Dreamscapes – The Sandman
Joindots GmbH
Dreamscape – The Sandman – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
As a child, father often told Laura that she is special. But Laura’s father died before her full age, and Laura didn’t knew what her father had said about her specialty. In memory of her father Laura kept as remembrance an amulet “the Dream catcher” – her father gave it to Laura since she was a little girl, as Laura complained that she has nightmares. In this hidden object adventure, you play the professor’s assistant—a volunteer who has agreed to participate in an experiment to bring Laura back to life.
Dungeon Minesweeper
Stamina Zero LLC
$5.99
Dungeon Minesweeper – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
A mystical adventure in the depths of dungeons awaits you! An engaging puzzle based on classic Minesweeper, enhanced with RPG elements in stylish pixel art graphics. The game offers captivating gameplay where numerical clues on dungeon floors help you navigate safely and avoid deadly traps. Tactical combat allows you to engage enemies with magic and weapons or choose strategic retreat depending on the situation. Compelling quests lead you through mission completion to uncover the secrets of dark depths.
Greek Tragedy
Pineapple Works
Greek Tragedy – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Greek Tragedy is a retro-styled indie survival horror game with puzzle elements. Help Amy keep her life on the college campus overrun by cultists and maybe save her relationship in the process. Uncover conspiracies, sabotage occult rituals and run for your life!
KEMCO RPG Selection Vol. 7
KEMCO
$39.99
Kemco RPG Selection Vol. 7 – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Now you can enjoy 4 RPGs; Asdivine Cross, Alphadia Genesis 2, Ruinverse and Chroma Quaternion, in one bundle!
Magnetism X
Tail House Game Studio
Magnetism X – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Magnetism is a first-person puzzle with parkour. Use your special suite to manipulate the rooms and make your own path to reach the end of game. The rooms will test your logic and coordination, increasing the challenge with each new room you reach.
Strike Force 3
Polygon Art
$19.99
Strike Force 3 – October 30
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
As a highly-trained elite operative, you’ll be thrust into the heart of modern-day combat against the ruthless Tariqian Liberation Front (TLF). Prepare for intense firefights, adrenaline-pumping stealth missions, and high-stakes challenges that will put your skills to the test. Explore stunning desert canyons and war-torn cities as you fight to liberate Al-Tariq from the grips of terror. Use an arsenal of powerful weapons and cutting-edge gear to outmaneuver your enemies and complete daring objectives.
7th Domain: Tree of Chaos
Happy Player
$24.99
7th Domain: Tree of Chaos – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Fight, Die, and Rise Again! Step into a roguelike metroidvania, where thrilling combat meets endless loot-hunting. Over 20 hours of non-repetitive main story: On top of that, roguelike replayability with unlockable world difficulties. Will you, the child of destiny, restore balance to a shattered world?
Beaked Buccaneer
Ratalaika Games S.L.
Beaked Buccaneer – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
People used to say that parrots aren’t real pirates, that they only belong perched on a captain’s shoulder. But one particularly ambitious parrot is in search of his own treasures and adventures to become a true pirate, a Beaked Buccaneer! Explore four different pirate-themed worlds with alternative paths, and defeat the infamous Captain Smelly and his nefarious crew.
BMX Streets
Mash Games
BMX Streets – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
BMX Streets is a next-generation physics-driven freestyle extreme biking simulator. It captures the essence of BMX culture by giving players the ability to find their own style of riding through practice, experimentation, and exploration.
Delivery Dash: Battle Couriers
Frostweep Games
Delivery Dash: Battle Couriers – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Step into the world of Delivery Dash Co., where every package counts and every second matters! Choose your path in this vibrant low-poly city. With randomized delivery locations, hazards around every corner and arcade-style bonuses, every run is a fresh adventure — whether you’re competing against rivals or shaping your own courier story.
Hannah VCR
Spaceboy
Hannah VCR – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
Hannah VCR is a narrative puzzle game where you manipulate a VHS tape to change Hannah’s destiny. Each colored square on the tape represents a part of the scene. You decide the order, and Hannah moves forward alone, facing a world broken by memories, abandonment … and the search for a lost doll. With a retro aesthetic, immersive music and an emotionally charged design, Hannah VCR is a thrilling experience filled with mystery and the things that never fully heal.
Infantry Attack
QubicGames S.A.
Infantry Attack – October 31
Xbox Play Anywhere
Enemy troops, such as infantry, helicopters, tanks, warplanes and drones, are coming for you! Jump on the machine gun and shoot them all! Missions will take place in different warzones, and you will need to adapt your shooting strategy depending on the battlefield: city, desert, jungle, forest, airport and many more! Be on the frontline of the battleground or take to the air to shoot enemies from the helicopter!
Laundry Store Simulator
PlayWay S.A.
Laundry Store Simulator – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Build a small laundry store into a thriving business empire! Upgrade your equipment, design and expand your store, hire staff and more! Upgrade your equipment to provide exceptional cleaning services! Invest in high-quality washing machines, dryers, ironing equipment and even automated washing machines! Create a stylish and inviting space to attract customers! Provide comfortable seating, warm decorations and more funsies to welcome your customers!
Mystical Mixing
QubicGames S.A.
Mystical Mixing – October 31
Xbox Play Anywhere
Pour the potion into the cauldron, throw in the clover, bone and feather, stir and voila — you have a cute Mixie! Combine other ingredients to create Mixies with different features: winged, horned, spotted, furry … the possibilities are endless. Let your Mixie friends explore the mysterious island, find hidden treasures, repair the magical portal and collect new ingredients to create even more adorable pets. Over time, you might even discover a way to combine Mixies with each other.
Quisisana
Domynyo SRL
Quisisana – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
You must explore the villa, search for clues, and solve puzzles to understand what is happening and, most importantly, find a way out. But be careful: the presence haunting this place won’t let you leave so easily. Will you survive and uncover the truth?
Releaseburg
Drageus Games S.A.
Releaseburg – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Enter the relentless world of Releaseburg, a rogue-like survival shooter set in a post-apocalyptic city consumed by chaos. The streets run red as hordes of grotesque zombies rise from the ruins, turning every encounter into a brutal test of skill, precision and nerve.
Souno’s Curse
PixelHeart
$9.99
Souno’s Curse – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Embark on the poignant journey of Souno’s Curse, a 2D action-platformer with a unique atmosphere, skillfully blending exploration, intense combat, and emotional storytelling. Play as a daring adventurer venturing into a cursed cave, where every corner holds forgotten secrets, deadly dangers, and a profound story about regret, loss, and the value of the present moment. Explore beautifully hand-drawn environments, inspired by the greatest classics of the genre, and let yourself be carried away by an immersive soundtrack that enhances every moment of your journey.
Tales of Xillia Remastered
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
Tales of Xillia Remastered – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Dive into the magnificent world of Rieze Maxia as either Jude Mathis, an aspiring medical student from the capital, or Milla Maxwell, a mysterious woman accompanied by four powerful spirits. Master the Dual Raid Linear Motion Battle System, mustering strategy and coordination to overcome action-packed battles in real-time combat. Team up with allies to unleash devastating combo attacks and unlock special support skills to overwhelm your foes.
Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection
SOEDESCO
Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Step into the cab and hit the European roads in Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection! Set in a fictional world inspired by the iconic beauty of the Netherlands, the game presents a new era of trucking, where AI dispatchers work alongside human drivers and the trucking industry is thriving. Old friends return, new alliances form and every journey demands heart, skill and adaptability.
XENOTILT: HOSTILE PINBALL ACTION
FLARB LLC
Xenotilt: Hostile Pinball Action – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Lightning strikes again! Xenotilt is the sequel to the cult hit, Demon’s Tilt. Get ready for another pinball fantasy. Xenotilt shreds the envelope with face-melting gameplay and graphics.
Water Delivery
Dolores Entertainment
Water Delivery – October 31
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere / Smart Delivery
In Water Delivery, you step into the shoes of a young delivery driver on their last route of the afternoon in a seemingly quiet rural area… until it isn’t. Drive your van from house to house, hop out with your delivery slip and drop off full water jugs, collect empty containers left on porches, in kitchens, and in sheds, and charge each customer before getting back on the road. What begins as a routine shift turns into a psychological-horror nightmare: flickering lights, neighbors who don’t respond, noises behind half-open doors, and unsettling clues pointing to something darker than simple end-of-day fatigue. As you complete tasks and explore unique homes with stories of their own, you’ll uncover documents, objects, and situations that piece together the mystery suffocating the community.
The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for October 27 to 31 appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Instruments of Destruction Explodes onto Xbox Series X|S Today
Summary
- Development history and what to expect from the highly-destructible sandbox.
- Developed by Red Faction: Guerrilla’s lead technical designer Luke Schneider.
- How fan feedback helped shaped gameplay design.
It’s been a pretty long journey to get here, but today, Instruments of Destruction is launching on Xbox Series X|S.
I’ve been working as a solo developer for over 15 years now, and this has been by far my most ambitious game to date. Most of my games have been smaller, more arcade-style titles like Fireball 2 (which launched on Xbox Series X|S earlier this year) that are designed for short bursts, but Instruments of Destruction has a whole lot more that I’ve added across five years of development.
In the game’s story, you’re a new hire at Sharpe Industries as a vehicle test pilot, tasked with taking the titular instruments of destruction out to see how much havoc they can wreak across various scenarios. There are over 50 Campaign missions with various objectives – destroy everything within a time limit, avoid damaging specific structures, and so on – each with additional challenges once you’ve finished the level. As well as that, there’s a 25 mission Build & Destroy campaign which introduces you to the mechanics of building your own vehicles. To top it all off, there’s a Sandbox mode where you can build whatever you want and take it out on any unlock level to see what wonderful creations you can come up with. There’s a lot to do!
I started work on Instruments of Destruction in 2020 with a simple goal in mind – I wanted to make a game about destruction. I had previously worked as the lead technical designer on Red Faction: Guerrilla, and while I’d worked closely with a team of programmers to make sure the destruction in that game looked and felt incredible, I hadn’t actually coded any of it myself. With this as my twentieth game, I wanted to push my own skills and see what I could come up with.
I spent a long time fine-tuning the physics and destruction model into something that looked impressive and played nicely with everything else on the screen. Building your own vehicles was also key to the game, and this was a ton of hard work, making sure all the joints worked correctly and vehicles didn’t collapse as soon as you tried to drive them.
But as I got further into development, it became clear that it wasn’t very beginner-friendly. I’d added all these granular tools for building vehicles and making them blow stuff up, and somehow, it felt like the game wasn’t reaching its true potential. So, I regrouped and considered what Instruments of Destruction is actually about – vehicles, physics, and destruction. How could I remove the barrier to entry so players could experience all of those elements within moments of booting up?
Looking around at other games, I saw people talking fondly about Blast Corps, a game I’d missed when it first came out. After taking a weekend to play through and understand what made it so beloved, I had the answer to my problem – a fully-featured campaign with pre-built vehicles, where you can jump in and get straight to the destruction. It took years of designing and fine-tuning to get the campaign levels just right, but in the end, it was worth it.
Instruments of Destruction wouldn’t have made it this far without the dedicated community of builders and destruction lovers who gave me their feedback throughout its development, from the early beta days through Early Access and all the way to launching in 1.0. And now with the support of publisher Secret Mode, I can bring it to an entirely new audience on consoles, complete with all the game modes and mechanics you’d get from the PC version.
I learned a lot making Instruments of Destruction, and I’ll be taking all those lessons into my next games, which will continue to be focused around pushing my skills in creating even better destruction mechanics. Thank you to everyone who helped me get the game this far and thank you to everyone who checks it out on Xbox Series X|S. I can’t wait to see what new vehicles people make!
Instruments of Destruction
Secret Mode
$19.99
Join Sharpe Industries as a vehicle test pilot and journey across the world to remote outposts where everything needs to be destroyed, using purpose-built wrecking machines such as flying bulldozers, tanks wielding quad rocket launchers, and ornithopters with grappling hooks.
Master these contraptions and demolish every structure in sight across two campaigns and a Sandbox mode. Deconstruct buildings piece-by-piece or take advantage of explosive chain-reactions with Instruments of Destruction’s advanced physics system.
Tackle a carnage-filled campaign filled with demolition-based objectives, then test your skills even further in dedicated high-score challenges that apply new parameters and objectives to each level. Or take a break from missions and unwind in the Sandbox mode to raze the world at your own pace.
And don’t just destroy: build. Learn how to design your own machines in a dedicated epilogue campaign for the ultimate demolition experience. Use the in-built editor to construct devastating vehicles armed with chainsaws, lasers, claws, wrecking balls, magnets, vortex generators, and much more.
The post Instruments of Destruction Explodes onto Xbox Series X|S Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.
How AVGN 8-bit’s Monsters Ring in the Spooky Season
Summary
- Top tips for vanquishing the things that go bump in the night.
- Plenty of ghoulish monsters with a modern retro, pixel-art flair.
- Plenty of ghoulish monsters with a modern retro, pixel-art flair.
With the Halloween season well underway, it feels only appropriate to showcase just some of the ghoulish enemies you’ll be able to face in Angry Video Game Nerd (AVGN) 8-bit! You’ll blast through tons of enemies populating seven unique environments that take inspiration from the AVGN universe. But today, we’re taking a look only at those enemies and levels that truly evoke the spooky spirit!
AVGN 8-bit brings everyone’s favorite rage-induced Nerd back to take down a new threat to the gaming world! When an old ally of his somehow becomes corrupted, the Nerd must spring into action to fight this fallen force of good with an unimaginable force of evil: a “bad game” ritualistically made using the “worst” bad games of all time. With live action cutscenes featuring the Nerd himself commenting on your progress and encouraging you forward, it’s never a dull moment as you fight your way to the corrupted entity within. But first, you’ll have to deal with its minions. Let’s look at some techniques to keep you from suffering a dark fate!
Trigger-Finger Zombies and Walking Hands
Some of the first enemies you may encounter as you begin your digital “purge” are zombies and disembodied hands. Now, to the average horror enthusiast, these enemies shouldn’t sound too threatening, but what if the zombies can shoot lightning and the hands can rush at you on detection? For zombies, you’ll want to time your jumps right whenever they fire a bolt of lightning at you. Finish them off when you land back down. But be careful as they charge up their lightning shots, as zombies are able to temporarily reflect your own projectiles away. For those creepy, crawling hands, they’ll often charge at you along a linear path, so blasting them as fast as you can before they hit you is ideal.
A Soda Factory Full of Robo-Skeletons
There’s something definitely wrong when you have to take down a boss inside a factory that makes soda–not to mention having to go through a company of robo-skeletons first. For these enemies, they’ll come in three distinct forms: full-body walking types carrying rifles, crawling types that lob projectiles, and hanging types that fire bullet bursts at a downward angle. If you shoot at full-body walking types, they’ll collapse and turn into crawlers–you can finish them like you would the hands. For hanging types, try to stay clear from their bullet spreads, and manage your jumps to line up your shots well on them.
Spiders, Spiders, Spiders
It should come as no surprise that we’d have to include spiders as another spooky enemy. These skull-motifed guys will descend from the ceiling and try to shoot webs at you, while also being able to drop onto platforms and attack. You’ll want to be careful as they try to shoot webs at you in a downward arc. Getting caught in a web will drastically lower your movement speed, so, if one sticks to you, you’ll have to wiggle your way out of it. Spiders will eventually fall from their threads the longer you fire on them, so force them to be on the same plane as you, and you should be able to blast them away, no problem.
The Dark Realm Cometh
One of the hallmarks of giving off a haunting Halloween vibe is the temporary transition to the night world, which takes place in an otherwise seemingly normal-looking level. In this dark world, you’ll encounter enemies exclusive to this dark environment–including hopping zombie heads, scorpion-like monsters, floating sprites, and a persistent mask that fires an energy ball at you each time it appears. For hopping heads, try unloading on them as they land on the same plane as you. For those scorpion-like monsters, these function similarly to crawling hands and can be blasted easily if on the same plane. For floating sprites, you can destroy them as they get into your line of fire, but make sure you jump over any projectiles they launch at you on their death. Finally, for that recurring mask that appears and disappears quickly, be sure to dodge its single projectiles it fires at you. You won’t be able to destroy this mask enemy immediately, since this is actually the boss of that level you’ll face later on.
The Angry Video Game Nerd returns in 2025 just in time for the spooky season, with plenty of monsters for fans and newcomers to the AVGN universe to blast, so grab your controller and unleash the ultimate nerd rage in Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit, digitally available now!
Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit
Retroware
$19.99
$17.99
The ULTIMATE NERD RAGE is back in Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit – an all-new action platformer set in the AVGN universe! Play as The Nerd and blast your way across a host of pixel art levels crawling with zombies, mechanical skeletons, ghoulish reapers, and more!
THE 8-BIT EXPERIENCE
We partnered with Mega Cat Studios and Programancer to make a brand new back-to-back 8-bit installment featuring the Angry Video Game Nerd!
THE AVGN UNIVERSE IN 8-BIT FORM
Journey through multiple levels inspired by the AVGN universe, and blast away at enemies themed around each level! Slide below platforms, pick up power-ups, and take alternate routes to get to the boss room!
FAMILIAR FACES, NEW FIGHTS
As The Nerd heads into the pixel-ridden fight, he must face off against familiar faces from his past! Waiting at the end of every level, bosses from the AVGN universe hope to destroy The Nerd!
The post How AVGN 8-bit’s Monsters Ring in the Spooky Season appeared first on Xbox Wire.