Aphelion: Learn More About the Exploration and Emotions Behind This Brand-New Sci-Fi Adventure

Kati Bumbera (Lead Narrative Designer), Florent Guillaume (Creative Director), Don’t Nod

Hello! We’re Kati and Florent, Lead Narrative Designer and Creative Director, from the Aphelion team at Don’t Nod. Now that you’ve seen our game’s world premiere during Xbox Games Showcase, we wanted to talk more about it – including its conception, story, and what you can expect in terms of gameplay before it launches in 2026.

Aphelion is a linear action-adventure game set in space, blending exploration, traversal, stealth, and mystery. But more than anything, it’s a story-rich human journey with a grounded approach to sci-fi, and includes a dual-protagonist structure that shapes both the gameplay and the emotional core of the story.

Aphelion is set in the near-future – Earth is dying and humanity is desperately searching for another home in Persephone, the uncharted icy planet that Ariane and Thomas find themselves on. One of our early inspirations was the real-world hypothesis of Planet Nine – the theory that there’s a previously undetectable planet in the outer edges of our Solar System: what if it existed? What if we found it? In developing this vision, we’re proud to be collaborating with the European Space Agency (ESA) on Aphelion to ground our game’s science in reality.

You’ll play as both Ariane and Thomas, alternating between their perspectives as they try to find one another and reunite after a crash landing. Their separation is central – not just to the story, but to the game design too. Each character offers a different experience, and their unique situations reflect their personal journeys.

Ariane is physically capable and equipped for traversal. Through her, players will explore dangerous terrain by climbing, rappelling, navigating environmental hazards, and more. Thomas was injured in the crash, but can investigate and discover the mystery of the planet in different ways. This contrast creates a rhythm and duality that allows you to feel the weight of each character’s journey, separately and together.

Exploration is the heartbeat of Aphelion. What starts out as a mission compromised from the beginning becomes a deeper journey into the unknown. As you explore the environment and gather information, you’ll uncover clues as to the planet’s strange conditions, and what caused the crash of Ariane and Thomas’s ship, the Hope 01.

But at its core, this isn’t a game about a planet. It’s a tale about what we bring with us when everything else is lost. The game’s conception began with Ariane and Thomas, not the wider story around them. Their relationship, strained by duty and sacrifice, is the emotional heart of Aphelion. As they navigate this new world and the unknown, they are confronting something deeply personal: how we face the prospect of loss, and whether hope can survive in the aftermath.

It’s an emotional story about love, resilience, and hope, and we can’t wait to show you more. Aphelion will be released in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud. It will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and available day one with Game Pass. To stay up to date, follow Don’t Nod on X, Instagram, and TikTok.

Aphelion

DON’T NOD

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

A SCI-FI ACTION-ADVENTURE ON THE EDGE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

By 2060, Earth will be uninhabitable. The discovery of a 9th planet – Persephone – at the edge of the solar system, is humanity’s best hope. The European Space Agency is dispatching the Hope 01 scientific mission, consisting of 2 of their accomplished astronauts, Ariane and Thomas. Their mission: to survey the planet and determine whether humanity can prosper anew here.

Your adventure begins in chaos, as the crash landing of their ship scatters them across the planet, launching them on a desperate quest to find one another.

Aphelion is a cinematic third-person action-adventure set on the planet Persephone, an uncharted, frozen world. Stranded and isolated, you must survive the truly unknown, find each other, and complete the mission. Traverse stunning alien landscapes, avoid lurking threats, and discover the haunting secrets buried beneath the ice.

EXPLORE AN UNCHARTED PLANET

Explore the surreal beauty of Persephone, a vast frozen world shaped by deadly weather and ever-changing terrain.

Armed only with your explorational tools – pathfinder, oxygen tank, grappling hook, and more – you must face the unknown, traverse treacherous terrain, and gather clues about the strange, reality-bending phenomenon threatening your existence.

FIND EACH OTHER

Helpless on the edge of the solar system, the Hope 01 crew faces a brutal new world and the echoes of a complicated past. Ariane Montclair and Thomas Cross share a deep connection, a relationship left unresolved by the demands of their careers and their mission. Facing overwhelming odds, their fractured bond becomes a lifeline as they grasp in the dark for one another.

HIDE TO SURVIVE

You’re not alone. Something lurks beneath the ice.

Key Features:

– A realistic depiction of space exploration
– An emotional drama on an alien world
– Cinematic action-adventure with gripping traversal gameplay
– Tools-based exploration and survival
– Tense and exciting stealth-based sequences

A game in collaboration with: European Space Agency (ESA)

The post Aphelion: Learn More About the Exploration and Emotions Behind This Brand-New Sci-Fi Adventure appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox Games Showcase Deep Dive: The Outer Worlds 2

Category: Games

Xbox Games Showcase Deep Dive: The Outer Worlds 2

The post Xbox Games Showcase Deep Dive: The Outer Worlds 2 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

A Grounded Take on Dark Fantasy & Vampires – Story, Design and Combat in The Blood of Dawnwalker

Category: Xbox Games Showcase

June 9, 2025

A Grounded Take on Dark Fantasy & Vampires – Story, Design and Combat in The Blood of Dawnwalker

Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, Creative Director at Rebel Wolves

As we announced during the recent Xbox Games Showcase, our team at Rebel Wolves is working on our debut single-player, story-driven game: The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Following the reveal, I want to shed some light on the key elements that make this game truly ours, from the setting and plot, through our unique storytelling approach which we call the Narrative Sandbox, to gameplay systems.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is set to launch in 2026, and you’ll be seeing more of it in the coming months. But for now — let’s dive into the world we’re building.

The Story

Our game takes place in Vale Sangora: a ﬁctional, remote valley tucked somewhere in the Carpathian Mountains of Eastern Europe. And while The Blood of Dawnwalker is a work of ﬁction, real-world history plays a key role in the narrative.

The old continent and its people are in dire shape. Fourteenth-century Europe was already ravaged by brutal wars, but it was the Black Death that truly brought civilization to its knees. It decimated the population and left entire regions in a state of collapse. And while the plague was a catastrophe of unprecedented scale, for some it presented an opportunity that couldn’t be ignored. One of them was Brencis, a vampire who emerges from the shadows, overthrows the local lord Skender, and seizes power in Vale Sangora.

But even a powerful vampire knows brute force isn’t enough to maintain power. To win the people over, he offers them something no one else can: a cure. Using the properties of vampiric blood, he saves them from the plague.

At the center of the narrative is Coen, our protagonist. A young man turned into a dawnwalker: human by day, vampire by night, destined (or cursed?) to forever walk the line between those two worlds. His goal is simple: to save the people he loves. Even if it means using the very powers he once feared, the powers of a vampire.

The Vampires

From the start, our goal was to make both of Coen’s forms, human and vampire, equally engaging, fun, and meaningful to play. Each brings unique abilities and inﬂuences the world, quests, and story in different ways.

When it comes to vampires, we wanted to honor the classic vision – the elegant “nobility” of the night, while also introducing some twists that make our vampires stand out in more distinct, sometimes unsettling ways.

To turn a human, a vampire must pull out one of their teeth and pierce the heart of their chosen target. This ritual is one of our biggest changes to vampire lore and it plays a crucial role in Coen’s transformation into a dawnwalker. In his case, though, something went wrong. I won’t spoil the details, but the consequences of that moment will have far-reaching implications well beyond the borders of Vale Sangora.

The Narrative Sandbox

We wanted to give players as much control over the narrative as possible — a clear objective, but many paths to achieve it. That, to us, is the unique strength of video games as a storytelling medium: player agency. The way the game adapts to your actions.

Your task in The Blood of Dawnwalker is to save Coen’s family, but how you do it is up to you. Put simply: once the prologue ends, the world opens up — not just in terms of traversal, but also narrative. There’s a major goal ahead of you, but many ways to get there.

Some players might embrace their vampire side and give in to its temptations. Others might cling to their humanity and reject the monster within. You can align with the human rebellion or ﬁnish the game without ever meeting them. You can take the ﬁght to Brencis at any time, choosing from multiple paths to do so.

This open, player-driven approach is what we call the narrative sandbox. It’s the philosophy at the core of our storytelling.

The Combat

Coen trained for years with his father, a grizzled war veteran, so during the day he wields a sword. We studied medieval ﬁghting styles and even have a few trained swordsmen on the team. The result is combat that feels authentic and grounded, yet approachable and fun.

As a human, he also learns how to use magic — raw, ritual-based, with dark, primordial origins. We’re not going the high fantasy route with colorful explosions. Our spells are darker and grounded — tied to blood, heat, and air that seems to pulse and breathe. The visuals can be striking, but in a more visceral, eerie way. To cast a spell, you ﬁrst have to literally open up your body to the occult by carving runes and becoming a living conduit. Magic ﬂows through you.

At night though, these runes seal shut as your ﬂesh regenerates. They fade, like old scars. Instead, your vampiric nature awakens. You’ll ﬁght with claws, enhanced strength, supernatural agility, and dark powers available only after sunset. But these powers come at a cost: your humanity. Coen’s vampiric Blood Craving comes into play: a system that ties his health level and his hunger. When losing health, Coen is at risk of losing control over his vampire nature, which can even lead to involuntary draining an NPC that you interact with, locking you out from some dialogue options or even quest lines as his dark instincts take over.

I could go on and on about The Blood of Dawnwalker, but let’s stop here for now. Thank you for taking the time to read about our vision for this story-driven RPG. And if you want a deeper look, we’ve got a special Gameplay Reveal Event happening on June 21, right on the Summer Solstice. You’ll see extended footage from the game, including combat, exploration, magic, and much more. Head to dawnwalkergame.com for all the details.

The Blood of Dawnwalker

Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe S.A.S.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

14th-century Europe. Bloody conflicts sweep the lands, and the Black Death comes for the survivors. It’s a moment of weakness – and that’s all they needed. Vampires seize their opportunity to walk out of the shadows and claim what they’ve been denied for centuries: freedom, and the power that comes with it. Other creatures of the night follow their lead. Legends turn into reality, and history as we know it will never be the same.

You play as Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker, forever treading the line between the world of day and the realm of night. Fight for your humanity or embrace the cursed powers to save your family. Whatever your choice, the question stands: is your soul worth the lives of those you love?

Game Features

Make The Story Your Own – Experience and shape the plot the way you want. Embark on the quest to save your family, or swear revenge on your sire and destroy everyone standing in your way. Discover ancient secrets lurking in the valley. Rush in head first or risk taking time to prepare. Go alone or search for friends and forge unlikely alliances.

Day And Night – Experience two different gameplay loops, offering distinct abilities to choose from, mysteries to uncover, and varying ways to achieve your goals. Experiment with different approaches and discover how the world reacts to your actions.

Every Action Matters – Every action – and inaction – shapes the world around you. Your family’s days are numbered, and every time you take on a quest, time moves forward, compelling you closer to the end. Choose carefully whom to help and whom to leave behind. You will not have time for everyone. The world waits for no one. And neither does the villain.

Sword, Claws, And Rage – Defy gravity, become a brutal force of nature, and use your supernatural skills as a vampire. Or raise your sword, and employ powerful magic to take on opponents as a human. Experiment and adapt as your form changes during the day and night; each has its strengths and weaknesses.

Open World Brimming With Adventure – Venture through the hand-crafted open world and discover all it has to offer. Roam through the lush forests, the vast plains, the treacherous swamps, the steep mountaintops, and the medieval settlements. Explore forgotten ruins, find remnants of an ancient civilization, and uncover truths that should probably remain hidden.

Become The Dawnwalker – Experience the beginning of a brand-new saga built with love for the role-playing genre. Immerse yourself in a visually stunning world powered by the next-gen Unreal Engine 5.

The post A Grounded Take on Dark Fantasy & Vampires – Story, Design and Combat in The Blood of Dawnwalker appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Gears of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Begins This Weekend – Preorder Now for Access

Category: Xbox Games Showcase

June 8, 2025

Gears of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Begins This Weekend – Preorder Now for Access

Mike Crump, Studio Head, The Coalition

Summary

Gears of War: Reloaded launches August 26, 2025, for $39.99 SRP on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, PlayStation 5, Steam, and arrives day one with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass with Xbox Play Anywhere support. 
Preorder now for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5 for access to the two-weekend Multiplayer Beta that begins June 13, 2025. 
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass members, and existing owners of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital) also get access to the Multiplayer Beta.

For many of us, the original Gears of War in 2006 was a game changer. It pushed the limits of technology, visual fidelity, and ushered in the HD-era on the Xbox 360, led by amazing players all over the world. And we all remember how the beautifully crafted and iconic “Mad World” trailer hit us on an emotional level. 

As we look ahead to the 20^th anniversary of the Gears of War franchise next year, we wanted to celebrate this milestone with you by welcoming a new generation of players across devices to the Gears family — and what better way than to revisit the iconic original that started it all. 

Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms, arriving August 26, 2025 – and you can get your first chance to play it during the Multiplayer Beta. 

Join the Multiplayer Beta Starting June 13 

You can experience all the curb-stomping mayhem of the versus multiplayer via a two-weekend, cross-platform and cross-play Multiplayer Beta that runs June 13-15 and June 20-22. 

There are three ways to gain access: 

Preorder Gears of War: Reloaded digitally for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Steam or PlayStation 5

Have an active Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass membership

Own a digital copy of Gears of War: Ultimate Edition*

Multiplayer Beta Weekend 1 runs June 13-15 and features a social multiplayer experience in the classic Team Deathmatch mode across three maps including the fan-favorite Gridlock, as well as Raven Down and Gold Rush. 

Friday, June 13 from 7pm UTC (12pm PST) to Sunday, June 15 at 7pm UTC (12pm PST)

Multiplayer Beta Weekend 2 runs June 20-22 and adds the competitive King of the Hill mode on the map Canals being added to the mix, along with the maps Courtyard and War Machine for use in Team Deathmatch.  

Friday, June 20 from 7pm UTC (12pm PST) to Sunday, June 22 at 7pm UTC (12pm PST)

Official Xbox Podcast: Learn More About Gears of War Reloaded 

As detailed on the Official Xbox Podcast, Studio Head Mike Crump and Studio Technical Director Kate Rayner let us know that Gears of War: Reloaded is the definitive release of the iconic original that started it all. Not only does this remaster include all post-launch content from the original and Ultimate Edition, it also delivers a litany of technical achievements that weren’t possible 20 or even 10 years ago.  

We’re talking 4K assets, remastered textures, HDR support, but also platform scaling capabilities that make it possible to play Gears of War Reloaded across a multitude of devices that you own, from the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, to PC, to console, and more. Where the original Gears of War was a technical achievement for Xbox 360 — Gears of War Reloaded is shaping up to be a triumph across all devices. Check out the full episode above. 

Preorder and Game Pass Bonuses: Adam Fenix and Anya Stroud Character Skins 

Preorder Skins for Gears of War: Reloaded

Those that preorder Gears of War: Reloaded, digitally or physically, and Game Pass Ultimate or Game Pass PC members will receive two character skins for use in multiplayer, including:  

Adam Fenix: Father of Marcus Fenix and legendary military scientist who invented the Hammer of Dawn. Now he’s geared up and ready to help defend humanity from the Locust Horde.

Anya Stroud: The guiding voice of Delta Squad, from the desk at COG CIC to the warzones of Ephyra, Anya is trained and ready to curb stomp some grubs.

_{*Multiplayer Beta Access for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Owners: Must have purchased Gears of War: Ultimate Edition (digital-only) prior to May 5, 2025 at 16:00 UTC.}

Gears of War: Reloaded

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

THE DEFINITIVE RELEASE

The Original, Remastered: Powered by Unreal Engine, Gears of War: Reloaded is a remaster of the blockbuster first Gears of War, now fully optimized for the latest generation of gaming platforms.

All Included: Gears of War: Reloaded delivers all post-launch content for the original title, including a bonus campaign act, multiplayer maps, plus characters and cosmetics, at no additional cost.

Refined Controls: Newcomers can choose a modern, streamlined control layout, while veterans can relive the classic feel they love.

BUILT FOR BROTHERHOOD

Campaign Co-Op: Crush the Locust threat together through campaign split-screen or online co-op. Fight on with your squad in Versus multiplayer running at up to 120fps with unmatched clarity and visual fidelity.*

Cross Play: Gears of War: Reloaded supports cross-play across all platforms, allowing you and your friends to squad-up, regardless of where you play.*

Cross Progression: Jump from one platform to another and your campaign saves as well as multiplayer progression will come with you. Signing in with your Microsoft Account required is for cross progression.*

OPTIMIZED FOR XBOX & PC:

Natively Optimized for Xbox Series X|S: The iconic original now looks and plays better than ever with lightning-fast load times, 4K assets plus remastered textures, lighting, shadows and reflections, HDR and Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, as well as up to 120 FPS in multiplayer.*

Optimized for PC & Handhelds: In addition to stunning remastered visuals, Gears of War: Reloaded also delivers PC-first features such as ultrawide support, a benchmark mode, variable refresh rate, mouse and keyboard support, FSR3.1 and DLSS3.5 Super Resolution support as well as controller remapping.

The post Gears of War: Reloaded Multiplayer Beta Begins This Weekend – Preorder Now for Access appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Tune in to Summer Game Fest 2025

The post Tune in to Summer Game Fest 2025 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Celebrate Diablo IV’s 2nd Anniversary!

The post Celebrate Diablo IV’s 2nd Anniversary! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 9 to 13

Category: Next Week on Xbox

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 9 to 13

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 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!

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition

SEGA Europe

☆☆☆☆☆
203

★★★★★

Get it now

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition – June 10
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enjoy quality of life & graphical improvements that take the Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine experience to the next level.

MindsEye

IO Interactive Partners A/S

☆☆☆☆☆
45

★★★★★

$59.99

Pre-order

MindsEye – June 10
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Play as Jacob Diaz, a former soldier fitted with The MindsEye, a mysterious neural implant that haunts him with fragmented memories of a covert mission that changed his life forever. Fight to uncover the truth in a world where AI, high-tech experimentation, and unchecked military power shape every encounter.

Guardian of the Water Altar

Gray Boss Game Studio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Guardian of the Water Altar – June 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Flyn and his magical bee embark on an epic journey to find the legendary sacred water source, the only hope to restore harmony to this darkened world and free it from the wicked creatures that have taken over. Along the way, he will face challenging enemies, such as flying creatures firing deadly projectiles, treacherous explosions, relentless patrolling slimes, and fire snakes emerging from the depths with devastating attacks.

Keeper’s Toll

Eastasiasoft Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Keeper’s Toll – June 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

An action-packed survival roguelite set within a retro-infused dark fantasy world. Every moment could be your last, but with each setback, you grow stronger. Seize the challenge, overcome daunting foes and purge a callous world in top-down pixel art style. Keeper’s Toll places a heavy focus on skill-based gameplay with action RPG elements. Each run allows you to study your enemies and hone your skills while progressing through the main quest.

Minos Dungeon Xbox Bundle

Afil Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Minos Dungeon – June 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Get ready to tackle clever puzzles, slippery blocks, and a very friendly minotaur! Minos Dungeon is a pixel art puzzle game that combines logic, strategy, and a good dose of creativity—perfect for those who love solving problems in a fun way.

Musical Vibes RX

ZikWave Studios Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$4.99

Pre-order

Musical Vibes RX – June 11
Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get ready to move with Musical Vibes RX, the new version of Musical Vibes—the first-ever dance game to let players use the camera of their smartphone connected to a console or PC. Originally released in June 2023, the original broke new ground—and now RX takes the experience even further!

Death Kid

Take IT Studio! sp. z o. o.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$7.99

Pre-order

Death Kid – June 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A fast-paced arcade-inspired arena brawler with meta-progression. Wipe out hordes of daunting foes, master powerful abilities and grow stronger with each attempt. Venture deep inside a treacherous well to put the wheel of life and death back in motion and break the curse of immortality.

Super Slime Boy

Kanuni Games Oyun Yazılım Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Super Slime Boy – June 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Step into the squishy form of Super Slime Boy, a small but determined hero, in this fast-paced, precision platformer set in a dangerous, black-and-white world where every mistake means instant death. Armed with nothing but your reflexes and skill, your mission is simple yet challenging: Survive deadly obstacles and restore the stolen colors to the world.

Memory Lost

ESDigital Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Memory Lost – June 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Welcome to Memory Lost, a thrilling cyberpunk-style third-person shooter with an overhead view. In this exciting game, you will take a deep dive into the depths of Detraxis, a dystopian metropolis full of technological miracles and cruel corporate battles.

God of Weapons

Ultimate Games S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

God of Weapons – June 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Embark on a thrilling journey in God of Weapons, an action roguelike where you must ascend the tower of Zhor to reclaim the last light for the world. To survive the monster onslaught on each tower’s level, you’ll need to obtain and carefully organize weapons and accessories in your inventory.

The Alters

11 bit studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$34.99

Pre-order

The Alters – June 13
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

The Alters is an ambitious sci-fi survival game with a unique twist. You play as Jan Dolski, the lone survivor of a crash-landed expedition on a hostile planet. To survive, you must form a new crew for your mobile base. Using a substance called Rapidium, you create alternative versions of Jan, each one shaped by a different crucial decision from the protagonist’s past.

Freddy Farmer

Flynn’s Arcade

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$5.99

$4.79

Pre-order

Freddy Farmer – June 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Freddy’s daughter has been kidnapped by an evil dragon. To rescue her, he must travel across the kingdom, gathering ingredients to make a magic potion. But it won’t be easy. They must be collected in a specific order, and Freddy must navigate the dangers he encounters.

Idle Wizard

Desert Water Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Idle Wizard – June 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Ever dreamed of becoming a wizard? Then try Idle Wizard! It’s an Idle/RPG hybrid game about becoming the most powerful wizard the world has ever known. Start as an Apprentice and can choose from a variety of classes, from classic fantasy mages to the exotic sorcerers.

Ramp Bike Racing

Gametry LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Ramp Bike Racing – June 13

Get ready for an adrenaline-charged adventure with Ramp Bike Racing! Hop on your bike and navigate towering mega ramps that challenge your skill and push your limits. Perform daring stunts as you tackle impossible tracks and gravity-defying jumps. Conquer a range of obstacles, from zig-zag paths to blazing fire-lit tracks, all while experiencing addictive, edge-of-your-seat gameplay.

Supermarket Owner Simulator: Business

GameToTopDesign

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.99

$10.39

Pre-order

Supermarket Owner Simulator: Business – June 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Step into the fast-paced world of retail with Supermarket Owner Simulator: Business, the ultimate supermarket management experience! Start from a modest grocery store and transform it into a thriving supermarket empire by making strategic business decisions, optimizing operations, and keeping customers happy. Every detail is in your hands—from store layout and inventory management to pricing strategies and marketing campaigns.

TETRA’s Escape 2

Ratalaika Games S.L.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Tetra’s Escape 2 – June 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Move the tetras around and use their special ability to transform into different shapes of tetrominoes to create platforms and save them during the 80 levels of the game. Rediscover the mechanics of the first game (transformations, blocks of fire or ice, thin platforms…) and discover new additions such as teleportation, global gravity inversion or ghost blocks.

Wild Rumble

Dolores Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Wild Rumble – June 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A 3v3 roguelike soccer game in which you’ll evolve your team as you score goals through dangerous arenas. Unlock new characters, master their abilities and pick the best upgrades to lead your team to victory! Dive into the roguelike soccer experience that is Wild Rumble as you score goals through dangerours arenas on your mission to defeat the evil Soccer King!

Y. Village – The Visitors

Axyos Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$9.99

Pre-order

Y. Village – The Visitors – June 13

Batu, plagued by recurring nightmares of an unknown village, finds his life upended by a mysterious letter left at his doorstep. The next day, the mystery deepens with the arrival of a second note revealing the name of the village: “Y. Village.” Unsure of who beckons him and wary of potential dangers, Batu gathers a group to venture to the village. What has drawn Batu to this village, and what secrets await to be unveiled?

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 9 to 13 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Oirbo: How to Explore a Seamless World

Category: ID@Xbox

June 5, 2025

Oirbo: How to Explore a Seamless World

Diogo Cardoso, Developer, ImaginationOverflow

Summary

A textless metroidvania experience.
Unique world design.
Get tips to help you succeed.

Oirbo is a textless metroidvania where you control our robotic friend Oirbo through a malfunctioning space ship filled with robotic friends, foes, and lasers!

Oirbo’s spacecraft has five distinct areas, created and designed to challenge you with different enemies, contraptions, challenges and puzzles as you progress.

While designing Oirbo, one of our main goals was to ensure you could explore as much as possible, minimizing obstacles that might deter exploration. Being a Metroidvania, Oirbo naturally has some initially unreachable areas until the necessary power-up or condition is met. Nevertheless, we decided to include alternative paths and tricky challenges that allow any player to reach further parts of the game than one might initially think. So, in Oirbo, after you defeat the first boss, you can explore all areas, even with some limitations.

With this decision in mind, we meticulously planned the game map and how much of each area was unlocked by each power-up, ensuring there wasn’t any section a player could enter but not exit. While allowing players to backtrack might seem trivial in a game, designing a Metroidvania like Oirbo, where players can explore freely with just one power-up while always having a way back, isn’t as easy as it sounds.

As you explore Oirbo, you’ll notice the complete absence of text; every message we want you to understand is conveyed either through the game’s art or via a visual language system we created, similar to the emojis we all typically use on a daily basis.

Being such an open Metroidvania, Oirbo rarely restricts your movement, so if you’re struggling with a puzzle or challenge, you can always try another route. Each area usually has more than one way to reach the Boss.

Oirbo‘s biggest platforming challenges might initially seem impossible to traverse with your current power-ups. However, more often than not, if you can reach a platforming challenge, you can overcome it. Naturally, the difficulty will decrease as you unlock more power-ups, so don’t worry too much; you can always conquer them later!

Finally, don’t forget to take advantage of the map! As you unlock map memories, pins will start to appear on your map, highlighting various unlockables you might have missed. As you progress, you can even unlock a second, golden pin that will reveal unlockables in sections you haven’t even visited yet! The map also allows you to add custom pins at any time. Furthermore, you can unlock the entire area layout, granting you the ability to fast travel to that location from anywhere at any time!

Oirbo was developed with a lot of love by a small team of two, and we sincerely hope you enjoy playing Oirbo as much as we enjoyed creating it!

Oirbo

ImaginationOverflow

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$17.49

$14.86

Get it now

Assemble yourself in a hostile spacecraft where almost everything that moves is trying to get you. The reason? Yours to discover! Explore, fight, and learn your purpose in this galactic action-adventure.

Oirbo is a 2D action-platformer adventure that takes place on a huge spacecraft divided into interconnected areas. Search in every section for the pieces that make out the history of the journey and enhance your skills and components to get to new heights.

Explore a massive spaceship to find answers, but beware of the army of robots that are coming for you; avoid them; fight them, or simply outsmart them in this futuristic hand-drawn adventure in space!

Features
– Beautiful hand-drawn art
– Classic platforming and combat system
– Choose your own path to explore a monolithic spacecraft
– Not a single line of human text to read!
– Discover new skills and put them to the test on challenging platforming puzzles
– Piece together a fragmented story from the past
– Dozens of enemies to fight and overcome
– 5 bosses to vanquish

The post Oirbo: How to Explore a Seamless World appeared first on Xbox Wire.

EA Play: EA Sports FC 25 Is Coming to Game Pass Ultimate with EA Play

Category: Xbox Game Pass

June 5, 2025

EA Play: EA Sports FC 25 Is Coming to Game Pass Ultimate with EA Play

Charlie FortescueDirector, Global Corporate Communications, EA

Summary

EA Sports FC 25 joins EA Play’s Play List and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC and Xbox Cloud.
Play the world’s game with unlimited access and groundbreaking features like 5v5 Rush, Clubs, and enhanced FC IQ tactics.
Score a limited-time Supercharge Pack, plus recurring rewards like Draft Tokens, and seasonal Clubs Rewards.

From June 12, Game Pass Ultimate members can manage their club to victory with EA Play. EA Sports FC 25 will be available on The Play List, giving them unlimited access to the world’s game. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can enjoy more ways to play on Samsung devices. Players can stream EA Sports FC 25 directly to Samsung Smart TVs via Samsung Gaming Hub and the Xbox app – making it easier than ever to jump into the action.

As a member, you can experience more ways to win for the club with groundbreaking features like teaming up with friends in 5v5 Rush to play Ultimate Team, Clubs, and Kick-Off. In addition, FC IQ delivers greater strategic control and more realistic collective movement at the team level, while a new AI model, powered by real-world data, influences player tactics through all-new Player Roles.

EA Sports FC 25 features the best players from the biggest clubs and competitions around the globe, with match data from the world’s top leagues powering how 19,000+ players move, play, and win in every match.

Member Rewards

With EA Play, the rewards stack up fast, delivering benefits for your club like the limited-time Supercharge Pack (now through July 12), featuring 11x Rare Gold Players (82+), including one player with an 87+ OVR and one 93+ OVR TOTS Loan. You can also score recurring Rewards, including Draft Tokens and seasonal Clubs Rewards that let you shape the club to be truly yours. Plus, save 10% on EA digital purchases, including FC Points and more.

Membership for EA Play is included with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions at no extra cost.

Whether you’re scoring an unbelievable hat-trick in the EA Sports FC franchise, showing no mercy on suburban battlegrounds in theBattlefield series or timing a perfect hit to dominate the gridiron in the Madden NFL franchise, you can feel the thrill with EA for just $5.99 a month. Membership unlocks unlimited access to a collection of top titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards and more. Members also save 10% off EA digital purchases—including game downloads, points packs, and DLC.

For more details on all the EA Play member benefits this month, visit: EA Play Member Benefits. Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details.

The post EA Play: EA Sports FC 25 Is Coming to Game Pass Ultimate with EA Play appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Coming to Game Pass: EA Sports FC 25, The Alters, FBC: Firebreak, and More

Category: Xbox Game Pass

June 5, 2025

Coming to Game Pass: EA Sports FC 25, The Alters, FBC: Firebreak, and More

Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

We’re getting close to the Xbox Games Showcase, so you still have a little more time to download and play these games before we throw more at your “to be played” wishlist! For now, we have more updates, some day ones, and a few blasts from the past. Let’s get to it!

Available Today

Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Editions (Cloud and Console) – June 5
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Standard

Gather your party; the RPG saga returns. Immerse yourself in an epic RPG series where every choice matters. Play over 100 hours of adventure in enhanced editions of Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II!

Coming Soon

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 10
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Step into the armor of a relentless Space Marine and use a combination of lethal weaponry to crush overwhelming Ork forces. Immerse yourself in an intense and brutally violent world based on the richest science fantasy ever created. Enhanced for a new generation, this edition brings quality of life & graphical improvements.

Barbie Project Friendship (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Get ready for the ultimate Barbie gaming adventure as Barbie and Barbie work together to save a beloved Malibu landmark, the Malibu Waves Community Center! The once thriving destination is nearly abandoned and on the verge of being closed. It’s time to band together to restore the beloved community center to its former glory. Complete fun quests, unlock exciting minigames, and earn valuable community points to give outfits and spaces a stylish upgrade.

Kingdom: Two Crowns (PC) – June 11
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Collect coins, build defenses, and reclaim your Kingdom. Explore and uncover secrets, unlock technologies, and protect your crown against waves of Greed monsters. Kingdom: Two Crowns is a solo/co-op side-scrolling strategy and tower defense game set in a beautiful pixel world.

EA Sports FC 25 (Cloud, Console, and PC) via EA Play – June 12
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Lead the line and write league history for the club in EA Sports FC 25, coming soon to The Play List. Members can light up the stadium with stunning, title-winning tactics with unlimited access through Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), PC Game Pass, or Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. Claim the limited-time Supercharge Pack from June 12 through July 12, featuring 11x Rare Gold Players (82+), including one player with an 87+ OVR and one 93+ OVR TOTS Loan, and more.

The Alters (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 13
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! The Alters is a sci-fi survival game where you play as Jan, stranded on a hostile planet. Create alternate versions of yourself — each shaped by different life choices — to survive, gather resources, and navigate deep moral dilemmas. Your past becomes your crew in this unique sci-fi survival.

FBC: Firebreak (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! A cooperative first-person shooter set within a mysterious federal agency under assault by otherworldly forces. As a years-long siege on the agency’s headquarters reaches its boiling point, only Firebreak — the Bureau’s most versatile unit — has the gear and the guts to plunge into the building’s strangest crises, restore order, contain the chaos, and fight to reclaim control.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time (Console and PC) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Crash fourward into a time-shattered adventure with your favorite marsupials. Neo Cortex and N. Tropy are launching an all-out assault on not just this universe, but the entire multiverse! Crash and Coco are here to save the day by reuniting the four Quantum Masks and bending the rules of reality.

Lost in Random: The Eternal Die (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 17
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! Lost in Random: The Eternal Die blends dynamic real-time action, tactical combat, and risk-reward dice mechanics for thrilling second-to-second battles. Unravel an original stand-alone story as Queen Aleksandra, the once great ruler of Random on a mission for vengeance and redemption.

In-Game Benefits

Zenless Zone Zero: Xbox Game Pass Benefits (Cloud and Console) – June 6
Game Pass Ultimate

Get this bundle and obtain the following Zenless Zone Zero in-game rewards: Polychrome ×80, Ether Battery ×2, Senior Investigator Log ×10, W-Engine Energy Module ×15, and Denny ×75,000!

Splitgate 2: Aeros Javi Ace Skin (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 6
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Splitgate 2 is the only free-to-play shooter with portals. This Ace character skin is designed with Game Pass members in mind, with characteristic green and black stylings.

The Finals: Urban Ronin Set (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 12
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Claim the Urban Ronin Set and a sleek collection of matching weapon skins, an emote, a gun charm, 25% Bonus Match XP, and 500 Multibucks!

Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Stumble Guys: Neon Bundle – Available now
Grab the Neon Legendary skin, Popped Bubble emote, plus 250 gems and 50 tokens.

Minecraft: 1 Month Marketplace Pass – Available now (US ONLY)
Get access to the Marketplace Pass for 1 month! Discover and customize your adventures with worlds, add-ons, skin & texture packs, and more.

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms: 5 Free Champions – Available now (US ONLY)
Adventure through the Forgotten Realms and beyond with the Dungeon Master’s Champions of Renown! Claim this perk to get 160 Platinum Champion Chests and to unlock five Champions, including Dungeon Master, Eric, Hank, Sheila, and Diana!

Apex Legends: Gold Tribal Mask Weapon Charm – June 5
Flex your style like a true warrior with the Apex Legends Gold Tribal Mask Weapon Charm, available with your EA Play membership.

Rainbow Six Siege X: Mute Pack – June 10
Rainbow Six Siege X marks its biggest evolution in the game’s history, bringing a visual overhaul, an enhanced player experience, and gameplay changes that deepen the game’s tactical core. For a limited time, claim a free pack that includes headgear, uniform, and weapon skin for Mute! Only available for console.

Leaving June 15

The following games will be leaving the Game Pass library soon, so be sure to pick back up where you left off or jump in fresh before they go! You can save up to 20% off your purchase on these games before they leave to keep them in your library.

Dordogne (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Hypnospace Outlaw (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Isonzo (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Keplerth (PC)
My Time At Sandrock (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Friends (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Depersonalization (PC)

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

As always, keep your eyes here or on Xbox, Game Pass, and PC Game Pass for the latest announcements, surprise drops, or handy reminders when these “coming soon” games are actually “available today”! We’ll talk soon!

The post Coming to Game Pass: EA Sports FC 25, The Alters, FBC: Firebreak, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.