We are excited to bring Wildgate Community Preview to Xbox Insiders on Xbox Series X|S consoles! The playtest will begin on May 9 at 9:00 AM PDT (17:00 BST) and Xbox Insiders are able to sign up to participate. Space is still available, so join now to secure your spot! Join other prospectors in epic spaceship battles and leave with the Artifact, bragging rights, or at least a few stories.
Key Features:
Epic Spaceship Battles: Blast rivals with hi-tech cannons and gadgets, lure them into deadly traps, or even mess with their ship… as long as they don’t sabotage yours first. When your perfect plan goes out the airlock, there’s only one option… wing it!
New Adventures, Every Match: Stay one step ahead as you and your crew navigate the Reach — a vast, procedurally-generated map that changes with every game. Just be sure to beat other Prospectors to the punch, or risk flying away empty-handed.
Unique Prospectors: Choose from a variety of daring Prospectors, each with their own abilities and tools. Whether you’re a brave pilot or a clever trickster, there’s no wrong way to commit space crimes!
Explore the Reach: The Reach is a dangerous, unpredictable place, filled with deadly hazards and treasure beyond your wildest dreams. Navigate through cosmic storms, battle space vermin, and plunder alien outposts for lost caches of loot.
Outgun or Outrun: The Artifact is the most valuable object in the known universe. Be the first to find it, snatch it, and pass through the exit point, or destroy the ships of every other crew and be the last crew standing.
Playtest Times:
Start: Friday, May 9 9:00 AM PDT (17:00 BST) End: Monday May 12 5:00 PM PDT (May 13 01:00 BST)
How to Participate:
Sign-in on your Xbox Series X|S console and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)
Navigate to Previews > Wildgate Community Preview
Select Join
Wait for the registration to complete to secure your spot for the Community Preview!
NOTE: Wildgate Community Preview begins on May 9 at 9 AM PDT. Joining now secures your spot for the playtest. Return to the Xbox Insider Hub on May 9 and select Show in Store to begin installing the game. You’ll also receive an Xbox Insider notification when the playtest begins. NOTE: Limited space is available and offered first-come first-served. NOTE: This playtest is only available on Xbox Series X|S consoles.
Survival Tips For Revenge of the Savage Planet, Available Today
Alex Hutchinson, Creative Director, Raccoon Logic
Beginning today, you and a friend can blast-off with 4th Best Kindred Aerospace in our sequel to Journey to the Savage Planet… Revenge of the Savage Planet! We’ve expanded the world and their unique inhabitants all for your guaranteed* gameplay pleasure. We have four, maybe even five new planets for you to explore. And while you may have just been fired and abandoned on the far edges of space with no gear, no job and no plan, there’s no need to panic. We’re here to provide you with some advice on how you might be able to survive these savage planets. You’ll have new gadgets, friends and loads of goo to play with.
So, take a peek at our new early access launch trailer showcasing the daily struggle of being a space explorer trying to save all of mankind. No pressure, settler. You got this!
Available Day One on Game Pass
For all of you who played our first Xbox Game Pass title Journey to the Savage Planet, tell your friends that we’ve got twice the game this time with space loads of new toys for you to enjoy. And it’s co-op from the start! Plus, as a friendly reminder of our contractual obligations with Microsoft, Revenge of the Savage Planet will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass.
So, accept this text as a formal invitation to join us on a joyous, upbeat, dystopian action-adventure sci-fi satire where you and a friend explore a wacky and wonderful alien world. Hit a bunch of buttons to jump, shoot and collect your way through four vibrant planets, collecting new gear and upgrades, while uncovering a multitude of hidden secrets.
Goo and Gadgets Galore
To survive you must either be lucky, or have some sort of strategy. But on arrival, most of your equipment doesn’t work, or you can’t find it. To progress and advance through the world you’ll need to collect and craft the right gear to continue to explore and discover more areas.
Grab that handy whip which doubles as a lasso to capture creatures for fun and profit! Spray ferrous goo to power up electrically deficient objects. Set green slime alight with lava goo. Or just clean your stuff with the basic power hose. Or grapple your way atop cliffs with a plasma tether before whipping a plasma rail to live then surfing it to freedom.
Scan, Scan, and Then Scan Some More
The worlds of Savage Planet are filled with dangers and opportunities! If you scan everything, you’ll unlock future quests, discover obstacles that hide great rewards, and generally understand what’s going on in the world around you.
Oh, and it will highlight weak spots on some creatures which you will need to target if you want to capture them with your whip and keep them as pets. Or objects of experimentation that can unlock new gear. Plus, you may also get a pithy joke. And some of them are funny! Also, I worked hard on writing 300 descriptions of distressingly similar trees. Don’t make me regret it.
Cute, Cuddly Killers
There are just over 70 different creatures in this Savage Planet star system… although that includes variations of each species. There are a bunch of those weird spherical ones, for example.
Lots of creatures won’t bother you if you don’t bother them, (this isn’t a shooter), tut some of them will put up a fight, and all of them will react differently to your tools. Make them slide off cliffs with green goo. Make the green ones explode with fire! Or electrocute some with Ferro Goo.
And when in doubt, kick it. Each time you play alien roulette you’ll run your chances, maybe the reward was worth it? You’ve never know what will respond and how. Do it! Do it!
Dive in to Explore Every Nook and Cranny
Cannon Ball! Yes, you can and should take a dip. Swimming is key to exploring but even if you don’t need to, you should because you can be Dave The Diver! Or rather, you can wear a skin that looks like him, like a space faring Buffalo Bill from “Silence of the Lambs”, except you didn’t kill him and it’s a space suit. This is the only time you can play as Dave on Xbox and we’ve brought him to life in full 3D. Lucky you!
Game Pass Upgrade For Early Access
Xbox Game Pass members will receive the super simple Revenge of the Savage Planet Standard Edition on May 8th. But if privilege is what you seek, utilize the Cosmic Hoarder Edition upgrade and blast-off three days early beginning today, May 5. Wishlist, pre-order or purchase now.
Thank you for supporting Raccoon Logic and joining us on another wild space adventure. Onward & Upward.
WELCOME TO THE PIONEER PROGRAM!
In a future knocked off its axis by corporate greed and stupidity, you have been made redundant and abandoned on the far edge of space with little gear and no safety net. You must explore every nook and cranny, collect dozens of upgrades, and turn over every mysterious alien rock if you want to get revenge on your former employer and return to Earth.
Across multiple planets and through myriad challenges, you will be tasked with exploring and understanding these beautiful alien worlds. There are plants to scan, creatures to capture, lakes to swim, caves to spelunk, mountains to climb, upgrades to craft, and hundreds of secrets to uncover…
INTERGALACTIC HOARDER
Alien plants! Bizarre creatures! Exciting gear! Weird rocks! Each planet is packed with nooks and crannies hiding all manner of rewards and secrets. Many of which can be displayed with pride in your own personal, customizable Space Trailer.
EXCITING FRESH ABILITIES AND TOOLS
Run, Jump, Shoot, Grind, Stomp, Dodge, Slide, Whip and Grapple your way through the world! Experiment with 3 different types of gameplay goo! Lasso and Capture dozens of strange creatures and store them in Pens near your Habitat!
FOUR PLANETS TO EXPLORE
Four large, vibrant worlds to explore, each with their own weird and wonderful plants and creatures. Scan everything, catalog everything, and complete experiments to increase your science level… which unlocks exciting new gear! Plus… there may be more than four planets. Maybe.
DYNAMIC CO-OP ONLINE, CROSSPLAY AND SPLIT-SCREEN
Play with your best friend, partner or hellspawn on or between any platform! Or better still, experience the nostalgia tinged joy of sitting on the same couch and playing on the same screen with someone you love. Like the olden days when the world was young and we were happy.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 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!
Dive into the epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms with the latest expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, where history and legend collide in a battle for supremacy! Battle your way across China with three new campaigns, commanding the forces of Shu, Wei, and Wu, each with their unique units, technologies, and heroes with devastating abilities. Additionally, explore medieval history on the fringes of China with two new civilizations: the Jurchens and Khitans!
A turn-based, character-centric tactical RPG in the King Arthur: Knight’s Tale universe – a dark fantasy version of the Arthurian myth. King Arthur: Legion IX welcomes new players to the mythical land of Avalon with an all-new story and heroes, also offering tough challenges to returning veterans.
The advanced Hyper Unit Aska is sent on a suicide mission to rescue the citizens’ Cores from the vast monolithic city Moebius once a hopeful new home for humanity now turned into a deadly trap. Blast your way through the Internal Defence Corps in cybernetic warfare, confront the Engineers and uncover the mysteries of the project Eden.
Craft stunning cocktails with precision and creativity as you rise through the ranks of the bartending world. Unlock a variety of unique venues, from cozy neighborhood bars to high-end cocktail lounges, all while immersing yourself in a rich, narrative-driven experience that puts your skills and charisma to the test.
Get ready to dive into the ocean’s depths, face fearsome sea creatures and collect experience crystals in roguelite action game Submarine Survivor! As you face the blue unknown, you’ll have to upgrade your submarines with various combinations of weapons and chips to become the Lord of the Ocean. Submarine Survivor balances exploration with highly customizable combat across 2D maps packed with mission nodes.
Empyreal is a complex, challenging, feature-rich action RPG. In a far-flung corner of the galaxy an Expedition arrives on a hitherto unexplored planet to find a colossal Monolith built by a lost civilization. Venture inside the Monolith and face the automatons that yet remain, remnants of the impossibly ancient civilization that built this unknowable structure. Survive and uncover revelations that transform our understanding of humanity itself.
In Penguin Flight: Beyond the Clouds, join the determined penguin on his quest to defy gravity! This 2D pixel art platformer offers challenging levels, creative obstacles, and high-flying action. Sharpen your reflexes and perfect your timing to master jumps, dashes, and new mechanics as you progress. Each stage presents unique surprises and challenges—all to reach the balloon that lifts you to the next level.
In a future knocked off its axis by corporate greed and stupidity, you have been made redundant and abandoned on the far edge of space with little gear and no safety net. You must explore every nook and cranny, collect dozens of upgrades, and turn over every mysterious alien rock if you want to get revenge on your former employer and return to Earth.
Embrace the Aurora, save the Guardians. In an ancient world left in ruin, embark on the journey of an isolated fox far from home. With the help of a wise Raven companion, seek out the lost legendary guardians and release them from the grasp of the dark shaman Grimnir.
When a wormhole tears open in space, an astronaut is hurled down and crashes on a distant planet. Solve the puzzle and piece together the mystery in this 2D, pixel art, first person, point and click adventure. Inspired by games like Myst and Riven with a dash of the LucasArts adventures of the 90s, The Abandoned Planet is sure to scratch that old-school, adventure game itch.
Truck Simulator Cargo Driver 2025 – USA invites you to fire up your engines and embark on an authentic adventure across America’s vast roads! In this game, you’ll have the chance to experience the thrill and challenge of being a truck driver. You’ll take on missions that involve transporting different types of cargo, ensuring that you reach your destination on time and with minimal damage to your truck.
Pop and move the ball while you paint! Paint your way across a variety of maze puzzles which sounds easy, but you must be super strategic to color and fill every square.
Discover the secrets of an abandoned homestead, try to survive in a haunted hospital and walk the corridors of the possessed school. There are traps on every side, you can’t feel safe anywhere. Collect runes – eyes – painted on the walls. Thanks to them, you gain the ability to see through the eyes of your opponent, and you can try to predict his movements.
When Everafter Falls was released almost a year ago, we always knew that the game was going to be changing – what we didn’t know was how different it would look after talking with our players. Today, we released a new major content update, which went to some surprising places. Before talking about what’s new in the update, I think it is important to go back about a year and talk about the initial release of Everafter Falls. And just to introduce myself: I’m Joseph
Shockley, otherwise known as Riv Otter, the Community Manager for Akupara Games.
Everafter Falls is the first farming sim we ever released, and we saw feedback from a wide variety of players. To gather feedback, I opened a channel in the Everafter Falls Discord where people could discuss, suggest, and see the thoughts of what other players were after. I also kept an eye on the Steam forums and stayed active in them to show that we care about their feedback and that we will take it seriously. Because Everafter Falls was developed by just one developer, we knew that getting insight from players was going to be core to the game’s release.
Our first surprise came from the completionists in the community. They talked about how hard and frustrating it is to collect every item and raise every insect to finish out the journal. There wasn’t a way to improve your chances of finding what you needed, so the more players put hours into collection, the harder it became to clear out every last item. Some people were just getting super unlucky and failing to get that missing item after retrying for hundreds of times, and there wasn’t a way to improve those odds. As soon as we noticed the bottleneck this was creating for completionist players, it was clear we needed to add something to help. In the version 2.0 patch, there are two new items that should help completionists gather the last missing items they need:
The Golden Shroom Terrarium: a prize item and will give you a 100% chance to get a shroom you haven’t already gotten.
The Epic Critter Terrarium: lets you breed only insects you haven’t currently found.
Specifically, creating hard-to-craft late-game chase items that can help players fill out their collections was an easy way we could answer the call for this.
In Everafter Falls, players can decorate their farm and house with different ornamentation. We always knew that giving players purely cosmetic options for their farms would be helpful, but the community was so excited for all the different options they had to really express their creativity in their farm. Even positive feedback can be used as a guide to improve the game in a content patch, which is why, with positive feedback on the variety of decorations that Everafter Falls had, this content update added an abundance of new adornments, and we’ve already seen players adding them to their farm and house.
We received a ton of feedback, which I categorized as quality of life requests. Things that don’t directly affect the game but are nice to have for certain tasks, and can make the events more accessible for people. For example, there is an achievement in the game to craft every single item; however, at release, there was no way to keep track of which items you had crafted, making the achievement annoying to try to shoot for. In version 2.0, we remedied that by adding a blue star in the crafting menu for any item the player has crafted. No more Google Sheets or pen and paper tracking needed!
There are countless things I could talk about in this content update and how player feedback shaped the way this was developed. Learning how to take the feedback players give you and using them to guide a content update really scratches the itch that designers have to create engaging experiences with their games. I’m glad that I could help shape the course of the Everafter Falls 2.0update, which is out now on Xbox!
You once had a serene and peaceful existence right here in Everafter Falls. Don’t you remember?
You wake up to discover your previous life was nothing but a simulation. You’ve no memory of this place, your quaint animal neighbors, the refreshing wind and fragrant flowers, the little farm you had tucked away just outside town, none of it. But once you spend a little time with your forgotten friends and your helpful pet, doesn’t Everafter Falls just feel perfect? Isn’t it where you always wanted to be?
Sure, you’ll need to farm, fish and fight your way back to prominence in the tiny, cozy town, but you know your way around a sword, right? You know how to water your farm and progress through the dungeons. You know how to upgrade your stats and beat back tougher and tougher enemies, don’t you? Just give those cards a good chomp and you’ll have everything you need!
Of course, if you need a little help, don’t worry! Automated drones can expand your inventory, tend to your harvest, and even help you fight. And your pet missed you more than anything while you were under. They’re here to help out around the farm, learning all sorts of neat things, like tilling your soil, watering your crops, and even teleporting you across the map. What? You’ve never heard of a teleporting cat before?
It’s Everafter Falls! Things are peaceful here. There’s nothing to worry about… right?
Free Play Days – Forza Motorsport and The Escapists
Kyle Ocean, Marketing Manager, Xbox
Spring is in the air and May kicks off with a double feature! The Escapists is available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday, May 1 at 12:01am Pacfic until Sunday, May 4 at 11:59pm Pacific.
Additionally, Forza Motorsport is free for all Xbox members to try during the same time (Xbox Game Pass Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership not required).
How To Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep The Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.
Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Membership Required)
Forza Motorsport Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Play Anywhere Immerse yourself in a world of competition in Forza Motorsport! Download and play the game for free this weekend with Xbox’s Free Play Days for All and get up to a 50% discount! Race over 500 cars and enjoy the latest game updates and features, including Proximity Radar, Drift mode, and more. Make every lap count across 29 world-famous tracks with fan-favorite locations Bathurst, Nürburgring Nordschleife, and Sunset Peninsula – each featuring live on-track scoring and dynamic time-of-day with weather. Invite your friends and we’ll see you at the track!
The Escapists The Escapists is an award winning prison break simulation that provides players the opportunity of experiencing a light-hearted insight into everyday prison life. Master the routine, plan your strategy then execute your Escape.
Don’t miss out on these exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
Ra Ra Boom comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC this summer.
Stop the threat of the rogue AI as one of four ninja space cheerleaders in a fully voiced story.
Fun new twist on classic couch co-op, including shoot ‘em up mechanics.
Ra Ra Boom is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One this summer, as part of what we consider the summer of beat ‘em ups. As beat ‘em up fans, we can’t wait to play some of the great titles that will make this probably the biggest year for beat ‘em ups since Castle Crashers launched forever ago.
If you’re a fan of beat ‘em ups, you’re in for a great summer. And we hope you consider adding Ra Ra Boom to your list of must plays.
In Ra Ra Boom, you and up to three friends play as one of four ninja space cheerleaders. There’s Aris (the leader), Ren (the blade), Vee (the shield), and Saida (the cyborg). Zoi, an AI gone rogue, has overtaken earth and our four heroines are the only ones who can stop it.
Beat ‘em Up/Shoot ‘em Up Mash Up
As the saying goes, you don’t bring pom poms to a boss fight. So, we had to ensure our heroines were armed for the AI menace they were facing. Where most beat ‘em ups focus on melee with limited-use ranged options, we did things a little different.
Ra Ra Boom can be played as a pure beat ‘em up. Each character has their own melee attack and you can be effective with them. Or you can play it as a pure shoot ‘em up, because you also have an effective ranged attack with unlimited ammo. But it’s best to mix the two, getting into your flow and finding the attack combos that suit the moment.
We think that after you play Ra Ra Boom, with its speed and fluid mix of melee and ranged combat, it will be hard to go back to the standard we’ve all gotten used to.
Play the Lanes
Most beat ‘em ups you’ll play today are in 2.5D, meaning that you don’t just move your character left and right, but also can move up and down on a flat plane. This adds more freedom to dodge and position yourself. The challenge we’ve found from past games is that it’s often hard to tell if you’re lined up right with an enemy. If you’ve ever thought, “Why did that hit me?” you’re not alone.
In Ra Ra Boom, we’ve color-coded the lanes and designed the levels to make use of these clear indicators. It was harder than you might imagine for us to implement, but it makes a big difference in your effectiveness while giving enemies a beat down.
Fully Voiced Story
Hearing characters helps make them come to life. Whether that’s in the 2D cinematics you watch between levels, or the many quips heard while playing, you’ll get to know the personalities and quirks of our heroines.
We wanted to provide a meaningful story for players about four individuals thrust into an impossible situation. It’s a coming-of-age tale amidst an AI apocalypse and it was important that each hero had their own moments, so you could get to know and care about them.
But When Can You Get It?
Good question. Ra Ra Boom is coming this summer. We’re not ready to announce the official release date just yet, But you can wishlist Ra Ra Boom today to be the first to hear the latest updates.
Gear up for 4-player co-op action with a modern twist! Ra Ra BOOM rockets you to a future Earth overrun by rogue AI. Battle waves of enemies and upgrade your ninja cheerleader’s skills as you beat ‘em up, shoot ‘em up, and smash through the chaos!
Even ninja space cheerleaders know you don’t bring a pom-pom to a boss fight. Whether you’re cracking skulls with close combat or blasting bots from across the screen, Ra Ra BOOM has your back. Play it like a classic side-scroller, treat it like a shooter, or mix it up for combos so smooth, even evil AI can’t keep up. The only wrong way to fight is not bringing your A-game—because these overlords don’t mess around.
HOMEWORK CAN WAIT
Who needs perfect grades when rogue AI is trashing Earth? The planet’s in pieces, robots are running wild, and only four ninja space cheerleaders have the moves to save it. Silly when it can be, heartfelt when it needs to be, Ra Ra BOOM delivers a beat ‘em up with a story that hits harder than your math final.
PLAY THE LANES
Why settle for chaos when you can dominate with precision? Ra Ra BOOM’s combat lanes make every fight smarter and slicker. Dodge fire like a pro, pick your targets with ninja-like accuracy, and decide where to strike for maximum impact.
BECOME THE ULTIMATE NINJA CHEERLEADER
Aris, Saida, Ren, and Vee are more than just pompoms and sass—they’ve got branching skill trees that let you mold them into your perfect hero. Customize your squad to fit your playstyle, because the fate of the world—and your team’s vibe—is in your hands. NBD.
The Brutal, Unforgiving, and Unforgettable Monstrous Bosses of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Stephen Takowsky, Community Manager, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
In Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, a brutal Soulslike action RPG set in a dark reimagining of Ming Dynasty China, danger waits in the shadows — and at the heart of it all stand the game’s unforgettable bosses. Each encounter is a test of skill and resolve, with foes drawn from myth, history, and nightmare alike. From corrupted monks to towering beasts, every boss fight offers its own punishing challenge, rewarding players who press forward through the crumbling world of Shu.
With pre-orders now live on the Xbox Store and launch set for July 24, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and day one with Game Pass, you can now get a deeper glimpse of what awaits.
The latest trailer highlights a fearsome showdown against the Perfect Bride, a nightmarish foe whose corrupted beauty hides monstrous power. Alongside this reveal, you can explore a full breakdown of pre-order and Deluxe Edition bonuses, featuring exclusive outfits, enchanted weapons, and gameplay-enhancing rewards that will shape your journey when Wuchang: Fallen Feathers arrives.
Meet the Foes That Await
Beyond every crumbling temple and bloodstained battlefield in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, terrifying foes stand between you and the truth. Each boss you encounter tells a story of decay, obsession, or betrayal — and overcoming them will be key to surviving Shu’s collapse.
Perfect Bride – Fang Ling
Clad in an ornate phoenix crown and ceremonial gown, Fang Ling embodies a corrupted dream of love and legacy. Once a symbol of hope, she now haunts the land as a spectral bride twisted by Feathering, wielding deadly grace and devastating magic against all who cross her path.
Master Raider – Man-eating Dhutanga
Leader of a ruthless gang of tomb raiders, Dhutanga carved his stronghold into the Hanguang Zen Temple. A brutal warrior with a surprising love for opera, his ceremonial robes and fearsome painted mask signal both cultural reverence and lethal cunning.
Feathered Priest – Lu Bingzhang
Once a revered priest, Lu Bingzhang now serves a darker power. His golden mask and bronze staff, inspired by the ancient relics of Sanxingdui, channel twisted sorcery drawn from forgotten gods. Defeating him will demand mastery over both blade and spirit.
Blightweaver – Great Centipede
Deep beneath Shu festers the Great Centipede, a grotesque fusion of corrupted monks and mutated flesh, driven mad by Red Mercury. Able to burrow, poison, and wield spells once sacred to the monks it devoured, this abomination turns ancient knowledge into monstrous power.
Reborn Treant – Soulwood
Born from death and ritual, the Soulwood grew as corpses piled beneath the sacred Immortal Tree. Now, it roams with haunting shrines embedded in its bark, entwining the hopes, prayers, and lingering souls of a shattered town into one relentless force of nature.
Bo Sorcerer
The master of forbidden rites, capable of warping reality itself with devastating magic. Facing him is not only a test of combat skill but of mastering the battlefield before he bends it to his will.
Monstrous Toddler – Bai Kru
The third child of Bai Tingzhao, Bai Kru was once seen as a promise of conquest. Now, twisted by Feathering and the ambitions of his father, he has become a nightmarish figure, an eerie blend of innocence, brutality, and tragedy.
Ming General – Liu Cheng’en
A loyal eunuch to the Emperor and master manipulator, Liu Cheng’en hides ruthless ambition beneath a mask of devotion. Adorned in python-embroidered robes and a noble Sanshan hat, he commands authority and terror in equal measure, a final test of strength and will.
Pre-Order Bonuses and Deluxe Edition Details
The journey through Wuchang: Fallen Feathers will test your resolve, but you can prepare to embark with greater style, deeper customization, and a more personal touch to your legend. Pre-order today to receive exclusive rewards that enrich your experience across the land of Shu.
Pre-orders will unlock two unique Enhanced Costume Sets: the White Spectre and Night Spectre, reimagining ceremonial garb into hauntingly beautiful attire that reflects the game’s dark world. In addition, the Vermillion War Club (Axe) offers a fierce new weapon to master, and the Glistening Red Mercury Skill Upgrade Item provides an early boost to help refine your character’s fighting style.
If you’re seeking an even richer adventure, the Deluxe Edition offers an expanded array of treasures. This edition includes four legendary outfit sets, Soul Ritual Robe, Tiger of Fortune, Overlord’s Regalia, and Draconic Resurgence, each woven with lore and symbolic power. You will also receive four rare weapons: the Dragoncoil Lance (Spear), Eternal Sovereignty (Dual Blades), Moonlight Dragon (Sword), and Watcher’s Gaze (Sword), each designed to add new layers of depth to combat. The Deluxe Edition also grants the Blood of Changhong, a significant Skill Upgrade Item to further personalize your abilities.
Whether you’re drawn to Wuchang’s corrupted world by elegance, strength, or legend, the pre-order and Deluxe rewards are designed to enhance your journey and help you carve a story that is truly your own. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers launches July 24, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and day one with Game Pass. Pre-orders are available now.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.
Become Wuchang, a skilled pirate warrior struck by amnesia, who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. Explore the depths of Shu, enhancing your arsenal and mastering new skills harvested from fallen foes. Evolve your fighting style by sacrificing elusive Red Mercury and further develop new techniques obtained throughout your action-packed journey. Augment the weapons in your repertoire with powerful enchantments, allowing for a unique approach to combat and strategy that suits your personal style.
Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. Your quest for truth will take you through forgotten temples, overgrown ruins, and shadowed paths fraught with peril. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust.
Immerse yourself in a rich storyline, dynamic combat system, and breathtaking visuals that offer an unforgettable adventure through lands veiled in chaos and death. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands.
Pre-order WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers to receive the Night & White Pack.
The WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Pre-order Bundle includes:
– WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Base Game
– Night Spectre Enhanced Costume Set*
– White Spectre Enhanced Costume Set*
– Vermillion War Club (Axe)
– Glistening Red Mercury Skill Upgrade Item (Medium)
*Each Enhanced Costume Set includes 5 costume pieces.
**Some items will be sold separately at a later date.
WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers is a soulslike, action RPG set in the land of Shu during the dark and tumultuous late Ming Dynasty, plagued with warring factions and a mysterious illness spawning monstrous creatures.
Become Wuchang, a skilled pirate warrior struck by amnesia, who must navigate the uncertainties of her mysterious past while afflicted by the horrific Feathering disease. Explore the depths of Shu, enhancing your arsenal and mastering new skills harvested from fallen foes. Evolve your fighting style by sacrificing elusive Red Mercury and further develop new techniques obtained throughout your action-packed journey. Augment the weapons in your repertoire with powerful enchantments, allowing for a unique approach to combat and strategy that suits your personal style.
Battle against grotesque abominations, drawing on ancient lore to challenge the creeping darkness that threatens the humanity that remains. Your quest for truth will take you through forgotten temples, overgrown ruins, and shadowed paths fraught with peril. As you piece together Wuchang’s lost memories, your choices will lead you to one of several endings—each determined by the choices made, secrets unearthed and the allies you choose to trust.
Immerse yourself in a rich storyline, dynamic combat system, and breathtaking visuals that offer an unforgettable adventure through lands veiled in chaos and death. Will you reveal the truths of Wuchang’s curse and bring peace to Shu, or will you succumb to the encroaching horrors? The fate of the land rests in your hands.
Indie Selects for April 2025: Fresh but Familiar Vibes
Raymond Estrada, Nick Zuclich, Deron Mann, Oscar Polanco, Steven AllenID@Xbox Style Coordinators
Sometimes you just can’t put your finger on it. You want something familiar and comforting, but also something just a little different. You want to mix it up with some excitement, but still maintain a sense of connection to what you already know and love. Something balanced. Well, aren’t you in luck! This month the ID@Xbox team has handpicked six Indie Selects that have immaculate vibes.
We give you a bit of intensity with a co-op heist and gliding down mountains; chill out with heartfelt narratives over some tea and a bit of sticker commerce; and, finally, run some very strange errands while strategically expanding your universe. Perfection! Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
From the creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide, Wanderstop is a narrative-centric cozy game about change and… tea. Playing as a fallen fighter named Alta, you’ll manage a tea shop within a magical forest and tend to the customers who pass through. But Alta does not want to be here. And if she gets her way, the tea shop will be nothing but a brief and painful memory.
While this year’s Game Developers Conference was incredibly energizing and inspiring, it was also stressful and overwhelming at times. I needed a meditative escape after I got home, and Wanderstop was the perfect game to help me recharge. It’s beautiful, whimsical, magical, and deals with emotional themes that I found both cathartic and uplifting. The narrative touches on shame, burnout, personal growth, satisfaction, and introspection. There are low stakes here, no stressors, no time limits, and there are no fail states. The game actively encourages players to enjoy the moment, to take a breath, to reflect inward and delight in simple pleasures.
At the same time, it has a strong and compulsive loop. Players grow plants, harvest fruits, acquire trinkets, make friends, and brew increasingly in-depth tea recipes (and other types of brews) with off-the-wall ingredients for an ever more diverse and colorful cast of characters, all who have powerful stories to share and lessons to bestow.
I loved this game and will absolutely be playing through again in the future. This is a fantastic example of games as an artform for me, and I feel fortunate that we get to experience creations like this.
Wanderstop is a narrative-centric cozy game about change and tea. Playing as a fallen fighter named Alta, you’ll manage a tea shop within a magical forest and tend to the customers who pass through. But Alta does not want to be here. And if she gets her way, the tea shop will be nothing but a brief and painful memory.
Wanderstop is a tea shop management ritual. Grow and harvest the ingredients needed for tea, and then mix them together in an unusual tea-making contraption. Along the way, speak with the many travelers who pass through the shop, learn their stories and make tea that’s just right for them.
In your downtime, you might tidy up around the clearing, decorate the shop in your style, or just sit on a bench with a cup of tea and listen to your own thoughts. Maybe doing nothing at all is okay. The shop demands patience, it rejects those who have come only in the pursuit of growth unchecked.
And that’s why Alta can’t be here. It’s why she’ll never make it. This isn’t who she is. No, she’s a fighter! Why would anyone insist on turning the world’s greatest championship warrior into a docile shopkeeper?! With everything she’s capable of?? No no no, she won’t, she won’t do it… she can’t…
Wanderstop is a game from the team at Ivy Road, including Davey Wreden (creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide), Karla Zimonja (co-creator of Gone Home and Tacoma) and Daniel “C418” Rosenfeld (the music of Minecraft).
What genre is this? Unhinged? I mean let’s be fair: What do you call a mascot management/relationship management sim/open world driver/Yakuza mystery narrative, with the most bizarre cast of characters you will ever come across? Fantastic, you call it fantastic.
Promise Mascot Agency is unlike anything I’ve played. The plot may seem bizarre, but the narrative is surprisingly wholesome. You’re a former Yakuza “fixer” sent out to a small town to run a local brand ambassador business. Accompanied by your mascot companion (who is… a living severed finger) and beat-up truck, you drive across town in effort to earn profit, all while uncovering a range of political conspiracies undermining it. This game is about a lot of things, but it really centers around optimism and adapting to new circumstances when things go awry. Very, very awry.
Oh my goodness, do I love this game. I literally could not stop playing. At its core, the game has you finding and recruiting a variety of mascots. You negotiate their benefits package, find clients that would employ them for events and send them out on jobs hoping that they won’t mess up, and inevitably get attacked by a demon, or some other hilariously random incidents that trigger a card-based minigame. On the one hand, the game is a very chill experience driven by a lot of narrative quests and casual management sim tracking and efficiency gameplay. On the other hand it’s an exploration driving game with few limits and plenty of ways to profit. The difficulty ramp on either side is gradual and not overwhelming. Overall, the gameplay loop was absolutely built for my short attention span and general weirdness, and the writing had me fall out of my chair laughing. On top of the that, the cast of mascots you meet are incredibly likeable in their own little, weird way. You’re bound to find a favorite.
As chaotic as this all may seem, this experience was incredibly cozy and heartwarming. The gameplay is, indeed, fairly simple, but it’s so unique in its presentation that it kept me glued. I think people who enjoy the Yakuza series would especially enjoy this, but honestly I’d want everyone to play this totally preposterous game about you and your giant finger friend helping a town become whole again.
From the creators of Paradise Killer comes a mind-bending open-world narrative adventure mascot management simulator where mascots are more than just symbols – they’re unpredictable forces of nature! Step into the chaos, unravel the conspiracies, drive a tiny truck and try to keep it all together in Promise Mascot Agency!
Welcome to the Mascot Hustle
You thought mascots were just fluffy, innocent brand ambassadors? Think again. The Mascots are all living, breathing, fully formed personalities, with dreams, fears, and the occasional breakdowns of their own- just like us! Whether it’s Trororo, a charming cat who’s a little too obsessed with “adult video” or sweet, silken To-Fu, who can’t stop sobbing, your job is to befriend, mentor, and (hopefully) get these mascots to finish their jobs without causing a major catastrophe.
Play Your Cards Right
Sending your mascots out to work is never as easy as it sounds. One minute they’re promoting delicious food, the next they’re stuck in a doorway or starting a kitchen inferno. Need help? Good thing Kaso-Machi is full of intrepid everyday heroes ready to lend a hand (if you’ve managed to befriend them, of course). Unlock Hero Cards, featuring Kaso-Machi’s lovable local weirdos like Captain Sign, Japan’s only road-sign superhero (don’t ask questions), or Mama-San, a bar owner with a serious latex collection. These heroes will step in to provide help when your mascots inevitably lose control.
Tear Through Town in Your Upgradable Kei Truck
Kaso-Machi is a town full of secrets, and Michi isn’t just stuck in an office managing mascots – he’s on the road in his rusty (but upgradeable!) Kei Truck. This nifty little ride may look like a heap of junk, but with a few tweaks, it’ll have nitro boosts, glider wings, and even the ability to launch Pinky☆ – Michi’s maniacal mascot assistant – like a missile. Use your truck to explore the strange, forgotten town, unlock collectibles, and uncover hidden mysteries. Who knew a Kei Truck could be your best friend in a town where literally everything else hates you?!
Crime! Drama! A Walking Finger?!
Exiled after an ambush that left his clan in shambles, Michi finds himself piecing together the mystery of what really happened, while the town seems to actively conspire against him. Nightmare spirits seem a little too interested in your business, and there’s an ever-present sense that something’s very, very wrong in this place…
Think you can resist? Think again. The mascots know where you live. Step into the world of Promise Mascot Agency and claim your place in this brave new world of mascot domination.
Monaco 2, the sequel to a beloved, Xbox Live Arcade classic, is a top-down stealth-action game where you and up to three others cooperate as a band of thieves tasked with pulling off “perfect” heists. The flow of the game is relatively simple – players select a mission, go through a quick, narrative driven debriefing, select one of four unique characters, strategize through an interactable overview of the level’s layout through Blueprint Mode, and proceed to the mission. Where it gets complicated is when you actually enter the premises. You can create the most elaborate plan ever, but it can (and almost always will) fall apart once someone is detected by a guard or walks through a laser, triggering an alarm.
I spent most of my time in the single player mode, which was fine since the game offers the ability to switch between characters at various checkpoints. I was able to squeeze by the first few missions as one character, but you’ll quickly realize the strategic advantages of leveraging the whole cast as missions become progressively more elaborate. My favorite character is Sake since I not only loved her design, but her emphasis on speed and stealth. She’s perfect for beginners as, when situations get too sticky, you can count on her dodge roll to avoid attacks. Of course, there’s also Una who doesn’t really care about the game’s rules – opting for combat over stealth with her ability to knock guards out.
I found the most fun weaving in and out of strategic stealth to cat and mouse chases. Getting caught and leveraging shadows, barriers and furniture to juke and loop the guards, only to return undetected, felt extremely satisfying every time. While I did have fun solo, I recommend firing this up with friends whether online or locally!
Monaco is a city overflowing with luxury and greed, which makes it a perfect target for you and your international gang of criminal masterminds. The best of the best have been assembled, and they’ll need to work together using their unique abilities to rob the city blind. Do you and your friends have what it takes to bring the city of Monaco to its knees?
New characters mean all new ways to play! Assemble your team from a selection of eight playable characters, each with their own unique abilities and playstyles. Need to adapt? Switch your character mid-run to overcome whatever obstacles stand between you and untold riches!
Every heist requires careful planning. With Blueprint Mode, you can look at the level’s layout before you start the mission, allowing you to case the joint before you and your friends fleece it for all its worth.
They say there’s no honor among thieves, but they’ve never met your crew! Team up with up to three other players in local or online multiplayer and plan your heist. However, nothing ever goes exactly according to plan in Monaco, so you’ll need to work together and improvise if you want to get away with your haul of riches.
Monaco 2 offers a new level of immersion with an updated 3D art style and a procedurally generated level design system. Complete the structured campaign or test your skills against the hundreds of seeded levels, proving once and for all that you and your friends are the ultimate thieves!
Sledders is an open-world snowmobiling simulator that captures the true spirit of backcountry freedom and exploration. Unlike other entries in the genre, it offers less arcade-style gameplay and instead focuses on realism. It features physics-based snow environments and a robust catalog of fully licensed snowmobiles – including some awesome retro models. If you ever daydreamed about carving through untouched powder, discovering new trails, racing for bragging rights, or trying out new tricks, Sledders might just be your next favorite ride.
What stood out the most to me is how the sleds handle. They don’t just glide over the snow, they dig in, sink under the weight, and fight back like they should. You have to shift your weight, ease into the throttle, and use your skills to navigate the terrain. It’s challenging at first, so be prepared to fall often. But don’t worry, sticking to the trails is a great way to familiarize yourself with your sled before heading off into the wild. Once you find your rhythm, it’s addictive.
Whether you’re a weekend warrior looking for a peaceful solo ride, hosting a private session with friends, or a hardcore sledhead ready to challenge the world, Sledders meets you where you are with multiplatform cross-play support for up to 32 players. You can customize every detail of your sleds in the garage, and it offers plenty of options to style your character with gear that matches your look. If you’re looking for a game that lets you ride on your own terms and at your own pace, Sledders delivers an experience that will stay with you long after the snow melts.
Shred your sled in open-world backcountries. Sledders is a realistic, physics-based snowmobile simulator. Manoeuvre the big open terrain, plow through tons of fresh snow, conquer the mountains, and reach the peak faster than your friends!
Sit back, relax, and enjoy as you rip around on one of the sleds speeding between trees and throwing it around at the ridges. The limits are only set by you so let loose and show us what you can accomplish!
The game offers a big map for you to explore and play around in. It contains steep hills, mountains, lots of trees, and open areas ready to be ridden by you (yeah, there’s a plenty of jumps, and also water…)! It will take ages for you to ride from one corner to another, that’s how big the map already is. And who knows what the future holds, our plans include bigger, better, and many more maps to come (we hear you ditch bangers, snow crossers, tricksters, trail riders, and all!).
The snow in Sledders feel as real as possible, so you better sharpen up your powder skills or you’ll just keep on digging deeper and deeper into the snow! Freeriding in backcountries means a lot of snow to plow and riding in it is way different than on other terrains. You must master the steering by shifting your weight around, making turns with your throttle, counter steering with your skis, and many other new skills. Once you master the skills needed in the backcountries, you’re unstoppable and no pow will make you stuck.
– Freeride snowmobile simulator with real-world physics in deep-snow backcountry
– Ride with and against your friends in epic freeriding experience
– Online, crossplatform multiplayer takes you ride around the world with a likeminded community of sledheads
I used to love stickers as a kid, but I never thought about designing and showing off my own creations. Enter Sticky Business, a cozy, small business simulator game where your motivation is to run a small business designing, selling, and packing stickers for a variety of customers. No end of the world scenarios, no final boss to violently fight off, and no heart stopping action. The game is as advertised: cozy as it comes and twice as wholesome.
After naming your store, you start at your desk and begin designing stickers for customers. You have hundreds of parts and options to choose from, and they can be meticulously layered to make some truly ridiculous stuff. Illustration sizes, text colors, outline sizes, and other options can tweaked and changed rather easily. You don’t have the option to use individual letters to make your own words (which makes sense, even though I really just want to make a wholesome Wu-Tang sticker). Still, there’s some pre-made words that you can put together, so I’m a bit proud of my line of “Cozy Metal” stickers with various combinations of animals and instruments. Yes, it’s dumb, but I do enjoy them very much.
Once your design is finished, you can pay coins to print them on different types of sheets. You have to be extremely thoughtful about how you to fit the stickers to the sheet because a single sheet costs the same regardless of how many stickers you can fit on it. More stickers, more profit. You then package everything up exactly how you want it and send it off to make some cold hard cash (and hearts) which you can use for upgrading and unlocking more designs.
Unlike most games, the story doesn’t revolve around you. Instead, it’s entirely focused on your customers, who write you about their lives and how stickers fit into their narratives. Some are heartwarming, some are ridiculous. You’ll find that different stickers attract different customers and there will be some requests for specific types of stickers that you’ll need to fulfill. It’s a great, short Etsy-sim that’s super soothing and chill. Especially if you have younger kids, nieces, or nephews that are into design, this a great find.
Create, pack and sell your own unique sticker creations!
Experience the joy of running your own cozy small business: Create stickers, pack orders and hear your customers’ stories. Time to build the cutest shop on the internet!
You want a collection of cat stickers? A witch-themed shop? Or add a derpy face to all of your creations?
Combine dozens of elements to create your own collection and sell them to like-minded people. Different stickers attract different customers! You can add some sparkles or holo effects to make them even more special!
Pack orders and hear more about your customers’ stories every time they buy stickers!
My Little Universe by Estoty is a delightful blend of adventure and simulation that invites players to create and explore their own miniature worlds. This charming game falls into the genre of sandbox adventure, where creativity and exploration are key elements. Players start with a small plot of land and gradually expand their universe by gathering resources, crafting tools, and unlocking new areas.
From the moment I started playing, I was enamored by the game’s whimsical art style and engaging mechanics. The process of building and expanding my universe felt incredibly rewarding. Each new discovery, whether it was a hidden treasure or a new biome, added layers of excitement and curiosity. The game strikes a perfect balance between relaxation and challenge, making it easy to lose track of time as you immerse yourself in your little universe.
One of the standout features of My Little Universe is its intuitive gameplay. The controls are gratifyingly simple, allowing players of all ages to jump right in and get creating. There’s no need for a lengthy tutorial or complex button combinations. You gather resources with a simple tap, craft tools with a few swipes, and expand your universe with ease. This simplicity makes the game incredibly accessible and enjoyable for players of all ages. It also offers a variety of customization options, enabling you to personalize your world to reflect your unique vision. Whether you’re a fan of games like Minecraft or Terraria, you’ll find familiar elements here, but with a fresh and charming twist.
My Little Universe is a must-play for anyone who enjoys creative and exploratory games. It’s a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, offering a serene yet stimulating experience that will keep you coming back for more. So, grab your tools and start building your own little universe!
Go above and beyond the cosmos!
The universe is vast and filled with adventures, mysteries to solve, and enemies to fight… who knows, you might even meet a few friendly faces along the way. Better yet, invite up to three of your friends to join you in the split-screen local co-op mode because it’s always more exciting with friends!
EXPLORE!
9 mythical worlds and 65+ different dungeons, from mythology-inspired lands to hostile alien worlds await you and your friends. Filled with wonder and plunder, challenges and adversaries, your task is to restore these beautiful worlds to their former glory!
GATHER RESOURCES!
The worlds are filled with rich minerals ready to be harvested by your trusty tools, and mythical artifacts of untapped power guarded by powerful foes. Use more than 70 different gatherable resources to recreate lands long lost to a mysterious threat.
RISE UP TO THE CHALLENGE!
The universe won’t be restored that easily, and each challenge requires the proper tools for the job. Equipped with your trusty pickaxe, sharp sword, and sturdy axe, you’ll be thrown against 150+ different adversaries including mythical creatures, alien horrors, and even demigods!
UPGRADE YOUR GEAR!
With each planet comes new challenges and because of that, you have to stay prepared by upgrading to the newest and freshest tools, which will always keep you one step ahead of your opponents! Improve your weapon, tools, and armor up to 30+ levels!
Just Enjoy The Adventure.
Get entranced by the game’s cozy atmosphere, enjoy the relaxing soundtrack, and fall in love with the simplistic yet charismatic visuals. After all, it’s all about the journey and the friends we make along the way!
