Introducing More In-Game Benefits for Free-to-Play Games with Game Pass
Steve MaslineProduct Marketing Manager, Xbox
Starting this week, we’re rolling out even more value to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members with in-game benefits for free-to-play games.
Members will get items like cosmetics, characters, in-game currency, and more for additional games, including Heroes of the Storm, Naraka: Bladepoint, and The Finals. Plus, we’re adding even more benefits starting in April 2025, like Call of Duty: Warzone and Enlisted. With seasonal content drops, members always have new benefits to look forward to.
These new additions expand upon existing in-game benefits, including unlocking the full roster of champions in League of Legends, six skins in Overwatch 2, all Agents in Valorant, and more. Whether it’s customization, personalization, or progression, players get even more from Game Pass.
To access all these in-game benefits, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members just need to log in with their Xbox profile or link their Xbox profile with each game’s account. Then, simply launch the game with Xbox on PC or console and your extra benefits will be available in-game. For Game Pass Ultimate members, these benefits will be available when playing with Xbox across cloud, console and PC.
New In-Game Benefits Coming to Game Pass
Starting this week, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members will have access to in-game benefits for the following games:
Heroes of the Storm (PC) – Link your Battle.net account In this realm between realms, anything is possible – play and unlock 30 Heroes from across Blizzard Entertainment’s universes as we welcome you to the Nexus!
Naraka: Bladepoint (Cloud, Console, and PC)– Use your Xbox profile to log in Unlock all heroes, exclusive Xbox headgear, and the Phoenix Princess Pack (Justina Gu).
Smite 2 (Console and PC) – Link your account Unlock the exclusive High Velocity Hecate Skin, 5 gods (Ares, Anhur, Hecate, Hercules and Nemesis), the OP Title, and GG Emote with the Smite 2 Welcome Pack.
The Finals (Xbox Series X|S and PC) – Link your Embark ID Unlock the Stryker Grid Set, sponsored by Ivada, featuring a full outfit, three weapon skins, a charm, and a 25% boost to Match XP. Players also unlock 500 Multibucks when they claim their prize!
We’ll be bringing even more in-game benefits for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members regularly. Starting in April 2025, players will get access to in-game benefits for the following titles:
Asphalt Legends Unite
Call of Duty: Warzone
Enlisted
War Thunder
Plus, Don’t Miss These Existing In-Game Benefits
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can also take advantage of existing benefits for Overwatch 2, League of Legends, Valorant, and more when they link their Xbox account.
Genshin Impact (Console) – Link your HoYoverse account Travelers who reach Adventure Rank 2 will unlock the “Wings of Fate’s Course Intertwined” as a gift in their in-game mailbox upon logging into Genshin Impact on Xbox. Plus, unlock Intertwined Fate ×2, Northlander Billet Trove ×1, Hero’s Wit ×10, Mora ×100,000, and Mystic Enhancement Ore ×15.
League of Legends (PC) – Link your Riot account Unlock all 160+ champions, get day one access to new champions, and enjoy a 20% XP Boost to account leveling.
Legends of Runeterra (PC) – Link your Riot account Unlock all cards in the Foundations Set.
Overwatch 2 (Console and PC) – Link your Battle.net account Unlock six skins, including Cardboard Reinhardt and Turtleship D.Va! Plus, you’ll get a one-time grant of 30 Mythic Prisms, and a 10% XP boost with access to Shop cosmetics from the past three seasons (excludes Battle Pass, Collab, Mythic, and other Promotional content).
Teamfight Tactics (PC) – Link your Riot account Unlock 1-Star Rare Little Legend Tacticians and 1 skin on a monthly rotation.
Valorant (Console and PC) – Link your Riot account Unlock all Agents, get day-one access to new Agents, and enjoy a 20% Match XP Boost to Battle Pass, Event Pass, and active Agent Contract progress.
In-game Benefits Are Getting Easier to Find
Starting this week, we’re making it even easier for players to discover the in-game benefits available with their Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass memberships.
Launch Xbox on PC, navigate to the Game Pass tab and click “More Benefits”, or navigate to a participating game’s page to see available in-game benefits.
Getting Started
Step 1: Become a Game Pass member Join Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass to get in-game benefits for some of the biggest free-to-play games.
Step 2: Link your Xbox profile Launch a participating game and sign in with your Xbox profile, or navigate to a participating game’s website and link your Xbox profile with your game account.
Step 3: Claim your benefits with Xbox on PC or console Launch the participating game with Xbox on PC or console and your benefits will be available in-game.
We can’t wait to see how you customize, personalize, and progress with Game Pass. Be the first to learn about future updates by looking for the “Coming Soon to Game Pass” announcements on Xbox Wire.
To learn more about eligibility for these benefits, players can reference the table below:
Indie Selects for March 2025: Spring Into Your Next Adventure
Raymond Estrada, Joe Olk, Steven AllenID@Xbox Life Coaches
The year is flying by, and March came through with the heavy hitters – and inevitably that means you’re hit with decision paralysis. Believe me, we’ve all been there. There’s a lot of great games out there and it can be hard to hear the call to adventure amongst all the chatter. Don’t you worry, the ID@Xbox team have handpicked six Indie Selects that will kickstart your next big adventure.
Be warned: some of these daring escapades are more than meets the eye. You may uncover a demon world or two, find heroism in a little slimeball, or you might find that diving into personal grief and trauma could be its own harrowing, cathartic and surprisingly melodic adventure. Don’t ask questions, just take a leap of faith and raid some tombs with us, because March Selects are calling! Here’s what we’ve got for you this month (in no particular order):
Don’t Nod, the creators of the OG Life is Strange, return to the narrative adventure genre to deliver a tale of four young girls who experience an unforgettable summer filled with coming-of-age hijinks… and something more inexplicable. That mystery thread of “what happened?” kickstarts a current day reunion of friends piecing together their adolescence to resolve what exactly transpired during that fateful summer – an experience still affecting them now. This is the first chapter, with a second installment arriving in mid-April.
I loved the original Life is Strange series with its young adult angst, ennui, and sci-fi reality bending. It made those classic, outsized teenage “the world is ending!” dilemmas 100% literal in the case of protags Max and Chloe. Don’t Nod revisit that vibe but find a way to ratchet up the stakes and vagaries that surround the journey of Swann and her childhood friends by taking the “teens in trouble” trope and toeing the line in urgency between the feel-goodness of an all-girls’ Goonies and the not-so-feel-goodness of Showtime’s ‘Yellowjackets’.
The nerdy, always camcorder-ing Swann navigates shyness and her pending move out of small-town America via narrative, choice-based relationship building in a way that punched a familiar knot of dread in my tummy, no matter whether it was the threats of bullies or otherworldly situations. But throughout, the script, VO, and attention to circa-1995 details do wonders in grounding the experience of pre-social media adolescence. I’m now very excited for the second chapter to drop, not least for the amazing, period-perfect soundtrack (a Don’t Nod specialty). One serious Cocteau Twins needle drop may just have ’80s and ’90s shoegaze kids digging deep into their 4AD record label era – a throwback I’m still luxuriating in.
Rewind back to the 90s and live the defining summer of four high school girls as they forge bonds through their growing friendship, their punk band, and an unexplained event that will forever change their lives.
Experience the story in two thrilling parts! Tape 1, “Bloom”, launches February 18 and Tape 2, “Rage”, launches April 15. “Rage” will become available as a free downloadable update when it is released.
A 27-YEAR PROMISE
Navigate between dual timelines and shape both narratives – in 1995 and 2022 – with each offering a piece of the larger puzzle: the life-changing secrets they uncovered back then and why they’re reuniting now, after all these years. Together, in this place, they’re forced to try and remember clearly the fateful memories that have eluded them for the past 27 years.
CAPTURE & CONNECT
Connect with your newfound sisterhood through lifelike interactions and conversations that feel real: engage in immersive dialogue that changes based on where you look and what you say; where you can do things like interrupt and ignore. Grab your camcorder and explore, filming Velvet Cove and capturing the essence of its people, places, and lush nature. Film just for the fun of it or try to find the dark secrets tucked away.
GIRLS TO THE FRONT
Play as Swann and get to know your new friends, each with their own lives and battles. Come out of your shell and embrace rebellion over the summer as you form friendships with Nora, Autumn, and Kat. Through your actions and words, you’ll shape your relationships with each of them on your journey to self-discovery. Will your bond wither over the years or will it feel like you were barely separated at all?
A NOSTALGIC DREAMSCAPE
In a picturesque corner of Michigan in 1995 lies the seemingly sleepy little town of Velvet Cove. Between dense woodlands and serene lakes, it’s a place where beauty meets the bizarre. Cloaked in a carefully crafted dreampop soundtrack that blends nostalgia and ethereal vibes, you’ll definitely find it all nice and relaxing…
A celestial mystery filled with demonic delights and heavenly bodies; Sorry We’re Closed is an absolute treat. You play as Michelle, a lonely shopkeeper working in an odd London neighborhood with a bizarre and colorful cast of characters. Her reality cracks after a harrowing visit from a sleep-paralysis demon who is infatuated with Michelle’s heartache. And from there, all hell breaks loose (I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist).
This retro-style survival horror is inspired by the halcyon days of the genre and utilizes its classic fixed camera angle. For the uninitiated, this can take some getting used to. While this design choice can initially seem limiting, it offers a more cinematic and thoughtfully paced experience, which is crucial for quality mystery storytelling. But it’s not all old-school, as the developers at À La Mode Games have added a twist in the form of first-person combat. You’ll need to switch into firs-person mode on the fly, while using your demonic third eye to stun demons and exploit their weak hearts. This becomes a delicate balance – while you’re in first-person mode, Michelle is unable to move, adding a layer of tension and strategy to the combat that kept it feeling engaging.
Where things really start cooking are the incredible art style and stellar soundtrack. The combination of classic graphics and painterly character art make this a beautiful blend of old and new, while the soundtrack features catchy hip-hop and hauntingly chill beats, with a menu theme that I left on in the background for hours while I was working. Seriously, it’s on right now.
If you find yourself in the mood for some retro-horror and quality storytelling, Sorry We’re Closed is an absolute must play.
Sorry We’re Closed is an eccentric story-driven survival horror game about angels and demons that mixes fixed-camera exploration and arcade-style shooting. Michelle must use her Third Eye to see between worlds and uncover secrets.
Follow the final days of Michelle as she battles to break the curse placed on her by a powerful archdemon looking for love. Help (or hinder!) the lives of curious residents in Michelle’s bustling London borough as she pursues freedom from her own untimely demise.
Sorry We’re Closed is a fusion of nostalgic survival horror with a new perspective on combat, combining atmospheric environments with fixed-camera angles and the thrill of arcade-style first person shooting. Collect items and manage resources to help Michelle survive. Optional tank controls are available for those who enjoy the classic survival horror experience.
Michelle’s time is split between the perilous demon world and mingling with the locals on her residential street. Everyone’s battling their own inner demons and through Michelle you can help guide them. Multiple endings are available through RPG-style dialogue interactions with the extravagant cast.
Have you ever played a game that felt like it was speaking directly to your soul? Afterlove EP is one of those gems. It’s a unique blend of visual novel, narrative adventure, and rhythm game set in the bustling city of Jakarta, Indonesia. You step into the shoes of Rama, an indie band frontman who’s grieving the loss of his girlfriend, Cinta. From the moment you start, you’re drawn into his world of sorrow and hope.
The game kicks off a year after Cinta’s death, and Rama has pretty much isolated himself from his bandmates and life in general. Your mission? Help Rama navigate his grief, reconnect with his bandmates, and prepare for a comeback show that could change everything. Sounds intense, right?
Over the course of 28 in-game days, you guide Rama through various activities. Each day brings new opportunities to mend neglected relationships, form new ones, pick up your guitar, and get ready for that critical gig! The choices you make will shape Rama’s journey, leading to branching storylines and multiple endings. And who likes rhythm game elements? This guy! They add a real interactive layer to the narrative, letting you immerse yourself in the music and emotions that drive Rama’s story (fair warning: you may want to bring tissues).
The game’s art style is a splendid recreation of 21st Century Jakarta, with vibrant hand-drawn visuals that bring the city to life. As you explore the streets, you’ll encounter bustling markets, serene parks, and lively cafes, each contributing to the immersive experience. The soundtrack, composed by Indonesian musicians, enhances the emotional impact of the game. The melodies resonate with Rama’s feelings, creating a powerful connection between you and the character.
Playing Afterlove EP was a profoundly personal experience. As I joined Rama through his emotional journey, I found myself reflecting on my own experiences with loss and recovery. The game’s deep narrative and rhythm elements work together to create a captivating and emotionally resonant experience. If, like me, you enjoy games like Florence, which also combines narrative and rhythm elements, you’ll find Afterlove EP equally compelling. It’s a testament to the raw power of indie games to tell deeply personal and emotionally impactful stories. If you haven’t played it yet, now is the perfect time to dive into the melodic world of Afterlove EP and experience this emotional journey for yourself.
Taking place in the vibrant city of Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Afterlove EP is a blend of visual novel, narrative adventure and rhythm game from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
Step into the shoes of Rama, a young musician struggling to move on with life after the death of their girlfriend, Cinta.
Whilst his close friends and bandmates are all determined to help him move on, Rama has been stuck for more than a year. He’s neglecting his music, his mental health and his relationships.
Making things harder, he’s hearing Cinta’s voice inside his head, unsure if she is a spirit or part of his imagination.
Now he has just one month to get it together!
Rama’s band has a critical gig in one month’s time. Either he gets serious about his music and delivers the new songs he has been promising or the band will move on without him.
KEY FEATURES
• An emotional new story from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
• Set in a vibrant and authentic recreation of modern day Jakarta, Indonesia
• A blend of narrative adventure, visual novel and rhythm game elements – explore, talk, jam out!
• Multiple endings and story paths – over 28 days and nights, it will be your choices that determine the path Rama takes.
• Featuring the distinctive art of renowned Indonesian indie-manga artist, Soyatu.
• Featuring an original soundtrack from popular Indonesian band, L’alphalpha.
If you’re a fan of action-adventure games, the Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered collection has got to be on your list. This collection brings together three classic titles from the iconic series, beautifully remastered for modern platforms by indie publisher and developer Aspyr. These games follow the adventures of Lara Croft, the fearless archaeologist, as she explores ancient tombs, solves intricate puzzles, and battles formidable foes. The genre is a perfect blend of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving, offering a rich and immersive experience.
I remember the first time I played Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation (Tomb Raider IV). The sense of wonder and excitement as I guided Lara through the ancient ruins of Egypt was unparalleled. The remastered version has only enhanced that experience, with graphics that would have stunned me back then, and improved controls that make the gameplay smoother and more enjoyable. It’s like revisiting an old friend, but with a fresh new look.
Tomb Raider Chronicles (Tomb Raider V) and Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (Tomb Raider VI) continue Lara’s adventures, each with its unique storyline and challenges. Chronicles offers a series of flashback missions that delve into Lara’s past adventures, while The Angel of Darkness introduces a more mature narrative. Both games have been given a new lease on life with the remastered collection, making them accessible to both longtime fans and newcomers alike.
If you enjoy games like Assassin’s Creed, the new Indiana Jones, or Prince of Persia, you’ll find a lot to love here. The gameplay mechanics and storytelling are reminiscent of these titles, but with Lara Croft’s unique flair that made her an iconic character in the first place.
I’ve spent countless hours exploring every nook and cranny of these games, and I can confidently say that they are worth every minute. The learning curve is there, but it’s part of what makes the experience so rewarding. Whether you’re a seasoned Tomb Raider fan or new to the series, this collection offers a fantastic journey through time and adventure.
Play the next series of Tomb Raider adventures in this remastered collection of the Darkness Trilogy.
Included Game Titles
-Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation – Lara Croft discovers the lost tomb of the Egyptian God Set, unwittingly unleashing him and fulfilling an ancient prophecy—one that plunges mankind into darkness.
-Tomb Raider: Chronicles – Following the events of The Last Revelation, Lara Croft is buried in an Egyptian tomb and is presumed dead. At her memorial, those closest to her reminisce about secrets from her past.
-Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness – Accused of murder, Lara becomes a fugitive on the run, while uncovering a sinister conspiracy involving alchemical experiments and the search for ancient artifacts.
Key Features
See the Classic & Remastered Visuals: Play with the original polygonal models or swap to the remastered graphics at any time
Travel the Globe: Follow Lara Croft around iconic locales including Cairo, Rome, Paris, and many more
Experience Lara’s Darkest Adventures: Uncover the secrets of Lara Croft’s past and shed light on the mystery of her disappearance
Looking for a familiar genre with an unexpected twist? Then you need to check out Ultros. This game is a vibrant, psychedelic journey through a cosmic landscape known as The Sarcophagus. It’s a unique blend of Metroidvania and roguelite genres, offering a fresh and captivating experience.
During my first run through I was struck by the visuals, which were both immediately captivating and almost hallucinogenic. The art style was unlike anything I’d seen before. Navigating through The Sarcophagus felt like I was on a trippy space ride, uncovering secrets and battling bizarre creatures. Ultros isn’t just about its stunning visuals, though. The gameplay is engaging, with a mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving. The world is easy to get lost in, but that’s part of the charm. The game’s big differentiator is a time-loop mechanic, which adds an intriguing layer to the gameplay, making each run feel fresh and challenging. The learning curve is there, but it’s what makes the game so rewarding.
If you enjoy Xbox games like Ori and the Blind Forest or Hollow Knight, you’ll find a lot to love in Ultros. The gameplay mechanics and storytelling are reminiscent of these titles, but with a unique psychedelic flair. This game just grabs you and won’t let go, as I am still exploring every corner of this game, and believe me, it’s worth every minute. Whether you’re a seasoned Metroidvania fan or new to the genre, Ultros offers a fantastic and visually stunning adventure that just feels right.
Set in a world where slimes are the heroes, not the villains (for once), Slime Heroes is a delightful 3D action-adventure debut from indie studio Pancake Games. This whimsical game combines elements of RPG and puzzle-solving, seeing you take control of an adorable, customizable slime on a grand adventure to save the Slime Kingdom from impending doom.
I was hooked. It felt like reconnecting with an old friend, reminiscent of the classic games from a bygone era. The vibrant, colorful graphics and whimsical soundtrack immediately drew me in. The gameplay is a perfect blend of open-world exploration and deceptively formidable combat—think of it as a cute version of Dark Souls. There’s an abundance of challenges and fun to be found here. You must think on your feet to survive and make it to the checkpoints, all while enjoying the lighthearted, gooey antics of your slime kingdom, which has been overtaken by mysterious corruption.
One of the things I personally love about this game is the sense of progression. As you advance through the game, you’ll encounter a variety of enemies, and upon defeating them, you’ll unlock their unique skills and special powers. This keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, as you’re constantly discovering new ways to tackle challenges. Plus, the game has a charming storyline that keeps you invested throughout your adventure.
If you’re a fan of games like Dark Souls or the Zelda series, you’ll feel right at home with Slime Heroes. The game strikes a perfect balance between being accessible to newcomers and offering depth for seasoned gamers. It’s easy to pick up, but mastering the various slime abilities and strategies will keep you coming back for more. Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, this game has some gooey-ness for everyone.
Journey with your fellow slimes to save the ancient guardians from a mysterious corruption taking over the land. Explore a whimsical world filled with secret passageways, challenging puzzle dungeons, and forgotten treasures. Consume special gems and dynamically combine them to create unique magical skills. Level up and fight back against the corrupted minions to restore the land.
Dynamic Abilities
-Collect an arsenal of skill gems consumed from defeated corrupted creatures.
-Dynamically mix skill gems to craft unique skill sets at any time.
-Discover all the different types of enemies to complete your gem collection.
Co-Op
-Jump into your friends’ game at any time and drop right into the action.
-The entire game can be played with a friend.
-All loot is shared; no fighting over that one pretty gem.
-Create different magical abilities that complement each other when playing with a friend.
Expansive World
-Discover secret passageways and challenging puzzle dungeons in a whimsical open world.
-Find the six gods of the realm and defeat the corrupted version of each. Once freed they will aid you on your quest!
Dreamhaven Showcase Recap: All the News From a New Publisher With a Legendary Past
Jackie Cole, Community Lead, Dreamhaven
Summary
Dreamhaven founder Mike Morhaime revealed the publisher’s full slate of games in today’s showcase presented by The Game Awards.
Wildgate, developer Moonshot Game’s edge-of-the-galaxy multiplayer shooter with ship-on-ship combat, was unveiled for the first time.
Also revealed were release dates for Sunderfolk and the 1.0 release of Lynked from the publisher’s line-up.
In today’s showcase presented by The Game Awards, our founder Mike Morhaime shared the most in-depth look yet at Dreamhaven’s upcoming slate of games. Sitting down with Geoff Keighley, Morhaime unveiled Wildgate, a brand-new crew-based PvP shooter set in the far reaches of space, alongside official release dates for Sunderfolk and Lynked: Banner of the Spark—and much more.
Commit Space Crimes in Wildgate, Unveiled Today
We were thrilled to debut Wildgate with not one, but two full-length trailers, showcasing the high-stakes action of this spacefaring PvP shooter from Moonshot Games. In Wildgate, four-player crews must navigate a vast, procedurally generated map, outmaneuvering rival ships, claiming valuable loot, and upgrading their vessels to survive the dangers of deep space.
Wildgate is set to launch later this year on Xbox Series X|S, and players eager to test their skills and explore the Reach early can sign up for the playtest happening next month at playwildgate.com.
Sunderfolk Launch Date Revealed
We’re excited to confirm that Sunderfolk, our innovative couch co-op tactical RPG, launches on April 23! Designed to capture the magic of game night, Sunderfolk brings players together with a fresh approach to turn-based combat and exploration. With up to four players controlling the action using a free app on their smartphone or tablet, Sunderfolk makes it easy for adventurers of all experience levels to jump in and play.
Developed by Secret Door, Sunderfolk will be available on Xbox Series X|S.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark Gets an Official Release Date
Lynked: Banner of the Spark—a colorful rogue-life RPG blending cozy town-building with challenging roguelite combat—is officially launching on May 22 for Xbox Series X|S!
In the year 30XX, an evil robot force has overrun the world, but hope isn’t lost. With your trusty Wyre grapple and a growing crew of Unibot allies, you’ll take on swarms of mechanical foes, scavenge their parts, and build a thriving community from the wreckage. Battle solo or in co-op, wield an arsenal of customizable weapons, and personalize your home and hero with deep customization options. Whether you’re rebuilding or battling, every spark counts—will you light the way?
A Haven for All Players
A passion for every kind of play is at the heart of Dreamhaven’s mission statement, and from the deep-space multiplayer chaos of Wildgate to the lively couch co-op adventures of Sunderfolk, their slate of upcoming games has something for every kind of player. Be sure to stay tuned for even more updates and announcements coming soon!
Minecraft: Vibrant Visuals Transforms the Game Into What You’ve Always Imagined in Your Head
At Minecraft Live, we got a glimpse of the future of Minecraft in the form of Vibrant Visuals – an upgrade that will transform the way players experience the game. Coming later this year to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition on selected platforms, Vibrant Visuals will give the game a huge visual boost, adding improved graphical elements such as directional lighting, volumetric fog, and much more – and will be available as a simple menu toggle, letting you switch between old and new looks at will.
The team at Mojang has a perfect way of summing up their intentions – Vibrant Visuals is designed to evoke how Minecraft looks in your head. This isn’t a total conversion, or a handbrake turn into a new visual style, but a deepening of Minecraft’s iconic look.
Art Director Jasper Boerstra spearheaded the project, and explained that it all began by seeing how the community approached Minecraft: “Vibrant Visuals was inspired by the streamers. When I was thinking about this project, I watched streamers build to see how people play with shaders and how they react to them. One thing I noticed is that players often turn off shaders when doing specific tasks, like building, because they want to see things more clearly. That inspired me to think about how we could create graphics that you don’t have to turn off—graphics that are comfortable to build with. That’s exactly what we aimed for: simple and impactful for players.”
I was lucky enough to visit Mojang Studios in Stockholm to see Vibrant Visuals in action, and that overriding philosophy is clear from the moment I drop into one of two maps created specially to show off the huge amount of work that’s gone into creating Vibrant Visuals. It’s one thing to see it in screenshots or trailers, but you truly can’t understand the effect of Vibrant Visuals without playing the game yourself.
On the first of these maps, I load into a cave, looking up a flight of stairs to a sunset sky. Light pours in from the outside, pooling down the edges of the stone walls, vines cutting twisting shadows through it, as hovering fireflies cast lazily dancing pools of light over water blocks around me. As I leave the cave, I’m presented with a mountainous desert, the low sun casting long shadows across the landscape. It’s an atmosphere that vanilla Minecraft has never had before.
Switching to the second map, I’m suddenly in a verdant valley at the height of the afternoon. Sunshine plays through the gaps in cherry blossom trees, and falling petals (added as part of the Spring to Life game drop) cast their own fluttering shadows around me. I dive into a nearby pool, and realize that light even plays a part down here, gold rays of sunshine spearing their way through the water. Every single block is touched by the change – you can see how light interacts on everything, even across the backs of scuttling wildlife living here.
Boerstra explained more about how Vibrant Visuals isn’t just a graphical overhaul, but a distinctly Minecraft-themed take on a modern look: “When you play, you’ll notice that the shadows in the game are pixelated. All the reflections are pixelated, too. When you drop an item and the sun casts a shadow on it, it’s also pixelated. We wanted to keep it Minecraft-y, and Vibrant Visuals is a great way to bridge familiar elements with new features. It’s about adding something to the world that feels immersive while staying true to the essence of the game.”
But perhaps the biggest testament to how successfully these enhanced visuals have been implemented is that, very quickly, I forget all about them. It’s not such an overwhelming shift that I’m constantly reminded that this is an all-new look – it feels perfectly pitched, retaining everything you know of Minecraft. In fact, the most incredible part of the demonstration was when I started using a single hotkey to shift back and forth between the old look and the new – I’d continuously find amazing looking vistas, then toggle back to the original visuals, and realise, all over again, quite how much has changed.
In the original look, mountain ranges surrounded me like the enormous chunks of blocks they are – but with Vibrant Visuals, volumetric fog effects mean that they disappear into a haze, offering a sense of depth to the map. It’s not just that it looks better, it feels bigger, adding a newfound sense of scale and mystery to the world around you.
And this is only the beginning for Vibrant Visuals. This isn’t a one-and-done moment for Mojang, but the beginning of an ongoing effort to improve what Minecraft can look like, without abandoning its signature vibe.
“Vibrant Visuals is not the end; it’s the beginning of our journey,” explains Executive Producer Ingela Garneij. “We want to keep working to add more visual updates, as our goal is to reach players across platforms with approachable graphics. We’ll continue to build on these features while staying true to what makes Minecraft’s art style so special and beloved by our community.” –
It’s also presented as an option for players – and not just in the fact that you can switch back to the original look at any time. Vibrant Visuals is planned for Minecraft: Java Edition in the future, but this doesn’t spell an end to community-created visual mods, or RTX-enabled maps. Vibrant Visuals is presented as a new way for a whole new swathe of players to upgrade the look of the game, without the more in-depth work that can take.
The benefit to us, the players, is clear – for longtime fans, this represents Minecraft evolving to match their imaginations. For new players, it helps modernize the game without ever losing what made it special in the first place. And for all of those players, accessing Vibrant Visuals is as simple as downloading the update.
We’re so used to Minecraft increasing its scope through content – new blocks, new mobs, new mechanics – that it’s fascinating to see the team take a totally different approach here. Vibrant Visuals doesn’t just feel like a new look for the game – it feels like a new dawn.
Vibrant Visuals will arrive for free in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition later this year.
CREATE
Build whatever you can imagine in your own infinite world that’s unique in every playthrough.
EXPLORE
Discover biomes, resources and mobs, and craft your way through a world filled with surprises in the ultimate sandbox game.
SURVIVE
Experience unforgettable adventures as you face mysterious foes, traverse exciting landscapes, and travel to perilous dimensions.
PLAY TOGETHER
Have a blast with friends, whether you’re sitting on the same couch in split screen or miles apart in cross-platform play for console, mobile and PC. Connect with millions of players on community servers or subscribe to Realms Plus to play with up to 10 friends on your own private server.
EXPERIENCE MORE
Get creator-made add-ons, thrilling worlds, and stylish cosmetics on Minecraft Marketplace. Subscribe to Marketplace Pass (or Realms Plus) to access 150+ worlds, skin & textures packs, and more – refreshed monthly.
Designing the Iconic Liquid Metal T-1000 Terminator for Mortal Kombat 1
Joe Epstein, Combat Designer, NetherRealm Studios
Do you think there’s a villain cooler than the T-1000? Get out of here, no you don’t. The T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day stands right on the intersection of early ‘90s cool, late 20th century technological advancements, visionary storytelling, and a perfect match of performer to role. One of the guiding lights we use to decide on which guest characters to incorporate in Mortal Kombat 1is simply… who’s the coolest fit that we haven’t included yet? Enter the T-1000.
In contrast to the tank or trucklike brute-force-instrument qualities of the T-800, the T-1000 is a sportscar. Instead of the T-800’s towering, aloof, biker-jacketed demeanor, you get Robert Patrick’s gracile and intense police officer impersonator. The T-1000 fights, shoots, and sprints without wincing, blinking, or heaving for air. He walks and scans in a hawklike, inhuman way. But when needed, he’s a better social chameleon than his predecessor. Patrick’s T-1000 can plausibly question civilians as a friendly cop and demonstrates emotions like frustration and arrogance in places the T-800 would not. Surprisingly, extreme moments are when Patrick’s T-1000 seems most human (realizing you have a live grenade round implanted in your midsection qualifies as extreme).
That’s just talking expressions and demeanor. The kicker here is what the T-1000 is made of. While the T-800 is a solid cyborg—machine endoskeleton surrounded by living flesh—the T-1000 is an experimental android composed of a cloud of liquid metal material, described in the movie as a prototype ‘mimetic polyalloy.’ With a chrome flicker that ‘resets’ its surface to a reflective silver blank slate, it can reshape itself to mimic humanoids, objects, and simple weapons. It can pour through small openings or around obstacles like an evil molasses, it can flatten and extend its mass to blend into the floor or run along it like a live oil slick, and it can extrude and then harden portions of itself to act as improvised blades, bludgeons, or prybars depending on what the situation requires. The rule in the fiction is, if the T-1000 has touched something or someone, it has scanned for information and is now capable of impersonating appearances.
The upshot for us as developers is a faster, more flexible, and cunning infiltrator than the classic T-800 Terminator (itself a guest character in Mortal Kombat 11), with an abundance of reference material to draw from, and seemingly unlimited gameplay, special effect, and cinema potential. Spoiled for choice is the expression.
But flavor-wise, its lack of blood needed addressing. A T-1000 getting slashed up by Baraka wouldn’t send red matter everywhere. At best it would be small chrome drops of the goop it’s made of getting flung away from the main mass. And that stuff wouldn’t just sit wherever it splatted, either. After the initial shock of being scattered, pieces would dust themselves off and go looking for the main entity.
An even bigger issue: Mortal Kombat 1 is filled with dozens upon dozens of signature Fatalities, Animalities, Brutalities, Fatal Blows, etc., and each one of these finishing moves is a bone crushing cinematic moment with various unpleasant things happening in detailed X-ray and cross-sectioned ultra-HD views. Well, the T-1000 is a liquid metal android so you can imagine how pulling or slicing the machine apart might be sort of like ballistics tests through dense fluids. Dedicated attention was paid to every cinema to convey the T-1000’s unique viscous characteristics when meeting grisly ends as a losing kombatant.
Then there’s the limb and form morphing. It was decided early on gameplay-wise what the T-1000 would be about, broadly—as not just a Terminator but the most advanced Terminator, he should seem implacable, always steadily forward moving, and feature an arsenal brimming with every direct movie reference we can cram in, alongside fun extrapolations we can add.
Direct film references include numerous attacks where some or all of the T-1000 reforms. For example, forearms reshaping into large blades or hooks and fingers extending into thin needles, which you’ll see throughout most of the character’s arsenal of moves. And as a police officer imposter, it’s clear the T-1000 has acquired service pistols that provide a kinetic way to stand off at range or to slowly advance. A particularly strong enhanced special move combines the two, with the T-1000 sprinting while shooting, before lunging with extended spear-arms, just like in the hospital corridor scene in the 1991 movie. A couple normal combo chains feature bladed finger extensions that skewer like little spears or the T-1000 extending a portion of itself to use as a rebar-like bludgeon mid-combo, both callbacks to the iconic steel mill setting towards the end of the film.
Some moves take creative license, embellishing to open new gameplay avenues and display more of the T-1000’s capabilities. Taking inspiration from the character dropping through the ceiling of a ruined elevator in a poured-liquid form, it can quickly reform in midair and fall to the ground as a dense fluid droplet. And like after being frozen, shattered and thawed, the T-1000 can dive into a surging blob form low to the ground, closing distance before emerging with bladed attacks. For a move that’s in between a mid-range poke and a long-range projectile attack, it can melt halfway into the floor to send out a spiny tendril of liquid metal, quickly forming the base for a rising stalagmite-like spear. The most whimsy is displayed within the T-1000’s moveset that clues eagle-eyed fans it has faced familiar Outworld kombatants before, picking up a duplication trick or two along the way.
Implementing a character design isn’t always straightforward, depending on the nature of the fighter. Of course, most characters are complicated with different moves, animations, and FX, and T-1000 has just about every complication possible. Throw animations—anything where a grappler and their victim need to be synced up—are trickier to design, motion-capture, animate, and implement than typical strikes. Moving, warping, and morphing options set up all kinds of potential variables to account for. FX themselves can be complex, involving cross-discipline efforts to solve lighting, physics, and model issues that get in the way of coordinating the intended look and feel.
Doing justice to the T-1000 was a full-team effort, and we couldn’t be more excited to add this amazing guest fighter to the Mortal Kombat 1roster. The T-1000 Terminator is available today on Xbox Series X|S as part of the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos ReignsExpansion, or a la carte via separate purchase.
New to Mortal Kombat 1? Get started with the Kollection Edition! Mortal Kombat 1 ushers in a New Era of the iconic franchise with a New fighting system, game modes, and fatalities.
Includes instant access to the Base Game, Kombat Pack, and Dragon Krystals. Gain access to the upcoming Story Expansion, Kombat Pack 2 and more!
Khaos Reigns Story Expansion
Kombat Pack 2*
Khaos Reigns Fighters Available At Launch:
Noob Saibot
Cyrax
Sektor
Guest Fighters Available Post-Launch (includes 1 week early access)
Ghostface (Scream Franchise)
T-1000 (Terminator 2)
Conan the Barbarian
Kombat Pack (Available Now):
Omni-Man (Invincible)
Quan Chi
Peacemaker (DC’s Peacemaker)
Ermac
Homelander (The Boys)
Takeda Takahashi
The T-1000 embodies the ultimate evolution of assassination technology. This pack includes playable character the T-1000, including all new move-sets based on Terminator 2
Atomfall Arrives: Six Tips to Survive the Quarantine Zone
Rich MaySenior Programmer, Rebellion
With the Deluxe Edition of Atomfall launching today, and the regular game releasing with Xbox Game Pass this Thursday, March 27, I thought it would be an opportune moment to give you a few choice tips for how to survive life inside the Quarantine Zone.
For those of you new to the game, Atomfall is an action-survival mystery set in the UK. The story takes place five years after the real-life events of the 1957 Windscale Disaster in the North of England. In the world of Atomfall, a quarantine zone has been established around the Windscale Atom Plant and no one has been allowed in or out for five years. Life and society have changed and adapted under these trying circumstances, and gangs of strange folk now wander the countryside.
You wake up in a bunker with no idea who you are or how you got there. Given the circumstances, you have little choice but to set out on a journey to discover what really happened at Windscale and maybe try to find out who you are in the process.
The world of Atomfall is essentially a large sandbox where you are free to explore and investigate at your own pace and in your own style. The way you approach every encounter and each scenario is completely up to you, but here are a few bits of advice to get you started.
1) Pick your Playstyle
Before you start the actual game, you‘ll be prompted to set your playstyle. There are five pre-sets to cater for different approaches, as well as the option to customise this further should you wish. They adjust the challenge of combat, survival and exploration in the game.
Sightseer – a low-pressure mode for those who want to enjoy the narrative and exploration of Atomfall.
Investigator – for players who enjoy unguided exploration but prefer lighter survival and combat.
Brawler – you enjoy combat but prefer lighter survival and guided exploration.
Survivor – the classic Atomfall experience. A balance between combat and survival.
Veteran – harsh combat and consequences, a gritty battle for survival.
Survivor offers the recommended Atomfall experience but pick whichever best suits you and the way you want to play. And don’t worry, if you get into the game, and feel you’ve made a mistake, these settings can be adjusted at any time in the Options menu.
2) Following Leads
Atomfall doesn’t have a traditional quest or mission system. Instead, we have Leads – snippets of information that you will uncover as you explore the world. There are numerous ways you can discover Leads, such as through conversations, tape recordings or by finding letters and items as you investigate the areas in the game. Discovering a new Lead will help you piece together the puzzle of what happened inside the Quarantine Zone, but how you use that information is up to you.
In Survivor difficulty, the game does not add waypoints to your map or compass by default, but you can manually place markers on the map, which will then be shown on the in-game compass during play. If you do prefer a more guided experience, you can also adjust the Exploration settings in the Options menu.
3) Where to Start…
So, where is a good place to gather some Leads at the start of the game? When you leave the bunker, you are greeted by the lush open countryside of Slatten Dale. Directly in front of you is a ringing phone box that is just begging to be answered.
Head down the hill to the left and you’ll come across Nat. He’s a talkative fellow and – provided you don’t offend him – might be convinced to give you directions to find the nearby Molly, a trader who happens to indulge in lots of juicy gossip. Once you’ve have had a chat with Molly and maybe done a deal or two, why not visit the nearby village of Wyndham, where there is plenty to explore? We heartily recommend taking in the sights. Maybe visit the church or frequent the village shops, bakery and, of course, the village pub, to discover some Leads.
Wyndham is under the control of Protocol – a military force who was sent in when quarantine was put into effect to keep the peace. You can find their leader, Captain Sims at the band stand in the centre of the village, where he regularly harangues the populace.
4) Pick your Fights
As you explore the various areas in the game you will encounter all sorts of colourful characters and gangs, some friendly, some less so. Remember that, when confronted, force is not always the best course of action – many folks you’ll meet are just trying to make their way, same as you. Knowing when to back down and head for safety can be a great survival tool.
Before charging into any fight, our suggestion is “observe, plan, execute.” Think about who you’re fighting. Are they armed and, if so, with what? Can you take them out silently or should you just slip past and hope they don’t notice you? Any course of action is open to you. It is, in fact, entirely possible to complete the game without killing anyone (although it is extremely challenging).
5) Listen Carefully
You will meet a host of weird and wonderful folk as you explore Atomfall. Some of these will want to trade but remember that money is useless in the Quarantine Zone, so bartering will be key. Others may have Leads that could help you understand what really happened at the Windscale Atom Plant. Some may have both. Others will simply push their own selfish agendas.
You need to listen carefully and give real thought to the way you reply in order to gain an understanding of who you want to trust and who you don’t. Some characters will play you off against another and may even want you to kill for them. Choosing the path you take, which Leads to follow, and who to trust will ultimately determine the end of the game, so choose wisely!
6) Search and Scavenge Whenever You Can
Resources are scarce in the Quarantine Zone. Guns and ammunition are particularly hard to come by, so waste them at your peril. Take every opportunity you can to search areas for resources – be that food, weapons or other items.
As you explore you will also uncover Manuals that teach you new skills – and unlock them by finding Training Stimulants. You can then choose which skills will be most beneficial to you and your playstyle.
You will also acquire the ability to craft various resource and tonics that will help you fight, survive and heal. There is limited space in your backpack, so make sure to craft what you need as you go in order to have the best weapons and tools at your disposal.
You can also make use of pneumatic dispatch tubes that you find in various places around the game world, a still-functioning relic of the military and science facilities. These are extremely useful for storing items that you don’t immediately need access to. For example, you might find a great shotgun but have no bullets – so you can choose to store it and then grab it back once you have enough shells to make the best use of it.
Hopefully that little lot should give a little bit of a head start in the world of Atomfall. I hope you enjoy playing the game as much as we have enjoyed building such a unique and mysterious experience.
Deluxe Edition includes:
• The entire Atomfall game
• 3 days Early Access
• “Story Expansion Pack” – (*not available Day 1):
• “Basic Supply Bundle” Pack
• “Enhanced Supply Bundle” Pack
A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England.
Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.
From Rebellion, the studio behind Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, Atomfall will challenge you to solve the dark mystery of what really happened.
Player Driven Mystery: Unravel a tapestry of interwoven narratives through exploration, conversation, investigation, and combat, where every choice you make has consequences.
Explore this Green and Unpleasant Land: The picturesque British countryside, with rolling green hills, lush valleys, and rural villages belie the dangers that await you.
Search, Scavage, Survive: You’ll need to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons and items, and fight desperately to make it out alive!
Pre-order the Atomfall Standard Edition to receive:
• “Basic Supply Bundle” – Supplies are scarce in the quarantine zone. Improve your chances for survival with additional items to find, including an exclusive melee weapon to help you in those brutal close-quarters engagements.
• Exclusive Melee Weapon Variant
• Additional Loot Cache
• Item Recipe
A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England.
Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.
From Rebellion, the studio behind Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, Atomfall will challenge you to solve the dark mystery of what really happened.
Player Driven Mystery: Unravel a tapestry of interwoven narratives through exploration, conversation, investigation, and combat, where every choice you make has consequences.
Explore this Green and Unpleasant Land: The picturesque British countryside, with rolling green hills, lush valleys, and rural villages belie the dangers that await you.
Search, Scavage, Survive: You’ll need to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons and items, and fight desperately to make it out alive!
I didn’t have riding a fixed-gear bike possessed by an entity named Skully on my list of games to play this year, but that’s part of the fun of attending events like the ID@Xbox Showcase at GDC – you never know what new game is going to catch your eye. Wheel World, with its mix of open-world exploration, loot scouring, and surprisingly fun and competitive racing has put this radical take on bike racing on my radar as it speeds its way to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support for release later this year.
In Wheel World you play Kat, a bike rider fated to save this unique realm that’s full of rival riders, spare parts, and portal potties — outhouses that work as a fast-travel option. That hits on another aspect I enjoyed about my time with the game: its humor. It never seems to take itself too seriously, as one should expect when it features a bike possessed by an entity in charge of marshaling spirits to and from the Moon. Helping Skully gather these spirits is your central goal during your time in Wheel World, but to do that you need to assemble the best ride possible.
Traversing the realm of Wheel World and looking for loot (spare parts) is a big part of the fun, as you can uncover these items that contain a variety of pieces to customize your bike – everything from its frame, to wheels, to handlebars, and more are all swappable which affect stats like speed and handling. These parts can also come in ‘Legendary’ status and can give unique powers like increasing your boost meter to help during races.
Another rule of this world is Reputation, needed to unlock higher-leveled zones, which you can gain by facing down other riders you encounter on the road, or when you take down a rival bike gang by – you guessed it – racing. Which is great, because it feels so fun to ride throughout Wheel World.
All the competitions I tried out, whether they were up against a single rider or a pack, were very fun and lightly challenging with a nice pumping soundtrack running in the background (courtesy of Italians Do It Better). As I would glide through a pack of rivals, I found that both drafting (that’s moving behind the rider to reduce wind resistance), and utilizing boost at the opportune times, were keys to success. Winning races can also net you coupons that you can use at bike shops found within the world, giving you access to even more spare parts for your bike.
The physics for the handling of the bike also felt very natural, as you would have to factor in things like speed around turns, heavy peddling up hills, or just gliding downhill, it all felt very refined – which is great because the game relies so much on this aspect. In addition, its cell-shaded world itself is beautiful to ride through, reminiscent of games like Sable or Dungeons of Hinterberg.
Independent developer Messhof describes Wheel World as about the joy and freedom of living around bikes – and that feels like the case here. From racing, to tinkering, to exploring or even just going out for a cruise through the hills, it captures that spirit of riding a bike and the freedom of exploration that comes with it. Look for Wheel Worldto come to Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, with support for Xbox Play Anywhere, later this year.
Welcome to Wheel World, where the fate of the universe rests on your handlebars.
You are Kat, a young cyclist with one mission: save Wheel World from total collapse. Explore a stunning open world filled with impressive vistas, hidden secrets, and races that will test your skills. Customize your bike with an endless array of parts, from sleek speedsters to off-road beasts—there’s no limit to how you can ride.
Wheel World is packed with things to do:
Race and Dominate: Take on elite cycling teams and quirky rivals in high-stakes races where every second counts.
Upgrade Your Ride: Scour the world for rare parts to build the ultimate bike, perfectly tailored to your style.
Carry Out Your Destiny: Recover your stolen Legendary parts to ultimately perform The Great Shift ritual and save the world. No big deal.
All of this is backed by an original soundtrack from Italians Do It Better, pumping energy into every race and moments of breathtaking semi-open world exploration.
It’s time to pedal your way to glory, save the spirits of Wheel World, and keep the universe on track. Hop on, ride fast, and don’t look back.
1: Khaos Reigns Kollection
