Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm

Bounty Star Screenshot

Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The post Bounty Star is a Cozy, Post-Apocalyptic Mech Brawler Brimming with Charm appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 23 to 27

Next Week on Xbox - Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 23 to 27

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster

Nightdive Studios

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster by Nightdive Studios brings to you the modernized remaster of the FPS/RPG classic, featuring cross-play co-op multiplayer and more. It’s the year 2114 and as you awake from cryo sleep on the FTL ship Von Braun, you are unable to remember who or where you are… and something has gone terribly wrong. Hybrid mutants and deadly robots roam the halls while the cries from the remaining crew reverberate through the cold hull of the ship. SHODAN, a rogue AI bent on the destruction of mankind has taken over and it’s up to you to stop her.


Rust Console Edition S|X

Double Eleven Ltd.

$49.99

Rust Console Edition – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Welcome to Rust. The only aim in Rust is to survive – Overcome struggles such as hunger, thirst and cold. Build a fire. Build a shelter. Kill animals. Protect yourself from other players.


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate

Super Evil Megacorp

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate – June 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Grab your friends, pick your favorite Turtle and jump into a roguelike adventure to save Master Splinter from the foot clan! Master ninja skills, unite in bodacious online and local co-op gameplay, and conquer iconic NYC locales. As a special offer for Xbox fans, if you buy Splintered Fate by July 8, 2025, you’ll get the Casey Jones DLC for free!


Stasis

Feardemic

Stasis – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

An isometric, point-and-click, sci-fi horror adventure game. It intertwines a gruesome narrative with retro adventure gameplay. Combine items, interact with computers and solve puzzles while experiencing the gritty atmosphere.


Xbox Play Anywhere

I Am Your Beast

Strange Scaffold

I Am Your Beast – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Hunt the military-industrial complex across stylish comic book micro-sandboxes in this fast-paced covert revenge thriller FPS from the developers of El Paso, Elsewhere.


Bee Flowers: Save the Garden

Afil Games

Bee Flowers: Save the Garden – June 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In the third chapter of the Bee Flowers series, you’ll guide bees through stunning environments while solving logic puzzles on a hexagonal grid. The goal is simple: connect paths to deliver pollen to the flowers. The gameplay is accessible, but the challenges increase as you progress.


How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine

Maximum Entertainment


$12.99

$10.39

How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine – June 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The unique co-op experience that made How 2 Escape a success is back with improved gameplay and new challenging puzzles! The latest edition in the How 2 Escape series, How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine, has you and a partner work together to locate a missing submarine and prevent the start of a global war.


Beautiful Sakura: Fighting Club

Cropware

Beautiful Sakura: Fighting Club – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A gripping continuation of Kaito’s story, set in a world of fierce battles and emotional growth. After months of relentless training, Kaito enters his first professional fighting tournament, determined to prove himself. As he climbs the ranks, he faces not only skilled opponents but also people from his past — childhood friends, former crushes, and rivals turned companions. Each fight is charged with memories, tension, and hidden emotions.


Exo-Calibre

Eastasiasoft Limited

Exo-Calibre – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Meet the Ex-Calibre Knights, elite pilots in state-of-the-art exo-mechs, defending peace, justice and hope across the world! The Exo-Tech corporation is dedicated to developing advanced weapons and defenses to aid humanity, but when AI drones go haywire and start attacking the populous, it’s up to you to take control of the Ex-Calibre Knights and restore order by any means necessary!


Grizzly Bear is Hungry – Xbox Series X/S

Synnergy Circle Games

Grizzly Bear is Hungry – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The fourth installment in the charming Is Hungry series. Join a ravenous grizzly bear on a wild adventure to stock up on food before winter hits! Roll through forests, smash through obstacles, defeat pesky enemies, and shake down trees to gather every bite. Only by eating enough can this bear settle in for a cozy, worry-free hibernation. It’s a feast-or-freeze kind of journey — are you ready to help him get his fill?


Mainframent

SilenGames

Mainframent – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In the most unremarkable places, a door to another, wonderful world can be hidden. It was through such a door that the janitor Kloof fell through when he washed the floor in the server room. The only chance to return home is to turn on the elevator. And for this – to make the supercomputer work, looking for and inserting punched cards into it.


My Recycling Center

Darius Bode

My Recycling Center – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Operate and expand your own recycling center in this first-person simulation game. Take care of unloading, sorting and compacting the waste.


Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4

Mob Entertainment

$19.99

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 – June 25
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

You are pushed deeper into the undiscovered depths of the Playtime Co. factory, far below anything the world knew. Here, you’ll encounter terrifying new threats and discover shocking revelations. Can you outwit the unnatural new creations lurking in the shadows?


Anvil Saga

HeroCraft PC

Anvil Saga – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Turn a ramshackle blacksmith shop into a successful enterprise in a challenging and endlessly varied world! Deal with local bandits, merchants, priests, as well as French and English soldiers. Manage workers with various quirks, improve facilities and tools to create better merchandise, decorate your smithy to attract high-paying customers!


Boxville 2

Triomatica Games

$12.99

Boxville 2 – June 26

Boxville 2, from Triomatica Games, is the next part of an adventure game about cans living in a box city. Two can friends had an important job from the mayor to set up fireworks for the city’s celebration. But due to a mistake, the fireworks went off wrong, causing chaos in the city. Worse, one of the friends went missing. Now, the main character, a red can, must explore different areas and secret spots in Boxville and even travel outside the city to fix everything and find his friend.


Bullets and Brains

No Gravity Games and Development

Bullets & Brains – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

In Bullets & Brains, you’ll find yourself immersed in a sprawling post-apocalyptic environment, teeming with engaging atmosphere and danger at every turn. As one of the last survivors, it’s up to you to navigate through the desolate streets, abandoned buildings, grimy alleyways, but also forests, sewers and even snowy mountains, fighting off waves of relentless zombies.


Cyber Tank Nano

Xitilon

Cyber Tank Nano – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Cyber Tank Nano is a puzzle game that innovates on the classic Sokoban formula by introducing a variety of new mechanics, including shot reflections, destroyable ice, crumbling floors, movable enemies, water that can be traversed by placing blocks into it, teleports, conveyors, collectible bonuses, and more.


Infernitos: Fiery Dishes

Afil Games

Infernitos: Fiery Dishes – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Get your pans ready, push the plates, and serve the hungriest customers in hell! In Infernitos: Fiery Dishes, you once again embody the feared demon chef, now with even more spice and much more infernal confusion. With 30 devilishly challenging levels, grid-based movement, and the ability to undo your mistakes infinitely (because even demons deserve a second chance), this game will test your logic, patience… and your heat resistance.


Klaus Lee – Thunderballs

Assemble Entertainment GmbH

Klaus Lee – Thunderballs – June 26

Explore the neon-hued ’80s inspired 2D action-platformer with Klaus Lee. Though he almost became a cop in Beverly Hills, he ended up applying to be a private investigator in Hawaii but got tired of waiting. Returning to California, he worked as an unknown stuntman and led a team that was often outdone by a more successful group. He missed a job interview at a New York startup, where Zeddemore became a spirit exterminator.


My Cozy Room

©RedDeer.Games

My Cozy Room – June 26

Welcome to My Cozy Room, a relaxing sandbox home design game, where you can bring your dream spaces to life! Whether it’s a snug bedroom, stylish living room, modern kitchen, or a playful kids’ corner, the possibilities are endless. Start decorating and bring your dream cozy room to life today!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Paper Bad

Entity3 Limited

Paper Bad – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get ready for a wild ride in Paper Bad, the ultimate arcade-style destruction game where the goal isn’t delivering newspapers—it’s causing as much mayhem as possible! Smash windows, dent cars, startle pedestrians, and unleash total chaos as you hurl newspapers across a variety of quirky neighborhoods.


RUFFY AND THE RIVERSIDE

Phiphen Games

$19.99

Ruffy and the Riverside – June 26
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Join Ruffy on an exciting quest to stop the mischievous villain Groll from destroying the World Core and throwing Riverside into chaos. Along the way, you’ll travel to fantastic places with helpful friends like Pip the sassy bee, Sir Eddler the adventurous mole, and Silja the wise turtle.


Strike Mission

Cube Games

Strike Mission – June 26

Get ready for an intense aerial combat campaign in Strike Mission, a top-down action game where you take control of elite pilot Jake Walker on a critical mission to save the world from a looming technological threat.


Antro Demo

Selecta Play


30

Antro – June 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Journey through the most remote places in the underground metropolis of ANTRO. Your mission is to deliver a package with an unknown recipient and, while you’re at it, overthrow the totalitarian government of La Cúpula. Play to the rhythm of urban music in this adventure full of action, puzzles and 2.5D platforming.


Bambas!

DevilishGames

Bambas! – June 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Remember when the streets were your playground, where every curb, puddle, or sidewalk became part of an epic mission? Bambas! brings that magic back, offering a sandbox game that lets you relive those carefree adventures with its innovative control system. Explore a vibrant Mediterranean coastal city bursting with detail, where creativity knows no bounds and exploration is your ticket to endless fun.


Dungeons of Paint

Ratalaika Games S.L.

Dungeons of Paint – June 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A classic top-down shooter inspired by paintball. Explore dark dungeons, blast baddies, and leave a trail of colorful paint in your artistic path of destruction. Grab different guns and take down waves of enemies with ricochets of bouncy paint projectiles. Featuring 5 different dungeons, and 20 different challenges, Dungeons of Paint is a radiant paintball action adventure!


KreatureKind

Valiant Game Studio, Aurora Punks

$16.49

KreatureKind – June 27
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Magic is disappearing forever, unless your brave group of activists can save it! After centuries of increasing magic use, the world’s mana well is running dry. If entirely depleted, magic will be gone forever. This does not go unnoticed by Riley and her friends Mitra and Yui. They set out from their hometown, trying to convince people and monsters to use mana more consciously. Along the way, they meet and team up with other like-minded people.


MonCon

Megalithic Mainframe LLC

MonCon – June 27

MonCon is the story of Joey, a young teenager struggling with social anxiety. Joey decides to attend one of the largest geek culture conventions in the world, in the hopes of meeting his hero – legendary game designer Mr. Miyashiro – and getting an autograph. With the help of his newfound friends, Joey will start to overcome his social hang-ups and learn that not everyone you meet is a monster.


Screw Master

Webnetic s. r. o.

Screw Master – June 27

Screw Master is a fun and engaging puzzle game where players must strategically remove screws to dismantle intricate wooden structures. Each level presents a new challenge requiring logical thinking and precise actions. With 50 levels of increasing difficulty, can you master the art of unscrewing?


Sausage Wars

QubicGames S.A.


$4.99

$3.99

Sausage Wars – June 27

Sausage Wars is the craziest arena party game for up to 4 players and 20 bots! Player characters are sausages which brawl over sink domination! Take one of them, enter the battlefield and fight until death. Push your rivals off the edge or into a trap!


Zombies Overloaded

Brainium Games

$6.99

Zombies Overloaded – June 27

Strap in and embrace the chaos! Trapped in an inescapable room, you’ll take on endless waves of zombies, mowing them down by the hundreds with randomly spawning weapons. Every five waves, a boss shows up to ruin your day. Survival demands quick reflexes, clever strategy, and just a pinch of madness!


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for June 23 to 27 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Raidou Reborn: How Atlus’ Newest Detective RPG Is So Much More than a Remaster

Raidou Reborn: How Atlus’ Newest Detective RPG Is So Much More than a Remaster

Raidou Hero Image

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

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

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

Overhauled Battle System

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

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

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

Enhanced Graphics & Full Voice Over

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

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

… And More!

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

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

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

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army

SEGA


6

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

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

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

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

Taisho 20, in the Capital—

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

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

KEY FEATURES

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

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

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

The post Raidou Reborn: How Atlus’ Newest Detective RPG Is So Much More than a Remaster appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox and AMD: Advancing the Next Generation of Gaming Together

Xbox and AMD: Advancing the Next Generation of Gaming Together

Xbox AMD Hero Image

This week, Xbox announced it is actively building its next-generation lineup across console, handheld, PC, cloud, and accessories. As part of this, Xbox unveiled that it has entered into a strategic, multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including future first-party consoles and cloud.   

This work is part of Xbox’s commitment to deliver an enduring gaming platform that enables you to play across devices in entirely new ways, with an Xbox experience designed for players – not locked to a single store or tied to one device.

Watch Sarah Bond’s announcement:  

Sarah Bond, President of Xbox, shares how Xbox and AMD are working together to advance the state of the art in gaming silicon across the Xbox ecosystem, including our next-generation Xbox console – and how Windows and Xbox are partnering to ensure Windows is the number one platform for gaming.

Hear from AMD’s Lisa Su on what this means for the future of gaming:  

Lisa Su, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of AMD, shares how Xbox and AMD are building on two decades of partnership, innovation, and trust. AMD will extend its console work to design full roadmap of gaming-optimized chips combining the power of Ryzen and Radeon for consoles, handhelds, PCs, and cloud. 

Stay tuned for more as we continue to bring the next generation of Xbox to life—together.

The post Xbox and AMD: Advancing the Next Generation of Gaming Together appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Get Ready to Shred: New Details on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Plus Play the Foundry Demo Today

The post Get Ready to Shred: New Details on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4, Plus Play the Foundry Demo Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Digging Deeper: The Inspirations Behind Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest

SWTD DLC Hero Image

Digging Deeper: The Inspirations Behind Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest

Summary

  • Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest arrives today for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox on PC.
  • The DLC expansion is set 11 years after the original game, with a new main character.
  • Learn about the new inspirations behind this haunting new story.

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

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

Thalassophobia

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

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

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

‘Last Breath’ (2018) and Saturation Diving

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

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

‘Blue Planet II –The Deep’

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

Dante’s ‘Inferno’

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

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

‘The Descent’ (2005)

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

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

‘The Lighthouse’ (2019)

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

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

The Unexplained Ocean Sound, “Julia”

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

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

Màiri Mhòr nan Òran

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

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

The post Digging Deeper: The Inspirations Behind Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox + AMD: Powering the Next Generation of Xbox

Xbox + AMD Hero Image

Xbox + AMD: Powering the Next Generation of Xbox

The post Xbox + AMD: Powering the Next Generation of Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Minecraft: Vibrant Visuals and Chase the Skies Drop Out Now

Vibrant Visuals hero image

Minecraft: Vibrant Visuals and Chase the Skies Drop Out Now

The post Minecraft: Vibrant Visuals and Chase the Skies Drop Out Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Coming to Game Pass: Rematch, Warcraft I & II: Remastered, Warcraft III: Reforged, Call of Duty: WWII, and More

Coming to Game Pass: Rematch, Warcraft I & II: Remastered, Warcraft III: Reforged, Call of Duty: WWII, and More

Xbox Game Pass - Wave 2 - June 2025

Hope you all completed your bingo card for the Xbox Games Showcase and Outer Worlds 2 Direct – between Xbox Play Anywhere, Game Pass, and World Premieres, that was almost a full row there! We’re on a roll and have more games for you to prep your download queue, so let’s get to them.

Available Today

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

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

FBC Firebreak Key Art

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

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

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

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

Coming Soon

Star Trucker (Xbox Series X|S) – June 18
Now with Game Pass Standard

Hop into the driver’s seat of your rocket-powered big rig as you haul cargo, scavenge for salvage, and interact with an eclectic cast of star-hopping truckers in this Americana-infused journey on the ultimate open road – space!

Wildfrost (Console) – June 18
Now with Game Pass Standard

Take on the elements in Wildfrost, a tactical roguelike deck builder! Collect and upgrade card companions, ready to withstand waves of deceptively cute Pengoons, Gobblers, and brutish boss monsters. Test your skills in daily challenges and build up the town of Snowdwell, unlocking more cards to aid in your fight against the everlasting frost…

Rematch (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 19
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass! Step onto the pitch in Rematch, a third-person, team-based football game where every pass, volley, and tackle matters. Designed for 5v5 online play, Rematch puts you in full control of one athlete, with no offsides, no fouls, and no downtime. Pass smart, play with purpose, and win together.

REMATCH Key Art

Volcano Princess (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 24
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Prepare the next monarch by finding her hobbies, training her for battle, and befriending the citizens she’ll one day protect. Dive into an all-new parenting-simulator-RPG adventure, where every decision you make will not only affect the future of your daughter but that of an entire empire!

Against the Storm (Cloud and Console) – June 26
Game Pass Ultimate

Currently available on Xbox PC and coming soon to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)! A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization’s last survivors.

WarCraft Key Art

Warcraft I: Remastered (PC) – June 26
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Experience the inciting war between Orcs and Humans that shook Azeroth to its core. Defend the realm as the noble Alliance, or seek to conquer it as the bloodthirsty Horde, across thrilling faction campaigns or custom skirmish games. Warcraft I: Remastered features updated hand-painted art, widescreen battles, and rebalanced classic music. Enjoy modern UI tweaks, enhanced controls, and never-before-seen 1994 concept art!

Warcraft II: Remastered (PC) – June 26
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Captain your own fleet in the second Warcraft title created in 1995, now remastered with vivid, all-new visuals and modernized controls! War between orc and man rages on across the seas, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance as the great tacticians of the Horde and the Alliance clash. Only one thing is certain: winning this war will demand unprecedented cunning, courage, and nerves of steel.

Warcraft III: Reforged (PC) – June 26
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass

Warcraft III: Reforged features a thorough visual overhaul, a suite of contemporary social and matchmaking features, and more. Command the Night Elves, Undead, Orcs, and Humans and relive epic battles, explore vast campaigns, build armies, and challenge friends in multiplayer matchmaking!

Call of Duty: WWII Key Art

Call of Duty: WWII (Console and PC) – June 30
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Call of Duty: WWII is a thrilling experience that redefines World War II. Land in Normandy on D-Day and battle across Europe through iconic locations in history’s most monumental war. Experience classic Call of Duty combat, the bonds of camaraderie, and the unforgiving nature of war against a global power throwing the world into tyranny.

Little Nightmares II (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 1
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Return to a world of charming horror in Little Nightmares II, a suspense adventure game in which you play as Mono, a young boy trapped in a world that has been distorted by the humming transmission of a distant tower. Will you dare to face this collection of new, little nightmares?

Rise of the Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 1
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Making a return to the Game Pass library! Featuring epic, high-octane action moments set in the most beautifully hostile environments on earth, Rise of the Tomb Raider delivers a cinematic survival action adventure where you will join Lara Croft on her first tomb raiding expedition.

DLC / Game Updates

Fallout 76: Gone Fission – Available now
Head over to angler’s rest to begin your angler journey. Combine different baits and rods to catch over thirty new fish and perhaps even hook a Local Legend. Enjoy your hard-earned gains by cooking up new recipes or proudly displaying trophies at your C.A.M.P.

Minecraft: Chase the Skies – Available today
Experience the joy of soaring above the Overworld with Minecraft’s Chase the Skies drop! Fly with your happy ghast, build high into the clouds, leash a caravan of camels together, find wandering friends with the Player Locator bar, and more. Players on Bedrock Edition can also soak in breathtaking views with Minecraft‘s biggest official visual refresh – Vibrant Visuals.

Dead by Daylight: Five Nights at Freddy’s – Available today
Dead by Daylight: Five Nights at Freddy’s brings Springtrap – once known as William Afton  – into The Fog as The Animatronic. A brutally efficient new Killer featuring unique gameplay mechanics and 3 fear-inducing Perks, Springtrap specializes in map wide surveillance, unrelenting pursuit, and delivering the jump-scares you love to hate.

Leaving June 30

The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Be sure to check them out before they go or use your membership discount to save up to 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library.

  • Arcade Paradise (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Journey to the Savage Planet (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • My Friend Peppa Pig (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Robin Hood: Sherwood Builders (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • SteamWorld Dig (Cloud and Console)
  • SteamWorld Dig 2 (Console and PC)

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

As always, we’ll keep you up to date with the latest reminders of when “coming soon” turns into “available today” (and will give you a virtual high five if you did get Bingo during the Xbox Games Showcase!) on @Xbox, @GamePass, and @XboxGamePassPC. Will talk to you here soon!

The post Coming to Game Pass: Rematch, Warcraft I & II: Remastered, Warcraft III: Reforged, Call of Duty: WWII, and More appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Deconstructing Robots at Midnight

Deconstructing Robots at Midnight

Robots at Midnight key art

Summary

  • Fast, punchy action RPG set in retro-futuristic world.
  • Fluid combat mechanics with two distinct modes of play.
  • A scrappy and inquisitive protagonist heavily influenced by 1990s anime.

Robots at Midnight isn’t set in your typical post-apocalyptic, sci-fi future. The luxury planet of Yob, now in ruins, is a hostile wasteland teeming with dangers. Among the crumbling infrastructure of cottage homes and state-of-the-art railway systems, we find our protagonist, Zoe, stranded on a planet built by machines, who must survive as the only human against a tide of sentient robots. Zoe’s journey is more than just a series of encounters; there are hidden paths and secrets to uncover on this forgotten world.

Robots at Midnight screenshot

Against the colorful – but broken – setting, a moving personal journey exists for our game’s hero as the story progresses. Will she make it home before midnight?

The developers at Finish Line Games aimed to create a vibrant action game with combat inspired by From Software games. The vision is to provide an accessible experience for a range of players and deliver a rich experience for more seasoned gamers familiar with challenging game titles like Elden Ring. “It had to offer the free movement that players expect, but also a flexible, engaging challenge,” says Creative Director Eric Frech. This led the development team to explore different layers of challenge. The ‘Hero Mode’ offers play-through focused on exploration and discovery, allowing players to delve into the mysteries and lore of Yob. But the harder ‘Master Mode’ caters to players who love the high-stakes challenge of pushing their skills to the limit against more difficult enemies.

Robots at Midnight screenshot

Designing combat for Robots at Midnight’s environment also meant embracing a fun, dynamic feel. The MITT, Zoe’s space-gauntlet, is more than just her primary weapon; it’s an extension of her determination. Her encounters with robots demand smart thinking – in addition to quick reflexes. Zoe will encounter useful items easily along her path, while other items require some hunting to be discovered.

Robots at Midnight screenshot

Ultimately, Yob is more than just a setting for Zoe to clobber robots at midnight; it’s a world with mysteries to unravel and lore to discover. Zoe’s fight for a brighter dawn in a world of hostile automatons is a journey of discovery, determination, and overcoming the odds. To that end, Frech proudly stated, “We aimed to build a wholly unique experience that lingers long after the last boss fight.”

Robots at Midnight screenshot

Using all the resources at your disposal, can you get Zoe home before midnight? Robots at Midnight is available June 19 on Xbox.

Robots at Midnight

Snail Games USA

$19.99

Robots at Midnight is a retro-futuristic Action RPG set on the planet Yob, a world left in ruins and haunted by the machines once built to serve it.

After twenty years in cryo-sleep, Zoe wakes to find a world she barely recognizes. To survive and to save what’s left, she must track down her missing father, lost during the cataclysmic event known only as The Blackout. Along the way, she’ll take on gangs of corrupted robots, confront towering bosses, and uncover long-buried truths about Yob.

Just be home before midnight.

[Combat with Fluid Movement]
The MITT is a powerful piece of old-world tech made for Space exploration, now repurposed for survival. Launch off enemies, soar through the air, and smash through bots with momentum-based combat that keeps you constantly moving. Whether in battle or traversal, fast, fluid movement is your greatest weapon. Find your rhythm. Sharpen your skills. Discover what you’re really made of.

[Choose Your Challenge]
Whether you’re new to action RPGs or a seasoned fighter, Robots at Midnight adapts to your playstyle. Hero Mode offers a more forgiving, story-driven experience, while Master Mode pushes your reflexes and tactics to the edge with high-stakes combat.

Whichever path you choose, prepare for a fight.

[Explore and Uncover Hidden Lore]
Waking up on a ruined planet isn’t the hard part, figuring out what happened is. Step into Zoe’s sneakers and investigate the mystery behind Yob’s downfall. Discover lost technologies, unravel the threads of the past, and determine your place in a future that moved on without you.

The post Deconstructing Robots at Midnight appeared first on Xbox Wire.