February 22, 2024 will mark a new chapter in the King Arthur mythology, when we here at NeocoreGames will be bringing our dark fantasy role-playing tactical game, King Arthur: Knight’s Tale to Xbox Series X|S. We look forward to fans being able to immerse themselves in the mystical realm of Avalon, when the game launches digitally for Xbox Series X|S early next year.

About King Arthur: Knight’s Tale

Described by critics as “the definitive King Arthur game,” King Arthur: Knight’s Tale brings the legendary Arthurian mythology into the modern day – Sprinkling in some dark fantasy tropes to provide an all-new approach to the traditional chivalric tales. 

The game, which combines turn-based tactical combat with a traditional, character-centric RPG gameplay, originally launched on PC following a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2020 – And has earned a devoted and passionate following in the years that followed.

King Arthur: Knight’s Tale has now been reimagined for Xbox Series X|S, offering players a choice between a 4K Quality Mode or a framerate-boosting Performance Mode, Local PVP as well as Xbox achievements.

We will continue to support the game long after its launch too, with plans for season content, optional skirmishes and more features coming at a later date.

Check out King Arthur – Knight’s Tale at ID@Xbox Demo Fest

From December 5 until December 31, fans will be able to get their hands on the console release of King Arthur: Knight’s Tale, via a demo, exclusively available to Xbox Series X|S players!

The demo features the first three maps of the game, as well as three skirmish maps from the “The Trials of Sir Tewelyn” skirmish pack.

To get your hands on King Arthur: Knight’s Tale during ID@Xbox Demo Fest, simply head here.

Preorder King Arthur – Knight’s Tale Today

Fans will be able to preorder King Arthur: Knight’s Tale for Xbox Series X|S right now! Simply click here to book your ticket to Avalon via the Camelot’s Fortune pack. 

In order to assist in the battle against King Arthur’s forces, we’re happy to offer a host of goodies to players who pre-order from today, including:

• Early Bird’s Ring – a console-exclusive Relic Item that grants a Hero the Slowing Hex skill.
• 1,000 Gold and 300 Building Resources to help get your construction work off the ground
• Satchel of Relic Dust – Use this in the Enchanted Tower to buy Relic items.
• Topaz Case, Box of Sapphires and a Chest of Emeralds – Use these gems in the Forge to upgrade your items
• Three Large Healing Potions
• Three Refreshing Potions
• Scroll of Fire Blast – A powerful, one-use AOE attack spell
• Scroll of Taunt – Enemies will focus on a target that uses this scroll
• Scroll of Recuperate – Target gains temporary HP for one turn
• Sir Mordred cosmetic skin
• Lady Dindraine cosmetic skin – Exclusive to console players!

We look forward to seeing you on the battlefields of Avalon on February 22, 2024!

King Arthur: Knight’s Tale

NeocoreGames

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

You are Sir Mordred, the nemesis of King Arthur, the former black knight of the grim tales. You killed King Arthur, but with his dying breath, he struck you down. You both died – and yet, you both live.

The Lady of the Lake, the ruler of the mystical island of Avalon brought you back to end a true nightmare. She wants you to go on a knightly quest. She wants you to finish what you have begun. Kill King Arthur – or whatever he has become after she took his dying vessel to Avalon.

— A Role-playing Tactical Game —
Experience a unique hybrid between turn-based tactical games and traditional, character-centric RPGs! This dark fantasy version of the Arthurian mythology invites you to manage a team of heroes on the dangerous battlefield, while also engaging in moral choices, hero management, and the rebuilding of Camelot.

— The dark fate of the kingdom —
Explore a land of nightmares where vile monsters and magical creatures lurk within castles and forests. The battle between Arthur and Mordred brought death, both of them falling at the hands of each other, and now the consequences unfold. Arthur, resurrected in Avalon, is now an undying mad king, his pain slowly turning this magical place into a nightmare version of Britannia. You are Mordred, brought back to life to find Arthur, and ultimately, kill him to end this accursed condition.

— The Round Table reborn —
Gather your knights and send them on quests involving deep, tactical battles! Assemble a team of heroes, selecting from six classes (Defender, Champion, Marksman, Vanguard, Arcanist, Sage). Level them up, gain unique skill points, equip the best items looted from missions. But beware! Heroes can die, and the treatment of their injuries, curses, diseases take time. Between missions, make sure that Camelot has the right facilities for recovery, and prepare different heroes for different quests.

— A question of loyalty —
Heroes are your main resources – but no mere numbers! They have their own distinct personalities, goals, rivalries (even unique traits, skills and bond benefits). They will observe your decisions closely! Settle disputes, grant favours, select heroes who can work together, send them on missions they are comfortable with. Tread carefully, because their loyalty depends on many factors. They can even leave and turn against you!

— The making of a monarch —
You, as a king, have a personality as well, shaped by your actions and moral choices. The Morality Chart will represent your status between Christianity and Old Faith, between Tyranny and Righteousness. Your choices affect values on this chart, influencing both gameplay and narrative.

— The weight of decisions —
Every small decision matters – not only the moral choices, but actions taken in the turn-based combat as well. The campaign unfolds with a roguelite twist: no reloads, only regrets! The thrill of dealing with the consequences is half the fun, but your decisions also affect the story. Each playthrough can unfold differently, branching in unexpected ways.

— The end is only the beginning —
Play through the campaign (once or see multiple paths), and after that, you unlock the endgame, reserved only for the bravest. Tough new challenges appear on the map with mythic bossfights, random quests, more loot and character progression ultimately leading to the banishing of Balor, the monstrous god-king of the Fomorians.

The post King Arthur: A Knight’s Tale Comes to Xbox February 22 – Play Now During the ID@Xbox Demo Fest appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Sharpen your scythe, Xbox fans, and show the underworld who’s boss. 

We are so excited to see our game, Have A Nice Death, release on Xbox. For the anecdote, everything originated from a little sketch of Death scribbled by the Creative Director, Nicolas Leger, in the corner of a page during an Unruly Heroes meeting (our first game). This sparked a conversation about what it would be like if Death were in charge of the underworld and worked in a traditional office setting. With everything that’s been going on in the world, Death would probably be pretty busy processing paperwork for incoming souls and in desperate need of a vacation. 

 “I thought it had great visual potential: simple proportions, clean silhouette, an obvious and iconic weapon, and this concept of a shapeshifting cloak immediately gave me ideas for movement and combat,” Leger says. “It was just one or two months later that I made the next step with a staged gameplay video during my free time.” 

And this is how it all started. Now, let’s dive deep into what might interest you: The gameplay of Have a Nice Death!  

Have a Nice Death is a fast, action-packed hack and slash roguelike in procedural environments where you play as Death, and must go across unique departments (levels) to defeat the Sorrows (the bosses) until you reach your goal: The final elevator that lets you have a much-needed vacation. Acquiring and choosing the tools in your arsenal for this adventure is of the utmost importance! First, choose the kind of scythe you want at the beginning of each run as they all provide a different move set and gameplay. During your adventure, you will also find other weapons including fireballs, maces, and bows. We have short range, long range, easy-to-use, and hard-to-master weapons, totaling over 70 weapons for you to play and mix to fit your playstyle. 

Have a Nice Death has many unique twists compared to some other roguelikes. The progression system in our game l gives you the opportunity to gain new abilities and upgrades, however, there’s a chance they might also give a boost to your enemies! We call these upgrades “curses” and to gain them, you will have to fight our menagerie of Sorrows & Thanagers (mini bosses)! 

Try to think about the combination of these upgrades together as they are the key to completing the game and you will need to pick them according to the weapons in your arsenal. If you use a multi-hit weapon, we would suggest a green curse that spawns a deadly butterfly per hit you do. Did I say green one? That’s because Have a Nice Death’s curses are split into 3 branches (blue, red, green) on a random skill tree. They are ranked in accordance with the main pillars of Death, Inc.’s business philosophy: Red for Daring, Green for Excellence, and Blue for Innovation. Red curses focus on damage-based buffs, green curses focus on enhancing your ability to use spells, and blue curses focus on utility or defense-based buffs. Curses play an important role on how you want your character build to be like (e.g., have a more weapon-focused or a spell- focused build), so make sure to take curses that fit the build you’d like to have! 

Another twist is the Anima system, the healing system in the game. As you explore Death, Inc., you’ll come across Blue Anima, which does heal you but it only heals your injuries!  So you’ll need to be on the lookout for ways to completely heal Death, such as finding and using Koffee or the very rare Golden Anima. Dodging every attack or killing stuff quickly works, too!  

One of the goals for Have a Nice Death was to have a good mix of improvisation and foresight. We wanted the player to both be surprised by each run in order to give the feeling of what we call the “golden run,” but still be able to have agency and try to influence the run to feel the satisfaction of being overpowered. This occurs by offering the player many choices while switching up gameplay as to not encourage “save-scumming,” for example. 

While Have a Nice Death is roguelike and we know you will die (I mean, “burn out”), you don’t have to be afraid of the difficulty. We have thought about everything. You will always find some gold to spend in your very own lobby with Joe to unlock new weapons or food to consume. He’s even nice enough to offer you a ridiculous discount if you have completed some objectives for him. For those who want an easier or a more challenging playthrough across Death, Inc., there are 15 difficulty levels to choose from, as we know roguelike players enjoy a nice challenge as they hack’n’slash away! 

Have a Nice Death is available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One now.

Have a Nice Death

Gearbox Publishing San Francisco Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
3

★★★★★

$24.99

$19.99

Get it now

Welcome to Death, Inc.
Discover and explore the darkly-charming, procedurally-generated departments of Death Inc., where you’ll meet a diverse cast of memorable characters—like your affable pumpkin-headed assistant, Pump Quinn—who are always willing to share the latest office gossip

Reap What You Sow
Sharpen your skills (and scythe) through fast-paced hack n’ slash combat, utilizing over 70 unique weapons and spells you can find and upgrade to create devastating combinations

Death Never Sleeps
Since Death can’t die, use what you’ve learned and earned to overcome the numerous minions and bosses in each department of Death Incorporated… over and over. A performance review after every run guarantees that you’ll unlock interesting items and upgrades that will help you progress on your journey

When Death Gives You Curses
Taking more power for yourself is a controversial move in Death Incorporated’s company culture. For instance, adopting a Curse upgrade for yourself might result in the Labor Inspector granting your subordinates enhanced powers, or worse, raising the cost of koffee and other items that are vital to your work output

The post Have a Nice Death Brings Roguelike Fun and Challenge to Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Seasons Greetings from Xbox! We are proud to bring you 33 incredible demos to play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Just like last year’s Winter Game Demo event, you can download and play these in the comfort of your own home between December 5 – 31.

We encourage you to check them out with friends and families during this holiday season starting today and within the coming weeks as demos become available. These demos are an early look at gameplay and may not represent the full game at their release, including the availability in each country as developers continue to update and refine their title ahead of launch. So, don’t forget you can help provide early feedback to the devs!

We’re also excited to share the 10 newly announced games below are coming to Xbox!

502’s Arcade (502 Studios)

502’s Arcade is an anthology of arcade games. Each game is a remix of genres with mechanics that you’ve always loved with modern twists that will make them an enjoyable challenge for all kinds of players.

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Captain Bones (World of Poly)

Captain Bones is an exhilarating action-adventure game that immerses you in an expansive pirate world. Your survival skills will guide you through epic ship battles and thrilling treasure hunts alongside your loyal crew. Navigate handcrafted pirate islands, harness resources to create weapons and vehicles, and embark on daring explorations. At its core, the game follows the journey of Captain Bones from a simple crew member to a legendary captain.

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Champion Shift (SRG Studios)

Champion Shift is a fast-paced, action roguelike where you play as a mythical champion fighting against the evil Dominion. Unlock mythical upgrades throughout your game session, shift form into a vehicle to power through masses of enemies and defeat epic bosses to progress through your run.

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Dinosaur Fossil Hunter (Pyramid Games S.A.)

Become a real paleontologist, explore various environments and search for dinosaur fossils. Dig for and study the remnants of these majestic creatures to learn about their evolution. Build your own museum and experience an immersive background story. Drive off-road vehicles, explore dig sites, use excavation tools, search through deformable terrain. Prepare fossils.

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Donut Dodo (pixle.games)

If a long-lost arcade game from 1983 resurfaced today, it would be Donut Dodo. A classic platforming frenzy from the golden era that’s tough as nails and challenging for the whole family! Will you top the high score table today?

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New Star GP (Five Aces Publishing/New Star Games)

New Star GP is a retro arcade racer that puts you in the driving seat at iconic racing circuits from the 1980s to the present day. Lead your team through all the drama of race strategies, pitting, tyre blowouts and more to take glory and win the World Championship!

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Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion (Starstruck Games)

Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion is a challenging mystery dungeon combined with match 3 mechanics that will intrigue both turn-based roguelike and puzzle fans alike. Travel through a castle full of traps and monsters, strategically using your turns to move, attack, cast spells, and match mana to defeat enemies!

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Slopecrashers (byteparrot)

Slopecrashers is an arcade snowboard combat racer in which a wild crew of animals band together on a world spanning tour to become the best snowboarders. Unfortunately, somebody is trying to ruin their plans! Grab your friends and barrel down the slopes together while battling it out in high-speed races with over-the-top power-ups!

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The Land Beneath Us (PID Games/FairPlay Studios)

The Land Beneath Us is a turn-based rogue-lite action dungeon crawler. Use powerful skill combos and stylish weaponry to battle your way through the Underworld known as Annwn. Defeat the Seven Lords and rescue The Creator and her vital Soul-Tech.

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Vagrus – The Riven Realms (Lost Pilgrims Studio)

Embark on a perilous journey across a realm forsaken by the gods and devastated by an arcane cataclysm. Accompanied by a hardy crew, you must trade, fight, and explore your way to success as the leader of a traveling company in Vagrus, an award-winning turn-based post-apocalyptic fantasy RPG.

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Along with these unique titles, there’s a diverse list of games that will be available to try! Below are the games, and their developers, participating in the ID@Xbox Game Demo Winterfest:

• 502’s Arcade (502 Studios)
• Backbeat (Ichigoichie) – Available Now
• Captain Bones (World of Poly)
• Champion Shift (SRG Studios)
• Chessarama (Minimol Games) – Pre-order Now
• Deceive Inc. (Sweet Bandits Studios), available now
• Dinosaur Fossil Hunter (Pyramid Games S.A.)
• Donut Dodo (pixel.games)
• Go Mecha Ball (Whale Peak Games)
• Hidden Through Time 2 (Rogueside)
• Howl (Mi’pu’mi Games), pre-order now
• Kiborg (Sobaka Studio)
• King Arthur: Knight’s Tale (NeocoreGames), pre-order now
• Kingdoms and Castles (BlitWorks Games), available now
• Long Gone Days (Serenity Forge),  available now
• New Star GP (New Star Games)
• Oppidum (EP Games)
• Parcel Corps (Secret Mode)
• Pinball FX (Zen Studios); available now
• Pinball M (Zen Studios), available now
• PlateUp! (It’s Happening)
• Puzzledorf (Stuart’s Pixel Games)
• Roguematch: The Extraplanar Invasion (Starstruck Games)
• Shoulders of Giants (Moving Pieces Interactive), available now
• Sker Ritual (Wales Interactive)
• Slave Zero X (Poppy Works), pre-order now
• Slopecrashers (byteparrot)
• Space Boat (Recombobulator Games)
• SquadBlast (Ultrahorse)
• Strings Theory (BeautifulBee)
• The Holy Gosh Darn (Perfectly Paranormal)
• The Land Beneath Us (FairPlay Studios)
• Vagrus – The Riven Realms (Lost Pilgrims Studio)

Head over to your Xbox and chill out with these exciting demos on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S! And yes, we’d love to hear what you think. Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, Discord, Twitch, and YouTube. Stay tuned to Xbox Wire to learn more about what Team Xbox has planned and of course, have an incredibly fun winter season of gaming!

The post ID@Xbox Game Demo Winterfest Showcases 30+ Games appeared first on Xbox Wire.

After the thrilling release of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty earlier this year, we’re excited to now offer players the full package in the form of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition! Containing the base game, its spy-thriller expansion, and the game-changing Update 2.0, it’s the ultimate Cyberpunk experience — and it’s out today! You can snag a physical copy for your Xbox Series X at select retailers or download the digital version for Xbox Series X|S.

To celebrate the game’s availability, we’re also launching the free Update 2.1, featuring brand-new features like the much-requested Radioport, a functional metro system, hangouts with partners in V’s apartment, and much more. Later in the month, we’ve got a treat for every Night Citizen — a full game booklet containing developer interviews, insights into the game’s creation, and a healthy dose of inspiration straight from the people who created the game.

Before the full booklet comes out, we’ve got an exclusive excerpt to share with you, featuring ten things you’ll definitely want to try your hand at, whether you’re a brand-new merc or an Afterlife legend. Let’s dive in!

Shoot some street photography

Every district here has its own flavor and feel, so what’s one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local vibes? Photography! Take in the sights and see life through the lens of an NC native by taking preem shots across every district. That’s right, time to enter full-on Photo Mode. If you wanna admire the sights but don’t wanna cross paths with scavs, cyberpsychos, or bored street gangoons, use those handy new sightseeing binos and enjoy the city’s vista points from a safe distance.

Travel on the NCART

Who said getting around has to be a chore? Travel in NC is surprisingly efficient, and we say the NCART sky metro is one of the coolest (and safest) ways to get from A-B. Tickets are pretty cheap, so consider taking a smooth ride on public transit before going bumper to bumper with gonk city drivers.

Ride the rollercoaster in Pacifica

Pacifica was supposed to be a booming vacay resort, the perfect place to chill and indulge in all the pleasures the oh-so-wonderful megacorp bottom line could muster. Obviously, it all went to hell, but you can still find some moments of joy amidst the ruins. The broken down roller coaster seems primed for a jumpstart, so if you’re up for a thrillride and willing to put the work in, you might just be able to capture a moment of what this forgotten district should have been in the first place.

Discover preem arcade classics

Back in the day, kids and kid-like adults would burn eddies and hours breaking their fingers to get high scores in the local arcades. It’s a bust business now, what with BDs and the like, but we’ve recently discovered some absolute classics — playable if you find an arcade machine in working order. Roach Race and Trauma Drama — ahhh, now they take me back.

Explore Dogtown

Okay, yes you’d have to be desperate to even try to break into Dogtown — and we don’t usually encourage our readers to risk their lives getting into what most people call the ‘deadliest district’ of Night City — but if you’re dead set on seeing all there is to see in Night City, it might be worth it. Who knows, with a little patience, an opportunity to get through those impenetrable walls in Pacifica might even present itself to you. Crazier things have happened! Anyway, from what we hear, you can bag some sweet deals in that black market… just try not to piss off Hansen and Barghest while you’re at it.

Join the gig economy

Corps might rule Night City but we also have a thriving business of badass entrepreneurs. Mercs, edgerunners, cyberpunks — they go by many names, but the best thing about them is there’s always work to be done. Fixers are always in need of individuals with special skills, so if you wanna try your hand then keep an eye out for lucrative gigs. Eddies and street cred await!

Help fight crime

Gangers think they run this town. Sure, it’s hard to argue when they’ve got a gun in your face with their finger on the trigger, but it’s high time someone put these gonks in their place. The NCPD is understaffed and… well, let’s just leave it at that — so if you’ve got the gear to lend a hand and chip away at the daily crime statistics, you’re bound to be well rewarded. Stay tuned for NCPD alerts across the city; there’s always a crime in progress.

Change your entire self!

Y’know what they say: Night City Changes Every Body. Whether you’re bored of your looks or you just wanna try something new, head to any ripperdoc and they’ll be able to sculpt your appearance however you wish. And hey, while you’re at it, why not get chipped with some chrome? Can you really say you’ve been to Night City if you haven’t refreshed your implants?

Indulge in some romance

Got a special someone you just love spending time with? First, good for you! Who knew you could find love amidst the chaos of Night City, huh? Sometimes a quiet moment with your soulmate is all you need to recharge and feel content, and believe me that’s a rare thing in this screwed up world we live in. So go on, give that lucky person a call on the holo and forget about everything else for a bit. Date night ftw! Or, you know, if you’re not currently seeing someone, you can always go visit Jig Jig Street for some late-night fun…

Settle down

Can’t stop digging Night City? Try out life in different districts by checking out the apartment rental market! EZEstates on the Net has you covered, whether you’re yearning for the high-life in Corpo Plaza or the gritty feel of Japantown. And what the hell, while you’re in the shopping mood check out the Autofixer site to claim some sweet wheels of your own. A house and a car: ain’t that the life?

Feeling inspired? Jump into Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and try out the full list! The game and the free Update 2.1 are out now Xbox Series X|S — so see you in Night City.

The post 10 Things to Do In Night City With Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.