Worlds collide, and a demon begins his hunt! Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6 come together for a special collaboration, bringing the ultimate master of the fist, Akuma, and more fun crossover content to the ever-changing Forbidden Lands.

In the Monster Hunter Wilds x Street Fighter 6 special collaboration, you can obtain materials needed to forge collaboration equipment and rewards by completing special missions. Be sure to experience Akuma’s story in a thrilling Side Mission once the collaboration is available on May 28!

Starting at HR 21 or above, you can take on Side Missions from Quinn at the Oilwell Basin Base Camp. Complete Side Missions to take on the Arena Quests, “Demonic Strength” and “True Strength.”

You can also obtain titles, a nameplate, a pose, and a background for your Hunter Profile in this special collaboration!

Recreating Akuma’s Iconic Moves

By equipping Akuma’s full armor set and layered armor, hunters can use collaboration-exclusive items and gestures, as well as perform Akuma’s moves that feel authentic to Street Fighter 6.

Akuma’s actions can be selected from the item bar. You can even execute Akuma’s combo attacks by using “Assisted Combo: Akuma” or unleash the special move “Gou Hadoken”. Separately, as a gesture, “SF6 Gou Shoryuken” is also available too!

The Drive Impact system from Street Fighter 6, as well as other features, are also brought to life in Monster Hunter Wilds, allowing hunters to experience the unique features of the fighting game in a whole new way.

Additional touches such as victory screens, animations, and more make this collaboration truly feel like a blend of both Monster Hunter Wilds and Street Fighter 6. We hope you enjoy seeing all the details the team has added!

And of course, while playing using the full Akuma armor set, you can hunt using all 14 weapon types as usual!

The special collaboration will be available on May 28!

A Street Fighter 6 Special Collaboration Paid DLC Pack Will Also Be Available on May 28

A variety of Street Fighter 6 cosmetic items will be available as paid DLC, both as a pack and as individual items.

Here’s the lineup of paid DLC:

• Alma Outfit: Chun-Li Outfit – SF6
• Alma Outfit: Cammy Outfit – SF6
• Gesture: SF6 Hadoken
• Gesture: SF6 Shoryuken
• Gesture: SF6 Tatsumaki Senpu-kyaku
• Sticker Set: Street Fighter 6 Set
• Pendant: Blanka-Chan Doll

For more information, please visit the official website.

Please look forward to more Monster Hunter Wilds news in the future with our free title update roadmap, above.

Monster Hunter Wilds Premium Deluxe Edition

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆
2138

★★★★★

$109.99

Get it now

The Premium Deluxe Edition includes Monster Hunter Wilds (main game), and the Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pass!

The following content is included:

● Monster Hunter Wilds (main game)

【Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pass】
The Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pass consists of 3 DLC packs, planned to release over time from the main game’s release until Summer 2025, at a great value.

●Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Pack (Planned for release when the main game releases)
The below 16 contents are included:
・Hunter Layered Armor Set: Feudal Soldier, Hunter Layered Armor: Fencer’s Eyepatch, Oni Horns Wig
・Seikret Decoration: Soldier’s Caparison, General’s Caparison
・Felyne Layered Armor Set: Felyne Ashigaru
・Pendant: Avian Wind Chime
・Gesture: Battle Cry, Uchiko
・Hairstyle: Hero’s Topknot, Refined Warrior
・Makeup/Face Paint: Hunter’s Kumadori, Special Bloom
・Sticker Set: Avis Unit, Monsters of the Windward Plains
・Nameplate: Extra Frame — Russet Dawn *Deluxe Pack Bonus Item

●Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pack 1 (Planned for release in Spring 2025)
The below 16 contents are included:
・Hunter layered armor: 1 series (5 pieces), and 1 piece
・Seikret decorations: 2
・Pendants: 6 (Color variation)
・Pose Sets: 1
・Makeup/Facepaint: 1
・Sticker set: 1
・BGM Set: 1
・Pop-up camp customization contents: 2
*This item affects apperances only. More details at a later date.

●Monster Hunter Wilds Cosmetic DLC Pack 2 (Planned for release in Summer 2025)
The below 14 contents are included:
・Hunter layered armor: 1 series (5 pieces)
・Pendants: 6 (Color variation)
・Gesture sets: 2
・Hairstyles: 2
・Makeup/Facepaint: 2
・Sticker set: 1

●Premium Bonus (Planned for release when the main game releases)
・Hunter Layered Armor: Wyverian Ears
・Premium Bonus Hunter Profile Set
・BGM: Proof of a Hero (2025 Recording)

*The bonus content listed above may be available by alternative means at a later date.
*The Deluxe Pack content can be accessed after the the release date. The content for each Cosmetic DLC Pack can be accessed after the relevant pack releases at a later date.
*This content can also be obtained separately. Please be careful of duplicate transactions.
*Content details and release date may change without prior notice.
*You may need to update to the latest version of the game to use this content.

■Monster Hunter Wilds
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next.
This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.
Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.
The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Edition

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆
1816

★★★★★

$89.99

Get it now

The Deluxe Edition includes Monster Hunter Wilds (main game) and the Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Pack!

The following content is included:

● Monster Hunter Wilds (main game)

【Monster Hunter Wilds Deluxe Pack】
A pack of communication and appearance items to make your hunting life even more enjoyable.
●Hunter Layered Armor Set: Feudal Soldier
●Hunter Layered Armor: Fencer’s Eyepatch
●Hunter Layered Armor: Oni Horns Wig
●Seikret Decoration: Soldier’s Caparison
●Seikret Decoration: General’s Caparison
●Felyne Layered Armor Set: Felyne Ashigaru
●Pendant: Avian Wind Chime
●Gesture: Battle Cry
●Gesture: Uchiko
●Hairstyle: Hero’s Topknot
●Hairstyle: Refined Warrior
●Makeup/Face Paint: Hunter’s Kumadori
●Makeup/Face Paint: Special Bloom
●Sticker Set: Avis Unit
●Sticker Set: Monsters of the Windward Plains
●Nameplate: Extra Frame — Russet Dawn *Deluxe Pack Bonus Item

*The bonus content listed above may be available by alternative means at a later date.
*This content can also be obtained separately. Please be careful of duplicate transactions.
*You may need to update to the latest version of the game to use this content.

■Monster Hunter Wilds
The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next.
This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.
Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.
The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Monster Hunter Wilds

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆
398

★★★★★

$69.99

Get it now

The unbridled force of nature runs wild and relentless, with environments transforming drastically from one moment to the next.
This is a story of monsters and humans and their struggles to live in harmony in a world of duality.
Fulfill your duty as a Hunter by tracking and defeating powerful monsters and forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest from your hunt as you uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.
The ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds.
Story
A few years past, a young boy named Nata was rescued at the border of the Forbidden Lands, an unexplored region the guild has yet to survey.
After hearing the boy’s tale of his lone escape from a mysterious monster that attacked his village, the Guild organized an expedition into the Forbidden Lands to investigate.
A Living World
Environments within the Forbidden Lands can drastically change as the weather shifts constantly and suddenly. During the harsh Fallow and perilous Inclemency periods, ravenous monsters will venture out to hunt in packs, yet during the Plenty periods, wildlife is rich and abundant.
Monsters
The monsters who inhabit these environments have been forced to adapt to the dynamic changes that occur, using their unique characteristics to survive and thrive.
Hunting
As the world around them changes, so must the hunters and their tactics. Not only will hunters have a multitude of weapons and armor to choose from, but the art of the hunt itself has evolved as hunters learn to anticipate monsters’ behavior and familiarize themselves with their environment.
Characters
From hunting partners to fellow expedition members, you’ll encounter plenty of those who will support you on your journey.

The year is 30XX, and the world has seen better days. Cities have crumbled, humanity has faded, and rogue AI forces have overrun what’s left. But even in the wreckage, a spark remains—and with it, a chance to rebuild. Lynked: Banner of the Spark isn’t just a hack-and-slash game. It’s an action-RPG where fast-paced action and heartfelt community-building go hand-in-hand.

Every mission helps you grow stronger, but more importantly, it helps you restore a broken world. Whether you’re battling Combots with your Wyre and customized weapon loadout or growing crops and cooking for your Unibot companions, your progress fuels something greater than survival. It fuels connection.

After an early access period on PC, Lynked comes to Xbox consoles today as part of its 1.0 release. Let me fill you in on the genre-blending game we’ve made.

Hack, Slash, and Spark with the Wyre

At the heart of Lynked is the Wyre, a grappling hook that lets you push, pull, swing, and stun enemies in combat. Combine it with one of ten distinct weapon types—each modifiable per mission—to adapt your playstyle on the fly. It makes for quick, satisfying combat encounters that reward precision and creativity. But while missions are essential to unlocking Sparkpowers and Soulsparks—vital upgrades that enhance your abilities—the action is just the beginning.

After each mission, you return to your town, a space you’ll shape over time into a vibrant hub full of quirky Unibots and meaningful memories. It’s here that Lynked sets itself apart. You’re not just resting between fights—you’re rebuilding, customizing, and forming bonds with characters who have rich histories and distinct personalities.

Spend time exploring early on: visit Sparkold to unlock powers and purchase revives, check out the Beautification Station to personalize your style, and stop by The Master Forge to enhance your weapons. Even something as simple as walking through town can unlock new features and stories.

Unibots: Your Quirky (and Combat-ready) Companions

Unibots play a central role in shaping your journey. As you explore the world, you’ll take on rescue missions that bring new Unibot companions into your town—each one adding meaningful upgrades to your settlement. Whether they’re helping you craft and upgrade new weapons, expanding your character’s customization options, or simply bringing more personality to your world, these companions are far more than background characters—they’re vital to your progress.

Battle Companions are a type of Unibot that will support you in combat missions. Each Battle Companion has their own combat style—ranging from rapid DPS strikes to supportive healing—and unique Sparkpowers that bring tactical variety to every encounter.

With the Resident Favors system, you can deepen these relationships by learning your Unibots’ preferences and fulfilling their requests. Cooking plays a key role here: you can grow crops, gather rotating ingredients, and discover recipes to cook personalized dishes for your companions. These meals don’t just nourish—they increase your Unibots’ level, strength, and rank.

As you progress through missions and develop your town, Unibots ensure you’re never facing challenges alone—bringing personality, power, and heart to every corner of your world.

A Few More Tips to Spark your Journey…

One of the more underrated systems early on is the Dime Saloon, which offers combat contracts tied to specific weapons or styles. Completing them earns extra Sparks and rewards experimentation. It’s a great way to explore the variety of combat options available without feeling locked into one approach.

As your town grows, you’ll also start collecting Bittibots and Gilibots—mischievous little helper bots who assist in crafting, building, and decorating. Filling out your Bot-O-Pedia isn’t just satisfying—it’s essential to unlocking more creative options and resources.

Whether you’re customizing your town, upgrading your companions, or decorating the perfect garden plaza, Lynked offers a steady rhythm of progress and play. It’s a world that invites exploration and rewards care. Even the UI—the Buddy OS—helps keep things approachable, letting you manage your town, residents, and gear from a central hub. It’s cozy, but never slow. Strategic, but never stressful.

Join the Resistance and Take on the Fight, Together

At its core, Lynked is a game about togetherness. It balances roguelite intensity with warmth and optimism. You’re not just pushing back against a mechanical apocalypse—you’re building something beautiful in its wake. It’s that perfect blend of frenetic action and slow, satisfying rebuilding that makes every session feel meaningful.

Whether you’re playing solo, co-op with friends, or alongside your battle companions, you’ll never have to take on the fight alone. There will always be a few friendly robot faces waiting for you in town between your battles.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark launches on Xbox today, and we can’t wait for you to discover its world—one filled with combat, crafting, companionship, and hope. Join us on Discord, follow us on X or Instagram, and start planning your dream town.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark

Dreamhaven

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

It’s the year 30XX, and the natural world has been overrun by an evil robot force… but all is not lost. As you rescue and join forces with a charming band of robot companions called the Unibots, you’ll form a community of fearless friends, and work together to build a new future from the ground up.

A ROGUE-LIFE RPG
Lynked: Banner of the Spark fuses the action packed fun of a roguelite with the rich progression and charm of a life sim. In this vibrant rogue-life RPG, combat and customization go hand in hand. Put your skills to the test against swarms of robot foes and tough-as-nails bosses, then use their parts and other resources to expand and upgrade your home base. Whether you’re a homebody or a hardened warrior, there are endless ways to pitch in – it’ll take a village to save the world!

LYNK UP IN CO-OP OR SOLO
Take on a variety of hack-and-slash missions either solo or with up to 3 players. But wait… your Unibot pals want a piece of the action, too! Players can power up and recruit allied bots into the fight as companions, where they have their own powers, fighting styles, and combo attacks to send your foes to the scrap pile!

WEAPONS AND THE WYRE
Kick bolts with your trusty grapple, known as the Wyre, along with an arsenal of weapons at your disposal! Gain an edge on enemies with 10 weapon classes, 80+ variations, robust permanent progression systems, and randomized mid-mission upgrades ensuring no two runs are ever the same.

BUILD A THRIVING TOWN
Enlist the help of robots and up to 5 friends to work together and build a bright local community. Catch fish, collect critters, harvest crops, and craft items to make your home uniquely yours! In addition to enriching your town, use the resources you collect to upgrade your character with special powers and techniques to take to your next fight.

FINE-TUNE YOUR LOOK
Rebuild society in style with deep character customization, featuring more options and accessories than you can shake a wrench at!

The ultimate Festival of Warhammer video games returned today for its 9^th year – Warhammer Skulls just aired, bringing news for Xbox Warhammer games, and huge discounts.

Hosted once again by huge Warhammer fan, Rahul Kohli, returning for the third year in a row, the Skulls Showcase kicks off an exciting week of world premieres, as well as new announcements and content reveals for Xbox fans. Alongside this celebration, players can expect huge deals and discounts on the Xbox and Microsoft Store, with up to 85% off savings during the event.

Let’s take a closer look at the announcements, reveals, and updates included in the Warhammer Skulls Festival:

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine – Master Crafted Edition was announced and will be coming to Xbox and PC on June 10.  This is an uprezzed 4k version of the game with improved character Models, modernized control schemes and upgraded audio. Relive the original adventure on Xbox Series X|S.  Also available Day 1 on Game Pass!

That wasn’t all though, Focus Entertainment and Saber gave us our first look at Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2’s new Siege mode and revealed it will be coming on June 26.

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide has announced a new playable Class DLC will be coming to Xbox and PC on June 23.  That’s right, the Adepus Arbites becomes a playable character…. ably assisted by a playable Cyber Mastiff which you can send to disable priority targets and provide vital support to your strike team.  Don’t forget the Darktide base game is available on Game Pass, and it is also available as part of Xbox Free Play Days this week!

Xbox fans will remember Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus 2 was announced at last year’s Skulls Event.  This year, we got a new trailer featuring the Leagues of Votann and a first look at gameplay.  Whether this faction will be allies or foes to the player is yet to be seen, but this will be the first time the faction has appeared in a Warhammer 40,000 video game. Wishlist the game now! In celebration, you can play the first Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus as part of this week’s Free Play Days.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader announced its second DLC is coming on June 24.  Lex Imperialis sees the Arbitrators join the game and a new companion, locations and archetypes.  Owlcat also announced there will be a Season Pass 2 starting during Skulls and have teased there will be another 2 DLCs to follow as part of that.  Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is available to buy on Xbox and PC and is also available on Xbox Game Pass.  It also features as part of the Free Play Days during Skulls.

The bombastic boomer shooter Boltgun returns to Xbox in Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, including Warhammer Skulls host, Rahul Kohli, resuming his role as veteran Sternguard Malum Caedo, which was announced today.  Wishlist now!

The showcase also revealed trailers for Season 9 of Blood Bowl 3, which showed off the new Khorne Team (coming June 10), new content for Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector available now,and a tease that the Black Legion will be joining the fight later this year.  Vermintide 2 saw the release of the 3^rd new level of Verminous Dreams, a free Update.  Vermintide 2 is also available on Xbox Game Pass now as part of Skulls. 

Over on the Microsoft store, Total War: Warhammer 3 gave us a glimpse at the free next legendary lord in their new Tides of Torment DLC content coming to PC soon.

The fun doesn’t stop there though – remember-Darktide, Rogue Trader and Vermintide are all on Xbox Game Pass.  Game Pass subscribers can also use Xbox Free Play Days to try out multiple Warhammer games between May 22-26, including Blood Bowl 3, Rogue Trader, Chaos Gate Daemon Hunters, Mechanicus, Shootas Blood and Teef, Darktide, Chaosbane Slayer Edition and Inquisitor Martyr.  You can also check out Dynamic Backgrounds for Boltgun, Space Marine 2 and Rogue Trader!

Now, that’s a lot of Warhammer to get your teeth stuck into! And that’s just some highlights of the awesome Warhammer content coming soon. Don’t forget, you can check it all out, and grab some great deals, on the dedicated Warhammer Skulls Festival landing page over on the Microsoft Store. Thanks for reading!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, and we at CD Projekt Red have commemorated the milestone by collaborating with the Xbox team to create a tempered and battle-ready controller for players looking to expand their witcher’s toolkit. Embark on the path with the Xbox Wireless Controller – The Witcher 3 10th Anniversary Special Edition and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core The Witcher 3 10th Anniversary Special Edition. This is such a special moment for both our teams, and we wanted to share some insight into how Geralt’s journey brought this design to life.

Our team has put great care into representing the style of The Witcher 3 and Geralt himself, headlined by the wolf medallion iconography at the center of the controller. The medallion acts as a constant for Geralt, one that allows him to adventure and warns him of lurking dangers, and we want players to connect with these controllers in the same way. We love how the design fits the layout of the controller, with the wolf’s head coming below the Xbox button and between the other inputs with its glowing red eyes. It’s very ominous and epic at the same time!

But this is just one design detail The Witcher 3 players can appreciate. The controllers also feature Glagolitic script, the oldest known Slavic alphabet and the same one found in the game itself. As for what the script says… we won’t spoil it here, but let’s just say those symbols are not random. The iconic red claw mark from The Witcher 3’s logo can also be found on the controller, paying homage to the grand adventures Geralt had throughout Velen, Novigrad, Skellige, and beyond. We gave the controller triggers two different colors in homage to the witcher’s twin swords too — silver for monsters, steel for humans.

These decorative elements are true to the style of The Witcher 3, coming across as if once painted or crafted with incredible care but now worn down and weathered. The world of The Witcher 3 is not always a pleasant one; it can be difficult and demanding and it will leave its mark. We also worked with Joshua Flowers, Design Team Lead at CD Projekt Red, on establishing this vision.

“We explored a lot of directions when creating this controller, but from the beginning we knew we wanted to tell a story,” he said. “We wanted it to feel like something that has been with you on the path, something worn and personal. As we developed concepts, we began crafting the story of this controller — and how it might exist in The Witcher 3‘s world. This narrative is what we fell in love with. It had to feel like it belonged in The Witcher 3 universe — like it had lived through battles and carried stories of its own.”

These special edition controllers are the perfect accessories to commemorate 10 years of The Witcher 3 — 10 years of killing monsters, 10 years of playing Gwent, and 10 years of winds howling. The Witcher 3 has such a lasting legacy, and we wanted to commemorate this by releasing something that fits right in the hands of the players who journeyed with Geralt over the last 10 years. We’re not just celebrating a defining moment in CD Projekt Red’s history; we’re also celebrating the endless adventures had by players over the last decade, and all the joy and excitement they’ve reciprocated to us.

“We are incredibly excited to be working so closely with Xbox on the Special Edition The Witcher 3 controllers,” said Agnieszka Skuza, marketing specialist at CD Projekt Red. “It was great to bounce ideas back and forward with Xbox as we both worked to create something truly special. The Witcher 3 has such a lasting legacy and we wanted to commemorate this by releasing something that fits right in the hands of players who’s journeyed with Geralt over the last 10 years.”

Available Now

We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to celebrate such an important milestone alongside CD Projekt. This Witcher-themed design is available now for both the Xbox Wireless Controller and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core. The Xbox Wireless Controller includes all the major attributes a witcher needs, including rubberized back grips, remappable controller inputs through the Xbox Accessories app, and Bluetooth support that allows you to journey with Geralt no matter where you play, be it Xbox Series X|S, One, PC, iOS, or Android devices. With the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core, monster slayers that strive for even more customization will appreciate the shorter hair trigger locks, adjustable-tension thumbsticks, and rechargeable battery so you can journey for longer throughout the Continent.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – The Witcher 3 10th Anniversary Special Edition is available now for $79.99 USD ERP and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core The Witcher 3 10th Anniversary Special Edition  is available now for $169.99 USD ERP, exclusively through  the Microsoft Store while supplies last. Celebrate the occasion in style!

While MercurySteam’s latest action-adventure may look like a hack-and-slash on the surface, it’s anything but that! Blades of Fire has an incredibly unique combat system, one that is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Today, we’re going to take a deep dive into what to expect, and share some top tips that will help you on your adventure.

For those unaware of Blades of Fire, let us set the scene. Blades of Fire takes place in a world reigned by Queen Nerea. You play as Aran de Lira, firstborn of the King’s Ward Commander. Your mission is simple, but weighty – take down the Queen, for she has cast a spell that has turned steel into stone. Only her army of enemies wield the divine metal against which other blades shatter. It’s up to you to forge your future and honour your duty.

Welcome to the Forge

In Blades of Fire, weapons are created and shaped in the Forge, which is accessible via the many anvils dotted around the world.

Here, you’ll need to choose a weapon. Blades of Fire features 7 weapon families: Spears, Swords, Sabers, Greatswords, Twins, Daggers and Polearms, as well as over 30 unique Forge Scrolls that are obtainable throughout your adventure. These will allow endless opportunities for different weapon combinations.

Once you’ve selected a Forge Scroll, you can then begin customising your weapon. Small changes can make big differences, so look carefully at how each adjustment will impact the weapon you create.

Once you’re happy with your selection, it’s time to shape your weapon. Check out our Blades of Fire – Guide to the Forge Tutorial for more info. 

Enter Battles Prepared

Now you’ve forged a weapon, it’s time to put it to the test. Before entering combat in Blades of Fire, take a moment to understand your foe. Not every weapon you forge will be effective against every enemy. In some instances, what should be a simple battle could develop into something much more exhausting, if you don’t take the time to analyse the situation.

When approaching an enemy, target it to see an outline. This colour of the outline will highlight how affective your weapon will be against it.

• Green – Your weapon will be effective. You’re ready to go!
• Yellow – Moderately effective.
• Red – Not worth the effort! Switch to a more effective weapon.

Trust us when we say, you won’t get away with button bashing in Blades of Fire. It won’t end well! Don’t get greedy.

Remember weapons are your allies. Make sure you handle them with care! While you’ll have the option to repair and reforge your weapons throughout your journey, you’ll need to acquire steel to do so. Weapons can be sharpened in battle using the Sharpening Stone, but there are consequences. Doing this will lower its durability. If you want to fully restore your weapon, you’ll need to head to one of the many Anvils dotted around the world. But how many repairs your weapon can go through is determined by the forging stars your earned during its creation.  Every battle you enter will impact your weapons in some way. Keep a close eye on their condition.

Oh, and one other thing! Be selective and consider saving your best weapons for the tougher foes later down the line. You’ll thank us later!

Tactical Combat

Blades of Fire’s combat system is unique and one that allows the player to attack specific parts of an enemy, depending on which button your select on your controller. Use your weapon of choice to strike an enemy on their head (by pressing Y) torso (A) or the left (X) and right (B) sides of them. Attack with speed by quickly pressing any of the buttons above, or with strength by holding one of those buttons down. String any of these attacks together to unleash devastating combos.

Weapons (depending on which you select) deal slashing, piercing or blunt damage. Again, look at the enemy you’re up against and go for the attack in the most effective way possible.

Of course, you’ll also need to defend yourself in battle and there are four ways to protect yourself. Aran can dodge, roll, block and parry. How affective these methods are is dependent on the situation you’re in. Against a larger enemy? Dodging or rolling will be your best bet. Look after yourself out there, as all this defensive work comes at a cost.

In Blades of Fire, your stamina is impacted in numerous ways. Getting through this dangerous world will play havoc will your energy levels. However, there are ways to re-energise! For example, execute a successful parry in battle and you’ll be granted unlimited stamina for a short period of time. This will help you take down multiple enemies efficiently and effectively. Holding LT in battle will recover your stamina quickly. This technique is known as The Breath of the Defender. It’s vital you use this in battle.

Top Tip – Attack your enemies from the high ground where you can! It’s less tiresome and super effective!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Throughout your adventure, you won’t be alone. You’ll be accompanied by Adso de Zelk, a young student of the Abbey of Egion. Adso offers valuable support and can be seen analysing enemies and documenting their behaviours in his travel book.

Pay close attention to his notes – they’ll prove invaluable in combat!

Forge Your Legend

It feels like we’ve only scratched the surface of what Blades of Fire’s combat system offers and honestly, the best way to learn more is to play the game for yourself. Trust us when we say that the team at MercurySteam have developed something truly special and unique. We hope this blog helps you get started on your adventure. The road ahead is dangerous, but exciting! And we can’t wait to hear what you think.

Blades of Fire is out today on Xbox Series X/S.

Follow us on X, Bluesky, Instagram, and YouTube to stay up to date with all things Blades of Fire.

Blades of Fire Pre-order

505 Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

$53.99

Pre-order

Pre-order Blades of Fire to receive the Adventurer Pack including:

– Iron Paladin Attire for Aran
– Lord of Steel Attire for Aran
– Hammer Head for Hyssop weapon
– Additional forging materials

Leave your mark on the world of racing in EA Sports F1 25 with the EA Play trial. Create your story and push the limits for up to 5 hours starting May 27. If you decide to buy, your progress carries over to the full game.

EA Play members can also save 10% off EA digital purchases including the full version of the game and PitCoin (conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See here for details). Plus, push through Podium Pass tiers at full throttle with in-game rewards including a monthly 5,000 XP boost.

EA Sports F1 25 puts you at the heart of Formula One racing with groundbreaking features. Take full control as the Owner of your own Formula One team with deeper management, revamped R&D, and a dynamic Team HQ that grows with your success. Plus, the thrilling next chapter of Braking Point puts the legacy of the Konnersport team in your hands, including alternative scenarios based on your choices.

Wield the Dance of the Shaman with Tales of Kenzera: Zau on The Play List

With your cosmic powers and untried courage, members can brave the beautiful and treacherous land of Kenzera alongside the God of Death with unlimited access. Discover a rich universe with untold lore of chaos and order and journey through mystical 2.5D realms awash with color and depth, emboldened by multi-award-winning composer Nainita Desai’s enchanting original score.

May Rewards

Beyond the track, EA Play is bringing great membership rewards across some of EA’s hottest titles. From XP boosts to Weapon Charms, it’s the ultimate pit stop for fans.

• Apex Legends: Flex your Pilot roots with the Gold Data Knife Weapon Charm
  • Available now through June 2
• Battlefield 2042: Button enemies down with the Bradley Vehicle Skin: Rolling Sigil
  • Available now through May 27
• EA Sports F1 24: Go flat out through Podium Pass tiers with a 5,000 XP
  • Available now through May 31
• EA Sports Madden NFL 25: Anchor the defense with Ultimate Team EA Play May Pack
  • Available now through May 31
• EA Sports FC 25: Light up the pitch in style with the Heroes Purple Comet Left Arm Tattoo
  • Available now through June 5
• EA Sports FC 25: Make the club truly yours with the Football Ultimate Team Draft Token
  • Available now through June 14
• EA Sports NHL 25: Show out on the ice with WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier & CHEL Coins
  • Available now through May 22

Membership to EA Play is included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers at no extra cost. Experience unlimited access to a collection of top EA titles, trials of select new games, member rewards, and a 10% discount on EA digital purchases.

Stay up to date with the latest news and member benefits at the EA Play page or follow them on X (Twitter) and Instagram.