When we think about horror games there are common titles that come to our minds: Silent Hill, Resident Evil, or the most recent Amnesia or Layers of Fear, but where are the horror games that are suitable for a younger audiences?

While on other media, like movies or books, the horror genre is not uncommon for kids (i.e. “Hotel Transylvania” or “Goosebumps”), the videogame industry did not release such titles. Even our first game at Tequila Works, Deadlight (2012), was a survival horror game that was not designed for a teenager audience. So, what’s different with Gylt?

The Origin of the Nightmares

Gylt is a very personal game that comes from the close experience of one relative of a studio member. Her little cousin was suffering from bullying at school. And what’s more terrifying than what’s more realistic and closer to our daily lives.

We developed this original idea into a delicate horror game in which our young protagonist, Sally, is looking for her missing cousin, Emily. In her journey she will start running away from bullies and will be taken into a weird and more dangerous version of the city. There she will meet the worst nightmares from Emily. And this is where our tagline makes sense: Fear the shapes, shape the fears! Our little protagonist will have to hide from them or fight them back, when possible, using a simple flashlight.

Bullying is a Serious Thing

Don’t be mistaken, this is a game and you will have fun, be scared and jump from your couch. But as we said, school bullying is what moves us all.

During the development of Gylt we worked closely with a group of professional psychologists. They helped us present bullying in a delicate way.

For the launch of the game we’re collaborating with Safe in Our World, an international organization engaged on that matter. If you’re feeling different from usual or you have noticed a change in your behavior, you can learn about some common feelings and mental health symptoms, how to cope with them, and where to go for help. Visit Safeinourworld.org for more information and resources.

Stephen King, Coraline and Alan Wake are behind Gylt‘s Inspiration

Does the name Bachman sound familiar to you? That proves you’re into horror literature. Richard Bachman was the pseudonym used by Stephen King during the ‘70s for some of his novels, and that’s the name we chose for the school in the game.

And who hasn’t already watched “Coraline”? If you’re familiar with the creation of Neil Gaiman you’ll find that we took some inspirations for the atmosphere of the movie in our game, as well as from Alan Wake.

As horror fan lovers we are not ashamed to say that we took inspiration from some of the best.

Is This Game for me?

When we say that the game is suitable for younger audiences we’re not saying that an adult or a hardcore horror gamer can’t enjoy it. What we are saying is that there is no gore, no bad language and no real weapons. The creatures’ designs, the atmosphere and the music will send shivers down anyone’s spine.

All players will face the challenge of fighting the monsters or hiding from them, as well as solving puzzles on the way to find Emily, while enjoying a meaningful story. And if you pay attention to the collectibles and to the writings on the walls you will go deeper into the story of Bethewood city and its habitants.

The Music Makes it All

If you take out music and sounds from any horror creation, it stops being scary. That’s why for Gylt we partnered with the recognized worldwide composer Cris Velasco, responsible for the music of Carrion, Vader Immortal or Clive Barker’s “Jericho”. But he’s also like a member of the Tequila Works family, since previous to Gylt he has worked on The Invisible Hours and Groundhog Day: Like Father Like Son soundtracks.

“You Got my Interest, When’s Gylt out?”

Lucky you, Gylt is already out on Xbox Series and Xbox One. Don’t miss the chance to play it and discover the mysteries yourself.

GYLT

Tequila Works

☆☆☆☆☆
8

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Set in a creepy and melancholic world, GYLT is an eerie story mixing fantasy and reality in a surrealist place where your nightmares become reality. Hide from terrible creatures or confront them as you find your way through the challenges of this wicked world.

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Welcome to our final intel drop for Sniper Elite 5. Today marks the launch of Kraken Awakes, the final content pack for Season Pass 2 (more on that later), and we hope you’ve had as much fun making mincemeat of the Nazis as we have had making the game.

It’s been just over 13 months since the game originally launched and in that time you Soldiers have been busy. You obliterated nearly 6 million testicles, perfected over 250 million headshots, and invaded each other’s game more than 5 million times and counting.

Everyone at Rebellion was delighted with the reception the game received upon its release in May last year, and since then we have been busy at work, reading and listening to all your feedback. The input from our community really is invaluable and enables us to improve the game with every step.

The level of knowledge and expertise within our community, especially around the authentic recreation of our World War 2 setting, weaponry, military attire, and vehicles is always a great source of pride and information for the studio.

It is important to learn from every game you release, and one area of focus for us has been accessibility. We have introduced several new features, such as field of depth sliders that will go on to be a regular feature in our games moving forward. We know we still have a long way to go but we are heading in the right direction.

We would like to thank everyone that has taken the time to play Sniper Elite 5, whether you are a seasoned veteran of the franchise, or this is your first time looking down Karl’s virtual scope. If you still haven’t tried the game, it is still available now on Game Pass so be sure to check it out and let us know what you think. There is also plenty of additional content for you to explore, including several missions, in both Season Pass One and Season Pass Two.

Speaking of Season Pass Two, the final content drop, Kraken Awakes, has just hit the store.

The pack includes a brand-new mission launched where our hero, Karl Fairburne, is sent to a military dock which is housing an under-construction aircraft carrier – the new home of Operation Kraken.

Set at night, you will have to use the darkness and the shadows to your advantage as you look to infiltrate and sabotage the carrier so that it can never be launched. You will also need to put an end to the new leader of the scheme, Friedrich Vogel, the former deputy to Abelard Möller.

The pack also includes a new Mod.712 pistol and the Patriot weapon skin, as well as the American Airborne character skin to complete an all-American look for Karl!

On top of the Kraken Awakes pack we are also launching a new multiplayer map which is FREE to all players right now. The Abandoned Quarry offers a host of opportunities for both stealthy and all action playstyles.

Large scale, close combat firefights will break out when exploring the old mine, while the nearby coal processing center presents a host of vantage points and hiding places which provide ideal sniping sightlines across the map. Be sure to head to Multiplayer and check it out in both solo and team play.

Well, that wraps up the content for Season Pass Two.

You can keep up to date with all the latest news and developments from the Sniper Elite team on our social channels: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Discord and YouTube.

Happy hunting!

Sniper Elite 5

Rebellion

☆☆☆☆☆
196

★★★★★

$59.99

$47.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

The latest instalment in the award-winning series, Sniper Elite 5 offers unparalleled sniping, tactical third-person combat and an enhanced kill cam. Fight your way across the most immersive maps yet, with many real-world locations captured in stunning detail, and an improved traversal system that lets you explore more of them than ever before.
France, 1944 – As part of a covert US Rangers operation to weaken the Atlantikwall fortifications along the coast of Brittany, elite marksman Karl Fairburne makes contact with the French Resistance. Soon they uncover a secret Nazi project that threatens to end the war before the Allies can even invade Europe: Operation Kraken.

EXPANSIVE CAMPAIGN
Many real-world locations have been captured using photogrammetry to recreate a living, immersive environment, and multiple infiltration and extraction points and kill list targets provide a whole new perspective on each mission. Take on the Nazi plot solo or work with a partner, with improved co-op mechanics allowing you to share ammo and items, give orders and heal each other.

ADVANCED GUNPLAY PHYSICS AND TRAVERSAL
Use ziplines, slide down slopes and shimmy along ledges to reach the perfect vantage point, or to sneak past a sharp-eyed lookout. Factor in rifle stock and barrel options along with gravity, wind and heart rate while you line up your sights on the target.

HIGH CALIBRE CUSTOMISATION
Use workbenches to customise and upgrade virtually every aspect of your weapon – change scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and more. Rifles, secondaries and pistols all have a huge variety of options. On top of that you can select the ammo to suit your target, from armour-piercing right down to non-lethal.

INVASION MODE – CAMPAIGN DROP IN PvP AND CO-OP
Invade another player’s Campaign as an Axis sniper and engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse, providing a new dimension to the challenge as you stalk your prey. Alternatively, as Karl you can call for assistance and have a second sniper drop in to help you out of a tricky situation.

TENSE ADVERSIAL MULTIPLAYER
Customise your character and loadout and earn XP, medals and ribbons as you take on intensely competitive 16 player battles that will really test your sharpshooting skills. If co-op’s more your style, you can team up with up to 3 other players against waves of enemies in Survival mode.

ENHANCED KILL CAM
More realistic and grisly than ever, the trademark X-ray kill cam returns, showing you the true destructive power of each shot. Bones deflect bullets unpredictably, ripping a new path through enemy bodies. SMGs and pistols can also trigger kill cams, including multiple shots in dramatic slow motion.

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Hey everyone!

I’m Niklas Istenes, the CEO of Bitwave Games – a modern retro gaming studio from Gothenburg in Sweden. I started the studio in 2013 with a dream goal: developing and publishing games inspired by my all-time favorite Nintendo Entertainment System and Famicom game Gimmick! from legendary developer Sunsoft. Little did I know I would eventually help launch Gimmick! for modern platforms with our friends at City Connection. It feels surreal and beyond exciting!

Gimmick! has a special place in my heart. Released in 1992 and at the end of the NES/Famicom life cycle, it was impressive to see a game that pushed the console to its limits. The graphics, physics, and soundtrack really left their mark on me as a kid. In Scandinavia (where I’m from), it’s known as Mr. Gimmick. It was the only market outside Japan where the original game was ever released. So, to many people, this might be a wholly lost gaming treasure.

Gimmick! Special Edition is a tough-as-nails platforming game with a heavy focus on physics. You’re playing as Yumetaro – a cute green youkai with special star-summoning powers. Through multiple playground-like levels, all with their own environmental twists and exciting creatures, you must creatively use your sparkling star to bounce, jump, take out baddies, and reach hidden areas filled with secrets.

Gimmick! Special Edition has many enhancements that make this challenging game even more accessible to modern players. You can quick-save, rewind, compete against your friends on the online leaderboards, unlock achievements, and stroll through the gorgeous gallery injected with pictures of scanned-in cartridges, the original Japanese and Scandinavian manuals, and more.

Since the original NES and Famicom cartridges are hard to find and expensive to purchase, we’re thrilled to be able to bring this true platforming classic to a broader audience. Make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more Gimmick! Special Edition content and jump onto our Discord to chat with other retro fans.

See you in the land of Gimmick!

Gimmick! Special Edition

Bitwave

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

An old-school challenge enhanced for the modern player
SUNSOFT’s NES™ classic Gimmick! returns in this long-wished-for Special Edition from City Connection. Experience a stunning physics-based platformer with updated features like online leaderboards, achievements, a time attack mode, save and quick load, a rewind function, a gorgeous gallery (with cartridges, art, and scanned manuals), and more.

Stellar platform physics with a bouncing star
Explore a physics-based playground that was way ahead of its time. As the cute youkai Yumetaro, use your star-summoning powers to tackle complex challenges with creativity and finesse. Your wonderful star will help you reach hidden spots, traverse cliffs, and pull off trick shots that outwit even the toughest baddies!

Discover a hidden NES™ treasure
Gimmick! was exclusively released on Famicom™/NES™ in Japan and Scandinavia in the early ‘90s. It pushed the console to its limits and the Japanese cartridge featured SunSoft 5B, a custom sound chip that let Masashi Kageyama compose a star-studded soundtrack. Gimmick! remains one of the most valuable (and rarest) NES™ cartridges ever made. The Scandinavian version was called “Mr. Gimmick”.

Uncover secrets in a race against time!
Gimmick! Special Edition features a time attack mode for speedrunners, and completionists can hunt for secrets all throughout the game. Unlock a wonderful surprise by finding everything. For a hard-core challenge, disable all quality-of-life features in “Serious Mode” to crank up the excitement!

Modern enhancements:
* Achievements
* Time Attack Mode
* Online Leaderboards
* Save and Quick Load
* Rewind Function
* Gallery mode
* Sound test

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Oaken Provides a Celtic, Tribal Take on the Tactical Genre

It all starts with a tree. Oaken’s story revolves around the Great Oak and its spirits: the Lady, a clueless, yet pretty brave little sprout – along with her awakening into this whimsical world, she inherits a quest to bring back the Oaksong – a spell which has kept the inhabitants of the Oak peaceful for countless cycles; Kidu, a fierce and unpredictable fire Spirit, who has his very own ideas on how to deal with all of this mess; and the Pathfinder – a mysterious mentor, who helps them reach their destination along with many other spirit Guides discovered during the journey.

In most tactical roguelikes and card battlers, the conflict pits “your side” versus the “enemy side”. In Oaken, battles are focused on your hero character who participates in the battle.  Heros can summon spirits and use spells and trinkets. And you will of course lose the game if your hero is defeated. The so-called line of sight and “action areas” are calculated from the position of your hero. There are events and dialogues directed at them, and at the end of the day it is up to the Lady and Kidu to resolve the conflict of the story in their own ways!

Art-wise, the team over at Laki Studios had fun coming up with these crazy and cute Spirits inhabiting the Oak. A lot of celtic and slavic folklore served as a base for the designs and the lore of Oaken. That being said, they also wanted to twist that base in a fun, whimsical direction. Games like Rayman or Final Fantasy were also big inspirations. The developers wanted the design to be adorable while remaining very mysterious and kind of ancient at their core.

As for the mechanics, the Laki Studios crew are self-professed big board-game fans and they got a lot of inspiration from physical games, one of their favorites being Neuroshima Hex . That game gave us the initial push to try and experiment with rotating units on a hexagonal grid. They then tried to use the most fun aspects of card games like Hearthstone and Faeria, mixed with the smart roguelite and tactical aspects of Into the Breach. So you can clearly say that Oaken was created by mixing tons of different elements!

Speaking of mechanics, every unit in Oaken has a “front” and “back”, and can rotate in one of six hexagonal directions. Depending on their position and rotation, they can use multiple abilities, backstabs, dodges, charges – there’s plenty of placement, movement and attack actions to outsmart your enemy. Don’t get fooled by the cute art style though!  Oaken is a tough tactical game even on standard difficulty. We are pretty confident than battle tested players will find the higher difficulty levels to be quite challenging!

That being said, the developers also wanted to make sure that Oaken is not overly complex on the first playthrough while also being hard enough for demanding players! They introduced a system called Talents and Masteries that allows players to gradually increase the difficulty as they make progress into the game. And as a way to also support players who are mainly here for the story and are purely into relaxed gameplay, they also added a Relaxed mode.

We are well aware that there are many Tactical and roguelikes out there. Oaken places a higher emphasis on positioning and especially rotation as the team found that to be something underutilized in the genre. Laki Studios also worked very hard on Oaken’s character design. Every spirit in the game went through a detailed process of design, from multiple concept arts to polished illustrations. They also paid special care to the game’s world building. It is coherent and logical and has been in development for years. Oaken’s story about the cute spirits has actual meaning. But to learn more about that, players will have to get the game!

Ported to Xbox consoles by Red Art Studios, Oaken is coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on July 20. Pre-order Oaken on the Microsoft Store and get 20% off its full price.

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This July, as part of Disability Pride Month, Team Xbox proudly celebrates players, creators, and community members with disabilities. More than 400 million video game players have disabilities worldwide, and we recognize the incredible contributions the gaming and disability community has made in making Team Xbox, and the broader gaming industry, more inclusive and welcoming for everyone.

Disability Pride holds a special place in my heart, as I am not only a Program Manager on our Gaming Accessibility Team, but also a person with disabilities. Most people wouldn’t think of me as having a disability at first glance. In fact, I didn’t know I had disabilities until I was in my 20’s when I was diagnosed as being neurodiverse. Now I know that I have had Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder since I was a young child. And, as the years have gone by, I’ve acquired new disabilities due to illness, injury, and trauma. Chronic pain is now part of my life, as is hearing loss, and anxiety and depression related to complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

The reason I share all of this is that if you aren’t already dealing with your own disabilities, chances are very good that someone close to you is. It’s estimated that at least 15% of the world’s population has some form of disability, and the vast majority of those are invisible.

So, this month, we encourage everyone to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the many players with disabilities across the globe who make up the vibrant gaming community, as well as think about those people in your life who also are part of the disability community and what you can do to be an ally for them. For example, one way to support the disability community is to learn about the technologies and tools they use to play. You can do this by taking our free Gaming Accessibility Fundamentals learning path. Or, if you are an Xbox Ambassador, consider completing the Xbox Ambassador Accessibility Explorer Path, a gamified experience that allows Xbox Ambassadors to learn more about accessibility in gaming, as well as try out new gaming accessibility features across PC and console.

As for all of us at Xbox, a source of pride is being able to work to ensure our industry is welcoming of players of all abilities and backgrounds, celebrating and partnering with the Gaming & Disability Community, and investing in solutions to help ensure everyone can play. Because when everyone plays, we all win.

In celebration of Disability Pride Month, check out how Xbox is supporting the disability community to help make gaming a place where everyone feels heard, included, and supported in gaming in a way that brings them joy.

Gaming & Disability Community Stories

We are proud to highlight stories and experiences from members of the Gaming & Disability community, including what Disability Pride means to them. Check out their stories, in their words, below:

MikeTheQuad

He/Him

July marks Disability Pride Month. What does Disability Pride mean to you, personally?
Disability Pride is acceptance of all disabilities. It’s the celebration of all people who have a disability, and not the fact we are proud of our disability, but we are proud of overcoming all the obstacles we face on a daily basis.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?
I showcase Disability Pride by living my life as a problem solver. Many people with disabilities have to adapt to their surroundings, because we live in an inaccessible world. I overcome these obstacles daily, not letting anything stop me from achieving my goals.

How has gaming enabled you to showcase your pride?
Gaming is my biggest enabler with showing disability pride. My handle “MikeTheQuad” was the name I chose because it immediately draws attention to my disability as a quadriplegic. I’ve actively broken down barriers by showing how I play through my gaming content,  in turn inspiring others that they can not only game if they have a disability, but they can use that mentality in everyday life.

Queerlybee

They/them

July marks Disability Pride Month. What does Disability Pride mean to you, personally?

Disability Pride represents a time for the disabled community, which has historically been ostracized and shunned, to be visible and show that we can have pride in our identity and community. Oftentimes, abled people associate disability with a life that is lesser than or not worth living, saying things like “Oh I don’t know how you do that, I could never live like that,” but the reality is that we make the most out of our situation and you would too if you were in our shoes. And it’s important to remember that disability is the only marginalized community that anyone could become a part of at any moment and when/if that happens to you, due to old age, injury or sickness, you’ll be grateful for this community of support we’ve built that will help you when the government/society often fails to do so.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?

I show my pride by being open about my disabilities and sharing my lived experiences as a disabled content creator; I think this normalizes the experience and helps others feel less alone and like they can open up about their experiences too which can be healing. I curate a space that specifically caters to the disabled and neurodivergent community to have a safe space during this period of the pandemic where it feels as though everyone has moved on and left us behind.

How has gaming enabled you to showcase your pride?

Gaming has created a way for me, as a disabled person, to have accessible income and community. Through simulation games, I’m able to be a storyteller and share both queer and disabled stories that we don’t always see in the media. Seeing other creators talk about the importance of accessibility in games and gaming spaces has inspired me to make it a pillar of my own space… Accessibility for some benefits all, so I highly encourage other creators, game developers and others to talk to disabled gamers and uplift our voices so we can make sure gaming is for everyone!

Shawn Games

He/Him

July marks Disability Pride Month. What does Disability Pride mean to you, personally?

I have been disabled in speech-language for 100% of my life and with fibromyalgia for over 50% of my life without knowing it. I was undiagnosed with lupus for 14 years until getting a confirmed diagnosis this year of fibromyalgia which has allowed me access to care and improvement of my life. Disability Pride allows me to showcase my invisible disabilities that still affect me on a daily basis.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?

By educating as much as I can about my experience, so others do not have to wait as long as I did for care.

How has gaming enabled you to showcase your pride? Are there characters, stories, or experiences with your community or fellow creators that have positively impacted you?

Queerlybee is a disabled creator in the gaming space whose voice allowed me to feel safe enough to share my experience. Without them being as vocal as they are I know I would not be as vocal as I am today. Having others in the space being vocal about their lived experiences allows more people to know that they aren’t alone in the world and that they also can share their stories. I know we’ll see more diversity in characters in years to come and I am excited to champion them.

DeafGamersTV

He/Him

July marks Disability Pride Month. What does Disability Pride mean to you, personally?

Disability Pride is a celebration as a person not hidden away in the shadow of society. We are out here too and existing just as everyone else is.

How do you “show” or “live” your pride?

I show that I’m proud of being Deaf. I’m proud of my American Sign Language as a culture and language. I show that there should be no reason to fear. Love what makes you smile.

How has gaming enabled you to showcase your pride? Are there characters, stories, experiences with your community or fellow creators that have positively impacted you?

Gaming lets me show that I can’t be backed down by barriers. It allows me to speak up on how to be inclusive & allow gamers with disabilities to be invited to play games.

To learn more about the above Gaming & Disability community members, who earlier this year joined the first Xbox Next Level (XNL) Creator Program, a six-week accelerator designed to help gaming streamers from underrepresented communities, click here.

Updates from Xbox

Xbox believes that everyone should be able to experience the joys, connection, creativity and fun of gaming, and it is our job to make that happen. For Disability Pride Month, the Xbox Accessibility team is thrilled to announce some new updates, which are all part of our mission to empower gamers around the world to come together to play the games they want, with the people they want, on the devices they want. These include:

New Xbox Adaptive Controller User Guide

On June 28, a new resource called the Xbox Adaptive Controller user guide launched on support.xbox.com. Consisting of new instructional videos, resources, and links to external peripheral options, the guide serves as a comprehensive “one-stop-shop” focused on helping players with disabilities, their family members, and anyone else new to gaming or Xbox learn about what the Xbox Adaptive controller is and how to use it.

Whether you’re completely new to using the Xbox Adaptive Controller and want to check out the “getting started” page (video above), or have the basics of the controller covered and want to explore the “advanced functionalities” page that discusses lesser-known adaptive controller functions like shift mode, un-mapping, action remapping, and more, the guide has you covered!

Check out the full Xbox Adaptive Controller User Guide below, which includes:

• Getting started with the Xbox Adaptive Controller
• Using external buttons with the Xbox Adaptive Controller
• Using external joysticks with the Xbox Adaptive Controller
• Using the Xbox Accessories app to customize your controller’s inputs
• Advanced functionalities of the Xbox Adaptive Controller

Spotlighting 3D-Printed, Accessible Gaming Peripherals

The team at Xbox has been amazed at the creativity shown in the maker community, a group of innovative individuals and non-profit organizations that identify problems and design inventive solutions by creating 3D-printed peripherals meant to help make gaming with Xbox controllers and Xbox Adaptive Controllers more accessible for those with fine motor disabilities.

In celebration of this impressive work, we’ve partnered with a couple makers, including Adam Breece and Caleb Kraft, to curate a list of some of our favorite 3D-printed peripherals, which can be found in a new article on Xbox’s accessibility support pages. If you have a 3D printer and want to try making some yourself, or want to send a design to a 3D print vendor to make for you, check out our resources.

Xbox Brazil Releases Glossary of Gaming Terms Used by Deaf and Hard of Hearing Players

It’s common for gamers to use different terms while they play, whether it’s drifting in Forza Horizon or anchoring the ship in Sea of Thieves. In May, Xbox Brazil partnered with streamer, content creator and leading Brazilian figure in game accessibility, Jessyka “Suuhgetsu,” to create a glossary of gaming terms commonly signed by deaf and hard of hearing players (like “drift” or “Xbox”). These expressions, also known as “Libras” (the short term for Brazilian Sign Language), were featured on Xbox Brazil’s official YouTube channel. Check out a video detailing Forza Horizon 5 terms above, and the full glossary via Xbox Wire.

Team Xbox is incredibly excited to celebrate and honor Disability Pride Month. We strive to uplift and honor the disability community not only this month, but each and every day. Please stay tuned for even more exciting announcements this fall!

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What do heists, dinosaurs falling out of the skies, and puzzles all have in common? If it is anything other than “games coming to Xbox Game Pass”, I would very much like to know! We have games coming soon that we announced during the Xbox and Bethesda Showcase (looking at you, Exoprimal), and we even have a surprise return today with Grand Theft Auto V. Let’s get to the games!

Available Today

Grand Theft Auto V (Cloud and Console)
When a young street hustler, a retired bank robber, and a terrifying psychopath find themselves entangled with some of the most frightening and deranged elements of the criminal underworld, the U.S. government, and the entertainment industry, they must pull off a series of dangerous heists to survive in a ruthless city in which they can trust nobody — least of all each other. Includes both the Xbox One and the Xbox Series X|S versions of Grand Theft Auto V.

Sword and Fairy: Together Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Enter a realm that blends ancient mythology with traditional Asian aesthetics in Sword and Fairy: Together Forever! Weaving its tale between the three clans of Human, Deity, and Demon, it puts you in command of a memorable party of characters, each with unique personalities, motives, skills, strengths, and weaknesses.

Coming Soon

McPixel 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 6
McPixel 3 is a mind-blowing save-the-day adventure that sees the titular wanna-be hero avert one disaster after another at every turn using unconventional yet entertaining methods of mayhem.

Common’hood (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 11
Common’hood is a squatter settlement simulation game with highly customizable base building tools. Gather salvage materials, grow your own food, research new technology, craft new tools, and build a new home. Common’hood invites you to explore and discover unique characters that will go from strangers to family, helping the community overcome the shortage of food and shelter.

Insurgency: Sandstorm (PC) – July 11
Battle in the war-torn environments of a contemporary conflict through a series of intense co-op and PvP multiplayer modes. Feel every bullet and fear every impact in fierce close quarters combat as your team fights toward victory.

Exoprimal (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 14
Available on day one with Game Pass: Every month is T. Rex awareness month in Exoprimal! Squad up and take down hordes of dinosaurs in a series of endless wargames run by the artificial intelligence Leviathan. Blending PvE and PvP combat with a variety of objectives and powerful exosuits to pilot, no two matches of Exoprimal play out the same.

Techtonica (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 18
Available on day one with Game Pass: Dig into the sub-surface, bioluminescent world of a rogue alien planet as you explore and construct sprawling factories in Techtonica. Work alone or in co-op to master automation, gather resources, research new technologies, mold the destructible terrain, establish a base of operations, and uncover long-forgotten secrets.

The Cave (Cloud and Console) – July 18
The Cave is an adventure game from Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion creator Ron Gilbert, and Double Fine Productions, the award-winning studio behind Psychonauts and Brütal Legend. Assemble your team of three from seven unlikely adventurers, each with their own unique personalities, and then descend into the mysterious depths.

DLC / Game Updates

Race like Barbie and Ken in Forza Horizon 5 – Available now
Barbie… in Forza?? Check your Message Center today to receive the very special 1956 Chevrolet ‘Barbie Movie’ Corvette EV and Ken’s 2022 GMC ‘Barbie Movie’ HUMMER EV Pickup, now available for download! See ‘Barbie The Movie’ only in theaters July 21. For more details, check out Xbox Wire.

FIFA 23 Women’s World Cup – Available now
Experience the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 now in FIFA 23 at no extra cost. Play for the most coveted prize in women’s football, complete with all 32 qualified nations, stadium dressings, cinematics, match presentations, dedicated commentary, and more.

Hi-Fi Rush: Arcade Challenge! Update! – Available now
Hi-Fi Rush fans, get ready to return to the pit: Tango Gameworks’ rhythm-action brawler is getting not one, but TWO new ways to play in the Arcade Challenge! Update! – a free addition for all Hi-Fi Rush players.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty – Battle of Zhongyuan DLC – Available now
Game Pass members save up to 10%! Conquer new scenarios and face new demons in Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s first DLC, Battle of Zhongyuan. Take on the demon-plagued Three Kingdoms and overcome the odds of deadly combat!

Sniper Elite 5: Kraken Awakes DLC – July 6
Game Pass members can save 10% on Season Pass Two, which includes the upcoming Kraken Awakes DLC. This final content pack includes a brand-new mission, a new Mod.712 pistol, and skins to complete an all-American look for Karl. Plus, check out the free multiplayer map – The Abandoned Quarry.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

Madden NFL 23: EA Play Ultimate Team Pack – July 6
Unlock your EA Play Ultimate Team Pack, featuring new players to upgrade your Madden NFL 23 Ultimate Team! Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play members can automatically claim this Pack by entering Ultimate Team from July 6 to July 31.

Sea of Thieves: Obsidian Banjo Pack – July 6
For a limited time, claim items from the prized Obsidian set! This pack contains the Obsidian Banjo, Onyx Compass, and Obsidian Hull. Perk content requires Sea of Thieves to use.

Xbox Game Pass Quests

New July quests are available starting today! Find new Quests by going to the Xbox Game Pass section on your console or on the Xbox Game Pass Mobile app and start earning Microsoft Reward points.

Available Now:

• Earn an Achievement (50 Points – Daily) – Earn an achievement in any Game Pass game
• Peggle 2 (250 points – Ultimate only) – Hit 100 Orange Pegs
• Ghostwire Tokyo (5 points) – Play

Leaving July 15

Don’t let the following games leave without showing a little love! There’s still time to start fresh or pick up where you left off. You can also also use your membership discount to save up to 20% to keep them in your library.

• Exo One (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• PAW Patrol The Movie: Adventure City Calls (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Spelunky 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

That wraps us up for this round of announcements! Let us know what game you’re playing next at @XboxGamePassPC and @XboxGamePass on Twitter and make sure you’re following for more updates. Catch you next time!

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Celebrate All Things Anime on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass this July
Hitchhiker’s Guide to Doom & Destiny Worlds: Author’s Tips & Tricks Unveiled

July is the celebration of all things anime on Xbox and Xbox Game Pass from now until the end of the month.

Anime Month is back! Throughout July, fans can enjoy discounts across anime movies, TV shows, and much more, available on the Microsoft Store on Xbox. There is also an Anime Month Game Pass game collection, plus Game Pass Ultimate Perks that include a free season of Naruto Shippuden and a free 75-day trial of premium membership from Crunchyroll.

Up to 80% off anime on Microsoft Movies and TV 

Find your new favorite anime movies and TV series, or catch up on the ones you already love, in our massive Microsoft Movies & TV Anime sale. Our collections feature favorites such as ‘Bleach’, ‘My Hero Academia: World Hero Mission’, ‘Sailor Moon’, and more. Game Pass members also get special discounts throughout the sale! 

Anime games and perks for Xbox Game Pass Members

Immerse yourself in anime-inspired worlds and stories. Game Pass is celebrating with a month long Anime game collection, ranging from Fuga 2: Melodies of Steel to Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom to High-Fi Rush to Guity Gear -Strive-.  This collection will be available to members on Console, PC, and Mobile.

We also have two new Game Pass Ultimate Perks that will be available to members starting in the month of July.

On July 6, Ultimate members can get a free copy of ‘Naruto Shippuden’ Uncut Season 101* and see Naruto Uzumaki take on the Akatsuki to save, his former rival and now Kazekage of the Sand, Gaara!

Then, starting on July 20, get 75-days of Crunchyroll Premium (Mega Fan Plan**) for free with your Ultimate membership. Stream the latest episodes of ‘JUJUTSU KAISEN’, ‘One Piece’, ‘BLUELOCK’, and more, all ad-free. Unlock the World’s Largest Anime Library with thousands of titles, available to watch anywhere.

We hope you take advantage of all that Xbox and Xbox Game Pass have to offer in celebration of Anime Month. Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the many worlds of anime in our incredible selection of deals!

*USA only. Claim by August 6, 2023.

** Terms and conditions apply. Offer available to eligible new and returning subscribers. Crunchyroll Premium Mega Fan Membership will automatically renew unless canceled after promotional period. Not available in Russia, Cuba, China, Iran, Japan, and Sudan. Must be claimed by 10/20/23 and redeemed by 10/27/23, one offer per account, not valid for previous trial users in the past year.

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New Games with Gold for July 2023