Category: Xbox

Today, we’re continuing our commitment to give players more choice and value by introducing Xbox Game Pass Core, launching on September 14. Game Pass Core is the evolution of Xbox Live Gold. Game Pass Core will give players access to our advanced multiplayer network, a select collection of over 25 games to play with friends around the world, and exclusive member deals, all for $9.99 USD per month or $59.99 USD per year.

For over twenty years, Xbox players have been connecting via Xbox Live to compete, cooperate, and experience the world’s biggest online multiplayer games. In 2017, we introduced Xbox Game Pass which provided a curated library of games. Game Pass Core brings online play together with Game Pass in a new offering for gamers around the world.

With this evolution, we’re saying farewell to Games with Gold. We wanted to use this opportunity to re-imagine how to include content with this subscription. We found that the answer to the most compelling catalog was to leverage select titles from our Xbox Game Pass catalog.

Our launch collection of more than 25 titles from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and our content partners will offer something for everyone to play on their Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. Today we’re confirming the following titles for launch*, with more to be announced in advance of September 14. New titles will be added 2-3 times a year.

• Among Us
• Descenders
• Dishonored 2
• Doom Eternal
• Fable Anniversary
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76
• Forza Horizon 4
• Gears 5
• Grounded
• Halo 5: Guardians
• Halo Wars 2
• Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• Human Fall Flat
• Inside
• Ori & The Will of the Wisps
• Psychonauts 2
• State of Decay 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited

*Game library may vary over time and by country.  

For current Xbox Live Gold members:

• On September 14, Xbox Live Gold members will automatically become Game Pass Core members, with no change in pricing, and have immediate access to a new library of over 25 high-quality games.
• Member deals & discounts will also be part of Xbox Game Pass Core.
• Games with Gold will come to an end on September 1.
• Players can continue to access any Xbox One games they previously redeemed through Games with Gold if they remain a Game Pass Core or Game Pass Ultimate member.
• Regardless of subscription status, any Xbox 360 titles redeemed via Games with Gold in the past will be kept in a player’s library.

Thank you to everyone who has been with us since the early days, joined along the way with friends, and now with us in Xbox Game Pass. I’m proud and humbled by the stories we hear about online teammates becoming real-life friends after years playing, or even marriages whose initial spark was ignited in a pre-match lobby. We can’t wait to hear more from the community when it launches on September 14, and we’ll see you online!

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Our story in Everspace 2 begins with Adam, an escaped clone pilot seeking his way in a cold and dangerous universe. What he’ll soon discover is that the events of his past self are on a collision course with the ambitions of many of the region’s corporate bosses and outlaw overlords. To survive and buy his way free of the demilitarized zone of Cluster 34, he’ll need to team up with a new crew while exploring relatively uncharted star systems.

As a studio, we wanted to write a love letter to the games that inspired us — the gameplay of space shooters like Freelancer and Wing Commander can very much be seen in the DNA of our games, but with modern conveniences and game features meant to bring something new to players. Fans of the first game in the series will have a deeper understanding of the world and characters of Everspace 2, but we’ve crafted this story so that newcomers will have little difficulty getting up to speed.

Cluster 34 is a hostile place for a lone pilot. Though there are pockets of civilization where traders make port and settlers call home, Outlaw attacks are common and it takes skills to survive. The arcade-style combat of Everspace 2 is fast-paced, but easy to pick up so pilots new to the game can take off and destroy their first enemy drone within minutes. When a challenge becomes too great, escape, explore, level up, gear up, and try again.

Adam isn’t in this entirely alone though! Over the course of the story, players will gather together a rag-tag group of mercenaries, aliens, outcasts, and adventurers who will help out by providing ship upgrades, navigation support, and other perks at Home Base. A few companions will even help out in battle, showing up to distract and destroy enemies when the going gets tough.

The first Everspace made gravitational waves in the roguelike community for its fast-paced combat and innovative use combining die-and-repeat gameplay with storytelling. In Everspace 2, we hop genres, taking space game fans into the realm of semi-open world RPGs where exploration, leveling up, crafting and managing equipment, buying new ships, and upgrading perks become nearly as important as a player’s piloting skill. With this new focus on RPG mechanics comes a wide range of options for pilots as combinations of new gear, ships, and perks unlock all kinds of ways to create and accommodate different play styles.

Everspace 2 is huge. The team here at Rockfish has created more than one hundred handcrafted areas in space and on planets to explore spread across six star systems. Each star system has its own distinct personality and while you may explore a variety of asteroids and debris fields over the course of your adventure, each is packed with secrets to find and enemies bent on hunting you down. From ruined space stations orbiting decaying stars, to space storms surrounding ancient structures, to space jellyfish haunting the bones of a starfaring Leviathan, there are so many sights to discover.

With nine different ship types, each with different available perks, there are all kinds of ways to destroy attacking outlaws. Want to play a sneaky sniper? The stealth cloak of the Scout and a long-distance charged coil gun makes for a powerful combo. Players who prefer to be able to take and throw big punches may enjoy the Gunship with its auto turret ultimate attack, multiple weapon hardpoints, and high armor value. Others may prefer the Vindicator, a heavy fighter that reanimates battlefield wreckage to repair or replace its fleet of drones. The “unlimited power”-style lightning special attack of the Sentinel that strikes multiple nearby enemies is a fan favorite.

As with many RPGs, equipment is central to a player’s survival and with all the weapon types and gear modifiers in Everspace 2, you can tune your build to your preferred playstyle. Primary weapons such as the Autocannon, Pulse Laser, and shotgun-like Flak Cannon deal kinetic and energy damage while a myriad of secondary missile and mine secondary weapons can inflict status effects or simply hammer in to deal massive damage. More defensive equipment like plating, generators, thrusters, sensors, and storage increase survivability by providing more energy, speed, armor, item detection range, and more. And don’t forget one-time use items — the healing, damage amplification, and other effects they can provide are frequently handy for getting out of a tight spot. 

Xbox space pilots can prep their engines for departure on August 15 when Everspace 2 launches on Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass. Can’t wait? Everspace 2 is already available for Windows with PC Game Pass with support for Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing you to start your adventure on PC today and continue it on console later. Game Pass members can also make Everspace 2 their own today with a 20% discount.

EVERSPACE™ 2

ROCKFISH Games

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

Get it now

PC Game Pass

EVERSPACE™ 2 is a fast-paced single-player spaceship shooter with worthwhile exploration in space and on planets, tons of loot, RPG elements, mining, and crafting. Experience a thoughtful sci-fi story, set in a vivid, handcrafted open world full of secrets, puzzles, and perils.

In the campaign, you will make some friends with their own story to tell. They will join you on side missions and provide certain benefits in the endgame, where vicious encounters and brutal challenges will stand between you and that next epic loot drop.

EMBARK ON AN EXCITING JOURNEY
Discover alien species, unveil mysteries, find hidden treasures, and defend your valuables against outlaw gangs. But don’t get cocky: there will be some high-risk/high-reward areas waiting for you where grabbing that ultra-special gear and getting out alive will require some serious piloting skills and all your talent for improvisation.

LET THE LASERS DO THE TALKING
Annihilate your foes the EVERSPACE™ way: Dodge, dash, roll, and boost guns blazing into frantic dogfights, leaving only a trail of space scrap behind. Use a wide range of weaponry and abilities to defeat a large variety of opponents like drones, fighters, heavy bombers, and powerful gunships all the way to massive capital vessels. Always look around and use your environment to your advantage, and gain the upper hand even if you are outnumbered.

MAKE THE WORLD YOUR OWN
Enter the world of EVERSPACE and explore it at your leisure. Cluster 34 is brimming with main and side missions, activities, events and secrets to be uncovered. So fire up your hyperdrive and shape your legacy among the stars.

HAVE IT YOUR OWN WAY
Expand your private ship collection from a virtually endless supply of ships, composed of various unique ship classes and optimize your build to perfection. Cleverly combine modules, weapons, devices, and perks to fit your individual playstyle and the current objective.

EPIC LOOT AWAITS
Hunt for the next better gear and be ready to constantly re-evaluate your current setup. Look for loot that fits your playstyle but be willing to leave your comfort zone and try something new. Be ready to find and exploit synergistic effects between equipment, perks, devices, and ships to fully maximize their potential.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES
Roam the world looking for the best deals on certain commodities, becoming the part-time trader you always wanted to be. However, prices will vary based on supply and demand, so you better check about the latest offerings before you set course to the next trading station. Always be on the look-out against ambushes during interstellar travel.

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When we started brainstorming the game design for Ride 5, creating the Career mode was one of the most important moments. It’s not easy to design a video game that can satisfy all potential riders who will hop on our bikes. Whether they are novice gamers or seasoned champions, everyone should have fun and find something that fulfills them, offering the right level of challenge. The game must also be able to reward the time invested in it to both those who have a lot of time to dedicate and those who approach it casually, enjoying a few hours a week.

Now that Ride 5 is in an advanced stage of development and looking at its Career mode, I believe the above-mentioned requirements have been met. In fact, the game offers two paths: the main one, the Tour, is divided into four acts with events ranging from championships to various types of competitions, such as single races or time attacks. The optional one, the Limitless Challenges, offers four acts, each unlockable by clearing the corresponding main act, featuring a higher difficulty level.

In Career mode, it is not necessary to win every race in order to clear groups; it is sufficient to reach a minimum score. Initially it is quite low, but it progressively increases as players advance in the game. On the other hand, Limitless Challenges do not have a surpassing threshold but only a completion threshold: in other words, to finish them, all races must be won!

The adaptability of Ride 5 to players’ inclinations is therefore evident and is also reflected in the qualifications, that can be time-based or single lap. The former corresponds to a more casual (and usual) approach, while the latter represents a more hardcore experience as it provides only one lap to determine the race placement. Consequently, players must be skilled at giving their best immediately, while also keeping in mind that going off-track results in penalties.

Another challenge we wanted to tackle when conceptualizing Ride 5 was longevity. Unlike annual releases, we wanted to provide virtual bikers with an experience that could entertain them for years to come. The Race Creator is a highly customizable tool that allows players to create their own races. They have control over various aspects, including the logo, name, and format of the competition (single event or championship), as well as driving aids, competition type, number of riders, number of events, scoring, and more. This level of customization extends to the AI-managed riders as well, where players can personalize their bikes, suits, and even choose their opponents with meticulous detail, setting a new standard in Milestone’s games.

Among the races to be won, there will also be Endurances. Their duration can be set from a minimum of 20 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours, thus replicating some of the most iconic races like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Winning each group of races rewards players with credits, experience, and unique bikes. Endurance races played in the Race Creator, on the other hand, only reward players with credits and experience.

Speaking of rewards, Ride 5‘s Career mode rewards players with powerful bikes at the end of each group of races. They serve as prizes and are crucial for tackling future challenges, ensuring that riders always have the appropriate motorcycle for competition. This means that players have the freedom to spend their credits as they wish. They can purchase better bikes than the ones they’ve won, upgrade their existing ones through the customization system, or indulge in cosmetic purchases for their rider’s attire. In the event that players mismanage their funds, they can still compete with a loaned bike obtained for free. However, credits earned at the end of the race are reduced.

Winning a competition brings satisfaction only if the opponent is a worthy opponent, and that’s why the Career mode in Ride 5 introduces Rivals, opponents with unique backgrounds and dedicated cutscenes and voiceovers. Each Rival has a distinct outfit and preferred track, bike, and manufacturer. For example, Charles Nolan races on a 2005 Suzuki GSX-R 600, which players can win by defeating him. Rivals exhibit greater aggression, are the best riders in the game, and progress in the rankings to intersect with the player’s career at crucial moments, becoming recurring antagonists.

The effort exerted by players in Ride 5 will be rewarded not only with bikes, credits, and points but also with the evolution of their headquarters, which will change based on their position in the world rankings. It will offer three different environments of increasing beauty, symbolizing the journey towards becoming top-ranked drivers. Over time, the scenarios become more prestigious, and new team members will be added. Additionally, players will start their travels on a pickup and eventually progress to a van, ultimately culminating with a fully equipped truck!

But how long will the Career last? For only the four acts of the Tour, without completing all the races but simply reaching the event’s surpassing thresholds, players can expect a longevity of approximately 17 hours. However, completing all the events in the four acts of the Tour will require around 30 hours. For completionists who engage with the additional content provided by Limitless Challenges, the fun extends by an extra 20 hours, resulting in a total of 50 hours of gameplay.

With its immersive Career mode, customizable races, rewards, and captivating gameplay, we have designed a game that transcends skill levels and provides endless hours of entertainment. Ride 5 is ready to ignite the passion for two-wheeled adventures in each and every player and we invite all gamers, from casual to enthusiasts, to join us on this high-speed journey.

Ride 5 is available for pre-order and releases for Xbox Series X|S on August 24. For more information about the game, check out the official website.

RIDE 5 – Pre-order

Milestone S.r.l.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

Pre-order

Preorder RIDE 5 now and get the full game together with Far East Pack, which includes two fantastic bikes:
– Kawasaki Z900 – 2021
– Suzuki TL 1000 R Racing Modified – 1998.

Rev up your engine and get ready to hit the track with RIDE 5. An adrenaline-filled gaming experience that is so authentic it will make you feel like you’re truly racing at break-neck speed.

Find your favorite bikes and check out new ones in the ultimate motorcycle game! Race on over 35 tracks and collect more than 200 motorcycles from world-renowned manufacturers, each element is designed to feel like you’re riding a real bike.

IT’S A LONG ROAD
It’s not just speed that wins races – Endurance mode rewards perseverance and strategy. Time is no longer the issue, ride to your heart’s content with the option of saving, exiting and jumping back in later. Just make sure you keep an eye on fuel and pit-stops – these helplines can quickly become your worst nightmare!

FROM ZERO TO HERO
Start out in your garage, climb the ranks and become the best world racer in the new Career mode.
Race against increasingly skilled Rivals, true obstacles who will stand between you and the finish line. Learn to master different bikes and handle every situation.
It won’t be easy though… The road to victory is laden with challenges and it’s up to you to decide which one you want to take – the harder the challenge, the greater the reward!

WIN UNDER ANY CONDITION
It doesn’t matter how good you are, there is always one factor you can’t control: the weather. Clear blue skies can turn into heavy downpours and then back to sunshine, rolling clouds will follow you as you dash through the bends, giving you ever-changing views and landscapes.
You will have to deal with unexpected situations and use your skill to tackle both wet and dry conditions – the improved physics makes for an even more life-like experience!

TEST. LEARN. RIDE.
Not sure which line to follow or when to slam on the brakes? Use the new riding aids and get customized support when needed the most. Learn to better handle the bike and the tricks of the trade to become the best rider you can be.

TAKE CONTROL
You can tell a true motorcycle aficionado not just from the bike but also from their garage – collect your favorite models and customize them to your liking. Share your designs with other players and showcase your style!
Don’t get caught up on cosmetics only. With Race Creator you can build an endless number of scenarios, from single races to complete championships, choose your bikes and tracks, and act as a Race Director to set your own rules.

FEEL THE COMPETITION
Split screen is back! Now you can challenge a friend and win live!
And if you want to show the world what you’re worth, Endurance races will really put you to the test, now even more thrilling thanks to the Crossplay function.

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Players come to Xbox to build friendships, be competitive, and to experience incredible games – and they expect to be treated fairly, for interactions to be free of hate or harassment. Our investments in safety have helped players feel safer across text, video, and image – and our new voice reporting experience is the latest addition to our robust suite of family and online safety features.   

Starting this week, we are releasing a new platform-wide voice reporting feature to Alpha and Alpha-skip Xbox Insiders, that gives players the option to capture and report inappropriate in-game voice chats. More specifically, this feature equips Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One players with the ability to capture a 60-second video clip of an in-game voice incident that they believe violates our Community Standards and submit it as evidence to our Xbox Safety Team for review. This feature is purpose-built to support the broadest arena of in-game interactions between players and works across thousands of games that offer in-game multiplayer voice chat, including Xbox 360 backward-compatible titles.  

Targeting In-Game Voice Chat  

When we looked at the next important step in our safety innovation, our team targeted in-game chat because it is often the place where players have the highest opportunity to interact with players outside of their friend network. Making the feature available across Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One ensures that players have this feature available to them in any multiplayer in-game chat.  

The new reporting experience helps the Xbox Safety Team in their enforcement process, with more context to make decisions that reinforce our Community Standards. Evidence capture empowers each of us to actively support one another, report incidents that are inappropriate, and ultimately provide better protection for all players. We want players to feel comfortable jumping into any multiplayer chat feeling supported and welcome – and if they experience or witness inappropriate conduct, they can take action. We also ensured that players and their data are protected and secure in accordance with our Microsoft Privacy Statement.

With reactive voice reporting, Xbox continues to help players feel protected. Empowering players with easy-to-use tools helps foster togetherness, while improving the greater health of the gaming community on Xbox. With measures like this in place, players can feel confident they are in a safe, welcoming environment. – Stephen Balkam, CEO, Family Online Safety Institute

It was important to hear directly from our community about their unique experiences and what would help them feel protected and more empowered on our platform. We consulted with a range of community members – including Xbox Ambassadors – of different identities, backgrounds, and cultures.  

“Implementing voice moderation is a huge step in keeping the community at Xbox safer. I feel more confident knowing that Xbox has gone a step further to ensure we experience a positive environment not just through text chat, but through voice chat as well.”

SammieChaos, Xbox Ambassador

“Xbox is again leading the way in terms of player experience. By taking actions to reduce toxicity that is usually very difficult to track— players of all ages, genders, and backgrounds can be confident that Xbox has their back.”

Secret Asian 29, Xbox Ambassador

“As a woman online, I often find myself staying silent in online multiplayer to avoid abuse and harassment. I am excited for features like this that can help give people like me their voices back. Nobody should miss out on interaction with their fellow gamers because they are afraid to speak.”

CamicaziBoss, Xbox Ambassador

The reactive voice reporting feature will be available to console players in select English-language markets (US, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand) via the Xbox Insiders program – and we encourage all players to share feedback to help us improve this feature. We are actively working toward supporting additional languages as we continue our investment in voice moderation. 

How it Works  

Reactive voice reporting on Xbox is designed to be quick and easy to use with minimal impact to gameplay. The feature is designed so players can capture quickly and jump back into their gameplay and finalize the report when their game is over.  

Players have full control – you choose what to capture and report. Our feature is designed so that only you, the player, can initiate the capture of the last 60-seconds of gameplay activity that occurred for content moderation purposes. While this feature works similarly to how you’d capture a game video, any captured clips using the voice moderation feature are only for content moderation purposes – they will not appear in your recent captures and clips cannot be downloaded, modified, or shared. Only you have access to the clip until you submit it with your report – Xbox is not saving or uploading any voice clips without you, the player, choosing to start the reporting process.  

The clip lives on your console for 24 online hours, giving you the flexibility to either submit immediately or wait until you’re ready. We’ll also send you a reminder to report if you haven’t completed one within the 24 online hour period. If you decide not to report, the clip will be erased from your console automatically. We’ve also made updates to our notification features so the player that submitted the report will get a notification about whether or not Xbox took action on the report submitted.

The Importance of Active Allyship  

Each of us has an important role to play in our community – and I am asking everyone, from the seasoned competitor to the first-time player, to stand up for one another, be active allies and to report any experiences of toxicity. The improvements we are making to reactive voice moderation are for everyone – those who experience toxicity, and for those who witness it. We cannot be bystanders of bad behavior; we must do the right thing, have empathy for our fellow players, and build a safer and more inclusive community together. 

Our work is never done, and we will continue to innovate and improve upon our community safety measures to protect each other and our community at large. This feature is one of many we are working on, the first in our voice moderation work, and we look forward to sharing more in the future. As players use the feature, we’ll share data and updates in our bi-annual Transparency Report. If even one player feels safer with this measure, then we are on the right track.   

In the meantime, below are some helpful safety resources:  

• Share feedback via the Xbox Insiders program or on the Xbox Support website 
• Join Xbox Ambassadors and become part of our community working to make gaming fun for everyone  
• Read our Xbox Community Standards 
• Read our latest Xbox Transparency Report  
• Remain informed on How to Report a Player and How to Submit a Case Review 
• Need help? Request a Call, Chat Online, and More 

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The first-ever IGN x ID@Xbox Digital Showcase just wrapped up, and we had a lot of news about our upcoming indie games to share with you. With games coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Cloud Gaming – not to mention classic RPGs, Silent Hill-inspired horror, party games, and even groundbreaking interactive documentaries – there’s something here for you no matter what kind of player you are.

Read on for a full rundown of all 20 games we brought along during the showcase – including some world premieres – and get those hard drives ready!

Axiom Verge 2

Axiom Verge 2, the eagerly awaited sequel to the critically acclaimed Axiom Verge, is now available on Xbox! Explore an alternate Earth-like world, replete with the ruins of an ancient, high-tech civilization. Hack machines. Battle monsters. Use your remote drone to enter the Breach, a parallel but connected reality that is filled with its own dangers. You’ll want to search every inch for the hidden items and upgrades you need to survive.

Unleash your curiosity, embrace the unexpected, and get ready to lose yourself in the enigmatic realms of Axiom Verge 2, available now on Xbox!

Birth

Birth is a little game about living alone in a large city. In order to quell your loneliness, you decide to create a friend from spare bones & organs found around the city. Solve physics-based puzzles & discover secrets in lovingly hand-drawn museums, bakeries, bookstores and more. Birth launches on Xbox on July 28!

Dreamers

We are thrilled to introduce Dreamers, an exciting new adventure game coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One developed by PlaySys, which invites players to embark on a captivating journey filled with wonder, puzzles, and unforgettable stories. Set for release on September 1, this visually stunning game features a colourful low-poly 3D graphic style that exudes charm and uniqueness. Dreamers features three protagonists: a curious boy, a brave girl, and a visionary robot, as they form an unbreakable bond of friendship and take on daring escapades together. Expect a refreshingly unique main quest, numerous side quests, mini-games and upgradeable vehicles. Pre-orders open on July 9, and will offer a 10% discount and gain exclusive access to a special demo.

Everspace 2

Everspace 2 will come to Xbox Series X|S (with Xbox Game Pass) on August 15. Building on the success of the original game, this spacefaring adventure will bring a 30+ hour campaign, over 100 handcrafted locations, 9 ship types, 7 companions, and much more. The first Everspace made gravitational waves in the roguelike community for its fast-paced combat, combining die-and-repeat gameplay with storytelling. In Everspace 2, the series hops genres, taking space game fans into the realm of semi-open world RPGs where exploration, leveling up, crafting and managing equipment, buying new ships, and upgrading perks are all critical to surviving in uncharted space.

Follow Everspace 2 on Twitter, Facebook, and join the community on the official Discord server for the latest updates.

Hellboy Web of Wyrd

We saw the world premiere of the new gameplay trailer for the upcoming Hellboy Web of Wyrd, an action-brawler-roguelite from Upstream Arcade and Good Shepherd Entertainment. Play as Hellboy and punch, dodge, and blast your way through the mysterious Web of Wyrd in this all-new adventure crafted in partnership with Dark Horse Comics and series creator Mike Mignola.

Jackbox Party Pack 10

The showcase revealed two new games coming in the latest installment of the world’s favorite party game series, Jackbox Party Pack:

Timejinx

What would you do if you had a time machine? Would you go back and try to fix some or travel to the future to see who you’ve become? No! You’d use it to play a high-stakes trivia game! Introducing Timejinx, a trivia game about the things you know you knew. You’ll play the role of a time traveler who meets up with their friends for trivia night at the residence of our acerbic host, Jerri Rigg. But this is not your typical game night filled with tattered cards and stale pretzels. Jerri may not care much about you, but she does care about creating an immersive trivia experience. 

Hypnotorious

Hypnotorious is a game where you and your fellow players take part in a virtual stage show where our host, a mysterious hypnotist, mesmerizes you, then gives you a character to play. So thoroughly do you take on this new persona, that when he asks you a question, you will answer as that character! Each player will be keeping their characters somewhat secret because the game is all about deducing each other’s identities. The characters all fit into one of three, secret categories. The categories might be as simple as “Dogs, Cats or Mice,” or they might be something a bit more challenging like “Popular in the 80s, 90s or 2000s.” It’s up to you to figure it out.

Karateka

Digital Eclipse unveiled the next step in its journey: the Gold Master Series. It’s a new line of independent, self-published games that are best described as “interactive documentaries.” Game number one in the Gold Master Series is titled The Making of Karateka, and it’s all about the fascinating story behind a game that changed the industry – the deepest, most exhaustive exploration of the making of a single video game that’s ever been attempted in a video game itself.

The Making of Karateka will include multiple playable versions of the original game, video interviews, design documents, and even unreleased playable prototypes from the game’s creator, Jordan Mechner. Find out more in our full post on Xbox Wire.

Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients

Adventure awaits! Witness the beginning of Astor’s extraordinary journey through the world premiere announcement trailer for Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients. Immerse yourself in the mystical world of Gliese, where dark forces threaten its very existence. Fear not, for a hero is destined to rise and become the planet’s ultimate savior. Guided by an enigmatic presence, Astor must unlock the secrets of the past while collecting legendary weapons that will aid him in his mission to thwart an unholy ritual.

Monolith: Requiem of the Ancients presents a captivating combat system that will leave you fulfilled and craving more. Engage in exhilarating combo-based battles, wielding an array of legendary weapons and harnessing the arcane Runic Swarm to summon powerful constructs, crush adversaries with colossal boulders, or shield yourself behind solid rock formations. Master the art of precision with light, heavy, and ranged attacks, seamlessly swap between armaments, skilfully block, and dodge incoming threats, and build up your combo meter to unleash devastating finishing moves.

MythForce

Saturday morning cartoons are back! MythForce is a roguelike adventure featuring four-player online cooperative multiplayer set in the ever-changing Cursed Lands of Eldryth. Assemble your team and gather your arms, for many perilous foes await you. Will you stand victorious by the power…of teamwork!? MythForce ventures onto Xbox Series X|S from September 12, 2023! For more information on MythForce, visit www.MythForce.com, and follow along for the latest updates on Discord, Twitter and Facebook.

Rain World: Downpour

In Rain World, you are a nomadic slugcat, a cunning and clever animal in a broken ecosystem. Grab your spear and brave the industrial wastes, hunting enough food to survive, but be wary— other, bigger creatures have the same plan… and slugcats look delicious.

In Rain World: Downpour, the slugcat has evolved– alongside some of its most terrifying predators. Five new slugcats travel the haunting landscape/deathscape of a vast, ancient civilization, driven by curiosity, revenge, hunger, and mysterious, higher truths. Will they find what they truly seek? Or is their fate preordained to another meal in its unforgiving food chain?

Roman Sands

Today, Serenity Forge and Arbitrary Metric announced that Roman Sands RE:Build is heading to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S this winter. In this exciting and beautiful adventure, you’ll find yourself stranded on the luxurious shores of a timeless retreat, where the eccentric inhabitants anxiously await the world’s end. As you navigate their whimsical requests, a hidden truth about this place begins to emerge. Will you uncover your escape route?

In this surreal and mind-bending adventure, you must manage a decaying zoological research facility, where survival becomes paramount amidst a crumbling world. Guided by a distant voice on the radio, you must adapt to a new existence. Prepare for two broken realities to intertwine in Roman Sands RE:Build, a genre-blending masterpiece by the creators of the IGF award-winning Paratopic. Roman Sands RE:Build is a delirium-charged journey into apocalypse which collides through visual novel, adventure, puzzle solving, horror, and survival simulation.

Scarlet Deer Inn

Scarlet Deer Inn is an embroidered narrative platformer. Players will experience an emotional story, an interesting cast of characters, a dark dungeon full of monsters, and branching dialogues leading to optional backstories and bonus locations in a unique mix of an adventure game and a fast-paced platformer. The game stands out with its actually embroidered character frames and hand-painted backgrounds inspired by Studio Ghibli movies, Slavic folklore, and medieval Europe.

Sea of Stars

A Sea of Stars demo is now available, and pre-orders are open on the Xbox Store! Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

While the demo features areas that will be part of the final game, it does not reveal any major spoilers from the main story. It is designed to give a hint of context, but mostly showcase some gameplay systems and mechanics around dungeon crawling and combat. It aims to provide a sense of the tone and vibe without giving away major points of the journey.

Second Wave

Second Wave is a free-to-play online multiplayer hero-based shooter MOBA set in the world of Armantia, offering players an easy-to-play but hard-to-master experience. Players take on the role of a legendary hero or exile to fight an endless war for the Arcane Stone, a mystical artifact that has helped Armantia advance in both Science and Technology. There are currently two game modes for players to choose from, Domination and 3-Way Battle, with additional modes in active development.

Solace State

Can you retain your humanity while fighting against a corporate biotech conspiracy? Play as the young hacker Chloe who confronts political plots as she fights for her friends and her neighbors. Your choices in building up relationships and communities can revolutionize into more or less freedoms. In a game with 31 fully illustrated characters and over 200,000 words, meet Torrent, a local who shares Chloe’s intuitive hacking abilities, Sueli, a community leader who grapples with expectations with different levels of governance, and Alden, a socialite who was Chloe’s first love. In a world where humanity’s rights are fracturing through biotech greed, how can Chloe restore hope for the people?

Stray Souls

It’s no secret that the team at Jukai Studio are huge fans of the Silent Hill series, and has no doubt been a major influence on Stray Souls. Which is also why we’re extremely excited to announce that we’re collaborating with the legendary Akira Yamaoka as a special guest composer! Akira’s work on Silent Hill is iconic, and we are honored to have him contributing new original music to the Stray Souls soundtrack. Listen to the world premiere of Akira’s track “Splintered Minds” featured in our brand-new trailer!

Stumble Guys

Players will soon discover the joys of Stumbling when Stumble Guys races to console. The fast-paced, frenetic and highly-social fun of Stumble Guys will launch first on Xbox, giving the game’s massive community more ways to battle with friends in an epic quest to be the last Stumbler standing.

Stumble Guys is a worldwide phenomenon on mobile, known for its accessible and competitive play style that is constantly evolving with varied events, tournaments, and imaginative levels. Stumble Guys regularly adds new mechanics, offering Stumblers more ways to cross the finish line, whether on foot, in vehicles, or through a high-stakes First-Person Stumbler mode. The game is enjoyed by tens of millions of players every week and was one of the top 10 most downloaded apps in the world in 2022.

Xbox players can pre-register now on StumbleGuys.com to join the party on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One and lock in launch benefits, including early Beta access and free launch gifts.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Take on the role of one of the notorious Slaughter family, or their victims, in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a third-person asymmetrical horror experience based on the groundbreaking and iconic 1974 horror film. Texas. Early 1973. Ana and a group of close friends embark on a journey to the small dusty town of Newt, TX, the last known location of Ana’s missing sister, Maria. The group’s search quickly turns into a nightmare of unimaginable proportions when they mistakenly invade the home of Leatherface and his cannibalistic family. Tied up, tortured, and left for dead, the group must find the strength to fight back and escape before it’s too late. 

Featuring strategic 3v4 team-based multiplayer gameplay, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will allow players to truly experience this iconic franchise for the first time in video game history. The only question is, who will survive and what will be left of them?

Vampire Survivors

After extensive research, developer poncle has concluded that everything in life is better with friends: That’s why Vampire Survivors is getting a local 4-player couch co-op mode! Be the bullet hell with your besties!

In local couch co-op mode, you can continue your current game or; if you’re new to Vampire Survivors, begin your session with up to 4 local players. Players can seamlessly switch between single and co-op play between stages and unleash chaos. Like every good co-op game, Vampire Survivors will also offer opportunities to test your friendship… and stretch the definition of the word “co-op”.

Worldless

Worldless is a stylised 2D adventure platformer with turn-based combat and a mind-bending, interpretative narrative. Players will walk the line between physical and astral planes within a shapeless world, embarking on a journey of self-growth where the possibilities are infinite, the challenges are immense, and transcendence awaits those brave enough to embrace the unknown.

Related:
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It’s finally here! We are kicking off our summer plans with over 40 exciting game demos on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Just like last year’s ID@Xbox Demo Fest event, you can download and play these in the comfort of your own home between July 11-17.

Demos are playable starting today, and we encourage you to continue to check them out all week. You can find them in the special ID@Xbox Demo Fest collection on the Xbox Store online and on console. Don’t forget that you can provide feedback to the devs too! Keep in mind that most of 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.

We’re also excited to share that 7 newly announced games below are coming to Xbox!

Alchemist: The Potion Monger (Art Games Studio)

Alchemist: The Potion Monger is a first-person simulation game where players gather and process the necessary ingredients to brew magical potions – and can leave their lab, venture into the world, and change it with their brews. Alchemists will use unique mechanics such as the Alchemy Wheel to combine their creations – which can then be sold, or used on NPCs, or even on yourself to offer yourself new powers. Alchemist will also let you decorate your house, adopt pets, and more.

Alisa (Casper Croes/Top Hat Studios)

Alisa is a horror-themed action-adventure game and a genuine throwback to the golden age of ’90s 3D games.

Dynacat (Replayne)

Dynacat is a fast-paced 3D isometric action platformer. Join Dynacat on an adventure to save his home from the incoming army of robots lead by the Spherons. Dash to the goal, find secrets, defeat the Spherons and earn points by doing it all in style!

Knights of Braveland (Ellada Games)

Knights of Braveland is a cooperative beat ’em up action game with a generated story. You will hack, slash, and smash your way to victory. And with your friends, it is much more fun. Play local or online.

Marble It Up! Ultra (Marble It Up)

From the minds behind Marble Blast comes Marble It Up! Ultra – the ultimate marble platformer. Roll, jump, and boost your way through a massive single-player campaign – or team up to out-blast your opponents across five exhilarating multiplayer modes! From smashing weekly challenges to unlocking hidden marbles… How will you roll?

Metal Mind (Whirllaxy Studio/E-Home Entertainment)

Metal Wind fuses transforming mecha and roguelite gameplay elements and combine game mechanics, such as weight, armor pieces, heat, and power for you to forge a unique weapon of war to fuel your killing spree!

The Night of the Rabbit (Daedalic Entertainment)

Lose yourself in a tale of magic and wonder, where anything is possible and where nothing is quite as it seems: join young Jerry and follow a peculiar white rabbit to the wondrous realm of Mousewood, a land where critters can speak and where mystery abounds.

Along with those titles, there are a variety of unique and creative games that will be available to try! Below is a list of games, and their developers, participating in the ID@Xbox Demo Fest:

• A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher (Ask An Enemy Studios)
• Aaero2 (Mad Fellows)

• Alchemist: The Potion Monger (Art Games Studio)
• Alisa (Casper Croes)
• Astrea: The Six-Sided Oracles (Little Leo Games)

• Bang-On Balls: Chronicles (Exit Plan Games)
• BattleCakes (Volcano Bean)
• Black Skylands (Hungry Couch)
• Born of Bread (WildArts)

• Boxville (Triomatica Games)
• Cell Scientists: Beyond (R-Next)
• Cross Tails (Rideon)
• Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle (Invader Studios)
• Death Relives (Nyctophile Studios)

• Demonschool (Necrosoft Game)
• Deserted (Zebik Media Interactive)
• Dynacat (Replayne)
• Evil Wizard (Rubber Duck Games)
• Exhausted Man (Candleman Games)
• Fall of Porcupine (Critical Rabbit)
• Frank and Drake (Appnormals Team)

• Knights of Braveland (Ellada Games)
• Let’s Cook Togther 2 (Yellow Dot)
• Lies of P (Neowitz)
• Lunark (Canari Games)
• Marble It Up! Ultra (Marble It Up)
• Metaball (Bucketplay)

• Metal Mind (Whirllaxy Studio)
• Overpass: Rhythm Roadtrip (Studio Bean)
• Pixel Cafe (Baltoro Games)

• Pocket Bravery (Statera Studio)
• PolyFury (Wayfarer Games)
• Punch Club 2: Fast Forward (Lazy Bear Games)
• Raging Bytes (Hit-Point)
• Rain World (Videocult)

• Sea of Stars (Sabotage Studio)
• Sker Ritual (Wales Interactive)
• Slave Zero X (Poppy Works)
• Space Boat (Recombobulator Games)
• Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde (Creature Cauldron)

• Spirit of the Island (1 Million Bits Horde)
• Stonks-9800: Stock Market Simulator (Ternox)
• The Isle Tide Hotel (Wales Interactive/Interflix Media)
• The Night of the Rabbit (Daedalic Entertainment)
• The Wandering Village (Stray Fawn Studio)
• Trinity Fusion (Angry Mob Games)

• Worldless (Noname)
• WrestleQuest (Mega Cat Studios)

Head over to your Xbox and start enjoying these incredible game 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 amazing fun summer of gaming!

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