We wanted to give a few quick updates to the community about what’s going on with the program while we are currently doing our best to weather an early summer heatwave and keep ourselves cool and safe.
Your Feedback Matters
As with the last update, we want to continue to draw attention to more Community-driven fixes made possible by your feedback. Users reported unexpected behavior with game clips and your feedback was vital to implementing a fix that was released with a recent update to Alpha Skip-Ahead, Alpha and Beta.
The Future of Community Updates
We expect things to pick up over the next few weeks/months where we’ll have more to discuss with our Xbox Insider community. Also, we’re looking to have other members of the Xbox Insider Team bring their voices to the Community updates, so be on the lookout to hear from other members of the team you haven’t heard from before.
A Gracious Thank You
It’s been our pleasure to bring you this latest Community Update for the Xbox Insider Program. If you’d like to chat more about this update (or anything Xbox Insider) be sure to head to the r/XboxInsiders subreddit or follow @xboxinsider.
We can hardly believe at Antstream Arcade HQ that it’s been twelve months since Antstream gloriously returned to Xbox owners. Now, from the comfort of the sofa, controller in hand, anyone with this modern console can enjoy hundreds of retro games. What’s more, Antstream Arcade’s constant commitment to bringing a variety of games to fans means downloading Antstream Arcade to your console instantly brings over ten new retro systems to your fingertips.
Still on the fence about Antstream Arcade? Since the service returned to Xbox, we’ve added dozens of games; here are ten of our favourites across ten different systems, making Antstream Arcade a whole gaming history inside your console!
System: Arcade
Game: Kung-Fu Master
From the arcades of the mid-eighties comes this classic scrolling brawler from Irem. Heavily inspired by the movies of Bruce Lee and the Jackie Chan comedy “Wheels On Meals”, Kung-Fu Master is the tale of Thomas and his battle to rescue his girlfriend, Sylvia, from the clutches of the evil Mr X. Playable and intense, Kung-Fu Master was a refreshing smash in the arcades back in the eighties and set a new template for the beat-em-up genre. Now, you can play it on the Xbox via Antstream Arcade.
Ant-ernative: The Age Of Heroes: Silkroad 2 is another superb addition to Antstream Arcade’s arcade library.
System: Atari 8-Bit
Game: Henry’s House
Like his peer Miner Willy, Henry lives in a bizarre house full of deadly creatures and everyday items. Our hero just wants to shrink back into his bed, but he needs to clean up all the mess, and he’s been literally shrunk, making his house even deadlier. Loosely based upon the recently-born Prince Harry, Henry’s House is a challenging platform game with a twist.
Ant-ernative: Henry’s House – on the Commodore 64!
System: Commodore 64
Game: Way of The Exploding Fist
It’s time to break out the crunching punches and high-flying kicks with this famous beat-‘em-up from down under. A complex set of athletic moves is at your disposal in Fist, from the gut-wrenching mid-punch to a low sweep and the dramatic round-house kick. Way Of The Exploding Fist is a C64 game that’s as playable today as it was almost 40 years ago.
Ant-ernative: Battle Yaemon, the Grand Master of Flame in Gremlin’s gamebook adaptation, Avenger: Way of The Tiger II.
System: Commodore Amiga
Game: First Samurai
Vivid Image’s brilliant Eastern adventure is another recent addition to Antstream Arcade. The player is the titular swordsman thrust across time in pursuit of the evil Demon King. Fast-paced, beautiful, and smooth, this technically impressive effort by Mev Dinc and his team is the perfect slice of Amiga gaming.
Ant-ernative: Take on the Demon King again in Second Samurai.
System: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
Game: Nightshade
The violent Sutekh has Metro City in his vice-like grip. The city’s heroic defender, Vortex, is vanquished. Up steps the mysterious Nightshade, ready to track down and foil Sutekh in this remarkable platform/point-and-click hybrid. First, however, he needs to free himself from his chair, preferably before that fizzing bomb goes off…
Ant-ernative: Explore a magical 8-bit kingdom as a famous 18th century author in the fantastic homebrew NES game, Jane Austen’s 8-Bit Adventures.
System: Nintendo Game Boy
Game: BurgerTime Deluxe
This renowned arcade platformer got a smart handheld upgrade in 1991, and you can play BurgerTimeDeluxe on Antstream Arcade now! Chef Peter Pepper stars once more as the under-fire cook, and this Game Boy game features most of the gameplay that made the original such a compulsive experience, now with greater variety in its levels.
Ant-ernative: Another arcade-to-handheld upgrade: Super Hunchback
System: Sega Mega Drive
Game: Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe
Welcome to the manic, vicious and violent world of Speedball! Based in spirit on the 1975 James Caan movie, “Rollerball”, Speedball 2 is one of the finest futuristic sports games of all time. The objective is simple: catch and throw the ball into the opposition’s goal. But watch out: the other team is likely to slide tackle or even punch your players – all within the game’s rules!
Ant-ernative: Super Kick Off. More football, less violence.
System: Sinclair ZX Spectrum
Game: Saboteur!
Clive Townsend’s heady mix of ninjas and James Bond is a true ZX Spectrum legend that we’re honoured to host on Antstream Arcade. Your task as the eponymous mercenary is to infiltrate the enemy HQ and steal a set of computer disks before escaping in a helicopter. Free-roaming and boasting huge graphics, Saboteur! has rightly become revered among 8-bit fans.
Ant-ernative: You can also play the C64 and Amstrad CPC versions of Saboteur! on Antstream Arcade.
System: Sony PlayStation
Game: Glover
Gaming decisively entered the third dimension in the nineties with the advent of powerful new consoles such as the PlayStation. Antstream Arcade is proud to present one of the finest arcade adventures on the Sony machine, the story of a cute four-fingered glove named Glover, who’s on a mission to collect lost crystals and restore his kingdom to its former glory.
Ant-ernative: Re-Loaded. Slightly less cute 3D action.
System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Game: Rival Turf!
Fans of Final Fight and Streets of Rage will find plenty to get their pulses going in this scrolling brawler from Jaleco. In a totally unoriginal development, rival gang The Street Kings has kidnapped your girlfriend Heather, forcing Jack and his friend Oozie to take to the streets to get her back. Punch and kick past a horde of dangerous gang members before facing off against their leader, Big Al. Let’s fight!
Ant-ernative: Brawl Brothers, also from Jaleco.
To keep up to date with all things Antstream Arcade, check us out on Discord, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) @AntstreamArcade. Pick up Antstream Arcade on Xbox today.
Your ultimate gaming arcade is here with over 1300 classic games from the 80s, 90s, and 00s. Get a full year’s access to the world’s largest official retro gaming catalog of games. Antstream Arcade gives you unrestricted access to some of the best games ever made and new games are added every month. Feel the nostalgia by playing games from your childhood or discover new gems you never knew existed. Experience a world of gaming in a new way with:
* Over 600 original mini-game challenges, with new challenges every month. Take on your friends or the global leaderboards, or just try to earn gold in your favorite games.
* Participate in global weekly tournaments. Take on the world and show everyone your elite gaming skills.
* Set a community challenge with Giant Slayer. Take on the global community of retro gamers by setting a high score and challenging them to beat it. Will the community slay your score or will you be a giant amongst them?
* Pick up that second controller and enjoy some classic couch co-op action with some of the best Beat’em ups, Shmups, Fighters, Platformers, and more at your fingertips.
* Save your game at any point and pick up where you left off. Multiple people playing the same game? No problem, you have 4 save slots on every game to play with and a continue to pick up wherever you left off.
* Leave your mark by immortalizing yourself in the high score table of any game or challenge.
* Challenge a friend in Duel. Play any challenge and see if they can beat you.
Antstream Arcade is the largest Retro Gaming platform with the biggest catalog of classic games that can be streamed straight to you. The Arcade is constantly being updated with new games, challenges, features, and game modes. This purchase gives you a full year’s access and can be extended with 1-year subscription.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
A roguelike road trip of the damned. Form a party, equip your stagecoach, and set off across the decaying landscape on a last gasp quest to avert the apocalypse. The greatest dangers you face, however, may come from within…
You are valiant space hero who is not as fortunate as those in the golden age of scrolling shooters who had infinite ammo. Instead, you must absorb your enemies’ weapons and retaliate!
Discover pulse-pounding stylized parkour action as you run, jump, smash, and slide through an afro-futurist-inspired kingdom. Enjoy a single-player or two-player local cooperative mode and experience the story of two brothers and their unexpected return to their lost kingdom.
Flock – July 16 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Available on day one with Game Pass! Flock is a multiplayer co-op game about the joy of flight and collecting adorable flying creatures with your friends. Soar through beautiful landscapes, seeking out rare and elusive creatures to add to your flock.
Available on day one with Game Pass! A wholesome pixel art platformer. Cook magical delicacies from a vast collection of ingredients in your own shop. Explore an unfamiliar town and deliver tasty treats to the townsfolk. Learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique witchy world.
A heartfelt story of ambition, struggle, and friendship told from the perspective of a young boy in fictional 90s rural India. This slice-of-life adventure role-playing game offers a multi-faceted experience of India’s culture, art, history, and stories.
Undertake a mystical journey as Bō, a celestial blossom (fox tentaihana) descended from the heavens to play a key role in an ancient and mysterious ritual. Flow with acrobatic grace and agility through a mysterious world of myth and legend in Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, a colorful hand-drawn adventure inspired by Japanese folklore.
CLeM – July 17 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A narrative-driven puzzle adventure game with a dark twist. Wake up in a world where puzzles intertwine with exploration, weaving a unique narrative rooted in alchemy. A voice awakens you. It gives you purpose. To guide you, you find a notebook with mysterious entries and a house to explore.
The anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba” makes its virtual board game debut! Enjoy events and minigames with up to four players offline or online and compete to become the strongest Demon-Slayer swordsman!
Lose yourself in the world of New York, 2329, where immortality comes at a price that someone must pay. Following a near-death experience, Detective James Karra takes an off-the-books case from his chief with only the help of a young police liaison, Sara Kai, to assist him. Time reveals all as they risk everything in pursuit of a killer, uncovering the dark secrets of the city’s elite.
The most advanced pickleball game ever made! Whether you’re strategizing how to beat your opponent with an Erne or testing your reflexes in a Firefight against Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns, this game has everything you love about the fastest growing sport in the USA!
Get ready for a high-octane adventure in RPM – Road Punk Mayhem, a top-down vertical shoot’em up that combines intense bullet hell mayhem with cel-shaded style! Inspired by arcade genre classics, RPM – Road Punk Mayhem lets you choose from 3 pilots of questionable sanity as you cruise through post-apocalyptic stages laying waste to enemy vehicles.
Available on day one with Game Pass! Welcome to Hinterberg, a new tourist hotspot in the idyllic Austrian Alps! There are plenty of dungeons to find and adventures to be had in Hinterberg – will you be sent packing on your first day, or remain to become a Master Slayer? Master magic, solve puzzles, slay monsters; all this and more await you in Hinterberg!
Available on day one with Game Pass! Kill all gods in the upcoming action-RPG from the developers of Ashen! Step into the boots of Nor Vanek, an elite member of the Coalition army, joined by Enki, a fox-like companion, in their quest for vengeance against the Gods. Weave in melee, gunpowder, and magic in rhythmic battles where combos chain together to create a deadly dance.
Schim – July 18 Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere
A game about jumping from shadow to shadow, while interacting with a relaxing and lively environment. Play as a schim that has become unattached to their human being. Can you get back to him before it’s too late?
With immersive graphics and a dark atmosphere, Shield King offers an exciting and suspenseful experience. Explore the mist-affected world, make strategic decisions, and demonstrate your survival skills in a dangerous environment. Good luck on this journey for survival!
Top-down, twin-Stick Shooting, FMV-infused, low-poly, creep infested, plasma blasting, crazily competitive CHAOS!!! Booom-Slang! is stocked up with a cavalcade of insane Single-Player and Multiplayer modes, maps and moments. Are you ready for what Conductor Chaos has in store for you?!
Tactical roguelike action in bite-sized play sessions, pulling you into a lingering and strategic obsession. Bargain with gods, equip your spoon and pick your battles, before retreating into the healing darkness. But beware… there are still many monsters to face!
Dragon Bobby is a uniquely beautiful game with third-person exploration and puzzles that tells the story of a man’s life from birth. You control a dragon that is an analogy of this man in the story; a true reflection on life.
Experience explosive gameplay variety across 134 FBS schools and immerse yourself in the iconic, decibel-shaking soundscape of college football as you chase greatness. Pre-order EA Sports College Football 25 today and receive Alma Mater Ultimate Team Pack, Cover Athlete Ultimate Team Pack, and Bring Glory Home Ultimate Team Uniform Item. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with EA Play can try EA Sports College Football 25 with a 10-hour Early Access Trial starting on July 16, 2024.
Play as a heroic frog samurai tasked with taking down the deadly snake clan and bringing an end to the war. Your agility and speed will be tested as you go over obstacles, walls and ceilings, and navigate through portals. But be careful, the snakes won’t give up without a fight.
Available on day one with Game Pass: A unique Japanese-inspired, single player Kagura Action Strategy game. The game takes place on a mountain covered by defilement. During the day, purify the villages and prepare yourself for sundown. During the night, protect the Maiden against the hordes of the Seethe. Repeat the day and night cycle until you cleanse the mountain of defilement and return peace to the land.
Soul Searching is a narrative survival game about sailing away from your homeland. Explore a world of islands, dragons, and magic. You can learn about stories of people living on islands you chose to visit, discover dragons, catch fish, customize your boats, find ghosts, cast magic spells, and more.
Brace yourself for a bloody crusade. Deathbound launches worldwide on August 8th on Xbox Series X|S! Wishlist Deathbound today and craft unbreakable synergy within the brutal world of Zieminal.
Deathbound is all about the party system, massive combo attacks, and a great story, all set in a unique techno-fantasy environment that blends sci-fi and medieval elements to create a dark and immersive atmosphere.
Join us as we explore Deathbound‘s key features that will convince you to take up the fight in the Forbidden City.
The Essence
Acquire the skills, memories, and identities of fallen warriors from across Akratya. Merge their unique personalities and combat styles, switching between them effortlessly.
Party System
The essences you absorb shape your party. Deathbound boasts a comprehensive party system, enabling you to develop a playstyle through talent trees. Seamlessly switch between fallen warriors to utilize their skills and abilities. The alliances they held in life will influence their synergy in death.
Dynamic Morphing
Unleash the combined might of fallen warriors with devastating Morphstrikes. Employ various attack styles to execute powerful combos and finishing moves, crushing all who stand in your way.
Brutal World
Zieminal is a world where a technological past intertwines with a medieval present, housing diverse cultures. The Forbidden City of Akratya awaits your exploration. Navigate a city crumbling under the weight of a grand crusade. With its stark brutalist architecture and fusion of technology, Akratya teeters on the brink of oblivion
Unforgiving Monsters and Bosses
Confront ruthless enemies designed to test your limits. Each boss in Deathboundembodies one of the five stages of grief, demanding the full attention of any soul brave enough to face them.
You should be ready now to enter the gates of the Forbidden City of Akratya and face the abominations lurking in its streets. Join the bloody crusade on Xbox on August 8th!
Deathbound is a one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike set in a callous world where Faith and Science clash. The forbidden city of Akratya is an unforgiving land that cannot be conquered alone. Bind with fallen warriors found throughout your crusade and dynamically transform between characters seamlessly in mid-combat with the unique 4-hero party system.
The fallen are individual characters with their own unique skill sets, combat styles, and rich history. By absorbing their essence, you inherit the fiber of their very being. Conflicts and synergies between characters greatly impact gameplay, so relationships must be balanced. Strong synergies may offer combat buffs that can spell disaster for the ruthless boss awaiting your steel and magic.
Throughout combat, you will charge a sync meter shared across all characters. During an opportune moment, dispel your sync meter and unleash a devastating Morphstrike using the combined power of the bound fallen warriors. When faced with a formidable abomination, a precisely executed Morphstrike can be the deciding factor between life and death.
The world of Deathbound has been lovingly crafted and influenced by the developer’s homeland of Brazil, a vibrant culture brimming with life, creativity, rhythm, and a rich history. From the Afro-Brazilian martial art of capoeira to the sweeping music cascading through Akratya, Trialforge’s origins shine throughout every aspect of Deathbound.
How Milestone is Bringing Monster Trucks to Life in Monster Jam Showdown
Summary
Learn how the team at Milestone blends off-road arcade racing with iconic Monster Jam trucks for Monster Jam Showdown.
Iconic racing locations include Death Valley, Colorado, and Alaska featuring a variety of original modes where things will get bigger and even more extreme.
When I got the news that we were going to develop a game about Monster Jam trucks, I was filled with a mix of emotions — I was both excited and a bit lost. This would be my first title as Game Director but also Milestone’s first project with these kinds of vehicles. I was already aware Monster Jam had a huge and passionate fanbase all over the world, and all the elements were there for us embark on a unique and interesting journey.
The word ‘unique’ is intrinsically linked to the Monster Jam world. We’re talking about 10.5-feet-tall, 12.5-feet-wide, and 17-feet-long trucks that weigh 12,000 pounds and generate 1,500 horsepower. Only a few people in the world get the chance to get behind the wheel of such giants, and this was the first big challenge we had to face. When you develop a racing game with bikes or cars, at least you have an initial idea of the feelings you want convey. With Monster Jam trucks, you don’t have the starting base that you need to identify key elements for a successful gameplay.
The team and myself took a flight to Sweden to watch in-person my first Monster Jam event — this was probably the wisest decision I could have made. What quickly captured my attention was the sense of massive power that those behemoths convey, which immediately became the core of Monster Jam Showdown gameplay. The handling we developed will deliver all the key elements of driving a Monster Jam truck, but at the same time, we tailored the gaming experience to suit everybody’s needs, making the game as enjoyable as possible from the very first races.
In this regard, the work we did on the suspensions was fundamental, as these are one of the most crucial mechanical elements of a Monster Jam truck, and the reason why most of the maneuvers we see are possible. Importantly, we also added both a single-steering option, which controls the front and rear wheels at the same time from one stick, and a double steering option. The double-steering option allows you to control the front and rear wheels separately with both sticks, which mimics the set-up in a real Monster Jam truck.
However, this was not the biggest learning I took back with me to Italy. The whole atmosphere of the event and the general feeling of “being part of something” remained stuck in my head, lighting up the final spark I was looking for. Monster Jam Showdown would not just be a racing game with trucks, but would offer players a one-of-a-kind gaming experience, mirroring the real-life events. This became our mission, and we worked hard to offer the same combination of competition and spectacle in the game that you see lives.
On one side, we did that by giving you the opportunity to compete in the most beloved official competitions, such as Freestyle and Racing. On the other side, we put a lot of effort to recreate vehicles and objects destructibility and added some cool arcade elements like boost and combos. The final and probably boldest step was broadening the entertainment beyond official locations and competitions.
In Monster Jam Showdown, we give you the chance to drive your favorite trucks in some of the most iconic places on Earth. The barren desert of Death Valley, the stunning forests and crystal rivers of Colorado, and the wintry, wild mountains of Alaska will host a bunch of original game modes where things will get bigger, and even more extreme. Here, our design team crafted dramatic tracks that will immerse you into unprecedented scenarios, allowing you to race side-by-side with the other trucks looking for the smartest shortcut to gain the first position or even to fly over the opponents, leveraging the verticality of the layouts. This is something that will also help when performing the most difficult stunts in the open-air arenas hosting Freestyle events within those three original environments.
Learning about the Monster Jam world has been an exciting journey for us, and we combined such discovery with Milestone’s expertise in racing games to create a diverse arcade package where fans will become the protagonists of the most action-packed motorsports event on four wheels.
Monster Jam Showdown will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One as of August 29, 2024, with Early Access available from August 26, 2024. Digital pre-order opens today on the Xbox Store. For more information, please visit MonsterJamVideogame.com.
Wait no more! Pre-order Monster Jam Showdown now. In addition to the full game, you’ll get Law & Disorder DLC, including 2 vehicles: Maximum Destruction and New Earth Authority Police!
MASTER THE MOST ICONIC TRUCKS
The excitement of real-life Monster Jam events is ready to explode, thanks to the franchise’s most recognizable icons: the trucks. Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon and many others… Drive the hottest rides in Monster Jam racing the current fleet, the legendary history-making trucks, and the wildest fictional beasts from the toy universe. Unlock dozens of trucks and collect countless different liveries!
OFF-ROAD ARCADE RACING FUN
Dive into a unique arcade racing experience made of thrilling off-road races and cool tricks. Squeeze your boost to demolish your opponents, then crash, twist, and distress the environment to gain even more power. Whether you’re a hardcore Monster Jam fan or an arcade game enthusiast, this title is primed to deliver immediate driving sensations and an accessible dual-steering racing experience.
FREESTYLE WITH STYLE
Balance your truck with the perfect wheelie, eat some dirt doing crisp donuts, or reach the sky performing the greatest big air ever. The bottom line is: get ready to defy gravity in freestyle mode! Launch yourself into insane jumps, flips & stunts, ruling the leaderboards and becoming a trick master!
SHOW WHO’S THE BOSS IN THE SHOWDOWN TOUR
Start your career in the Showdown Tour! A non-linear adventure that will take you racing across various game modes, both in sport venues and wild nature. Beat your opponents and unlock new trucks, liveries, and perks. Who’s the boss now?
RACE THE WILDERNESS
Racing and jumping in stadiums and arenas is cool, but sometimes you just want to go a bit off-track, right? So, get ready to drive through the most spectacular untamed environments. Racing through the Death Valley’s dust, the forests of Colorado and the Alaskan ice. But watch out, Mother Nature is always lurking: sandstorms, thunderstorms and blizzards are going to make things even wilder!
TONS OF GAME MODES
Monster Jam Showdown lets you unleash your sickest tricks and your off-road racing skills among several game modes! Play the original events in the official Monster Jam‘s inspired stadiums, or go beyond reality with stunts and maneuvers that push the boundaries of what’s possible, even for the most skilled driver. Racing on circuits, avoiding crashes on Figure 8 tracks, or surviving Horde races. But also performing in the Best Trick or the Extreme Freestyle mode!
It’s time to master them all: to kick off your career and challenge with your friends, even in split screen mode.
Feel the adrenaline rush with Monster Jam Showdown – Big Air Edition! Pre-order now and get:
– Full game
– Season Pass
– Law & Disorder DLC, including 2 vehicles: Maximum Destruction e New Earth Authority Police
– Odd Couple DLC, including 2 vehicles: Backwards Bob e Big Kahuna
– 3 days of early access
MASTER THE MOST ICONIC TRUCKS
The excitement of real-life Monster Jam events is ready to explode, thanks to the franchise’s most recognizable icons: the trucks. Grave Digger, El Toro Loco, Megalodon and many others… Drive the hottest rides in Monster Jam racing the current fleet, the legendary history-making trucks, and the wildest fictional beasts from the toy universe. Unlock dozens of trucks and collect countless different liveries!
OFF-ROAD ARCADE RACING FUN
Dive into a unique arcade racing experience made of thrilling off-road races and cool tricks. Squeeze your boost to demolish your opponents, then crash, twist, and distress the environment to gain even more power. Whether you’re a hardcore Monster Jam fan or an arcade game enthusiast, this title is primed to deliver immediate driving sensations and an accessible dual-steering racing experience.
FREESTYLE WITH STYLE
Balance your truck with the perfect wheelie, eat some dirt doing crisp donuts, or reach the sky performing the greatest big air ever. The bottom line is: get ready to defy gravity in freestyle mode! Launch yourself into insane jumps, flips & stunts, ruling the leaderboards and becoming a trick master!
SHOW WHO’S THE BOSS IN THE SHOWDOWN TOUR
Start your career in the Showdown Tour! A non-linear adventure that will take you racing across various game modes, both in sport venues and wild nature. Beat your opponents and unlock new trucks, liveries, and perks. Who’s the boss now?
RACE THE WILDERNESS
Racing and jumping in stadiums and arenas is cool, but sometimes you just want to go a bit off-track, right? So, get ready to drive through the most spectacular untamed environments. Racing through the Death Valley’s dust, the forests of Colorado and the Alaskan ice. But watch out, Mother Nature is always lurking: sandstorms, thunderstorms and blizzards are going to make things even wilder!
TONS OF GAME MODES
Monster Jam Showdown lets you unleash your sickest tricks and your off-road racing skills among several game modes! Play the original events in the official Monster Jam‘s inspired stadiums, or go beyond reality with stunts and maneuvers that push the boundaries of what’s possible, even for the most skilled driver. Racing on circuits, avoiding crashes on Figure 8 tracks, or surviving Horde races. But also performing in the Best Trick or the Extreme Freestyle mode!
It’s time to master them all: to kick off your career and challenge with your friends, even in split screen mode.
All content included in Season Pass will be released by February 2025.
Get a first look at the newly announced Planet Coaster 2, coming to Xbox in fall 2024
Craft your perfect waterparks with a brand-new pool tool, flumes, waterslides and inflatable toys
Add personal flair to your parks with an enhanced creative suite, customisation options, management updates and more
Grab your goggles, Planet Coaster 2 has been announced and is set to arrive on Xbox Series X|S in the fall. In this highly anticipated sequel to Planet Coaster, you’ll now have the option to craft your dream waterpark, complete with flumes, waterslides, and a huge, sprawling pools to delight your guests. This can be a standalone park, or a section of a wider park with more traditional coasters and rides – the choice is yours! We got a brief first look at the game in a recent preview event, but before we take a dip into what’s new, check out the reveal trailer below for a small look at what’s to come.
Planet Coaster 2 promises a suite of amazing tools to craft an incredible waterpark for your guests. This all starts with the pool tool, which’ll allow you to place pools of all shapes and sizes for your park guests to enjoy. Once the water is down, the real fun begins. An extensive suite of funky flumes and slides can be placed in any way you want –whether they’re up in the air, full of twists and turns, or just offer a sharp plummet into the pool. What is a waterslide if not a wet rollercoaster?
There’s also a vast suite of customization options for your pools and attractions; change them to any colour you like and choose from a range of nautical themed décor – which is just one of several new themes – to jazz up the place. Planet Coaster 2 takes customisation even further than the original with the ability to add set pieces directly to rides, scaling them up or down for a perfect fit. We saw a little of this in action with a pre-built waterpark, and it looks fantastic. If you can dream it, you can absolutely build it with these tools, alongside the ability to share your creations with the community.
While waterparks are an exciting new part of the experience, they come in addition to all the traditional theme park rides and attractions featured in Planet Coaster, with more rides, more management options and more customization tools than ever before.
You’ll be able to mix and match within the boundaries of your park – go all out on the watery attractions or simply designate specific areas to pool activities and aquatic-themed rides. In the preview, we watched guests move between the main theme park area and the waterpark area with ease – the latter helps to offer more variety in what your parkgoers can do while they’re visiting.
There are also more fun tweaks to the management side of Planet Coaster 2. Guests will also need changing facilities so they can switch from their park outfits into their swimming garb. You’ll also need to ensure your pools are kept clean and safe for your parkgoers – if the water is suspiciously yellow, guests could be in for a bad time.
To fuel your park’s economy, you’ll also be able to sell pool passes that allow guests access to the waterpark areas, as well as inflatable pool toys from the Splash Emporium that’ll dramatically up the fun factor of your watery wonderland. This is just a small glance of what Planet Coaster 2 will offer, but for those looking for a more traditional coaster-crafting experience back on land, the sequel is not forgoing those traditional park-building elements.
There’s a newly enhanced suite of tools for all your main park needs – including a new path system that allows for wider walkways and sprawling plazas that make your park look lovely, while filtering guests more efficiently – a touch of authenticity that mirrors real world amusement parks. An enhanced track builder for rollercoasters will give you even more freedom over how and where to place your tracks for the ultimate thrill ride.
Customizing rides is a breeze with the blueprints, which allow you to make custom objects – anything from a small decoration to a fully-functioning rollercoaster – and share them with other players via the community workshop. You’ll be able to give anything you build a personal touch with the ability to add blueprint or scenery pieces to rides, and the new symmetry tool lets you make easy adjustments to those tiny details. For example, if you add or move a light or a small decoration on the side of one rollercoaster car, it’ll update the placement on all the cars at once – a blessing for the meticulous crafters out there.
And of course, looking after your guests is a prime responsibility. Parkgoers have been rebuilt to showcase more diversity and variety. Just like Planet Coaster, guests’ satisfaction will be measured via Excitement, Fear, and Nausea, and you’ll be able to see how they’re feeling about your park with greater ease thanks to an update in how they express their wants and needs.
Even with just a small peek at the game, Planet Coaster 2 looks to be an exciting iteration of the series with plenty of promising new features. The best news is there’s not too long to wait – Planet Coaster 2 is set to soar on Xbox Series X|S in fall 2024.
Discover New Games, Events, Content and More in the New Season of Free-to-Play on Xbox
Lisa Brumfield, Xbox Sr. Partner Marketing Manager
Summary
Curated limited-time collection of free-to-play games with seasonal content
Special free-to-play Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Key titles include XDefiant, Call of Duty: Warzone, The First Descendent & Stumble Guys
Dive into a full two weeks of our summer free-to-play celebrations running until July 22, including new game releases such as The First Descendent.
Whether you want to battle royale with your friends, explore distant galaxies, or unleash your creativity, there’s a free-to-play game that suits your mood and style on your Xbox.
We’ve curated a collection specifically for our Xbox audience, showcasing free-to-play games with new content, events and adventures for the summer season.
Here are a few:
XDefiant
A first-person online arena shooter where you compete in fast-paced clashes. With cross-play available at launch, you will be able to play with friends on a variety of platforms.
Three new maps are coming to XDefiant in Season 1. The new Clubhouse map is available now, with its own dedicated Playlist so you can get familiar with it quickly. Inspired by the R6 map of the same name, Clubhouse features a familiar indoor layout with expanded outdoor areas that will be new territory for even the most seasoned R6 players. Later in the season, two more new maps – Daytona and Rockefeller – will launch as well.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Free for everyone. Drop in, armor up, loot for rewards and battle your way to the top.
Season 4 is available until July 24th. A mysterious DNA Bomb is found at the Popov Power, leaving players to uncover the truth of its purpose. Head to the AO to get to the center of the mystery and obtain DNA samples from fallen foes. Show who you are at your core as you alter your playstyles thanks to new features that showcase Call of Duty at its absolute best — all while dropping into a plethora of Call of Duty: Warzone Maps, shifting between Urzikstan, Rebirth Island, Fortune’s Keep and more.
MultiVersus
Characters from Looney Tunes, DC Universe, and more are colliding in epic, over-the-top battles! Whether you’re seeking the intensity of 1v1, the frenzy of a 4-player mayhem, or a team-up for strategic 2v2 battles, MultiVersus has got you covered. And as the roster expands, so does the spectacle — with new personalities and play styles turning up the heat in every battle.
Destiny 2
Dive into the world of Destiny 2 to explore the mysteries of the solar system and experience incredible first-person shooter combat.Unlock powerful elemental abilities and collect unique gear to customize your Guardian’s look and playstyle. Enjoy Destiny 2’s cinematic story, challenging co-op missions, and a variety of PvP modes alone or with friends. Download for free today and write your legend in the stars.
And now available: The Final Shape. In Destiny 2’s latest expansion, embark on a perilous journey into the heart of the Traveler, rally the Vanguard, and end the War of Light and Darkness.
Explore Free-to-Play Perks
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks* include bonus loot, skins, and more to enhance your gameplay experience. Members can claim exclusive Perks for a variety of games! Snapshot below:
The First Descendant – New game release!
The First Descendant is a free-to-play third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter with high-quality graphics powered by Unreal Engine 5. Featuring a wide variety of characters with unique concepts and combat styles, massive boss battles, four player co-op, a variety of weapons, and more.
Jump in now and claim an exclusive launch edition bundle: Elevate your weapon with a stunning weapon skin and customize your Descendants with vibrant paints and a stylish back accessory!
Warframe
Enhance Arsenal with valuable amenities like an Orokin Reactor and Orokin Catalyst, 3 Day Affinity and Credit Boosters, and more. Plus, bolster your look with the impressive Excalibur Immortal Skin!
Stumble Guys
Get your robot dance moves ready! Claim the Cyborg Bundle and receive the Cyborg Legendary Skin, The Robot Victory Animation, 250 Gems and 50 Stumble Tokens!
Ready for endless fun? Xbox Free-To-Play Frenzy is your chance to discover a special collection of games, curated just for Xbox. Grab your controller, press play, and get lost in the adventures on Xbox.
*Perks offers vary by region and game. Check the Perks gallery on your Xbox console or the Xbox app for details.
Anno 117: Pax Romana – Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Visit Ancient Rome
Ellie Vengala, Communications Specialist, Ubisoft
Revealed during Ubisoft Forward, Anno 117: Pax Romana, is the 8th entry in the Anno series and the successor of the award-winning Anno 1800. Anno 117: Pax Romana is developed by Ubisoft Mainz, and will immerse players in the Pax Romana period, an era of relative peace in the Roman Empire. It promises a captivating blend of city-building mechanics as well as 4x and RTS features to deliver a unique builder experience. The game is set to release in 2025.
Fans have been asking for Anno to visit the Roman Empire for over 10 years, so we caught up with Creative Director Manuel Reinher to find out more about this long-awaited project, and why the team decided the time was right to visit the year 117.
Why is now the perfect time for Anno to visit the Roman Empire?
Manuel Reinher: After exploring the future (2205) and the near past (1800) it is now the perfect time to travel together to antiquity. An Anno inspired by the Roman Empire is a great contrast to everything we have ever done, and delivers a strong fantasy that our community has requested for more than a decade. We can’t wait to explore this exciting era together with our fans and all strategy players!
What makes the Roman Empire a fan favorite setting?
Manuel Reinher: Rome is a perfect match for Anno. It’s a fascinating era for strategy and builder games alike. It is one of the most iconic Empires of all times and it has a huge impact on our daily lives. It’s an era full of architectural wonders, politics, trade, art and conflict – these themes still ring true today.
With our unique feature mix of city building, deep economical simulation and 4x elements like diplomacy and military, we can deliver Rome like no other game before. This, together with the scale and beauty, will make Anno 117: Pax Romana a premier builder game that will be loved by fans!
How are you bringing the Roman Empire to life?
Manuel Reinher: We will bring the Roman Empire to life in unseen scale and detail: zoom in and discover a group of kids chasing dogs in the streets or admire your creation and watch thousands cheering at spectacular games in your massive colosseum. Start with a small outpost on an empty strip of land and transform it into a network of bustling cities spanning over two contrasting provinces.
Why did you choose the year 117?
Manuel Reinher: The year 117 is a perfect inspiration for us. It’s the time of the Pax Romana, after years of conquest the empire found its way to peace. It’s peak Rome, the people from 3 continents lived together, resources and ideas traveled via land and sea. And although there have been conflicts, this time period was relatively stable – life in the provinces was flourishing and peaceful, just like in an Anno game.
Fun Fact: Did you know that the sum of the year in each Anno title adds up to 9 (i.e. 1+1+7 = 9 / 1+8+0+0= 9)?
What will set Anno 117 : Pax Romana apart from previous games in the franchise?
Manuel Reinher: As for now, we will only reveal that we want to bring more choices to Anno. For the first time, you will be able to choose your starting province. But stay tuned, we will reveal more features and mechanics over the upcoming months!
What part of the Roman Empire do you start in, and what made you choose these regions?
Manuel Reinher: In Anno 117: Pax Romana you will be able to either start in the traditional Roman Latium, close to the hungry heart of the Empire, or the mysterious Celtic Albion, where no civilized Roman wants to be.
With Latium, we want to deliver the Roman fantasy that most of us have when we think about a game set in this era: it’s warm, sunny, and welcoming. Think lavender fields, beautiful coastlines and terracotta tiles bathed in sunlight!
Albion, however, is an alien, wet place at the Roman border. It’s a striking contrast and an opportunity for the players to explore and experience our take on the Roman Empire, a cultural melting pot full of challenges and opportunities for them.
Are there any clues in the Governors Wanted trailer that connect to the game?
Manuel Reinher: We wanted to make a reveal trailer that feels true to the game and brand. It should feel like Anno. We incorporated a lot of references to the game: from your role as a governor to the two starting provinces. The provinces will have a similar look and feel in the game as seen in the trailer. But we also drew smaller connections to the game, from the sound of the ship bell to some of the animals or symbols that you will find in the Anno 117: Pax Romana reveal trailer.
Anno 11: Pax Romana arrives for Xbox Series X|S in 2025.
More than Meets the Eye – Exploring the Art of Optimus Prime in the Overwatch 2 x TRANSFORMERS Collab
Kaedi Peacecraft, Community Specialist, Blizzard
Overwatch 2 teams up for another exciting collaboration, teaming up with the iconic TRANSFORMERS franchise. Featuring four all-new Legendary skins for some of Overwatch 2’s heroes. Now you can fight in an epic battle of AUTOBOTS vs DECEPTICONS, as Optimus Prime x Reinhardt, Bumblebee x Bastion, and Arcee x Illari take on the menacing Megatron x Ramattra.
It’s time to roll out and log onto Overwatch 2 on Xbox, where you can pick up Optimus Prime Reinhardt and other Transformers favorites in the in-game shop or the Microsoft Store. You can even collect all four skins in the action-packed Transformers Mega Bundle. Play for free and earn cool Autobot and Decepticon-themed player icons, name cards, and titles as you battle in your favorite Overwatch 2 game modes. But hurry – this unique collaboration event ends on July 22.
To celebrate the collaboration, we had Blizzard Korea Studio’s Bobby Kim share what it was like to create the concept art and design for Optimus Prime Reinhardt, and how it felt to bring both worlds together.
How exciting was it to make Optimus Prime x Reinhardt for the new Overwatch 2 x TRANSFORMERS collab?
Bobby Kim: It’s the TRANSFORMERS series after all! TRANSFORMERS is one of the best action robot franchises out there, and it gets people’s hearts racing, so I knew this was a project I wanted to take on.
TRANSFORMERS and Overwatch are such a great combination. Optimus Prime is the leader of the AUTOBOTS, and after seeing his fearlessness when charging at DECEPTICONS, I thought he was a perfect fit for Reinhardt. I also couldn’t wait to incorporate Optimus Prime’s silhouette into Reinhardt.
What was the important thing about Optimus Prime you wanted to make sure was included in the design?
Bobby Kim: When developing the skin, I tried to integrate the sturdy, truck-like design that Optimus Prime is known for, such as the front windshield and the exhaust on the skin’s shoulders, to make him look more like a speeding truck when he charges. I also tried using sharper, angular parts throughout the skin, which I think captured the iconic look of Optimus Prime.
Are there any fun features about the skin that players should look out for?
Bobby Kim: One of the aspects I love about this skin are the windshield wipers. The technical artist did a remarkable job of bringing my vision to life. The skin is also filled with other mechanical parts that move which add a touch of realism. I can’t wait for our players to put this skin on and charge into battle, experiencing these fun little features.
What are some of your favorite TRANSFORMERS experiences that you want to share?
Bobby Kim: I remember watching the TRANSFORMERS series on TV with my eyes wide open as a kid. The robots inspired a lot of kids to let their imaginations run wild. To my eyes, every car on the road looked like it could convert at any time, and I still sometimes daydream about it all these years later. While I didn’t have the chance to own one of the toys back then, being part of this collaboration feels like the coolest gift I could give my childhood self.
Overall, this collaboration was a fantastic experience. Bringing Optimus Prime and other TRANSFORMERS characters including Megatron, Bumblebee and Arcee to the world of Overwatch has been a dream come true.
Overwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatch’s 40 distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.
Overwatch 2 – Season 11: Super Mega Ultrawatch
Join Ultrawatch for an action-packed season! Suit up as Legendary Ultrawatch heroes to battle the forces of evil led by the fallen Mythic Calamity Empress Ashe and her sidekick B.O.B, then claim and customize Mythic Ashe’s diabolical dark mage style for your own or pick up the upcoming Mythic Bound Demon Reinhardt Weapon Skin. Celebrate as Overwatch hits 100 million players, marked by the long-requested return of Pink Mercy alongside a new Rose Gold Mercy Bundle, with 100% of the proceeds benefitting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Continue the celebration by unlocking the Aztec Sombra Bundle through challenges and enjoy a fun Community Crafted mode curated by beloved streamers. Play for free and earn 600 coins, 1500 credits, plus the Butterfly Symmetra and Lifeguard Lucio skins.
Unique Ammo Mechanics: Absorb enemy fire to reload and retaliate.
Engaging storyline: Uncover the truth behind the lack of weapons in the galaxy.
Variety of modes: Enjoy different game modes offering varied challenges and replayability.
I’m Austin Sojka, the solo developer behind Romans I XVI Gaming, and I’m incredibly excited to announce that my passion project, Retaliate, will be launching on Xbox on July 15th, 2024.
Get ready to dive into a retro-inspired space shooter that brings a unique twist to the genre. In Retaliate, you start with no ammo. Instead, you must use your temporary shield to absorb enemy fire and convert it into your own ammunition. This mechanic adds a strategic layer to the classic shooter formula, making every encounter a thrilling challenge.
Your quest to uncover who has seized control of all the weapons in the galaxy and put an end to their reign of terror begins with Story Mode. The rich and immersive narrative provides a compelling backdrop to the intense space combat.
Your progress to put a stop to this foe is met with increasingly powerful enemies, armed with increasingly destructive weapons. But this is to your advantage! From homing missies, to bombs, to lasers and beyond. Every weapon of your enemy can become a weapon of your own.
Along the way, adjust your ship and shield to match your personal style. What is victory if you aren’t doing it in style? Customize your ship and your shield in the hangar. This allows for a personalized gaming experience that’s uniquely yours.
To keep the action fresh and exciting, Retaliate offers various game modes. In Endless Mode, you’ll test your endurance as you strive for the highest score against an infinite onslaught of enemies. Trials Mode presents the opportunity to hone your skill on the levels from Story Mode. And in Classic Mode, you can experience gameplay inspired by the original space shooter classics.
Retaliate is available for pre-order on Xbox now! Don’t miss your chance to dive into this exciting space adventure on July 15th. Your support means the world to me, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this game with you.
Retaliate is a retro inspired scrolling shooter with a twist, you start with no ammo!
Unlike those in the golden era of space shooters you are not so fortunate as to have infinite ammo. Instead use your shield to both destroy your enemies and absorb their weapons, then use your enemies’ weapons to retaliate!
• Story: Discover who has seized control of all the weapons in the galaxy and bring their reign of terror to an end!
• Arcade: Challenge yourself in your mastery of the mechanics of Retaliate. Go for a highscore in Endless mode, perfect the levels in Trials mode, or try the original that inspired it all in Classic mode.
• Hangar: What is victory if you’re not doing it in style? Customize your ship and your shield in the hangar.
College Football 25 – Standard Edition
