How Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Reignites an Iconic Classic

Summary

Learn about new controls and mechanics
Improved audio and visuals elevate gameplay
Familiar characters and plotlines remain pristine
Check out our interview with the developers on the Official Xbox Podcast

No two players will have the same experience when they step into the combat boots of Snake in Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater.

From the moment players make their first HALO jump behind enemy lines, some will come out of firefights and close encounters with wildlife with barely a scratch. Meanwhile, other players will see Snake covered in knife slashes, bullet wounds, and burns by the time the end credits roll. These visual battle scars are thanks to our new damage system, and are just one part of the visual and audio improvements that have been brought to life in Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater.

To find out more, check out our interview with the developers on the Official Xbox Podcast:

Ultimate reality and immersion were two major goals our development team sought out to achieve. Naked Snake, our enduring protagonist, can be seen drenched in mud as players dive into cover to avoid enemy detection. Rain pitter-patters on the lush foliage as thunder clouds roll in from a distance. A snake slithering nearby provides a potential snack for the player. The thick vegetation of the jungles, forests, and swamps have been completely remade with cutting edge-detail in Unreal Engine 5 while retaining the original landscape.

To allow you to take in the new visual changes, we’ve also introduced a new third-person camera and control system. Aiming down sights and swapping between third person and first person while zeroing down an enemy will come across more naturally. Coupled with clever ways of hiding, players can engage enemy guards, either through lethal means or creative non-lethal ways – the choice is yours. These intuitive controls help ease newcomers starting their Metal Gear journey in this riveting origin story. For players looking for a more classic feel, Legacy Style offers the original camera and gameplay options at any time.

A keystone throughout the production of Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater has always been to keep the original feel of the game intact. This means including the over-head camera and controls veterans of the franchise will remember. You can easily swap between both control systems throughout the gaming session. No matter what control and camera style you choose to play with, both will deliver that classic stealth espionage action.

The Metal Gear Solid series has always had a roster of colorful characters with deep storylines that fans have come to cherish, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is no different. We’ve kept the original voice lines in the game, so the scruffy voice of David Hayter as Snake will greet players to the iconic universe of Metal Gear Solid once again.

Every cutscene is enriched with dynamic lighting, detailed facial animation and improved sound design. Yet they remain completely faithful, shot for shot. Even for long time fans, watching these updated scenes is like experiencing them for the first time. Original voiceover actors were brought back to the recording booth to help update in-game button prompts to keep up with the latest gaming hardware.

Since its release, Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater has defined itself as one of the most influential and impactful video games of all time. With an unbelievably detailed update to this classic, both newcomers and longtime players alike can experience this masterpiece like never before. Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater is the definitive, once-in-a-generation remake you do not want to miss.

The post How Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater Reignites an Iconic Classic appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Arrives on July 18 – Learn More About the (Literally) Explosive Souls-lite

Category: Xbox Games Showcase

June 10, 2024

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Arrives on July 18 – Learn More About the (Literally) Explosive Souls-lite

Simon Dasan, Creative Director, A44 Games

Hi, I’m Simon Dasan, Creative Director at A44. For those of you who don’t know us, we’re an indie studio from New Zealand and released our first game, Ashen, back in 2018. I’m excited to say we’ve announced the release date for our upcoming explosive souls-lite adventure, Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. Mark your calendars, because your journey begins on July 18, 2024! Flintlock is coming to Xbox Series X|S with pre-orders available now and will also be available at launch for anyone with Game Pass.

Flintlock is a thrilling action-RPG that takes the knowledge and experience we gained from Ashen and elevates it. While it retains elements of the Souls genre, it infuses it with rapid mobility, creating a rhythmic combat dance reminiscent of more action-oriented gameplay styles. You can weave in flintlock weapons, axe combat and magic to chain combos together, while using jumps and dodge abilities to quickly get to safety or rain attacks down on your enemies from above. It’s a style we like to call Souls-lite!

The story of Flintlock is set in the world of Kian, 10 years after the Door to the Great Below was opened, unleashing the gods and their armies of the dead. The lands of Kian are overrun, and the Coalition Army is tied up in an increasingly hopeless siege outside the city of Dawn’s walls. And just as the army sends in its elite sapper troops to try and turn the tide of war by breaching the walls, it seems that they meddled where they shouldn’t have.

By breaching the walls, Nor Vanek, a Flintlock weapons expert, and her comrades have also freed Uru, the Guardian of the Door, and nothing can now prevent the gods and the dead from ravaging the surrounding regions. Only by teaming up with a fox-like creature – now revealed to also be a God called Enki – can Nor hope to find both vengeance and redemption by venturing on a quest to kill all Gods. The enemy of my enemy…

While Flintlock provides enhanced mobility to combat, it will nonetheless demand quite a bit of training before you can master its combat. But if you desire a greater test of skill, the game enables you to challenge yourself on the demanding Possessed difficulty mode, with more aggressive and powerful enemies. Perfect for the true challenge-seekers… Or a second run?

We can’t wait for you to get your hands on Flintlock when it’s released in July. We’re grateful for the support of all the Flintlock fans, and are excited to see all of you take on the cruel Gods to rid Kian of their domination.

For those eager to further customize Nor, a Deluxe Edition is also available to pre-order, which includes three alternative outfits for Nor – the Noble, Vanguard & Champion outfits – as well as a new customization set for your axe & pistol. Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn launches on Xbox Series X|S July 18.

Flintlock – Deluxe Edition

Kepler Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$44.99

Pre-order

The Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Deluxe Edition includes the base game and three customization packs for Nor.
· Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Noble Outfit
· Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Champions Outfit
· Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn – Vanguard Outfit

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
From independent games studio A44, makers of Ashen, comes an explosive Souls-lite, where Gods and guns collide in a battle for the future of humanity.

The Door to the Great Below has been opened unleashing the Gods and their armies of the Dead. The lands of Kian are besieged, the city of Dawn is on the brink of destruction. It’s time for the Coalition army to fight back. Embrace vengeance, gunpowder and magic as you embark on an epic journey to defeat the Gods, close the door and retake the world.

Your battle begins now.
Kill. All. Gods.

The post Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Arrives on July 18 – Learn More About the (Literally) Explosive Souls-lite appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Introducing FragPunk: A Fast, Futuristic Hero Shooter That Bends All the Rules

Summary

Brand new 5v5 hero FPS FragPunk will keep you on your toes thanks to its unique rule bending gameplay mechanic: Shard Cards!
With 10 heroes, their unique abilities and 15 weapons to choose from, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from to find your fun!
FragPunk releases in 2025 on Xbox and PC. Wishlist and sign up now for more updates!

We are thrilled to have unveiled FragPunk at the Xbox Summer Showcase 2024. FragPunk is a shooter that wants to carve its own space in the competitive FPS genre with its unique blend of fast-paced combat and dynamic rule changes. In FragPunk, every round brings a new challenge, thanks to its unique shard card system.

As part of an action-packed announcement trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase, FragPunk showcased its innovative power-up cards, a feature primed to shake up the Hero Shooter genre with a fresh, everchanging experience for players.

In this free-to-play game, players will be divided into two teams of 5 and will get to select gameplay modifying cards before entering each round. Their goal for each round will either be to plant a converter in the zones defended by the other team or to defend against oncoming attackers. To that end, players will be able to mix and match 10 heroes, 15 weapons, and over 70 cards on 4 different maps, ensuring that no two rounds are ever alike. More cards, heroes, weapons and maps are also on the way to keep the game fresh when it goes live!

A Look at the Powerful Shard Card System

The trailer offers a glimpse into the intense gunfights and counter-attacks enabled by shard cards. Featured cards include “Chain Reaction,” which releases chain lightning upon firing bullets. Meanwhile, “World Flip” turns the world upside down, demonstrating the game’s dynamic and exhilarating gameplay. These cards add an element of surprise and strategy to each match, encouraging players to adapt and evolve their tactics. The announcement trailer showcases the variety and unexpectedness that can be brought to the battlefield, hinting at even more cards to come, promising to further enhance the player experience.

A Uniquely Dynamic 5v5 FPS

With its unique blend of features, FragPunk has a whole lot to offer players alongside the game-changing Shard Card System. Here’s a broader look at some of FragPunk’s core details

Shard Cards themselves are central to the game, but they go beyond their effect alone! Indeed, synergies and counterplay between cards, heroes, weapons and maps add an exciting layer above how matches are played.

A FragPunk match lasts 7 rounds, and each round lasts 2.5 minutes, as you navigate through a fierce battlefield. So no time to waste, hone your reflexes and get that win!

Each of the original 4 maps feature distinct environments with plenty of details, offering you a one of a kind view while the bullets fly.

Arm yourself with an arsenal of weapons ranging from Assault Rifles to Sniper Rifles, each with its own unique attributes and capabilities. Whether you prefer to unleash rapid-fire attacks or take down enemies from afar, FragPunk has something for every playstyle.

“We wanted to create a game that breaks the mold and offers something truly unique to players,” says Xin, FragPunk producer. “With FragPunk, every match offers a new challenge, thanks to our innovative card-based gameplay mechanics. Whether you’re a seasoned FPS veteran or a newcomer to the genre, there’s something here for everyone.”

FragPunk is coming to Xbox in 2025, follow @PlayFragPunk on X (formerly Twitter) to keep up to date on development.

The post Introducing FragPunk: A Fast, Futuristic Hero Shooter That Bends All the Rules appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Explore a World of Wonders in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Hi future Expeditioners! We are Sandfall Interactive, a team of around 30 passionate developers based in Montpellier, France and we are thrilled to reveal our project to you today: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, coming to Xbox Series X|S next year and available day one with Xbox Game Pass. We poured our hearts and souls into creating the game of our dreams, so we sincerely hope you will enjoy our reveal trailer just below.

The Paintress’ Cycle of Death

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or just Expedition 33, is a brand-new reactive turn-based RPG that will transport you to a beautiful, surrealist new world inspired by France’s La Belle Epoque — a period famous for its stunning and lavish contributions to the country’s world-renowned culture of art.

Expedition 33 opens in the city of Lumière, the last city of humanity, where everyone knows the age when they will die. Once a year, the Paintress wakes and paints a number on her Monolith. This number represents an age — the age of everyone who will soon be erased. Year by year, this number ticks down, more people die, and old age is not so old anymore.

Soon the Paintress will wake again and paints 33, condemning everyone of that age to a gentle death. But with only one year left to live, the members of Expedition 33 embark on a quest to destroy the Paintress.

The Expedition’s Hopeless Quest

You’ll play as Gustave and his fellow Expeditioners on their impossible quest to end the Paintress’ cycle of death. Your journey will take you through a vast and beautiful fantasy world, where you’ll battle deadly adversaries, befriend fabled creatures, and discover traces of the Expeditioners who came before you.

Along the way, you’ll grow your bond with your fellow Expeditioners and piece together their personal stories of heart and heartache. Together, you’ll strive to unravel the mystery of the Paintress – a desperate and seemingly hopeless undertaking that has eluded generations of Expeditioners. 

Our Reactive Turn-Based Battle System

At Sandfall, we’re huge fans of turn-based RPGs, action games, and Souls-likes. For Expedition 33 we wanted to create something unique that combines the depth of a turn-based game with the thrill of executing a dodge or a perfect parry. And so was born our unique reactive turn-based battle system.

Each member of the Expedition has a distinct playstyle with their own unique mechanic. You will be able to further customize each character’s stat growth, expansive skill tree, and gear alongside a wide range of learnable passive traits, offering endless opportunities to fine-tune your preferred strategies. We can’t wait to see what crazy builds you will come up with.

But strategy alone won’t suffice. To reach the Paintress you will also need to master the defense systems. During the enemy’s turn, you can dodge, parry, or jump above enemy attacks in real time, allowing you to land devastating counterattacks. Mastering enemy patterns will ensure your victory and who knows, maybe you’ll even finish the battle without taking any damage and earn additional experience?

Additionally, the free-aim system allows you to shoot at enemies’ weak points, offering you a substantial advantage against the hardest foes or flying enemies.

We believe that whether you are an action RPG fan or a turn-based fan (or both), you will enjoy the unique combination that Expedition 33 offers. We’ve focused on creating a challenging, rewarding combat system that will make every battle an enthralling encounter.

Expedition 33 has been developed using Unreal Engine 5 to bring incredible fidelity and beautiful graphics on Xbox Series X|S. You’ll explore an enchanting realm and wander through breathtaking landscapes. From the somber, Paris-inspired city of Lumière, to the stunning Island of Visages, and to the haunting Forgotten Battlefield discovering secrets and hidden quests along the way.

We can’t wait to show you more of our debut game, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and we hope you’re excited to learn more about its world, characters, and gameplay. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be released on Xbox Series X|S in 2025 and will be available day one with Xbox Game Pass – you can wishlist the game today on the Xbox Store. We’ll be revealing more details and updates over the next few months, so be sure to follow us at @Expedition33 to stay up to date.

The post Explore a World of Wonders in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

First Starfield Shattered Space Trailer & Highlights from the June Update

The post First Starfield Shattered Space Trailer & Highlights from the June Update appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: Preorder Benefits and Every Game Edition Detailed: What You Need to Know!

The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: Preorder Benefits and Every Game Edition Detailed: What You Need to Know! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Breaking Down the New Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Trailer – Arriving July 19, Pre-Orders Open Now

Category: Games

June 7, 2024

Breaking Down the New Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Trailer – Arriving July 19, Pre-Orders Open Now

Masato Kumazawa, Capcom

Summary

The release date for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess has been set for July 19, 2024, and pre-orders are available today.
In addition to Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC, the game will also be available on Xbox One.
The newly released trailer further explains the game’s unique fusion of action and strategy.

Kunitsu-gami: Path of the Goddess is a single player game that combines action and strategy in a unique Japanese-inspired setting. The latest trailer for the game was revealed today during Summer Game Fest, and the release date has been set for Friday, July 19, 2024!

In addition to the previously announced support for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, additional support for Xbox One has also been announced. Pre-orders for all platforms are available today, and Xbox Game Pass members will be able to play the game on day one on July 19, 2024.

A Dramatic Action Strategy with Dancing Swords and Strategic Commands

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a completely new title that combines the exhilarating action of “sword dance” with strategy. Set on a mountain that has been covered by defilement, the game repeats the cycle of preparing for battle during the day and protecting the Maiden Yoshiro from the evil spirits called the Seethe during the night. We hope players look forward to the action-strategy gameplay that allows each player to enjoy the freedom of strategizing in a unique Japanese aesthetic.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Screenshot

This screenshot shows an action scene featuring the protagonist Soh, a guardian who wields a sword and commands the villagers. In this game, players can enjoy exhilarating “sword dance” action, which combines sword slashes with dancing techniques based on real-life traditional Kagura ceremonies to purge the Seethe.

Before we get into the new information about what occurs during the night, let’s take a moment to review what happens during the day:

During the day, players will explore the mountain, prepare for battle, and lead the Maiden to the sealed Torii Gates. The mountain is covered in defilement, so you will have to purify the Torii Gates as you progress through, but there will also be villagers who can be rescued. The rescued villagers will be able to aid you during the battle at night by assigning them roles.

One thing that cannot be forgotten during the day is to position the villagers for the battle at nightfall. Players must carefully consider the characteristics of each role and position them accordingly.

During the night, you will have to fight against the horde of Seethe that emerge from the Torii Gates, coming for Yoshiro, the Maiden. The positioned villagers will be able to fight alongside Soh, and their roles and position can be changed during the battle in real-time, so make sure to keep an eye out on the battleground and strategize wisely to protect Yoshiro until sunrise.

Your key goal each night is to protect the Maiden Yoshiro – and it’s game over if you don’t – but even if Soh runs out of health, you can return to the frontline after being held in a “spirit state” for a set period of time. This is a tense moment in which the player must keep an eye on the ever-changing battlefield and make the most effective calls to survive the difficult situations you’re placed in.

In the trailer, you can also catch a glimpse of a battle against the more powerful Festering Seethe. The Festering Seethe alone are formidable, but they also call forth a swarm of other Seethe to aid them. How will you lead the villagers to protect the Maiden and purge the Festering Seethe? Players will be able to experience a unique combination of action and strategy to take them down

The Seethe and the Festering Seethe Strike

When the sun sets, the Seethe appear from the gate to another world. The creators’ detailed designs have been incorporated into each Seethe, who hunt down Soh and Yoshiro with a wide variety of attacks. Let us introduce some of the Seethe and Festering Seethe that symbolize the unique Japanese setting of this title.

Seethe: Rosokuro

The Rosokuro is an old man who was spirited away in the other world. His cursed flame can empower the surrounding Seethe.

Seethe: Gotaimen

The Gotaimen have the appearance of upturned human faces. They drag themselves across the ground as they vomit defilement from a gaping maw.

Seethe: Shokera

The Shokera assaults humans from higher ground. Their sharp claws can easily slice through even the strongest armor.

Seethe: Gakinyudo

The ravenous Gakinyudo are born from the corpses of lecherous monks who fell to defilement from their debauchery while alive. They prefer to dig up their meals from graveyards.

Seethe: Tsurube-otoshi

The Tsurube-otoshi aims to relentlessly crush humans from above. Some say it looks like a tadpole, while others say it is a human mouth.

Festering Seethe: Batsu

This Festering Seethe holds the power of a curse powerful enough to dry up a mountain. They appear in front of Soh and Yoshiro and hinder the purification ritual.

In addition to the Seethe introduced here, there are many other unique Seethe and Festering Seethe awaiting you in the game, so please look forward to its release!

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Arrives on July 19 – Pre-orders Begin Today

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will be available only in digital format, and those who pre-order will receive the Mazo Talisman “Walking Basket” and “Astral Projection,” equipment for Soh. You’ll also receive a digital art book “Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess – Artbook of Kunitsu-Gami” which contains concept art for the title.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will be available on July 19 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows PC, and Xbox Game Pass subscribers will be able to play the game from day one. In addition, this title is compatible with Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing cross-play and transfer of saved data between Xbox and Windows 10/11.

The release date for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is finally set and is just around the corner. We will continue to release more information about this title, so please be sure to check our official X account (@Kunitsu_Gami).

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess

CAPCOM CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Pre-order Bonus
– Mazo Talisman: Walking Basket (Equipment for the main character, Soh)
– Mazo Talisman: Astral Projection (Equipment for the main character, Soh)
– Artbook of Kunitsu-Gami

*The pre-order bonus may be available separately at a later date.

A new tale of the Kami awaits…

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is 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.

©CAPCOM
KUNITSU-GAMI: PATH OF THE GODDESS is a trademark and/or registered trademark of CAPCOM CO., LTD. and/or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries.

The post Breaking Down the New Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Trailer – Arriving July 19, Pre-Orders Open Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Five Ways to Make Your Mark in Democracy 4: Console Edition

Democracy 4: Console Edition is a political simulation game where you take control of a country and run it as you see fit. While in a position of power, you will be able to implement new laws, and take actions which will appease a group of voters, while angering another. The ultimate goal is to gain more votes than your opposition in an election and continue running the country in your vision.

Picking a Country to Lead

When starting out in Democracy 4: Console Edition, the first decision you must make is which country to lead. You are able to become the President/Prime Minister of USA, UK, Japan, France, Canada, Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, and South Korea. Each country has a difficulty rating out of 5, and it would help on earlier playthroughs if you were to stick to countries such as Canada, USA, South Korea, Australia, or Germany, who are all rated 2 stars and below. This will help you learn the game and be able to effectively lead 5-star difficulty countries such as the UK and Japan.

Surrounding Yourself with Cabinet Ministers who Share Your Intentions

As you begin leading a country, you will inherit the cabinet ministers who were there from the previous regime. These individuals will have their own thoughts and biases towards the direction of the government. It will be up to you to bring in new cabinet ministers which align with your values, should you choose, or you could try implementing policy changes with the existing cabinet and see how things go.

There are seven cabinet ministers in office and their departments are law & order, public services, tax, economy, welfare, foreign policy, and transport. How you deal with your cabinet ministers and policy directions can define your time in office.

Introducing New Policies and Changing Existing Ones

Much like inheriting cabinet ministers from your country’s previous leader, the country you are leading will have existing laws and policies you can tweak and new ones you can introduce, depending on the direction you wish to take your leadership in. You can spend Political Capital, which you gain via your cabinet ministers. How much your ministers get behind your decisions has a big impact on how many changes you can make at any given time.

Should you decide to make a lot of changes from the start and your cabinet members not be fully behind them, then you may not be able to make the necessary changes as you may have intended to. Having your cabinet be behind your decisions is only part of the way of making your reign as leader a success, however. The key part of staying in power is to get people to vote for you and you need to keep them on your side.

Keeping Most of your Constituents Satisfied

While you may not have been voted in when your term first started, public opinion is the biggest barometer for success in Democracy 4: Console Edition. Each decision you make will positively impact one type of constituent, while negatively affecting another. It’s impossible to keep everyone happy all the time, but some opinions may be more impactful than others.

To ensure your campaign and time in office are a success, there will be financial backers who will try to influence your decisions by endorsing you further if your leadership is to their liking or threatening to remove their backing if they aren’t behind you. Those won’t be the only threats you’ll have to deal with, however.

As your direction for the country takes shape, there may be people inside or outside the nation you’re governing who wish to have you removed permanently. This could mean threats of disruption or even against your life. Between these and random events cropping up, such as headline news topics and discussions, there’s no shortage of ways for the public to support or oppose you.

Being Re-elected and the Future of Your Country

If you make it to the end of your first term, it will then be time for elections. Your public perception up until this point will be pivotal in getting re-elected. The public aren’t only interested in what you’ve done so far, however.

As the election approaches on the horizon, you will be asked to confirm your manifesto. How you meet these targets can be the difference between winning or losing the election. Promise too little and it could make no difference but promise too much and not reach it could spell disaster in the polls.

Democracy 4: Console Edition will let you play out your ideas for a perfect government. Play in any way you wish. But will you be able to see your campaign through to the end and beyond? The polls are now open for Democracy 4: Console Edition on Xbox consoles. We wish you great success in your political future!

Democracy 4: Console Edition

Auroch Digital

☆☆☆☆☆
10

★★★★★

$26.99

Get it now

Democracy 4: Console Edition lets you take the role of President or Prime Minister in one of ten countries. You will then govern the country as you see fit, while trying to retain enough popularity to get re-elected.

• Choose to lead one of the following countries: USA, UK, Japan, France, Canada, Australia, Spain, Germany, Italy, or South Korea
• Select cabinet ministers that align with your vision for the future of the country
• Introduce new laws or tweak existing ones to carry out your plans for change
• How you deal with random events can either increase or decrease your favourability with the public
• As election time approaches, lay out your manifesto and aim to deliver a campaign that will take you to victory!

Democracy 4: Console Edition is the ultimate sandbox for testing out your political ideas. We all think that we could do a better job ourselves in running a country compared to politicians, but is that really true? With one eye on the budget, the other on the polls, and somehow finding time to watch out for terrorist attacks at the same time, you will find that staying in power while changing society for the better is a tougher job than you ever imagined.

This is a strategy game, where the outcome of your policies and laws reflects on your success. If you want to abolish all public spending and all taxes, you can do that. It might work, it might not, depending on how you handle it.

On the other hand, if you want to nationalise the railways, energy and water companies, cap CEO pay, ban second-home ownership, and put universal income in place, you can do that too. Democracy 4: Console Edition models the likely effects, short and long-term, of any action you take so you can see what kind of country you can run.

Built on a custom-built neural network designed to model the opinions, beliefs, thoughts and biases of thousands of virtual citizens, Democracy 4: Console Edition is the state-of-the-art in political simulation games.

Ultimately, Democracy 4: Console Edition is not a game about simply winning an election, but about running the country. Losing an election is just the endgame (unless you get assassinated). The real challenge is whether you can create a country you are proud of.

The post Five Ways to Make Your Mark in Democracy 4: Console Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Antstream Comes to Xbox in Brazil

Summary

Antstream hits one of the top gaming markets worldwide
Over 1300 retro games in Anstream Arcade
Nostalgic classics meet a new audience

Antstream, the world’s leading retro game streaming service, is proud to announce its highly-anticipated arrival on Xbox consoles in Brazil, marking a significant milestone for Brazilian gamers, offering a vast library of retro titles on the Xbox platform for the first time.

Brazil has a unique history with video games. Due to import embargoes lasting into the 1990s, obtaining official consoles and games was nearly impossible. Even after these embargoes were lifted, high taxes on imported items, classified as luxury products, made hardware and software prohibitively expensive for gaming enthusiasts. This led to a culture of smuggling hardware and software from other countries, pirating software, and cloning hardware.

When consoles eventually became more accessible in Brazil, prices remained high. As a result, some consoles, such as the Sega Mega Drive and PlayStation 2, remained popular much longer than in other countries. Consequently, Brazilian gamers spent more time with the same generations of consoles, fostering a greater appreciation for a “retro” style of gaming compared to, for instance, UK gamers.

In recent years, Brazil has experienced significant changes in the video game industry. Although video games remain more expensive in Brazil than in many other parts of the world, the country has frequently ranked among the top ten video game markets by revenue. In fact, a 2022 study revealed that gaming has reached 74% of the Brazilian population, with smartphones being the most popular gaming platform, followed closely by PCs and consoles.

The Brazilian gaming industry is also expanding rapidly. Since the Covid pandemic, the number of game development studios in Brazil has more than doubled, now exceeding 1,000. Focusing primarily on indie games, the Brazilian gaming community comes together annually for the BIG (Big Independent Games) Festival in São Paulo, celebrating creativity and innovation in the industry.

Additionally, Brazil has a vibrant and unique gaming culture. Retro gaming events, cosplay conventions, and eSports tournaments are incredibly popular, reflecting a deep and passionate engagement with gaming. The country has produced several top-tier eSports teams and players, particularly in games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends, further cementing its position in the global gaming landscape.

These developments reflect a dynamic and evolving video game industry in Brazil, balancing between a rich history of improvisation and a future full of innovation and growth.

Brazilian gamers will now have access to Antstream’s extensive catalogue of over 1,300 retro games directly on their Xbox consoles. This includes beloved classics from the arcade era, iconic console titles, and hidden gems that defined gaming history. With Antstream’s innovative platform, Xbox gamers in Brazil can relive the nostalgia of iconic titles from the past decades, all without the need for downloads or emulators.

Antstream Arcade is the world’s largest official library of retro games to stream, with more than 1300 titles available to play on multiple devices, including PC, mobile and now Xbox in Brazil. The extensive and impressive catalogue includes titles from the early systems like the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64, to Arcade classics and games from SNES, Megadrive, and PlayStation One, and even features newly developed arcade games. With local co-op, weekly tournaments, hundreds of challenges and a global leaderboard to climb, there are plenty of new ways to play classic games, and Antstream’s cloud system instantly saves game progress so players can put down and pick up games at any time.

Antstream Arcade is available on Xbox consoles for £39.99, giving the player unrestricted access to all over 1300 games and all tournaments, challenges and more for an entire year. For a limited time, players can also purchase the lifetime subscription for a one-off payment of £99.99.

Antstream Arcade

Antstream Ltd

☆☆☆☆☆
212

★★★★★

$29.99

Get it now

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.

The post Antstream Comes to Xbox in Brazil appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Hands On: Replaced is a Stylish Cyberpunk Platformer with an ’80s Cinematic Edge

Category: Games

June 7, 2024

Hands On: Replaced is a Stylish Cyberpunk Platformer with an ’80s Cinematic Edge

Danielle Partis

If like me, you’re a sucker for a gritty Cyberpunk setting, then you’re going to love Replaced. Set in alternate version of 1980s America, this action platformer takes us on a journey across Pheonix-City, a dystopian wasteland where greed and corruption rules, and outlaws are rife in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event. This week, I managed to get my hands on a demo of Replaced, and it’s looking incredibly promising.

The preview we played was split into three distinct sections, demonstrating Replaced’s strengths in different areas. In the prologue, I’m introduced to our protagonist, R.E.A.C.H, an artificial intelligence that becomes trapped in a human body during an explosion. Before you’ve had time to question what has happened, R.E.A.C.H and his fleshy prison are faced with the greatest ultimatum – run or die.

This initiates a high-octane chase scene, with R.E.A.C.H having to leap over obstacles and calculate pauses to the nanosecond, lest you be captured or coldly gunned down. This sequence set a tense, unforgiving tone for Replaced – the inputs are simple, but there’s a distinct rhythm to it, and your timing is paramount. However, what really makes this section feel exciting is its gorgeous cinematic transitions; the game flows seamlessly from playable segments to animated cutscenes that feel like an explosive ’80s action movie. Light particles cascade down through trees and seep through large, imposing steel fences as I sprint from my doom – I actually died a few times getting distracted by the scenery. The apex of this chase segment sees me leap from a ledge and into another epic cinematic moment, drenched in cold, Blade Runner-esque colors. True care has gone into making this resonate like a classic action movie, but with an extremely cool pixel art twist.

The meatiest part of the demo sees R.E.A.C.H. arrive at his new home in Phoenix-City, an abandoned train station that’ll also serve as a hub for the game. Here, I met a diverse cast of characters with their own mysterious goings-on, and this is where Replaced’s story begins to shine. Just like the home they share, everyone that R.E.A.C.H meets seems to come with moral complexities and each is doing what they must endure to survive – which is not always obvious to R.E.A.C.H. As an A.I., their comprehension for how characters behave doesn’t always align with their surroundings, which makes for interesting conversations as the story begins to unfold.

Again, I’m met with some incredible designs – as I meander through the station, I pass derelict, crumbling buildings illuminated by rainbow string lights, a neon-soaked ’80s-imbued arcade, and a bustling market with myriad stalls selling odds and ends. One particular street shows me an abundance of potted plants spilling over rusting, metal shelves, set just above a group of stragglers perched on mismatched sofas watching TV. Humans with missing limbs pass me on crutches, others on the shoulders of able-bodied allies, making Replaced’s hub feel truly alive and full of thought. This isn’t just a radical dystopian future where you get be the badass hero, it’s showcasing the misery and resilience of a society trying to get by in uncompromising circumstances.

The final section gives me a taste for the combat, which unsurprisingly also comes with a distinct sense of classic cool. With a series of deftly timed inputs, I disarm an enemy, steal his club and then begin wailing on the rest of the group. I need to use melee attacks in order to charge my gun attack, which allows me to fire off one devastating bullet before the bar is empty again. This is an interesting way to approach combat and again leans back into the aforementioned struggle – you have the skills to feel like a badass, but something like firing a weapon requires work at this stage, and every bullet is well earned.

By the end of the preview, I felt extremely ready to dip into the full release of Replaced and uncover the stories buried within Phoenix City. If Replaced sounds like your retro-futuristic jam, be sure to stay up to date with the game on X (formerly Twitter) at @ReplacedGame.

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