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Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon Combines FromSoftware’s Souls Experience with the Franchise’s Mech History

Summary

We talk with Producer Yasunori Ogura and Director Masaru Yamamura about their vision for the upcoming Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon.
From dynamic battles to mech customization and thrilling boss encounters, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon is shaping up to be the combat mech game for everyone.
Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon will launch on August 25, 2023, and is available for pre-order today on the Microsoft Store for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One (with Smart Delivery support).

Since its surprise announcement during The Game Awards this past December, we’ve been eager to learn more about FromSoftware’s upcoming Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon, the first new Armored Core game in nearly a decade. Since the last entry in the franchise was released, the studio’s reputation for delivering high-quality and challenging games has only blossomed thanks to a string of commercial and critical hits like Dark Souls II & III, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and last year’s Elden Ring.

Now that I’ve had a chance to talk with Producer Yasunori Ogura and Director Masaru Yamamura about their vision for the upcoming Armored Core VI — launching for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One (with Smart Delivery support) on August 25, 2023 – we’ve been able to get to the heart of some of our burning questions, in particular if Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon is shaping up to be more of a Souls or Armored Core game; turns out it’s a little of both.

Because of the studio’s recent reputation, it’s safe to say the collective gaming world takes notice whenever a new FromSoftware title is announced. Gamers have come to expect a certain level of challenge when you see the studio’s name on packaging and Yamamura talked about this expectation as well, in particular with regard to the boss fights that we’ll encounter in Armored Core VI — and to not expect those to be as straightforward.

“What we are aiming to create with AC6 is a new mech action game as a product of what the current day FromSoftware can output.”

“In our approach to difficulty, let’s say, for example, that a certain boss is giving you trouble with a devastating laser attack that sweeps across battle arena and it’s very hard to avoid,” Yamamura says. “One possible solution, in such a situation, could be to go back to the Assembly and reconfigure your mech with reverse jointed legs, which have excellent jumping ability. Or a booster with a powerful upward trust so the attack can be evaded vertically. An alternative approach could also be to use a high impact weapon like a bazooka to stop the enemy’s movement or before it attacks.”

It’s in this way that Yamamura is hoping players will “enjoy using their ingenuity and creativity,” both in terms of observing the enemy and their attack patterns, but also creating their own solutions with the game’s Assembly System to tackle these various threats across these intricately detailed maps.

“First and foremost, what we are aiming to create with AC6 is a new mech action game as a product of what the current day FromSoftware can output, based on the knowledge and experience we’ve gained from developing these recent titles,” Yamamura details. “But we also want to combine that with the original essence of AC, and that is the Assembly aspect and taking your assembled mech into battle and piloting it freely. So, in this process we placed a lot of importance on intricate 3D map design, combat design that allows players to observe enemy movements and deal with them accordingly, and the ability to overcome challenging situations with their own creativity and ingenuity.”

“These are things that FromSoftware action games have always tried to emphasize, and we of course developed AC6 with this in mind,” Yamamura continues. “However, as the basic format of Armored Core is completely different from games in the Souls lineage, there really aren’t any specific aspects of gameplay or mechanics that can be observed as-is. So, we’ve tried to incorporate this know-how and experience at points of the game where it can coexist and be easily digested in the sense of Armored Core, and without tainting those original qualities of what make Armored Core great. So, in this way, we believe we can offer that same underlying mech action goodness, as well as a more advanced game experience to both Armored Core fans and fans of our more recent [FromSoftware] titles.”

In talking with Producer Yasunori Ogura, he revealed that pre-production and conception of Armored Core VI began in 2017 and game prototyping began in 2018. At that time, it was just FromSoftware President (and Souls series creator) Hidetaka Miyazaki and a number of core team members on that initial development, who were scoping the basic concept as well as the game and map designs. The project was then handed over to Director Yamamura to take over the full game’s development.

“We’ve been cultivating a number of development staff both new and old throughout our experience with recent titles in recent years and there were many members of that staff, including Miyazaki and myself, who wanted to make a new Armored Core game for a long time, so it really wasn’t a question of if, it was always a question of when – and not making a new Armored Core game really wasn’t an option,” explains Ogura.

“It really wasn’t a question of if, it was always a question of when – and not making a new Armored Core game really wasn’t an option.”

“We’ve been using our development expertise to affect the timing to get the next AC right. We always have several projects going on at the same time within the company, and so there was a matter of getting the ideal balance of resource allocation and staff, which meant we kept players waiting longer than expected, but we’re happy to finally bring you a new Armored Core.”

Armored Core fans have indeed been patient — it has been nearly a decade since the last entry in the franchise, one that started nearly 25 years ago. Having been such a long time since the previous game, we asked Ogura if Armored Core VI could be considered a reboot of the series coupled with what’s expected in a FromSoftware title these days.

“I suppose you could consider it a reboot, in essence, but I just like to say that we try to incorporate our experience that we’ve gained across several game development projects over the years while simultaneously keeping the core aspects of what makes Armored Core great and combine those in a modern day FromSoftware game,” says Ogura.

That experience is being poured into the aforementioned Assembly System which will allow for a large variety of customization options for your Armored Core mech. Being able to construct and customize your own mech through a variety of arms, legs, heads, and weapons configurations is a defining characteristic of the series, allowing you to find a setup that not only suits your playstyle but one that helps you accomplish a task at hand in any given mission.

“I suppose you could consider it a reboot, in essence, but I just like to say that we try to incorporate our experience that we’ve gained across several game development projects over the years.”

“The main thing we focused on in AC6 was to make sure that this customization element is not just about the parameters going up and down and numerical values; we want to reflect these changes in customization in the way the game and action feel as much as possible,” explains Director Masaru Yamamura.

“For example, you obviously you have the head, core, arms, and leg parts of the AC. The leg parts in particular control the mech’s movement and so these will change the basic behavior of the AC depending what type they are. Like, tank-type legs will be able to perform drift turns. Weapons will differ in terms of how they fire, how much recoil they have, and how the projectiles behave. We’ve been conscious of how this all affects the game feel and the individuality of different builds.”

Armored Core VI takes place on the remote planet of Rubicon 3, many years after a cataclysmic event has left it, and the surrounding star system, engulfed in flames — thought to be the result of an energy source turning volatile, one that had originally helped advance humanity’s technological capabilities on the planet. Now this substance has reappeared many years later, and corporations and resistance groups are fighting over what they can find.

This is where you come in, as an independent mercenary who sells their skills as an Armored Core pilot without belonging to any specific company or faction. In this case, you’re not only an independent mercenary, but an augmented human who has been optimized solely for piloting a mech and now you have been thrust into this planetary conflict, taking on missions as they come.

Yamamura stressed to me that Armored Core VI will not be a game where every mission is supposed to be brutal and difficult. After all, part of the appeal of the Armored Core series has been found in a variety of mission types that can range from a mix of taking out many mechs that are vastly inferior to your own, or more strategic boss encounters.

“There are missions that focus on important boss fights at key points in the game. There are missions that focus on exterminating many smaller threats that are very exhilarating and very refreshing to play through, which are designed to give a nice change in tempo and pace,” explains Yamamura. “There are also the more large-scale cathartic battles with enormous threats and unmanned machines the player is tasked with destroying.”

Yamamura stressed to me that Armored Core VI will not be a game where every mission is supposed to be brutal and difficult.

In addition, there will be side objectives like data collection and wreckage scanning where you can uncover new information and parts, on top of the massive exploration aspects where you’ll be piloting your AC through vast, intricately crafted megastructures. Of course, you could also just fly around and take in the view of a decimated, post-apocalyptic world. That’s always fun.

The newest trailer for Armored Core VI shows many of these dynamic mechanics and mission types in action, and how different mech parts affect movement as well as some facets of world building. “The trailer also includes a preview of how we hope the actual gameplay will feel,” says Masaru Yamamura. “We hope that players will be able to watch the trailer and anticipate how these mechs will control and how it will feel to fly around the battle with these new Armored Cores.”

From what we’ve seen, it appears that Armored Core VI is looking to strike a great balance of accessibility, excitement, and rewarding difficulty that we’ve come to expect from this developer. Longtime fans who have been patiently waiting for a new AC game have only a few months to wait before they can drop onto the planet of Rubicon 3 and experience this for themselves, while new fans of the series can look forward to another high quality FromSoftware title.

“Thank you to everybody for waiting so long for this new AC,” Producer Yasunori Ogura says. “We’ve been anticipating it for a while as well and we’re just so happy to finally be able to release it to the world. We want this to be a game that the old fans can see and appreciate and to recall the best parts of Armored Core and what made them love this series in the first place.”

“We want this to be a game that the old fans can see and appreciate and to recall the best parts of Armored Core and what made them love this series in the first place.”

As someone who tends to prefer their mechs as slow, hulking beasts that can withstand a nuclear blast or two, seeing the swift and furious action of Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon‘s has me incredibly intrigued to experience this intense (and gorgeous looking) level of combat for myself. After everything I’ve learned recently, I not only feel like I’ll be able to handle this level of exhilarating mech combat, but I think I’ll be able to excel at it as well.

With everything from dynamic battles to deep mech customization and thrilling boss encounters, Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon is shaping up to be the mech combat game for everyone on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. August 25 can’t get here soon enough.

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON – Deluxe Edition

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Pre-order now to receive the following bonus content:
MELANDER C3 G13 Special Customization “TENDERFOOT”
• MELANDER C3 parts set (Early Unlock)*
• Exclusive Emblem
• Exclusive AC Decal
* Early Unlock: The parts set can also be obtained by progressing through the game.

The Deluxe Edition includes:
• Full game
• Exclusive Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
Allows players to view concept art and listen to in-game music.

Combining FromSoftware’s longstanding expertise in mech games with their signature action gameplay, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON brings a brand-new action experience to the series.

Dynamic, Omni-directional Battles
Players will pilot their mech in fast-paced, omni-directional battles, taking advantage of massive stages and their mech’s mobility on land and in the air to ensure victory.

Customized Parts for Individual Battle Styles
Customize Armored Core parts to suit a large variety of playstyles. Selecting different parts not only changes the mech’s attacks, but also directly affects its movement and battle style, so each mission can be approached with a unique mech strategy.

Thrilling Boss Battles
Deploy a wide variety of offensive and defensive tactics at close and long range to take down powerful enemy bosses.

ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

Pre-order

Combining FromSoftware’s longstanding expertise in mech games with their signature action gameplay, ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON brings a brand-new action experience to the series.

Thrilling Boss Battles
Deploy a wide variety of offensive and defensive tactics at close and long range to take down powerful enemy bosses.

Enter The Duviri Paradox Today on Xbox with Warframe’s Newest Free Expansion

Summary

Take on the role of the Drifter and set out on an adventure across the sweeping landscape of fractal islands in a new cinematic quest.
The Duviri Paradox is a fantastic opportunity for players new and old to jump into Warframe as it’s available at the start of their journey and does not require any prerequisites.
Warframe is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S as a free-to-play title. Download here.

The Duviri Paradox is Warframe’s newest open world expansion and marks a significant evolution of the game’s 10-year history. Taking place in a new action combat experience set within a gritty, massive, time-looping world, you can experience everything Duviri has to offer right away with a whole host of new features and systems to get lost in.

With your loyal Kaithe by your side, take on the role of the Drifter and set out on an adventure across the sweeping landscape of fractal islands in a new cinematic quest. Embrace your power as you collect Decrees and upgrade Intrinsics to wrest control of Duviri’s color-shifting unreality from the clutches of its despotic ruler, Dominus Thrax, before its looping “Spiral” resets once again.

With the combination of islands and environment that rearrange themselves according to Thrax’s outlook, and the ever-changing cycle of Spirals that generate unforeseen adventures for you to experience — no two journeys in Duviri will be the same.

Warframe - The Duviri Paradox Image Asset

The Duviri Paradox is a fantastic opportunity for players new and old to jump into Warframe as it’s available at the start of their journey — you can experience everything that this free expansion has to offer right away!

New players can experience the game through two paths: the Paradox Path or the Warframe path. The Paradox Path will give you immediate access to The Duviri Paradox open world, while the Warframe Path is the traditional beginning for Warframe that will start the game with the “Awakening” quest.

Players on the Warframe path and Tenno who started playing before Duviri launched can access The Duviri Paradox once they have completed the “Vor’s Prize” quest and gained Codex access. Both paths will eventually converge, so having this flexibility will allow them to experience The Duviri Paradox from the get-go, rather than feel locked out with prerequisites.

Once you complete The Duviri Paradox quest, you must embrace the madness with three separate ways to play in Duviri:

The Lone Story: A streamlined experience that focuses on the story of The Duviri Paradox through the cinematic quest.

The Duviri Experience: Experience everything Duviri has to offer with the Duviri Experience! An open landscape experience with a Spiral story, side activities like Maw Feeding, Conservation, Kaithe races, Shawzin playing, Komi and much more! Pass through mysterious portals into the Undercroft where you wield a Warframe to take on brief challenges amongst the roots of this strange world before returning to the surface.

The Circuit: A new Endless Warframe game mode awaits you in the Undercroft. Choose a Warframe from amongst the offerings in Teshin’s Cave to venture into the ever-changing depths of the Undercroft. Upgrade your Warframe with Decrees during your pursuit to augment your playstyle and bring your power to new heights. Earn rotating weekly rewards like new Arcanes or even new Incarnon Genesis Adapters (available in the Steel Path version) which infuse pre-existing weapons with Void energy as you use them and transform, offering unique upgrade paths for familiar weapons!

Among the new additions in The Duviri Paradox is the Kaithe, a creature whose silhouette resembles that of a horse pulled from your deepest nightmares but acts as your loyal traveling companion in this unfamiliar landscape. Fitting for a dream-like world controlled by the emotions of a child king.

Your Kaithe is a necessity for navigating the islands of Duviri, which will rearrange themselves between Spirals. Rank and file toy soldiers aside, taking on the fearsome Orowyrms that defend Dominus Thrax would not be possible without the help of your Kaithe. You’ll have to take full advantage of their winged state in order to meet Orowyrms in the sky and bring them down to the earth to fight on your terms.

Your Kaithe is not just practical, but personal too. Like so many other parts of your Warframe experience, you can customize your Kaithe to showcase your personal style during co-op adventures — and don’t forget to customize your Drifter and Weapons too for the ultimate Fashion Frame experience.

You can also customize several aspects of your Kaithe, including the color choice you’ve come to expect from Warframe as well as the individual components. Truly the customization of your Kaithe is from the ground up and from tip to tail.

Don’t forget to check out the new bundles in the in-game Market or on Warframe.com to customize your Duviri experience, including three Kaithe bundles as well as those containing exclusive Duviri customizations for your Warframe and Drifter as well!

Ride into the heart of the paradox and escape on the wings of your Kaithe when The Duviri Paradox launches on Xbox today!

Warframe

Digital Extremes

☆☆☆☆☆
2004

★★★★★

Get it now

Awaken as an unstoppable warrior and battle alongside your friends in this story-driven free-to-play online action game. Confront warring factions throughout a sprawling interplanetary system as you follow the guidance of the mysterious Lotus and level up your Warframe, build an Arsenal of destructive firepower, and realize your true potential across massive open worlds in this thrilling, genre-defining third-person combat experience.

RimWorld Console Edition Brings Much Requested Ideology DLC to Xbox – Out Today

Summary

Unpack the new features of the Ideology DLC in RimWorld Console, with brand new belief systems set in the RimWorld cosmos.
Discover the exciting new Quests component and bring back ancient relics to your colony.
Learn how additional quirky creatures can advance your colony’s wealth and power.

RimWorld Ideology DLC is available today for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

What could make a frenzied, addictive survival game where a guinea pig goes mad and takes down your entire colony, even more fun to play? A belief system of course!

The Ideology expansion lets you tell even better stories, as you can now create your own brand new belief system and act it out within your colony. You can play as mole-people tunnelers who shun the light, grow a nature-loving community, become dance-party techno ravers, or dwell as established rustic Elk ranchers. You can mix and match belief systems to create your perfect colony. Customize anything you want, from individual precepts to rituals to specialist roles to venerated animals.

You can now hold ceremonies for your many, many dead (oh, so many!) Gather your colonists together to say their goodbyes to the partial remains of their friends. Perhaps you would like to worship a squirrel? (I mean, who wouldn’t?) Or maybe you want to be a caring community who gives to charity and helps wounded passers by? Ideology allows you to creatively express who you really are. What a thought! You can make all your colonists have beards or live out your childhood dream of a purple haired community. Weapons, culture, clothing and even tattoo preferences can all be chosen and adapted by you.

For you action-lovers out there, Ideology provides even more opportunities for combat. Every belief system holds a few select special objects as relics. Send your colonists out on multi-part quests to find and collect the relics that you believe in. Your colonist may have to fight through sleeping mechanoids and swashbuckling pirates to retrieve an ancient sword, face threatening insects to capture a skull or navigate carefully past dangerously unstable fuel stores to claim a sacred piece of armor. These new quests will take you through time-worn ruins, or bring spacedrones to your colony, which you must decode to extract precious information.

You might find a worshipped terminal quest nestled in the confines of a nearby tribal village. Attempts to hack the terminal will result in out and out war so you will have to sneakily enter in peace and then make a run for it or go all in from the start. How you choose to approach these delicate situations is up to. Then return triumphant to your base and install your hard earned ancient relic in a reliquary. Any claimed relics will enable you to bring others into the fold of your belief system and tempt passing pilgrims with gifts.

Enter brand new creatures to RimWorld! In this expansion, you might come across a unique type of tree growing near your base. Lofty and grandiose, the Gauranlen tree contains a small non-conscious queen. The queen births creatures called dryads which guard and tend the tree. In exchange, the tree nurtures its protectors by feeding them directly. Dryads can help you in your colony building so don’t ignore them! They can help you chop more wood, haul objects more effectively, increase medicine making and sprout much needed sustenance giving berries.

It is also possible for one of your colonists to form a connection with a Gauranlen tree and partially control the dryads it produces. If your colonists venerate the trees, they can connect with Gauranlen trees more effectively and influence the dryads more efficiently. Over time, such a tree-connector colony can build an entire economy and army from its Gauranlen orchard and the adorable yet formidable dryads.

I am so, so excited that you finally get to play this much loved RimWorld expansion and cannot wait to see the colonies you create with the new Ideology DLC!

If you haven’t yet discovered all that RimWorld has to offer, RimWorld Console Edition – Chronicles Bundle is also out now, with 20% off with Deals with Gold! This includes RimWorld Console Edition, and both Royalty and Ideology DLCs.

RimWorld Console Edition – Ideology

Double Eleven Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆
9

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?
With the Ideology expansion, each person in the game gets a belief system. Everything is customizable. You can build mind-bending temples, hold unforgettable rituals, hunt the venerated relics of your belief system, and seek transcendence beyond reality in the new, epic archonexus endgame. Discover new ways to experience RimWorld Console Edition with the Ideology expansion.

MEMES
Each belief system is built around a collection of 1-4 core memes, where each meme represents a core idea in the belief system. By combining memes and changing the details of how they are expressed, you can create a near-infinite variety of different belief systems.

PRECEPTS
Each meme can give rise to a variety of different precepts. Each precept is a specific rule or guideline which affects a specific behavior or preference. Every belief system has an attitude towards slavery – some find the practice abhorrent, while others accept and even demand slaves as part of their beliefs. The same meme won’t always imply the same precepts – if you want fine control, you can edit and randomize precepts exactly the way you like.

CONVERSION
People can convert each other to new beliefs. You can assign wardens to convert prisoners, or use the special abilities of your moral guide. People will also spontaneously try to convert those around them.

SPECIAL ROLES
Make use of your favourite colonists’ strengths and skills by assigning them formal social roles. Each belief system defines special roles that believers can take on.

RITUALS
Each belief system defines a collection of unique rituals. These player-controlled events are special gatherings that have a variety of impacts depending on how they are carried out.

GAURANLEN TREES
A unique type of tree called the Gauranlen tree will occasionally sprout near your colony. These majestic orange trees have a symbiotic relationship with small creatures called dryads.

ADDITIONAL QUESTS
Ideology also adds some new quests such as relic hunts, ancient complex loot quests, new temporary encampments, and helping groups of beggars.

NEW BUILDINGS
Belief systems unlock new buildings. Many of the buildings are used to support rituals. Belief systems also unlock specific new buildables that have specific functions.

STYLES
Each belief system is associated with different aesthetic styles. Styles affect how many things look – rituals, furniture, floors, apparel, and art. Your colonists will enjoy being around things that match the styles of their belief system, and some may reject styles of other beliefs.

ARCHONEXUS ENDGAME
As your colony grows wealthy, you’ll have the opportunity to sell the whole thing and start anew with your favorite colonists and animals. In return, you’ll receive a piece of a map that leads to the archonexus – a conduit through which an ancient machine superintelligence is said to affect the physical world.

RimWorld Console Edition

Double Eleven Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆
214

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

Purchase RimWorld Console Edition now and receive:
– RimWorld Console Edition game

YOU BEGIN WITH THREE SURVIVORS OF A SHIPWRECK ON A DISTANT WORLD
– Discover a new generated world each time you play.
– Manage colonists’ moods, needs, wounds, illnesses and addictions.
– Build in the forest, desert, jungle, tundra, and more.
– Watch colonists develop and break relationships.
– Fight pirates, mad animals, and ancient killing machines.
– Tame and train cute pets, productive farm animals, and deadly attack beasts.
– Form caravans to complete quests, trade, fight, or migrate your whole colony.
– Dig through snow, weather storms, and fight fires.
– Learn to play easily with the help of an intelligent and unobtrusive AI tutor.

RIMWORLD IS A STORY GENERATOR
It’s designed to co-author tragic, twisted, and triumphant stories about imprisoned pirates, desperate colonists, starvation and survival. It works by controlling the “random” events that the world throws at you. Every thunderstorm, pirate raid, and travelling salesman is a card dealt into your story by the AI Storyteller. There are several storytellers to choose from. Randy Random does crazy stuff, Cassandra Classic goes for rising tension, and Phoebe Chillax likes to relax.

BUILD. DEFEND. EXPLORE
The game generates a whole planet from pole to equator. You choose whether to land your crash pods in a cold northern tundra, a parched desert flat, a temperate forest, or a steaming equatorial jungle. Different areas have different animals, plants, diseases, temperatures, rainfall, mineral resources, and terrain. The challenges of surviving in a disease-infested, choking jungle are very different from those in a parched desert wasteland or a frozen tundra with a two-month growing season.

ENDLESS COLONIST INTERACTION
Your colonists are not professional settlers – they’re crash-landed survivors from a passenger liner destroyed in orbit. You can end up with a nobleman, an accountant, and a housewife. You’ll acquire more colonists by capturing them in combat and turning them to your side. So your colony will always be a motley crew.

RimWorld Console Edition – Chronicles Bundle

Double Eleven Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆
56

★★★★★

$73.99

Get it now

Purchase RimWorld Chronicles Bundle and receive:

– RimWorld Console Edition game
– RimWorld Console Edition – Royalty DLC
– RimWorld Console Edition – Ideology DLC

RimWorld Console Edition – Royalty DLC is a full gameplay expansion to RimWorld Console Edition. This gameplay DLC will also be available to purchase on the full release of the game.

RimWorld Console Edition – Ideology DLC is a full gameplay expansion to RimWorld Console Edition. This gameplay DLC will also be available to purchase separately.

Paleo Pines Will Make Your Dino-Dreams Come True on Xbox

Imagine a world where dinosaurs and humans live together in harmony. Packed with friendly, adorable dinosaurs, quirky townsfolk and gorgeous areas to explore, Paleo Pines brings this dino-dream to life through its delightful spin on the typical farming sim, and it’s heading to Xbox soon.

Embark on a lively adventure with your dino pal, a Parasaurolophus named Lucky. You find yourselves on the wonderfully quirky island of Paleo Pines, populated with cheeky dinosaurs and welcoming townsfolk. Make your own patch of paradise by collecting dino friends from the wild and turning a fixer-upper ranch into your homey farmstead with their help. But you’ll find that this game is more than just a farming sim as you look deeper into the island’s mysterious past. It’ll be up to you and Lucky to uncover the lost history of Paleo Pines.

Realistic Dino Depictions Set The Stage For Rewarding Gameplay

From feathered Velociraptors to hard-headed Pachycephalosaurus, Paleo Pines brings to life what new research has shown these prehistoric creatures really looked like. With the expertise of paleontologist Natalia Jagielska (@WryCritic), the development team at Italic Pig has curated a dino lineup that could have stepped out of a time machine from a peaceful prehistoric past. Each feature has been carefully considered to weave an enlightening experience into the cute and cozy gameplay. Check out the Dino Journal to see the lineup of species that await you on the island, with more to be announced!

Build Heartwarming Friendships With Dinos Of All Shapes And Sizes

The island of Paleo Pines is a dino lover’s dream, and befriending dino companions is the name of the game! A collection of bashful dinosaurs roam the wild areas, waiting to become your friends, as well as ranch helpers. Pique their curiosity by mimicking their calls with your flute, then seal the deal with a tasty treat and trustworthy nose boop! You can further gain their trust by creating cozy pens on your ranch and keeping track of their likes and dislikes in your handy dino journal. Fill your haven with a variety of creatures as you go about your quests across the island. Dinos move around, and some are harder to find than others or may appear only under special conditions, so new discoveries await you as you continue to explore!

Of course, you have a very close bond with your original steed, Lucky, who you’ve known since she was just an egg. And it turns out that Lucky is special to everyone on the island… no one has seen a Parasaurolophus in years. Is she the last of her species? Or is there more to her story than either of you could have guessed? You’ll find yourself immersed in a heartwarming journey to help your dino pal in her quest to reunite with her own kind.

Dino Ranch Hands Put a New Spin on Farming Sim

Animal Crossing with dinosaurs? Say no more! (But I will anyway.) Paleo Pines puts a unique twist on the cozy farming sim; here you get to build your very own dino sanctuary. As you start out in your new home, you’ll plant and water crops the old-fashioned way—by hand. But earn your new friends’ trust and they’ll help you deliver a roarsome harvest that you can trade with the townsfolk.

As your ranch grows, you’ll learn that each dino has a special farming skill to help you with your tasks. Ride your Styracosaurus with its horn in the soil to till some new plots in double time. Ask your T-Rex buddy to take in a mouthful of water and spew it over your crops to water multiple at once. Then, assign your herd of Compsognathus to harvest them when they are grown. With a bit of love, care, and attention to detail, you can grow the highest quality produce in all of Paleo Pines. Soon, you and your dino ranch hands will be the talk of the market!

Check out the announcement trailer for Paleo Pines on Xbox here. For more information on Paleo Pines, Italic Pig, and Modus Games, follow @PaleoPines on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Discord, @ItalicPig on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and @ModusGames on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Discord.

How Redfall and Starfield’s Style Ended Up at a Real-Life Fashion Gala

Summary

Bethesda Softworks partnered with fashion outlet ELLE to showcase two one-of-a-kind outfits inspired by Redfall and Starfield
Design students Ingrid Norberg and Linn Hermander created the designs, which were shown at the 2023 ELLE Gala in Sweden
We interviewed both designers about their designs and their thoughts on fashion in gaming

Gaming style has existed for decades – from Master Chief’s signature Mark IV helmet to the swashbuckling styles in Sea of Thieves. Over time, more modern, open-ended forms of aesthetic expression have made their way into games, through the way of custom character creators or collectible skins. What we put on our virtual bodies is now just as important as what we drape over ourselves, if not more so.

Games can also inspire real-world outfits, and that has been deftly showcased at this year’s ELLE Gala, which took place in Stockholm. As part of the show in collaboration with Bethesda, two unique outfits inspired by upcoming titles were shown on the red carpet. Both outfits were created especially for this event, and are one of a kind designs not available anywhere else.

Left to right: BELL, wearing the Redfall look, next to designer Ingrid Norberg, Yaegar wearing the Starfield look, next to designer Linn Hermander. Photo: Suie Le

Designers Ingrid Norberg and Linn Hermander had the opportunity to create the looks, inspired by Redfall and Starfield respectively. Norberg penned an edgy but sleek outfit inspired by the post-apocalyptic world of Redfall, while Hermander opted for a stylish, retro space aesthetic akin to the interstellar vibes shown in Starfield.

We were lucky enough to be shown the original concept sketches for the two designs, and we were able to ask the designers about their inspirations, their work processes, and what they loved most about this fabulous collaboration between ELLE and Xbox.

Lady In Red(fall)

For the Redfall design, designer Ingrid Norberg took a less traditional approach, opting for a grungier style while keeping to the classic red carpet GALA look.

“I got hooked on the slightly hip-hop street style hit by an apocalypse,” Norberg says. “The colors are clear and at the same time soiled in their shades, which creates a lovely feeling of constant twilight.”

The original sketch by Norberg, next to artist BELL wearing the completed Redfall look

As shown, the outfit consists of a slouched hoodie in a deep purple, with military style belts crossed over the top. The bottom half is dark blue jeans that are worn and frayed, with fishnet tights peeking through the gaps. The ensemble is tied together by a khaki skirt, with a removable trail attached by an eye-catching zipper.

Norberg has sought to convey Redfall’s setting through the design and explains that it’s worn by a woman from a modern, functioning, contemporary background and has been thrust into a world where survival is the most important thing.

“I think that the look has evolved as the clothes have been broken, redesigned and given new features,” Norberg explains. “Functional elements such as zippers and buckles versus the purple hoodie and jeans become a crossover between the military and street wear.”

“But I couldn’t forget that I was doing something that would work at a Gala after all. There came the skirt that has a long, more draped side. That was my little gala nod.”

Using new fabrics would’ve been the most time-efficient way to create the outfit – and Norberg tells us that time was of the essence on this project. However, using brand new materials didn’t create the recycled, apocalyptic vibe that Norberg was looking for, so they had to get creative.

“I prefer to work with reused materials anyway I can for environmental reasons,” they add. “The only reasonable thing was simply to sit down in front of a good movie and slash up a bunch of old cargo pants and jeans from second hand.”

Norberg hopes that fashion in video games will grow as an extra creative medium for designers.

“It’s fun with fashion and people might get more ways to identify with the games and the different worlds that provide fantastic escapism,” they say. “The fact that Xbox and Bethesda are represented by these looks at the ELLE Gala in connection with the release feels like a smart and fun move that I hope is made more in the future!”

The Devil Wears NASA

For the Starfield gown, designer Linn Hermander explains that she was quickly inspired by the space fashion trend that blossomed in the 1960’s, which tied together elements of retro and futurism. Starfield’s design is described as “NASA punk,” mixing classic space looks with a choppy, swashbuckling feel.

The original sketch by Hermander, next to artist Yaegar wearing the completed Starfield look

“It was important to me that the look should not feel like a costume,” Hermander explains. “Even though cosplay is so incredibly cool, I wanted to emphasize that you can combine fashion and games. The two so easily become completely different worlds, but one does not have to exclude the other.

“I wanted to create something that felt cool and fashionable while clearly relating to Starfield.”

The outfit consists of two parts. The dress features a sleeveless top half with a high neckline, with two asymmetric cut outs on the left-hand side. The front of the dress is capped at the knee similar to a mini skirt, while the back and sides are longer. The color palette is a mix of rich blues and greys, inspired by “the view of space through the window of a well-loved spacecraft.”

It pairs with a matching coat, inspired by the space suit worn by Constellation members in Starfield.

“I wanted to create something that felt protective, hence the jacket is padded and very large,” Hermander says. “It should envelop the wearer like a spacesuit protects an astronaut.”

The design process was not without its challenges according to Hermander; Starfield is a new universe that draws inspiration from many sources

“It is always a challenge to make your visions a reality.” Hermander tells us. “Starfield is a whole new world with so much inspiration to get and when you do something like this, you really want it to be just right. Everything from material choices to fit and accessories is thought over many times. But thanks to everyone involved, this collaboration has gone very smoothly!”

Hermander says that the exchange between the gaming and fashion industries during this project has been absolutely fantastic and adds that the chance to work with such large companies so early in your career is only dreamed of for many.

“My eyes have really been opened to how rewarding cross-industry collaborations are,” they say. “There are so many ways to express creativity and it is only right that we put our heads together.”

Redfall launches on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 2. Starfield arrives exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC on September 6. Play both games day one with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

The Minecraft x SpongeBob DLC Has Got a Fresh New Update!

Grounded’s Newest Super Duper Update is Coming Today!

Summary

Grounded gets the Super Duper update today, available for free.
The update brings over 100 new craftable items, new creatures, a Base Coziness feature, and more.
Grounded is now Steam Deck Verified, and a free Steam weekend begins later this month.

The Grounded team is excited to bring update 1.2 to the community today. Rightfully titled the Super Duper update, this massive update brings with it many quality-of-life changes, more than 100 new items to craft, a brand new Base Coziness feature, and the terrifying new wasps. 

Starting off with the titular item of the update, players will find the Super Duper machine the next time they visit BURG.L in the Oak Tree Lab. This duplication machine will allow players to duplicate specific equipment and items using Raw Science.

Making this even more helpful for players, any item duplicated will include all of the item’s upgrades, which is sure to help save a lot of time when you and your friends need to gear up quickly to go back to adventuring. To use the Super Duper machine, players must locate Duper Discs throughout the yard, granting the player the ability to duplicate different items. Happy hunting! 

For players who have wanted to really spruce up their bases and make a new home in the backyard, a Base Coziness system has been added where buildings, furniture, and decorations now add to the coziness level of your base. Unlocking levels of coziness will also unlock specific decorative building recipes, a beneficial mutation for base building, and even new emotes that can only be unlocked by building up the coziness in your base.

To help players out with their bases and to start working on gaining those coziness levels, this update also brings with it close to 100 new crafting items for you and your friends to utilize to make the base of your dreams. The community has already shown a talent for creative bases, and we are super excited to see what new masterpieces you will create with the additional building pieces and furniture.

That’s just some of what’s on offer, as players will now get to meet a new friend to help them with all of their base building plans. Meet the ‘Handy Gnat,’ which you can summon and then use to bring all your base ideas to reality. This gnat will be able to build using planks, stems, and other resources from your stockpiles. This feature will default to be active in the Creative and Creative with Bugs game modes. To activate this new friend in Survival game modes, players must convert their games into Custom Games in the Game Settings menu, which is a small step to take for such a fantastic resource (and friend) to use! 

Turrets have been changed, and we have combined the Pebblet Turret and the Pollen Turret to make the Acorn Turret. This turret uses different ammo types depending on the foe players are fighting. For example, Rocky Rounds can push creatures back, while Sappy Rounds are the perfect ammo to use when you need to slow your enemies down. There are five different types of ammo you can use, and all the ammo can be stored in a chest next to the turret so players can swap between ammo without ever leaving the turret seat. 

Get ready to buzz with excitement as wasps invade the yard. Battle with wasps and drones that guard their mini hives across the upper yard. Keep your eyes peeled for the hidden main nest as well. A word of caution: piss off their kin and you’ll release the full fury of the hive. And those players looking for a more significant challenge can attempt to locate the Wasp Nest and meet the Wasp Queen, the newest creature boss, to enter the backyard! Players who successfully defeat these wasps will unlock new items to craft, such as a new armor set and a new trinket to wear.

Players on the go are about to get a pleasant surprise as the team has been able to get Grounded on the official Steam Deck support list. That’s right! Those on Team Steam Deck can now fully enjoy Grounded wherever they are. That’s not all: starting April 27, Grounded will be hosting a free weekend on Steam through May 1. This will be the best time to get your friends into the game with you and show them the fantastical world you have built. And as always, Grounded is included in Xbox Game Pass, so if you have an active subscription, you can download and start playing Grounded today. 

Grounded is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11, and Steam for $39.99. It’s also available with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). To learn more about Grounded and for full details on the Super Duper update, check out the latest Developer Vlogs on the Obsidian YouTube Channel or visit the official website. 

Grounded

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆
544

★★★★★

$39.99

$31.99

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

The world is a vast, beautiful, and dangerous place – especially when you have been shrunken to the size of an ant. Explore, build, and survive together in this cooperative survival-adventure. Can you thrive alongside the hordes of giant insects, fighting to survive the perils of the backyard?

Uncover the mysteries while playing through the story!
How did you wind up so small? Who did this to you? How do you go home? These are all answers you will uncover as you play through the story.

Solo or with friends – anytime!
You can face the backyard alone or together, online, with up to three friends. Not only that, but with the Shared Worlds feature, you can continue to play in your shared world even if the original host is not on, with all your progression saving!

(Online console multiplayer requires Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Live Gold, sold separately.)

Nowhere is safe – not even your base.
Creatures can be found roaming the yard in a multitude of environments, such as the depths of the pond, the caverns of the termite den, and even the sweltering heat found in the sandbox. You can even attract them to different places in the yard by activating the MIX.R devices. However, the more you interfere with the creatures in the yard, the higher the chance that they come knocking at your own door, so you better prepare.

Play true to your playstyle!
Use the in-game customization systems such as Mutations and Milk Molars to activate the bonuses and perks you want for your character. Not only that, but craft and upgrade your armor and weapons to give your character the stats and advantages you need in order to take on the perils of the backyard.

It’s time to go big, or never go home!

This Week on Xbox: Dead Island 2, Earth Day, and Minecraft Legends

Tips and Tricks for Season Six of Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

For nearly 5 years, players from around the world have been wall running, kunai throwing, and unleashing powerful jutsu skills in Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker. This year marks the 5^th anniversary of the game, and what better way to celebrate this milestone than with a new season! Kicking off the new Season Pass 6 is the latest DLC character addition, Minato Namikaze (Reanimation). We have some useful tips on how to gain the upper hand while playing with this character along with some tricks on how to play on the newly renovated map!

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker has explored many themes through its season updates. The theme of this Season Pass is “Chronicle,” which is an appropriate representation of this latest playable character. Minato Namikaze is quite important to series lore, as he is Naruto Uzumaki’s father as well as Boruto Uzumaki’s grandfather, and essentially the beginning to their stories. Minato chose to protect his village of Konoha, paying with his life and forever influencing the fate of his family for generations to come. He returned to the series during the Great Ninja War, having been reanimated to fight alongside the other Hokage. While his time back in the living world was fleeting, Minato managed to celebrate Naruto’s 17th birthday and bid him a final farewell just before returning to the afterlife in one of the series’ most highly emotional moments.

The Fourth Hokage

Fan favorite character, Minato Namikaze (AKA the Fourth Hokage), returns to the game — and returns to life! After making the ultimate sacrifice, this reanimated version of Minato comes equipped with unique skills that set him apart from the pack. Minato Namikaze is a playable character that was introduced in Season Pass 1 as an attack class type who can freely manipulate distance and aggressively engage in close-quarters encounters.

In Season Pass 6, Minato Namikaze (Reanimation) is a defense class type, although he is much more well-rounded than you may expect. He excels at supporting his team, as he did when he saved the Ninja Alliance in the Great Ninja War. Like his Season Pass 1 counterpart, Minato Namikaze (Reanimation) is capable of using Flying Raijin Jutsu, which makes it possible to cover wide areas from long distances. He is adept at everything from high mobility, to taking on groups of enemies, to protecting his allies. His versatility makes him an asset to any team.

In addition, each of his ninjutsu can build up to “Kurama Link Mode.” Activate this technique to enhance your speed, attack power, ninjutsu recovery, and healing (Bonus: allies within range of Kurama Link Mode activation will also share some of these enhancements)! Don’t forget to use the finishing move before this mode wears off, or else you may miss out on an instant KO of your opponents.

Despite his flexibility and many strengths, Minato Namikaze (Reanimation) can struggle in some areas. His offensive power is rather low, and he is not the most practical at engaging in one-on-one battles. To compensate for these shortcomings, be sure to master his powerful ninjutsu and show off the power of the Fourth Hokage, once known as the “Yellow Flash of the Leaf” on the battlefield!

New Ninjutsu

Ninjutsu 1: Celestial Air Slice Type-Zero

This is an ultra-fast surprise attack that applies Flying Raijin Jutsu, throwing multiple kunai and letting loose a flurry of slices around the enemy.

TIP: This attack affects a wide area and can engulf a large number of enemies. The true value of this ninjutsu is demonstrated when used against opponents in melee situations. When cornered or under pressure from attackers in close proximity, unleash Celestial Air Slice Type-Zero to turn the tables!

Ninjutsu 2: Flying Raijin: Guiding Thunder

Use this ninjutsu to nullify your enemies’ long-range attacks. This technique places a space-time ninjutsu ward in the area where it is activated, neutralizing most enemy projectile attacks within its range.

TIP: By placing it around important objects, such as scrolls, flags, or pillars, this ninjutsu can provide strong support and an extra layer of defense for your team! This is particularly effective against ranged class types. Execute a counterattack against opponents that get too close.

Secret Technique: Flying Raijin: Jiku Shippu Senko Rennodan Zeroshiki

This is an extremely powerful series of attacks that combines Shadow Clone Jutsu and Flying Raijin Jutsu. Minato throws a wave of kunai, and upon contact, will result in a devastating finisher!

TIP: This technique starts up quickly and can be launched as a surprise attack from a long distance, so do not miss the chance to use this at a critical stage of the battle!

Updates – Hidden Rain Village (Renovated)

The Hidden Rain Village is getting renovated in time for Season Pass 6! Previously, this map featured two distinct layouts – one half of the map was covered with tall buildings and meandering corridors, and the other half being a wide-open, flooded arena. The new map makes some major changes with buildings taking over the surface, leaving open areas harder to come by. This can make traversal and battles more intense as your opponents can be around any corner (or above you)!

Another notable addition to Hidden Village (Renovated) is a new pipe system that runs around almost the entire perimeter of the map. These pipes can be used to trek around the environment if you wish to avoid traveling through clusters of buildings and to mitigate the chance of surprise ambushes. On the other hand, the pipes can be useful for straight-on combat as neither you nor your opponent will have much of a height advantage in these enclosed spaces.

Perhaps the biggest change to Hidden Rain Village (Renovated) are the new teleportation devices scattered throughout the environment. Blue devices will direct you vertically into the rooftops, or below into the streets and flooded corridors. Conversely, yellow devices are designed for lateral movement and will send you to corresponding yellow devices. Use teleportation to quickly cover long distances, or to surprise from your enemies, or escape from them.

These new changes to Hidden Rain Village (Renovated) offer more possibilities for travel and strategy and will undoubtedly make matchups more thrilling!

What Else is to Come

We have more exciting plans in store for Season 6 of Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker! This season’s theme, “Chronicle,” also brings playable characters Obito Uchiha (Ten Tails Jinchuriki) and Kaguya Otsutsuki to the mix. We can’t wait to share more with you on these new additions when the time comes. In the meantime, purchase Season Pass 6 to play as Minato Namikaze (Reanimation). We would like to thank the many fans of Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker for their continued enthusiasm of this title! Here’s to many more ninja battles into the future!

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Season Pass 6

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
2

★★★★★

$9.99

Get it now

Season Pass 6 gives you access to special training from 3 different masters, including Minato Namikaze (Reanimation)! Learn new Ninjutsu from each master and receive special items.

SEASON PASS 6 INCLUDES:
• Master Character Training Pack #34 – Minato Namikaze (Reanimation)
• Master Character Training Pack #35 – TBA
• Master Character Training Pack #36 – TBA

SEASON PASS 6 BONUS:
Secret Technique: Kurama Supreme Ultimate Rasengan (Heal Type)

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
642

★★★★★

$59.99

Get it now

Free Trial

The Naruto franchise is back with a brand new experience in NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER! This new game lets gamers battle as a team of 4 to compete against other teams online! Graphically, SHINOBI STRIKER is also built from the ground up in a completely new graphic style. Lead your team and fight online to see who the best ninjas are!

Dead Island 2: How Dambuster Studios Gave an Undead Series New Life

Deep Silver Dambuster Studios has been working on Dead Island 2 since 2018. When we were first asked by our publisher, Deep Silver, to take on the project, we jumped at the opportunity to be a part of a franchise we already loved and respected so much.

With so many Dead Island fans already in our ranks and a history of creating first-person, narrative-driven games, it seemed like a perfect fit. We had our own unique vision for Dead Island 2, so over the past five years, we have lovingly built the game from the ground up. We haven’t been in “development hell” at Dambuster. Instead, we’ve taken our time to meticulously craft a game that we feel is worthy of its namesake.

We’re also proud to say that we’ve done so without crunching or putting our employee’s health and well-being at risk in the process. After all, happy devs make great games!

What Makes Dead Island So Special?

Ever since George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead hit theatres back in 1968, zombies have been at the forefront of cinema, television, literature, and – more recently – video games.

In a horde of zombie-based media, it can be hard to stand out from the crowd, but since the first title in the series was released in 2011, Dead Island has managed to carve out its own identity. Putting an emphasis on visceral melee combat in a truly scenic setting, the game achieved cult-like status on the Xbox 360 for its fun twist on zombie slaying.

Why Did Dead Island Need a Sequel?

Revealed to the world back in 2014, the E3 trailer for Dead Island 2 lit a fire in zombie slayers’ bellies worldwide, which has since ceased to go out. The short trailer also introduced the location of LA, which, with its sun-soaked beaches, iconic landmarks, and rich and famous residents, we felt was the perfect location for a zombie outbreak.

Some fans placed their pre-orders immediately after the show and have held onto them for the last nine years. The game we have poured all our efforts into over the last five years is for them.

The Community

As we just mentioned, the other thing that makes Dead Island unique is the community around it. You’ll struggle to find a bunch of people more passionate and dedicated to their chosen franchise.

To this day, the servers are active, fans continue to create their own artwork involving the characters, and the forums are still alive with folks conjuring up theories surrounding the game’s story. We know that fans have been waiting patiently for Dead Island 2, and we are proud to deliver them the game they deserve.

The Journey Ahead

Once the playground of the rich and the famous, LA is now overrun with flesh-feasting freaks. During your time in the city – which the locals have taken to calling HELL-A – You’ll slay your way across various locations including the jaw-dropping mansions of Beverly Hills and the iconic Venice Boardwalk.

Sending the undead to their final resting place has never been so much fun. Dead Island 2’s proprietary gore system, F.L.E.S.H (Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids), and the expansive arsenal of fully moddable weapons at your disposal make tearing zombies apart a frightfully fun affair.

A New Mystery to Unravel

LA is the center of a zombie outbreak, the city has been locked down by the military, and you’ve been bitten. However, for some unknown reason, you aren’t turning fully feral like the rest. Instead, you’re thriving on the infection. During your time in HELL-A, you’ll search for answers about the origins of the outbreak and your newfound zombie status.

See You in HELL-A

All there is left to say is that we will see you in HELL-A! Dead Island 2 is out now and is available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. You can pick it up from your local retailer or digitally via the Microsoft Store.

DEAD ISLAND 2 GOLD EDITION

Deep Silver

☆☆☆☆☆
61

★★★★★

Get it now

Dead Island 2 is thrilling First-Person Action RPG, stylish, vibrant and flooded with zombie infection. Explore iconic, gore-drenched Los Angeles. Meet larger-than-life characters. Slay countless foes in exquisitely bloody detail. And evolve to become the ultimate Zombie Slayer!

The Gold Edition includes the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game, two premium character packs, Golden and Pulp Weapons Packs and Expansion Pass.

The Expansion Pass gives access to two brand new chapters of the story coming after release. Pre-order now and get the Memories of Banoi Pack.

FEATURES

Explore HELL-A – Dead Island 2 takes players across the most iconic locations of the City of Angels, now stained with horror, in an exciting pulp journey from the verdant suburbia of Beverly Hills to the quirky promenade of Venice Beach.

Brutal Melee Sandbox – Combat delivers the most intense, visceral and gory first person experience possible, with plenty of weapons and tactical (and brutal) options to chew your way through the zombie horde. Whether you’re slicing, smashing, burning or ripping, we want you to truly feel it.

Be the Ultimate Zombie Slayer – There are six characters to choose from, each with their own unique personality and dialogues. You can fully customize the abilities of each Slayer, with our brand-new skill system allowing you to re-spec instantly and try out the craziest builds.

Zombie Infestation – Ready to experience the most advanced dismemberment system in games? Our LA is crawling with zombies that look and react realistically. These mutated wretches are the reanimated, rotten heart of Dead Island 2 with dozens of distinct zombie types, each with their own mutations, attacks and hundreds of visual LA-themed variants. Our monsters are relentless, challenging, and true Los Angelinos. Will you be able to survive?

A Cinematic Co-op Adventure – As a proper RPG experience, Dead Island 2 offers plenty of exciting quests, a crazy cast of characters, and a thrilling pulp story, to truly immerse you in its twisted universe. Re-playability is guaranteed. Add an over-the-top co-op mode for up to three players, and you’ll stay in LA for a very long (and gory) trip.

Alexa Game Control – Use your voice to swap weapons, set waypoints, goad zombies, and much more, available first on Dead Island 2. Play with any microphone or headset, no Alexa device required. UK, US and Canada (English) only.

DEAD ISLAND 2 DELUXE EDITION

Deep Silver

☆☆☆☆☆
39

★★★★★

Get it now

The Deluxe Edition includes the Xbox and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game, two premium character packs, featuring a unique costume and weapon, and the Golden Weapons Pack. Pre-order now and get the Memories of Banoi pack, with two weapons, a special weapon perk and skill card.

The much-loved zombie saga is back with a unique formula of horror, dark humor and over the top zombie-slaying, spanning an epic pulp adventure.

FEATURES

Dead Island 2

Deep Silver

☆☆☆☆☆
38

★★★★★

Get it now

The much-loved zombie saga is back with a unique formula of horror, dark humor and over the top zombie-slaying, spanning an epic pulp adventure.

Pre-order now and get the Memories of Banoi pack, featuring two unique weapons, a special weapon perk and skill card.

FEATURES