FBC: Firebreak is A High-Octane, Hilarious Shooter Built For Any Skill Level

Danielle Partis

As we suffered an untimely demise at the business end of approximately two billion sticky notes, me and my two FBC: Firebreak squad members felt more than a little humbled. In our hubris, we’d decided to begin our time in a recent preview event on the hardest possible difficulty – a very fun, but very ridiculous choice. Fortunately for us, FBC: Firebreak’s blend of approachable combat, fast-paced rounds, and slapstick mechanics makes for a fantastic time, no matter how long (or little) you want to spend in its bizarre, fascinating world. We will have our revenge, sticky notes.

FBC: Firebreak is Remedy’s upcoming entry into the first-person shooter genre – an approachable multiplayer experience delivered with all the style and deadpan humour we’ve come to appreciate from the Remedyverse. Serving as a spin-off to the events of Control, FBC: Firebreak sees players tasked with the clean-up of bizarre, supernatural events taking place inside the game’s ever-shifting setting, The Oldest House, which you’ll also recognise from Control.

During the hands-on event, we were given access to three different Jobs available in the game, all with varying levels of difficulty on offer. In ‘Hot Fix’, our ragtag team of Firebreak volunteers took on repairing fans in a sweltering setting, before dealing with a paranatural furnace. In ‘Ground Control’ our crew set out to collect leech pearls from the remains of horrendous, human sized leeches. My personal favourite, ‘Paper Chase’ saw the group disposing of a massive number of sticky notes, alongside violent, sentient sticky note enemies, before taking on ‘Sticky Ricky’, a colossal, tanked-up boss made up of literally millions of sticky notes that requires a true team effort to take down effectively.

All three of these jobs also feature Control’s enemy faction, The Hiss as a consistent, looming threat – a horde of them can appear at any moment and they’ll need dealing with as you progress with the primary objectives. Dealing with The Hiss is usually a straightforward affair – your weapon will make short work of most enemy types. Every so often, a named miniboss may appear; some require more finesse to defeat – and the best option for taking them down will come from a carefully curated loadout.

The hands-on showed us three unique Crisis Kits that every volunteer can take out on a mission. Equipped alongside your more conventional guns, these are all clumsily lashed together to fit the scrappy vibe of FBC: Firebreak’s setting – you aren’t playing as seasoned soldiers, just a volunteers placed into these absurd, dangerous situations. With three people in the party, each of us naturally gravitated to one loadout each. I carried a shotgun for big, close-range damage, and the Splash Kit, effectively a giant water gun which came in clutch for hosing down the sticky monsters, and my overheated colleagues. All of the kits available can be upgraded in multiple ways too, to really customize your build for those more punishing difficulty levels.

But customization extends beyond your loadout. Each mission asks you to pick a Clearance Level, which dictates how many zones you need to clear in order to win. This means that some runs can take five or ten minutes, and they’re a breezy affair that require minimal team coordination. Others can take upwards of 45 minutes, dramatically more vicious affairs where every piece of gear you take is of paramount importance. FBC: Firebreak gives all the tools to tailor your experience here – it’s not trying to make you grind unnecessarily – you can go as hard or as casual as you want at any given time.

But it was the in-mission mechanics that really made FBC: Firebreak feel like something unique. Elemental effects can make or ruin your day if you don’t have the right tools at hand. If a room is too hot, you’ll need to find a swift way to cool down. If it’s unnaturally cold, you’ll move slower until you regain some heat. Your chosen Crisis Kit may be a shortcut here, but there are other ways to deal with these issues located in the levels themselves.

Fortunately, this applies to The Hiss too – if an enemy is slowed by an icy debuff, they’ll comically ‘sprint’ towards you in slow motion, giving you plenty of time to react. At lower tiers, these effects are a mild hindrance – nothing fatal if you just want to jump into a quick game without navigating the complexities of how everything works. In those higher difficulty runs, it is hellish – perfect for those that to dig deep into the game’s systems and take on its most brutal challenges.

All of this fun is wrapped up in a blanket of narrative excellence; Remedy’s signature brand of bizarre, occult nightmares with lashings of hilarity as your characters banter and bicker amongst themselves. Fans of the studio’s previous entries will find lots of recognisable names and locations, but that feels more like an enhancement for those already involved – you don’t need to know what’s going on in the wider story, but it certainly adds to the experience if you do.

There’s lots to discover and plenty of guidance for those that are less versed in Remedy’s universe. That, paired with the ability to really finetune how you want to play, means FBC: Firebreak is an unexpectedlywelcoming introduction into The Oldest House, and we can’t wait to extend our stay (and, you know, burn a lot of sticky notes).

FBC: Firebreak launches June 17, 2025 – play on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and via Game Pass.

FBC: Firebreak

Remedy Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

FBC: Firebreak is a cooperative first-person shooter set within a mysterious federal agency under assault by otherworldly forces. As a years-long siege on the agency’s headquarters reaches its boiling point, only Firebreak—the Bureau’s most versatile unit—has the gear and the guts to plunge into the building’s strangest crises, restore order, and blast their way back from the brink.

The post FBC: Firebreak is A High-Octane, Hilarious Shooter Built For Any Skill Level appeared first on Xbox Wire.

A Minecraft Movie Is Launching for Home Entertainment!

The post A Minecraft Movie Is Launching for Home Entertainment! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Play Together Your Way – Lost Twins 2 Co-Op Demo is Out Now on Xbox

Summary

Fresh co-op twist on the genre.
Guide siblings Abi and Ben through a magical world.
Unique co-op mechanics focused on timing, communication, and shared problem-solving.

Hi everyone! I’m Fawad Asghar, one of the developers at Playdew, a small indie studio based in Pakistan. Today, I’m thrilled to share that the co-op demo for Lost Twins 2 is now live on Xbox Series X|S and Windows Store.

Whether you’re a seasoned puzzle pro or someone who just wants to hang out and explore a cozy game with a friend, the co-op mode in Lost Twins 2 was designed with you in mind.

Play Together, Your Way

In Lost Twins 2, players guide separated siblings Abi and Ben through a whimsical, shifting world. But in co-op, it’s not just about solving puzzles—it’s about solving them together.

While making the co-op mode, the focus was on the flexibility for all skill levels. One player can take the lead while the other supports, or both can play equally—it’s up to you. There’s no pressure, no fail states, and no “wrong” way to play. The design encourages collaboration without frustration, making it perfect for partners, siblings, or friends of any age.

Puzzles That Feel Shared, Not Split

Every puzzle in co-op mode requires teamwork, but never at the expense of fun. You might be sliding tiles to form new paths while your partner activates switches or times jumps—every action has a purpose, and every small success feels like a shared win.

It’s the kind of gameplay that encourages conversation, laughter, and those wonderful “Wait, try this!” moments.

Puzzles That Reward Partnership

We wanted the co-op puzzles to strike a satisfying balance: accessible enough to keep the adventure flowing, yet intricate enough to require thoughtful planning. No puzzle ever feels unfair. Moments of realization and breakthrough come with a rush of satisfaction, especially knowing that success only happens when both players work in sync. The experience is crafted to reward patience, communication, and creative thinking.

A World Full of Charm

Beyond the clever puzzles, Lost Twins 2 delivers an environment full of warmth and wonder. The handcrafted visuals, the subtle animations, the cozy vibe—it all comes together to create a world you’ll want to get lost in. And when you explore it with a friend, the emotional connection deepens even more.

This co-op demo is just a taste of what’s to come. Lost Twins 2 is shaping up to be something truly special—an experience full of charm, challenge, and heartfelt moments shared between two players.

Try the co-op demo now on Xbox, and don’t forget to wishlist the full game on the Xbox Store to join Abi and Ben on their full adventure when it launches later this year!

Lost Twins 2

Playdew

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Lost Twins 2 is an incredibly cute puzzle adventure that will challenge, entertain and maybe even inspire you. Guide Abi and Ben on their journey to find a way back home across a whimsical polygonal playground crafted with an enormous amount of care. Is the mystical Fenghuang leading them home or steering them down a rabbit hole?

Inspired by Miyazaki, the art style merges soft, painterly backgrounds with simplified, memorable characters and fluid animations. Each frame is crafted meticulously with pride – specific lighting techniques, thoughtful composition, and immense attention to detail mean that every single moment you’ll spend playing Lost Twins 2 will be a feast for the eyes. The original musical score is atmospheric, soothing, and thematic to complement the art style.

The puzzles in Lost Twins 2 are painstakingly designed, with elegant solutions that make you feel, momentarily, like a genius. They are hard enough to present a challenge but logical enough that you’ll be able to solve them within a few attempts. There is a joy to be discovered in every level in Lost Twins 2.

A signature sliding puzzle mechanic forms the core complemented by mechanics such as pressure switches, water gates, breakable domes, lifts, elevators, and more to ensure that the pace of the game never falters. There’s no repetition in the puzzles, each new puzzle will feel interesting and unique.

Team up in co-op mode and solve puzzles together! Work with a friend to swap tiles, activate mechanisms, and overcome obstacles as you guide Abi and Ben toward their long-awaited reunion. Whether playing solo or cooperatively, the journey is one of exploration, creativity, and heartwarming moments.

The goal is to delight both children and adults with a gameplay experience that is based on discovery, tinkering, and exploration–not on conflict and threat. There are no timers, no enemies, no deaths, not even any dialogues to read – just a poetic, visually breathtaking world full of puzzles challenging your wits. A cerebral and pleasant experience for everyone, never frustrating without proper reward, never dull or monotonous.

The post Play Together Your Way – Lost Twins 2 Co-Op Demo is Out Now on Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Lamborghini and Forza Celebrate FH5 Community with the Revuelto Forza Horizon 5 Edition

The post Lamborghini and Forza Celebrate FH5 Community with the Revuelto Forza Horizon 5 Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Finding Humanity in a Mechanical World

Summary

From Sketch to Soul: How We Created Zoe in Steel Seed.
The face of Steel Seed: Crafting Zoe’s story, style, and spirit.
Behind the scenes of Steel Seed.

After five years in development, Steel Seed has officially launched on Xbox Series X|S — and whether you’re just starting your journey or well into the story, there’s more beneath the surface worth exploring. In this behind-the-scenes breakdown, we’re diving into the creative and technical process behind Zoe, the game’s central character. You’ll learn how Storm in a Teacup — a small team of around 20 developers based in Italy — approached the challenge of building a protagonist who is both machine and deeply human.

From early concept art to animation and narrative design, this article unpacks how Zoe’s robotic form was carefully balanced with emotional depth. These design choices don’t just affect how she looks or moves — they directly shape how players engage with the world, make decisions, and connect with the game’s story. Steel Seed isn’t just a sci-fi action title; it’s a layered experience about identity, resilience, and the personal cost of survival.

Character Core: From Concept to Conflict

Zoe’s story begins in mystery: she awakens alone in a robotic body deep within an AI-dominated facility, with no memory of how she got there. This setup posed an immediate creative challenge — how do you design a character that players can emotionally relate to while she herself is unsure of what she is?

Our solution was to emphasize vulnerability in her animations and body language. We intentionally contrasted mechanical precision with subtle, human-like motion — shaky breaths, cautious glances, hesitant footsteps — so players would instinctively connect with Zoe before even hearing her motivations.

Design Influences & Visual Language

Zoe’s look was heavily inspired by a blend of cyberpunk and anime sources: “Alita”, “Casshern”, and “Blame!” formed the visual backbone. But more importantly, her design needed to serve gameplay readability. Her glowing joints, for example, are not only stylistic but also provide feedback in low-light environments. Her expressive eyes — built with an advanced eye-tracking rig — became a key storytelling tool for in-game cinematics.

Emotional Anchors: Koby’s Narrative Purpose

No character like Zoe could exist in isolation. Enter Koby — a small, expressive drone initially designed as a gameplay mechanic. Very quickly, however, Koby became much more: an emotional anchor. His design language evolved to reflect that. His “face,” for example, is an LED screen that shows simple emoticons in real time, allowing him to “talk” in tones and visuals, which helps Zoe (and players) feel less alone.

Creating Koby meant fusing function and emotion. He helps solve puzzles, unlocks doors, and scouts ahead — but he also beeps in concern when Zoe is hurt and celebrates small victories. It’s AI companionship by way of empathy. He’s based on a robot originally designed and modeled by the Storm in a Teacup head when he was just 19 years old.

Bringing the Bay: Designing Cinematic Action

Steel Seed features cinematic action moments we internally dubbed “Michael Bay Sequences.” These were built to break tension and change pacing through high-octane gameplay: collapsing bridges, high-speed chases, massive explosions. But even here, storytelling was key.

Each of these sequences was crafted not just to look great, but to show how Zoe reacts under pressure. We used dynamic camera systems and occasional 2D perspective shifts to amplify spectacle without sacrificing player control. These scenes are also crucial moments for Koby to shine — rescuing Zoe, alerting her to hazards, or navigating tight quarters at speed.

Tips & Tricks for Players: Reading Zoe’s World

While Zoe’s enhanced mobility (wall runs, air dashes, silent takedowns) gives her an edge, surviving the Facility is all about environmental awareness.

Look for Koby’s cues: He often highlights hidden routes or dangers you might miss.
Use sound: Footsteps, enemy drones, and power surges all emit unique audio—you can use them to time movement and stealth.
Read the lighting: We use subtle visual language—flickering bulbs, red vs blue tones—to help players intuit enemy activity and puzzle mechanics.

These soft cues are all part of what we call passive storytelling—immersing players without pausing the action.

Legacy of Zoe

At its core, Steel Seed is not just about survival — it’s about what defines us as human beings. What makes Zoe work isn’t just that she’s cool or capable — it’s that she’s scared, conflicted, and trying anyway. Her journey isn’t just about defeating enemies—it’s about reclaiming agency. Players may see a machine, but what we hope they feel is a very human soul.

Steel Seed is more than an action game — it’s an emotional blueprint of identity told through pixels, motion, and sound. And Zoe, more than anyone, carries that blueprint.

On behalf of the developer, Storm in a Teacup and all of ESDigital Games, thanks for all of the support during all these years! Steel Seed is finally here and it’s time to save humanity.

Steel Seed

ESDigital Games

☆☆☆☆☆
13

★★★★★

$39.99

$33.99

Get it now

Steel Seed is a single player stealth-action adventure game set in a dark sci-fi world. In her epic journey inside a hostile underground facility run by AIs, Zoe is alone with Koby, a flying drone, as her only companion.

The post Finding Humanity in a Mechanical World appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Limited-Time Charity Humble Bundle Features 8 Xbox Game Studios Games; Proceeds Benefit Gameheads

The post Limited-Time Charity Humble Bundle Features 8 Xbox Game Studios Games; Proceeds Benefit Gameheads appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The Real-World Inspirations Behind Spirit of the North 2, Available Now

Category: Games

May 9, 2025

The Real-World Inspirations Behind Spirit of the North 2, Available Now

Tayler Christensen, Lead Developer & Co-founder

Summary

Spirit of the North 2 is out now for Xbox Series X|S
Lead Developer Tayler Christensen explores finding inspiration for the sequel and bringing more of the game’s vision to the world.
The prequel, Spirit of the North, is available on Game Pass.

Today is the day I’ve been looking forward to for five years, the release day of our second game, Spirit of the North 2. To celebrate its launch, I’d love to share the story behind how (and why) we made this game.

A Vast World, A Tiny Hero

Back in 2016, I was at a crossroads. I was an architecture graduate training in 3D environment art, but I was also working as a general manager for an ice sculpting company. I’d always enjoyed creating spaces for people to enjoy, and that remained true through all my work. But how could my expertise in snow, ice, and environments be brought to life in a video game?

The answer came during a holiday in Reykjavík, Iceland.

The Fox Leads The Way

Iceland’s landscapes stunned me: volcanic rock fields, glacial lagoons, geothermal pools, and basalt columns that looked designed by nature. Everywhere I turned, I had the inspiration I was looking for. Stone became sentinels guarding secret passageways. Geysers became dynamic obstacles. The glaciers became slides with hidden chambers lost to time. Even the folklore seeped into my imagination, especially when I later discovered a book about Tulikettu.

The Tulikettu is what the Finnish call a fox whose tail sparks in the air, sending flames to float to the sky and form the Northern Lights, (Or The Revontulet, the ‘Fox Fires’ as the Finnish call them). This enigmatic little creature encapsulated the essence of awe, something I felt in these nordic landscapes. The idea of an Aurora touched fox that roams the lands, healing spirits and being this guardian of nordic culture was the perfect tug on all of the threads, on all of these ideas, to bring everything together.

Story and Allure

Spirit of the North grew from those artifacts: a fox’s adventure through scarred landscapes, where players uncover stories of war, lost spirituality, and environmental ruin, not through dialogue, but through exploration. The sequel expands this vision, with richer lore, deeper mysteries, and guardians like the sorrowful Stag and the brooding Raven, each hiding tales of their own.

Spirit of the North is far more than a game to me. Its world is an extension of myself, my team, and encapsulates everything that inspires and uplifts us. We hope that it’s story, music, and environment create wonderment for you. Thank you always. Spirit of the North 2 is available now on Xbox Series X|S.

Spirit of the North 2

Silver Lining Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆
4

★★★★★

$29.99

$25.49

Get it now

Embrace the Aurora, Save the Guardians.

In an ancient world left in ruin, embark on the journey of an isolated fox far from home. With the help of a wise Raven companion, seek out the lost legendary guardians and release them from the grasp of the dark shaman Grimnir.

A VAST OPEN WORLD
Roam freely through a vast and ancient open world, rich with long-forgotten history. Explore unique and visually captivating biomes, each with its own challenges and secrets to uncover.

SEEK OUT POWERFUL RUNES
Discover potent runes that enhance your abilities as your quest takes you from dense forests, through snow-capped peaks and to dark & ancient crypts to save the lost guardians.

EXTENSIVE CUSTOMIZATION
Tailor your fox’s appearance and skills to suit your playstyle, making each playthrough unique.

ANCIENT GUARDIANS
Face off against formidable foes as you save the legendary guardian beasts in thrilling, puzzle-based encounters.

The post The Real-World Inspirations Behind Spirit of the North 2, Available Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 12 to 16

Category: Next Week on Xbox

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 12 to 16

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Xbox PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!

CyberCorp

Megame LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

$15.99

Pre-order

CyberCorp – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Brutal, fast-paced isometric co-op looter shooter in a cyberpunk world. Master equipment-based combos and discover exotic weapons and armor. Easy to start, hard to master. Play solo or team up with friends in multiplayer. Everyone can create their own build – whether it’s close combat, skill-based gameplay, or long-range sniping. If you enjoy action games with diverse loot, then CyberCorp is exactly what you’re looking for.

Gore Doctor

Ultimate Games S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Gore Doctor – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

An immersive horror game packed with spine-chilling thrills. You wake up inside the twisted institute of a desperate doctor who’s broken all the rules to save his wife, Scarlett, from a deadly illness. You must navigate the nightmarish corridors of the doctor’s institute, confronting grotesque horrors, uncovering dark secrets, and striving to escape with their lives intact.

Labyrinth Of The Demon King

Top Hat Studios, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Labyrinth of the Demon King – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A challenging first-person dungeon crawler with survival horror elements, set against the backdrop of a mythical feudal Japan besieged by demons. As a lone foot soldier, embark on a quest to track down and slay the Demon King who killed your Lord. But will you have the skill, resources and stamina needed to survive through all the horrors this brutal world will throw at you?

Palia

Singularity 6

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Palia – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Discover a welcoming world in Palia, a free-to-play fantasy life sim adventure where you can craft, explore, and create the life and home of your dreams. With nearly endless ways to make Palia your home, you’ll find relaxation and joy in every corner of this vibrant, heartwarming world.

The Precinct

Kwalee

☆☆☆☆☆
1

★★★★★

Get it now

The Precinct – May 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

You are Officer Nick Cordell Jr. As a rookie beat cop fresh out of the Academy, you’re on the front line of defense for Averno’s citizens. Dive into a world of thrilling car chases, sandbox crimes, and a healthy dose of 1980s noir as you protect the populace and solve the mystery of your father’s murder in the line of duty.

Anima Flux

JollyCo

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Anima Flux – May 14

Anima Flux is a co-op metroidvania with two genetically enhanced soldiers, special agents of a theocratic dictatorial regime. Fight your way through swarms of mutants through a desolate, dystopian space city and save humanity’s last stronghold, if, of course, anyone is still alive…

Hidden Kittens: Kingdom of Cats

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Hidden Kittens: Kingdom of Cats – May 14

Purrr! Prepare for a delightful mission in a fantasy landscape – many cats can be found across this magical realm… Every corner hides a fluffy surprise just waiting to be discovered – over 350 of them, to be somewhat precise… Pick your favorite colors for your game’s look and feel, and keep your eyes peeled for any balls of joy that wait to be pet!

Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy

Penguin Pop Games LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy – May 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Kaiju Big Battel: Fighto Fantasy is a 16-bit styled RPG featuring turn-based combat, a large cast of characters, and tons of hilarious dialogue! This is an officially licensed game based on the live-action monster wrestling group Kaiju Big Battel, who have been performing their Godzilla-meets-WWE act for over 20 years.

Recycle Bin Battle

overgamestudio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$11.99

$10.79

Pre-order

Recycle Bin Battle – May 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Recycle Bin Battle is a unique and entertaining arcade puzzle game featuring three distinct gameplay styles. Players catch falling rubbish from a machine, sorting them by type and color to make them disappear and form balls for the next phase. These balls are then used in a breakout-style game to break through invaders’ defenses and gather energy. Finally, the collected energy is used to shoot at Kaiju, saving humanity from destruction.

Super Engine GT Turbo SPEC

Eastasiasoft Limited

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Super Engine GT Turbo Spec – May 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Get ready for adrenaline-fueled racing fun as you climb your way through the motorsports ranks in pure arcade style! Super Engine GT Turbo SPEC is all about speed and pushing your driving skills to the limit. Choose from Novice, Junior, Senior and Pro event series, select from 8 unique venues and a variety of touring cars, then burn up the asphalt as you race from the back of the pack all the way to podium position!

Garten of Banban 0

Feardemic

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Garten of Banban 0 – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

What is this place? Who are you? These mysteries await discovery as you journey through the facility. Piece together clues to unveil the truth behind what’s really happening. Travel back in time to uncover the dark past of Banban’s Kindergarten and explore its origins. Only you can connect the dots to reveal its true nature.

Preserve

Grindstone

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Preserve – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

A puzzle nature-building game that takes players on a journey into a harmonious ecosystem. The objective is to foster and sustain a thriving and diverse biomes, where each component coexists in a symbiotic harmony. By utilizing strategic thinking and a keen eye for balance, players are granted the power to position a wide array of plants and animals, curating an environment that caters to their preferences and aspirations.

Shovel Knight Dig

Yacht Club Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Shovel Knight Dig – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

When Drill Knight and his dastardly digging crew blast apart Shovel Knight’s peaceful campsite and steal his loot, he grabs his trusty Shovel Blade and starts tunneling after them! Meet new friends and foes, visit strange lands, and outfit yourself in your quest to keep the entire land from collapsing underfoot! Jump, slash, and dig your way down an ever-changing chasm of mystery in Shovel Knight Dig, an all-new Shovel Knight adventure!

American Arcadia

Raw Fury

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

American Arcadia – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Welcome to Arcadia! A ‘70s retro-futuristic metropolis where all its citizens enjoy a life of luxury and comfort… unaware that they’re being broadcast live 24/7! Arcadia is not an ordinary city, but the most watched reality show on the planet – where a drop in popularity ratings comes at the highest cost: death.

City Bus Manager

Aerosoft GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-order

City Bus Manager – May 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Build your own depot from scratch and create your personal bus routes in City Bus Manager. Play in your own hometown or any famous city in the world. Recreate the official bus network or change it completely to your preference.

DOOM: The Dark Ages Standard Edition

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆
13

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

DOOM: The Dark Ages Premium Upgrade

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆
7

★★★★★

$34.99

$31.49

Pre-order

DOOM: The Dark Ages Premium Edition

Bethesda Softworks

☆☆☆☆☆
4

★★★★★

$99.99

Pre-order

DOOM: The Dark Ages – May 15
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Available on day one with Game Pass! DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells an epic cinematic story worthy of the DOOM Slayer’s legend. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the DOOM Slayer, in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell. Get a head start on slaying demons with the Premium Upgrade, including up to 2-Day Early Access, the campaign DLC at launch, and more.

Fellow Traveller

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Available on day one with Game Pass! Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is a papercraft adventure game where you’ll meet the many good and not-so-good folks of Limbo, a place where souls with deep regrets are cursed into repeating the same day on a loop. Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.

Meowsterpiece Museum

Gray Boss Game Studio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Meowsterpiece Museum – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Great painters love cats and hid them in their masterpieces. Your mission is to find them and make the paintings even more beautiful.

Plumber Hero

Gametry LLC

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Plumber Hero – May 16

Plumber Hero is an exciting way to test your creativity. There are 3 main stages, 40 levels each, so there’s no shortage of content for you to enjoy. Each one gets increasingly difficult, so you must use all your skills and work hard to pass them all.

SYNESTHESIA

Ratalaika Games S.L.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Synesthesia – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The year is 2029. The Huntley Scientific Research Institute has opened its doors to a select few young individuals gifted with extraordinary mental powers and mysterious abilities. Among them is Ziek, a university student with a rare form of “synesthesia” — a perception that allows him to see the hidden significance of objects through vibrant splashes of color. But what begins as an exciting opportunity quickly spirals into something far more dangerous.

Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit

Numskull Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Neon Apex: Beyond the Limit – May 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Welcome to the Neon Apex, open only to the most elite racers, both human and other, prove that you can handle breakneck speeds and perilous racecourses to win it all. Humanities finest have gathered to prove that a human mind behind the wheel will always be best. They’ll be up against cybernetically enhanced humans as well as AI driven androids.

The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for May 12 to 16 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Solo Dev. Two Kids. One Wacom Tablet. The Making of The Abandoned Planet

Between wrangling a full-time job and parenting two young kids (including one born smack in the middle of development), I built The Abandoned Planet from a tiny corner of a Florida bedroom that doubles as office, nursery, and general chaos zone. Picture a Moleskine notebook taking up the last bit of empty space on a small desk, each page scribbled with little hand-drawn rooms and arrows mapping every corridor, while my toddler occasionally “helped” by crawling over my laptop. What I optimistically pegged as a one-year passion project stretched into two and a half years of solo dev hustle—coding, drawing, animating, composing the soundtrack, and even conjuring a semi-functional base-7 number system and a bespoke alien alphabet to pepper through the in-game journal and subtitles.

Every pixel in The Abandoned Planet was drawn on my Wacom tablet. I poured over the detailed pixel-art, the frame-by-frame animation, and the eerie soundscape. Movement feels delightfully retro—four-way D-Pad navigation—yet polished with a certain snappiness and dynamic touch. As you progress through this alien world, you decipher cryptic glyphs and pick up bizarre objects. It’s 90s-style adventure nostalgia, reimagined for the modern gamer.

Modern Yet Retro: Immerse yourself in gorgeous pixel art enhanced by a sleek, high-definition UI.
Quick Gameplay: A responsive navigation system which gives a nimble feel to the gameplay.
Classic Point & Click Adventure: Leverage your items and the environment to awaken ancient totems, power up forgotten devices, and journey boldly into dangerous territories.
An Expansive World: Five Acts with over 300 unique areas to explore.
Haunting Animated Cutscenes: Dynamic, yet brief, cutscenes intersperse the gameplay, enriching the narrative.
Fully Voiced: Enjoy the game in 11 world languages, complemented by complete voiceovers in English…and a unique alien language!

While The Abandoned Planet is a standalone game, it fits into a greater saga following Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space and hinting at more spacey escapades to come. Every puzzle twist and every scrawled alien symbol traces back to my crowded bedroom-nursery office, which kept development delightfully unpredictable. If you’re craving an adventure that’s as much about exploring a lost civilization as it is celebrating the odd joys of solo game creation, splash down on The Abandoned Planet for your next weekend escape.

The Abandoned Planet

Snapbreak Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

$13.49

Get it now

When a wormhole tears open in space, an astronaut is hurled down and crashes on a distant planet. But where is she? Where are all the inhabitants of the planet? And how is she going to get back home? Solve the puzzle and piece together the mystery in this 2D, pixel art, first person, point and click adventure.

Inspired by games like Myst and Riven with a dash of the LucasArt adventures of the 90s, The Abandoned Planet is sure to scratch that old-school, adventure game itch.

• Beautiful chunky pixel art
• Hundreds of locations to explore
• Classic point and click adventure
• Fully voiced in English

Text localized into the following languages:

• English
• Spanish
• Italian
• French
• German
• Japanese
• Korean
• Portuguese
• Russian
• Chinese Simplified
• Chinese Traditional

The post Solo Dev. Two Kids. One Wacom Tablet. The Making of The Abandoned Planet appeared first on Xbox Wire.