It’s been lovely to watch our Xbox and Game Pass players enjoying what Fractal (our first No Man’s Sky update of 2023) had to offer and it’s been thrilling to watch you all cruising around in your shiny new Utopia Speeders and filling up your Wonders Catalogues with your latest discoveries.
Barely 6 weeks later and we are delighted to launch another major update for No Man’s Sky, and it’s one of our largest in recent memory. We’re calling Interceptor, with a brand new class of incredibly varied Starship, a bunch of new gameplay features, new world variants and a ton of new content!
The ever-present tyrants of universe enforcement, the Sentinels, have become prey to a corruption that is spreading through their factions. Only the bravest Travellers will dare venture to forsaken Sentinel worlds to investigate.
Those that do, however, will find abandoned encampments to explore, intriguing crystals to harvest and, for the most persistent, the blueprints for a hitherto undiscovered Sentinel Interceptor starship which come in a huge variety of models.
Obtaining the Interceptor for your own fleet will not be easy. The mission to recover the secret Sentinel equipment and turn this stolen technology back against the horde is fraught with danger, not least because the Sentinels have been developing advanced defence and attack technologies which they are not shy of deploying against any puny threats to their dominance.
The rewards are substantial though. Aside from the Interceptor itself, there is the prospect of securing a brand new weapon – the “Hijacked Laser” – and a unique backpack – the “Aeron Turbojet”.
As you may expect, we anticipate a fair amount of heavy combat as Travellers go toe-to-toe with their long-time adversaries at closer quarters than ever before. That’s why Interceptor comes with a large number of quality of life combat improvements, not least the opportunity to see what happens when a Sentinel freighter explodes under your attack!
As is now customary, a No Man’s Sky update comes with a huge range of other additions and improvements to almost every other area of the game. Xbox and Game Pass players can discover what’s new by downloading Interceptor today. We are really excited to bring Interceptor to our Xbox and Game Pass players, but there’s plenty more to come from our tiny team in 2023.
No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 21 major updates up to and including Waypoint, our 4.0 update.
Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.
In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.
Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.
Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.
Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…
Attention Fans: April is a big gaming month for EA Play members!
EA Sports PGA Tour
Get ready to hit the golf course early with EA Sports PGA Tour. Starting today, EA Play members can jump into a 10-hour early access trial of the game – three days before its release!
The exclusive home of the Majors, EA Sports PGA Tour’s Pure Strike shot system – featuring ShotLink powered by CDW, PGA Tour’s proprietary real-time scoring system – gives players all the tools they need to realistically attack every hole on every course the same way the pros do. With unrivaled access to 30 of the world’s most exclusive golf courses, such as Augusta National Golf Club, Pebble Beach Golf Links and more, EA Sports PGA Tour’s features all four majors in men’s golf, including the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open Championship and The Open Championship.
Alongside Early Access, EA Play members will also receive monthly drops of Pro Shop perks such as exclusive headcovers, shirts, hats and more, as well as 10% off pre-orders, PGA Tour Points and more.
EA Sports NHL 23
From the course to the rink, hockey fans are in for a treat this month with EA Sports NHL 23, the most authentic and immersive NHL game ever, coming to The Play List on April 13.
Powered by the Frostbite engine, the game brings fans new levels of authenticity with gameplay improvements that include over 500 new last chance playmaking animations, living arenas and atmosphere, as well as deep franchise-mode customizations – allowing the best women’s and men’s players in the world to compete on one lineup. Moreover, with cross-play, players can also play against each other on the same platform generation.
April Rewards
In addition to all the great offerings, here are even more member-only content and rewards available now in EA Play:
Battlefield 2042 Ravine Specialist Set for Paik – Now to May 1
Apex Legends Gilded Fortunes Weapon Charm – April 11 to May 15
Need for Speed UnboundNissan Fairlady ZG 1971 Epic Custom – Now to June 6
PGA Tour Golf Hat – Now to May 8
NHL 23 WOC The Uprise Set – Now to April 30
FIFA 23 adidas Run for the Ocean White Tee and COINS – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 FUT Season 5 XP Boost – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 Pro Clubs 80s Skate Zig Zag Mask – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 Vol. 3 Stadium Set – Now to April 27
FIFA 23FUT Hero Jürgen Kohler Tifo Set – Now to April 30
Madden NFL 23 MUT April Pack – Now to May 1
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play at no additional cost with their Game Pass subscription. Members enjoy great player benefits, including in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, trials of select brand-new titles, access to a collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, and 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content.
Lifeweaver is the newest Overwatch hero, a support class with abilities that help his team both with healing and movement.
We can exclusively reveal his Origin Trailer, and spoke to Lead Narrative Designer Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie to find out more about this new character’s story.
You’ll be able to play as Lifeweaver from April 11, and he’ll be free to use for a limited time.
Xbox can exclusively reveal the Origin Trailer for Lifeweaver, the newest hero coming to Overwatch 2. This new support hero will arrive as part of Season 4 on April 11, and offers some very new options to players looking to assist their team – and a brand new thread to the Overwatch storyline.
Niran ‘Bua’ PruksaManee is a Thai scientist who combines nature and technology to offer new ways to heal, move and damage, both for himself and his team. As with all of Overwatch’s heroes, he also comes with a rich backstory, which you can check out in the new trailer below:
All of Lifeweaver’s abilities stem from his background as a naturalist. Brought up wealthy in the sheltered world of Chiang Mai, Lifeweaver grew to love the natural world but, upon leaving home, he saw the devastation being wreaked on the environment outside of his home. He developed a new technology, bio-light, which uses the hard light wielded by the likes of fellow heroes Symmetra but fuses it with living plants. Refusing to let his parents or the Vishkar corporation use his technology for nefarious purposes, he fled home, determined to use his creation only for good.
To learn more about the creation of this unique new hero, we spoke to Overwatch 2’s Lead Narrative Designer Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie. He explains that, as with all of Overwatch’s heroes, Lifeweaver began life as a series of gameplay ideas that needed a story created around them:
“He was design first and, from there, the story developed. What really struck the Narrative team is we knew we were going to do a plant hero, then we had to figure out how this person has plant powers. Then we saw the early prototypes and realized it doesn’t look like plants, but more like hard light, which led to his story being developed. It really highlights how the Overwatch team develops heroes, it’s very collaborative.”
The solution was to create the idea of bio-light, a new iteration of Overwatch’s existing hard light technology – already wielded by the likes of Symmetra and Lúcio. Lifeweaver created it to heal wounds and damaged plants, and wanted it to become free to use across the world – but his invention was claimed by the Vishkar corporation, a company most closely linked to Symmetra among the existing heroes.
It means that Lifeweaver’s story offers more to learn about Symmetra by association. “She was pretty much the one person at school who he understood and who understood him,” says Jurgens-Fyhrie, “and there is a lot there to explore. We can’t share too much about what is to come, but Vishkar is an important of the story, particularly for Symmetra and Lifeweaver.”
At the time of his introduction, Lifeweaver isn’t part of the in-universe Overwatch team, but Jurgens-Fyhrie says he’s known them while living as a fugitive, and is “loosely tied” to them in the same way Torbjörn is. Jurgens-Fyhrie won’t say if his story will become a part of the upcoming PvE story for the game, but we know that, “at the time of this announcement, Lifeweaver is living in the Atlantic Arcology, trying to find a way to cure diseases and heal the world.”
You’ll be able to play as Lifeweaver for free for a limited timefrom April 11, and an in-game event celebrating his addition to the roster will run until April 24. The event, also celebrating Thai New Year, will add an arcade mode, B.O.B. and Weave (which will allow players to play only as Lifeweaver), and by participating you can earn Lifeweaver’s Cassia skin (based on the national flower of Thailand, the Ratchaphruek).
We aspire to create a future of gaming in a world that we want to play in. Earth Day is just around the corner, and it provides all of us with a special opportunity to reflect on how we can improve our impact on the planet. To celebrate this year, we’ve created an Xbox controller that features recovered plastics with one-third of it made from regrind and reclaimed materials.
Mixing post-consumer recycled resins with regrind consisting of previously molded colored parts creates custom, earth-tone colors with subtle variations, swirling, markings, and texturing – giving each Remix Special Edition controller its own look and feel.
Regrind is the process of mechanically recycling leftover Xbox One generation controller parts into a raw material that can be used to partially create new controllers – while maintaining durability and performance. Post-consumer recycled resins are incorporated from reclaimed materials like automotive headlight covers, plastic water jugs, and CDs.
By incorporating these regrind materials, post-consumer recycled resins, and including the Xbox Rechargeable Battery Pack – Xbox is exploring ways to use less new plastic and reduce waste. Our goal is to bring fans along with us on our journey towards greater sustainability across the Xbox product portfolio. Visit the new Xbox Sustainability Hub to learn more about our commitments and explore a collection of controllers that use less new plastics.
We drew inspiration from natural landscapes and the physical world around us when designing the Remix Special Edition controller. The various earth-tone colors create a patchwork effect , featuring bright pops of color that create a vibrant yet serene vibe. The bright green Xbox button, D-pad, and front case color are inspired by lichen found in the Pacific Northwest Forest. The bumpers, triggers, and side grip areas feature a topographic texture pattern, a nod to the earth’s dynamic landscape, while maintaining the tactility that our customers like.
The included Xbox Rechargeable Battery Pack lets you play without using disposable batteries. Recharge while you play or afterwards with a full charge for up to 4 hours, and up to 30 hours of battery life per charge. The bottom of the controller sports a 3.5mm stereo headset jack which can be used to plug in any compatible headset. Chat with your friends online or share some of your best gaming highlights, captured using the dedicated share button. Make the controller your own by customizing button mapping with the Xbox Accessories app for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11. Feel free to take your controller beyond the Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, with Bluetooth technology that allows for wireless gaming on your PC and mobile devices.
The Xbox Wireless Controller – Remix Special Edition is available for preorder worldwide for $84.99 USD MSRP, and will be released on April 18. Check your local retailer for product availability in your region. For more product details, visit Xbox.com.
Recently, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend some three hours with the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor — the much-anticipated sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — before its upcoming release date of April 28, 2023, for Xbox Series X|S.
Now, while I enjoyed the first game immensely, it was not without its faults. Its map design could be confusing (with no fast travel), combat difficulty felt inconsistent, and the reward factor for going off the beaten path would very often reward you with… a different colored poncho (yay?). These aren’t just my opinions – the developers at Respawn clearly felt the same, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Director Stig Asmussen spoke incredibly candidly to me about some of those very same shortcomings. As it turns out, many of the things fans like myself were looking for, and some of those criticisms, were aspects Respawn admits should have been there from the start. This time around, the developers are aiming improve on every single one.
“When you’re making a game, you really don’t know exactly what it is until it goes out into the wild,” explains Asmussen. “You can do as much focus testing as you want, but once millions of people are playing, it becomes a different story. It validates a lot of the things you thought, but it also confirms things and wondering that this was something we could brush up — one of those things was fast travel.”
Stig explained to me that the team had initially fought against features like this, wanting to stay true (to a fault) to the “Metroidvania” gameplay design it aimed for – seeing you return to previously explored areas, unlock new paths with new abilities, and make progress across multiple areas rather than follow a single path through the game. The challenge was that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order just wasn’t really designed around fast travel or built to have that type of feature in-place. But once the fan feedback came in, and once Respawn began to scope its sequel, a fast travel mechanic was part of those discussions on day one. You’ll be happy to know that moving through Jedi: Survivor’s levels feels far more intuitive, and rewarding as a result.
“You can do as much focus testing as you want, but once millions of people are playing, it becomes a different story.”
Another of the cornerstones from the original game that the team is expanding upon heavily is what the definition of a “hub world” is. In the first game, it was confined to the starship Mantis. You could talk to the crew, look at some of your collection, interact with some objects, but that was about it. Which is fine – it fit nicely within the narrower narrative scope of the original. But these hub worlds have now been given a significant expansion, as befits a much wider storyline.
In the portion of the game I played, Cal has taken up residence in Rambler’s Ranch, a small town located on the planet Koboh. Despite having to carry the weight as one of the last surviving Jedi, he also taken it upon himself to help the locals by improving their town piece by piece. This starts to give the upcoming game a veneer of a space western, building upon narratives that we’ve seen in Star Wars television shows like “The Book of Boba Fett” — Cal has, essentially, become a small-town sheriff who aims to clean up this small town and rid the area of those dang bandits. Drop that on top of the rich Star Wars universe and you’ve got something that just feels much more tangible and immersive to play around in. Oh, and you can also collect seeds, set a plot, and grow a garden in the middle of town (not kidding) — this now feels more like living Cal’s life than reliving a single story within it.
One of the highlights of the first game was the small cast of characters who joined Cal, and Rambler’s Ranch offers even more of that feeling – this town is full of locals who add color to the game world. There’s Mosey Cimmaron, who runs the town stables; Ashe Javi & DD-EC, a pair of DJs who play music at the local Cantina; MXNK-6, a fast-talking and humorous droid bartender; and Dom Dendra, the de facto mayor of Rambler’s Ranch who can sell you cosmetics.
On that note, this was another major area the team invested resources in to build upon what, unintentionally, did feel like a bit of an afterthought in the first game: while it was fun to collect various colors and parts for your own personal lightsaber, other areas of customization were lacking.
“Really, [customization] was kind of an afterthought in the first game, and it came in really late in development,” says Asmussun. “The first time we got the whole game together, we were playing it… but I’m not really getting rewarded. There were skins for BD-1, skins for the Mantis, but those were just skins. And I think people saw through that. But the one that we talked about, that I think we got right, was lightsaber customization. And people kind of responded to that. So that’s what we’re going to do — we gave all the customization features ‘the lightsaber treatment.’”
This is extremely evident in our time with the game, being able to not just swap colors but swap parts on BD-1, or to fully customize Cal’s facial features and hair, and a variety of unique-looking outfits. Practically everything has been given new options to make your take on Cal’s adventure feel personal. Of course, the lightsaber customization remains, which continues to look like a Star Wars fan’s dream to tinker with endlessly by swapping parts in and out as the mood suits.
“We gave all the customization features ‘the lightsaber treatment.’”
Finding your way through this world has also been improved, another area that Asmussun admits was a pain point in the original game. Thanks to valuable feedback from players, the redesigned map was added very early on in the iteration process to deliver something closer to what players wanted. While you shouldn’t expect this to be an open world – these are still crafter levels with choices and exploration built in – getting around them should be far smoother and more open to interpretation.
“There’s huge improvements in terms of clarity and of being able to add markers,” explains Asmussun. “BD-1 has binoculars now as well that allows you to scan the environment and drop beacon points. There’s just a lot more legibility in general regarding where you need to go next. Lots of lessons learned here and areas we wanted to improve upon.”
But amid all these improvements, Respawn also acknowledged the strengths of the first game. They were not going to break them or remake them; they were going to make them better and refine them. One of those pillars is Fallen Order’s excellent combat system, which offered an unexpectedly Soulslike spin on lightsaber combat and Force abilities. This returns, but with several new ideas grafted on to help build it out.
“One of the things we were not able to complete for the first game was Dual Wield,” explains Asmussen. “We had that as a late-game pick-up in Jedi: Fallen Order, and that was something that we wanted to have as a full stance, but we just kind of ran out of time, so it became this special instead. But there was a lot there. It was probably ready to roll within the first six weeks of working on Jedi Survivor.”
Cal appears to have lost none of his talents from the original adventure and in fact has a much clearer grasp on his Force and lightsaber abilities.
What becomes immediately clear as a fan of the original, is just how fluid the combat now feels. It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what’s improved, other than everything feels significantly more responsive. Part of that, I imagine, is tied to the story — when we meet Cal in the upcoming game, it’s been some five years since the previous adventure, giving him plenty of time to brush up on his skillset. Also, there doesn’t appear to be any forced moments where you must unlearn what you have learned – Cal appears to have lost none of his talents from the original adventure and in fact has a much clearer grasp on his Force and lightsaber abilities. But that’s not to suggest there aren’t fresh combat tricks for players to learn. New this time will be the five “stances” that each have their own strengths to utilize to counteract with the variety of enemy types in the game.
These are Single, which is your standard lightsaber stance, a balance for offense and defense; Double-bladed, which is great to use for crowd control; Dual Wield, where Cal’s lightsaber splits into two, which is ideal for more aggressive playstyle; Crossguard, which is a powerful, deliberate stance that has Cal dealing massive damage (at the cost of long wind-up times); and Blaster, which has Cal dealing with long-range foes with… well… a blaster.
“It’s easily the biggest improvement [to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor], in that you can now carry five stances and they each have a unique personality,” details Asmussen. “There’s a kind of synergy that we have the way that we’re constructing the enemies in the game that some stances might be able to reveal exploits faster against some enemies than another one. But to be clear, you can take down any enemy with any stance.”
The challenge for Respawn is finding ways to balance what is essentially a “one-hit-kill” weapon like a lightsaber and continue to make it feel fun, especially now that Cal is so well-versed in both his growing abilities as a Jedi and as a master wielder of the weapon of a more civilized age.
“Oh, there’s also dismemberment in this game,” Asmussen underscores with a bit of a smile.
“We introduce a variety of different ways that enemies can block a lightsaber, and something we work with Lucasfilm on is what kind of technology can we bring to the combatants who are basically loaded up to take on a Jedi,” explains Asmussen. “What kind of Star Wars tech can we give to them? Whether it’s shields or electrified devices that can block a lightsaber. A lot of the enemies are one hit kills; you just need to find the opening. Most of them aren’t though.
“That’s always the challenge. How can we provide contextually the tools that can block a lightsaber but also weave into the narrative that these things have a reason to exist. It’s something we’re always trying to make sure we’re underscoring. Oh, there’s also dismemberment in this game,” Asmussen underscores with a bit of a smile. “Fans have been asking for that and we got the green light from Lucasfilm.”
There have also been several adjustments to really make you feel powerful. Force Push and Pull are still tied naturally to the controller’s Right and Left triggers respectively from the start, allowing you jump in right away and play with a myriad of new combat features that weave together powerful Force powers and cinematic-like lightsaber combat. Think of it as a combat sandbox: If you think you can Force Pull a Stormtrooper, hold him in the air while you ram your lightsaber through him, or parry blaster fire back on a variety of enemies while dashing back and forth, or manipulate them to attack their own colleagues… you can.
Presenting this in action during our event, one member from the team’s combat team took the controller and showcased the level of hurt one can unleash on enemies in the game once you become in tune with all of Cal’s abilities. We watched as he moved through each of the five stances, demonstrating the various ways in which you can approach and cut down enemies with the saber, or by using some end-level Force powers where you can group enemies together, slow down time, and charge your pistol to unleash a barrage of blaster fire.
Everything we’ve seen so far promises a bigger, better, more customizable adventure with Cal Kestis and BD-1
Everything we’ve seen so far promises a bigger, better, more customizable adventure with Cal Kestis and BD-1: responsive combat, engaging characters, and an ancient mystery that is just waiting to be solved. We can’t reveal too much more about the latter, as that would be delving into some spoiler territory, but we did get enough of a tease that once these credits roll, our mouths are going to be on the floor.
Thankfully we don’t have long to wait to dive in, as Star Wars Jedi: Survivoris launching in just a few short weeks from now on April 28, 2023, for Xbox Series X|S. If you’ve yet to experience the original game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it’s available to play now for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass.
Pre-order* STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™ Standard Edition to outfit Cal with the Obi-Wan Kenobi™ inspired “Jedi Survival” Cosmetic Pack:
• The “Hermit” Cosmetic
• The “Hermit” Lightsaber Set
• The “Combustion” Blaster Set
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar.
• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Creatively leverage all these abilities and weapons to strategically take on an expanded host of enemies, sizing up strengths and weaknesses while cleverly utilizing your training to overcome your opponents and solve the mysteries that lay in your path.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
Unlock exclusive cosmetic items inspired by Han Solo™ and Luke Skywalker™, as seen in STAR WARS: A New Hope, with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Deluxe Edition*.
• The “Galactic Hero” Cosmetic Pack
– The “Scoundrel” Cosmetic
– The “Rugged” BD-1 Cosmetic
– The “DL-44” Blaster Set
• The “New Hero” Cosmetic Pack
– The “Rebel Hero” Cosmetic
– The “BD-Astro” BD-1 Cosmetic
– The “Rebel Hero” Lightsaber Set
Plus also receive the Obi-Wan Kenobi™ inspired “Jedi Survival” Cosmetic Pack*:
• The “Hermit” Cosmetic
• The “Hermit” Lightsaber Set
• The “Combustion” Blaster Set
The story of Cal Kestis continues in STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™, a galaxy-spanning third-person action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment and Lucasfilm Games. This narratively driven single-player adventure continues five years after the events of STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight to protect the galaxy from descending into darkness.
• Continue Cal’s Journey – No longer a Padawan, Cal has come into his own and grown into a powerful Jedi Knight. The Dark Times are closing in – with enemies new and familiar surrounding him, Cal will need to decide how far he’s willing to go to save those closest to him.
• Go Beyond Your Training – The cinematic combat system from Jedi: Fallen Order returns with additional Force abilities and new lightsaber fighting styles. Combine all these abilities and weapons to find your distinct style and defeat enemies new and old.
• Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and revisit familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will enhance the ways you explore, fight, and roam.
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!
Great New Games Spotlight has officially kicked off and we’re excited to bring you a ton of games every week for the next six weeks — more than 100+ new games will launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One between February 28 and April 10 – and if you spend $50 on eligible games and movies, you can receive 2,500 Microsoft Rewards points! Get more details here.
You are the Custodian of the Chimera, a living experiment created as a last resort to save life on Earth. Enter a tactical battle for the planet’s most coveted resource and the key to your Chimera’s evolution: pure Genetic Material. Meet Your Maker is a post-apocalyptic first-person building-and-raiding game where every level is designed by players. Switch between roles as you mastermind devious maze-like Outposts filled with traps and guards, then gear up for methodical fast-paced combat raiding other players’ creations.
Embark on an epic, hand-animated, “ratoidvania” adventure, where your crew has been turned into rats by a pirate witch. Explore a rich, non-linear world, enjoy fun action platforming, face challenging bosses, and unlock unique abilities either by yourself or in local co-op.
A fast-paced 2D platformer with a focus on precision and fluidity, where you´re in control of a cute little Orange in a journey in an abstract world. Master jump, wall-jumping, wall-sliding, dashing and more as you leap from level to level, moving along, up and down the screen to put in your best possible performance in 75 challenging stages.
Immerse yourself in a thrilling and exciting adventure. Children have been missing for a long time in Lakewitch, and you’re destined to solve this creepy mystery. Who is the kidnapper? Where are the children disappearing to? How do you save them? Solve the puzzles and find the answers.
Play as Ludovik, a Seeker, sent to investigate a murder case in Babylon. When a state of emergency is suddenly declared, Ludovik finds himself in increasingly dangerous territory as he follows the murderer’s trail and unravels the mystery behind the Library’s sudden lockdown. Featuring a world full of vast jungles, abandoned temples, and plentiful cybernetic inhabitants to interact with, The Library of Babel promises both a thrilling adventure full of danger and intrigue, and a thoughtful, atmospheric tale of how we consider infinity.
Embark on this cute but frantic adventure spanning across an incredible world full of danger. Explore seven unique worlds overflowing with beautifully animated graphics and retro game nostalgia. Overcome various perils to save Bumballon’s magical kingdom and rescue the beautiful Princess Moon.
The tee is yours across 30 courses in EA Sports PGA Tour, designed in stunning quality with Frostbite so you can enjoy more of golf’s finer details than ever before. PGA Tour is also the exclusive home of the Majors, including the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open Championship, and The Open Championship. Powered by ShotLink, TrackMan, and Pure Strike, giving you golfer-specific tendencies with unique course dynamics and revolutionized ball behavior for the premier golf gameplay experience. Create and customize a golfer, develop your skill set with new Shot Types, gain deeper course knowledge as you play, and learn to attack every hole like a pro. Pre-order the EA Sports PGA Tour Deluxe Edition to start playing on April 4. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with EA Play can enjoy a trial of the game as well starting on April 4.
Grab your favourite pair of wool socks, Survivors – it’s time to explore the wild reaches of the Far Territory!
Today, Hinterland is excited to launch the new Tales From the Far Territory Survival Mode Expansion Pass on Xbox, featuring the first paid content for its popular survival game The Long Dark. This update includes two incredible content drops – Part One: Forsaken Airfield and Part Two: Signal Void.
Adventures in the Far Territory begin with Part One: Forsaken Airfield. Explore a brand-new Airfield region featuring a vast, frigid plain, an airport with hangars and a Control Tower, and new mysteries waiting to be explored. Watch out for Glimmer Fog and the new Insomnia Affliction, search for new Rifle Variants, and experience stunning new Survival music by Sascha Dikiciyan, composer of award-winning music for games including The Long Dark, The Division 2, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Mass Effect, and many more.
Part Two: Signal Void introduces the first “Tale”, offering Survival Mode players new objectives to follow while weaving in compelling narrative elements. Explore the Tale with new Transponder gameplay and use the Handheld Shortwave to pick up mysterious signals, leading to hidden caches, crash sites, and more. Signal Void also introduces three new clothing items – a Hockey Jersey, a leather Flight Jacket, and a matching Aviator Hat. You’ll find them scattered around Great Bear as you explore locations and search containers. Be alert, Survivors… you might even discover a few surprise items that can only be found using the Handheld Shortwave.
Tales From the Far Territory will continue to receive multiple updates over the span of the 12-month campaign, including new Regions, new Gameplay, all-new objective-based Tales, and more. Plus, each Part will also contain free updates for anyone who already owns Survival Edition.
For a sneak peek at your next survival adventure, check out the trailer for Tales from the Far Territory at the top of this post.
To start your journey into the Far Territory, and access great new content, visit the Xbox Storetoday!
The Long Dark is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness. Monitor your Condition, search for life-saving supplies, and master survival skills like fire-building, maintaining your gear, hunting, fishing, and landmark-based navigation. There are no zombies — only you, the cold, and everything Mother Nature can throw at you.
Infinite Guitars is out today! Pick it up for Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, plus it’s included with Game Pass.
Developed by Nikko Nikko, Infinite Guitars is an anime-inspired rhythm role-playing game with a blazing original soundtrack.
Gather up a party, tune up your electric guitars, and get ready to battle the metal war machines!
In a world devastated by a war against colossal, monstrous Mechs, a scavenger named JJ searches through the scrap to survive. But humanity’s grim future looks even grimmer when the war machines start powering back up – and only JJ’s electric guitar can turn their technology against them in Infinite Guitars, out today on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, plus it’s included with Game Pass!
Crafted by indie developer Nikko Nikko, Infinite Guitars is a creative fusion of founder Nikko Ronsayo and his collaborators’ passions – making music, playing guitar, getting lost in great RPGs, and animating rad anime-inspired fight sequences. Infinite Guitars grinds up these elements into a genre-melting game with personality, heart, and bombastic indie spirit.
Rhythm is everywhere in the world of Infinite Guitars. In battles, you strum, smash, and hold notes to try to achieve 100% perfect sync and max out your damage. (And hey, sometimes just smacking Mechs with your guitar real hard does the trick.) The Mechs are merciless, assaulting you even as you explore the overworld, so you’ll need to time dodges as you traverse the planet or to sneak in to trigger an over-the-top boss fight.
Luckily JJ doesn’t have to handle all of this solo. While JJ grew up a loner (and intended to scour the wasteland that way), JJ soon assembles a party of guitar heroes – fellow wastelanders with their own strengths and distinctive abilities – to help save the world. Together they can perform duets, amp up each other’s skills, and take their Mech-crushing skills to new levels.
Gold-hearted Sam spent childhood as a thief, but her compassion still shines through – now her scrap-crafted arms give new meaning to the term power chord. Kaylee once took down a Colossal-Type Mech solo as a kid, and ever since people have been singing her praises (but only Kaylee knows the real truth behind this rock legend). And reliable Ru carries the weight of the wasteland on her shoulders – but even the most rock-solid foundation can crack under a mountain of mechanized metal.
All of this metal-crushing rhythmic role-playing is set to the tune of a 100% original soundtrack that’ll have you amped up for more Mech-fighting, composed and performed by Nikko and a diverse crew of guest musicians.
So crank up the volume, and get ready for the ultimate showdown against the War Mechs in Infinite Guitars!
“In a world shredded by the devastating war against the Mechs, the remnants of humanity scavenge and fight to survive. Now, the metal war machines have reawakened—and only your electric guitar can turn their technology against them!
Gather up the party, tune up your favorite axe, and get ready to rock in Infinite Guitars, a genre-melting rhythm RPG featuring vibrant anime-inspired art, adrenaline-fueled Mech battles, and a blazing original soundtrack.
Role-playing rhythm
Amp up your skills and test your reflexes in rock duels that mix elements of turn-based role-playing, action, and rhythm games.
Electrifying anime-inspired adventure
Explore a stylish sci-fi world filled with Colossal-Type Mechs, guitar-wielding heroes, and over-the-top attacks.
Guitar-driven team battles
Perform metal-crushing solos and devastating duets as JJ, Sam, Kaylee, and Ru—a scrappy team of wastelanders with their own strengths and abilities.
Rage against the Mechs
Unleash the full force of your skills in epic boss battles that fuse electrifying anime-inspired action and hyperkinetic rock.
Explosive 100% original soundtrack
Crank up the volume to steel-shattering levels for the ultimate showdown against the War Mechs!”
Explore space or the world of Peaky Blinders this April with Games with Gold! On Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, start the month off by managing the perfect space home in Out of Space: Couch Edition, and then midmonth roam through a puzzle-adventure game based on the hit show in Peaky Blinders: Mastermind.
Xbox Live Gold members will have exclusive access to these games for a limited time as part of Games with Gold. So will Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, who receive all the fantastic benefits of Gold plus access to hundreds of high-quality games with Xbox Game Pass.
There is no place like home, especially when you’re drifting through outer space. The challenge is that a deadly alien infestation has also settled in. It will take all your strategic skills to keep each newly generated spaceship house creating resources and recycling alien goo by automating tasks to help keep it clean and comfy. Play with friends to build a sustainable environment that you can all enjoy together.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind
A plot is afoot to put the family out of business and it’s up to you to uncover it. Set prior to season one of the hit show, you can control six key members of the Shelby family, each with different strengths and weaknesses. If you need to bribe a cop, use Polly, but if you need to bust down a door or knock a few skulls, take control of Arthur. By using the right person at the right time and leveraging the game’s unique mechanics to move backwards or forwards through time, you can be the mastermind that puts everyone in sync to help unlock the puzzles.
Read more about our Games with Gold program here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire for all the latest news on Xbox. Like we said before, if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, hundreds of high-quality games you can play on console, PC, and across devices from the cloud, and access to EA Play at no extra cost. New games are added all the time, so you’re never without something new to try when you’re looking to find your next favorite game. If you’re new, or if you’re an existing Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass for Console member, join or upgrade today.
You and your friends are about to move into a house in space, where you will have to deal with a deadly alien infestation and face the challenges of building a sustainable spaceship, all to make your new place feel as cozy as home!
COUCH FUN MEETS STRATEGY
Each match starts in a procedurally generated spaceship house that will demand your best planning and teamwork skills to become clean and comfy. You and your friends will need to generate resources, recycle trash and alien goo, buy and build new technologies, and take care of one another, if you ever want to call home the mess that you got into.
As a COUCH-FUN game, Out of Space has short matches and is easy for everyone to grab a controller and play. At the same time also as a STRATEGY game, it will require short and long-term decisions, expanding and conquering new rooms and building technology to automate tasks.
FEATURES
– Buy, build and place your new technology, while keeping your systems efficient and sustainable.
– Power up your spaceship by recycling alien goo and producing energy batteries.
– Harvest and take care of your fruitful gardens to keep everyone fed.
– Clean rooms with mops and water, while containing the deadly alien menace.
– Take a nap on your sofa, while your friends desperately claim for help.
– Automate cleaning and harvesting with the help of robots.
– Adopt Dogs, they will love you for it and help you in any way they can!
OTHER FUN STUFF
– Procedural spaceship generator: different challenge everytime you play.
– Missions to guide the player’s progression that never leave out what couch-fun is about.
– Unlock new content when completing achievements.
– Play single-player or local multiplayer
– No weapons of any kind. Take your mop and sweep your way out of danger.
Are you up for the challenge? Living with roommates was never easy, but now you’ll do it in outer space!
THE DEVS
Behold Studios is the studio behind Knights of Pen & Paper, Chroma Squad and Galaxy of Pen & Paper. With a big and strong fan base, we’re developing this game with the help of the community, openly sharing builds, milestones and carefully listening to feedback and improving the overall experience of the game.
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind is a puzzle-adventure game, based on the multi-award-winning BBC and Netflix TV show.
Welcome to Birmingham, during the aftermath of the Great War. Set right before the events of Season One, Peaky Blinders: Mastermind lets you join the Shelby family’s criminal gang. Follow the rise of Tommy as he successfully uncovers a sinister plot to put the family out of business, proving himself worthy of being the true mastermind of the Peaky Blinders.
Mastermind refers to Tommy’s ability to plan complex scenarios in his head. As the player, you get to exercise this power by taking control of key members of the Shelby family including Tommy, Arthur, Polly and more. Become the Mastermind as you freely reset and rewind each character’s path in order to tune all of their actions for perfect coordination.
Achieve the highest mission rating by strategically utilising characters and stealth to solve increasingly complex puzzles with optimum timing.
