The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes the excitement of finding the perfect gift for the kid(s) in your life. For some, this means considering an Xboxan experience that can offer endless hours of fun, connection, creativity, and learning.But navigating the gaming world can seem daunting to some especially those that are new to gaming. From questions around online gaming communities, to regulating screen time, content appropriateness, and how to maintain safety it can feel overwhelming at times. Fortunately, Xbox makes it easy for adults to make the right choices for their families.The single most important thing you can do when setting up a new Xbox console is to select Yes when asked Will this console be used by kids?By spending just a few minutes setting up an Xbox Child Account (versus having them use your existing account), youre building a safer, more tailored experience for them and one thats right for your family (and thats easy to adjust as your little one grows up). Dont worry, you wont have to buy your games again to allow your child to play on the same console*. You will, however, have control over which of these games theyre allowed to play, how long they can play, who they can communicate with, and more.Once youve set up your Xbox console, you can keep the experience safe by downloading the Xbox Family Settings app for your Android or iOS device. This powerful tool allows you to easily tailor your childs gaming experience from anywhere, even if youre nowhere near your Xbox.Heres just some of what it can do:Screen Time Management: You can set time limits to manage how long your child can play each day. Parents (and grandparents, aunts and uncles!) tell us one of their favorite features is the ability for kids to request extra playtime, which you can easily approve or reject right from the app. You can even pause game time temporarily from the app; the perfect way to say dinners ready!Content Filters: The app allows you to tailor the content your child can access, blocking games that are too mature and ensuring they only see age-appropriate content that you approve.Purchase Limits and Approvals: Prevent unexpected purchases by approving each purchase through the ask-to-buy feature. To reward good behavior, you can easily add funds to a childs account for future purchases.Communication Controls: Decide who your child can communicate with during their gaming sessions through robust controls. You can manage your childs friend list and review incoming requests, and can restrict communication to just friends, or block it entirely.Activity Reporting: Stay informed with weekly activity reports that give you an overview of what your child is playing, how long theyve played, and any requests theyve made for additional time or new games. Pretty cool!Additionally, the Xbox Series X|S offers numerous features designed to make gaming accessible for everyone. You can find the full range of accessibility settingson Xboxs Accessibility site.Once youve curated the experience youd like your children to have, the only question is, what should you play together? Xbox Game Pass offers great value with access to hundreds of games for one monthly price, including a diverse range of family-friendly games that everyone can enjoy. From action-packed adventures to educational games, theres something for everyone; check out an updated list of titles here just click the Family & Kids box underneath Genres on the left rail or in the Game Pass area on your Xbox console.Playing games can stimulate creativity, improve hand-eye coordination, and offer a sense of achievement. They can also be a fantastic way for children to unwind and connect with friends, or be the center of your familys game night, especially in todays digital age.With the robust features built into your Xbox console and managed by the Xbox Family Settings app, you can ensure that your childs gaming experience is as safe and controlled as you need it to be.For more information about the Xbox Family Settings app, visitXbox.com/family-app.*Entitlements are shared only if child accounts are using the same console set as the Home console. More details on designating a Home console can be found here.

Twas the night before the update and everything was right,gamers stayed up late playing Xbox well into the night.When all of a sudden, a popup on their console did ariseA new system update available, what a nice surprise.It contained many fixes and several new features,And soon after downloading, players got back to fighting in-game creatures.Ho-ho-hold onto your hats Insiders, we have a quick but festive community update for you!First, the team wants to wish everyone the happiest of holidays and a safe new year! While I am personally not a fan of the cold and dark weather, that didnt stop it from happening this year. The early sunsets and chilly temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere do bring some cute sweater weather and a great reason to cuddle up inside and play some Xbox!Like previous years, the team has paused releases of preview builds on both console and PC to ensure maximum stability for everyone enjoying Xbox over the holidays. The team is working hard on future releases though! We are still reviewing feedback as well, and the team is here to resolve any issues that may arise. Dont forget to keep checking the Insider Hub for new content throughout December and January!From Our Team to YouWe want to thank each and every one of you for making this community so special. I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a part of the Xbox Insider Program. I want everyone to know that we appreciate you and the support youve shown the Xbox Insider program.Before I sign off, I asked a few members of our team what theyre up to when theyre not busy this month, whether its gaming, relaxing, or any other random thing they want to share! Heres what they had to say:Jon: Goal is to finish Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and the Ode to Castlevania DLC for Vampire Survivors.Joshua: Im looking forward to watching all the classic holiday films (again) and really getting into Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.Tim:I tend to be a glutton for punishment and playing through Nine Sols. Also looking forward to spending time with family as I have a few flying in from out of town for the holidays.Donovan: Im very much looking forward to spending this month playing Path of Exile 2, cherishing quality time with my family, and, like many others, indulging in nostalgic Christmas films to boost my Holiday spirit.Sally: Eating lots of cookies, playing cozy games, and hoping for new PowerWash Simulator DLC. And of course time with family and friends.Leland:All year long, every year, when I start a story-game (story-games and CoD/BLOPs precisely describes my favorite genre) and realize Im getting invested, I stop playing it and it goes on my list. Only two games are allowed on my list. If I come across a game that needs to go on the list and there are already two games on it, those games must decide between themselves, through collaboration or violence, which two stay. Then I set aside one week in mid-December and fully disconnect (the kind of absolute isolation that has great wifi) and play those two story-games cover to cover. Generally, I have a really hard time suspending disbelief, and it takes longer than I wished to sink into real immersion, but for this one week in December I spend the literal majority of my time spellbound. Its my favorite and its only days away, I cant wait.As for me, Ive finished the Black Ops 6 camo grind so it feels like I can finally play the game! I am also planning to finish the achievements for Aliens: Dark Descent, and do battle with Jack Frost to keep my geeses pond from freezing over as it has many times in the past.What about you? We would love to hear about what youre doing this month like games youve been playing or plans for the holiday season. You can join the discussion on our subreddit under the December Community update post stickied at the top. Ill be popping in all month as ScantilyCloud to chat and answer any questions you might have. Feel free to share any game recommendations from 2024 with us tooour backlogs can never be too full.

Welcome to Xbox!Youre now the proud owner of one of the most powerful video game consoles ever built! To help you get started gaming as quickly as possible, theres a few things you need to keep in mind after you take your brand-new Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console out of the box.Note: The guide below contains several of our personal recommendations for getting started gaming as quickly as possible with your new console. For more detailed step-by-step instructions on getting set-up, visit Xbox.com here.Prepare your ConsoleLets get your console ready! Begin by following the instructions provided in the box to connect it to the internet (either via broadband or wireless). Next, plug it into an HDMI-compatible TV and turn it on to start the updating process.Keeping your console updated guarantees that new games can be played immediately and helps maintain system security. We strongly suggest completing this step before connecting any additional peripherals, like external hard drives or battery charging stations. This ensures optimal compatibility with both current and future devices and accessories. For a list of compatible accessories, visit Xbox.com..This process may take some time depending on your internet speed and the number of updates required. If youre giving the console to someone as a gift, we recommend taking this step before they open their present it will save everyone a bit of time so they can start gaming more quickly.While the console is updating, its a perfect opportunity to download the Xbox app for iOS or Android. The app provides step-by-step instructions and allows you to manage the console from your smartphone. If youre a parent or caregiver, we also suggest downloading the Xbox Family Settings app for added control and safety features (more on that in a minute). for added control and safety features (more on that in a minute).Create a Free Xbox AccountTo access features such as playing free-to-play online multiplayer games and joining a community, you will need to create a free Xbox account you can sign up and get started here. If you already have a personal Microsoft account (e.g., from Windows, Office, Outlook, etc.), you can use this instead.This is an excellent opportunity to set up a Family Group, which is great to have in place if youre in a household with some younger players. You can create individual Xbox accounts for everyone who will be playing, and as the organizer you can customize content and screen time settings for each person. Learn more about the benefits of creating a Family Group on Xbox here.Select Your Family SettingsIf youre giving the console to a child under 13, make sure to set up a child account. This simplifies the process for parents to add family members to a family group and monitor console activities using the free Xbox Family Settings app, available on iOS and Android.You can personalize their experience by creating screen time schedules, managing content restrictions and communication settings, reviewing friend requests, and setting spending limits on the Xbox Store. Plus, its easy to adjust these settings anytime. Its a great way to encourage healthy gaming habits together.Choose Energy Saving FeaturesDid you know you can reduce emissions and lower the energy consumption of your Xbox? Its true! By using the Shutdown option (energy saving) feature, your console will use up to 20 times less power when off compared to Sleep mode. Your console will default to the Shutdown option (energy saving) setting out of the box, but you can choose what settings work best for you by going to the Settings menu, navigating to the General tab, and selecting Power Options.UtilizeGamingAccessibility FeaturesThanks to feedback from the Gaming & Disability Community, many games in the Microsoft Store on Xbox now display Xbox Game Accessibility Feature Tags. These tags highlight the various accessibility features available in each game, making it easier for players with disabilities to determine if a game is right for them. Additionally, the Xbox Series X|S offers several features designed to make gaming accessible for everyoneCopilotallows you to link two controllers so you can use them like a single controller.TheXbox Accessories appcan let you configure the button layout on the Xbox Wireless Controller.Speech to Textconverts player speech or in-game chat that you can read on screen.Quick Settingsallow you to quickly enable elements like Night Mode, High Contrast, and more.If you find that as you begin to engage with these accessibility features on your new Xbox console that you have additional feedback to provide, visit the Xbox Accessibility Insider League (XAIL) FAQ page here. You can find the full range of our accessibility settingshere on the official Accessibility site on Xbox.com. Xbox is also home to many games with great accessibility features, often made in partnership with the disability community:Forza Motorsport: features Blind Driving Assists, a feature set built for players who are Blind or have Low Vision.Forza Horizon 5: has an ASL/BSL interpreter during the cinematics in the game.Grounded: includes an Arachnophobia Safe Mode which allows players to adjust how spiders appear in the game.Xbox also offers theXbox Adaptive Controller,which is designed primarily to meet the needs of players with limited mobility. It functions as a unified hub for devices that help make gaming more accessible with a wide range of devices. You canlearn more about the Xbox Adaptive Controller here, as well as the official Xbox Adaptive Controller User GuideJoin Game PassA Game Pass Ultimate membership gets you access to online console multiplayer and hundreds of high-quality games to play right away. This includes major first party studio franchises available on day one, such as Gears of War, Halo, Forza, Microsoft Flight Simulator, and many more, along with a variety of unique ID@Xbox games and new additions regularly. Game Pass Ultimate also provides access to PC titles and Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), member deals and Perks, as well as an EA Play membership, which includes popular series like EA Sports FC, Battlefield, and Star Wars.If you are a PC player, then is designed for you. With the Xbox app on Windows PC, you can browse the catalog of PC games, view recommendations, filter by genre, and discover your next favorite game with just a click. Like the Ultimate membership, PC Game Pass also includes EA Play on PC at no extra cost, giving you access to a collection of EAs top titles, exclusive in-game rewards, and early trials of select new games.Theres alsoXbox Game Pass Core, which includes online console multiplayer and access to over 25 high-quality games on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. It alsoincludes member deals and discountsof up to 50% off select games with Game Pass promotions.Finally, theres Xbox Game Pass Standard, which gives you all the benefits of Game Pass Core, plus access to hundreds of high-quality games for one low monthly price with games being added all the time, theres always something new to play. Note that Standard does not include games available on day one.Get GamingNow that youre all set up, its time to start gaming! Xbox.com offers several resources to help you find what you need. Check out our Games homepage for the latest and greatest new releases and best sellers. You can also visit our Xbox Sales & Specials page to browse deals on games, consoles, accessories, and more to elevate your gaming experience.A few other places you may want to check out would be our official Xbox Gear Shop for all the latest in Xbox clothing and accessories and the Microsoft Store on Xbox to grab the latest releases, blockbuster exclusives, season passes, add-on content, ID@Xbox games and more all at great prices.Also, one of the most exciting features at Xbox, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), which is included with a Game Pass Ultimate membership, lets you stream hundreds of high-quality games anywhere, allowing you to play Xbox console games on devices you already own, including mobile devices, tablets, and PCs.Additionally, all membership tiers include Xbox Remote Play, enabling you to play games installed locally on your console on any compatible PC, Android, or iOS device. Learn more about Xbox Remote Play here..Once again, welcome to the world of Xbox! If you havent done so already, be sure to bookmark Xbox Wire to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest news and updates about your favorite games across Xbox consoles, PC and cloud.

While its almost time to say farewell to 2024, with a new year on the horizon comes an undiscovered, terrifying and twisted reality to explore.In 2025, Post Trauma launches on Xbox, bringing a whole host of unimaginable nightmares along for the ride.Post Trauma comes from the imagination ofRoberto Serrag and Red Soul Games, designed as a celebration of classic horror titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil.Built with Unreal Engine 5, Post Trauma is set in recognizable environments such as an abandoned hospital and a neglected Metro within The Gloom and depicts them in unusual, but suitably horrendous ways. Whether its tentacles creeping through the walls, ghastly creatures lurking in the shadows, or buildings that could collapse at a moments notice, its anyones guess whats around the next corner.At the heart of it all is Roman (voiced by Togo Igawa), a retired train driver who awakes to find himself dazed, bewildered, and haunted by all he can see.Alongside voice acting, Red Soul Games also use Motion Capture so that Romans facial reactions and movements feel natural and authentic, really bringing the character to life. The way he reacts to the horror all around him and processes this fantastical, wild world, really grounds Post Trauma. As a result, players will truly be able to see what Roman is thinking and feeling throughout the game.Much of the horror in Post Trauma comes from setting a scene and building tension rather than going in for quick jump scares. Post Traumas soundtrack plays an important role in this with moody piano solos softly building in the background while Roman moves along train tracks and corridors. Then during battles and confrontations, the beat kicks in to reach heart-pounding crescendos.As you continue to explore the environment and uncover its secrets and inhabitants, it will be important to pay close attention to every scenic detail as theymay hold clues to some of the games trickier puzzles. Perhaps a pad and paper could come in handy, too.The Gloom is a dangerous place , and there are times Roman will need to defend himself in life or death situations. Fortunately, theres a variety of items at your disposal, like an all-powerful sledgehammer and a trusty crowbar. Roman will even find a pistol and a shotgun on his travels and can store them on his person or in chests found in safe spaces. Every little bit of room will help!As with all good Survival Horror games, though, this is a game that changes the questions just as youre discovering the answers. We cant wait for players to unearth its secrets when Post Trauma launches in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S. Wishlist it today!Post TraumaRaw FuryGet it nowPost Trauma is a modern interpretation of genre-defining survival horror classics. As you venture deeper into the unknown, youll strive to solve the mysteries of your unfamiliar surroundings, hoping to discover hidden truths while trying to stay alive.Players will explore a terrifying, twisted reality that constantly unsettles as its story shifts and unravels. Fight or Flight?In Post Trauma, players control Roman (Togo Igawa), a tormented train conductor who awakes to find himself in a surreal dimension following a terrible panic attack. Faced with horrifying architecture and nightmarish abominations, Roman can choose to defend himself with an array of weapons or try to find the path of least resistance. A new world of horror that pays homage to the greats Inspired by key staples of the Survival Horror genre, Post Trauma blends fixed camera angles with stunning visuals through Unreal Engine 5 to create a truly unsettling, yet familiar horror experience. But just when you think you have the answers, this hellscape changes the questions as you enter the unknown to face your greatest fears.Can you find a way home?To survive this cruel world, you must piece together an ongoing mystery across several, seemingly unrelated settings. Deducing your environments to find unlikely hints and discovering precious tools in unexpected places will help you make continued progress. As you find clues and solve puzzles, youll gradually learn more about where you are and how you can escape, using a delicate mix of patience and cunning to stay alive. And maybe a pad and paper too. Built and enriched by world-class talentFeaturing a fully voice acted cast (Togo Igawa, Autumn Ivy, Hyoie OGrady) and a captivating, ambient audioscape, elevated by a hypnotic score from Nicolas Gasparini (Myuu), Post Trauma has been crafted to be a homage to beloved franchises and a new merging of playstyles. The intent is to create a truly special, unforgettable horror experience fuelled by pure passion and incredible talent.

Last week, we saw the cinematic debut of The Witcher IV, the latest instalment in CD Projekt Reds iconic dark fantasy series. In this new chapter, we wont be following Geralt; instead, his adopted daughter Ciri takes center stage as our witcher protagonist.Following the announcement, we spoke with key leads at CD Projekt Red to delve deeper into this trailer and learn how the studio is gearing up to introduce Ciri as the lead in a brand-new Witcher saga that will respect the series past (and players choices in it) while leading the series boldly into a new era.A New CiriIn the reveal trailer, were introduced to the village of Stromford, an isolated settlement located deep in the north of The Continent. In this scene, a young woman, Mioni, is selected as a sacrifice to ward off a local monster. This is where we see Ciri for the first time older, stronger, and brandishing those iconic steel and silver swords.The Witcher IV takes place a few years after the end of The Witcher 3, according to Narrative Director on The Witcher IV, Philipp Weber. While the details of what brought Ciri to this particular place and time are still under wraps for now, were shown that Ciri has mutated eyes, an indication that shes completed the Trial of the Grasses to become a witcher in her own right.Throughout the events of both The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt not to mention Andrzej Sapkowskis saga of Witcher novels, which the games are based upon Ciri is set up as a secondary protagonist, and her personality is very much established. By the end, she is by no means just an extension of Geralt, but a fully-fledged character ready to take on a new journey.That journey could have gone in several directions depending on the ending players received in The Witcher 3. While CD Projekt Redis keeping specifics close to its chest, Weber assures us that The Witcher IV will handle its predecessors multiple endings, and that personal choice is something they aim to honour in this next game.Differences Between Geralt and CiriThe studio is keen to emphasise that while Geralt is a seasoned witcher who typically prefers to remain impartial, Ciri is a character that will often take a more aggressive stance driven by personal motivation.Geralt has already created a code for himself, and hes gone through a ton of experiences to get to thatpoint, Weber explains. With Ciri, we now have the opportunity to show a lot of those experiences as she finds her own code, and her own way of handling these tough things.We see this in the trailer reveal, as Ciri ventures into the forest and tells Mioni to flee back to the village, in the hopes that it will save her. Whats interesting to note is that the inhabitants of Stromford dont react positively to the sight of awitcher, even though Ciri is there to do good.Shes super passionate, super determined and very engaged in this story, explains Game Director Sebastian Kalemba. She will never hesitate; she deeply cares about the other girl here.Unfortunately, despite Ciris best intentions and a gruelling battle with a brand-new monster known as a Bauk, Mioni still meets a swift end, accentuating how grim the world of The Witcher IV will continue to be, and how its characters may continue to find ways to villainise Ciris choices (and your own) despite a well-meaning approach.Ciri is someone who wont accept that fate is just given to you, you always have to fight back, and sometimes thats the right thing to do, says Weber. In this trailer, we also wanted to show some parallels that Mionis fate could have also been Ciris once upon a time, but she fought back against that fate.The nuance in Ciris character also stems from her backstory which makes her a great character for a complex, mature story about choices and consequences inside The Witchers dark and often unsettling world.Ciri is definitely a flawed character; she has a lot of darkness in her, she was abandoned, and shes made terrible mistakes in the past, Weber explains. But she also has some amazing strengths, and I think this is this balance that for us makes her into this great character. We want to tell these character-driven stories, and I think if we want to have real characters with real emotions, that also means that they need to have some flaws.That said, the impact of Geralt on Ciri is by no means being overwritten; The Witcher IVs emphasis on choice and consequence means that Ciri will often grapple with the decision she thinks is right and perhaps another direction that Geralt may have taken in the same scenario.Shes Geralts daughter, so shes learned a lot of values from him, Weber notes. There will be choices that feel close to what Geralt would do.Kalemba adds: Geralt has also learned some things from Ciri throughout their journey in The Witcher 3, and that will be reflected in those choices.Looking AheadThe Witcher IV is of course a natural evolution for this series; and long-invested fans will find deeper references and lore galore as they step into the fold with Ciri. CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Geralt will return as a character, but his place in the story remains a secret for now.However, this will also serve as a new beginning for the franchise. Almost 10 years and countless development lessons on from the release of The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red acknowledges and embraces the fact that a new generation of players will want to experience this world for the first time with The Witcher IV.This is a new character and the origin story of Ciri [as a playable main character], and we believe itll be a great starting point for newcomers, Kalemba says. There will be new regions and areas to explore, but it is still verymuch the dark fantasy world and story that Witcher fans know and love.

A few weeks ago, we released the latest trailer for Atomfall, our upcoming game where you will have to uncover the mystery behind what happened at the UKs Windscale nuclear power station in the 1950s. This is a fictionalised telling of what happened following this real-life nuclear disaster in Northern England.The trailer showcases the games folk horror influences and give you the first glimpse of Casterfell Woods, an eerie location within Atomfall where you will encounter an unsettling wicker man and a ringing telephone box that needs to be answered.But what were our influences behind Casterfell Woods? We thought it would be interesting to let you know how we came up with this unique aesthetic.From the outset, we knew that we wanted some spookier areas of the game, where we could emphasise folk horror and provide some contrast with our more idyllic areas. Most of our outdoor environments are very green, vibrant, pretty, and very much British. But for Casterfell, we wanted the player to question what things might happen in the deep dark woods. Hidden things can happen there, secret and ancient things We knew that this would be a ton of fun so started doing our homework.Our initial goal was to establish the visual baseline for our sandbox spaces, with a focus on the content that we needed to build out our various natural biomes. Then, we could start adding our thematic twists.Early in the project, the team took quite a few trips up to the English Lake District for reference gathering and to capture photogrammetry content. For several of the non-Brits on the team (myself included, as an American) this was incredibly exotic. For anyone who hasnt been there, it is an extremely diverse area of outstanding natural beauty and diversity. It is just so wet and green, with lakes and streams everywhere, and tremendous stone formations topping the high fells and hilltops. The entire area is just dripping with greenery, ferns, and moss.As I was new to driving in the UK, I found those tiny Cumbrian roads terrifying! There are slate stone walls on one edge, and steep drops into a lake on the other. But the trips were very educational, and the views were sensational. By the end of the trip, we had a ton of fantastic reference, fabulous photogrammetry content, and were confident that we could ground the game visually in the north of Britain.Next up, were the twists. How could we make our world different from a typical holiday trip to a beautiful natural destination? How could we layer in an older era, and warp things a bit more?We started looking at storytelling focused on folk horror, sci-fi, and old-school British imaginative fiction for inspiration. Films like The Wicker Man, The Blair Witch Project, Annihilation, and Midsommar were great to look at. Then of course we have BBC programming like Doctor Who, The Prisoner, and The Quatermass Xperiment, as well as books by John Wyndham, who has so many wonderfully weird stories.We wanted the player to feel that they are stepping into an older era. The real Windscale nuclear accident was in 1957, which is when the quarantine began in our game. As we were intending to be a period piece, how could we impress that into a natural area? This was a tough one, and we had a lot of conversations about it. I mean, especially in the woods, where trees pretty much would have looked the same in 1957, 2024, or 1066.We began asking ourselves who was living out there, beyond the comforts of village life? How would they survive with no manufactured resources?The answer was pretty simple in that these outcasts would survive just as they had in archaic times. We would regress them even further back and have them use what was at hand. Wattle (and daub) construction became our go-to architectural style. Thatched roofs, woven branches and vines, and dry-stone structures also seemed to fit. Even though many of these traditional methods of construction can still be seen in the modern day, they are really ancient and foreign to many of us who grew up elsewhere.Then, taking into account our inspirational media reference, and our desire for more Britishness, we began layering even more symbolic imagery. Ancient markings, effigies, and wickermen, all intermingled with more traditional maypoles and bunting to give strong pagan religious overtones.We think you are going to love exploring Casterfell Woods and discovering the secrets that it holds when Atomfall is released on March 27 for Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC, and day one with Game Pass. We cant wait for you guys to get your hands on the game.AtomfallRebellionGet it nowA survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England.Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.From Rebellion, the studio behind Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, Atomfall will challenge you to solve the dark mystery of what really happened.Player Driven Mystery: Unravel a tapestry of interwoven narratives through exploration, conversation, investigation, and combat, where every choice you make has consequences.Explore this Green and Unpleasant Land: The picturesque British countryside, with rolling green hills, lush valleys, and rural villages belie the dangers that await you.Search, Scavage, Survive: Youll need to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons and items, and fight desperately to make it out alive!Desperate Combat: With weapons and ammunition scarce, each frenetic engagement will see you blend marksmanship with vicious hand-to-hand combat. Manage your heart rate to hold a steady aim and ensure you have the energy you need to reach for your cricket bat and land the killer blow.Green and Unpleasant Land: The picturesque British countryside, with rolling green hills, lush valleys, and rural villages belie the dangers that await you. Navigate cult-controlled ruins, natural caves, nuclear bunkers and more as you explore this dense, foreboding world.Reimagining Windscale: A fictional reimagining of a real-world event, Atomfall draws from science fiction, folk horror, and Cold War influences to create a world that is eerily familiar yet completely alien.

We recently announced our debut game, Empyreal, coming to Xbox Series X|S in 2025, and we would like to tell you a little more about the games setting and inspirations.Empyreal is an action RPG in a richly detailed sci-fi fantasy universe. While the setting is sci-fi, featuring futuristic technology and intergalactic civilizations, the feel and mood is more fantasy. And though technology replaces the magic from a traditional fantasy setting, the supernatural and the divine play a significant role in the lore and story of this universe.The game begins with your character arriving on a hitherto unexplored planet, only to discover the remnants of a lost civilisation. Whats more, it soon becomes clear that, though ancient, this civilisation made breakthroughs and discoveries that are far, far removed from humanitys understanding of the modern world.Soon, you are confronted with a looming and inscrutable monolith. Why is it here? Who built it? What is it for? And what power does it contain?Naturally, we wont be answering those questions for you here and now these discoveries (and more) are for you to make when you play for yourself. However, what we would like to share are some of the esoteric references that influenced some of the themes in the story, and the relevance they hold even to the modern world.Embracing a ParadoxWhile the universe of Empyreal is not directly based on or related to a specific culture or mythology from history, there is one figure that represents an important idea that permeates a core theme of the narrative in the game the ancient Greek god, Dionysus.Dionysus is typically portrayed as a drunken party animal in much of modern pop-culture media, but in his seminal work Dionysus: Myth and Cult, classical philologist Walter Otto paints a much more complete and complex picture.While there is truth in Dionysus being the god of wine and the festival, he was also the god of madness and death. Although at first this may seem a perplexing juxtaposition, is there some truth we can learn from it? Otto claims that in The visage of every true God is a visage of the World. In other words, even in myth, we invariably find an accurate insight into the nature of the world.In the case of Dionysus, he represents the paradox of duality. The understanding that life and death, madness and beauty and conflict and creativity are opposites, and yet also pre-requisites for each other. Embracing this paradox is a core philosophy behind Empyreal to see the universe as both a Mystic Temple and a Hall of Doom (an idea introduced by Thomas Carlyle in his text, Characteristics) and to accept this dual nature in its totality. This life-affirming perspective is known as the Tragic View.Empyreal does not feature an encroaching but ill-defined darkness, or a corruption of the land. Nor does it feature a pantomime villain of inexplicable evil for no other reason than to have an evil antagonist. Instead, the story and characters are designed to prompt careful reflection on the nature of humanity, our place in the universe and what it truly takes to guarantee the future of mankind.Exploring the Human ConditionNow, just because Empyreal does not feature a big bad intent on destroying the world for whatever reason, that doesnt mean the game is without conflict. As before though, the intent is for this conflict to reflect the struggle that life itself invariably presents.Unsurprisingly, you are not the only one invested in the exploration of this lost civilisation and its achievements. When you arrive on the planet, it is ostensibly to provide a relief effort to a beleaguered expedition that has already been there for two long years, with little progress and innumerable setbacks to show for it.Each other member of the expedition is an important character with their own personal questlines that you can choose to follow for unique rewards. There are nine of these quests in total, with each questline exploring a different facet of the human condition, based on the ideals of the individual themselves, the challenges they have faced and what they hope to ultimately achieve.For example, there is an accomplished scientist who, despite their achievements, lives in the shadow of their Great Grandfather, who made technological breakthroughs that transformed modern living. This character has dreamt all their life of making an innovative breakthrough to rival that legacy, and in reverse-engineering the technology of the lost civilisation, that opportunity has seemingly presented itself.You can choose to assist them in their goals, but it is also possible to set them on a different path by sharing even greater insight into the true divine nature of the cosmos, which then puts the characters relentless material pursuits into sharp perspective.There is also a veteran of several wars who is now the Quartermaster of the expedition. Having seen the excesses of humanity in his time, he is pragmatic and optimistic, but acutely appreciates the need to have a firm understanding of ones own beliefs; a solid foundation on which one is able to face the world. As a result, he will frequently challenge you on your beliefs and play devils advocate no matter your response.Choice and ConsequenceThese are just a couple of small previews of the characters you will come across in Empyreal. Not only do all nine characters have questlines you can follow, but each one has at least two distinct endings. Quests can play out differently depending on your choices and accomplishments and each ending offers a unique reward. But dont fret too much about which way to go in a given quest the game will feature a fully fleshed out New Game+ at launch, so youll be able to go back and experiment with different outcomes in subsequent playthroughs.Thats about all weve got time for in this blog. While we have touched on a few of the inspirations and references that influence Empyreals themes and narrative, this is far from a comprehensive list, and theres much more to be uncovered. The game draws heavily on classical and existentialist philosophy, theology and history, with many inspirations not mentioned here that we look forward to players discovering and discussing as they play the game.EmpyrealSecret ModeGet it nowEmpyreal is a complex, challenging, feature-rich action RPG.In a far-flung corner of the galaxy an Expedition arrives on a hitherto unexplored planet to find a colossal Monolith built by a lost civilisation. These are no mere ruins: the Monolith is filled with danger, and the Expedition is ill-equipped to unearth the secrets within.All eyes turn towards an elite mercenary who may succeed where all others have failed.Venture inside the Monolith and face the automatons that yet remain, remnants of the impossibly ancient civilisation that built this unknowable structure. Survive and uncover revelations that transform our understanding of humanity itself.Features: Stand against formidable foes; your only hope of victory lies in mastering a unique and complex combat system A memorable cast of characters, with personal questlines and multiple endings for each one A beautiful but shattered ancient world. Explore breathtaking environments filled with hidden details Customise your character with a vast array of equipment and collect armour sets that confer powerful bonuses Upgrade and modify the loot you find Unlock new abilities to personalise your playstyle

Enter the golden age of piracy with the tactical RPG Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, the first title from studio Savage Level. The game features five chapters that take players from the town of Saint-Malo in France to ancient temples in the jungles of Central America. It features an original narrative inspired by comic books, but also influenced by board games.Based around a system of cards and dice, Flint invites players to explore and collect various item cards, which can be purchased for use in combat. In addition, a system of skills and attributes specific to the character classes (Archetypes) and the ability to perform combos will add variety to the confrontations. The choice of weapons will also be crucial in turn-based battles, which can go as far as pitting teams of up to 15 pirates against one another.But before you do that, assembling and developing your pirate crew will be a core part of Flint: Treasure of Oblivion. Let me explain all you need to know about managing your unruly band of outlaws!Sail the Oceans to Recruit Your CompanionsFor a pirate captain like our hero James Flint, nothing is more important than the support of a solid team. In Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, the crew is your most precious asset, says Johan Spielmann, Game Director at Savage Level. Some characters will automatically join you as you progress through the story, like your first mate Billy Bones. With others, however, you will need to explore the environments or use your powers of persuasion to unlock them.In total, no fewer than 35 characters are available to be acquired by the sharpest players. Each will have a given role, just as it would have been on an actual eighteenth-century ship: freebooter, helmsman, messman, cook, and so on. And for each archetype, there is a unique linked skill, adds Johan. For example, the surgeon can heal wounded shipmates; as for the lookout, they can spot a coming attack and disrupt it. This is why it will be important for players to assemble a crew with as wide a range of skills as possible.Experience and Equipment: Character DevelopmentOnce you have assembled a pirate crew, there are different ways to develop it in Flint: Treasure of Oblivion. One of them is to share out experience points. A characters experience can be used to improve their dice rolls, giving them a greater chance of achieving their actions. Experience can also be used to reduce the time it takes for their unique skills to recharge, or to level up their characteristics (health points, damage and agility). Players will need to decide how to spend their experience, explains Johan. It wont be possible for them to increase everything to the max over the course of one game.Another way to make your crew more powerful is through equipment. There are nearly 50 unique weapons in Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, including swords, pistols, clubs and spears. You can also find or buy accessories like bandages, grenades and armor. Each character has three equipment slots, Johan continues. So you could take a pistol, armor and a bandage or even three grenades, which is an approach that could work! Equipment allocation cannot be modified while in combat, so it is a decision that needs to be made in advance.A final interesting feature of Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is that winning experience points and buying accessories is directly dependent on gold found over the course of your adventures. You can choose to use your loot to buy accessories for the whole crew, or share the gold out equally among the pirates in the form of experience, explained Johan. We drew inspiration from the life of pirates at the time, where each individual had the same voting power from lowly sailors right up to the captain.Manage Your Pirate Crew as You See Fit!As you can see, there is real depth to crew management in Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, with recruitment success linked to how well you explore and make decisions, while you will also find multiple possibilities for levelling up your crewmates.Will you choose to focus on your crews skills, or opt for brute force with the most lethal equipment? Find out your favorite strategy in Flint: Treasure of Oblivion, available today on Xbox Series X|S!Flint: Treasure of OblivionMicroids1$39.99Get it nowExperience the golden age of piracy through a strong and original narrative, real-time exploration and turn-based tactical combat in Flint Treasure of Oblivion.Assisted by his friend Billy Bones and his crew, Captain Flint sets sail for a mysterious treasure. If the call of the unknown galvanizes him, he doesnt yet suspect this adventure will set him free.Dive into the world of piracy bordering on fantasy of Flint: Treasure of Oblivion. Immerse yourself into a rich well-documented and exciting universe thanks to comic-book styled narration and tactical turn-based combat. Turn-based tactical combatA good preparation is key: Choose your crew members with unique abilities, obtain new skills, improve your dices.During the tactical phases, use cards to trigger skills and attributes, and influence the fight with dice throws. Comic-book narrativeEnjoy a story that, beyond the usual comic tropes (onomatopoeia, speech bubbles), offers the player original and dynamic comic book panels. An exploration beyond the oceansDiscover a magnificent world, from the french city of Saint-Malo to the exotic landscapes of central America. Visit diverse environments (cities, camps, jungle, caves) using the power of the Unreal Engine 5. Historically-inspired piracy worldThe game faithfully recreates a world of piracy, incorporating historical elements (language, costumes, weapons) making the experience even more immersive.

For the first time ever, step into the wonderful world of Moomins on Xbox and Windows in Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley! The game is a story-rich musical adventure game for all ages about Snufkin restoring the valley and helping the quirky and memorable characters and critters who call it home. A series of hideous parks have cropped up in Moominvalley, disrupting the landscape and its harmonious nature. As Snufkin, you will distract police officers, pull out signs, and knock over misplaced statues as you vigorously try to restore nature and the inhabitants home while putting an end to the industrious Park Keepers plans.About the MoominsThe Moomins, a series of charming and quirky characters, were created by the cherished illustrator and author Tove Jansson in 1945. Tove Jansson is recognised as possibly one of the most successful Finnish artists of all time and the Moomins started off in a series of books and a novel in Finland and then became known globally through a series of cartoon strips some might recognise the books Finn Family Moomintroll or Comet in Moominland.Tove Janssons niece Sophia Jansson has explained that the Moomin stories are essentially about the things that are the most important to anyone living anywhere things like love, tolerance, respect, being part of a family, and belonging. Those things are the same no matter where youre from, what your gender, race, religion, or sexuality.Melody of MoominvalleySnufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a nostalgic yet innovative indie game thats quintessentially Nordic, with an originally written story based on the original works, including the emotions and a melancholic atmosphere that Tove Jansson is famous for creating.Our world draws heavily on Toves excellent watercolor illustrations and adapts it to a video game setting to create a rich and beautiful environment for our players to discover. The game style takes a cue from traditional watercolor and painting techniques, and rather than adhering to them strictly, were creating something attuned to the medium to account for the large volume of content.We hope you will have a fantastic time in our story-book-come-to-life experience, and meet both new and old friends You can pick up Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley on Xbox and Windows PC today.Snufkin: Melody of MoominvalleyRaw Fury$19.99Get it nowSnufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a story-rich musical adventure game about Snufkin restoring the valley and helping the quirky and memorable characters and critters who call it home. A series of hideous parks have cropped up in Moominvalley, disrupting the landscape and its harmonious nature. As Snufkin you will distract police officers, pull out signs, and knock over misplaced statues as you vigorously try to restore nature and the inhabitants home while putting an end to the industrious Park Keepers plansMain features* Set out on a cozy, story-rich adventure game in a gorgeous storybook art style * Get the strict Park Keeper and his horrible parks out of Moominvalley with the help of your trusty harmonica, a bit of stealth, and the friends youll meet along the way* Meet over 50 charming characters and creatures calling Moominvalley their home* Experience narrative gameplay and a myriad of charming stories and quests involving the beloved characters inspired by Tove Janssons work* Explore Moominvalleys open world and solve musical and environmental puzzles along the way to uncover the happenings in the valley* Immerse yourself in the beautiful soundscape of music and melodies composed in collaboration with Sigur RsIn addition to the languages listed in the Supported languages section, this game also supports: Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Turkish

SummaryXbox Game Studios partners with Take This to help increase awareness of mental health stereotypes in gaming.Explore relaxing games on Xbox Game Pass.Artist Steve Wade shares his Starfield-inspired logo redesign in support of Mental WellnessFor some, the holidays can be a time of heightened stress and an increased need for self-care. Video games have emerged as a unique and effective sanctuary, offering players an escape from daily pressures through creative play and rewarding challenges. Beyond distraction, gaming provides a space where players can rewrite their narratives, finding accomplishment, control, and relaxation that may be elusive in daily life.This connection between gaming and well-being is increasingly supported by research. A recent study conducted by the University of Oxford in collaboration with PowerWash Simulator revealed that 72% of players reported improved moods after gaming sessions. Over 67,000 gaming sessions across 39 countries demonstrated a consistent boost in well-being within the first 15 minutes of play. These findings suggest that short-term gameplay can be a meaningful tool for positively impacting mood, reinforcing the idea that video games are more than entertainmenttheyre a potential resource for mental health support.As self-care becomes a more inclusive and accepted topic across social media platforms, workplaces, and schools, video games are emerging as a bridge that connects people across diverse backgrounds. When designed with intention, some games can foster positive emotional experiences and even inspire therapeutic outcomes. At Xbox, we embrace the power of play, not only as creators but as players ourselves.We celebrate the triumphs of individuals who press forward through challenges, finding joy and empowerment in their gaming experiences. Whether exploring fantastical realms or taking a few moments to unwind with a simulation game, players create their own adventures while reshaping their emotional landscapes.At Xbox, we are inspired by the resilience and creativity of the gaming community. Through the stories we tell and the experiences we build, we remain committed to making play a force for goodboth in and out of the game.PLAYPsychonauts 2s Insightful Take on Mental Wellness: Healing through PlayIn Psychonauts, Raz uses his psychic powers to jump into peoples minds, each one a unique world reflecting their thoughts and personality. For example, a bubbly person who likes to dance might have a mind full of vivid color and music, while a more stoic person might have a mind thats more organized and methodical. While the game is fun and comical, it also touches on themes of mental health sometimes through a fantastical lens, but quite often exploring characters inner struggles in a way that feels more realistic. This resonated with many players, and fans would often speak of finding unexpected reflections of themselves in certain characters, and how that helped them express feelings they hadnt voiced before.As we developed the sequel many years later, the world had changed, and with it our own awareness.We knew we needed to approach mental health more carefully, and so established guiding principles. For example: Raz always asks permission before entering minds, except in emergencies. He helps each character face their inner demons and clear up emotional baggage, but he doesnt fix themmental health challenges dont mean a person is broken, and they certainly dont make anyone a villain.We came to see designing with mental health in mind as a form of accessibility. We want our game to be welcoming to as many people as possible, with no one feeling excluded by being the butt of a joke. We want everyone to enjoy the experience, feeling supported by characters who are complex, relatable, and, most importantly, part of a story about healing and empathy.Never Fight Alone with Gears of WarThe Coalition continues to support its Never Fight Alone program, donating 1% of net revenue to support organizations working to prevent suicide and combat loneliness. Through their primary partners, Crisis Text Line, the program has already funded thousands of conversations for those in need. Fans can show their support by purchasing the 2024 artist-designed benefit tee and hoodie in the Xbox Gear Shop.For more information, go to Gears of War | Never Fight Alone.Senuas Saga: Hellblade II and Ninja Theorys Exploration of Psychosis in StorytellingWith the release of Hellblade: Senuas Sacrifice, developer Ninja Theory told the story of a Celtic warrior who experiences psychosis. Senuas unique perspective was brought to life with the help of Professor Paul Fletcher from the University of Cambridge and people with lived experience of psychosis. In the recently released sequel, Senuas Saga: Hellblade II, Ninja Theory once again worked with these key collaborators to ensure Senuas experiences were represented in a truthful way. This collaboration also led to Hellblade: A Journey of the Mind, a live conference held in Cambridge, UK, featuring the perspectives of those who have suffered the distress and stigma of psychosis, along with those who study and treat it. The conference is available to watch onNinja Theorys YouTube channeland serves as a great resource to better understand psychosis.Explore the next chapter of Senuas story here, available now with Game Pass.Explore Even More Xbox Games that promote Mental Wellness on the Microsoft StoreAs we mentioned the connection between gaming and mental well-being isnt just an ideaits backed by research and the experiences of countless players. The Microsoft Store features a variety of games that promote mental wellness, from easing sadness and anxiety to supporting cognitive growth. Xbox partnered with Childs Play Charity, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of pediatric hospital patients through therapeutic games and technology, to identify games that have a meaningful impact.Curated from this list are standout titles such as PowerWash Simulator, Sonic Mania, and Rime. Each of these games offers unique experiences that support players mental well-being, whether by fostering a sense of calm, sparking joy, or encouraging focus and exploration. We spoke to Takashi Iizuka, Head of Sonic Team & VP of Product Development at Sega of America:How does it feel to see Sonic Mania recognized by Childs Play Charity as a game that helps children cope with sadness?I am glad that Sonic Mania is being recognized as a piece of entertainment that can provide a positive experience to children around the world who are coping with sadness, pain, or even boredom, shared Takashi Iizuka. The strength of the Sonic series lies in its ability to deliver a memorable experience full of colorful graphics, unforgettable music, and great adventures for people of all ages.Did you know how therapeutic the game would be during its development?When we developed Sonic Mania, our focus was to draw on all the positive moments from those early Sega Genesis years while creating something new. Bright, vivid colors, the joy of running fast, and the freshness of exploring new worlds were key, they explained. We didnt intentionally set out to create a therapeutic game, but reflecting on the joy these moments brought to us, its no surprise that players find comfort in them now.Looking forward, players can explore the Encore DLC Pack, which introduces Mighty the Armadillo and Ray the Flying Squirrel. Additionally, the Sonic franchise continues to expand with Sonic Superstars and the much-anticipated Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie.And if you want to see what the team at Sonic Mania studio Evening Star are up to next, Design Director Brad Flick mentioned, Currently, we have a couple irons in the fire, but nothing that we can concretely announce yet! Earlier this year, we released Pennys Big Breakaway on Xbox Series X|S and PC. If you loved our work on Sonic Mania, we think you will also love our first foray into the 3D platformer genre. Thank you for your support of Evening Star!Xbox also had the pleasure of speaking to the team at Square Enix regarding Powerwash Simulator:How does it feel to see PowerWash Simulator recognized as helping children cope with cognitive impairment?Its truly special. Knowing that our game helps children in meaningful ways bolsters our enthusiasm for continuing to improve and expand, said the development team. Weve always aimed to create a relaxing and satisfying experience, and its wonderful to see those benefits extend to children in therapeutic contexts.Did you anticipate the games therapeutic impact during development?Our goal was to deliver a satisfying experience, but it was a pleasant surprise to see how therapeutic the gameplay became. Watching dirt disappear and creating pristine spaces gave players a focused, calming activity. By leaning into this satisfying gameplay, we inadvertently created a therapeutic space that were incredibly proud of.While the team couldnt share specifics, they confirmed exciting updates for PowerWash Simulator are on the way, promising more grimey therapy for players to enjoy.Check out these incredible games available now, and for an online guide of more games to explore that support Mental Wellness see Childs Play Charitys full list.Rime A land of discovery stretches out before you. Explore the beautiful yet rugged world of Rime, a single-player puzzle adventure. In Rime, you play as a young boy who has awakened on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. You see wild animals, long-forgotten ruins and a massive tower that beckons you to come closer. Armed with your wits and a will to overcomeand the guidance of a helpful foxyou must explore the enigmatic island, reach the towers peak, and unlock its closely guarded secrets.PowerWash Simulator(Available on Xbox Game Pass) Release the Pressure with PowerWash Simulator! Wash away your worries with the soothing sounds of high-pressure water. Fire up your power washer and blast away every speck of dirt and grime you can find. Build your own power-washing business and unlock new tools, upgrades and more all with the simple satisfaction of power-washing to a sparkling finish.Unwind with Relaxing Games Curated by Staff at MicrosoftWe all need ways to rest and reset regularly, and many games are designed with the opportunity to recharge in mind. During December and beyond, explore these relaxing Game Pass collections that provide a comforting escape from the trials of life and cultivate positive feelings.Check out a few highlights from the full Game Pass collection on Xbox and the full PC Game Pass collection on Windows:Botany Manor (Available with Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) Feel free to stop and smell the roses in this peaceful puzzle game. Play as Arabella Greene, a retired botanist who resides in a gorgeous home in 19th century England. Explore your manor and gardens to figure out the ideal habitat for a collection of forgotten flora.Jusant (Available with Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) Ascend an immeasurably tall tower, befriend a water companion, explore ruins of civilization, and restore nature in this meditative mountain-climbing game with no risk of injury or death. Play at your own pace as you take in the peaceful soundtrack and scenic atmosphere.Palworld (Game Preview) (Available with Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals. Collect all kinds of cute Pals to farm, build, and battle for you in this immensely popular multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game.Sea of Stars (Available with Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) Director Thierry Boulanger designed this game around optimism, hope, and creating something new in the face of trauma. This story aims to modernize the classic RPG with turn-based combat, storytelling, exploration and interactions with the environment, while still offering a hearty slice of nostalgia and good old, simple fun.Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition (Available with Game Pass on Console, PC, and Cloud) Be a friendly ferry master to the dead in this cozy management game about grief. Farm, mine, fish, cook, and craft your way across mystical seas. This game has the option for two-player cooperative play and includes a meditation mechanic to help with the passing of time.DISCOVERExplore Steve Wades Starfield-Inspired Xbox Redesign for Mental Wellness AwarenessFor Mental Wellness Awareness, Xbox commissioned artist Steve Wade to redesign the Xbox logo. Growing up, Steve admits he struggled with his mental health. He had difficulty communicating how he felt or what he was thinking. He found both gaming and creating art as pathways to cope with stress and express himself. In Steves words, Gaming was a way I could escape what was going on in my mind for a few hours a day. I would get lost in a gaming world, which let me feel free of stress, anxiety, and worry for a while. Steve enjoyed that gaming allowed him more freedom to be able to start a conversation with another person in a way that was more comfortable for him.Steve reimagined the Xbox logo in a planetary landscape with a Starfield-inspired starship and crystalline structures within a dream-like frame. Steve drew inspiration from The Frontier, the first ship the player pilots in Starfield, because it is one of the games that allows him to escape into a place that brings him calm. The artwork I created was inspired by how gaming can improve your mental health, Steve says. Gaming is like stepping through a portal into a brand-new world of possibilities. You can become whoever you want to be and not worry what others think of you. You can be yourself and feel free in a gaming world.Check out more of Steves work at his website.GIVEXbox + Take This: Increasing Awareness around Mental Health StereotypesIn an effort to fight mental health stereotypes that can be found in gaming, Xbox is bringing in the support of nonprofit Take This, the industry experts championing for relatable and inclusive representation of mental health in gaming. They are creating a custom workshop training for Xbox Game Studios to help increase awareness of mental health tropes so our developers can lead the way in creating games that are inclusive and representative of people who experience mental illness.Gamingwith ImpactRewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to organizations supporting mental wellness with Xbox. The organizations below will be available on the Rewards hub:Crisis Text Line Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7, confidential text-based mental health support in English and Spanish by empowering a community of more than 65,000 trained volunteers to support people in their moments of need. Text PAUSE to 741741 to be connected with a live volunteer Crisis Counselor or you can reach out via webchat. (US)Take ThisTake This is a mental health advocacy organization with a focus on the game industry and community. They provide resources, training, and support individuals and companies that help the gaming community improve its mental well-being and resilience. The organization addresses the underlying conditions that can create and perpetuate mental wellness challenges: stigma, harmful studio culture, harassment and toxicity, lack of diversity and accessibility, and problematic game and community design. Take This also runs the AFK Room Program at game conventions. (US)Lifeline Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. They are committed to empowering Australians to be suicide-safe through connection, compassion and hope. (AUS)Xbox players can earn Rewards points in various ways, such as playing games, completing Game Pass Quests, and purchasing games and other eligible items at the Microsoft Store (exclusions apply).Start earning for impact todayand redeem your points for great rewards. Donate your points on the Rewards hub or on theRewards redeem page.Wallpapers and Dynamic BackgroundsThe Mental Wellness Awareness Xbox design is available today as an Xbox wallpaper and dynamic background on console follow these steps to apply the dynamic background:Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.Select Profile & system > Settings > General > Personalization > My background > Dynamic backgrounds.You can choose between Games, Xbox, or Abstract dynamic backgrounds. Choose the background art that you want with the A button.

Xbox is dedicated to bringing the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet and that includes how we support those making the games. As part of that mission, were revealing Game Makers Journey, a new documentary focused on pioneering Nigerian videogame studio Dimension11 and its debut release, Legends of Orisha: Blood and Water.Were delighted to announce that Game Makers Journey will take us to Ile-Ife, Nigeria and tell us how Dimension11 is breaking new ground, transforming Nigerias rich history and the ancient Yoruba religion and into a dynamic and immersive gameplay experience.Watch the full documentary below:Legends of Orisha: Blood and Water is narrative action-RPG rooted in Nigerias Yoruba culture, and the immersive nature of gaming will allow players to experience and learn about it in an all-new way. Dimension11 are part of the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program. The programs mission is to empower underrepresented creators to bring their creativity, innovation, and originality to Xbox.We set out with a dream to tell African stories to a global audience and Legends of Orisha: Blood and Water was born out of that dream, says Dimension11 Creative Director Winston Ohunyon.Through the help of ID@Xboxs Developer Accelerator Program, this dream has become an achievable goal. I am immensely grateful for their support as well as the creative vision of the folks behind Game Makers Journey.When I first met the Dimension 11 team as part of Game Camp Africa, it was clear to me that this studio had immense talent, expertise, and passion, says James Lewis, Head of the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program. Dimension11 and Legends of Orisha: Blood and Water exemplify the type of teams and projects that we strive to support with the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program.Game Makers Journey: Dimension11 is available to watch now, and you can find more on the ID@Xbox Developer Acceleration Program here.

With EA Play, theres always more! In the spirit of giving this month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will earn even more with EA Plays holiday countdown, running from December 17 through December 26.Special EA Play Gifts to Game Pass Ultimate Members!Over a span of 10-days, members can score big by unwrapping digital gifts in the form of fan-favorite EA titles and content, including Battlefield 1: Revolution, The Sims 4 Home Chef Hustle Stuff Pack, Titanfall 2: Ultimate Edition, 500 PGA Tour Points in EA Sports PGA Tour and more. Gamers: theres no better way to celebrate the holiday season than with an EA Play membership. Whether youre a longtime member or gifting a friend, EA Play has you covered with unlimited access to a collection of top EA titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards, giveaways and more. And this month is no exception!EA Sports WRCCodemasters biggest rally game ever, EA Sports WRC, is now on the Play List for all EA* Play members! Racers can immediately take the drivers seat and hit the throttle in the official video game of the FIA World Rally Championship developed by the award-winning team behind the Dirt Rally series.In EA Sports WRC, players can design and drive their dream rally car with the debut of Builder mode, take the wheel to overcome recent events alongside real-world highlights and nostalgic throwbacks in Moments mode or battle the elements across dirt, snow and asphalt in the pursuit of the perfect run. Alongside unlimited access, EA members can save 10% on EA digital purchases, including Rally Passes and the latest EA Sports WRC 24 Season Expansion, featuring this seasons cars and thrilling new locations, like Tet Rally Latvia and the Orlen 80th Rally Poland.Dragon Age: The VeilguardThis month, EA Play* members can explore Dragon Age: The Veilguard with a new 5-hour trial of the game. The latest installment in BioWares beloved franchise, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has earned critical acclaim, with Rolling Stone calling it one of the years best, and Eurogamer praising it as an astonishing spectacle. Subscribers can rise up and fight against corrupt gods to save the battered world of Thedas in the immersive single player RPG that has earned TIMEs Game of 2024.December RewardsAlongside access to some of EAs biggest games, EA Play has even more rewards for every type of gamer. A full list of all the great content to EA Play this month can be found below:Apex Legends Viking Arms Weapon Charm Now to December 30Battlefield 2042 MCS-880 skin: Deliverance Now to December 24EA Sports F1 24 Now to December 31EA Sports College Football 25 Loyalist Ultimate Team Pack Now to December 31Madden NFL 25 MUT Pack Now to December 31EA Sports FC 25 Winter Champions Left Arm Reindeer Tattoo & Clubs Coins Now to December 26EA Sports FC 25 Football Ultimate Team Draft Token Now to January 14EA Sports NHL 25 3000 CHEL Coins Now to January 30EA Sports NHL 25 WOC Battle Pass XP Modifier Tokens Now to January 30Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription.Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on, Instagram, or X. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.

December 13 marked a big day for aspiring oil tycoons who also happen to be Xbox gamers. That day, Turmoil, the unique simulation game focused on pumping up oil at the turn of the 20th century, arrived on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and the Microsoft Store. So, weve put together five hot tips to get your oil empire off to a running start!1. Seek and ye shall find!Once youve arrived on your first oil field, the first thing youll need to do is locate the underground wells filled with that bubbling crude. Your first and best method is by deploying dowsers. Theyll scour the field for a while, then once theyve found a well will attract your attention with a whistle. Note that these dowsers will discover wells approximately in order of depth, so you wont have to drill too deep for the ones they find first. Later on, youll also be able to enlist specially trained moles to dig for oil or use advanced scanners to uncover specific patches of the subsurface terrain. Even so, the trusty dowser will always remain the cornerstone of your oil-hunting escapades.2. Slick drillingThen, the time has come to set up your rig and start drilling. Every foot of your pipeline costs money, so the shorter a line you can draw between rig and well, the better. On the other hand, rigs are expensive too, so if you can lead those pipes from one rig to multiple wells, that would also be swell. Its all about building the most efficient and cost-effective pipeline network, to extract as much oil as possible before your land lease expires. But watch out: there is such a thing as doing too well! Pumping up oil faster than your horse-drawn wagons can haul it away will lead to spillage which is not only a waste of perfectly good black gold but will incur a hefty fine too.3. The price is right or left?Of course, Turmoil isnt just about getting oil above ground. Its also about selling it for maximum profit! Those crude-filled wagons can be sent to one of two competing oil companies, the very aptly named Left, Inc. and Right, Inc. Keep an eye on their fluctuating prices and sell wisely to maximize profits. Sometimes, the market can be pretty dire on both sides. Thats where silos come in handy: be sure to store your precious product until prices are back on the rise.4. Grease your gearsLets be honest, you didnt get into the oil game to make a modest profit every year. In Turmoil, the key to coming out on top is to keep upgrading your operation to increase efficiency and profitability. Luckily, the charming frontier town you return to after each drilling expedition, offers plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. You can invest in faster horses, bigger wagons, wider pipes and much, much more. But do get your priorities straight! Branching pipelines, deeper dowsing and the aforementioned silos should be at the top of your list while gambling in the saloon is something you should only do once youve got money to spare.5. Land of OpportunityYour first patch of land is assigned to you. After that, you choose on which plot to stake your claim and some of them are much richer in oil than others. Know that once youve found a juicy spot, the fields adjacent to it are also likely to be fruitful soil. But be warned that your rivals are aware of this and you must be prepared to outbid all of them all to lease the most promising land. Eventually, youll move on to new areas which introduce even more ways to strike it rich. Parcels containing natural gas, for example, have the potential to be very lucrative indeed. And the Xbox and Microsoft Store version of Turmoil includes the DLC The Heat Is On DLC, with a fresh map that introduces fields with liquid hot magma, further ramping up the challenge and the temperature.So, there you have it! These strategic pointers provide everything you need to jumpstart your drilling dynasty, when Turmoil launches this week on Xbox and the Microsoft Store. With over a million players already hooked on its addictive gameplay, its your turn now to conquer the world of oil. Join the ranks of dedicated Texas Tea enthusiasts and, if youll allow us to mix our beverage-based metaphors, come drink our milkshake!TurmoilGamious7$15.99Get it nowTurmoil offers players a visually charming, tongue-in-cheek take on the simulation genre inspired by the 19th century oil rush in North America. Get a taste of the rush and rivalry of the time as you earn your way to become a successful oil entrepreneur. As you make money digging up and selling oil, the town will grow along with you.Lease land at the town auction and search for oil. Build a rig, create an efficient pipe network and bring up the oil to store it in silos. Sell the oil at the best times to maximize profits. Then buy essential upgrades in town to cope with rock, gas and ice. Acquire more town shares than your competitors in a bid to become the new mayor.* A campaign where you build your rags-to-riches oil baron career and beat your rivals.* Dozens of upgrades and new tools to improve your oil mining operations.* Meet the towns characters in the saloon and make shady business deals.* Play single game mode to get one of literally millions of procedurally generated levels and earn as much as you can in one year.* Lease land at the town auction and search for oil using a dowser, mole or scanner.* Maximize your profits by using natural gas to boost the oil price.* Outbid your competitors at the stock auction.Turmoil The Heat Is On is a brand new campaign with tons of oil to dig up and convert into cash! It is designed to make you feel right at home, but at the same time offer lots of new mechanics and fun features. Here's what you can expect!* A new town (and mayor!) and a new oil-rich map divided into three areas.* In each area, new drilling mechanics are introduced, powered by a new underground substance: magma.* You'll see familiar faces like Edward and Fred and William. They brought their goods with them in train wagons, so you can instantly stock up on all your favorite drilling gear.* There are also new people, like Philip, who runs a shady card game in the saloon.* Jack is a new character that runs a magma tools operation from his shed. He likes chicken.* Anthony is also back from last time. Instead of dealing in diamonds, he has his own store where you can sell and buy all sorts of underground treasures.* The new mayor is not quite like the old one. His tips are free, and he uses a different auction system. But shares still cost money!* There's a cat walking around the village! He doesn't do a whole lot, but what can you expect from these creatures?* And last but not least: a couple of brand new music tracks!

Age of Mythology: Retold Standard EditionXbox Game Studios239$29.99$23.99Get it nowPC Game PassXbox Game PassNominated for:Best Sim/StrategyANIMAL WELLBigmode40$24.99Get it nowNominated for:Best Independent GameBest Debut Indie GameBalatroPlaystack Ltd238Get it nowNominated for:Game of the YearBest Game DirectionBest Independent GameBest Debut Indie Game WINNER!Baldur's Gate 3Larian Studios903$69.99$55.99Get it nowNominated for:Best Community Support WINNER!Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Cross-Gen BundleActivision Publishing Inc.538$69.99$52.49Get it nowXbox Game PassNominated for:Best Audio DesignInnovation in AccessibilityBest Action GameBest MultiplayerCloser the DistanceSkybound Games4$19.99Get it nowNominated for:Games for ImpactDestiny 2Bungie2013Get it nowXbox One X EnhancedNominated for:Best OngoingDiablo IV: Vessel of Hatred Standard EditionBlizzard Entertainment76$39.99$29.99Get it nowNominated for:Innovation in AccessibilityBest OngoingDragon Age: The VeilguardElectronic Arts577$69.99$41.99Get it nowFree TrialNominated for:Innovation in AccessibilityDRAGON BALL Sparking! ZEROBandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.502$69.99Get it nowNominated for:Best FightingDragon's Dogma 2CAPCOM CO., LTD.504$69.99$41.99Get it nowNominated for:Best RPGEA SPORTS FC 25 Standard Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|SElectronic Arts895$69.99$27.99Get it nowNominated for:Best Sports/Racing WINNER!ELDEN RING Shadow of the ErdtreeBandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.451$39.99Get it nowNominated for:Game of the YearBest Game DirectionBest Art DirectionBest RPGF1 24Electronic Arts204$69.99$20.99Get it nowFree TrialNominated for:Best Sports/RacingFINAL FANTASY XIV Online Complete EditionSQUARE ENIX142$59.99$41.99Get it nowNominated for:Best OngoingBest Community SupportFrostpunk 211 bit studios1Get it nowPC Game PassNominated for:Best Sim/Strategy WINNER!FortniteEpic Games Inc.2143Get it nowXbox One X EnhancedNominated for:Best OngoingBest Community SupportINDIKA11 bit studios74$24.99Get it nowNominated for:Games for ImpactKunitsu-Gami: Path of the GoddessCAPCOM CO., LTD.255$49.99$39.99Get it nowPC Game PassXbox Game PassNominated for:Best Sim/StrategyLeague of LegendsRiot GamesGet it nowPC Game PassNominated for:Best Esports GameLife is Strange: Double ExposureSquare Enix215$49.99$34.99Get it nowFree TrialNominated for:Best Performance (Hannah Telle)Games for ImpactLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthSEGA227$69.99Get it nowNominated for:Best NarrativeBest RPGManor Lords (Game Preview)Hooded Horse10Get it nowPC Game PassNominated for:Best Debut Indie GameBest Sim/StrategyMetaphor: ReFantazioSEGA236$69.99Get it nowNominated for:Game of the YearBest Game DirectionBest Narrative WINNER!Best Art Direction WINNER!Best Score and MusicBest RPG WINNER!MultiVersusWarner Bros. Games1382Get it nowNominated for:Best FightingNBA 2K25 Standard Edition2K774$69.99$27.99Get it nowNominated for:Best Sports/RacingNevaDevolver Digital31$19.99$15.99Get it nowNominated for:Best Art DirectionGames for Impact WINNER!Best Independent GameNo Man's SkyHello Games1008$59.99$23.99Get it nowXbox One X EnhancedPC Game PassXbox Game PassNominated for:Best Community SupportThe Plucky SquireDevolver Digital54$29.99$22.49Get it nowNominated for:Best Debut Indie GameBest Family GamePrince of Persia The Lost CrownUbisoft220$39.99$31.99Get it nowNominated for:Innovation in Accessibility WINNER!Best Action-AdventureSenuas Saga: Hellblade IIXbox Games Studios658$49.99$32.49Get it nowPC Game PassXbox Game PassNominated for:Best NarrativeBest Audio Design WINNER!Best Performance (Melina Juergens) WINNER!Games for ImpactStar Wars OutlawsUBISOFT1293$69.99$45.49Get it nowNominated for:Best Performance (Humberly Gonzlez)Innovation in AccessibilityBest Action-AdventureTales of Kenzera: ZAUElectronic Arts110$19.99$9.99Get it nowFree TrialNominated for:Games for ImpactTEKKEN 8Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.265$69.99$34.99Get it nowNominated for:Best MultiplayerBest Fighting WINNER!TopSpin 2K25 Cross-Gen Digital Edition2K140$69.99$23.09Get it nowNominated for:Best Sports/RacingUnicorn OverlordSEGA216$59.99Get it nowNominated for:Best Sim/StrategyVALORANTRiot Games787Get it nowXbox Game PassNominated for:Best Esports GameWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Focus Entertainment670$69.99$52.49Get it nowNominated for:Best Action GameBest MultiplayerWWE 2K24 Cross-Gen Digital Edition2K975$69.99$23.09Get it nowNominated for:Best Sports/Racing

Turok: Origins is first and foremost a tribute to the original Turok games that impacted our childhoods and made remarkable contributions to the shooter genre. The addition of platforming and the more explorable maps marked a before-and-after, and the dinosaurs and aliens formula was incredibly appealing to so many people, including us. This new game means a lot to us because its a chance to really show our love for the Turok franchise. Today, Im excited to talk more about the game and some of the features you may have seen in the trailer for Turok: Origins revealed at The Game Awards 2024.DNA PowersTurok is back, and one of the main things we wanted to show off with this announcement was the DNA powers. As you saw in the trailer, when the Turok and a dinosaur square off, our hero has the upper hand as he performs a Stomp ability. He slams the ground, sending out debris and a lightning shockwave that stuns the dinosaur. This allows for a quick tomahawk hit, followed by an energy arrow and gunshot, putting the dinosaur down.One of the many things were very excited about are the biomorphic suits the Turok wear in the game. These suits cover the Turok in real time to reflect the different DNA abilities equipped for players to use. These are cool, detailed visual effects that change as you toggle between different abilities. Each power is fine-tuned to be effective while in combat, and there are times when simply using your weapons wont be enough to stave off various enemies. How you upgrade these abilities can help turn the battle in your favor.DNA powers provide the player with powerful combat abilities and also passive ones that affect your weapons and basic traits while the suit is activated.Later in the gameplay portion of the trailer, we see Turok utilizing a different ability by lashing out to grab the dinosaur, lifting it in the air before slamming it to the ground. The DNA powers are not just random power-ups but specific abilities that you unlock by collecting samples of the creatures you confront on the different missions. They are all quite impactful, fun to use and add a layer of depth as you confront the enemies.When playing co-op with other players, your abilities can complement those used by your teammates. Imagine you and your team members facing off against one of the faster running enemies, and you slow or tangle it with one of your DNA powers while your teammates release a devastating attack these abilities help add a level of strategy to each encounter. What you see in the trailer is just a small preview of what you can expect in the final game. There are many more powers were excited to reveal in the future, to crank up the intensity of combat and make for more exciting and strategic gameplay tactics when facing off against all the different enemies.Third-person TurokWe know Turok has a rich history as a first-person shooter and were all big fans of the previous Turok games, but as we were designing the game, we found many scenarios that we thought would be best experienced in third-person. For instance, when designing the DNA powers, we came to realize that they are best visualized from a third-person perspective. With our experience making these kinds of high-quality action shooters that can be played alone or with friends, we felt like it would be a perfect fit for where we wanted to go with this game, and an evolution of the iconic franchise.What weve highlighted today are just a few teases of whats to come. We have plenty of big reveals planned with tons more to unveil at later dates, so please stay tuned for more Turok: Origins. https://x.com/turokorigins

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! Each week, we highlight the exciting new games arriving soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Game Pass. This will be the last feature for a couple of weeks as well be on holiday. Check out the details on these upcoming titles below and click on their profiles for more information (release dates may vary). Lets jump in!Flint: Treasure of OblivionMicroids$39.99Pre-orderFlint: Treasure of Oblivion December 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|SExperience the golden age of piracy through a strong and original narrative, real-time exploration and turn-based tactical combat in Flint Treasure of Oblivion. Assisted by his friend Billy Bones and his crew, Captain Flint sets sail for a mysterious treasure. If the call of the unknown galvanizes him, he doesnt yet suspect this adventure will set him free.ROBOBEATKwaleeGet it nowRoboBeat December 17Optimized for Xbox Series X|SYoure Ace a famous bounty hunter after your latest target, the eccentric robot-showman Frazzer. To find your way through his twisted techno-playground, youll have to master the art of shooting, wall-running, sliding, and bunny hopping, all in sync with the beat!InfernitosAfil GamesGet it nowInfernitos December 18Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryTake on the role of a little imp chef serving up devilishly delightful dishes to hungry demon patrons. Move the dishes across the fiery kitchen, carefully pushing and delivering them on the table to serve your hellish clients. Every level demands sharp thinking and a strategic approach, as each dish must be assembled with precision to satisfy your picky infernal clientele.Azura's CrystalsSoft Source Pte LtdGet it nowAzuras Crystals December 19Embark on an enchanting quest as Azura, a spirited heroine, and discover a world of ancient mysticism. Forge unbreakable bonds with mythical creatures using the power of Primalis Crystals. Traverse breathtaking landscapes, make difficult choices, and uncover the secrets that shape your destiny.Montgomery Fox And The Case Of The Diamond Necklace (Xbox)Ocean MediaGet it nowMontgomery Fox And the Case of The Diamond Necklace December 18An exciting Hidden Object investigation. When crime strikes the countryside, only a famous city detective can solve the case. Hell soon discover theres more to this case than meets the eye! Set for a journey, meet different characters, find clues and finally unravel a riveting mystery in this fun and colorful hidden object adventure game! Enjoy bright and lighthearted levels and locations, with no time limit or pressure of any kind.Montgomery Fox And The Case Of The Missing Ballerinas (Xbox)Ocean MediaGet it nowMontgomery Fox And the Case of The Missing Ballerinas December 19When the ballerinas mysteriously vanish from the theatre, Detective Montgomery Fox jumps into action. Meet various characters, question them, and write your clues to your diary. Visit dozens of locations and search through hundreds of hidden objects and items while you solve riddles and play minigames in this hidden object adventure game.Universe For SaleAkupara Games$14.99Pre-orderUniverse for Sale December 19Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryIn a bizarre bazaar, theres a worried woman crafting entire universes in the palm of her hand. Universe for Sale is a hand-drawn adventure game set in the dense clouds of Jupiter, where sapient orangutans work as dockhands and mysterious cultists strip the flesh from their bones to reach enlightenment.Ancient Ants AdventureSilenGamesGet it nowAncient Ants Adventure December 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|SScarabs, spiders and other insects seek to destroy the fragile world of ants, and only your magic and strategic thinking will help maintain the balance. Your task is to become the leader of this great colony, rebuild your army and learn to use magic to protect your comrades to turn the tide of battle.Cave RangerCascadia Games LLCGet it nowCave Ranger December 20When the Bitty Gang steals the towns livelihood and takes it underground, a lone, brave cowboy must come to the rescue. Cave Ranger is an 8-bit inspired, retro platform game. Rescue sheep, fight outlaws, and face down dangerous critters. With a whip and pistol at his disposal, the cave ranger must traverse old mines, water reservoirs, and even a sawmill! It is a lighthearted, laid-back western, full of platformer fun.Die for the Economy!Tea Monster GamesGet it nowDie for the Economy! December 20A love letter to 80s maze-based arcade games. In this game, you make your way through a maze trying to avoid robots, destroy security servers, and escape. Armed with your trusty blaster (the P-45) youll need to blast the evil robot managers and avoid electrified walls.Ghoulie's GardenEverynot Games StudioGet it nowGhoulies Garden December 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryWelcome to Ghoulies Garden, where Halloween magic awaits! Guide Ghoulie, a friendly little zombie, through haunted mazes filled with pumpkins to collect. But beware this garden is crawling with ghosts, bats, and colorful clowns eager to make things tricky!Seal: WHAT the FUNPLAYWITH KOREA Inc.Get it nowSeal: What the Fun December 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereAn omniverse multiplayer party royale game that allows up to 10 players to enjoy a range of compact plays in 10 minutes. Players can customize their characters with variety of effects and features, making the game more interactive and unpredictable.Jewel Fever 3Sprakelsoft GmbH$5.99Pre-orderXbox One X EnhancedFree TrialJewel Fever 3 December 24Xbox One X EnhancedThe much-improved successor to the highly successful Jewel Fever 2 which is played by millions of people. It adds new game modes, better graphics, and finally local and online multiplayer!Star Trek: LegendsQubicGames$11.99$9.59Pre-orderStar Trek: Legends December 25Step into the role of your favorite heroes and villains from across the history of Star Trek and embark on an epic space adventure to control the mysterious Nexus. Battle to save all of existence in Star Treks official strategy-based RPG!Kiting CatAfil GamesGet it nowKiting Cat December 26Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryPrepare delicious meals for your feline customers by moving carts, chopping, mixing, and baking ingredients to create the perfect dish. Each level requires precision and planning, as youll need to pay close attention to the orders and ingredients before you start cooking. Serve your whiskered clients with speed and accuracy to keep them happy!Bright Side: QuizQubicGamesGet it nowBright Side: Quiz December 27How well do you know your planet and the universe beyond? Lets put your knowledge to the test! Embark on an exciting journey filled with captivating trivia, stunning visuals, and surprising discoveries!Doodle TaxiMetgan GamesGet it nowDoodle Taxi December 27Whats the worst thing that could happen to a modern-day taxi driver? Not getting paid? Get mugged? No. A cabbie can get cursed by a witch and lose his sight. What if that witch is unable to control her powers in this world? What happens then? Welcome to the magical world of Doodle Taxi where youll navigate an open world while your vision is slowly taken away. The cure: Deliver customers fast and carefully to restore your vision.Swords & Bones 2RedDeer.GamesGet it nowSwords and Bones 2 December 27Sequel to an action-adventure RPG. Experience the ambiance of 16-bit classics from the 80s and 90s with many modern twists. Challenge yourself in 50 action-packed levels full of dangers and riches.The Legend of Cyber CowboyEastasiasoft LimitedGet it nowThe Legend of Cyber Cowboy January 1Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereThe wild west gets even wilder with the development of cybernetic technology, and its up to you to take down the bandit gangs turning this tech against honest and hard-working locals! Step into the role of a steampunk gunslinger with a mechanical arm and loads of enhanced weaponry at your disposal in this top-down, twin-stick shooter presented in a slick pixel art style.SokomonsterAfil GamesGet it nowSokomonster January 2Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA thrilling puzzle game where chaos and strategy collide. You play as a powerful monster invading a city, tasked with destroying buildings by pushing cars into them. Progress through 30 uniquely designed levels, each filled with new challenges and obstacles that test your wits and destructive skills!Moo & Move: Extra Grazing GroundsEverynot Games StudioGet it nowMoo & Move: Extra Grazing Grounds January 3Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGuide the hungry cow to its goal! Place directional tiles on the ground and choose to solve puzzles the easy or hard way, its up to you! Watch as the cow follows your path to reach its tasty hay in this fun, kid-friendly game!

Update 12/13: After a successful Insider testing period, were delighted to announce thatSupportVirtualAgentis now rolling out to all players in the US. Wed like to thank Insiders for their help in testing and providing feedback for this new feature.Support Virtual Agent is an AI-powered feature built to help Xbox players more efficiently solve their support-related gaming issues, and it is rolling out to select Xbox Insiders on support.xbox.com today. Support Virtual Agent can quickly access information from support.xbox.com to answer questions relevant to Xbox console and game support issues. Xbox Insiders located in the United States and with English selected as their preferred language can begin previewing the Support Virtual Agent today by visiting support.xbox.com while signed into an account that is registered with the Xbox Insider Program.We value the feedback from Xbox Insiders for this preview experience and any feedback received will be used to improve the Support Virtual Agent. As you interact with the Support Virtual Agent, you can provide feedback via the thumbs up or thumbs down button on each of the responses or provide feedback directly via the Give feedback button at the bottom of the page.How to Use Support Virtual AgentStarting today, Xbox Insiders will see the Support Virtual Agent on the Contact us page on support.xbox.com. Sign in with the same account you registered with the Xbox Insider Program, then youll see a new option to ask our new Support Virtual Agent a question.Once you click on Ask a question, you will see the Support Virtual Agent launch in a new browser window. You can ask the agent questions via text or voice, and it will answer with relevant information from support.xbox.com. If the Support Virtual Agent cannot solve the issue, you can request to speak with a live support agent as long as it is within Xbox Supports normal hours of operation.During this preview, you can also customize your support experience by clicking on the ellipsis menu icon and choosing between two different Support Virtual Agents.How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your FeedbackIf youre an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on theXbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, you can provide direct feedback to Team Xbox by following the steps here under the Report a problem online section.If you arent part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC.For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at@XboxInsider.

Checking your holiday shopping list twice? Look no further than Microsoft Stores Countdown Sale for last-minute tech gifts. With steep savings on top gaming and entertainment titles, even same-day gifting is possible. Plus, with fast and free 2-3-day shipping on most devices and flexible ways to pay, theres still time to select and purchase great tech.Save on top gaming and entertainment giftsLooking for a fun and affordable way to brighten someones day? Gift them their favorite movie or TV show or introduce them to a new game theyll love. You can enhance their gaming experience by saving $10 on select Xbox Wirelesscontrollers through Dec. 22. For the ultimate flexible gift, consider a Microsoft or Xbox Gift Card, which can be used for purchases at Microsoft Store online, on Windows and Xbox, for all the latest digital games, movies, apps and more.Save up to 50% on PC games. Help them keep the holiday cheer going with titles like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Little Kitty, Big City and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Standard Edition.Save up to 60% on games playable on Xbox Consoles. Do they already own an Xbox console? Help them make the most of it with fan-favorite games like EA SPORTS College Football 25 Standard Edition and NBA 2K25 Standard Edition.Customers that purchase any digital edition of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 get a $5 gift card plus Dual 2XP Bonus*. Terms and conditions apply.Customers that purchase Madden NFL 25, EA SPORTS FC 25, Dragon Age: The Veilguard or the EA SPORTS MVP Bundle (Madden NFL 25 Deluxe Edition & College Football 25 Deluxe Edition) will receive promotional $5 Xbox gift card and $5 of in-game currency or an in-game item. Terms and conditions apply.Customers that purchase Star Wars Outlaws will receive a promotional $5 Xbox gift card and $5 of in-game currency. Terms and conditions apply.Customers that purchase FINAL FANTASY XIV Online will receive a promotional $5 Xbox gift card and $5 of in-game currency. Terms and conditions apply.Save up to 65% on select movies and TV shows. Grab some popcorn and enjoy top titles like Dune 2-Film Collection, Harry Potter: The Complete 8 Film Collection and Despicable Me 4 + Bonus Content.Save up to 50% on select apps in the Microsoft Store on Windows. Enhance their music-listening experience, entertainment capabilities and more with savings on apps like Dolby Access, DTS Sound Unbound and Nitrado available in the Microsoft Store on Windows.Xbox bonus deal. Customers that purchase the Xbox Series X 1TB Digital Edition get a bonus Xbox Series X Console Wrap featuring Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Offer live now through Jan. 1, 2025, while supplies last.And check out Microsoft Store for even more deals on Xbox and PC games.Save on Surface devices for anyone on your listSave up to $500 on select Surface ProWith the ability to transform from a tablet to a laptop to a multi-monitor setup, the Surface Pro is powerful enough for a working professional and flexible enough for a student. Give the gift of supercharged productivity and endless creativity with a Copilot+ PC featuring all-day battery life and unique AI experiences. Offer ends Dec. 24.Save up to $600 on select Surface LaptopHelp your loved ones work smarter, stay connected and boost their productivity with the most intelligent Surface Laptop, a Copilot+ PC that unlocks new AI experiences. This sleek, lightweight touchscreen laptop featuring the longest battery life on any Surface offers speeds up to 86% faster than before, a customizable, haptic touchpad and comes in immersive 13.8-inch and 15-inch displays. Offer ends Dec. 24.Also, save up to $500 on Microsoft Store Exclusive Surface Pro and Surface Laptop. Offer ends Dec. 24.Looking to upgrade? For a limited time,get up to $600 cash back when you trade in an eligible used device and buy a new Copilot+ PC Surface Laptop or Surface Pro. Offer ends Dec. 31.Shop with confidence at Microsoft StoreGift a device theyll love with the most innovative Surface Copilot+ PCs around, equipped with AI-powered experiences, or choose from a variety of Xbox offerings. Give yourself some peace of mind with free extended returns, Microsoft Stores 24/7 online support and price protection through Jan. 31, 2025.Not sure what to gift? Microsoft Stores new AI-powered Store Assistant chat experience can help you learn about Microsoft products and assist you in searching for the perfect gift for everyone on your list. Simply click on the Store Assistant chat to help you determine which device is right for your loved one.Note: Offers are U.S.-only. Please check your local Microsoft Store for deals in your region.* 40 hours per token total, applies to all 2XP redemptions for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone. (Not limited to this promotion.) Activision may update, replace or remove this in-game content at any time. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 or Call of Duty: Warzone required. Sold / downloaded separately.

Prepare to bend the elements and battle like never before! From December 17 to December 30, Overwatch 2 is teaming up with Avatar: The Last Airbender in a legendary crossover event that promises to thrill both Overwatch fans and Avatar enthusiasts alike. This limited-time collaboration merges the iconic world of the Four Nations with your favorite Overwatch heroes, creating a lineup of elemental cosmetics and challenges that celebrate unity, resilience, and the unstoppable power of teamwork.Overwatch 2 players will have the chance to channel the essence of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air through stunning character skins inspired by the unforgettable heroes of Avatar. Get ready to fight alongside your team just like Team Avatar, as these skins perfectly capture the spirit of bending.Heres the roster and what they bring to the battlefront:Zenyatta as Aang: The spiritual harmony of the Air Nomads comes alive through Zenyatta, who now embodies Aang, the Avatar himself. With his serene strength and ultimate goal of peace, Zenyatta as Aang is your ultimate ally in bringing balance to every fight.Mei as Katara: The wisdom and fluidity of the Water Tribe are reflected in Meis Katara skin. Unlock this cosmetic by completing special in-game challenges. Whether freezing enemies in their tracks or leading your team to victory, Mei as Katara will always fight with the waterbenders calm determination.Genji as Zuko: Harness the unrelenting fire of the Fire Nation with Genji as Zuko. This fierce skin captures Zukos resilience and undeniable skill. Genjis speed and deadly precision paired with Zukos fiery spirit make this a must-have for your collection.Orisa as Appa: Appa fans, rejoice! Orisa brings the loyal guardian of Team Avatar to life in the most lovable way possible. With her hulking presence and steadfast armor, shes the ultimate protector your team can count on. Dont forget to shout yip yip! as you carry your teammates to victory.Kiriko as Suki: Honoring the unyielding leadership and strength of the Kyoshi Warriors, Kirikos Suki skin is all about loyalty, skill, and teamwork. Lead your team with confidence, just as Suki would.Venture as Toph: Become an unshakable force of nature with Venture sporting Tophs earthbending persona. This cosmetic highlights Tophs raw strength and unflinching determination, showing enemies that you mean business (especially if they dont see it coming). The Overwatch 2 art team had a blast while creating these skins. As big fans, it was tough to choose which characters to create skins for, says art director Dion Rogers. But we immediately knew Orisa would be Appa, Aangs sky bison. This skin helped us blend Overwatchs futuristic elements with Avatars mystical/eastern designs. Though we joked about temporarily increasing her size, we kept her in-game scale unchanged. He goes on to the difficulty is choosing a hero perfect for one of Avatars most famous characters: For Aang, we considered a few other heroes, including Illari due to her ultimate resembling the Avatar State, but ultimately chose Zenyatta as Aang, fitting well with his Transcendence ability.The Overwatch 2 x Avatar collaboration is packed with goodies, from special unlockable rewards to one-of-a-kind cosmetics. This is your opportunity to embody the Avatar universe while dominating the Overwatch battlefields.Unlock and Earn skins, such as Mei as Katara by completing exclusive challenges in-game.Collect Elemental-Themed Cosmetics, capturing the magic of iconic moments and characters from Avatar.Battle Like the Gaang, bringing harmony and strength to every match.Each game is an opportunity to channel your inner bender, master the elements, and prove to your enemies why teamwork matters.Mark your calendars! This crossover event will only be available from December 17 to December 30 in Overwatch 2. Whether youre an avid Avatar fan or simply love collecting skins, this is your chance to celebrate two legendary universes coming together.Are you ready to summon the power of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air? Assemble your team and Fight like Team Avatar and protect the Overwatch world with elemental strength and precision. Its your time to bend the elements and claim victory!Overwatch 2Blizzard Entertainment2036Get it nowXbox One X EnhancedXbox Game PassOverwatch 2 is an always-on and ever-evolving free-to-play, team-based action game set in an optimistic future, where every match is the ultimate 5v5 battlefield brawl featuring new heroes and maps, different ways to play, and unique cosmetics! Lead the charge, ambush your enemies, or aid your allies as one of Overwatchs 40 distinct heroes. Team up with friends, take them into battle across 25+ futuristic maps inspired by real-world locations, and master multiple unique game modes.Overwatch 2 Season 14: HazardGet ready for an explosive season as we introduce Hazard, the new Scottish tank hero, embodying the spirit of anarchy for the greater good. Then test your skills with a unique blend of past and present in the 6v6 Role Queue event, where teamwork and synergy shine within the 2-2-2 setup. Master the elements with an Overwatch 2 x Avatar: The Last Airbender collab event, celebrating unity, resilience, and the power within. Plus, prepare to wield the hammer of Gods as Mythic Thor Reinhardt and earn up to five Legendary skins with the Premium Battle Pass. Packed with nostalgia, customization, and radical gameplay, Season 14 has everything you need to dominate in style!The Overwatch League Token will no longer be purchasable after December 9, 2024. The OWL shop will remain open until at least December 2025, with limited inventory purchasable with players remaining OWL token balances.

Breaker/Breaker, fellow truckers!Its time for a new round-up of our latest updates, customization packs and treats. Christmas is upon us after all, so why dont we talk about gifts?A New Customization Pack is Here: Heavy DutyWe know many of you want to show off your trucks true strength for real, so we have the perfect pack for you: A full suite of sturdy truck customization options, available now.A new paint job: Blue Collar Cruise,A new Hood Ornament: Lucky Chunk.Not one but three new Truck Grilles! Comet Pusher, Star Riot and Moon Shot.A new Sensor Manifold: Keystone.A new Exhaust Stack: Keystone.All the Extra Content in One ScreenWe have a good amount of extra content available already, so we thought it was time to make things easier to find. You can now access a downloadable content screen from the menu screen. It will show a notification every time there is a new DLC you have not seen, with a preview; and it will help you keep track of every pack you own.Along with this, weve added the Starter Trucker Theme option: If youve unlocked or purchased a customization pack you can now set it as a starter theme when beginning a new game.For Glory!Last but not least, lets talk about everyones favorite thing: Free stuff!Weve joined forces with none other than SteelSeries to release a totally free promotional pack to unlock an exclusive SteelSeries hood ornament inspired by their mascot Lars, and a new paint job. You will find both with the latest game update, available through the Body Shop and the Paint ShopWe want to take this opportunity to wish you all a fantastic holiday season, whatever you decide to do, and of course to say thank you once more for an incredible year. More to come in 2025 so keep your eyes peeled.Star Trucker Heavy Duty Customisation PackRaw Fury$2.99Get it nowGet ready to showcase your true strength with this full suite of sturdy truck customization options. New Paint Job: Blue Collar Cruise New Hood Ornament: Lucky Chunk Three new Truck Grilles: Comet Pusher, Star Riot and Moon Shot New Sensor Manifold: Keystone New Exhaust Stack: Full Guard Curve

SummaryMicrosoft Flight Simulator 2024s impressive photogrammetry technology has produced a stunning digital twin of Planet Earth.We revisit some of our favorite places weve personally explored in real life, conjuring up memories and personal nostalgia.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is available now for Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Steam.As I get older, I find myself reminiscing more often about the places Ive lived and traveled throughout the world, and marvel at the growing list of countries I still want to visit (Im looking at you, Japan). It has become a growing appreciation of my good fortune that Ive been to so many and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has in turn become a wonderful conduit of nostalgia that allows me to revisit every one of them.Thanks to its incredible photogrammetry and enhanced digital elevation maps, its digital twin of Planet Earth has produced a stunning world to explore. Its lifelike detail allows me to fly over my old neighborhoods, revisit a national park, or recreate a memorable coastline drive that I havent taken in years. I can even get out of my aircraft and take a jaunt around nearly any location in the world now and you can too.Flying Through MemoriesWhat I realized during Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020)s development is that the most emotional stories are the ones that already reside in us, says Head of Microsoft Flight Simulator Jorg Neumann during a recent interview with Xbox Wire. While Earth might just be a rock, a hill, or a tree, it has special meaning for specific people because of their memories. These are very personal stories. Its almost a universal platform for an emotional connection because we all live here, and this is what our planet looks like.I saw the sunrise from the top of Haleakal decades ago and Im still thinking about it.Neumann taps into something I was feeling as well during my time thus far with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. While it is an incredibly awesome flight simulator with a plethora of aircraft and experiences to be had, from its Career Mode to World Photographer mode, the aspect that had pulled me in so much was how emotionally impactful it was all starting to feel for me to just fly over familiar locations in significantly higher detail.I remember missing my parents a lot (during the pandemic), continues Neumann. My dad is in his mid-90s now, and I was worried that I might never see him again because none of us knew what was going to happen. So, I flew there in Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020), flew to my parents house, landed at the lake, and called my parents up. I said, Hey, I cant be there in person with you, but Im as close as I can get because Im looking at our house.Neuschwanstein Castle is commonly known as the inspiration behind DisneysCinderella castle.Now (with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024), its so much closer to reality. Its emotionally more impactful because now the right trees are around the lake, the ground looks right, the water looks correct. Its remarkable how all the things that you remember suddenly come back. I remember jumping into the lake as a kid, playing with my friends, swimming over for the first time. All these things that you saw, you can now digitally recreate.Revisiting Favorite PlacesI had many of the same emotional reactions as I began to revisit some of my favorite locations. Memories that I hadnt thought of for years, like the time I saw the sun rise at the top of Haleakal crater on Maui; walking across San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge; exploring the streets of Paris, France; getting lost in Venice, Italy. It was this emotional resonance that bubbled up again while flying around these memorable locations in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.The first place I went to was Kauai, Neumann tells me after asking him what some of the first places he likes to explore. The second place was Grindelwald, where I used to go skiing. I walked around the Alps to check it out. Then, I started going to New Zealand because I love it there and visit occasionally. I picked about 10 locations Ive been to in real life to verify how good they look now after that, I went on a movie tour and visited places where they filmed Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, and Out of Africa.I left my heart in San Francisco.The recent enhancements have made these unique experiences much more realistic for the entire flight sim community. Now we have detailed environments to fly around that include accurate terrain, rocks, and water conditions that enhance not only the functional aspect of flight simulation but increasingly the immersive and authentic experience as well. Theres so much detail now that even the rocks will trip your plane up if you dont have the right tires to manage the terrain.Becoming a Photographer of the WorldOnce youre on the ground, youll not only notice how much the trees and grass have improved, but also how fun it is to step outside your aircraft and walk around, capturing photographs of your adventure. Whether its local wildlife or iconic locations like the Great Pyramids of Giza or the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle, theres tons of cool stuff to see in person. The World Photographer mode points you in many of these directions, giving you a challenge to not only discover these locations, but document them in such a way that the challenge becomes part of the fun of flight and appreciating the world in which we live.One of the communitys requests was to give them more to do, Neumann explains about how the World Photographer mode came about. I thought, OK, easy enough. Aviation Careers got it. Lets try to get as close to an actual aviation career as we can. Gamers like competition, so we came up with the Challenge League system. At some point, I was pushing hard for animals, because I realized I take a lot of pictures of humans, places, and animals. Then, I thought about people who just love the Earth, and I remember taking pictures with my parents using a slide projector to revisit our vacations. I wanted to have the ability to take pictures to represent a memory. Now its wonderful to see everyone enjoying it.This is just one of the volcanoes on the island of Hawaii.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is not just a step up from its previous iteration; its a significant technological leap that lets you explore the world more dynamically than ever before with its digital twin of Earth. Being able to hop from one end of the planet to the other in such incredibly high detail is not only incredibly cool but also functions as a gateway to your own personal travels and experience as well. It has not only renewed my passion for travel but also provided a unique way to relive cherished memories and explore new destinations from the comfort of my home. Its a remarkable blend of advanced technology and nostalgia, offering endless opportunities to discover the world anew, one flight at a time.A Few of My Favorite PlacesAs I mentioned earlier, Ive been fortunate enough to have travelled in my time. So, I thought Id share a few of my personal favorites that double as great locations to visit within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 a few of these spots double as a challenge in its World Photographer mode. For aircraft preference in Free Flight, because helicopters can be quite a challenge, I liked using CGS Hawk Arrow II when flying around these locals it maintained the appropriate speed and easy handling that let me really take in the views. Its also relatively easy to land on a short approach.ParisIve been lucky enough to visit Paris twice and both times I basically went back to all the same locations, like spending way too much time in the Louvre Museum, going up the Eiffel Tower, climbing the stairs of the Arc de Triomphe, visiting Notre Dame, and others. Its such a walkable city packed with history and doubles as a great location to fly around to really appreciate how massive that beautiful city is.Seeing Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe makes climbing all of its stairs worth it. SingaporeI visited Singapore for about three days during a work trip years ago and was blown away at how busy its shipping ports were. I knew it functioned as a major trade hub before visiting, but it was impressive to just see it in action. Also, the architecture in the city was equally impressive to see. At night, Id walk along the waterfront and marvel at some of its iconic spots, like the Marina Bay Sands, all which are worthy of a fly by in MSFS 2024.Next time Im going to swim in that ridiculous pool on top of the Marina Bay Sands. San Francisco Bay AreaI lived in the Bay Area for nearly 10 years and never tired of seeing many iconic sights like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the Bay Bridge, the Ferry Building, and so many other landmarks that make it one of the greatest cities on the planet. Its also a great starting point if you want to do a coastal flight over Highway 1 and follow that down (or up) the coastline.Nothing like it.SeattleSpeaking of sights, everyone knows of the Space Needle (I think its fine), but Ive never tired of seeing Mount Rainier off in the distance, which is a stunning landmark thats just south of the city that looks so damn awesome as cloud cover allows. Seattle is also surrounded by natural beauty any way you look, full of majestic waterways like the tremendous Lake Washington, and tons of greenery that make any location you fly over incredibly scenic. If youre up for flying around, go for a watercraft so you can touch down on any of the many bodies of water.Mount Rainier, an active stratovolcano, is just a short drive from Seattle. Nothing to worry about.Hawaiian IslandsIm very fortunate to say I grew up here, specifically on the island of Oahu in the town of Kailua, but I traveled to each of the main islands at least once while I lived there. I took an amazing helicopter tour on the island of Kauai; hiked Haleakala National Park on Maui; walked across (dry) lava fields on the island of Hawaii; and drove up to the North Shore so many times. So naturally I pick this as my home base in Career Mode with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, operating as a bit of a tour guide operator in my hometown.My hometown, Kailua.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Standard EditionXbox Game Studios616$69.99Get it nowPC Game PassXbox Game PassStandard EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Standard Edition includes over 65 aircraft and 150 handcrafted airports.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Deluxe EditionXbox Game Studios949$99.99Get it nowDeluxe EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 10 additional aircraft and 5 additional handcrafted international airports.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Premium Deluxe EditionXbox Game Studios1050$129.99Get it nowPremium Deluxe EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Premium Deluxe Edition includes everything from the Standard Edition plus 25 additional aircraft and 10 additional handcrafted international airports.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Aviator EditionXbox Game Studios1069$199.99Get it nowAviator EditionExplore the world with our largest fleet of aircraft and take simulation to new heights while pursuing your aviation career within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The Aviator Edition includes everything from the Premium Deluxe Edition plus the entire fleet of 30 Microsoft-published Marketplace aircraft developed for Microsoft Flight Simulator between 2021 and 2024.Fly with Purpose Launch your aviation Career wherever you choose in the world. Gain experience, build your reputation, and complete certifications to gain access to authentic aviation activities ranging from Medevac, Remote Cargo Ops, Aerial Firefighting, Search & Rescue and more, all the way to becoming an Airline Passenger Transport Pilot. Set out on a truly global aviation adventure with virtually unlimited missions across the planet. Compete against other pilots in the all-new Challenge League mode or hone your skills in dozens of Activities ranging from exciting Rally Races and Precision Landings to Low-Altitude challenges and more. Fly head-to-head in the iconic Red Bull Air Races and the legendary Reno Air Races, including the new Roswell courses. Be a World Photographer and travel across our beautiful planet to capture awe-inspiring natural vistas, visit famous landmarks, and record these adventures with pictures in your travel book. Unique photo challenges test your creative eye along with your piloting skills while you strive to capture the perfect moment.Advanced Simulation Enhanced physics system allows 10,000+ rigid-body surfaces that enable the simulation of any shape of aircraft. Soft body physics supports cloth, ropes, balloons, and more. Improved ground and water handling further enhance realism. New, highly accurate aircraft systems including electrical, pneumatic, fuel and hydraulic systems, payload and passenger systems, and avionics like the Universal UNS-1 FMS and Honeywell Primus Epic 2. Preflight inspections and walkaround checks add to immersion. Plan your flights with a groundbreaking flight planner which supports both IFR and VFR map layers, IFR charts, route planning, fuel and payload planning, vertical profile planning, and ETOPS planning. It also provides airport information including weather and NOTAMS and is available native in the sim, on mobile devices or web browsers for flight planning outside the simulator.Explore Our Visually Stunning Digital Twin Explore our most detailed re-creation of planet Earth to date. Enhanced digital elevation maps, over 500 TIN (triangular irregular network) cities and more than 100,000 square kilometers of countryside photogrammetry allow for visually stunning digital twin experiences. More than 150 airports, 2,000 glider airports, 10,000 heliports, 2,000 points of interest, and 900 oil rigs have been carefully hand-crafted while a procedural system generates all 40,000 airports, 80,000 helipads, 1.5 billion buildings, and nearly 3 trillion trees our planet. Land anywhere and, for the first time in Microsoft Flight Simulator, exit your aircraft to explore 27 highly detailed biomes with hundreds of species of vegetation, dynamically created details including grass, rocks, and flowers all influenced by seasonal changes.The all-new photometric lighting system renders the world more accurately than ever before, and enhanced weather features such as new cloud types, auroras, and other weather phenomena produce fresh and compelling atmospheric experiences. The world comes alive with a vast array of land-based wildlife in their natural habitats and free-ranging livestock across the entire globe. The oceans and waterways are teeming with live, worldwide maritime traffic ranging from large tankers and cargo ships to trawlers, tugs, and more. A richly diverse, regionally accurate representation of humanity brings life to the airports, aircraft, and passenger cabins of the world. Enhanced real-world air traffic populates the skies and airport tarmacs with hundreds of accurately depicted aircraft models and dozens of officially licensed liveries.

Hey Xbox Insiders, the holidays are in full swing around here and we couldnt wait to give you a present. Lets unwrap it together!Last month, we announced Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream select games they own through TVs and browser on supported devices like smartphones, PCs, and tablets, in all 28 countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available. We also said players would be able to stream on Xbox consoles starting next year.Starting today, Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Skip-Ahead and Alpha rings can preview this feature on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.Stream Your Own Game on Your Xbox ConsoleXbox Insiders who are also Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream select games they own beyond the Game Pass catalog on their consoles in the 28 supported countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available. You can see the full list of games here.With the Stream your own game feature on Xbox consoles, you can stream select games you own on your Xbox console without needing to install them. This allows you to play games through streaming, saving you time and hard drive space, and offers access to your games with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta).To start streaming from your Xbox console, go to My games & apps > Full library > Owned Games.If you own a cloud playable game, youll see a cloud badge on the game.You can also use filters to find games quickly. Choose Filter > Ready to play > Cloud gaming.To start playing, select the game and then choose Play with Cloud Gaming.Support for launching directly from the Store app and streaming in the Xbox app on Windows PC will be coming in the future.How to Get Xbox Insider Support and Share Your FeedbackWe want to thank all the Xbox Insiders for the feedback you share with us. Your feedback is a key part of our process. If youre an Xbox Insider looking for support, please join our community on theXbox Insider subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help. We recommend adding to threads with the same topic before posting a brand new one. This helps us support you the best we can!If you arent part of the Xbox Insider Program yet and want to help create the future of Xbox and get early access to new features, join the Program today by downloading the Xbox Insider Hub for Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One or Windows PC. For more information on the Xbox Insider Program, follow us on Twitter at@XboxInsider and keep an eye on this blog for all the latest news.

Have you ever stopped to wonder how your perspective shapes your world? In Unwording, available now on Xbox, players will experience a deeply personal journey of healing and self-discovery as they guide Tom, a man battling negative thought patterns, through his day.Toms world feels small and oppressive. Simple objects become overwhelming puzzles, reflecting his inner struggles. But through solving these puzzles, Tom begins to see the world differently, transforming his reality from a rigid, two-dimensional space into an open and hopeful 3D environment.This heartfelt game, developed by Frostwood Interactive, takes inspiration from its creator, Armaan, and his own mental health journey. I created Unwording during a time when I was burnt out and dealing with isolation, Armaan shares. I wanted to make something that reflected my experiences while offering players a way to explore their own thought patterns and how they shape the world around them.Healing Through GameplayUnwording combines thought-provoking word puzzles with a visual evolution of its world. As Tom grows emotionally, the game mirrors this with changes in gameplay and art style, transitioning from 2D to 2.5D and eventually to full 3D.The journey is more than metaphorical. Before publishing Unwording, I had the opportunity to share it with friends. I was struck by one persons reaction: they explained how the game helped them reflect on their own mindset and inspired positive change in their life. That kind of impact is a testament to the power of games like Unwording.What to Expect in UnwordingA Perspective Shift: Toms world evolves visually and emotionally as players progress.Engaging Word Puzzles: Reflecting Toms mindset, these puzzles transform from negative to positive messages.Accessible Gameplay: An optional Easy Mode ensures everyone can enjoy the story.Immersive Visual Storytelling: No dialogue neededeverything is conveyed through the games evolving art styles.A Soothing Soundtrack: By Trevor Kowalski, the music changes along with Toms journey.Unwording is available now on Xbox. Whether youre here for the puzzles, the heartfelt story, or simply looking for a game that leaves a lasting impact, this journey is one to dive into today.UnwordingNejcraft2$4.99Get it nowEmbark on an uplifting journey through the mind of Tom in Unwording. Solve word puzzles, explore the neighborhood through multiple perspectives, and help Tom work towards experiencing a better day by overcoming his negative self-talk and thought patterns.Tom sees the world through a lonely, glass-half-empty lens. To him, everyday objects morph into complex word puzzles, reminding him of all that he lacks. As he solves each puzzle, the solutions spell out messages that are irrational and defeating.Until one day, he forgets to shut his window and lets a mischievous little yellow bird into his life, turning his life upside down.The bird's mischief causes chaos, and by solving word puzzles and exploring his neighborhood, Tom must begin to see things from a different perspective, changing his mindset and transforming his life and the world around him.

The post LEGO Fortnite Brick Life: Build Your Life in the Big City Starting December 12 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Blizzard Entertainment | December 5, 2024ShareShareTweet130 CommentsBlizzard Entertainment and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) have done it again, and it's all thanks to YOU, our dedicated Overwatch community! Thanks to your support of the 2024 Mercy for a Cause campaign, weve raised a staggering $12.3 million for BCRF the second-largest single corporate donation ever made to the Foundation. This brings Overwatch and Blizzard's total contribution to over $25 million in life-saving breast cancer research.Hope for a Brighter FutureEarlier this year, Overwatch teamed up once again with BCRF, the largest private funder of breast cancer research globally. By supporting our in-game Mercy for a Cause campaign, players around the world helped drive this incredible fundraising success. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale of the exclusive Pink Mercy skins (minus applicable platform fees and taxes) went directly to BCRFs mission of preventing and curing breast cancer.This years campaign came close to matching the $12.7 million raised in the original 2018 Pink Mercy campaign, further cementing the Overwatch communitys impact on breast cancer research and bringing the cumulative total to over $25 million raised for life-saving breast cancer research to-date. The 2018 campaign funded groundbreaking projects, including:Advanced AI methods for mammogram image analysis, improving breast cancer diagnosis and risk assessment.Predictive models for identifying the most aggressive forms of the disease, including triple-negative breast cancer.Development of treatments that delay tumor formation.A gene classifier that predicts the risk of invasive breast cancer in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), helping countless individuals navigate difficult treatment decisions.Stay tunedin the coming months, BCRF and Overwatch will share details about the impactful research that will be powered by the 2024 campaign donation.Heroes for a CauseOverwatch 2s Mercy for a Cause event hailed an all-new Rose Gold Mercy skin and bundle along with the return of the beloved Pink Mercy skin. Our community got to enjoy these lovely in-game looks while becoming real-life heroes by fueling research that saves lives. Mercys journey in Overwatch continues to inspire, as she advocates for peace, healing, and hope in the gameand in our world.Without you this milestone would have never been possible. Youve helped advance the most promising research in breast cancer prevention and treatment, and we couldnt be more grateful. Together, were creating a future where breast cancer could become a thing of the past.On behalf of Blizzard Entertainment and BCRF, we want to extend our deepest gratitude to every player who contributed to this campaign. With your help, weve once again proven that together, we can make a real-world difference.Thank You for Your Support. <3About BCRFFounded in 1993, BCRF is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. With a mission to advance the most innovative scientific projects, BCRF is moving the field closer to a world free from breast cancer. The Foundation fuels research that tackles everything from prevention to metastasis, helping countless lives every year. If youd like to learn more and get involved in supporting BCRF, visit bcrf.org.130 Comments

Are you ready for an adventure on a beautiful, sun-soaked Mediterranean island, Xbox readers? Today, we at Whitethorn Games are here to guide you as you explore the mythical Ambrosia Island, befriend the gods of Greek myth, and unravel the mystery that surrounds them in Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island available now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S!Developed by double BAFTA-nominated indie studio Polygon Treehouse (Rki), Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island puts you in the well-worn hiking boots of backpacker Alex, who finds herself shipwrecked and stranded on the beautiful but mysterious Ambrosia Island. As she starts to explore, she discovers that the gods of Greek myth inhabit it. But something is amiss they seem to have forgotten who they are and why they are there. It is up to Alex to earn their trust by uncovering the reason theyve forgotten who they are in the first place and gain their godly favour so that they can help her find her way home.Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is a non-linear adventure and exploration game with a captivating and heartfelt narrative that gives you the freedom to roam the island, hunt for hidden treasure, solve puzzles, and decorate your home camp with collectibles, all at your own pace. But helping the Greek gods is not easy for a mere mortal, so weve put together a primer of tips to help you out on your adventure.Meet With OraOne of the first friends youll meet in Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island isnt a person at all, but a friendly statue named Ora. While she is sadly unable to help you get off the island, she can help you find someone who can. She will give you your most important tool to aid you on your mission the Ambrosidex (well get into that a little later). Ora will often have tips for you if youre ever unsure about what to do next. She also has a very sharp memory and can provide you with clues for any mementos you uncover to help you get them to their rightful owner.The Ambrosidex and MapAn invaluable tool Ora gifted you, the Ambrosidex, will assist you while youre exploring the island. It comes with a handy map with markers to help you find hidden mysteries, memory-unlocking mementos, and where to go next when youre ready to advance the story. It also has a handy built-in radar system that will alert you, with sound, haptics, and visual cues, when youre close to something important but hidden. The memento heat map on the Ambrosidex will also highlight areas where at least one memento is hidden for you to discover, so if youre ever unsure, check those places.Talk to the IslandersAs you explore Ambrosia Island, youll discover its inhabitants the long-lost gods of Greek myth and legend! But as they have all lost their memories for some mysterious reason, youll have to understand that they will be slow to trust you. One of the best ways to make friends with them is to talk with them. The more you spend time with them to learn about them, the more they will open up to you, and your friendship level with them will increase. Dont forget to check back on them periodically, too they may have more to say, which can unlock new skills and quests to help you!The islanders each have their own routines and timetable, so you may miss them depending on the time of day. Once you get close to them, however, youll be able to enter their home. Before you are able to visit them casually, you can check the friendship page to determine when they will be outside and available to talk with you. Resting on one of the many benches that you find throughout the island or your makeshift camp will advance time, so there is no need to wait for the next day.Earn the Favour of the GodsHaving godly friends with godly powers can be really helpful when youre trying to find your way home. Helping the gods with needed tasks will get them to trust you when a friend needs help, you help them, after all! As you converse with the islanders, theyll eventually start to ask you to do small favours for them.Aside from the satisfaction of a job well done, completing these favors will grow your bond with your new friend, and theyll want to help you in return. The gods will happily share their powers and useful tools with you to help you discover more about Ambrosia Island. From unlocking fast-travel portals to help you get around more quickly to accessing farming plots to grow valuable Ambrosia Fruit to powers that will help you access even the most hidden of spaces, having the powers of the gods at your disposal can be a real benefit.Find Lost MementosThe more you interact with the gods, the more they will remember; however, they will need more help than simple conversation to help them fully regain their identities. Thats where mementos come in. Throughout the island, objects that are sentimental to the islanders are hidden. When returned to their rightful owner, they will help the gods unlock memories that they have forgotten. If you ever find that the conversation has stalled, you may need to help the god you are speaking with remember more. Scouring the island for hidden mementos whether they are buried, locked behind secret doors, or in the possession of another islander and returning them to each god will unlock more memories, which means more information to help you solve the mystery surrounding Ambrosia Island.Swap Fruit with Your New Friends for Helpful ItemsOnce the gods begin to trust you, theyll allow you to swap Ambrosia Fruit, a favorite of the gods, with them for items, allowing you to pick up fun collectibles, pieces of lore, items to decorate your home-away-from-home, and maybe even a few lost mementos. You can collect Ambrosia Fruit by harvesting it on the many bushes found around the island. A certain god, once their friendship level with you is high enough, may even spare you some room on their farm to grow your own!As your friendship level with the gods increases, be sure to return frequently and swap fruit with them for boosts for your tools and see what new items they have in stock. You never know what new and helpful things they may have for you!Explore at Your Own Pace and Take Time to Take in the SightsYou may be stranded, far from home, but hey, youre on a gorgeous beachy island somewhere in the Mediterranean. Its warm and sunny and truly a paradise you might as well enjoy yourself while youre here! There are many stunning environments to explore, from ancient ruins to lush sanctuaries to magnificent libraries and more, so take some time to check it all out!Dotted around the island, youll also find some very convenient resting places, complete with a comfortable rug for lounging on and a cassette player. Pop in one of the many collectible cassettes youve found around during your exploration, sit back, listen to some relaxing tunes, and watch the world go by. Get comfortable in your lighthouse shelter by making it more hospitable. Find items to decorate your space, which washed up along the shore, or purchase items from the gods shops. Learn more about Ambrosia Island by seeking out hidden items identified with the Ambrosidex and found in shops that will tell you more about the lore of this place it seems you werent the first person to find your way onto its sunny shores!Accessible Features to Help You Play Without Unintended BarriersWe and the Polygon Treehouse team want to ensure that as many players as possible can enjoy their time with Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island. There are multiple accessibility settings found in the settings menu to accommodate a variety of players needs, including:Key and button bind remapping for most optionsOptional vibrationHigh-contrast menus with a readable, sans-serif font, with options to view dialogue in light or dark mode text bubblesAdjustable dialogue delivery auto-play dialogue or adjust the dialogue speedVisual, haptic, and audio cues from the AmbroisidexAvailable in English, French, German, and Latin American Spanish.We hope these tips will help you find your way through the island and make the most of your time on its alluring beaches. Be sure to pick it up on Xbox today and discover everything Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island offers. We hope you enjoy it. Tell Hermes we say hi! Meta:An introduction to Mythwrecked, featuring detailed tips to get players started on their island adventure.Mythwrecked: Ambrosia IslandWhitethorn Games3$24.99$22.49Get it nowTHE GODS ARE REAL, THEYVE JUST BEEN ON VACATIONYoure Alex, a rookie backpacker taking a much needed break from modern life. Your trip is interrupted when you are suddenly shipwrecked on Ambrosia Island; a beautiful long-forgotten place of myth and sunshine. Its home to the gods of Greek mythology. Theyre real after all, even if they are having an identity crisis. Can you discover the secrets of Ambrosia Island in this sun-drenched 'Friend Em Up' adventure.

SummaryWinter Fest arrives in World of Tanks Modern Armor on December 10, the biggest festive update yet.Get an in-depth look at how the event came to be, as told by developers at Wargaming.Learn all about the new tanks, Commanders, and the brand-new World of Tanks Winter Fest storyline.Once upon a time, on a cold winter day, World of Tanks Modern Armor came up with a new idea for their players. It was Winter Fest the ultimate test of any developers skills! Yet, creating it was so full of thrills that, once done, they smiled and said: That was fun!Winter Fest is the biggest holiday event in World of Tanks Modern Armors history. According to Art director Andy Dorizas , the team was ready to go beyond the historic Toy Tanks concept and give back to the players by making this years event truly unique. With a narrative-driven mode, new game mechanics, Commanders, tanks, and more, players will have plenty to explore during the coldest winter days.Winter Fest kicks off with World of Tanks Modern Armors beloved Happy Holidays mode, featuring the return of the Toy Tanks tradition, with four new Toy Tanks with mechanics that mimic those found in game, from flamethrowers to missiles!Winter Fest then follows the Happy Holidays mode with a two-week special PVE event: The Ice Queens Lament. It tells the tale of how the Ice Queen is attempting to expand her realm to make winter the only season. The chill is so strong that its even threatening Santas workshop! Santa needs your help. With his magic, hell transport you to a village in the North Pole that you must save before the cold destroys it and the Ice Queens rule grows. Once there, youll be leading Santas toy tanks against the Ice Queen and her minions.Your quest starts on the new Happy Holidays Reloadedmap for Act 1 of the event, The Ice Queens Curse, before heading to a heavily modified version of the Ardennes map for Act 2, The Siege of Frostbite Castle.According to Creative Director Thomas Foss, this was where the art and design teams gave their all and collaborated to create amazing maps to set the stage for the story. The first map is an enhanced version of a classic, and the second map is split between Santas workshop and village and the Ice Queens realm, with Frostbite Castle right at the center.New mechanics have also been developed just for the event. Enemy tanks have ice rockets that freeze you in place, and the only way to counter that is with a long-time winter tradition: Hot Cocoa, a unique consumable that will keep you warm and get you back into battle. Plus, facing the Ice Queen will be like entering a boss fight, the likes of which you havent encountered on these battlefields (well keep this one a surprise).And thats just the tip of the iceberg! Ready to step into the Winter Fest Storefront?The Winter Fest Storefront is the best place to find everything Winter Fest-related. Its an in-game Store where you can read the Winter Fest story, launch into one of our special event battles, and use your Snowballs to purchase tanks, Commanders, Garage Gear (yeti fur rug, anyone?), and more! Snowballs are the event-exclusive currency that you get by completing Challenges, destroying minions, and opening Winter Fest War Chests.The Winter Fest War Chests work similarly to our regular War Chests, offering rarer content depending on their tier. You can unlock tons of items including new Premium tanks, exclusive 3D Winter Fest Commanders like Nigel the Yeti, Nutso! the Nutcracker, and of course the Ice Queen herself. There is also an additional Ice Queen War Chest available as DLC that offers the ultimate version of the Ice Queen 3D Commander as a possible drop, with unique visuals and ALL Skill slots unlocked.Commanders need their tanks, and the holiday season is loaded with newcomers. World War II mode welcomes the heavy-hittingKampfpanzer 07P(E) heavy tank (with an exclusive Yeti Skin), while the ATGM-only ELC EVEN NA2 SS12 for Cold War mode (also with a unique Ice Queen Minion Skin) is ready to raise mayhem.Winter Fest is just about ready to warm you up with pure holiday magic inside World of Tanks Modern Armor. Grab a hot drink, kick back, and get ready to jingle all the way across this magical adventure when Winter Fest launches on December 10. Happy Holidays!

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The post Bethesda.net: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Early Access Starts Now appeared first on Xbox Wire.

SummaryFor The King II is coming to Xbox Game Pass on December 12!Adventure with a bigger party, enjoy updated combat and a ton of new mechanics.Learn some top tips to get started from IronOak Games Studio Director.Hello Adventurers! Today marks a huge milestone for our small studio, IronOak Games. We are ecstatic to let the Xbox community know that you will be able to play For the King II via Xbox Game Pass on December 12!We expect there to be hardened veterans of For the King reading this, but new recruits are joining the ranks of the Resistance, so gather round and let us tell you more about what awaits youFor The King II is the sequel to the massively popular For The King. Building on the successes of its predecessor, For The King II follows suit by bringing innovation and exciting gameplay to a much-loved RPG that blends the borders of rogue-lite elements and tabletop gameplay. Theres multiplayer, grid-based combat, fantastical adventure, and its flooded with opportunities for terrible party decisions. What more could you want? We have already been out for a year on Steam, which means Xbox users will receive the best version of the game, including the new infinite dungeon mode, skins, items, and plenty more!So, what is threatening Fahrul, you ask? The once beloved Queen Rosomon has turned against her subjects, gained immeasurable power, and partnered with nefarious forces both old and new. Gather your party in four player co-op, or adventure alone through Fahrul as you risk everything to fight the tyrannical queen and bring an end to her oppressive reign.Entering Fahrul For The First Time?Each biome has a Sanctum and a Stone Hero. Make sure to find each of them before moving into a new area. Sanctums give great buffs and a revive, while Stone Heroes are crucial to help level up quickly.The Biggest Changes Between For The King and For The King IIThe most obvious change is that weve expanded the party size. For The King II allows up to four players so you can have a bigger party, or you can play in a group of two and no one is the odd person out now that each can control two characters. Another really big change is combat. Combat now takes place on a grid, rather than a single line. Weve added a ton of new mechanics that allow for AOE spells, movement across tiles, tile buffs and debuffs, row attacks. There are a lot of ways to take on the baddies of Fahrul.Perfect Party CompositionI like to head out into Fahrul with the Hunter, Herbalist, Busker, and Blacksmith. This gives me a blend of magical and physical damage while getting a good range of flexibility across most stats. After unlocking more characters I do like to run with the Alchemist equipped with the Nimble trait.What Makes For The King II Replayable?Two areas really stick out for me with how replayable and addictive FTKII is. Multiplayer being one, its a great game to hop in and out of with different friend groups, and different playstyles; two, there are so many ways to approach each chapter, or the Dark Carnival that no two runs are ever the same.Thank you for being part of our next chapter, and we hope you enjoy For The King II!

John Carpenters iconic 1982 horror classic The Thing has inspired countless creators over the years, including Computer Artworks, the studio behind 2002s The Thing, a video game adaptation that takes place after the events of the film.In the game, Captain J.F. Blake leads a team of U.S. Special Forces in an investigation of Outpost 31. There, Blake and his crew must defend themselves from hostile alien life, and each other, as infections arise.Despite being released 20 years after the 1982 film, The Thing has become more of a challenge to revisit than its original source of inspiration. While you can easily purchase or stream the film, 2002s The Thing often requires nostalgic gamers to track down a physical copy along with the necessary hardware to play it on.This is where Nightdive comes in with The Thing: Remastered, available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One today. Its a revitalization of the almost-lost game that stays true to the creators original vision. Understanding The Source MaterialNightdives goal is to bring lost and forgotten games like The Thing back from the depths. Not only so people can revisit their favorites on modern platforms like Xbox Series X|S, but also to preserve these games for future generations.Game preservation is something I recently stressed the importance of while writing about Killing Time: Resurrected, and the same remains true for The Thing: Remastered. All games deserve to be preserved, but preservation isnt as simple as applying a fresh coat of paint. One of the challenges in using remasters as a form of preservation is keeping the remaster as faithful to the original as possible.With this in mind, Nightdive worked closely with members of the original Computer Artworks staff, including art director Ron Ashtiani and technical director Mark Atkinson, both of whom are well-versed in the game they helped create and the 1982 film.Id seen the film before the project, but re-watched it multiple times when we started the game, explains Computer Artworks technical director, Mark Atkinson. We wanted to preserve the feel of the movie and what made it scary in terms of a survival horror.For Ron Ashtiani, the movie scared the hell out of me, but also sparked my interest in sci-fi horror. He went on to reflect how ahead of its time the film was. It was made before the days of studios relying on an abundance of CG effects to wow the viewer.In addition to being ahead of its time visually, The Thing benefited from the captivating performance of actors like Kurt Russel and Keith David, and well-written screenplay courtesy of Bill Lancaster.I think one of the reasons The Thing still holds up is due to the lingering mystery at the end who was the Thing? Its a smart movie, a masterclass in cinema, remarks Joel Welsh, art lead on The Thing: Remastered at Nightdive Studios.While its not required to watch The Thing before playing The Thing: Remastered, it does help broaden your knowledge of the peril Captain J.F. Blake and his team face as they explore Outpost 31. Both from alien creatures, and each other.Every scene was carefully detailed to make you wonder and be suspicious about everyone the whole time, says Grover Wimberly IV, Nightdives project manager and producer on The Thing: Remastered. For fans of Nightdive games who havent had a chance to watch The Thing, Id suggest watching before diving into the game.Remastering With The MastersMark Atkinson oversaw many technical aspects with 2002s The Thing in addition to contributing to the games original design and coding alongside Computer Artworks talented team of engineers. Working on The Thing: Remastered with Nightdive, Atkinson took on a similar role.On the remaster, Ron and I were involved from the start, resurrecting the old code and master quality art assets, and helping guide the Nightdive team, e.g. what was intentional vs. where we just ran out of time to polish, notes Atkinson.The remaster adds many significant upgrades in terms of gameplay, level design, UI, HUD etc., which go beyond a simple 4K reskin. Ron and I gave the green light to all of that, as well as consulting Andrew Curtis, the original game designer. In practical terms, I did a significant amount of C++ work as we wanted to really take the opportunity to make the remaster as good as possible.When asked about his experience working on 2002s The Thing, Ashtiani recalls, I joined the art team at Computer Artworks just after the game was fully signed after a successful prototype. Back then, art teams werent siloed into specific fields, but I mainly worked on the environments and built around half of the levels in the game.Again, Ashtiani reprised this hands-on role with The Thing: Remastered: My role with Nightdive has been to co-lead the art team as the vision holder for the look of the game. I worked on setting the art direction for the remaster and ensuring that while we remaster the graphics and art assets, we dont lose the essence of the original game.And this is important, because the essence of the original is inherently special. For the entire team, not just the artists, 2002s The Thing needed to align with the 1982 film, and that took making the most of the technology and tools that were available at the time.We did the best we could with what we had, Ashtiani explains. We put a lot of work into capturing the isolation of the Antarctic and created a host of new and interesting creatures. However, lighting was an area we couldnt match until the remaster.As well as the technical limitations, time constraints also contributed to some of the quirks players encountered in 2002s The Thing, which Atkinson says has been addressed in the remaster.People loved the original game, but had some legitimate complaints, e.g. the scripted burst-outs, the difficulty is uneven, the combat was a little janky, the boss fights werent great, admits Atkinson. We went hard on fixing all that.The Thing: Remastered also benefits from the addition of modern gameplay elements such as third-person aiming, quick select wheels, the ability to use a controller on PC, and more. In terms of difficulty, Atkinson notes, the game is still fairly hard, but not in such an uneven and sometimes frustrating way as the original. Theres also the option now for players to select an easier difficulty setting, further expanding the games approachability.Seconding this, Ashtiani says the remaster is true to 2002s The Thing, but with improved gameplay balancing, control systems, UI improvements, among other quality-of-life adjustments.Graphically, its a big leap forward, Ashiani adds. Weve been able to use all the lighting technology of today, plus higher resolution models and textures. We even managed to add some assets that were cut from the original game, creature variations in particular.A Team EffortHaving a team you can trust is important, not only when attempting to survive in the world of The Thing, but also in developing a quality remaster. Trust, communication, and teamwork between the original developers and the developers at Nightdive Studios were integral in resurrecting 2002s The Thing.We made it a point to make sure Ron and Marks input were taken throughout the development process by consulting and having them at our team meetings when discussing adjustments, enhancements, and fixes to make sure it fit the spirit of the original 2002 release, explains Wimblerly IV.Ron and Mark certainly left their mark, along with the rest of the team, praises Welsh. This is Nightdive/Ataris most ambitious remaster to date, and we hope Xbox players have a blast with it. Just remember: No One Survives Alone!You dont have to take our word for it, though. Whether youre a fan of 2002s The Thing, or simply want to check out a classic game you previously missed out on, youll be able to pay an eventful visit to Outpost 31 when The Thing: Remastered releases on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S today.The Thing: RemasteredNightdive StudiosGet it nowNo One Survives Alone.The 2002 third-person survival horror shooter that serves as a sequel to the genre-defining 1982 film is back, remastered by Nightdive Studios to bring this innovative blend of fast paced squad action meets survival horror to the modern era. Including Antialiasing, Per Pixel Lighting, 4K Resolution and up to 120 FPS.Where the movie ended, the true terror begins. You are Cpt J.F. Blake, leader of a U.S. Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the blood-curdling events and enigmatic deaths of the American scientific team that transpired at the Outpost 31 research facility located in the frozen wastelands of Antarctica. Within these inhospitable surroundings your team encounters a strange shape-shifting alien life-form that assumes the appearance of people that it kills. Trapped by the elements and infected by this horrific entity, using all your team members is critical if you hope to accomplish your objectives, let alone survive. If you only knew which ones were still human

Its time to pack your whip, don your hat and embark on a journey in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, available in early access today for Xbox Series X|S consoles and Game Pass. While lifes greatest adventures rarely come with a manual, a little guidance here and there is often welcomed. As such, the Wire team has assembled some handy, spoiler-free tips, tricks and pointers to get you started on your escapades.Sights, Camera, ActionThe greatest mysteries and perplexing puzzles require documentation, and that rings true throughout Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, in which snapping photos is key. Once youve arrived in the Vatican, youre given the opportunity to purchase a camera, a tool that comes in extremely handy during Indys escapades, not just to progress the story, but to gain experience thatll unlock new perks and skills.Virtual TourismWhen youre in an area that contains a historical artefact or point of interest, a camera prompt will appear on the screen. Take that as a sign to stop and absorb your surroundings, and look for notable design, artefacts or items to get a quick snap of. Doing this contributes to your Adventure Points, which when combined with the various knowledge books that youll find or purchase throughout the world, can be spent on upgrading your skills, everything from melee abilities to stamina capacity. These will come in super handy if youre enjoying being creative with the vast range of melee options on display.Helping The LocalsAs you navigate through lively streets in several locations, youll hear the mumblings of NPCs discussing notable landmarks, or people that theyd like a visual reminder of. Pay close attention, as capturing photos of those places and characters and handing them back to the characters who mentioned wanting that visual can rack up those Adventure Points.Never Be Empty-HandedWhile Indy can and will use just about anything he can get his hands on as a weapon- shovels, dustpans, wooden spoons, flyswatters, hammers sometimes youll find yourself empty handed. Not really though! While your trusty revolver doesnt have a silencer, it does have a quiet mode, by pressing X while your handgun is drawn, Indy will flip the grip, allowing for an effective pistol whip. A word of warning, he can only thwack a fascist a handful of times before the gun will get bent out of shape. Fortunately, you can fix it right up with those Repair Kits youll be finding all over the place.Its Ok To Walk Away (for now)Indiana Jones and the Great Circles levels are densely packed with secrets, puzzles, and treasure, and its well worth your time to chase down all the Mysteries, Discoveries, and Fieldwork you encounter, both for the rewards they yield, and the fact that theyre just plain fun to do. While players will usually find everything they need to open containers such as locked chests close at hand, along the way, intrepid explorers are likely to run into locked doors, dead ends, or other mechanisms they just cant figure out in the moment. In those cases, our counterintuitive advice: keep moving.Often times, following the main thread of a story will result in new areas becoming accessible, doors opening, etc. Additionally, areas teeming with enemies become much more welcoming as Indy collects disguises allowing him to fit in where his trademark fedora makes him stand out. Even better, characters will let you know when you should tidy up loose ends in an area, so until that point, just go with the flow without fear of missing out.Brawn Over BrainsWhile Indys (and therefore your) brain is certainly his strongest weapon, sometimes direct application of force is the best bet. In your travels, you may find little padlocked wooden boxes scattered. Dont bother looking for a key when a hammer will do; if the reticle turns red, try smashing instead! Likewise, a sledgehammer is not only an effective weapon, it can also take down a fragile wall so keep an eye out for crumbling masonry whenever you happen upon one.We hope our guidance proves helpful as you begin your own adventure in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, available in early access today.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Digital Premium EditionBethesda Softworks$99.99Get it nowPre-order now or Play on Game Pass* to receive The Last Crusade Pack with the Traveling Suit Outfit and Lion Tamer Whip, as seen in The Last Crusade. *** Live the adventure with the Premium Edition of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle! INCLUDES: Base Game (digital code) Up to 3-Day Early Access** Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants Story DLC Digital Artbook Temple of Doom Outfit ***Uncover one of historys greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them Indiana Jones. Youll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard. YOU ARE INDIANA JONES Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time. A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, youll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces. WHIP-CRACKING ACTION Indianas trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isnt just a weapon, its Indys most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?*Game Pass members get access to all pre-order content as long as Game Pass subscription is active. **Actual play time depends on purchase date and applicable time zone differences, subject to possible outages. DLC availability to be provided at a later date.

SummaryThe Xbox Year in Review is back!Unlock your personalized Xbox stats from 2024.Discover your most-played game, celebrate your greatest achievements, and more.The Xbox Year in Review is back, and its packed with your most memorable moments of the year. Your personal look back at gaming has returned with brand new features embark on a journey to relive your victories and unforgettable gaming feats.Get a deep dive into your gaming style with personalized data. Access stats like your total time played, total achievements, top genres played, top gameplay month, and more! You can even see what your top 3 most-played games were, and your stats within those games.New for 2024This year, weve added some exciting new features to make your Year in Review even more personal to you:A customized look based on your most-played game.A personalized gamer profile just for you, based on the games you love to play! If youre into epic quests with a sprinkle of magic, youre a Knight Owl. More of a sports champ? Youre a Real MVP, always leading the pack.Multiplayer fans can see the friends they played with most.Dedicated recap sections for Game Pass and Rewards.Brag a LittleOnce youve explored your Year in Review, we bet youll want to show it off. Share your results with a single click (on mobile) and give your followers a glimpse into your gaming prowess.How to Access Your Xbox Year in ReviewHead over to www.Xbox.com/YearinReviewLog in to your Xbox account to access your personalized 2024 gaming journey.Dive into the trends that shaped your gaming experience.Bask in the glory.Share it with friends and celebrate your year!Dont miss out! Your 2024 Year in Review is not just a recap, its a celebration of your gaming journey and were so happy youre here.Visit www.Xbox.com/YearinReview to log in and let the adventure begin. Want to see some of our favorite memories from 2024? Check out our recap here: www.Xbox.com/2024recapThe Xbox Year in Review is available in select markets and will be available until January 31, 2025.

Four weeks of winter to celebrate the season with your favorite holiday features. Then, four weeks of stunts follow with Horizon Extreme.Greet the season with a double whammy! Thats right, we have two content updates coming up: one before and one after the holiday season. Starting December 5 and sledding until January 2, your favorite Horizon Festival holiday specials return, but this time dj scratch its remix of two in Horizon Holiday Mix-up. Gear up and start earning points to unlock four new cars available as your Festival Playlist rewards including the luxury cars, wagons, and more! Two different winter-themed Stadiums will take over during every other week of the Holiday Mix-up. Tis the season of racing! From January 2 until January 30, flips, turns, and twists take over the Horizon Festival in Extreme Horizon, with the return of a special Stadium from Horizon PR Stunt Party and a new reward car to unlock. For our communitys creators, Extreme Horizon will also bring 4 new EventLab Stubs to build on! Get cozy (and greasy) with the new content updates coming to Forza Horizon 5 for this holiday season! Release Notes & Game FixesThe following list details some of the fixes and changes we are implementing with this new update: Fixed the issue causing backfire to appear on the side of the 1970 GMC Jimmy instead of its back Fixed the 2022 Cadillac CT5V Blackwings roll cage obstructing driver and rear window view The logo on the 2021 Lamborghini Sian Roadsters rear wing will no longer appear to be floating The 2022 Gordon Murray T.50 will now appear under the European Hypercar category Fixed an issue with the Unbeatable Street Racing Accolade which didnt match its menu description Fixed an issue with the On The Naughty List Accolade which sometimes wasnt unlocking after photographing the 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV The 2023 Porsche 911 GT3 RS now shows the accurate badge on the wheels, and the silhouette displayed on the infotainment screen has been fixedYou can find a list of issues we are currently investigating here. The Troubleshooting Hub is always open for you to leave any reports you have. Horizon Holidays Mix-up (December 5 January 2)Festival PlaylistA nice quilt and hot cocoa inside a new reward car... is there any better plan for the holidays? A nice quilt and hot cocoa inside a new reward car...is there any better plan for the holidays? To get you started on your winter adventures, we present four reward cars (three new to Horizon) during the four entirely wintry weeks of Horizon Holidays Mix-up, all with four doors and room for a ton of presents. 2024 Nissan Z NISMOComplete the Nissan Eazy Seasonal Championship during Week 1 Winter of the Horizon Holidays Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 5 until December 12.For this season of giving, Nissan gave the Z a racing makeover and a nice little badge that reads NISMO. This not only means the car looks slicker, but it also performs better on the track. To start, the Z NISMO found a new twin-turbo V6 engine that produces 420 reindeerpower, wrapped under the tree with its name on it. Next to it was a handling package that includes Akebono performance brakes and a track-focused suspension. Instead of an itchy festive sweater, Nissans racing division gave the car a new aerodynamic look that evokes the brands past and improves downforce with side spoilers, air splitters, and a rear wing. Unlock and customize this car with the included Liberty Walk Rear Wing and Widebody Kit! 2021 Bentley Flying SpurEarn 20 PTS during Week 1 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 5 until December 12.Chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, and leather is covering your new favorite four-door AWD supercar, the 2021 Bentley Flying Spur. This distinguished gentleman comes with a mighty W-12, twin-turbocharged engine that provides it with 616 reindeerpower. That alone allows the car to reach 100 kph in just over 4.5 seconds. As luxurious as it is powerful, the Flying Spurs interior is covered in high-quality leather and natural wood and metal finishes. If this cars raw power isnt amusing enough, you can also get it with a wi-fi package and, if the track did a number on your back, massaging seats are also available. 2006 Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG WagonEarn 20 PTS during Week 2 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 12 until December 19. With room in the back for an entire team of toy-building elves and an engine you wouldnt expect in a family wagon, the 2006 Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG Wagon might be the car that can do almost anything. Thinking of taking it to the track? Not a problem, the E 55 is equipped with a 5.4-liter, supercharged V8 engine built by hand that produces an astonishing 469 reindeerpower. That translates into a 0-100 kph time of just above 4 seconds and a quarter mile in just 12 seconds. Not only is this certified mom vehicle fast, but its weight distribution and rear-wheel drive allow it to handle amazingly around corners. The holiday season is better enjoyed with family and friends, so give them a surprisingly thrilling ride with the E 55 AMG Wagon. 2022 BMW M5 CSEarn 20 PTS during Week 3 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 19 until December 26.BMWs M division does it again, this time upgrading the M5 and creating the thrilling 2022 BMW M5 CS, the most powerful M production model ever created. For those wondering, CS stands for Competition Sport. This means the lightweight construction with carbon panels, strong V8 engine, and new sports suspension arent just a coincidence. In fact, the car was built with performance in mind, so much so that it can reach 100 kph in just 3 seconds. An all-wheel drive system completes the performance package, putting all the 627 reindeerpower to good use, and the gold accents and wheels make the outside of this car an unmissable sight. Customize even further with AC Schnitzer body parts (a rear bumper, a side skirt, and one of two rear wings!). Drive the fastest and latest in BMWs luxury-performance division with the M5 CS. 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Sport WagonEarn 20 PTS during Week 4 Winter of the Horizon Holiday Mix-up Festival Playlist. Available from December 26 until January 2.Superpowered, super luxurious, and super spacious. The 2014 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon is everything you want in a luxury muscle car with enough room in the back for decorations and presents. The Horizon Festival cant have enough built-for-the-city cars to turn into track or off-road monsters, especially when they are packed with a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine. The biggest highlights of this car are found inside, with bucket seats covered in leather and a huge trunk to pack everything you might need for the holiday season. Transform this family vehicle into a track shredder unlocking it on the Festival Playlist! Lights, Cameras, Outfit!The best films of history come together to celebrate one of the most wonderful times of the year. Usher in the holidays by wearing the Classic Cinema Outfit, which you can earn by completing the Snow Business Seasonal Championship during Week 4 of the Festival Playlist. The 911 Rallye Takes Over a Showcase RemixThe holiday season wouldnt be complete without a ghost or two: the Horizon Holiday Mix-up welcomes a remixed version of the On a Wing and a Prayer Showcase event: The Flying Deutsch-man. Your goal is to drive a Porsche 911 Rallye across multiple environments during different times of day. Revisit one of your first adventures at the Horizon Festival on the third week of the Festival Playlist. The Stadium Gets Festive in Two Different StylesThe Stadium wraps itself in holiday cheer with two different winter-themed transformations taking place during the four winter weeks of the Holiday Remix. On the first and third weeks of Horizon Holiday Remix, enjoy the snow and decorations of the Winter Wonderland Stadium. Enjoy the view and coziness of candy canes, Christmas trees, and snowmen in this returning Evolving World feature. You better have your ice skates ready as the Stadium freezes over to welcome the return of the Ice Rink, complete with hockey pucks, lines, and goals during the second and fourth weeks of the update. Horizon Extreme (January 2 30)After the Horizon Holiday Mix-up ends, the Stadium cleans out the ice and snow and replaces them with the returning Stunt Park. Visit Stunt Park to find ramps, half-pipes, smashable items, and more extreme additions to perform jumps and flips in the air. During the first week of the Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist, explore the Stunt Park to find and smash the returning Dinosaur Pinata Collectible! A Belated Gift for EventLab CreatorsThe new year brings new ways to create events for the community to share and enjoy. Take your creativity to the limit with four new EventLab Build Stubs scattered throughout the Mexico map, available permanently starting January 2: Volcan Build Stub Montaa Build Stub Dunas Blancas Build Stub Sierra Verde Build StubGet a breath of inspiration from these new Stubs and start creating new events! Festival PlaylistFour weeks of extreme flips and stunts deserve a daredevil that can match their freak, and the Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist has exactly that coming up. 1965 DeBerti Chevrolet C10 SlayerEarn 20 PTS during Week 1 Summer Season on the Horizon Extreme Festival Playlist. Available from January 2 until January 9. This DeBerti build is all about extreme numbers: 900 horsepower, 6 wheels, 3 axles, 5 inches of adjustable height, and so much more packed in a car thats as badass as they come. In an effort to get as close as possible to 1,000 bhp while running on regular 93-octane gasoline, a 2020 GM LSX-B15 V8 engine provided by Chevrolet Performance was added as this monsters beating heart. A hydraulic suspension from Mittler Bros allows the driver to lift the car an additional 5 inches, or keep it as close to the ground as possible. Like a warning sign, this car sports red details all over the place to let you know the Slayer name is not a game; it is what this car came to do. Whats Next?Time to flex under the moonlight with Midnight Muscle. This new update brings new events and reward cars, along with the return of the extended night cycle. A new highly requested feature will also let you set your favorite start screen!

As we approach the highly anticipated launch of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered, were diving deep into the series legendary roots, the artistry behind its remaster, and the exciting enhancements Xbox players can look forward to. The Legacy of the Legacy of KainVery few franchises in gaming history boast the narrative depth and artistic ambition of Legacy of Kain. Since its debut in 1996 with Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, the series has delivered an intricate saga of betrayal, destiny, and free will. Among its chapters, Soul Reaver stands out as a groundbreaking entry, weaving the tragic tale of Raziel, a once-loyal lieutenant of Kain, resurrected to seek vengeance against his creator.Soul Reaver introduced players to a hauntingly beautiful world, brimming with gothic architecture, complex puzzles, and a legendary narrative. Its dual-realm exploration, allowing Raziel to shift between the material and spectral planes, was a revolutionary feature together with seamless level streaming that cemented the games place in history. Raziels journey from vengeance to self-discovery resonates even today, making him one of gamings most beloved anti-heroes.Bringing Soul Reaver Back to LifeWe had the opportunity to speak with Monika Erosova, Head of Development for the remaster, about the incredible effort it took to bring Soul Reaver into the modern era. Erosova described the process as a labor of love, with a focus on preserving the essence of the original while reimagining its visuals for modern hardware.The remaster boasts meticulously updated textures, dynamic shadows for characters and objects, and brand-new character models. Raziel and Kain designs, in particular, were treated with care to honor their iconic look while amplifying details such as Raziels tattered wings now having translucent edges.We aimed to match their looks from their highly detailed FMV render models, but also made sure that they will still fit within the in-game world, Erosova said, highlighting that preserving the original lighting played a critical role in creating the remasters atmospheric tone, ensuring Nosgoth feels as eerie and immersive as ever. The addition of the day and night cycle further enhances this and provides a more varied gameplay experience when returning to the areas you visited previously.The original Soul Reaver FMV intro is perhaps one of the most legendary introductions into a video game ever. However, the original game release had severely limited resolution and simply does not hold up on modern screens anymore.My dream was always to be able to update it one day and that has finally come to fruition! exclaimed Erosova. The archive provided us with the necessary source files and while some parts were missing and had to be remade, it was enough for us to be able to fully reconstruct the FMV in HD graphics. It was not an easy feat, but we pushed through until we were able to render all the scenes in highest fidelity. We hope that fans will enjoy this latest version of the iconic FMV just as we do.Being an artist at heart, Erosova felt straight at home in her role on this project: I simply love texture archaeology. I collected a vast library of reference books during my modding days so I was able to apply all my in-depth knowledge of the Soul Reaver games and also managed to find even more source textures than ever before, making the Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered superior to any of my previous modding work, becoming the definitive experience.She also mentioned the people who have been her inspiration for all these years: It would definitely have to be Amy Hennig, Daniel Cabuco, basically the whole Soul Reaver team. I would like to send special thanks to Daniel for being such an amazing mentor figure without his advice I would not be where I am as an artist!Recreating the FMV, however, was not the only improvement included in this release.The team also added many quality-of-life improvements such as customizable controls with camera movement on the right analogue stick or a mouse if you prefer, the photo mode, a cutscene skipper (super useful for repeated playthroughs), multi-language support with subtitles, extensive Bonus Materials section and much more. We even managed to restore the dynamic music which was missing in the original pc release of Soul Reaver! Erosova adds. These games would not be the same without the atmospheric music of Kurt Harland and the way it reacts in real time to the players experiences in the game.Erosova is also a devoted fan of the series and has shared her love of Raziel through cosplay and countless many projects such as the most recent artbook called The Art of Soul Reaver, created several texture mods for both Tomb Raider and Soul Reaver games, and regularly posts lore videos on YouTube on her The Ancients Den channel co-maintained by her fellow lore master, Bazielim, who is also well known figure in the Legacy of Kain community.Features OverviewEnhanced Gameplay: Quality-of-life updates include a fan favorite feature Photo Mode and a brand-new map and compass system, designed to aid exploration without sacrificing the games intentionally challenging navigation.Achievements and Trophies: A fully fleshed-out achievement list gives players new goals to strive for as they traverse the decaying Nosgoth.Xbox-Specific Features: Optimized for Xbox consoles, this remaster includes 4K resolution support, faster load times, and enhanced framerates and textures.Additionally, the Bonus Materials Menu allows players to dive deeper into the Soul Reaver universe. From the restored Lost Levels to the reimagined maps of Nosgoth and never-before-seen artwork, this remaster celebrates every facet of the games legacy.Whether youre returning to Nosgoth or visiting it for the first time, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered promises an unforgettable journey.Pre-order now on Xbox and prepare to unleash Raziels vengeance on December 10, 2024!Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 RemasteredAspyr$26.99Pre-orderPre-order now to save 10%!Celebrate Soul Reavers 25th AnniversaryExperience the epic conflict of Kain and Raziel in original form or with remastered graphics.Included Game TitlesLegacy of Kain: Soul ReaverLegacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2Experience the Legendary NarrativeCenturies after your former master, Kain, betrays and executes you, you rise again and embark on a relentless quest for revenge. Wield the Powers of a WraithSlay your former vampire brethren with your claws, bolts of telekinetic energy, and the elemental Wraith Blade. Grow stronger by devouring the souls of your enemies.Shift Between RealmsThe Elder God has granted you the ability to shift between the Spectral and Material Realms. Traverse the realms to solve puzzles, reveal new paths, and defeat your foes.

King of Meat: Lights, Camera, ALPHA! Were excited to invite Xbox Insiders on Xbox Series X|S to the world of Loregok for the first time from December 4 through December 14. This confidential alpha will give players in North America and Europe (full list of available regions below) an early look at King of Meat. Step into the role of fearless Contenders battling through ridiculous dungeons, build devious creations, and outshine everyone with dazzling custom appearances. Limited space is available so join now before it fills up.About the Game:King of Meat is a colorful combat spectacle that pits Contenders against creative dungeon masterpieces. With a combination of creative co-op combat, user-generated dungeons, and ridiculous customization options, King of Meat brings countless possibilities to express your own creativity. Build your own dungeons to challenge other players, outsmart other Contenders and their cunning puzzles, or team up with your friends and fellow Contenders to defeat skeletons, trolls, and other ridiculous monsters. Or just outshine them all with your dazzling custom appearance.If you want to learn more, please visit the Official King of Meat Website!Playtest Times:Start: Wednesday December 4, 10:00 AM PT (1:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM GMT)End: Saturday December 14, 1:00 PM PT (4:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM GMT)How to Participate:Sign-in on your Xbox Series X|S console andlaunch the Xbox Insider Hubapp (or install the Xbox Insider Hub from the Store first if necessary)Navigate toPreviews > King of Meat Closed AlphaSelectJoinWait for the registration to complete and be directed to the Store and install King of Meat Closed AlphaNOTE:Limited space is available and offered first-come first-served.NOTE:This playtest is only available on Xbox Series X|S consoles.NOTE: This playtest is only available for Xbox Insiders in the regions below.North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoEuropeAustriaBelgiumCzech RepublicDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIrelandItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalSlovakiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandTurkeyUnited KingdomHow to Provide Feedback:If you experience any issues while playing King of Meat Closed Alpha, dont forget to use Report a problem so we can investigate:Hold down the home button on your Xbox controller.SelectReport a problem.Select theGamescategory andKing of Meat Closed Alpha subcategory.Fill out the form with the appropriate details to help our investigation.Other resources:For more information: follow us on X/Twitter at@XboxInsiderand this blog for announcements and more. And feel free to interact with the community on theXbox Insider SubReddit.

The holiday season is upon us once more. Its a time for giving, merriment, joy, and maybe a little gaming! Whether youre shopping for a loved one or treating yourself, our Designed for Xbox partners products are the perfect choice. Need a new controller like the latest Razer Wolverine V3 Pro to enhance your gameplay over the winter break? Maybe an audio upgrade with the Arctic Gamebuds or the Corsair Virtuoso Max? Perhaps its the right moment to set up that simulation rig youve been dreaming of! Whatever your gaming needs, our Designed for Xbox Holiday Gift Guide has got you covered. Youll find a variety of options in form factor, price range, and categories to take your gaming to the next level.As always, the Designed for Xbox team wishes you good health and a fantastic holiday season.Ultimate ControlPowerA FUSION Pro Wireless ControllerThe PowerA FUSION Pro Wireless Controller for Xbox Series X|S with Lumectra is a game-changer you need to see to believe! With Lumectra Ghost RGB LED lighting, Quick-Twist Thumbsticks (patent pending) adjustable to three heights, and Hall Effect Modules for precision and reliability, this controller is packed with features. Enjoy low latency wireless, four mappable buttons, and up to 30 hours of battery life. Plus, it includes a magnetic charger, 10-foot USB-C cable, display stand, and protective case.The PowerA FUSION Pro Wireless Controller is available for purchase for $149.99 USD ERP. Visit PowerA for more information.PDP REALMz Minecraft Diamond Print Wireless ControllerExperience gaming like never before with the Minecraft Diamond Print REALMz Wireless Controller! Perfect for Minecraft fans, this one-of-a-kind controller features a collectible Steve figurine inside the grip and a cool diamond design. With a 30-foot wireless range, and up to 40 hours of play time, its built for marathon mining sessions. Take your gameplay to the next level with dual rumble motors, programmable buttons, customizable LED lighting and built-in volume controls. Plus, it includes an exclusive in-game digital code for the Minecraft Time Flies tee!The PDP REALMz Minecraft Wireless Controller is available today for $79.99 USD ERP. Visit PDP for more information.Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Esports Controller for Xbox & PCElevate your gaming experience this holiday season with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Controller. Featuring Razer Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons and D-Pad for responsive, accurate control, this controller ensures you stay ahead of the competition. Customize your gameplay with six remappable multi-function buttons and trigger stops for rapid-fire accuracy. Enjoy seamless connectivity with both wired and wireless modes, and up to 30 hours of battery life. Complete with Chroma RGB lighting for a personalized touch.The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Esports Controller is available for $199.99 USD ERP. Visit Razer for more information.MSI Force Pro Wireless S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 EditionMSI and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl have joined forces to release the exclusive Force Pro Wireless S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Edition, a co-branded gaming controller that embodies the unique color scheme of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 universe. This controller, Designed for Xbox, supports Tri-mode connection, enabling 2.4GHz wireless connectivity to PC, 5.2 Bluetooth connection to Android devices, and a wired connection to Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. It features 3-level precise Hall effect triggers, 4 remappable rear buttons, and 4 vibration motors for immersive haptic feedback. Players can personalize their experience using the included accessories and MSI Center software, allowing for easy customization of the controllers appearance and performance. Elevate your gaming setup and dive deeper into the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 with this exceptional collaboration!The MSI Force Pro Wireless Controller S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Edition is available for $139.99 USD ERP. Visit MSI for more information.GameSir T7 Wired Controller for XboxThe GameSir T7 stands out with its blend of affordability, durability, functionality, and striking design. It features anti-drift Hall Effect sticks and precision-tuned Hall Effect triggers, ensuring smooth and reliable gameplay for up to 5 million cycles. With four rumble motors, the T7 delivers immersive, lifelike feedback that brings every game to life. Its ergonomic design, matte-textured surface, and laser-textured grips guarantee comfort and control during extended sessions. With a unique color palette and subtle translucency, it offers a high-tech, premium look crafted for modern players. Quickly switch profiles on the fly to seamlessly transition between different games and gaming styles, making it the ideal companion for any player.The GameSir T7 Wired Controller for Xbox is available in three eye-catching colors Creamsicle White, Ruby Red, and Sapphire Blue for $34.99 USD ERP. Visit GameSir for more information.Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Smart Controller for PC & XboxThe Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot controller introduces unique rotating button/stick modules so players can easily switch from a traditional FPS layout to other configurations suited to fighting, racing, and other game types. It connects to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One as an advanced wired controller, and also works with PCs in wireless or wired mode, and with compatible Android 8.0+ smart TVs via Bluetooth. The Connected Command Display lets players easily check social notifications and customize the controllers settings. With AntiDrift thumbsticks, adjustable triggers, four mappable buttons, and Pro-Aim Focus Mode, the Stealth Pivots got it all. Plus, the Turtle Beach Control Center 2 app lets players fine-tune everything from EQ presets to vibration feedback. The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot is available for $129.99 USD ERP. Visit Turtle Beach for more information.Hyperkin DuchesSThe Hyperkin DuchesS wired controller is a nostalgic replica of the original Xbox Controller S. It features hall effect sticks for high precision controls, impulse triggers for immersive feedback, a share button to showcase your epic moments, immersive vibration, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a 10 ft. detachable USB-C cable for low latency and fast responsive gaming. Its compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10|11. The DuchesS offers a classic design, for modern gaming!The Hyperkin DuchesS controller is available in both Black and White for $49.99 USD ERP. Visit Hyperkin for more information.Audio UpgradesSteelSeries Arctis GameBuds for XboxThe SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are designed to give you an amazing gaming experience across multiple devices with crystal-clear sound and ultra-low latency 2.4GHz wireless, plus Bluetooth 5.3 for mobile. They feature Active Noise Cancellation to block out background noise, letting you focus entirely on your game. With over 100 audio presets, you can customize your sound to fit any game or mood. Stay gaming for up to 10 hours per use, with 3 full extra charges in the case. You can even charge them wirelessly for added convenience. With different sized ear tips to ensure the perfect fit for everyone, theyre super comfy for long gaming sessions and come with a built-in microphone for chatting with your squad. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds for Xbox are available for $159.99 USD ERP. Visit SteelSeries for more information.Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Wireless Multiplatform Gaming HeadsetThe Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 500 redefines what an entry-level wireless headset is capable of. With the Stealth 500, players can connect to Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One over a lossless 2.4GHz wireless connection, then simply hit the QuickSwitch button to toggle and connect to Windows PCs, other consoles, and mobile gaming devices via Bluetooth 5.2. Precision-tuned, amplified 40mm drivers and extensive audio tuning via Turtle Beachs Swarm II app deliver ultra-clear, customizable audio optimized for spatial sound, while a floating headband and memory foam cushions provide ultra-lightweight comfort. The Stealth 500 also lets players chat with ultra-clear voice accuracy through its omni-directional flip-to-mute microphone and has a whopping 40-hour battery life.Grab the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 Multiplatform Gaming Headset for $79.99 USD ERP. Visit Turtle Beach for more information.Corsair VIRTUOSO MAX for XboxThe VIRTUOSO MAX Wireless Gaming Headset for Xbox is designed to provide an exceptional audio experience. Equipped with 50mm Graphene drivers that deliver super clear and precise sound, this headset ensures you hear every detail in your games. Additionally, it includes a Dolby Atmos for headphones license, which creates an immersive audio environment, making the game audio feel as if the action is happening all around you. The headset also features active noise cancellation, eliminating distractions and allowing for uninterrupted gameplay. With support for dual-wireless connectivity with your smartphone and up to 60 hours of battery life (with RGB off), the VIRTUOSO MAX ensures extended gaming sessions while maintaining connectivity to the outside world. The Corsair VIRTUOSO MAX Wireless Gaming Headset for Xbox is available for $329.99 USD ERP. Visit Corsair for more information.Logitech G ASTRO A50 (Gen 5) LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base StationA50 (Gen 5) LIGHTSPEED Wireless + Base Station is made to play. With PLAYSYNC AUDIO, you can connect and quickly switch between multiple gaming systems including Xbox Series X|S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC and more, all from a single button on the headset. PRO-G GRAPHENE audio drivers achieve unprecedented clarity and precision, critical for full immersion and in-game decision making. 24-bit LIGHTSPEED delivers the highest levels of wireless performance, and the 48 kHz high-res microphone provides broadcast quality sound for your voice. A50 LIGHTSPEED Wireless + Base Station is a breakthrough in design and engineering for the ultimate multi-platform console gaming experience.The Logitech G ASTRO A50 (Gen 5) LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming Headset + Base Station is available for $299.99 USD ERP. Visit Logitech G for more information. Adaptive SetupsByoWave Proteus ControllerThe ByoWave Proteus Controller officially launched this year at gamescom 2024, and it is an absolute game changer. This modular controller lets you customize your gaming experience like never before. With a jaw-dropping 100 million different combinations, you can adjust the controller to fit your play style perfectly. Whether you like playing with one hand or two, prefer a vertical or horizontal layout, or want a wide or compact design, the Proteus Controller has got you covered. Plus, its super easy to snap together the pieces and save your favorite setups for different games. Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows 10|11, its a perfect gift for players who want flexibility and fun.The ByoWave Proteus Controller is available for $299 USD ERP. Visit ByoWave for more information.8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller for XboxThe 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller for Xbox is specifically designed for gamers with limited mobility playing on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows platforms. It features highly sensitive buttons and joysticks, ensuring ease of use and an enjoyable gaming experience. Additionally, it includes large, programmable Super Buttons that can be customized on-the-fly without any additional software. It also incorporates a 3.5mm audio jack and a non-slip mat to ensure stability during gameplay. With its lightweight design, compact form factor, and impressive battery life, this controller is ideal for gaming in various settings.The 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller for Xbox is available for $59.99 USD ERP. Visit 8BitDo for more information.Specialized ControlsVictrix Pro KO Leverless Fight StickKnock out the competition with the fully customizable Victrix Pro KO Leverless Fight Stick for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Ensure precise hits with reliable and hot-swappable Cherry MX Speed Silver RGB switches, ideal for clutch moments. Designed to fit your play style, the Victrix Pro KO includes customizable lighting, 16 moveable and mappable buttons, button organizers for easy transportation, plus a control bar for swift adjustments. For those who love to mod, youll appreciate the removable aluminum top plate allowing you to adjust button positions or change to your preferred switches. Elevate your gaming and compete at a professional level today.Pre-order the Victrix Pro KO Leverless Fight Stick now for $249.99 USD ERP and receive it in time for the holidays. Visit Turtle Beach for more information.Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One Microsoft Flight Simulator EditionIf youre ready to awaken your inner pilot, the T.Flight Hotas One Microsoft Flight Simulator Edition is your ticket to the skies! Perfect for both Xbox Series X|S and PC, this joystick makes flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and other flight simulation games super easy. With its official Microsoft Flight Simulator license, it brings realistic flying sensations right into your living room. Adjust the resistance of your joystick and enjoy the detachable throttle just how you like for extra comfort. Plus, its plug-and-play, so you can start your flight adventure fun without any setup hassle.The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One Microsoft Flight Simulator Edition is available for $99.99 USD ERP. Visit Thrustmaster for more information.MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for XboxThe MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedal Bundle for Xbox includes everything you need for an amazing racing experiencethe R3 base with powerful 3.9 Nm direct drive power, ES steering wheel made for Xbox, and SR-P Lite pedals. Its super easy to set up with plug-and-play functionality, so you can start racing right away on your Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or PC. The R3 base is sturdy, made from aluminum alloy, and has a smart cooling system to keep things running smoothly. The ES wheel is built to last with its sturdy grips and metal frame, and you can quickly swap wheels thanks to its clever design. The SR-P Lite pedals are super responsive, giving you precise control over your driving. Plus, with colorful lights and 22 programmable buttons, customizing your race has never been this fun.The MOZA R3 Racing Wheel and Pedals for Xbox are available for $399.99 USD ERP. Visit MOZA for more information.Level Up Your SetupThe 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard and Retro R8 Mouse Xbox Edition are officially licensed Xbox peripherals that bring the nostalgia of the original Xbox console to modern PC setups. Inspired by the iconic Transparent Green Edition of the OG Xbox, these devices blend retro aesthetics with advanced functionality. The keyboard features an independent control panel, finely tuned crystal-green keycaps, programmable Super Buttons, and customizable RGB lighting. The mouse boasts a seamlessly integrated charging dock, programmable buttons, and ambidextrous support for left- and right-handed use. Together, they deliver a cohesive and stylish experience for PC gaming and productivity.Pre-order the 8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard for $119.99 USD ERP and the Retro R8 Mouse Xbox Edition for $59.99 USD ERP. Visit 8BitDo for more information.WD_BLACK C50 2TB Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|SWith all the incredible game launches this year, your Xbox Series X|S game library is expanding rapidly! The WD_BLACK C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox now offers up to 2TB* of additional space! Designed specifically for Xbox, this card has a superspeed NVMe SSD core, making your gaming experience smoother and faster. Thanks to the Xbox Velocity Architecture, the WD_BLACK C50 Storage Expansion Card for Xbox delivers blazing-fast performance similar to your consoles internal SSD. Plus, with Quick Resume support, you can jump between multiple games in no time.The WD_BLACK C50 2TB* Expansion Card for Xbox is available for $249.99 USD ERP. Visit Western Digital for more information.* 1GB = 1 billion bytes and 1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.The Hisense C2 Ultra projector is packed with premium gaming features like Auto Low Latency Mode and MEMC technology to give you super smooth gameplay. Play your favorite games with crystal-clear 4K UHD resolution and a 240-frame refresh rate on basically any flat surface around your house. It has a huge projection size range from 65 to 300 inches and can adjust to fit perfectly in any space. The integrated JBL speakers deliver booming audio that makes you feel like youre gaming in a movie theater. Whether youre a player or just love watching movies, the C2 Ultra is the ultimate gift for top-notch picture and sound quality.The Hisense C2 Ultra TriChroma Mini Projector for Xbox is now available for $2,499.99 USD ERP. Visit Hisense for more information.Just like this year, 2025 is shaping up to be another incredible for hardware with new and exciting products to help taking your gaming to the next level, stay tuned! From all of us at Designed for Xbox, have a great holiday and a happy New Year!

News of an eerie new biome has been spreading across Minecraft.net for weeks, and now were getting reports that this biome and its mysteries are playable Minecraft Bedrock and Java Edition today! The Garden Awakens drop has landed meaning players the world over will be able to explore this eerie new biome, meet the creaking, uncover the secrets of the creaking heart, build with new blocks, row away in pale oak boats, trim armor with resin, decorate their base with hanging moss, and more.But first, this special broadcast direct from the pale garden:Oh dear. That was a bit ominous, wasnt it? Now, luckily, I am a professional investigative Minecrafter, and I take my investigations very seriously. So Im not going to let something like a thrilling trailer stop me from stepping into the pale garden myself, and putting an end to all this speculation about creakings in the nightDiscover the pale gardenThe first thing I can confirm, dear reader, is that the pale garden is definitely pale. Filled with pale oak trees and veiled in pale hanging moss this entire biome looks like someone turned the saturation on my screen down to single digits. But unlike the reports coming in that something troublesome lurks in the pale garden, Ive found no mobs at all! Ive been collecting pale oak logs since the sun came up and I havent stumbled across a single pig, chicken, or cow. So clearly, reports of a hostile inhabitant in this new biome were all villager gossip! Build with new blocksEquipped with bundles of pale oak, I think the next step of my in-depth investigation is going back to my base to add a brand-new pale oak wing. With all the new blocks in this drop you can build with pale oak bricks, remaster your roof with pale oak stairs, float across the ocean in a pale oak boat you get the picture. Theres an entire pale oak wood set!Now all I have to do is find my way out of this biomeFollow the eyeblossomsI might have lost track of time but the good news is I still have six bundles filled with pale moss carpet and pale oak logs! The bad news is that Im definitely lost in the pale garden, and theres an odd sound coming from somewhere. Luckily, its not completely dark in here Ive discovered something called eyeblossoms, a rare flower that only spawns in the pale garden and blooms at night in a puff of orange particles. On closer inspection, Ive discovered that this flower can be used for dye, too! Gosh, I am nailing this investigation.Armed with my bundles, my plan is to follow this trail of eyeblossoms so I can exit the pale garden as quickly as possible. Whats odd is that sometimes, from a distance, these blooming flowers almost look like eyes?UPDATE DEAR READER: THOSE WERE EYES. I SEEM TO HAVE COME FACE TO FACE WITH A CREAKING.Meet the creakingCreakings are hostile mobs that call the pale garden home, and if youre unlucky enough to stumble upon one, then make sure you keep your eyes on them! The creaking wont move while youre staring at it, but look away and its sure to follow. But have no fear, reader! I have my trusty axe with me, and Ill defeat this hostile mob in one, fell, swoop!This is why being an investigative Minecrafter is both good and bad. My desperate investigations have quickly shown that hitting the creaking with an axe does very little although it does send a smattering of particles shooting out in odd directions. I promise Ill investigate those particles more thoroughly as soon as Ive won this staring contest with the creaking. Dont blink, Sophie. DontUncover its secretsSome careful manoeuvring and some even more careful staring has revealed a new, living block the creaking heart! Im sure this block is linked to the creaking in some way, but unfortunately this is where my courage has run out, dear reader. Its getting darker and darker, and now I can hear other hostile mobs spawning around me. I wont end this report on a respawn screen! I refuse!Play the drop today and maybe you can find me! I just needEditors note: Sophie never came back to work to finish this article. I hope she knows she has to submit holiday requests in advance? Looks like Ill have to hand over this adventure to another writer.Get ready to expect the unexpected the story continues tomorrow

Prepare for an Incredible Holiday Season! Black Ops Season 01 Reloaded: Incoming IntelIn the mid-season update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the French Syndicate continue their operation to overthrow the Luttazzi Crime Family with assistance from Sevati Sev Dumas and other Rogue Black Ops Operators seeking to expel the group from Avalon. If the mission is successful, the French Syndicate can next turn their muscle against Pantheon.Nows the time to complete the heist, getting rid of the Luttazzis for good. Do it all with a smile as the mid-season also celebrates the holiday season with the return of CODMAS, featuring Nuketown Holiday and limited time modes (LTMs) like Ran-Snack, Infectious Holiday, Slay Ride Resurgence, and more.Meanwhile, youll encounter old allies and investigate new haunts in Zombies, uncovering powerful new weapons and heretical adversaries in Citadelle des Morts!Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 01 Reloaded arrives imminently, on Thursday, December 5 at 9AM PT, across all platforms.Season 01 Reloaded ZombiesZOMBIES CONTENT SUMMARYCitadelle des Morts: Encounter an unexpected ally and investigate an ominous medieval fortress in Avalon, as the zombie hordes threaten to overwhelm you!Additional Equipment: Research and utilize new powers courtesy of four elemental Wonder Weapons, the Vulture Aid Perk-a-Cola, Light Mend Ammo Mod, and Tesla Storm Field Upgrade. Plus, new GobbleGums and more!Modes Aplenty: Liberty Falls gets hellishly festive, Directed Mode comes to Citadelle des Morts later in-season, and the Zombies Training Course arrives for new players to cut their teeth on.One of Avalons oldest landmarks, the Citadel is shunned by locals both for its sinister history and because it is a base of operations for the crime family known as the French Syndicate. The castle was established in the 1100s on the site of a leper colony, and construction was completed a century later. In the 1300s, the renegade knight Guy de Saint Michel and his four enforcers took over the fortress and instituted a criminal reign of terror that birthed the Syndicate.Having withstood medieval sieges and two world wars, the castles prominence waned as modern-day Avalon grew and prospered. Now it is closed to the public, housing a Syndicate crew led by a man named Franco whose dealings with Project Janus have brought a dark disaster upon a place already soaked in blood.Welcome to Citadelle des Morts.After the events of Terminus, Weaver, Maya, Carver, and Greyalong with Peck, Raptor One, and Straussembark on an expedition to the European principality of Avalon, hoping to rendezvous and ally with a luminary named Gabriel Krafft. There the Operators hope to learn more about an ancient relic known as the Sentinel Artifact, which in turn, when its power is harnessed, may be able to save Samantha Maxis from her aethereal imprisonment.It is an overcast Avalon dawn. A light mist rises from the wet ground, as the crew arrives at the site of the derelict castle. A reunion with an old colleague provides confirmation that S.A.M.'s intel was sound, and that Francoa local French Syndicate Crime Boss and the focus of Maya's revengeis on site, with Krafft as his hostage.Unfortunately, theres very little time for catching up. Dimensional breaches start to form around the citadel, and a major zombie outbreak threatens to overwhelm and devour the entire team.This brand-new Zombies map experience launches at the start of Season 01 Reloaded, on Thursday, December 5, at 9AM PT.It is good to see you, my friend. You remind me of the purpose I once had. RavenovAway from the carnage are your Handlers; expect radio contact with Peck, the newest member of the team (Sergei Ravenov), and S.A.M., while Raptor One and Oskar Strauss stand ready to provide Exfil services, just so long as Strausss incessant fiddling with the helicopters instrumentation panels doesnt kill them both.Before learning of the new ways you can defeat the zombie hordes, it is worth gaining some perspective regarding the history of this place. The Citadel has had many names and roles over many lifetimes:750 A.D. Abbaye des OublisEarliest records show construction of The Abbey of the Forgotten. Serving as a leprosariumor leper colonywith those afflicted by the horrific disease being cared for by a Benedictine monastic order.1137 1220 A.D. Citadelle de la ReineAdelaide of Murienne (10921154), Queen of France and widow of the recently-deceased Louis VI, begins construction of a keep on the site of the Abbey, which had suffered its first abandonmentafter the infamous leper revoltin the preceding decades. At the base of the rock outcropping that the keep sits on, a village to house the hundreds of artisans working on the project begins to take shape. Most of the building materials are scavenged from the structure of the old Abbey. Construction concludes in 1220.1314 A.D. Relique des TempliersJacques du Molay, the last Grandmaster of the Knights Templar, is burned at the stake for heresy in Paris. Surviving members of the order scramble to hide relics gathered during the Crusades. A lone knight rides south, carrying [[REDACTED]], once owned by Abdul [[REDACTED]], said to be able to [[REDACTED]] and even capable of [[REDACTED]] itself! Once at the keep, using a ritual learned from [[REDACTED]] [[REDACTED]], he [[REDACTED]] andGuy de Saint Michel along withhis four enforcers ruled[[REDACTED]], the descendants now [[REDACTED]] [[REDACTED]].Obviously, such [[REDACTED]] is considered apocryphal.1533 A.D. Nouveau PropritaireAfter Avalon is declared a free state by Papal order, the entire principality is granted to a powerful family now known as the French Syndicate.1939-1945 A.D. Tombeaudes TempliersThough Avalon stayed neutral during World War II, the Citadelle itself suffered several hits by off-target bombers over the course of the conflict, inflicting major damage to many internal chambers.Current Day. Citadelle des MortsNowadays, the abandoned Citadelle is mostly used by the French Syndicate. A convenient location to make inconvenient problems disappear, and enough off the beaten track to serve as a depot for their illicit smuggling and narcotic manufacturing activities.A recent survey of the fortification and its vicinity reveals the first details regarding possible exploration choices. What additional secrets could this castle contain?Town SquareThe central hub of the fortified village sitting below the main castle parapets, this squarewhich appears to have suffered damage centered around a vehicle fireis dominated by a fountain with a large and imposing stone statue. To the southeast is an impressive example of a medieval bell tower, and a portcullis gate on opposing walls offer two ways to explore further. Directly across is access to the Tavern.Tavern and CellarFrom casks of ale to expensive bottles of rouge and blanc wines, Le Maison de Macon (Masons House) used to offer a tranquil and authentic pub experience. Inside, the L-shaped ground floor features a banquet table, impressively large wooden bar, plenty of booth and table seating, and a mezzanine games room with a pool table. The restrooms are most definitely out of order.Village Ascent and Upper VillageShafts of sunlight are beginning to pierce the fog-filled alleyways of the village, casting light on the vile aftermath of a zombie incursion. Blood seeps into the cobblestone streets, and the main path ascends from the lower gate to a small forecourt and well (it may be pointless wishing for good luck).Nature Path and HilltopOpen the western gate, and an alternate path to the ramparts can be ascended, though theres nothing natural about the inhabitants encroaching on this farmyard trail. Pass the ruins of a tower, and a stone barn and stables, the animals long-since bolted. Climb past the tiered stone buttress walls to the Hilltop, offering once-idyllic, now horrific views of the castle, surrounding fields, and encroaching shamblers.Citadelle Courtyard, Village, and Hillside RampartsIvy snakes around the grand entrance edifices, and the interior of the keep seems firmly sealed. Explore either of the ramparts before venturing onto the outer battlements of the castle. Its here youll discover an ornate and fearsome cannon, sculpted into the head of a roaring lion.Entrance HallEntering the citadel, an imposing, cathedral-like entrance vestibule beckons, once resplendent with tapestries and torches, now only crumbling walls and graffiti-daubed alcoves remain. A central stone staircase leads to a carved dragon bust, under what was once the castles coat of arms. Both petroleum lamps and construction floodlights bathe the hall in an eerie glow and hint at the horrors ahead.Sitting RoomsAnother impressively sized room within the citadel, the interior walls are seemingly unstable and held together by scaffold poles and luck. Past the perimeter torches, the chamber shows evidence of recent activity with bunk beds and desks sitting next to an ancient wood-carved fireplace.Dining HallIdeally any feasting going on in this derelict chamber wont feature your own entrails as the main course, though there are many nooks, balconies, and entrances to be caught unawares during an undead ambush. The Main Hall remains an imposing chamber to explore, despite the complete collapse of its ceiling likely caused by the unexploded WW2 bomb that now protrudes from the pile of rubble at its center.DungeonIn the deepest, darkest levels of this fortress is a place of torture, and the surgical blades, thick chains, car batteries, lump hammers, and chairs with restraint harnesses suggest this despicable practice has continued into modern times. The French Syndicate have a rudimentary communications set up here along with generators and a basic bookkeeping desk. Perhaps theyre logging the prisoners kept in the filthy jail cells that span the outer walls of this disturbing place.Undercroft and Oubliette RoomA vaulted ceiling in the subterranean cellars of the castle is leaking what you hope is just rainwater, partially flooding the lowest levels of the place, and this crypt is perhaps a location one doesnt linger at for long. Old paintings, strange statuary, stacked gravestones, and an impromptu game of chess, now fully concluded if the state of the players is anything to go by.Deeper still within the Dungeon lie secrets better left forgotten. A lower dungeonor Oublietteprovides damp and damning discoveries, and the earthen-floored chamber contains shelves of chemicals, barrels of hazardous materials, and a table where illicit drug manufacturing appears to be under way.Roughly translated as double horror from the original German and old English respectively, these tormented ghouls are pale imitations of something that looks human but most certainly isnt, not least because the entity sports two screaming skulls, rotting flesh stretched across each of them, seared into a sinewy and pockmarked torso of pallid gray skin, tendrils and protruding entrails.Serving as the next stage in the evolutionary chain of Dark Aether metamorphosis, Doppelghasts are violent and display erratic and unsettling movement, as if each head is independently fighting for control of its body. It lurches, randomly knots itself up to perform fast and unexpected maneuvers and tends to outrun its lesser brethren using its powerful, elongated feet.Though hunched and twisted, Doppelghasts are still one-and-a-half times as tall as most humans. They prefer to launch from the shadows or emerge from a horde of lesser undead. It is wise not to underestimate the creatures abilities when cornered. Aside from rapid melee strikes, where it lashes out with its many tendrils and appendages, it can burst forth an array of sharp, bloody needles to disrupt incoming attacks. If they pierce flesh, the needles cause not only lacerating damage but attack the targets nervous system, leading to hallucinations.Should a weak point be discovered and a Doppelghast finally succumbs, you may want to stand back as the final explosion of blood and gore is as revolting as it is spectacular.Other Entities of the CitadelleThe packs of lesser undead roaming the environment are mainly comprised of local townsfolk, farmers, and laborers, now in various stages of decomposition, with tougher enemies occasionally sporting French Syndicate insignia on their blood-soaked attire.Additional entities observed within the vicinity of the castle include scuttling Vermin, airborne Parasites, and grotesque appendage-flailing behemoths known as Amalgams.While its exact nature is shrouded in mystery, it appears that four powerful elemental weapons may be forged from a claymore known as The Bastard Sword, through unknown means.The Bastard Sword itself is a formidable melee weapon, splitting the filth-filled undead into cleaved chunks with a devastating slash, along with a defensive parry, particularly useful when blocking incoming projectiles. However, this claymore can be transformed into one of four elemental Wonder Weapons, each with a unique and devastating special attack, as well as a passive effect that is powered up over time:Caliburn: Dragons FireCreate a fiery maelstrom of burning undead flesh, setting zombies alight and summoning an immense fireball.Durendal: Stag of the StormsSummon thunderous power from the skies, discharging voltaic power to stun and stagger, before an electrical beam serves up a severe searing.Balmung: Ravens ShadowCast your rotting foes into the Aetherial abyss, warping nearby enemies with a focused liminal tear.Solais: Lion of LightThe warmth of Light courses through you as you send foes screaming into darkness.Main Quest Active and Quest Rewards: The Main Quest for Citadelle des Morts will be live at the same time as the map launches, on December 5. Complete the Main Quest successfully, and your rewards include the Jackknife Operator Skin for Weaver, 5,000 XP, and a unique Calling Card only available by completing the Quest before Directed Mode is released for Citadelle des Morts!Oil Trap: A medieval method of dissuading attackers storming the outer parapets, overturning huge vats of boiling oil atop a battlement onto a horde of advancing zombies has the exact same end results, made even more potent if a Molotov Cocktail is thrown into the mixThe Lion Cannon: A giant, ornate bronze lion cannon on a large rotating cog platform dominates the outer battlements of the fortress and provides a spectacular means to enter the keep. What would happen if you climbed inside it?Syndicate Loot Crates: Evidence of the presence of this group can be seen as you explore the citadel, as theyve marked some specific crates for their own uses. Those of an inquisitive nature may wish to investigate.Points of Power: Strange, metallic manhole covers have been discovered in various locations across the map, but none of them seem to lead to any kind of sewer system. Instead, they appear to have another, perhaps otherworldly useAdditional: Expect a fresh selection of Calling Card Challenges, including Dark Ops Challenges, as well as Intel in the form of Audio Logs, Documents, and Artifacts to discover, throughout your exploration of the Citadelle des Morts.The following items are also available during the Citadelle des Morts mission, as well as on Terminus and Liberty Falls.Available: In-Game at Perk MachineAvailable for the first time since Black Ops II, consume a can of Vulture Aid Elixir once you find the monstrous avian sculpture of a Perk-A-Cola machine, and youll discover an increase in the variety of loot dropped from enemies. Additional loot takes the form of Essence Vials and small Ammo drops. This is only available (and visible) to the player with Vulture Aid active. Then unlock the full power of the Perk by ensuring Augments are added!Vulture Aid is available on Citadelle des Morts, along with the eight previously accessible Zombies Perks. Note that some of these eight Perks are only available via a Der Wunderfizz machine.Vulture Aid is available on Liberty Falls and Terminus maps via the Der Wunderfizz machine.Vulture Aid: Major AugmentsThe following Augments for Vulture Aid are available, once researched.Fetid Upgr-aidOn death, zombies have a chance to create a gas cloud that charges your Field Upgrade.Smell of DeathOn death, zombies have a chance to create a gas cloud that conceals you while standing in it.Parting GiftVulture Aid ammo drops give more ammo to Wonder Weapons.Vulture Aid: Minor AugmentsCondors ReachAuto-pickup loot from farther away.Carrion LuggageCritical kills have a chance to drop extra Salvage.Picky EaterOn death, zombies have a higher chance of dropping your current equipment.Available: Unlocked reward as part of the Merry Mayhem EventBullets deal Light (i.e. elemental) damage. Each bullet has a chance to transform a normal or Special enemys health into a healing glyph that moves to nearby injured allies.This Ammo Mod can be used in all three Zombies maps along with the previously accessible Ammo Mods, assuming it is chosen at an Arsenal Machine.Light Mend: Major AugmentsAntibioticThe healing glyph now damages enemies that touch it, but its lifetime is reduced.Big GameLight Mend can activate on Elite enemies, dropping three more healing glyphs.Dual ActionConsuming a healing glyph will temporarily allow you to heal faster.Light Mend: Minor AugmentsLonger LifeThe healing glyphs lifetime is increased.Extra StrengthThe healing glyph replenishes more health when consumed.Express RemedyIncrease the range that the glyph will move to an ally.Available: Unlocked reward as part of the Merry Mayhem EventFor 10 seconds, lightning connects to other players, stunning and damaging normal enemies.This Field Upgrade can be used in all three Zombies maps along with the previously accessible Field Upgrades, assuming it is chosen as part of your Loadout, or swapped via the menu during a game.Tesla Storm: Major AugmentsTransformerThe fields damage is increased by the number of allies that are connected.ShockwaveOn activation, stun and damage all nearby enemies.Static DischargeOn activation, create a lethal surge of electricity around you.Tesla Storm: Minor AugmentsPower GridIncrease the range the electric tether can connect to allies.OverclockedYour movement speed is increased during Tesla Storm.Lithium ChargedIncrease Tesla Storm duration.New Available: See belowThree new GobbleGums are available across all maps, and available (once acquired) to be swapped into your GobbleGum Loadout Pack:Power Keg (Rare): Spawns a Full Power Power-up.Time Out (Ultra): Lasts three minutes. Clear all Normal and Special enemies and end the Round. Normal spawning will not resume during this time.Holiday Cheer (Whimsical): Zombies have festive decorations.Heres how to unlock the GobbleGums:Power Keg: Unlocked reward as part of the GobbleGum Mania Event.Time Out: Unlocked reward as part of the GobbleGum Mania Event.Holiday Cheer: Primarily unlocked in the Jingle Hells Limited Time Event, potentially whenever you earn GobbleGums by playing. Also unlocked randomly from a successful Exfil. Once acquired, Holiday Cheer GobbleGums can be kept (they do not expire) and used in any of the three available maps. Expect these to be earned even after the Holiday Season.See the Events section of this blog (below) for full details.Salvage: 1250Available during The Hit List Event in Season 01 (and in the Armory starting with Season 01 Reloaded for those who missed out), this is a powerful large caliber handgun with high bullet damage and penetration.With a host of Weapon Camos, Badges, Calling Cards, and other rewards to earn, its well worth jumping into Round-Based Zombies if you havent already!Coming in Season 01 at Reloaded Launch, the Zombies Training Course allows you to learn the basics if youre a new or casual player or refresh your knowledge if youre a more seasoned player.Polish your favorite armament and drop into Liberty Falls where the gruff Arsenal Machine Drill Sergeant gives you tough love as you maneuver to a sequence of different Station flags dotted around the map. If youre unsure how to play this game mode, visit the following stations and learn (and perform) a different aspect of the game.Killing Zombies: Learn how to kill zombies and replenish resources.Map Progression: Learn how to navigate the world and progress rounds.Powering Up Players: Buff your strength and survivability with Perks and Armor.Powering Up Weapons: Increase your lethality with weapon upgrades.Getting New Weapons: Discover methods to acquire new weapons.GobbleGums: Learn how to use GobbleGums for unique power-ups.Exfil: Learn how to exit a match.Citadelle des Morts: Directed ModeOnce the map has been thoroughly explored by players and the Zombies community, expect to complete the Citadelle des Morts Main Quest with added guidance in Directed Mode prior to the start of Season 02.Zombies-Related Events (Mid-Season Launch, In-Season)Zombies players should be ready to drop into a number of Events, one specifically related to Zombies, between Mid-Season launch and the start of January:Event: GobbleGum Mania (ZM only, December 5 19).Event: Merry Mayhem (MP, ZM, WZ, December 5 19).Event: Archies Festival Frenzy (MP, ZM, WZ, December 19 January 3).Check out the Events section of this blog (below) for full details.Deck the Falls with boughs of holly, as the Jingle Hells festive Limited Time Mode returns! Last seen in Black Ops Cold War, Jingle Hells drops you in what could optimistically be called a winter wonderland, as the entirety of the Liberty Falls map is festooned with wreaths, ribbons, twinkling lights, Christmas trees, garlands of fir tree bunting, and a thin blanket of snow. Although, something feels a bit off not least the melting piles of slush stained with bloody entrailsThe nearby river has frozen over, all the Mystery Boxes, Crafting Tables, and Arsenal Machines have gone missing, and the locals are just as unfriendly as ever. Dont fret, as youll be making your own holiday cheer thanks to some special features found in this game mode:Main Quest is Active! The Main Quest is available to complete this time around, with some added challenge now that the Arsenal and Crafting Tables arent around. Note: youll earn the standard Main Quest completion rewards if you finish the quest in Jingle Hells.Hear that Jingling? Expect bespoke audio to bring the festive flavor. You might want to look to the skies, tooGobbleGum Gifts: This is the best way to earn the Holiday Cheer GobbleGum!Snowball Piles: Gather up to five snowballs from various piles scattered about the map, then use them as potent projectiles!Naughty or Nice Power-Up: This large, floating stocking dishes out presents or spawns Vermin, depending on whether youve been naughty or nice.Snowmen: Undeniably jolly, but also fiendishly unfriendly, Liberty Falls has snowmen dotted around the map, and these can hide zombies or loot if left intact. Its wise to make these your primary targets, especially as they drop handy loot when dispatched.Present Boxes: Under certain circumstances, zombies may drop a small present box, which can be opened for a gift that keeps on giving.S.A.M.T.A. Trials: The Trial computers that appear around the map now have a much more festive appearance. S.A.M.T.A. also has a few present boxes spawning nearby the machine when entering the map, so its worth seeking out!Frozen Rounds: Theres strange fog in the air, and during certain rounds youll be chilled to the bone, slowing your reactions considerably. Perhaps its time to head indoorsZombies Gameplay UpdatesTreyarch is also implementing several additional gameplay updates with Season 01 Reloaded for high Rounds and Special Rounds. These include:Reducing the number of Mangler spawns at mid-to-high Rounds.Implementing a maximum cap on active Manglers in the game, ramping up until the cap is released at Round 100.Reducing the Manglers arm cannon health.Significantly reducing the length of Special Rounds by reducing the number of spawns and adjusting the spawn delay rate for Special Rounds.Scaling Parasite damage between Rounds 31-91.Slightly increasing damage scaling for base zombies at Round 150-400.Season 01 Reloaded MultiplayerMULTIPLAYER CONTENT SUMMARYThree Maps: Return to the fan-favorite Hacienda, hit the Luttazzi crime family where it hurts in the brand-new Racket Strike map, and celebrate the holiday season with Nuketown Holiday.Two Festive LTMs: Satisfy your cravings in Ran-Snack and show some holiday spirit alongside the undead in Infectious Holiday.Additional Content: Blast enemies onto the minimap with the new Shrapnel Radar Perk and add a fourth Scorestreak via the High Roller Wildcard.HaciendaRemaster, Core, 6v6, Medium-SizedThe lush vineyard estate returns under new ownership as Operators descend on the mansion and its immaculate grounds. Fire down on enemies from the gallery and swim past their front line along the Terrace. Traverse the extended hallway overlooking the vineyarda renovation first introduced in Hacienda Twilight in Black Ops 4and marvel at the wealth on display in the showroom, the in-office aquarium, and the elegant fountain at the maps center. Using the new Omnimovement system, Hacienda becomes a whole new experience ripe with tactical opportunities.RacketBrand-New, Strike, 2v2/6v6, Small-SizedThe French Syndicate continues with their plans to topple the Luttazzi crime family by hitting them directly in their finances. Battle within the labyrinthine bank vault, dashing in and out of the vault cells to flank enemies in the halls. This new three-lane map requires quick thinking to survive its tight confines, so dont let all that gold distract you from the mission at hand.Nuketown HolidayVariant, Core 6v6, Small-SizedGood cheer arrives as Nuketown dresses up for the holidays. Get into snowball fights and gawk at the festive decorations lining every surface. On Nuketown Holiday, you can almost forget that youre in the middle of a battle albeit one where Operators exchange grenades instead of presents. Good luck out there.New Indulge your sweet tooth while gaining buffs in Ran-Snack and add a little levity to fighting for your life in Infectious Holiday.Ran-Snack (Launch)Trade gold for sweets in this festive LTM that challenges teams to gather and deposit the most cookies. Grab cookies from the rotating crate, fallen Operators, and by breaching the enemys cookie box and taking the goods back to your own. In honor of the season of giving, your Operator also earns buffs for depositing cookies, including a speed boost, faster reload, and faster health regen. The first team to reach the Score Limit or have the best score when the Time Limit expires wins.Infectious Holiday (In-Season)Even the undead are getting into the holiday spirit as zombies and fallen Operators don festive clothing in this festive twist on the fan-favorite Infected mode.When playing either of these LTMs on Nuketown Holiday, look for snow piled around the map that you can pick up and throw at enemies for a one-shot elimination!New Loadout ContentEnhance your explosions with intel-gathering capabilities and grant yourself the gift of an extra Wildcard with two new Loadout items to help carry you through the year.Available: Unlocked reward as part of the Merry Mayhem EventPerk: Shrapnel RadarPerk Slot: 3Type: ReconBlast damage dealt from area-of-effect Lethals, Tacticals and Field Upgrades mark the injured target on your minimap.New WildcardAvailable: Unlocked during Mid-SeasonWildcard: High RollerEquip a fourth Scorestreak for use in Core 6v6 Multiplayer matches. Pairs well with Assassin, Dispatcher, and Bankroll.Season 01 Reloaded ContentWARZONE SUMMARYIntroducing BR Ranked Play: Compete for placement and exclusive rewards with the arrival of BR Ranked Play for Call of Duty: Warzone. Deploy to Urzikstan using a competitive ruleset including new innovations and updates for the best possible experience.CODMAS LTMs: Celebrate the arrival of two holiday-themed LTMs. Get in snowball fights and fight for loot in tree hot zones as you deploy to Area 99 in Holiday Rush and Urzikstan in Slay Ride Resurgence.New Perk: Shrug off enemy traps with the new Reflexes Perk. Nothing can stop you now.Drop in and back up your talk with the arrival of Battle Royale Ranked Play for Call of Duty: Warzone, the competitive experience returns to Battle Royale. Give it all to be the last squad standing in Urzikstan and earn exclusive Ranked Play rewards for your efforts.Overview and FeaturesBR Ranked Play Access:To access BR Ranked Play, players must first place in the Top 15 in Battle Royale or the Top 6 in Resurgence across a total of 30 matches. Placements from Season 01 count toward this requirement.Updated Rank:The 1-50 Rank and Skill Division system seen in previous versions of BR Ranked Play have been combined into a single Rank, representing what was previously your Skill Division and Tier. Earn SR and progress through 8 Ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Crimson, Iridescent, and Top 250.SR (Skill Rating):Progress through Ranks by earning SR in each match. New this year, SR is earned from your placement and your personal elimination performance. The amount of SR earned from an elimination is now determined by your rank in relation to your opponent. This means more SRs for killing higher ranked players, and less SR for killing those below you.Update: Party Skill Restriction:Full squads can party together without restrictions. Matchmaking will be based on the highest ranked player in the squad.Update: Seasonal Setback:The End-of-Season SR Setback has been adjusted in BR Ranked Play to reduce the impact felt by players early in their Rank journey. Every new season, your Rank may be reset based on where you ended the previous season, as follows:Bronze or Silver Ranked players are not impacted by the Seasonal setback and will be able to pick up where they ended each Season with no SR deduction.Gold or Platinumplayers will start the next Season in Tier I of Gold or Platinum respectively.Diamond and above playerswill start the next Season at Diamond I.Update: Loss Forgiveness:No matter what your Rank, each players first loss of the day will be forgiven and not deduct SR. This does not stack. Additionally, the three games of Loss Forgiveness that are granted when youre promoted to a new Rank or at the start of the season now only count down after Losses.BR Ranked Play rewards:BR Ranked Play features a variety of unique rewards players can earn to show off their skill and engagement with the mode, including new Operator Skins, Calling Cards, Decals, Emblems, plus a Loading Screen and Sticker:Rank Rewards:Reach Gold Rank or higher to earn special Rank Rewards that are awarded the moment youre promoted into the Rank instead of at the end of the Season.Win Challenges:Reach Career Win milestones over the course of your Ranked Play career to earn rewards including the base Ranked Operator Skin, Call of Duty: Warzone-themed Weapon Camo, and the Whisper Combat Knife Blueprint. These can be completed across multiple seasons.Top 250 Competitor and Top 250 Champion Skin (#1 Overall): Climb to the Top 250 BR Ranked Play leaderboard to earn the Top Competitor Operator Skin (Home and Away). The #1 overall player for the season will get the sole privilege of equipping the Top 250 Champion Operator Skin.Seasonal Rewards:Each BR Ranked Play Season introduces new Seasonal Rank Rewards to earn. These are only available to be earned during that specific Season. Like the Rank Skins, Seasonal Rank Rewards are awarded as soon as the player is promoted into each Rank instead of at the end of the Season.Throw snowballs at your enemies, fight for loot around decorated trees, and hijack Undead Santas ride in these two LTMs arriving in the mid-season.Holiday Rush (Area 99, Launch)Enter Area 99, newly outfitted with Deck the Halls trees and Snowball coolers. Get right to the point with access to high-tier loot along with a smaller gas circle and faster transitions between collapses.Slay Ride Resurgence (Urzikstan, In-Season)Undead Santa has hijacked the train. Toss deadly snowballs, capture trees, hunt reindeer, and battle for control of Santas Slay Ride. Last team standing wins.Perk: ReflexesPerk Slot: 1Available: Season 01 Reloaded RewardRush enemy positions without getting caught in a trap. With this Perk equipped, triggered explosives detonate on a delay when sprinting past them.General Content (MP, ZM, WZ)General Content Summary (All Modes and Games)Gear Up: Earn three new weapons (the Maelstrom Shotgun, AMR Mod 4 Sniper Rifle, and Cleaver Melee plus burst-fire attachments for the XM4 and Kompakt 92.New Events: Earn rewards for progressing through new in-game Events including Merry Mayhem and Archies Festival Frenzy.New Store Offerings: Enter the fight as a deadly unicorn helmeted Ultra Skin, equip a clucking cool Dead Ops Arcade-inspired Mastercraft Shotgun Weapon Blueprint, and sit back with the dankest Mastercraft SMG Weapon Blueprint around. Get these and more with an epic slate of new Bundles arriving throughout the mid-season, including a pair of ugly holiday sweaters to warm you through the winter.Free Trial: Get two weeks of free access to Multiplayer and Zombies including new maps like Nuketown Holiday and modes like Prop Hunt introduced in Season 01!Primary Weapon: MaelstromShotgun, Event Reward (Merry Mayhem)Levels: 34MAGS: 3MAG SIZE: 10Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: Optic, Muzzle, Barrel, Underbarrel, Magazine, Rear Grip, Stock, Laser, Fire ModsCustomize Options: Skins, Reticle Unlocks (MP, ZM, WZ), Accessories (1), Decals (1), Stickers 3).Fully automatic shotgun. Good range and handling. High recoil and large hip spread.Clear rooms with this fast firing full-auto Shotgun that overwhelms enemies with a hail of lead. The perfect weapon for the new Racket Strike map and in any confined area, the Maelstrom requires getting up close, its heavy recoil and large hip spread quickly losing effectiveness at range. If you can close the distance first, theyre toast.Primary Weapon: AMR Mod 4 (In-Season)Sniper Rifle, Event Reward (Archies Festival Frenzy)Levels: 38MAGS: 4MAG SIZE: 6Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: Optic, Muzzle, Barrel, Stock Pad, Magazine, Rear Grip, Comb, Laser, Fire ModsCustomize Options: Skins, Reticle Unlocks (MP, ZM, WZ), Accessories (1), Decals (1), Stickers 3).Semi-auto sniper rifle. One-shot kill to torso, arms, hands, and upper legs. Very high recoil and slow rate of fire. You can steady your aim while ADSing.Down enemies fast with this powerful Sniper Rifle providing a one-shot elimination across the upper body not accounting for armor. Its high damage is balanced by slow aim speed and heavy recoil, though these drawbacks can be alleviated with the right attachments. However you customize it, this thing is guaranteed to hit hard.Melee Weapon: Cleaver (In-Season)Melee, Event RewardLevels: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: NoneCustomize Options: Skins.One-hit kill. Short-medium range. Medium attack speed.Go ham with the close-quarters Cleaver Melee weapon. Chop and slice with a mix of heavy and light attacks. Equally useful for enemy Operators and the undead.Available: Unlocked reward as part of the Merry Mayhem and Archie's Festival Frenzy Events3-Round Burst Mod Conversion (In-Season)XM4 Assault Rifle, Fire Mod, Merry Mayhem Event RewardConvert the XM4 Assault Rifles primary firing mode into a three-round burst, conserving ammo and supporting a steadier aim through sustained combat.3-Round Burst Mod Conversion (In-Season)Kompakt 92 SMG, Fire Mod, Archie's Festive Frenzy Event RewardAdd some control to the rapid-fire Kompakt 92 SMG with a three-round burst primary firing mode. Each burst cycles quickly to the next, allowing you to still pump out damage when its needed most.There's a jam-packed December of scheduled Events across Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone. Let's take a closer look.You can earn rewards, including the two new Season 01 Reloaded Primary Weapons, within the following holiday-inspired in-game events. Heres the summarized schedule, showing the three main Events, and any associated Limited Time Modes occurring at the same time:Scheduled Events (December 5 January 3)Event: GobbleGum Mania (ZM only, December5 19)Event: Merry Mayhem (MP, ZM, WZ, December 5 19)Merry Mayhem MP LTM: Ran-Snack (December 5)Merry Mayhem ZM LTM: Jingle Hells: Liberty Falls (In-Season)Merry Mayhem WZ LTM: Holiday Rush (December 5)Event: Archies Festival Frenzy (MP, ZM, WZ, December 19 January 3)Archies Festival Frenzy MP LTM: Ran-Snack, Infectious HolidayArchies Festival Frenzy ZM LTM: Jingle Hells: Liberty Falls (In-Season)Archies Festival Frenzy WZ LTM: Slay Ride ResurgenceEvent: GobbleGum Mania (ZM only, December 5 19)It all begins with a jaw-cracking good time: GobbleGum Mania is coming! The plan is simple: Chew, Earn, and Unlock!Chew: Consume GobbleGums in Black Ops 6 Zombies.Earn: Chewing GobbleGums progresses both Personal Goals and Community Goals.Unlock: Work together to unlock new rewards before the Event ends, including two additional GobbleGums!Personal Goals Rewards:Power Keg Rare GobbleGum (x1)Top Prize EmblemGumball Grave Calling CardTime Out Ultra, New GobbleGum (x1)Perk-a-Cola Pack GobbleGum BundleCommunity Goals Rewards:Gum-Valanche Loading ScreenPower Keg Unlock GobbleGum FeatureStitched Up SprayTime Out Unlock GobbleGum FeatureNewtonian Weapon CharmEvent: Merry Mayhem (MP, ZM, WZ)Activation Dates: December 5 to December 19Mastery Reward: Maelstrom ShotgunIts time to bash some undead! Play Multiplayer, Zombies, or Call of Duty: Warzone to participate, and earn XP to unlock zombie-themed rewards.Play the Game: Accumulate XP in-game to make progress.Earn Rewards: Earn exclusive rewards as you progress.New Weapon: Earn all of the rewards to receive a new weapon.Event Rewards:Holiday Fear EmblemNecroclaus Loading ScreenNasty Nick Calling CardLight Mend Ammo Mod (Zombies Only) and 30 Minute Double Weapon XP TokenDeath Claus Large DecalTesla Storm Field Upgrade (Zombies Only) and 30 Minute Double XP TokenBitter Blizzard Weapon CharmShrapnel Radar Perk (Multiplayer Only)30 Minutes Double Battle Pass XP TokenScour Drill Weapon Blueprint (BlackCell Only) and 3-Round Burst Mod Attachment for the XM4Mastery Reward: Maelstrom Base Weapon (Shotgun)As part of this overall Event, the following Limited Time Modes also arrive and are a great way to earn the Event rewards. Descriptions of each LTM are in their respective sections of this blog:Merry Mayhem MP LTM: Ran-Snack (December 5)Merry Mayhem ZM LTM: Jingle Hells: Liberty Falls (In-Season)Merry Mayhem WZ LTM: Holiday Rush (December 5)Event: Archies Festival Frenzy (MP, ZM, WZ)Activation Dates: December 19 to January 3Mastery Reward: AMR Mod 4 Sniper RifleEliminate enemies in any mode and open supply caches in Call of Duty: Warzone for the chance to earn special JollyArchies that can be used to purchase gifts. Unwrap them to reveal the reward inside!Collect Jolly Archies: Get into the holiday spirit and collect Jolly Archies through eliminations and opening supply caches.Unwrap: Open event-exclusive rewards by accumulating enough Jolly Archies and exchanging them.New Weapon: Open 12 of the rewards to receive the all-new AMR Mod 4 Sniper Rifle.Event Rewards: There are 12 [[REDACTED]] different Event Rewards, all wrapped up and ready for you to open! Plus, BlackCell owners can obtain an extra present (these BlackCell-only gifts are available once you obtain BlackCell and are retroactively awarded as necessary. if you decide to purchase BlackCell after unlocking the item).As part of this overall Event, the following Limited Time Modes also arrive (or continue to be available) and are a great way to earn the Event rewards. Descriptions of each LTM are in their respective sections of this blog:Archies Festival Frenzy MP LTM: Ran-Snack, Infectious HolidayArchies Festival Frenzy ZM LTM: Jingle Hells: Liberty Falls (In-Season)Archies Festival Frenzy WZ LTM: Slay Ride ResurgenceThe Season 01 Events dont end there either! Expect additional Limited Time Modes after the festive season:Netflix Squid Game (MP, ZM, WZ)Activation Dates: [[REDACTED]]Squid Game gets the green light to come to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Look for Limited Time Modes in Multiplayer, Zombies, and Call of Duty: Warzone in-season. Get your numbers up and drop in.New BlackCell Loyalty BonusYour BlackCell offering continues to get better and better!New BlackCell Loyalty BonusYour BlackCell offering continues to get better and better!Player and Weapon XP BoostsAs players progress through the seasons of Black Ops 6 content, BlackCell owners are set to receive some exceptional additional benefits.In addition to unique rewards during specific Events, expect to receive an additional 10% Player and Weapon XP boost for each additional seasonal BlackCell purchase you make after the first one.The first 10% initial boost will start once you obtain two BlackCell seasons. These BlackCell Loyalty Bonus boosts are added in the next and subsequent seasons, and will stack in addition to other XP boosts, like the Black Ops 6 ownership boost, 2XP events and 2XP tokens.By obtaining each season of BlackCell, you can receive the maximum boost possible, as shown in the following table:BlackCell Loyalty Bonus Black Ops 6 SeasonsExample PurchasesXPWXPS01S02S03S04S05S061: Purchase BlackCell Once in S010% Boost0% Boost0% Boost0% Boost0% Boost0% Boost2: Only Purchase BlackCell in S01, S02, and S050% Boost+10% Boost+10% Boost+10% Boost+20% Boost+20% Boost3: Purchase BlackCell Every Season0% Boost+10% Boost+20% Boost+30% Boost+40% Boost+50% BoostA new helping of awesome in-store Bundles arrives in Season 01 Reloaded, including new Reactive and Mastercraft weapons, Ultra Operator Skins, and more.Tracer Pack: Brightmare Mastercraft Ultra Skin BundleThere are two sides to every unicorn, and this ones in a slaying mood. Throw your opponents off guard with the vibrant Brightrider Operator Ultra Skin before mowing them down with the Dreadhorn Mastercraft Blueprint for the AS VAL Assault Rifle, featuring light or dark visuals that change upon weapon inspect.Suppress enemy positions with the high-capacity Painbow Jackal PDW SMG and Myth Horse PU-21 LMG Blueprints. Plus, share your penchant for bright colors and pageantry with the Gift Horse Care Package Blueprint, Refraction Action Finishing Move featuring your very own companion unicorn, Rainbows and Unicorns Emote, Starsight Weapon Reticle, and Saddle Up Spray.Tracer Pack: Dank Days Reactive Mastercraft Ultra Skin BundleCoast through the holiday season with the smoking hot Bongshot Mastercraft Blueprint for the KSV SMG, with visual effects that intensify as you land more eliminations, wielded by the amphibious Blunty Operator Ultra Skin. From a distance, smoke em out with the Legendary Blunt Trauma LMG Blueprint for the GPMG-7. Keep it green with additional items including the "Weed Wacker A.G.R. Mk 1 Scorestreak Skin, Toke-a-Bloke Finishing Move, Aim High Weapon Reticle, My Bong Weapon Charm, Pass It Spray, and Greener Grass Loading Screen.Tracer Pack: Otaku We Gotchu Mastercraft Ultra Skin BundleShare your love for all things anime with this exciting Bundle featuring the Helm Mastercraft Blueprint for the LW3A1 Frostline Sniper Rifle featuring an animated co-pilot, the perfect sci-fi fit for the Aero Operator Ultra Skin. Keep the pain coming with the Legendary Hardwire C9 SMG Blueprint plus the Kawaii Emote, Targeting Computer Weapon Reticle, Super Determined Animated Emblem, Bitty Bot Weapon Charm, Infinite Wilderness Loading Screen), and GG Spray.Tracer Pack: DOA Mamas Back Reactive Ultra Skin BundleBring it back to the classics with the 8-bit style Mother Clucker Weapon Blueprint for the ASG-89 Shotgun, a Reactive weapon that alters its appears as you eliminate enemies. Keep up the pressure with the Payback AK-74 and blast zombies with the Propulsion Thrustodyne Model 23 Wonder Weapon Blueprint and Monkey Bit-ness Monkey Bomb Skin. Fight up close with the Ladle Knife Blueprint and celebrate the classic arcade game with the Weird Birds Emote, Dot Ops Weapon Reticle, Clap Clap Boom Calling Card, and Immolation Liquidation consumable GobbleGum.Other Incoming BundlesThese are just some of the highlights coming in the mid-season. Watch for other Bundles arriving throughout the end of the year and beyond like the Hella Fresh Starter Pack, Sweater Ops Reactive (including festive Skins for Weaver and Maya), the Dark Practitioner Reactive (including aDive into Call of Duty Multiplayer and get in the festive spirit by checking out Nuketown Holiday! Beyond that, experience the new Omnimovement system and more gameplay features on great maps such as Hacienda, Extraction, Racket, and more The Free Trial is playable across five core modes including Prop Hunt, new to Black Ops 6 and returning to Call of Duty for the first time in years.If youre brave enough, jump into the fan-favorite Zombies mode, and uncover the secrets of the Round-Based Zombies maps Terminus and Liberty Falls using the new Directed Mode. Season 01 Reloaded of Black Ops 6 is here; its time to see what all the hype is about!The Free Trial runs from December 13 to 20.Black Ops 6 is available now, and theres never been a better time to experience the spy action thriller Campaign, the in-depth tactical chaos of best-in-class Multiplayer, and soak in the gory glory of an incredible round-based Zombies experience! Click here to Purchase Black Ops 6.SQUID GAME / Netflix. Used with Permission. 2024 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, CALL OF DUTY WARZONE, and CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.For more information, please visitwww.callofduty.comandwww.youtube.com/callofduty, and follow@Activisionand@CallofDutyon X, Instagram, and Facebook. For Call of Duty Updates, follow@CODUpdateson X.

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed each December to promote awareness, understanding and equal participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of society and development. At Xbox, we view play as a fundamental aspect of todays society that should be accessible to as many people as possible. We strive to create inclusive experiences that empower players to enjoy the games they want, in the ways they want, surrounded by the communities they want to play with.Today and every day, we want to recognize the contributions that members of the Gaming and Disability community have made to help co-create more accessible experiences with us, across a variety of projects. This includes members of Team Xbox like Principal Firmware Engineer, Stan Adermann, whose lived experience with disability served as the catalyst for creating some of our newest controller remapping features:My own disability is mild Essential Tremor, along with pain in my hands from years of software development, Stan shared. Playing certain games on PC was aggravating my pain issues, so I dug in to see what could make the use of controllers on PC even easier for players with similar pain issues, or those who simply wanted more options that allow them to customize their gameplay. Mapping mouse movements to controllers and toggle holds were a start. Mapping joystick movements to buttons or keyboard keys was also critical.Spanning from the recently announced Xbox Adaptive Joystick and 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers, available with Xbox Design Lab, to additional updates were excited to share below, which aim to remove barriers for even more players across our platform, hardware, and game titles, we celebrate the contributions of people with disabilities whose guidance and input has played a critical role shaping inclusive gaming experiences.Remapping Options for Xbox Adaptive Controller and Elite Series 2Remapping is an important part of accessibility and allows players to change the default function of a specific key on a keyboard, mouse, or controller to better suit their preference or gaming needs.To provide even more flexibility for input remapping, weve recently rolled out the following capabilities in the Xbox Accessories App for the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller and the Xbox Adaptive Controller:Toggle holds: This feature isMap stick movement to button presses: Players can now map directional movements (up, down, left, and right) on their Elite Series 2 thumbsticks or external joysticks connected to the Xbox Adaptive Controller to button or keyboard presses. For example, moving the stick in the up direction can be mapped to the equivalent of pressing the B button on a traditional controller.Map mouse inputs to controller: Thumbstick or joystick movement can now be mapped to mouse cursor movement. Additionally, buttons can be mapped to right, middle, and left mouse click. This feature alongside keyboard button mapping allows players to use their controllers as the equivalent of a mouse and keyboard for both gaming and non-gaming scenarios on PC. As an example, players could use an Xbox Adaptive Controller to view a game guide on YouTube during a break in the action, make a PowerPoint presentation or check email.Map hat switch to alternate joystick: For external joysticks with hat switches, players can now map the hat switch to operate as the opposite stick when attached to your Xbox Adaptive Controller.Visual Accessibility Updates for Diablo IVAccessibility was a top priority for the development team and Drew McCrory, lead accessibility developer for Diablo, throughout the creation of Diablo IV. In October, the team added even more options to the existing suite of accessibility features in the game. Focusing primarily on accessibility for players who are blind or have low vision, these new features include:Auto-Pin: This is a new feature that automatically drops a map pin on the destination of your selected quest or task from your in-game Journal. Audio Navigation Assistance: With this feature enabled, the player receives spatial audio pings that direct the player towards their placed pin on the overworld map. This feature, in conjunction with auto-pin navigation, allows players to navigate through quest content while tracking their destination through audio navigation.Compass: The compass feature enables an on-screen HUD element that circles around the player and points towards their placed in-world pin. In combination with auto-pin, this provides consistent guidance to the player. Diablo IV was recently nominated in the Innovation in Accessibility category for the 2024 Game Awards.To learn more, read the full Blizzard blog post detailing these updates here.Accessibility Features in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Call of Duty introduced new features with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, including asymmetrical hearing compensation, improved high contrast mode, and an updated accessibility settings menu. Throughout the development process, the team consulted with the accessibility advocates to build and test. The game also supports all the familiar features that were available in Modern Warfare III, like reduce motion blur and joystick setting options.Additionally, new arachnophobia settings allow players to change the appearance of spider-like enemies, additional HUD layout options have been added, and Intelligent Movement settings provide additional support for players to tailor their experience to meet their needs! The team was recently recognized for its efforts and nominated for an Innovation in Accessibility award by The Game Awards.Check out the details of these settings here.Celebrating the Life of Ibelin in World of WarcraftTo celebrate release of The Remarkable Life of Ibelin on Netflix and the life of Mats Ibelin Steen a Norwegian WoW player with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, World of Warcraft released the Reven pack in Modern and Classic World of Warcraft. Reven means the fox in Norwegian, and players can purchase this curious companion to support CureDuchenne, a global nonprofit leader in research, patience care, and innovation for improving and extending the lives of individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuromuscular disease.Read more about the Reven pack and CureDuchenne here.You can learn more about Microsofts approach to Inclusive Design at https://inclusive.microsoft.design.