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Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Lets jump in!Spectre DivideMountaintop StudiosGet it nowSpectre Divide February 25Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA genre-evolving 3v3 tactical shooter driven by Duality. Use Duality to control two bodies in real-time, letting you defend two sites at once, cover your own cross, or even trade yourself. Master tactical gunplay and an arsenal of future tech to achieve infamy.ConquistadorioUpscale StudioGet it nowConquistadorio- February 26Optimized for Xbox Series X|SThe conqueror, who has gone through many trials in his life, decided to retire and become a hermit, to simply lie in his solitary cave away from people. But fate throws new challenges even in such a simple endeavor. The tomb where he loves to sleep has disappeared. Now he must embark on a quest to find it and solve many mysteries along the way.Crime Opera Fandisk: The Caterpillar Candids Eastasiasoft LimitedGet it nowCrime Opera Fandisk: The Caterpillar Candids February 26Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryIn this new anthology release of Crime Opera, explore a variety of short stories that take place before, during and after the events of the original visual novel, all presented in beautifully crafted hand-drawn style to convey the drama, emotion and gritty truth surrounding characters lives in the criminal underworld.Crime Opera II: The Floodgate Effect Eastasiasoft LimitedGet it nowCrime Opera II: The Floodgate Effect February 26Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryExperience a new chapter in the mafia tale surrounding the Gallos family! This story begins 9 years after the original. Xander Gallo is now bitter, alone and out of control. Hes causing problems for not only other families within the syndicate but also for younger Gallo members as well.Hidden PawsSilesia Games Sp. z o.o.Get it nowHidden Paws February 26Xbox Play AnywhereOpen cars and boxes, rummage through piles of wood, search the forests. Cats are well hidden, but they meow when you get near so listen closely and you might just be able to find them all. Features more than twelve charming winter landscapes with over 120 little cats to find.Rabbit Raid (Xbox Series X|S)Sometimes You$9.99$7.99Pre-orderFree TrialRabbit Raid February 26Optimized for Xbox Series X|SSave your family by going on an adventure as a cute bunny. Collect berries, find secrets with bonuses, throw objects at enemies or jump on them to win. Find secret stars and change costumes. Defeat the bosses and get to the last one to save the little rabbits from captivity. Explore green fields, caves, rivers, snowy mountains, icy lakes, deserts and ruins.Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of DeceitHeadupGet it nowCrowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit February 27Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryCrowns and Pawns is a modern-day point and click adventure. The game highlights the less-explored history of Europe. Experience the legendary stories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, bring to light the villainous branch of the KGB, solve puzzles and follow hints to reveal the secrets of the King who was never crowned.Glover (QUByte Classics)QUByte Interactive & Bleem!Get it nowGlover (QUByte Classics) February 27Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryThe cult classic from the 90s returns! Glover is a charming 3D platformer where you control a magical glove on a quest to restore balance to the kingdom. Roll, jump, and manipulate your magic ball to solve puzzles, overcome challenges, and defeat the evil glove threatening the world!Pirate TrailsAfil GamesGet it nowPirate Trails February 27Optimized for Xbox Series X|SReady to set sail on an adventure full of challenges and treasures? In Pirate Trails, you are the master cartographer of the seven seas. But instead of sailing, your mission is to chart the best course for pirate ships to collect treasures and safely anchor at the final port. Rotate and swap hexagonal tiles to create the perfect route but beware, a wrong path might lead your ship straight to the Kraken!Prison Loop (Xbox Series X|S)Sometimes You$4.99$3.99Pre-orderPrison Loop February 27Optimized for Xbox Series X|SEmbark on a journey of anomalies and repetition in Prison Loop, a captivating puzzle game. Test your observation skills, critical thinking, and ability to manipulate time to your advantage. Explore a meticulously designed prison filled with hidden secrets, atmospheric details, and haunting visuals.Two Point Museum: Explorer EditionSEGA$39.99Pre-orderTwo Point Museum: Explorer Edition February 27Optimized for Xbox Series X|STwo Point Countys most daring adventurers have travelled to the far reaches of the known map and returned with unique artefacts to host in your museum, along with the coordinates of a new expedition location, home to an exclusive special exhibit and events! The Explorer Edition brings a selection of decorative items to embellish your halls, walls and floors with bespoke designs and well-travelled statues. As well as exclusive items to help your experts replenish faster to send out on more expeditionsHanoi Puzzles: Solid MatchHanoi StudiosGet it nowHanoi Puzzles: Solid Match February 28Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereA new game concept inspired by the classic Tower of Hanoi. Assemble towers stacking pieces of the same color on a hexagonal board with a mysterious and relaxing atmosphere. Unlock blocked hexagonal cells by building a tower of the same color to open new paths and advance in the resolution of the level.Justice Ninja CaseyRatalaika Games S.L.Get it nowJustice Ninja Casey February 28Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn unremarkable princess in an unremarkable castle has been kidnapped by a group of mysterious ninjas. Luckily for her, a young ninja named Casey is aware of the situation and embarks on a mission to save her because he is the Ninja of Justice! Join Casey and learn the art of ninjutsu as he explores a land full of secrets and dangerous enemies!Monster Hunter WildsCAPCOM CO., LTD.$69.99Pre-orderMonster Hunter Wilds February 28Optimized for Xbox Series X|SThe ultimate hunting experience awaits you in Monster Hunter Wilds. Fulfill your duty as a Hunter, tracking down and defeating powerful monsters while forging strong new weapons and armor from the materials you harvest, as you work to uncover the connection between the people of the Forbidden Lands and the locales they inhabit.Paper Plane Arena ShamansEpiXR Games$9.99Pre-orderPaper Plane Arena Shamans February 28An interactive game experience that is designed to ease your mind and have fun popping innocent balloons. Jump into the role of a little paper plane that is supposed to rescue the world from evil balloon demons by dashing through them. An excellent game for relaxing and blowing off some steam after an exhausting day of hassle.PGA TOUR 2K252K26$69.99Pre-orderPGA Tour 2K25 February 28Optimized for Xbox Series X|SThe master of golf sims is back! Tee off with the worlds top golfers on the most storied courses on golfs biggest stages. Pre-order PGA Tour 2K25 Standard Edition and receive the Extra Butter x adidas Pack, which includes actor, pretty great golfer, and now playable character Chris McDonald. Included are three stylish cosmetics hat, jacket and shoes. Plus, with your pre-order (by February 27, 2025), youll also get PGA Tour 2K23 Standard Edition (digital) to play while you wait!

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Atelier games have been around since the late 90s, with more than two dozen titles shipped in that time but youre forgiven some unfamiliarity the series, asAtelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Landwill be the very first to arrive on Xbox. After playing through the first few hours of the game and speaking with producer Junzo Hosoi, its becoming clear that the first Atelier title on Xbox isnt simply the latest in the series, its the most ambitious entry yet.As a huge Xbox fan, Im thrilled to finally bring the series to the system, Hosoi told me via email, But when I look at the game as a whole, I dont describe Atelier Yumia as the next Atelier game. I describe it as a completely new JRPG series that has Atelier features.My preview session bore that out; players will find familiar RPG elements aplenty strategic, real-time battles, crafting, exploration but they come together in way that feels altogether different from others in the genre. The secret ingredient, if you will, lies in the super deep crafting system.The charm of the Atelier series is about synthesis and the alchemy process, Hosoi-san confirmed. The game cycle is pretty unique as there is collecting in the field, fighting in battle, and utilizing the synthesis system, and all three of those things are related.That charm is also evident in the playable cast of characters, especially the eponymous Yumia Liessfeldt, a more grown-up character than some past series headliner heroines.Hosoi-san shares more background: Since Yumia is 21 years old, the story is about her growing into adulthood. This is shown throughout the story through her strong core values independence and charm. With [heroes of previous titles] Ryza and Sophie, they were younger, so they needed mentors in order to grow up, but with Yumia, she has her own identity and decision-making skills. Oh, and she owns a motorcycle!Because Aladiss, the new continent introduced in Atelier Yumia, inherently distrusts alchemy, the games early hours see Yumia seeking to prove her worth. While her synthesis skills differentiate her from other characters in the game, bolstered by a new building system that crafting survival fans will enjoy, in my playthrough, it was Yumias battle prowess that surprised most.For nearly all of the series history, Atelier titles were turn-based affairs. The recent Atelier Ryza titles were to first to move to real-time, and for Atelier Yumia, the team heard player feedback, resulting in a huge amount ofc ombat options for players to master.The mechanics of battle have been completely redesigned for this game as close and ranged combat has been added, Hosoi-san explains. Within the two attack zones, players can move the active character freely around the enemies or between the two attack zones in battle. You can also guard and dodge attacks in real-time and even pull off a powerful cooperation attack with other characters when an enemy is stunned. For Atelier Yumia, we are focusing on actually showing the players skills during battle.In practice, battles move quickly; players can control Yumia or shift at any time to one of her traveling companions. Placement is key; you can see when and where attacks will hit, but timing out a precision guard (or getting the heck out of the way) takes good timing. Its not too challenging when going 1 on 1 with a regular mob, but in a multi-enemy rumble, with fewer safe areas, theres a whole lot to account for.Add in varying enemy weaknesses, opportunities to execute powerful Friend Actions, balancing offense and defense at different ranges I didnt expect a game this adorable to require such situational awareness! Fortunately, your squad enters and exits battle seamlessly as you explore, and its fast and fun to build up fighting experience, or to avoid encounters when you just wanna zipline back to town.As mentioned, Yumia isnt on this journey alone; youll meet several companions in the games prologue before rewinding to an earlier point in the tale. I found one character particularly entertaining, and Hosoi-san surprised me by unexpectedly bringing up an Xbox icon when asked about Flammi, Yumias floating, funny little companion.Flammi was actually inspired by Halos Cortana. I wanted to make something where we could have a conversation between a main protagonist and somebody close to them who are always together. Playing Halo was so much fun and thats why I really wanted to add a mascot for Atelier Yumia.Atelier Yumia arrives at a very prolific time for Koei Tecmo: Dynasty Warriors Origins was well-received on its recent launch, Team Ninja surprised everyone with Ninja Gaiden 4s announcement, and weve been spoiled with shadow drops of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black and Warriors: Abyss. To hear it from Hosoi-san, the positive energy is boosting everyones projects.Within Koei Tecmo games, the brand producers get along really well with each other. We have a conference where games under development receive opinions from each of the brands, so not only do we listen to each others opinions, we then get to see their games in development as well. We utilize each others opinions to help us develop and create better games. In the end, that helps in my goal of making Atelier Yumia known worldwide as the best game in the series.

SummaryCabernets characters and voice acting are the heart of its story.A vampire narrative RPG set in eastern Europe in the late 19th century.Launching on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One today.Cabernet, an indie vampire RPG out today on Xbox and PC, asks players one, core question: Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become? And it asks that question through a lovingly crafted world of intrigue, romance, and drama set in 19th Century Eastern Europe. My name is Buddy Sola, Im the Head of Marketing for Akupara Games, and I sat down with the developers behind Cabernet, Arseniy Klishin and Laura Gray, to talk a little about their process for making a compelling narrative RPG and recording incredible voiceover for the characters in it.(Cabernet) became a fully fledged idea to us once we connected the idea of vampirism, actually, as a metaphor for alcoholism, they told me. We have another tagline in our game: Demons are hereditary.And with a basis exploring that core conflict between humans and vampires, empathy and nihilism, it became important for Arseniy and Laura to capture the emotional heart beating beneath the skin of their vampire characters. Voice acting, it turned out, became one of the most important components to making Cabernet really come together. And they certainly helped me understand the complicated nature of casting, directing and recording voiceover for the myriad of characters in game.At the end of the day, the goal with the casting process was authenticity. We did actually, in all of our casting calls that were public, we really did try to encourage Eastern European submissions. The games Eastern European background isnt just window-dressing; it makes up a core component of the games worldbuilding, but Arseniy and Laura wanted to avoid anything that felt fake in their casting. For me, personally, it is a little strange to expect the character to speak in a British accent. We decided that our approach was going to be completely different: For us, we would rather have an authentic emotional experience that the actors have. We didnt want people to imitate an accent that is not authentic to them.And it couldnt get much more authentic than having Laura herself voice the games main character. Liza plays a very grounding figure in the game. Its slightly odd as the main character because you have to be a little of a foil that everybody can play towards and relate to in some way. Liza, a newly awakened vampire who apprentices as a doctor, really is the conduit for the games core theme of choices. We put her in that position as a vampire where she requires a substance in order to survive.Casting happened both with public casting calls as well as targeted outreach. Some of the games most high-profile actors, like Brian David Gilbert, were already in mind when Arseniy was writing the characters. We kind of envisioned Petyas character with his mannerisms when we wrote the script and when he accepted, it was really, really pleasant.Other characters were voiced by relative unknowns who had spectacular auditions and captured the emotional core of their part. For some performances, Arseniy and Laura directed the voice and tone of the actors in their studio a foam-padded walk-in wardrobe and for others, they took actors who provided professional recordings in their homes. And while sometimes, actors had a particular take that surprised and excited them, for the most part Arseniy and Laura were directing actors very carefully to make sure their lines were accurately captured in a game that, in some ways, had yet to be developed around them. Because the actors are recording their lines from the games 1200-page script without one another to play off of, Arseniy and Laura kept a cohesive, coherent vision by, as he puts it, holding the keys in our hands.Cabernets voice acting was crafted by a deeply human process, finding the authentic emotions in talented actors from around the world. It seems fitting for a game about vampires struggling with their humanity to focus so heavily on the humanity in the voices of those characters.Play Cabernet on Xbox and PC today.CabernetAkupara Games1$19.99Get it nowFree TrialCabernet is a 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire struggling with her morality and the supernatural world she has been pulled into. Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become? Prepare to explore a hidden world of political intrigue, class conflict, and decadent corruption.Use the moonlit sky to plan your next feast and explore. Mingle among vampiric society and the humans who feed them. Uncover who can aid your new kin and whose only purpose is to be drained. Vampirism isn't just an unholy transformation of your body it also threatens to transform your mind. Will you choose to indulge your empathetic humanity or embrace your newfound nihilism?But to lure your next meal somewhere safe and secluded, you'll need to understand who they are and what they desire. A kind-hearted, alcoholic coachman? A fraying newlywed couple? A greedy, yet charming charlatan? Their lives are yours to aid or unravel.Art, literature, history, science, these are the skills you'll require to succeed. Your knowledge will be your greatest weapon in a world where the cunning drain the brutal of life.

Hurl Yourself into the Hunt in Sea of Thieves Season 15A major expansion to The Hunters Call sends pirates in pursuit of new victories!Frances 'Fracas' Addison (Writer/Editor)Posted in: Announcements on 20 Feb 2025The Sea of Thieves has always been a wild, untamed sanctuary for pirates, but in Season 15 the stakes across these scattered islands and open waters are being raised once again! The latest free Seasonal update sees The Hunters Call Trading Company vastly expanding their offerings while two uniquely powerful Megalodons join the fray, with further hunt-related excitement set to follow in the months ahead. Heres what you can expect from Season 15 of Sea of ThievesSea of Thieves Season 15: Official Launch TrailerDuration 0:48The Hunters Call GrowsSeason 15 is all about exploring the wilder side of life on the Sea of Thieves, and who better to lead the charge than The Hunters Call? This Trading Company, first introduced with our original Anniversary Update in 2019, sets itself apart from the others with a focus on fishing and, as the name would imply, hunting. Until now, pirates have been able to climb to rank 50 by delivering fish and meat to The Hunters Call representatives at Seaposts or, more recently, to the Sovereigns on their behalf.From Season 15, however, The Hunters Call undergoes a major expansion. First and foremost, its being brought in line with other Trading Companies in terms of ranking prospects, with the reputation cap being raised to 100 and five levels of Distinction added. This means you can continue to progress with the Company well beyond what was previously possible, unlocking themed cosmetics as you go.You can also choose to raise a Hunters Call Emissary Flag for the first time, enabling increased rewards for treasure handed in but at the cost of making yourself a target for any Reapers lying in wait nearby! At the same time, new Fishing and Raid Voyages provide opportunities to set out in search of Company-specific loot, including exotic Treasured Fish hauled up from the depths and ready to make you richSea of Thieves Season 15: Official Content Update VideoDuration 4:17Megalodon MutationsGrowing alongside The Hunters Call are the new dangers introduced to the seas, most notably two terrifying Ancient Megalodons that have crossed over from the Sea of the Damned, ready to unleash carnage with abilities that make them substantially more dangerous than any everyday shark.The Feared Redmaw has risen from the boiling depths, wreathed in flame and wielding a devastating explosive attack to torch any ship that drifts a little too close. Keep your water barrel full to deal with fires breaking out or youll quickly find yourself in the hot seat! Meanwhile, the armour-plated Barnacled Dread torments sailors with Eel-ectric invasions, spawning these formidable Ocean Crawlers onto the decks of attacking ships. Repel boarders while using your cannons to chip away at the Megalodons coral armour until you can strike the beast directly!These fearsome monsters offer tantalising loot if you manage to best them, but finding them isnt always easy. In this, Hunters Call Emissaries have the advantage: ships flying a Grade 5 Emissary Flag will be able to track Ancient Megalodon locations using their Map Table and sail headlong into battleSea of Thieves Investigates: Ancient Megalodon Revealed!Duration 1:29Hunters GearWith a new Season, as always, comes 100 new levels of Renown to be earned and all the associated rewards! You can work towards earning new themed cosmetics such as Hungering One Hunters clothing, as well as a hoard of gold, Doubloons and Ancient Coins while purchasing a Plunder Pass also lets you unlock the enigmatic Dynasty of the Deep collection and an extra 750 Ancient Coins.The Pirate Emporium shopkeepers also debut the fabulous Rococo set this month, inviting you to indulge in the finest historical fashion. This collection includes a ship set with optional Collectors items, weapons, costume and makeup to add some ostentatious flair to all aspects of the pirate life. Inclined towards the edible arts? You may also enjoy the Culinary Cadet Emote Bundle, with four cooking-themed emotes to get you in the gastronomic spirit!Pirate Emporium Update - February 2025Duration 0:42All This and MoreTo keep the new content flowing steadily, not all of Season 15s features will be landing at launch! The monthly updates in March and April will deliver further features on the hunting theme, as teased in our Season 15 launch trailer.Over the next few months, you can expect to take up a new throwable hunting spear that will prove highly effective at taking down wild beasts, and experience a sudden bloom in the range of ambient wildlife youll see on your travels. Following that, some decidedly less passive wild boars will be taking up residence across the islands with their own stashes of loot to protectTo help keep the feisty local fauna under control, The Hunters Call will offer pirates new Hunting Voyages, sending them off to seek a savage Grand Boar or trail in the wake of a rampaging Megalodon as it causes chaos across the waves. To get to grips with all the changes coming soon to the seas, be sure to dive into each months release notes when the accompanying updates go live!Connect With Us:

Seasoned role-players and fresh-faced adventurers alike, lets enter the world of Dungeons & Dragons, where the eerie wailing of banshees can be heard across the plains, never-ending storms rage, and Kobolds roam the realm.Dungeons & Dragons: A New Quest* by Everbloom Games and Wizards of the Coast is a brand new adventure where we rejoin our heroes, Katra and Vaer, as they fight fiends hiding in every dark corner of the Forgotten Realms. So, grab your weapon and brace yourself I know Im bringing my trusty blanky sword!And despite its sequel-ringing name, you don't have to own or have played the original DLC to dive into A New Quest and enjoy the pure thrills it brings!A story of adventureIn A New Quest, Katra and Vaer are striving to reunite Vaers soul with his body that was stolen by dark forces. During their journey, they reach Candlekeep, where Thesserai the Sage asks Katra and Vaer to aid him in locating his Deck of Many Things, hoping itll lead them closer to finding Vaers lost body.The deck is a mighty set of cards with the power to either stir conflict or prevent it. The deck stems from chaos magic (sounds super safe tbh) , and as it now has gone missing, it needs to be returned before it ends up in the wrong hands (or claws).Katra and Vaer accept the call to adventure, and thus, their perilous journey (and yours!) begins, meeting yetis, and dwarven hunters, recovering treasures, helping one-legged pirates, and discovering widespread conspiracies.The class of a characterAs in all Dungeons & Dragon games, classes are key when it comes to forging the perfect role and gameplay experience for you (I usually choose the coward, with the ability to wimp out).There are four different classes to choose from: if you want to go all bulky and smash, smash, smash, then pick the barbarian. If youre more about stealthy long-range attacks (read: safe distance) then choose the rogue. Or if you love casting magic missiles, then the wizard is for you. Finally, we have the stalwart paladin with the ability to heal and mend their allies.So, consider which class suits you best as you brave A New Quest (Im going with rogue, so if I go hiding, I can always make the excuse of it being a "trait"). And because this is Dungeons & Dragons, you also get to choose your stats, which influence how good you are at various actions, like spell casting or stealthing.A vast worldFrom Candlekeep to the Sword Coast and onwards to Icewind Dale and Caer Dineval, A New Quest takes you to many known locations within the Dungeons & Dragons world, some fraught with risk, some packed with rewards.But just as a world needs stunning views (yay!), it also must bear devious, ferocious foes (nay!). So, as you venture out into the world, you might encounter owlbears, wolves, rats, Bheur hags, Mind Flayers (now that cant be good), and bosses that are sure to test your mettle.

IGN is excited to partner with ID@Xbox for not only another showcase, but this year for the kick off to IGN Fan Fest 2025! Fans can expect to see exclusive trailers and gameplay from incredible indie studios, including Thunder Lotus, Akupara, Raw Fury, Cult Games, Game Source Entertainment, and many more.How to Watch ID@Xbox at Fan Fest 2025The ID@Xbox Showcase will stream on Monday, February 24, at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT across IGN platforms. Following the showcase, IGN's very own Podcast Unlocked will be diving deep into the biggest reveals and exciting moments from the show, in a special IGN post-show.Below, you can find all the places to watch the ID@Xbox Showcase, including IGN.com, YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Twitter, and more:PlayWhat to Expect From ID@Xbox at Fan Fest 2025Fans can get excited for big reveals from indie studios from the list below, and many more!11 BitBigFanCritical ReflexDaedalicGame Source EntertainmentNo More RobotsPanicPlaystackRaw FuryThunder LotusCult GamesTeam17CurveAkupara GamesDont NodFor more exciting game reveals, check out our schedule for IGN Fan Fest, where we'll be sharing exclusive gameplay, trailers, clips, interviews, and more throughout the week of February 24 - 28, 2025.

Looking to amp up the action? With EA Play, members get unlimited access to EAs most exciting sports games on The Play List, including the newly added EA Sports F1 24. Along with the hottest racing titles around, EA Play members can also enjoy in-game bonuses, discounts on digital purchases, up to 10-hour trials of fan-favorite games, and unlimited access to titles like EA Sports Madden NFL 25 and beyond.EA Sports F1 24EA Play members continue to win this month as EA Sports F1 24joins the Play List today! Players can join the grid and drive like the greatest in this official video game of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship. EA Sports F1 24 features an overhauled Career mode, the all-new EA Sports Dynamic Handling, a new broadcast presentation package and cutscenes that add to the race day immersion, actual driver audio samples taken from F1 broadcasts and much more. Play as your hero and build on their existing stats and reputation, bring back legendary icons from the past to continue their F1 legacy, or play as yourself and climb the ranks as an F1 or F2 rookie.EA Sports Madden NFL 25In addition to F1 24, EA Sports Madden NFL 25 is currently available on the Play List for EA Play members. Madden NFL 25 introduces upgraded iterations of FieldSense and Boom Tech on Xbox Series X|S groundbreaking physics-based tackling and player control technologies allowing players to be immersed in the game like never before. Alongside these innovative updates, Madden NFL 25 also brings new signature styles and mechanics to the field as well as overhauled visuals and presentation, including two additional commentary teams, to deliver unparalleled levels of NFL realism through all modes of play.February RewardsThis month, EA Play members continue to unlock the thrill of special rewards, including:EA Sports Madden NFL 25EA Sports Madden NFL 25EA Sports F1 24 Now to February 28EA Sports F1 24EA Sports FC 25 Victory Wings Right Leg Tattoo & Clubs Coins Now to March 13EA Sports FC 25 February 15 to March 14EA Sports NHL 25EA Sports NHL 25Apex Legends Fast Money Weapon Charm Now to March 3Battlefield 2042 Fiends Maw Now to February 25Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription. Members can experience the world of EA with unlimited access to a collection of top titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards, 10% on EA digital purchases and more (conditions apply). Members can unlock the thrill of their next favorite game with up to 10-hour trials of EAs latest titles such as EA Sports FC 25, EA Sports NHL 25, EA Sports College Football 25, F1 24 and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, in addition to access to an unrivaled collection of EAs best-loved series and top titles, including Madden NFL 25, Madden NFL 24, EA Sports FC 24, EA Sports WRC and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.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.

As soon as Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii erupted into a musical number at the intro credits, I knew I was in for a spectacular and bizarre experience, even by Like a Dragons standards. There he is, Goro Majima, Mad Dog of Shimano and the games protagonist, gesticulating wildly in a plush, purple velvet trimmed coat, as a crew of pirates sing and dance around him about the lures of the open water.Theres a lot to take in, and plenty of surprises we dont want to spoil, so lets go through some of the highlights from the early game. Youre in for a treat.Riches to RichesMajima awakens on the shores of Rich Island, a small plot of land inhabited by a small community. Hes also stricken with a severe case of amnesia and cant remember who he is or how he got there. Memory or not, Majima is a resourceful character and is soon embraced by good-hearted, morally complex locals and embroiled in numerous brawls that ultimately result in him becoming captain of a ship. Not a bad days work.Rich Island is where Pirate Yakuza starts to introduce its myriad of minigames and activities, true to Like a Dragon form. An early highlight is Goro Goro Kitchen a cooking minigame where Majima can make health-replenishing meals with ingredients hes bought or grown. Its a cheerful flurry of well-timed button mashing, and your performance dictates the quality of the food. Naval Battles and Treasure HuntsScrapping with enemies at sea and scooping up new riches are two activities considered integral to the pirate experience. Pirate Yakuza introduces both to the mix.As you explore the seas, clusters of small vessels will intermittently engage with you, sparking water combat. Here, youll utilize your ships defences, which starts with hard-hitting cannons and a rapid-fire mini mounted on the bow. Youll have the option to upgrade your ships artillery with parts you can scavenge or buy, whichll come in handy for more powerful foes later on.The ship combat is a standalone RPG experience. Your crew will gain experience and levels the more you battle, and some members have unique abilities that can give you an edge in a fight. They also have needs and moods allowing them time to rest and giving the occasional gift will lift their spirits. Having a crew with skills and feelings makes them feel less like static props and more like an actual collection of characters worth caring for, akin to Majimas Cabaret Czar side plot in Yakuza 0.These battles are fast-paced and dole out small rewards, akin to the mini-encounters youll have on land with small groups of enemies, though it is a little easier to outrun a handful of men than it is to quickly steer your ship away.Treasure Hunts are presented like a boss rush your crew disembarks onto a small island and needs to fight through a series of pirate grunts before taking down a boss and copping the treasure at the end. Here, youll find unique items that can enhance Majimas abilities, and of course, bucketloads of cash.Sea Dog of ShimanoMajima also picks up a brand-new fighting stance exclusive to Pirate Yakuza Sea Dog Style. The stance allows him to deliver swift, swishing blows with a pair of cutlasses, alternating between light and heavy attacks and dishing out big AoE damage. Majima can also wield a pistol for long-range attacks perfect for staggering foes and a chain hook that will launch him towards an enemy, which can be followed up with more close-range attacks. Later on, Majima can summon deities using Dark Instruments, strange items plundered from rival pirate gangs. To give you a sense of the abilities here, Majima can summon a giant man-eating shark by shredding on a violin, an outrageous scene to witness.Majima also carries his classic Mad Dog stance seen in other Like a Dragon titles here too, so if you (for some reason) dont feel like being an extremely cool, cutlass-swinging pirate, his traditional roster of speedy blows, slick knife attacks and shadow clones to boost attack power is also an extremely fun option.The Path to MadlantisMajima and his crew set sail to the island settlement of Madlantis a few hours into Pirate Yakuza, and it is perhaps one of my favorite locations Ive seen in a Like a Dragon game. Its a rogue trove of delights, nestled away inside a cave system and largely constructed from the wreckages of old ships.Walking through Madlantis feels immediately unsettling in a way that spaces like Kamurocho and Sotenbori rarely do, even in their shadiest spots. Its shrouded entirely in darkness, illuminated only by colorful neon signs, harsh floodlights and flaming barrels. Suspicious-looking faces are clustered in dimly lit corners drinking, playing card games or beating someone up while onlookers pay no mind.Its also home to The Coliseum, where Majima and his crew can face off against other pirate crews to rack up reputation as a feared pirate, as well as other rewards.Madlantis is one of four distinct locations youll visit Rich Island, Nele and Hawaii all boast their own unique settings, characters and activities, but Madlantis really blew me away as a hive of nefariousness brimming with characters that, again, even by Like a Dragons standards, felt truly outlandish.The Heart of YakuzaWhile a lot of this game presents an off-beat adventure full of swashbuckling and treasure-hunting, its still pleasantly rooted in the core themes of the series. While Majima cant remember who he is, hes quickly reunited with a roster of Yakuza allies, and his adventures with his new crew must intertwine with the urgent business hes expected to deal with as a Yakuza boss.It also touches on some more delicate themes; the perils of fatherhood, the balance between wanting to keep a loved one safe and letting them free, and of course, the ever-present, pertinent question that every Like a Dragon game poses: What it means to be a man.That said, its also just an incredibly funny game. The characters are so wonderfully blas in the face of total nonsense, which makes it even more entertaining. During one treasure hunt, Majima has a fistfight with a huge brown bear, and afterwards, exclaims ah, he had a classic grizzly right hook. Moments like this paired with the above tough emotional storylines coursing through Pirate Yakuza make for a fantastic, rounded adventure.This is merely a small glimpse into the wacky word that Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii its a truly unique adventure that feels like a fever dream, while remaining loyal to the heart of the main franchise. Theres not long to wait either, you can set sail with Majima when the game launches for Xbox Series X|S on February 21.For those eager to get a taste of the action right away, a free demo of the game is available to download and play now.Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii DemoSEGA55Get it nowIn this free demo version of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, you'll embark on a modern-day adventure on land and sea as an ex-yakuza, now pirate captain, Goro Majima.Explore and fight your way through the vibrant city of Honolulu, then venture to the secret criminal haven Madlantis, where pirates engage in deadly naval battles for sport.Dynamically switch between two fighting styles as you take down enemies in exhilarating action combat that rewards your creativity. Dish out destruction with over-the-top combos, aerial juggles and finishing moves using your bare hands, makeshift weapons, cutlasses, and other buccaneer gear to hack, slash, and pummel enemies into submission. Take the helm of your ship and challenge rival crews in the infamous Pirates' Coliseum, where you and your crew engage in intense, real-time naval battles with machine guns, cannons and more. After immobilizing your enemy's ship, issue the boarding call to swing into epic hand-to-hand deck brawls vs. hordes of enemies to claim victory. Don't forget to customize your look, then blow off some steam with the variety of side experiences like karaoke and more.Note that you will not be able to carry over your save data from the demo into the full game.

Take gaming to another level this weekend with Free Play Days! New World: Aeternum, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday February 20 at 12:01am Pacific until Sunday, February 23 at 11:59pm Pacific.How To Start PlayingFind and install the games on each of the individual game details page onXbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.Keep The Fun GoingPurchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Membership Required)New World: Aeternum Standard EditionAmazon Games736$59.99Get it nowNew World: AeternumOptimized for Xbox Series X|SExperience a thrilling action RPG set on the supernatural island of Aeternum in the twilight of the Age of Exploration. As a shipwrecked explorer who washes ashore on the mysterious island, forge your destiny on an adventure filled with danger and opportunity.ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4(Xbox One)BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment255$39.99$9.99Get it nowOne Piece: Pirate Warriors 4All aboard, pirates! Battle your way through waves of enemies as your favorite One Piece characters in One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4. In search of treasure, relive some of the One Piece series most memorable moments that span all the way from the beginning. Experience the latest evolution of Pirate Warriors action and prepare for an even more thrilling gameplay on Xbox Series X|S, coming soon along with a new DLC!DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment960$19.99$9.99Get it nowFree TrialDragon Ball Xenoverse 2Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, Smart DeliveryGo Super Saiyan this weekend with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2! Immerse yourself in the largest and most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed: train with all iconic characters such as Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Trunks, Cell, Frieza and more to create your perfect fighter and protect the history of the Dragon Ball universe. Join an online hub of up to 300 players from around the world to team up for hard raid missions or measure your strength! Theres never been a better time to jump into Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, now out for Xbox One, Series X|S, and on sale this weekend at up to 50% off.

Are you ready to rev it up and unleash your fury? SNKs Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, the legendary 90s fighter reborn, launches on April 24, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S. Eager to sink your teeth in early? The Open Beta kicks off tomorrow, running from February 2024, giving you an early shot at the fight. Prepare to feast on next-gen brawlingpowered by revolutionary game mechanics, a stunning comic-inspired art style, and flexible control options tailored for both newcomers and seasoned veterans. Wolves, start sharpening your claws and get ready to take on South Towns greatest and latest!The Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Open Beta invites the hungry pack to step into the ring and test out the integrated rollback netcode and cross-network play functionality with eight of the games characters to choose from. Players can battle it out with friends across three online modes in cross-network play: Ranked Match, Casual Match, and Room Match. Those who are new to Fatal Fury can learn the ropes in the offline Tutorial mode, which offers the perfect training ground.Debuting in City of the Wolves is the Rev System, a customizable toolset designed to supercharge offensive strategy from the very first clash. Only the strongest wolves can master (and balance) every Rev technique to reign as champion of South Town. Hit the books and study the Rev systems via our official Fighting Guide to learn more.On the topic of South Town, the Open Beta will give players access to some of the tropical citys legends, including the Legendary Wolf himself, Terry Bogard, and the fan-favorite fiery ninja, Mai Shiranui.Terry is a jack-of-all-trades, equipped with a projectile, anti-air attacks, and rushdown moves to fight any opponent, near or far. His accessible arsenal of attacks makes him the perfect character to pick up for anyone new to the series, or fighting games in general. Hes not the poster boy of the series for nothing! Use your Power Charge and Crack Shoot to pressure the enemy while they are blocking and force them to overheat.Mai is also a well-rounded character with a variety of special moves. Her Sayo Chidori can put the opponent under pressure continuously, even when they are blocking. Shes also a great pick for players looking for more movement options, as mastering her Musasabi no Mai allows you to move around the stage with ease.Joining the roster are new challengers: Preecha, a diligent Muay Thai dynamo with calculated strikes, and the enigmatic Vox Reaper, whose demonic presence and deadly karate bring a fresh yet familiar intensity to the fight.Preechas playstyle focuses on relentless multi-hit attacks. She can try to go for cross-ups with her Hyperbolic Kick or open up her opponent with a Rev Preechas Combination followed by a Circular Step.Vox has long-range normals to check his opponents, including a standing heavy punch that can be followed up with his Kokuen Ryuu shockwave (and other moves) to deal seriously big damage. He even has a command grab to keep his opponent guessing at midrange.Rounding out the Open Beta roster are a mix of returning legends and fresh faces ready to join the fray:Rock Howard, Terry Bogards protg and son of South Towns infamous Geese Howard, carries a complex legacy. Rock has a well-balanced lineup of special moves, including projectiles that travel along the ground, anti-airs, and attacks with forward momentum. His Shippuu Ken works well against grounded opponents to keep them at bay, while the mighty command grab Shinkuu Nage can be used with Rev Accel as a strong combo starter.Hotaru Futaba, easygoing but powerful, brings grace and discipline to the fight. Shes a speedy character who uses a variety of attacks to mess with her opponent and keep them at her mercy. Her forward step is a full-fledged run, allowing her to use her projectiles as a shield and close in on her opponent simultaneously. She also has a midair stomp (Koushuu Da) and a quick command grab (Shajou Tai) to help break through the opponents defenses even more.B. Jenet, daring leader of the Lilien Knights, commands attention with her fearlessness. Shes a technical character whose spiraling Afterburner attack descends from the air and leads well into combos on hit. Gulf Tomahawk is another useful move that can be stopped midway through via the Braking mechanic, allowing her to follow up with a jump attack or her Harrier Bee. She has a number of ways to approach her opponent, making her a dynamic character on the ground or in the air.Lastly, the highly ambitious Kain R. Heinlein, who aims to seize control of South Townnot for power or wealth, but his own ideals of true freedom. Kain is a methodical character who fights at mid-to-long range using his powerful projectiles and setups. His formidable Schwarze Lanze allows him to find gaps in hard-hitting enemy offense; it requires a charge motion, though, making him a more difficult fighter to master (albeit a highly defensive one adept at keeping himself out of harms way). Make the most of these and other moves in Kains toolkit to control the pace of every fight!A diverse pack of wolveswith more to come in the full gameare raring for battle. The streets of South Town are a hotbed of action, wild dreams, and even wilder ambition. Here, at long last, a new legend is about to unfoldFatal Fury: City of the Wolves is perfect for both new and experienced players, providing two control schemes tailored to all levels of experience: Arcade Style and Smart Style. Arcade Style offers traditional fighting game controls, while Smart Style streamlines gameplay, allowing flashy special moves and combos with simple directional inputs and single-button presses. Making its triumphant return after 26 years, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves aims to wow old and new fans with its dynamic art style, a mix of new and familiar fighters, and modernized battle systems. Read more on how to play on our official website.Pre-orders for the Special Edition of Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves are now live for $59.99 USD / 59.99 EUR, featuring the Base Game and Season Pass 1. Players who pre-order will unlock a classic Terry Bogard costume inspired by his original Fatal Fury appearance, along with three days of early access to the full game, starting April 21, 2025.Get ready for the Open Beta and gear up for the full launch on April 24, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S. In the meantime, check out Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves and the KOF Studio on X, Instagram, and the official Discord.FATAL FURY: City of the WolvesSNK CORPORATIONGet it nowAfter 26 years, FATAL FURY is back!SNKs beloved Fatal Fury series first hit the market in 1991, spearheading the fighting game boom of the 1990s that swept the industry thereafter. GAROU: MARK OF THE WOLVES (released in 1999) has, for some time, served as the franchises most recent installment. But that is all about to change: 26 years on, a brand-new entryFATAL FURY: City of the Wolvesis set to arrive on the scene!FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves features a unique art style that stimulates the senses, an innovative REV system that supercharges the excitement, plus a host of other battle systems even more robust than before. The game also breathes new life into the series by introducing two distinct control schemes (ensuring fun and excitement for newcomers and veterans alike) as well as other fresh features and elements.The streets of South Town are a hotbed of action, wild dreams, and even wilder ambition. Here, at long last, a new legend is about to unfold

What Muse Means for GamingAlthough its still early, this model research is pushing the boundaries of what we thought was possible. We are already using Muse to develop a real-time playable AI model trained on other first-party games, and we see potential for this work to one day benefit both players and game creators: from allowing us to revive nostalgic games to faster creative ideation.Today, countless classic games tied to aging hardware are no longer playable by most people. Thanks to this breakthrough, we are exploring the potential for Muse to take older back catalog games from our studios and optimize them for any device. We believe this could radically change how we preserve and experience classic games in the future and make them accessible to more players. To imagine that beloved games lost to time and hardware advancement could one day be played on any screen with Xbox is an exciting possibility for us. Another opportunity we are exploring is how Muse can help game teams prototype new gameplay experiences during the creative process and introduce new contenttaking games players already love and enabling our developers to inject new experiences for them to enjoy, or even enable you to participate in the creation process. Well create opportunities for people to participate in this exploration, starting with short interactive AI game experiences for you to try on Copilot Labs very soon. Theres still so much for us to discover, and we cant wait to share more.Xboxs Approach to Generative AIXbox has been innovating with AI and machine learning for decades, including in partnership with Microsoft Researchconstantly working to find ways to delight players, and harness new computing capabilities to bring creative visions to life. While AI isnt new to gaming, were now seeing an acceleration of generative AI research, both within Microsoft and across the broader technology community. We believe its important to shape how these new generative AI breakthroughs can support our industry and game creation community in a collaborative and responsible way.For Xbox, game creators will always be the center of our overall AI efforts. We believe there is space for traditional game development and future generative AI technologies that serve as an extension of creative work and offer novel experiences. As part of this, we have empowered creative leaders here at Xbox to decide on the use of generative AI. There isnt going to be a single solution for every game or project, and the approach will be based on the creative vision and goals of each team.Whats Ahead: AI Experiences from XboxAs we look ahead, were focused on how AI can address the barriers and frictions to playing and developing games. This means that well share our AI product innovation earlier on, providing opportunities for players and creators to experiment with and co-build new AI features and capabilities with us. This allows us to make sure that our AI innovations address real problems and add new value to creating or playing with Xbox.To develop tools that are used in ways that benefit everyone, our innovation will continue to be built on our commitment to Responsible AI and dedication to developing AI solutions guided by six principles: fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability.You can expect more exciting announcements this year about how we are using AI to empower game creators and provide the best possible player experience across all devices. Stay tuned for more updates ahead of GDC 2025 on Xbox Wire and our AI Resource Hub as we continue to shape the future of gaming supported by AI.Want to hear more? Check out a conversation with Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Dom Matthews, Studio Head of Ninja Theory, and Katja Hofmann, Senior Principal Researcher and Lead of the Game Intelligence Team, about todays news:

Take Back BoomtopiaBlow It Up is a physics-based destruction game by Brain Seal Ltd. that blends the explosive fun of Angry Birds with a robust physics engine for a thrilling puzzle experience. Set in Boomtopia, a land where destruction meets strategy, your mission is to rescue your bomb friends from mischievous oppressors. With seven unique bombseach with its own strengths, weaknesses, and special abilitiesyoull need to think strategically to clear over 70 challenging levels.To help you make every explosion count, this guide covers each of your bomb buddies in detail, along with essential tips and tricks. Master their destructive potential, unleash chaos, and take back Boomtopia!Launching 101: Mastering your LaunchEach level presents a unique challenge, and finding the right weak points in the structures is key to causing maximum destruction. Using your launchpad, your objective is to eliminate all enemies, explode the gifts, and ideally finish with an extra shot remainingearning you the prestigious gold trophy. If you run out of shots but still manage to explode all gifts, youll receive a silver trophy. Simply clearing the level will net you a bronze.To maximize your impact, carefully aim using the launchpad and activate each bombs special ability mid-air at the perfect moment. Since every bomb has its own unique power, lets break them down one by one:Dashy (Dash Bomb)Dashy is the starting bomb in Blow It Up, known for its versatility. When activated mid-air, it propels in a straight line based on the direction of its velocity at the time of activation. Dashy is great for reaching tough enemies, cleaning up leftovers, or targeting weak points in structures. However, its explosion is one of the weakest in the game, making it less effective in levels with many enemies or dense structures. Use Dashy strategically for its speed and precision, but be mindful of its limited power.Diggy (Drill Bomb)Diggy is a bomb that drops straight down when activated, making it perfect for targeting areas directly below. Its great for situations where you need to thread the needlehitting specific targets or enemies on lower levels with precision. While it only has a single explosion, it can cause significant damage in the area of impact. Use Diggy when you need a focused, direct hit, but keep in mind its usually not suited for taking out multiple targets at once.Gunny (Gun Bomb)When activated, Gunny fires its two handguns one by one, each shot causing a small explosion upon impact. This makes it perfect for breaking through structures, particularly when targets are aligned in a straight path or when you need to destabilize the foundation of a building. The shots weaken structures and create openings, allowing for precise, strategic destructionespecially when focusing on key points to bring the structure down.Jetty (Airplane Bomb)Jetty takes to the skies when activated, flying horizontally and dropping small bombs along its path before eventually falling down. This makes Jetty excellent for targeting multiple enemies or structures arranged horizontally. Its ability to cover a wide area with each drop makes it a versatile, all-around bomb, perfect for dealing with scattered targets or clearing large sections of a level.Blasty (Remote Bomb)Blasty is a remote bomb that explodes immediately upon activation. Its precise detonation makes it perfect for close-range targets, reaching hard-to-access areas (where other bombs would trigger too soon), or even pushing objects when needed. Blastys controlled explosion allows for strategic, creative plays in tricky situations.Chainy & Linky (Chain Bomb)Chainy & Linky are two bombs connected by a chain. When activated, they break free and move on their own, each following its own path until they reach their target. This unique dynamic allows for creative strategies, as their separate movement can hit multiple targets or cause destruction in different areas of the level.Puffy (Fat Bomb)Puffy is a bomb with a more limited range but a powerful punch. When activated, it releases shrapnel that carries the same momentum as the original bomb, causing the pieces to explode independently. This makes Puffy great for creating large explosions in tight spaces, taking out close-range targets, and cleaning up any remaining enemies or obstacles. Its unique blast pattern allows for focused, impactful destruction.Mix, Match, BoomWith all these bombs at your disposal, the key to success is finding the right one for each levels challenge. Whether youre looking for precision, wide-ranging destruction, or something in between, theres a bomb to match your playstyle and the situation at hand. The more you experiment, the better youll understand how each bombs unique abilities can be used to create the perfect explosion. So, go ahead, blow stuff up, and unleash chaos in Boomtopia! After all, who doesnt love a good explosion?Blow it up is available now on Xbox One, X/S.Blow it upBrain Seal LtdGet it nowBlow it up is a physics destruction game with light-puzzle elements where you shoot bombs to destroy your enemies who are hiding behind tower-like structures. Master seven unique bombs in a realistic physics simulation and explore over 70 levels of mayhem and destruction.STORYLINEAn alien invasion is in full swingmysterious, powerful creatures have descended upon BOOMTOPIA, stripping it of its natural resources and claiming dominance with their explosive superpowers. As your friends are captured one by one, youve had enough. Fueled by determination, you gear up to fight back. The adventure begins, but with chaos all around, can you truly survive the mayhem and rescue all your friends?FEATURES 7 unique bombs to destroy your enemies. Advanced physics simulation where every block behaves naturally. Explore a world of adventure and rescue your friends! Over 70 levels of mayhem and destruction. TNT, confetti and fireworks for more spectacular explosions.Blow it up is the ultimate explosive experience!!

SummaryShape your destiny as an Envoy chosen by a mysterious god, wielding divine powers to confront ancient threats, unravel hidden mysteries, and decide the fate of the Living Lands.Forge your own playstyle with four expansive skill treesFighter, Ranger, Wizard, and Godlikeand fight using powerful weapons, magic, and unique abilities like Grimoire Snap and Blood Magic.Your companions are more than just alliestheir unique abilities, personal struggles, and choices shape not only your journey but the world of Eora itself.The wait is finally overAvowed, Obsidian Entertainments highly anticipated fantasy RPG has officially launched! Step into the breathtaking Living Lands, a wild and mysterious island located in the Pillars of Eternity world of Eora, and embark on a journey filled with danger, discovery, and adventure. Play today on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, and cloud, to experience Obsidians latest RPG adventure. Available day one on Game Pass!A Land in TurmoilThe Living Lands is a frontier unlike any other. This rugged and untamed island has become a haven for exiles, dreamers, and adventurers seeking a fresh start. Its vibrant regions and scattered settlements pulse with life, each hiding untold stories and ancient secrets waiting to be uncovered.But this land of promise is fraught with peril. The Dreamscourge, a devastating soul-plague, is driving settlers to madness and turning them against one another. The very land itself resists colonization, haunted by echoes of lives long past. As an envoy chosen by a foreign emperor and blessed by a mysterious god, you are thrust into the heart of this chaos. With divine powers at your fingertips and the will to shape your own destiny, youll confront ancient threats, unravel mysteries, and decide the fate of the Living Lands. Will you unite its people or watch as their struggles tear them apart? The choices you make will define the future of the Living Landsand the person you become.Forge Your Own PathIn Avowed, the power of choice is yours. Create a character and shape your playstyle with four expansive skill treesFighter, Ranger, Wizard, and Godlike. Using two separate weapon loadouts, you can play as a stealthy sniper armed with dual pistols and a longbow or a spell-slinging barbarian wielding an axe and a grimoire, or whatever combination of loadouts you choose. This means that the possibilities are endless. Your choices define who you are and how youll tackle the challenges ahead.But youre not alone on this journey. Your companions each bring their own skills, personalities, and deeply personal stories:Kai, the steadfast protector, whose calm demeanor and unwavering loyalty make him a dependable shield in battle.Giatta, a brilliant animancer scientist, whose relentless curiosity drives her to uncover the mysteries of the Dreamscourge, even at great personal risk.Marius, a lone-wolf hunter, whose sharp wit and tracking expertise make him an invaluable ally in the wilderness.Yatzli, a fiery Godless expert, harnessing explosive magic and a rebellious spirit. Her disdain for the gods adds complexity to her character and your choices.Their history, relationships, and perspectives intertwine with your story, adding depth and weight to every decision you make. Will you earn their trust, challenge their beliefs, or forge something more profound? How you guide your companionsand how they influence youshapes the adventure in unexpected ways.Your Living Lands, Your WayAvowed is a game built to immerse you in its world. The Living Lands is a sprawling playground for adventurers, rewarding exploration at every turn. Traverse rugged cliffs, wade through winding rivers, and uncover unique hidden treasuresfrom ancient elemental weapons to fragments of God Shrine Totems that come together to create powerful new abilities.Combat is equally immersive, offering a seamless blend of magic, melee, and ranged attacks. Unleash shockwaves with Grimoire Snap, trade health for devastating power with Blood Magic, wield weapons you have upgraded and enchanted, or mix and match abilities to create a playstyle thats entirely your own. Every encounter is an opportunity to experiment, strategize, and push the boundaries of your partys potential.At the heart of Avowed lies its dedication to player choice. Inspired by the freedom of tabletop RPGs, the game puts the power in your hands. Your decisions ripple across the Living Lands, shaping alliances, influencing factions, and determining the fate of your companions. Whether you negotiate peace, spark conflict, or carve your own path through the chaos, your actions leave a lasting impact on the world of Eora.This seamless blend of storytelling, exploration, and creativity makes Avowed an unforgettable RPG experience, one where every choice matters and every discovery feels personal.Start Your Adventure TodayWhether youre a longtime fan of Obsidian Entertainment or new to Eora, Avowed invites you to dive into a world of wonder, danger, and opportunity. With its vibrant setting, unforgettable characters, and deeply immersive gameplay, this is the role-playing experience youve been waiting for.The Living Lands are calling. Gather your courage, forge your path, and let the adventure begin!Avowed is available now for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, cloud, and with Game Pass. Avowed also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning when you buy the game through the store on Xbox or Windows, its yours to play on Xbox and Windows PC at no additional cost, and your game progress and achievements are saved across Xbox and Windows PC.When you purchase Avowed on Battle.net or Xbox, or have an Xbox Game Pass membership (PC or Ultimate only), and connect your Battle.net and Xbox accounts, its also yours to play on Battle.net, Xbox and Xbox App for Windows at no additional cost. Avowed lets you pick up where you left off, bringing all of your saves, game add-ons, and Xbox achievement progress with you.Avowed Premium EditionXbox Game Studios651$89.99Get it nowPremium Edition includes: Avowed base game Up to 5 days early access Two Premium Skin Packs Access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?The Weird and Wonderful Living LandsThe Living Lands is a place that feels foreign yet somewhat intrinsic to you as it feels the island itself is calling out to you for help. Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem. Visceral Combat to Play Your WayMix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way. Dig into your grimoire for spells to trap, freeze or burn enemies, bash them with your shield, or use range bows to attack from a distance. Companions as part of your journeyCompanions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities. From a former mercenary to an eccentric wizard, they will be part of your journey with your choices shaping them as you help them with their quests.Avowed Standard EditionXbox Game Studios560$69.99Get it nowWelcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?The Weird and Wonderful Living LandsThe Living Lands is a place that feels foreign yet somewhat intrinsic to you as it feels the island itself is calling out to you for help. Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem. Visceral Combat to Play Your WayMix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way. Dig into your grimoire for spells to trap, freeze or burn enemies, bash them with your shield, or use range bows to attack from a distance. Companions as part of your journeyCompanions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities. From a former mercenary to an eccentric wizard, they will be part of your journey with your choices shaping them as you help them with their quests.

The Fight ContinuesSev and Rogue Team remain on the run, evading capture while fighting back when the opportunity strikes. In the ongoing game of cat and mouse, the hunt continues.The mid-season update for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 sets the stakes even higher with new maps, new weapons and attachments, Perks, and more, including an awesome seasonal collaboration featuring everyones favorite heroes in a half-shell.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Season 02 Reloaded arrives on Thursday, February 20 at 9AM PT across all platforms.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: Season 02 ReloadedMULTIPLAYER CONTENT SUMMARYTwo Maps: Catch some air and battle around ramps and rails as Grind Ooze arrives in a special variant of the fan-favorite skatepark. Take the fight to a speeding train in the Bullet Strike map, battling within its narrow carriages and up top in the whistling wind.TMNT Moshpit: Experience a radical new limited-time Moshpit as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bring their elite combat abilities to Multiplayer.New Loadout Content: Mark your next target for elimination with the Hunters Instinct Perk and be prepared for any and all aerial threats using the new Flyswatter Wildcard.Grind OozeRemaster, Core, 6v6, Medium-SizedThe fan-favorite map first released in Call of Duty: Black Ops II returns for Black Ops 6 in the mid-season! Show off your best combat moves in the outdoor Half Pipe and Cradle or take your chances inside as Operators trade shots around the Store and across the indoor skate ramps, with TMNT decals, posters, and artwork spread across the scenery.BulletBrand-New, Strike, 6v6/2v2, Small-SizedSev and Rogue Team deploy to a high-speed bullet train to neutralize a key enemy target. Keep your eyes sharp when moving up and sweeping the carriages; the automatic sliding doors may reveal an incoming enemy at a moments notice. Climb up to the roof of the train to feel the whipping wind and marvel at the landscape flying by. Be ready to defend your spot up top and then drop back down behind the enemy line.Turtle Power! New TMNT-themed Limited Time ModeThe Ninja Turtles have arrived in Call of Duty and are kicking things off with a limited time Moshpit giving everyone the chance to let loose with their best TMNT-themed abilities and moves.Enter a game of Team Deathmatch, Domination, or Hardpoint and unleash ninja-level abilities and TMNT Scorestreaks against your enemies in pursuit of victory. These special Scorestreaks are earned by scoring as normal, but because the turtles work as a team, objective plays award an increase in the score.Activating your special Scorestreak gives you the following benefits:General AbilitiesFor 30 seconds, gain increased health plus fast health regen and increased movement speed and melee range. A HUD indicator will flash when an enemy is outside your view and being shot while running toward an enemy will not slow you down. You can perform Finishing Moves on enemies from any direction. Plus, gain the ability to Double Jump and Air Dash.Turtle PowersUsing your TMNT Scorestreak also activates one of several different character-specific abilities. One of these abilities is assigned randomly to players at the start of the match. Those deploying with a TMNT Operator, however, will get access to that characters specific Scorestreak. The abilities include:Splinter: Vanish in smoke and teleport to a safe location behind enemy lines.Leonardo: Gain the Tracker, Ghost, Vigilance, and Cold-Blooded Perks to navigate the map in stealth.Donatello: See Operators through walls as well as Equipment, Field Upgrades, and Scorestreaks. Hack enemy Equipment and Field Upgrades.Michelangelo: Drops a Pizza Box for your team. Players who eat a slice will deal Double Damage for a short time. Replenishes ammo and Equipment.Raphael: Unlimited Shuriken.Mark the next target for elimination and swap your Dedicated Melee for a Launcher with two new Loadout items expanding your options in the field.New PerkPerk: Hunters InstinctPerk Slot: 2Type: Enforcer (Red)Available: Season 02 Reloaded RewardEliminating an enemy will mark the next closest one. A narrow cone briefly appears on your mini-map after an elimination, showing the general direction of your next nearest foe.New WildcardWildcard: FlyswatterAvailable: Season 02 Reloaded RewardAllows a player to replace their Dedicated Melee weapon with a Launcher.Zombies: Season 02 Reloaded ContentZOMBIES CONTENT SUMMARYCowabunga Cranked: Kick undead butt and dont let up as the timer keeps ticking down in this TMNT Zombies LTM, challenging players to take down target after target to beat the clock and stay alive.The Tomb Directed Mode: Directed Mode arrives for The Tomb, granting players extra guidance and round cap limitations when taking on the Main Quest.Rage like Raph in TMNT CrankedTheres nothing like a train of undead targets to test the turtles fighting prowess. Its time to go loud in this new limited-time Cranked variant, testing players with a timer that left unchecked will count down to their own destruction. Heres how this plays out:Add some high-octane urgency to any of the four Zombies maps and your undead horde slaying in Cowabunga Cranked. Drop into Terminus, Liberty Falls, Citadelle des Morts, or The Tomb with your Loadout of choice and eliminate a zombie to trigger the Cranked timer. Fail to eliminate a zombie before the timer hits zero and ka-boom! Youre gone.As rounds progress, the Cranked timer will continue to shrink, so keep pushing the fight to stay in the game! Thankfully, there are several Pizza power-ups that can drop in the match, including:Turtle Power: Temporarily empowers the player with a health bonus and Pack-A-Punch 3 Legendary Melee WeaponsPizza Box: Fills the Cranked Timer to maxSlice-O-Pie: Partial time added to the Cranked TimerPlus, all players in this mode are given the Donnys Time Stopper Field Upgrade; activate it to pause the Cranked timer for one full minute!Deploy as a Ninja Turtle Operator to gain 50% reduced damage from behind; join as Splinter for a slightly increased chance for a Slice-O-Pie to drop from eliminated enemies.For those craving a real challenge, Main Quests will be active in Cowabunga Cranked, with a subtly different TMNT version of each maps Main Quest completion Calling Card available as a memento for anyone radical enough to achieve this feat! Think you can finish all of them?Season 02 Reloaded brings Directed Mode for The Tomb. Explore the cursed catacombs and teleport to a world of chaos through the Doorway to Nowhere. In Directed Mode, players can take on the Main Quest with added guidance and a maximum round cap of 15.Start at the Dig Site and descend into the tombs, unearthing ancient burial sites and shrines along with the new Shock Mimic enemy, the Arrow Trap, and the legendary Staff of Ice Wonder Weapon. If you havent yet experienced the full Main Quest or if youre itching to play it through again with some added help this is your chance to discover the newest shocking revelations, as Weaver, Maya, Carver, and Grey seek out the Sentinel Artifact in hopes of freeing Samantha Maxis from her Dark Aether imprisonment.Call of Duty: Warzone: Season 02 Reloaded ContentWARZONE CONTENT SUMMARYSeason 02 Reloaded: Were continuing to prioritize gameplay tuning, quality of life improvements, and more throughout the mid-season as players deploy across Urzikstan, Area 99, and Rebirth Island.New Perk: Stay low and keep on the move with the new Low Profile Perk, improving your movement speed when crouched, prone, and downed.Call of Duty: Warzone UpdatesAs stated in our Season 02 launch article, our main focus in Call of Duty: Warzone is prioritizing gameplay tuning by addressing quality of life improvements, ongoing bugs, and more. Consult the consistently updated Patch Notes for further information.Overview and FeaturesPlayers will continue duking it out in Battle Royale, Resurgence, and Plunder across Urzikstan, Area 99, and Rebirth Island, and Ranked Play across Urzikstan. XP earned within Call of Duty: Warzone will also contribute toward ongoing Events including the Call of Duty x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Clover Craze Events, detailed later in this blog.Perk: Low ProfilePerk Slot: 1Available: Season 02 Reloaded RewardMove more quickly while crouched and prone. Enemies you kill will not have death markers for their allies. Move slightly faster when downed.Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: General Content (MP, ZM, WZ)GENERAL CONTENT SUMMARY (All Modes and Games)Upgrade Your Arsenal: Earn six new weapons (D1.3 Sector Special, Skateboard Melee, Bo Staff, Katanas, Sai, and Nunchaku Melee Weapons) plus the new Belt-Fed Attachment for all four LMGs.New Events: Earn new base weapons, Operators, Skins, and more across the Call of Duty x TMNT and in-game Events.New Store Offerings: Keep the Ninja Turtles at your fingertips with four new Bundles featuring the green team and enjoy free gift packs celebrating Black History Month and Womens History Month.The mid-season update brings epic new weapons to battle with, including a sawblade Secondary Weapon and a whopping five new Melee Weapons. Note that the base versions of the Bo Staff, Katanas, Sai, and Nunchaku Melee weapons will be available to unlock via the Armory at the start of Season 02 Reloaded.Secondary Weapon: D1.3 SectorSpecial, TMNT Event, Free Track RewardLevels: 20MAGS: 3MAG SIZE: 5Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: Barrel, Underbarrel, Magazine, StockCustomize Options: Skins, Accessories (1), Decals (1).Rechambering blade launcher. Equip different magazines to access a variety of deadly projectile types.Cut the enemy to ribbons with this Special Secondary Weapon that fires saw blades at your foe. A variant based on the infamous D13 Sector in Black Ops III, use this special launcher by firing down sights or off the hip and account for the weapons heavier projectiles when acquiring targets. A quick reload speed gets you back into the action with several powerful attachments available via Gunsmith including new projectile types like the explosive and ricochet blades as well as a Long Barrel, Crossbar, and an Overclocked Stock.Melee Weapon: SkateboardMelee, TMNT Event, Free Track Reward, Premium Track Reward (additional Blueprint)Levels: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: NoneCustomize Options: Skins.One-hit elimination. Moderately fast attack speed. Moderately long range.Hold onto your board deck side out and swat away enemies in your way. The Skateboard features swiping attacks from side to side as well as an overhead slam. Wind up with a heavy attack to knock the wind out of your target before finishing with the final blow.Melee Weapon: KatanasMelee, Armory Unlock, Blueprint version shown (available via Bundle)Levels: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: NoneCustomize Options: Skins.One-hit elimination. Moderately fast attack speed. Short range.Slice, chop, and hit with both Katanas at once using this impressive dual wield setup that makes short work of enemies in close proximity. Prepare a heavy attack to end the encounter with a dispatch above the collar.Melee Weapon: Bo StaffMelee, Armory Unlock, Blueprint version shown (available via Bundle), TMNT Event, Premium Track Reward (additional Blueprint)Levels: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: NoneCustomize Options: Skins.One-hit elimination. Slow attack speed. Very long range.Swipe and strike at targets using the Bo Staffs long reach to hit them from further out compared to other Melee Weapons. Conduct a heavy attack to knock foes silly with a clobbering smash.Melee Weapon: NunchakuMelee, Armory Unlock, Blueprint version shown (available via Bundle)Levels: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: NoneCustomize Options: Skins.Two-hit elimination. Very fast attack speed. Medium range.Though they dont dish out as much damage as the other ninja weapons, the Nunchaku more than makes up for it with a rapid attack speed that quickly chains into follow-up attacks. Prepare the heavy strike to spin your target around and then knock them to the ground.Melee Weapon: SaiMelee, Armory Unlock, Blueprint version shown (available via Bundle)Levels: 30Mastery Badges: YesAttachments: NoneCustomize Options: Skins.One-hit elimination. Fast attack speed. Very short range.Equip a pair of Sai and get up close and personal with rapid attacks that will send foes reeling. Hold your weapons at the ready using the heavy attack and unleash them when the time to strike is right.Belt-Fed AttachmentFour variants; PU-21, XMG, GPMG-7, Feng 82 LMGs, Magazine Attachment, TMNT Free Track RewardOutfit any of the four available LMGs with a large helping of extra ammo continuously fed to the weapon through sustained fire. Belt-fed weapons can overheat through extensive use, so lay off the trigger now and then to let things cool down before resuming your attack.Rack up the XP and earn rewards including a new Season 02 Reloaded Secondary Weapon, Melee Weapon, Ammo-chewing Attachments, and more across two green-themed in-game Events.Call of Duty x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (MP, ZM, WZ)Activation Dates: February 27 to March 13The Call of Duty x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collaboration includes its own in-game Mid-Season Event Pass, offering rewards like the new Splinter Operator, Skateboard Melee Weapon, and the sawblade shooting D1.3 Sector Special Weapon.Free TrackAll players can make progress and unlock rewards along the Free Track simply by earning XP in Multiplayer, Zombies, or Call of Duty: Warzone while the Event is live. Earn new Foot Clan themed Operator Skins plus highlights like the new Skateboard Melee Weapon, the Belt-Fed Attachment, and the sharp-toothed D1.3 Sector Special Weapon.Free Track Mastery Reward: D1.3 SectorComplete the Free Track to unlock the D1.3 Sector Saw Blade Launcher Special Weapon, firing razor sharp blades that cuts down enemies in their tracks.Get More with the Premium Reward TrackPlayers who purchase the Premium Track for 1,100 COD Points can also progress along a second track featuring even more TMNT-themed rewards, including a new Finishing Move, Weapon Blueprints like the Splinters Cane Bo Staff, Sewer Surfer Skateboard, and Sliced D1.3 Sector, and the Brainiac Gun Screen.Ultimate Mastery Reward: Splinter OperatorTake on the role of turtle sensei by completing the Premium Track and unlocking the ninja master himself as the new Splinter Operator.Event: Clover Craze (MP, ZM, WZ)Activation Dates: March 13 to end of SeasonTotal Rewards: 10Eliminate enemies in Multiplayer and Zombies and open Caches in Call of Duty: Warzone to acquire different types of clovers. Find the Rare Gold Clover for the most points! Redeem for rewards, including the lucky Cloverleaf AMES AR Blueprint.The Ninja Turtles lead the way with four new Store Bundles, each themed around one of the reptilian green teens. Also look for Free Gift Packs arriving throughout the mid-season, celebrating Black History Month in February and Womens History Month in March.Tracer Pack: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: LeonardoDeploy as Leonardo, the trusty and honorable leader of the Ninja Turtles. Lead your teammates into battle with Leonardos Katanas Melee Weapon Blueprint and shred enemies with the Dicer Krig C Assault Rifle and the Scrapper Kompakt 92 SMG, both featuring Blue Tracers. All three Weapon Blueprints include TMNT Comic Death FX. Up close, finish them off with the Blade Dance Finishing Move.Plus, dangle some ooze with the Containment Weapon Charm, hang upside down with the Balanced Life Emote, and equip the Turtle Stance Animated Calling Card, Into the Night Large Decal, and Stoic Leo Animated Emblem.Tracer Pack: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: DonatelloUnleash your ninja skills as Donatello and knock some sense into the bad guys with Donatellos Bo Staff Melee Weapon plus the Rampager GPR 91 Assault Rifle and Max Damage SVD Sniper Rifle Weapon Blueprints, both featuring Purple Tracers while all three include TMNT Ooze Canister Death FX. In close-quarters, make them dance with the Bo-Staff Boogie Finishing Move.Keep a memento of the Turtle Van with the Primo Ride Weapon Charm and show off your style with the Parkour Patrol Animated Calling Card, Halfshell Weapon Sticker, and Donatello Rizz Animated Emblem.Tracer Pack: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: MichelangeloGet the party started as Michelangelo and fly into battle with his signature Michelangelos Nunchucks Melee Weapon Blueprint. Inflict Mikeys particular brand of chaos with the Chaos Sow AK-74 Assault Rifle and On Call DM-10 Marksman Rifle Weapon Blueprints, both featuring Orange Tracers while all three Weapon Blueprints include TMNT Pizza Death FX. From behind, take foes down with the Nunchuk Chop Finishing Move.Keep pizza close at hand with the Dished Weapon Charm and Pizza Party Emote and keep the party alive with the Swinging Heat Animated Calling Card, Home Sweet Home Spray, and Mikey Charmin Animated Emblem.Tracer Pack: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: RaphaelGet ready to rage as Raphael, always the first to the fight. Face down the competition with Raphaels Sai Melee Weapon Blueprint along with the Tank C9 SMG and Big Brained GPMG-7 LMG Weapon Blueprints, both featuring Red Tracers. All three Weapon Blueprints include the TMNT Ninja Star Death FX. Make short work of foes with the Quick Skills Finishing Move.Keep in fighting shape with the Kickin It Emote, Crossed Sai Reticle, Fortress Frag Skin, Ready Raph Animated Calling Card, and Raphs Grin Animated Emblem.Black History Month: Free Gift Pack (February 20)To honor Black History Month, were releasing a free gift pack featuring a Loading Screen, Emblem, and Calling Card, available in the in-game Store starting February 20.Womens History Month: Free Gift Pack (March 10)Get another free gift pack with a Loading Screen, Emblem, and Calling Card celebrating Womens History Month, available in the in-game Store starting March 10.Our commitment to community feedback remains unwavering and ongoing as we strive with our continuing mission: making our games social and fun. We truly value your opinions and feedback on what matters to you. With this in mind, and in addition to the usual methods of communication, our players now have a new way to give their feedback.Introducing the Call of Duty: Recon Squad.While playing Call of Duty, you may be invited to join the Call of Duty Recon Squad operated by Fuel Cycle. The Call of Duty Recon Squad is a Fuel Cycle research community that will be active throughout the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone Seasons. Youll have opportunities to provide feedback through surveys, online community discussion boards, and potentially even invited to focus groups. And best of all, any feedback you provide will earn points in the Recon Squad that you can redeem for BO6 and/or Call of Duty: Warzone in-game items!Fuel Cycle community research topics will be centered on recently released Black Ops 6 and Call of Duty: Warzone content and many other topics related to Call of Duty. Were interested in hearing what you have to say about recent maps, modes, and other seasonal content from our games!This Fuel Cycle community is invite-only, so you wont be able to forward this to any of your friends or family to have them sign up so any invite you may receive is just for you. All types of players are being invited no matter the modes or number of hours you play, we want to hear from you! If you receive an invite (from Call of Duty, via the email related to your Activision ID), dont miss out on this chance to have your voice heard and score some in-game items as a result!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. 2025 Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. All Rights Reserved. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom Overseas Holdings C.V. Nickelodeon and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 2025 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.

For those of you that have been exploring the Living Lands in Avowed, thank you for taking a break to check out the latest Game Pass news! We have some exciting new reveals and exclusive Perks to tease your install buttons. Also, mark your calendars and check out the ID@Xbox Showcase during IGN Fan Fest 2025 on Monday, February 24 at 10am PT for even more Game Pass announcements. Lets get to the games! Available TodayAvowed (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) February 18Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassAvailable on day one! Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. Check out Xbox Wire for Starting Tips to Help You on Your Adventure in the Living Lands.Coming SoonEA Sports F1 24 (Cloud, Console, and PC) EA Play February 20Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game PassJoin the grid and chase podium glory with unlimited access to EA Sports F1 24, coming soon to The Play List. Members can master every turn and feel at one with the car with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), PC Game Pass, or Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. Plus, score in-game rewards including 5,000 XP monthly.Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) February 20Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardWarhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an isometric RPG by Owlcat Games, set in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium. As a powerful Rogue Trader, you command a starship, assemble a crew, and explore the Imperium, making fateful decisions in tactical, turn-based combat.Watch Dogs: Legion (Cloud, Console, and PC) February 25Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass StandardExplore a massive urban open world featuring Londons many iconic landmarks and fun side activities where you can recruit (and play as) anyone. Everyone you see has a unique backstory, personality, and skill set for unique situations. Team up with your friends to complete new four-player co-op missions and PvP matches online.In Case You Missed ItRyse: Son of Rome Available with Cloud GamingGame Pass UltimateJump back in this immersive action-adventure story of struggle, brutality, and heroism with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta). Amidst the chaos of the late Roman Empire, become soldier Marius Titus and embark on a perilous campaign to avenge the death of your family and defend the honor of Rome. In Gladiator Mode, step into the Colosseum and fight for the glory, spectacle, and entertainment of the crowds.DLC / Game UpdatesSea of Thieves: Season 15 Starting February 20Sea of Thieves is more exciting than ever as new life abounds across the waves. Set forth on new Voyages for The Hunters Call, grapple with wild boars and deadly sea monsters, master using hunting spears and more, with new features to enjoy each month.Ark Survival Ascended: Astraeos DLC Available NowGame Pass members save 10%! Embark on your next epic odyssey within the world of Ark with Astraeos! Explore and immerse yourself in an elysian land of colossal proportions, steeped in Greek mythology. At over 260km, this massive new map is overflowing with stunning scenery, ancient ruins, and sacred temples. Face off against powerful new bosses, alpha dino variants with enhanced loot, and a fearsome miniboss lurking in mysterious caves.Forza Motorsport: Update 17 Available NowUpdate 17 celebrates cars that are fun, compact, and performant. Race four new-to-Motorsport cars: 2023 Toyota Camry TRD, 2022 Hyundai i20N, 2022 Toyota GR86, and 2021 Hyundai #98 Elantra TCR. Get the 2021 Toyota Yaris GR and 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5N in the Challenge Hub.Age of Mythology: Retold Immortal Pillars Expansion March 4Game Pass members can save 10% on their pre-order of Immortal Pillars, the highly anticipated first expansion for Age of Mythology: Retold. Harness the power of ancient Chinese mythology and discover a world where gods, monsters, and legends collide in an epic new chapter of mythical strategy.Game Pass Ultimate PerksFind all these Perks and more in the Game Pass section on your console, Xbox mobile app, or Xbox app on Windows PC to find new in-game content, consumables, and offers included with your Game Pass Ultimate membership.Madden NFL 25: EA Play Supercharge Pack Available NowMadden NFL 25 is now on The Play List. Get your Ultimate Team ready for the gridiron with the Supercharge Pack.Minecraft: 1 Month Marketplace Pass Available NowGet access to the Marketplace Pass for 1 month! Discover 150+ pieces of content including worlds, skin packs, add-ons and more refreshed monthly. This Perk requires a payment instrument to redeem. Terms apply.Monster Hunter Now: MH Now Bundle Available NowClaim 2 Ultra Hunting Tickets, 2 Paintballs, 2 Potions, a Wander Orb, and a Tigrex crafting material for weapons and armor. This Perk content requires Monster Hunter Now (mobile) to use. Valid only for iOS and Android versions of the game.MultiVersus: MVP Pack 5 Available NowThe MultiVersus MVP Pack offers in-game content to further customize and boost your play for Game Pass Ultimate members. MVP Pack 5 includes a Rare Banner Bun Power and a Legendary Taunt Treat Break.Naruto 4-Movie Collection: Free movies Available Now (US Only)Claim four Anime classic movies including Naruto Shippuden The Movie: Blood Prison, Naruto Road to Ninja, Naruto The Last, and Boruto: The Naruto Movie. More Naruto titles are on sale during Anime month. Available in the US only.Leaving February 28The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon. Whether there are loose ends to tie up or you still want to try these out, this is your call to jump back in. Remember to use your membership discount to save up to 20% on your purchase to keep it in your library.F1 22 (Console and PC) EA PlayGris (Cloud, Console, and PC)Maneater (Cloud, Console, and PC)PAW Patrol World (Cloud, Console, and PC)Space Engineers (Cloud, Console, and PC)Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Cloud, Console, and PC)Wo Long Fallen Dynasty (Cloud, Console, and PC)Yakuza 3 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)Yakuza 4 Remastered (Cloud, Console, and PC)Were adding more games over time to the Stream your own game collection for Game Pass Ultimate members. Go to Xbox.com/Play to see the list of available cloud playable games to stream on supported devices if you own them.As always you can tune into Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox on social for a reminder when these coming soon announcements turn into play today. Otherwise well be back here to talk more games soon. Cheers!

SummaryReplay Boys releases today.Learn about what dark unknowns are lurking in the Replay Boys.Classic otome vibes in a twisted world of horror and suspense.There are emergency vehicles outside the arena. Your friends text messages are beginning to sound strange. A writhing darkness fills your vision, and your work day starts again.In Replay Boys you play as Hannah, a video editor for a small record label. When everyone calls in sick, the task of wrangling all four members of the Replay Boys is thrust upon you. Youll have to ferry them to the concert, get them ready for soundcheck, and deal with their meltdowns. Replay Boys contains all the lighthearted elements that you would expect from a visual novel about managing a dysfunctional modern-day boy band, but there is something sinister lurking under its straightforward premise.The games darker elements, like the title hints at, can only be uncovered by replaying the same day several times. Youll come face to face with a ghost, fight brainwashed fans and a dangerous cult, and deal with an array of more conventional crimes like kidnapping and firearms offences. The turning point comes when, for unknown reasons, the day begins to repeat.I asked the games writer, Bell, how this came about. I think it was a natural evolution as I wrote the story, she says. I really like games that make you question if your senses are reliable. I also think visual novels can be uniquely eerie since so much of the storys visualizations are happening in your own head. Its a creepiness that thrives on the power of your imagination.The crossover of visual novel and horror in Replay Boys is inspired by how both of the genres use repetition. In a classic visual novel, there are large portions of the story that remain static in every route, which have to be replayed in order to get to a point where the story branches. The replayability is twisted into a time loop that is actually part of the story. In a different manner, horror games and films often repeatedly demonstrate something as safe, only to later betray that sense of security by twisting it into something terrifying.The first day in Replay Boys plays to the expectations of the visual novel genre, until it comes to an abrupt end. When the day restarts, at first it seems nothing has changed, but the pace of those previously-lived moments picks up, and creepy elements start to bleed through. You may hear odd noises on the phone, or gain the ability to explore a dark room that you didnt have access to before. As you rack up more time loops, the original story structure distorts more dramatically, turning the familiar baseline into something eerie, surreal and fantastical.While the standout feature of Replay Boys surrounds the subversion of expectations, Bell still wrote the game to be a proper otome dating sim. I wanted each of the band members to feel lively and real, and able to develop a unique relationship with the main character. At the end of the game, the reward for the player should be the feeling that they very deservedly won this characters trust.Spend a romantic and spooky Valentines Day with a quirky boy band. Replay Boys releases today, February 14, on Xbox One, Series X|S, and the Xbox app on PC.REPLAY BOYSSplit Narrative Inc.$9.99Get it nowREPLAY BOYS is a visual novel with multiple endings including both romantic and platonic routes. It features wild characters, vivid CGs capturing moments of romance and chaos, and an exciting pace. Your decisions guide the outcome, choose carefully!You play as Hannah, video editor for up-and-coming boy band The Replay Boys. When their manager calls in sick right before The Replay Boys first big concert, Hannah is the only one who can fill in and save the day. Help the band through their arguments and uncover their fears and anxieties, while dealing with crazy fans, a cult, and time loops!https://www.xbox.com/en-in/games/store/replay-boys/9p0wcr4jhh0l

SummaryX-Out Resurfaced comes out February 20, 2025.Digital pre-orders are currently available.Remake of the classic C64 shootem up.Some people say old legends never die. We fully agree with them, as were willing to give a helping hand to those that wish to rise again.X-Out Resurfaced is a full-blown, high-definition remake of the old Commodore 64 classic X-Out. Featuring gorgeous visuals and a reworked control scheme, this new version is the perfect way to experience this incredible shootem up in all its glory.The game starts with a unique loadout screen, revolutionary for its time, allowing you to choose your craft, weaponry and option types, before submersing yourself in frantic, underwater shmup action.The challenge will be tough and the enemies numerous, but Captain Granger and his faithful craft Trilobite are definitely up to the task. He is after all the last line of defense against the alien horrors that are trying to invade Earth through the ocean depths.These cosmic horrors sound like they might be too much for you to handle alone? Nothing to worry about, as X-Out Resurfaced features a brand new two-player mode. Sharing the underwater terror is caring after all.Last but not least, the banger of a soundtrack got a complete makeover by the original composer himself, the great Chris Huelsbeck. Worth a good listen or two if youre an enjoyer of fantastic retro tunes.X-Out Resurfaced is still currently available for pre-order, with a full release on February 20, 2025.Were counting on you captain. Good luck!X-Out: ResurfacedININ Games$19.99Pre-orderYou thought theyd come from space? Wrong!Its up to you alone to stop an alien invasion from the depths of the ocean in this legendary, home computer era shoot em up, dredged up and faithfully rebuilt for modern platforms X-Out: Resurfaced!Resurfaced:In 1990, the year of X-Outs initial release on Amiga, it stood out as a breath of fresh seaside air in the stale shoot 'em-up space.It didnt take place in space as so many games of its genre did (and still do) but instead went for a dive through underwater worlds.But what really pushed it further than its side-scrolling competitors was its shop system, allowing players to mix and match from a wide variety of ships, weapons, and other accessories to build their fleet. This made every playthrough (attempt) feel different and unique.In 2024 the highly challenging underwater shoot em up from the game development legends at Rainbow Arts is finally returning.ININ and Ziggurat have collaborated to bring you a faithful remake completely rebuilt from the ground up and greatly improved.Redrawn:The impressive sprite work of yesteryear has not only been remade into even more impressive modern high-resolution sprites but also greatly expanded upon with particle and lighting effects. 8 varied stages, the enemies, the bosses, the ships, the projectileseverything shines in a brand-new light!Remixed:Apart from the visual journey of each playthrough, youll embark on a musical one as well: epic synth soundscapes that drive you forward by the magnificent Chris Hlsbeck. In addition to him remastering his original works, we have created three entirely new tracks as well.Remembered:And it's not just Chris Hlsbeck who has returned for this remake: Ogan Kandemiroglu, the brother and co-artist of Celal Kandemiroglu who created the original iconic key art of X-Out, took on that task for the remake as a tribute.Re-equipped:The shop system is back and thoroughly improved as well: new preconfigured load-outs allow you to jump straight into the action, added item descriptions help new cadets configure and build their fleet, and we've FINALLY marked the available slots for your weaponry.Reinforced:Should you still feel overwhelmed by X-Outs challenge, then maybe its time for a co-captain. Enlist a friend and face the terrors from the ocean deep together in the local 2-player co-op mode!Reversed:If you think youve seen everything there is to the game already, then prepare to have your bearing changed and your gyro twisted in the Mirror Mode with its reverse-scrolling levels!Recapped: Experience a fresh but faithful take on a real shoot-em-up classic! Get dazzled by the new and beautiful sprite work mixed with shiny particle and lighting effects! Take a journey through new and old synth soundscapes courtesy of composer legend Chris Hlsbeck! Choose one of three load-outs or build your own fleet in the improved shop system! Grab a trusty ally and face the depths together in a 2-player couch co-op dive! Get your world flipped, turned upside down in the Mirror Mode! Too challenging? Don't fret we got some cheats for you to breeze through the game with ease!

SummaryLost in Random: The Eternal Dies free demo is available now on Xbox.Return to the world of Random as Queen Aleksandra in this dark fantasy roguelite.Lost in Random: The Eternal Die will be released this year for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Game Pass.Fate has spoken, and your chance to step back into the dark and whimsical world of Random has arrived! The free demo for Lost in Random: The Eternal Die is now available on Xbox, giving you a first-hand look at this exciting new chapter. If youve been craving an adventure filled with mystery, danger, and a touch of fate, now is the perfect time to dive in.A First Glimpse into The Eternal DieIn our free demo, youll step into the first of four eerie worlds within the Black Die, ruled by the sinister Mare the Knight. This new realm is treacherous, unpredictable, and crawling with dangers that will push your skills to the limit including the first of four ruthless world bosses, The Doublet Twins. But dont worry you wont be taking on this challenge unarmed.Your weapon of choice? The Sword of Sixtopia, swift and agile, perfect for rapid strikes and devastating spin attacks. Combine it with powerful card abilities and relics to customise your build for your own playstyle. And of course, youll have your die-companion, Fortune, by your side. Toss him into battle to deal massive damage, and use the all-new relic system to power up your skills, abilities, Fortune and more for a super slick and advanced combat experience. Combat in The Eternal Die is all about choice no two runs will be the same!In the demo youll get to experiment with our brand-new relic system and tiered upgrades, helping you become stronger every turn. Every time you fall, youll return to the Sanctuary, where you can unlock new skills, power up your weapons, and prepare yourself for another run. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for Aamas lost dicelings, too finding them will earn you powerful, permanent upgrades bringing you one step closer to escaping this nightmare realm.And this is just the beginning! When the full game launches, youll get your hands on three more weapons the mighty Hellevens Hammer, the fatal Sevendipity Striker, and the deadly Lance of Lady Luck each with its own unique combat style and upgrade path, as well as 15 unique card abilities and over 100 relics to create your perfect build. Synergy will be everything and we cannot wait to see what creative and crazy builds you come up with!Beyond battles, the demo is also your first glimpse into the twisted world of the Black Die. Youre trapped in the Black Die by Mare the Knight and its up to you to uncover its secrets, meet its peculiar (and perhaps familiar) inhabitants, and piece together the mystery of your imprisonment. Some of the odd folk you meet might even hold the key to your escape if you take the time to listen. Seek wisdom from Chance, an enigmatic guide to the Black Dies sinister machinations. Return Aamas children to unlock powerful upgrades. Stock up on supplies at Mannie Chexs ever-moving pop-up shop. And if youre feeling bold enough, you can challenge the mysterious Wager Rollins, always eager for a game of chance.If you loved Lost in Random, this demo is your chance to dive back into its beautifully bizarre world but this time, with an exciting roguelite twist. We cant wait for you to experience it!The Next Chapter of Lost in RandomThe Eternal Die takes you back to the eerie, ever-changing world of Random, but this time, luck plays an even greater role. Taking on a roguelite spin, each run treats you to a high-stakes game where skill, strategy, and a touch of fortune determine your fate. Roll the dice, wield your weapons, and embrace the unpredictable nature of combat as you battle through the Black Dies twisted trials.Martin Storm, Game Director, shares what makes The Eternal Die stand out:The Eternal Die offers more fast-paced, skill-driven combat packed with intricate synergies. Every roll, every battle, and every ever-changing encounter will test your adaptability and decision-making. With each run, youll unlock powerful upgrades and uncover the unpredictable magic of Random in an entirely new way.At the heart of this adventure is a new hero: Queen Aleksandra, the once-mighty ruler of Random. Stripped of her power and forced into the Black Dies merciless trials, she must rely on her wits, combat skills, and her ever-loyal (and very adorable) die-companion, Fortune, to battle the ancient evil that took everything from her and reclaim what was rightfully hers. But she wont be alone. Along the way, unexpected and perhaps even familiar allies may lend a hand if luck is on your side, that is.The choice to make Aleksandra the protagonist of The Eternal Die was no coincidence. As Oskar Hanska, Senior Narrative Designer, explains:We wanted gameplay changes to also resonate in the narrative. With the new focus on enhanced action and more complex combat, exploring the once fearsome Queen Aleksandras story and powers was the perfect choice.Prepare for the Full ReleaseYour adventure is just beginning. When Lost in Random: The Eternal Die launches later this year, youll get to experience the full story, wield additional weapons and upgrades, and uncover even more secrets hidden within the Black Dies sinister world. And the best part? The game will be available on Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass from day one.So, are you ready to roll the dice? Play the demo now and wishlist Lost in Random: The Eternal Die today!Lost in Random: The Eternal Die Thunderful PublishingGet it nowAleksandra, Queen of Random, has lost everything. Deprived of her powers and trapped in a dark, nightmare realm, she must rely on her skills and trusty die-companion Fortune. Together, they gamble with fate on an epic adventure of revenge, redemption, and revelations in the whimsical realms of Random.Random Rules!To defeat her tormentor, Aleksandra must brave ever-changing realms packed with random twists, challenges, and rewards. Embracing chaos, adapting, and strategizing is key. Throw Fortune or rely on weapons to smash foes. Split-second decisions, some luck, and your mastery of chance will determine your fate!A Unique Relic SystemCollect and strategically match Relics on your board to uncover hundreds of combinations of instant effects, chaotic synergies, and powerful bonuses that heavily impact various playstyles making each attempt at victory feel like a fresh opportunity.The SanctuaryDeath is not final but returns you to the Sanctuary, an evolving haven with a fully-voiced band of eclectic characters. Unlock and upgrade weapons from a living weapon rack, choose wisely among the Blessings from the almighty Aama, or simply freshen up your wardrobe. Performing quests for your allies will restore Aleksandras full power and reveal her true potential.Rambunctious RealmsImmerse yourself in a rich, fully voiced story and the distinct artstyle of Random. Delve deep into four, randomly-generated realms, each with its own unique flair and style that will keep you coming back for more.

SummaryAfterlove EP is a new slice-of-life adventure from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.Pikselnesia shares how the team navigated its own grief alongside the games emotional beats after its founder unexpectedly passed away.Afterlove EP is out today on Xbox Series X|S.When we, Pikselnesia, first heard the pitch for Afterlove EP from one of Indonesias greatest narrative minds, Fahmi Hasni, we knew it would be something special. But we never expected everything to unfold the way it did.I first met Fahmi, funnily enough, through a dating app. After a very brief entangling, it quickly became clear that we were meant to create something far greater than just a fleeting companionship. Even before What Comes After took shape, he was already dreaming about what at that time was called Project Heartbreak. Back then, he didnt even have a story just a feeling he wanted to capture. The ache of trying to move on while the voice of lost love still lingers in your head.Then, just as we were stepping into full production, Fahmi passed away. I remember spending a lot of horrible months in my grief wondering what went wrong if anything could have gone differently. Fahmis passing was sudden, tragic, and utterly shocking.When our team and publisher eventually chose me to be the Narrative Lead, I knew exactly what to do. Our protagonist would feel what I felt.I was going to put him through hell.As the team hurled itself into continuing production in the dark, I knew each of us struggled to fill the giant hole Fahmi had left. Our producer, Ivor, had known Fahmi since before his days as a gaming journalist. Now, he had to shoulder the impossible leading a studio without its heart. He managed Pikselnesia, coordinated with our publisher Fellow Traveler, and kept Fahmis family updated. I knew he was skilled his years in the AAA mobile game industry proved that but guiding a grieving team while mourning a friend must have been gut-wrenching.Our other co-lead, Damas, was a pillar of the Indonesian gaming industry. His Bandung-based studio Rolling Glory Jam had been our backbone when we released What Comes After years before. Then there was Giri, who I had worked with on What Comes After. Seeing him again as Lead Programmer for Afterlove EP felt like reuniting with an old ally. Our other programmer, Dany, took on even more stepping into the role of Creative Director while still managing the back-end of our PC and Nintendo Switch builds. I had seen all these men stand beside Fahmi before. Though I perhaps would never fully grasp the depth of their grief, I could feel their determination to complete Fahmis final masterpiece, the swan song of his dying breath.Even when Afterlove EP was just a conversation I had with Fahmi over coffee, Fahmi already knew he wanted Soyatu to lead the art direction. I remember being in awe Soyatus unmistakable style, in an artful game about death? It would surely be a head-turner. I was relieved when Fahmi also found Pinga to create background arts that perfectly complement Soyatus lively characters. Together, their work felt seamless. And when Maxi joined the team, everything clicked into place. Watching Soyatus characters come to life actually walking, actually talking was surreal. It made sense, though. Maxi had worked with Giri before at Thinker Studio, and I never doubted his talent for a second.This all-star team was exactly what Fahmis vision needed anything less simply wouldnt have sufficed. His love for Jakarta ran deep. The chaotic sprawl of the streets, the hidden gems tucked away in hole-in-the-wall eateries, the citys thriving music and art culture all of it shaped him, and his hopeless romantic tendencies. That was why he brought LAlphalpha into the project so early. The shoegaze band has a unique, distinctive sound that is somewhat cinematic, exceptional lyrics written in Bahasa Indonesia that are melancholic without being maudlin, the type of songs that recognized pain but never let it consume you. It was everything Fahmi wanted Afterlove EP to express.In Afterlove EP, you step into the life of Rama, a deadpan young musician grieving the loss of his girlfriend, Cinta, who died from a fatal heart disease. Coping with the weight of her absence is already overwhelming sorrow, trauma, and guilt twist together in a relentless storm. But what makes it even harder is that Cintas voice never truly leaves him. She lingers in his mind, speaking to him, questioning him, making moving on feel impossible.As Rama stumbles toward a new chapter in his life, he faces choices that shape his future including three potential love interests: Mira, Regina, and Satria. Yet, Cinta remains. She watches. She comments on his decisions. She even occasionally disagrees with how he tries to move forward, a presence that refuses to fade into memory. Meanwhile, his band, Sigmund Feud, is barely holding together. His absence during his deepest grief took its toll, and when he finally returns, he somehow manages to make things worse. Anyone who has tried to start a band with friends in a garage will understand sometimes its tangled in personal drama, other times its clashing ambitions. But in every indie band, theres always that moment when everything feels like it could fall apart.As you navigate Ramas life in the most eventful month of his new life, youll be immersed in Soyatus signature art style not just in character sprites youre controlling and interacting with, but also in beautifully crafted comics woven throughout the game.Youll also be able to control how well Rama plays with the band in both practice sessions and live performances, as you jam out to LAlphalphas incredible shoegaze post-rock soundtrack.Jakarta itself plays a crucial role in Afterlove EP, with real-life locations that meant the world to Fahmi and our team. Who knows? Maybe one day, youll find yourself wandering these same streets, seeing the city through his eyes, and understanding why he fell in love with it.Theres so much more to discover, but I dont want to spoil the wonder of experiencing Afterlove EP for yourself. So, Ill end here with my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us on this journey. Were finally at the finish line, and its because of you that we were able to bring Fahmis final masterpiece to life. Until later when we meet again, friends.Afterlove EPFellow TravellerGet it nowTaking place in the vibrant city of Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Afterlove EP is a blend of visual novel, narrative adventure and rhythm game from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.Step into the shoes of Rama, a young musician struggling to move on with life after the death of their girlfriend, Cinta.Whilst his close friends and bandmates are all determined to help him move on, Rama has been stuck for more than a year. Hes neglecting his music, his mental health and his relationships. Making things harder, hes hearing Cintas voice inside his head, unsure if she is a spirit or part of his imagination.Now he has just one month to get it together! Ramas band has a critical gig in one months time. Either he gets serious about his music and delivers the new songs he has been promising or the band will move on without him.KEY FEATURES An emotional new story from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After. Set in a vibrant and authentic recreation of modern day Jakarta, Indonesia A blend of narrative adventure, visual novel and rhythm game elements explore, talk, jam out! Multiple endings and story paths over 28 days and nights, it will be your choices that determine the path Rama takes. Featuring the distinctive art of renowned Indonesian indie-manga artist, Soyatu. Featuring an original soundtrack from popular Indonesian band, Lalphalpha.

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Lets jump in!Avowed Standard EditionXbox Game Studios$69.99Pre-orderAvowed February 18Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play AnywhereWelcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can purchase the Avowed Premium Upgrade Addon to receive access up to 5 days early, two sets of premium skins, and access to the Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack.Blow it upBrain Seal LtdGet it nowBlow It Up February 18Blow it up is a physics destruction game with light-puzzle elements where you shoot bombs to destroy enemies hidden behind tower-like structures. Master seven unique bombs in a realistic physics simulation and explore over 70 levels of mayhem.Idle Zoo ParkOcean MediaGet it nowIdle Zoo Park February 18Upgrade and manage zoos to become a top tycoon in Idle Zoo Park! Revive old zoos and construct new ones, add various animals to boost appeal and income, build income-generating spots, and attract more visitors to grow your zoo empire and achieve tycoon status!Lost Records: Bloom & RageDON'T NODGet it nowLost Records: Bloom & Rage February 18Optimized for Xbox Series X|SRewind back to the 90s and live the defining summer of four high school girls as they forge bonds through their growing friendship, their punk band, and an unexplained event that will forever change their lives.Bee FlowersAfil GamesGet it nowBee Flowers February 19Optimized for Xbox Series X|SImmerse yourself in the enchanting world of Bee Flowers, a delightful puzzle game where you guide busy bees through hexagonal grids to pollinate vibrant fields of flowers. With its relaxing mechanics and progressively challenging puzzles, the game offers the perfect blend of strategy and serenity.Build LandsSilesia Games Sp. z o.o.Get it nowBuild Lands February 19Engage in block-building activities by reconstructing three sets of islands in the Build Lands mode, or by building and sharing your own creations in the Land Editor. With a wide selection of blocks, you can create various structures such as mountain cabins, castles, forests, or other designs.Harmony Chronicles: Demon Of The Void Collector's EditionOcean MediaGet it nowHarmony Chronicles: Demon Of the Void Collectors Edition February 19Mona is about to travel through dimensions again! After her adventures, she meets her divine protector before a magic portal sends her to a collapsing world, finding herself at the decayed Interdimensional University of Magic. Now she must navigate awe-inspiring worlds with unique challenges, creatures, and allies in this hidden object adventure game.SolirOld School VibesGet it nowSolir February 19Optimized for Xbox Series X|SA beautifully crafted 2D platformer designed to provide a relaxing yet engaging experience. With mesmerizing hand-drawn landscapes and a soothing soundtrack, players are invited to explore a serene world filled with light challenges and immersive gameplay.The Backrooms 1998FeardemicGet it nowThe Backrooms 1998 Found Footage Survival Horror Game February 20A first-person found footage psychological horror survival game where it tells the story of a young teen after accidentally falling into the depths of The Backrooms in 1998.CabernetAkupara Games$19.99Pre-orderCabernet February 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryA 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire struggling with her morality and the supernatural world she has been pulled into. Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become?Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in HawaiiSEGA$59.99Pre-orderLike a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii February 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryGoro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Before long, theyre caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.Ninja Master ToruSynnergy Circle GamesGet it nowNinja Master Toru February 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryAn evil curse that transforms the dead into living corpses was cast upon the land. The only way to stop the entire nation from crumbling to the undead is defeating the Kind of Undead, but entire armies of soldiers were annihilated and transformed into zombies. Only the master of steath, Ninja Master Toru, can infiltrate into the enemy territory and claim the leaders head!TactiCatsPineapple WorksGet it nowTactiCats February 20Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereDodge, roll, block incoming cats! Use power-ups to turn the scores. If youve always wanted to catch your friends with a giant laser pointer or shootem with a cheese cannon you can do it all! Just watch out for those flying yarn balls.X-Out: ResurfacedININ Games$19.99Pre-orderX-Out: Resurfaced February 20You thought theyd come from space? Wrong! Its up to you alone to stop an alien invasion from the depths of the ocean in this legendary, home computer era shoot em up, dredged up and faithfully rebuilt for modern platforms X-Out: Resurfaced!Bay BreakerDesert Water GamesGet it nowBay Breaker February 21Optimized for Xbox Series X|SBay Breaker is a game that involves navigating across serene seascapes and using a boat to launch balls that break rocks. Players can collect jewels and coins hidden within the levels. The game includes challenges where players destroy all the blocks and earn enchantments to improve their abilities.BREAKING BRICKSYUME GAME STUDIOGet it nowBreaking Bricks February 21An arcade game for all ages. With 40 levels, your goal is to use skill and quick reflexes to destroy all the blocks on the screen. The blocks get tougher as you progress, requiring clever strategies, keeping you engaged and provides a sense of achievement with every level.CavoriteCascadia Games LLCGet it nowCavorite February 21Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryDr. Cavor is trapped inside the Moon, held captive by the mysterious Selenites. He endeavors to escape to the surface and from there to Earth, but first he must match wits with the dwellers of the lunar underworld, whose catacombs are complex and deadly!DAMN!Totalconsole$6.99Pre-orderDamn! February 21An electrifying twin-stick shooter that propels you into a whirlwind of action and intensity. Dive into an immersive experience with lightning-fast gameplay that will keep your adrenaline pumping and your reflexes sharp.Dolmenjord Viking IslandsMens Sana InteractiveGet it nowDolmenjord Viking Islands February 21Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play AnywhereAfter many years of battles, a group of Vikings decided it was time to conquer new lands. With the protection of the god Njord, a new clan specialized in navigation sets off in search of glory! Arrange the Viking villages in the islands to expand their domains, in this logic puzzle game!Lulu's TempleRatalaika Games S.L.Get it nowLulus Temple February 21Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart DeliveryLulus Temple challenges you to venture inside a deep horrifying pyramid, filled with dangerous foes, traps and mysteries. Play as a curious archaeologist who foolishly traps himself inside a temple after stumbling his way in. Use your powerful gun to blast the undead and your torch to light your path ahead.PGA TOUR 2K25 Legend Edition Pre-Order2K22$119.99Pre-orderPGA Tour 2K25 (Deluxe & Legend Edition Early Access) February 21The master of golf sims is back! Tee off with the worlds top golfers on the most storied courses on golfs biggest stages. Pre-order PGA Tour 2K25 Legend or Deluxe Edition for up to 7 days of Advanced Access starting on February 21. Get the Legend Edition to upgrade your play, and your look, with a staggering six extra content packs full of powerful upgrades, chic cosmetics, and a new playable character as well as the Clubhouse Pass Premium (Seasons 1-5).Please Be HappySometimes You$19.99$15.99Pre-orderXbox One X EnhancedPlease Be Happy February 21Xbox One X EnhancedA comfy, slice-of-life visual novel set in a fictional version of Wellington, New Zealand. Born as a fox in the forest of Korea, Miho carries with her the memory of a traveler who showed her kindness and spoke of home. Now more human than fox, Miho has spent a long, long time searching for her person.Racing the Gods Beyond HorizonsEpiXR Games$14.99Pre-orderRacing the Gods Beyond Horizons February 21The ultimate race is here, and you are one of Earths chosen drivers. Compete in an extraordinary tournament beyond time and space, hosted by the galaxys gods. Each planet sends one driver to race through 27 stunning tracks filled with giant titans. The stakes are high: losing planets face elimination.

Jack in and prepare for future warfare as Season 2 Digital Dawn arrives for Call of Duty: Mobile. Deploy to an upgraded and remastered version of the Raid Multiplayer map and participate in new themed events including a special Shiba Feichai crossover event featuring a dynamic Weapon Camo and other rewards.An epic Battle Pass brings new Loadout items like the VLK Rogue Shotgun and the Flash Strike Tactical. In the Challenge Pass, unlock an offroad-themed RC-XD thatll chase down your foes over even the roughest terrain.Season 2 Digital Dawn launches on February 19 at 4 PM PT.Following the remaster of Standoff completed last year, the team have now set their sights on Raid, one of the original launch maps available when Call of Duty: Mobile first released five years ago. The sprawling luxury complex will receive a full touch up inside and out including improved textures and foliage, new paint, new water effects, and many other graphical enhancements.Shiba FeichaiFollowing the remaster of Standoff completed last year, the team have now set their sights on Raid, one of the original launch maps available when Call of Duty: Mobile first released five years ago. The sprawling luxury complex will receive a full touch up inside and out including improved textures and foliage, new paint, new water effects, and many other graphical enhancements.RamadanStarting on February 28, several events will launch in-game to help celebrate Ramadan with login rewards, challenges, and an exchange shop.Throughout the celebration earn rewards like more chances at Secret Caches, the M4 Rainbow Plume Weapon Blueprint, the Zero Azurine Dagger, and the Charly Feather and Plume Operator Skins.Also look out for the Golden Horizon Bundle coming to the Store. This bundle will offer Ramadan themed cosmetics, including the Otter Refraction Operator Skin and the Muscle Car Scared Vehicle Skin for use in Battle Royale.Celebrate this vibrant holiday from March 6 to March 26 with an associated in-game event that has you earning color fragments through daily and weekly tasks that anyone can complete, like playing matches, damaging enemies, and eliminating enemies in Battle Royale or Multiplayer.By completing all these tasks, you can consume these color fragments for a chance to randomly unlock rewards including Secret Caches, numerous Battle Royale related camos, and the Pharo Color Spray.The Digital Dawn Pass features free and premium items including new Operator Skins, Weapon Blueprints, Calling Cards, and additionalCall of DutyPoints to spend on your next Premium Pass or Store purchase.The bolt-action VLK Rogue Shotgun blasts onto the scene in the Season 2 Battle Pass, a highly mobile weapon to help close the distance with a large magazine for unrelenting attacks on the enemy target. Also get the new Flash Strike Grenade, a special Tactical that drills through surfaces before emitting a strong flash effect on the other side, perfect for disorienting enemies behind cover. Other free tier highlights include a variety of Skins, Weapons Blueprints, Vault Coins, and more.Purchase the Premium Pass for the chance to earn all the content in the Digital Dawn stream, including Operator Skins Artery Overwrite, Hudson Shadow Agent, Blackjack Black Hack, and a new Operator, Umar Obi. Win the digital revolution with high-tech Weapon Blueprints like the HVK-30 Malware, SP-R 208 Bot Sector, ICR-1 Spyware, EM2 Macro Virus, and the VLK Rogue Ransomware, based on the new Season 2 weapon.Battle Pass Subscription:Enlist with the Ground Forces by purchasing a Battle Pass Subscription, granting additional monthly rewards along with a 10% boost to Player and Weapon XP, discount coupons, plus limited discounts on 10x crate pulls.Season 2s Ground Forces rewards include the Francis Getaway Operator Skin, the OTs 9 Legions Weapon Blueprint, and the Backpack Dual Plot.Complete Standard, Special, and Elite Missions to progress through the Season 2 Challenge Pass. Use your earned Challenge Tokens to purchase items in the Exchange including an offroad-themed reskin for the RC-XD plus, PP19 Bizon Shiny Cat, and more opportunities to grab Secret Caches.Check the in-game Events tab throughout the season for new Missions and rewards. For a broader glimpse of ongoing seasonal activities, check the Mission Board located in the main menu.New Legendary Draws: Deploy as teched out digital warriors wielding the latest in weapon design at their fingertips with new Legendary Draws providing the chance to unlock new Legendary Weapon Blueprints alongside themed Operator Skins and more.Delete the opposition with Legendary Weapon Blueprints like the menacing MG42 Black Mirror, a weapon that processes eliminations as quickly as data, the elegant and meticulously detailed Man-O-War Doomfire Pulse, the electrifying QQ9 Quantum Flash, and the experimental VLK Rogue Evolutionary, a Weapon Blueprint designed in a secret weapons project thats based on the new Season 2 Shotgun.Shiba Feichai Strongbox: Roam the map and dominate your foes as a sassy Shiba, wielding themed weapons to achieve victory. For new players and seasoned pros, theres something for everyone.Mythic Sophia:The Mythic Operator Skin for Sophia remains available for purchase in Season 2. Dont miss out on the agent of revenge who moves toward redemption as she gains further upgrades.Secret Caches:The new Secret Caches reward system continues in Season 2! Log in daily to unlock rewards and play regularly to earn fragments towards free Mythic and Legendary weapons that take several seasons to unlock. Keep an eye out for several weekend events offering double Secret Cache drops!Battle Pass Vault:Get Operator Skins like Templar Unredeemed and Yegor Needleworked along with Weapon Blueprints like the SVD Black Ironwood and LK24 Vanquished as Battle Pass content from Season 10 Shadows Return arrives in the Vault.Season 2 Digital Dawn launches on Call of Duty: Mobile on February 19 at 4 PM PT.See you online.For the latest Call of Duty Mobile news, visit theCall of Duty: Mobilewebsite, as well asCall of Duty: Mobileon YouTube. Also follow Call of Duty: Mobile onX,Instagram, andFacebook.For the latest Call of Duty intel, visitCall of Duty, as well asCall of Dutyon YouTube. Also follow Call of Duty onX,InstagramandFacebook. 2019-2025 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, and CALL OF DUTY are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.For more information on Activision games, visit theActivision Games Blog. Also follow @Activision onX,Instagram, andFacebook.

SummaryThe Living Lands are full of exciting adventure, hidden treasure, captivating secrets and danger!Weve compiled some of our favorite tips and strategies to help you on your first steps into the world of Avowed.Avowed is launching February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, cloud, and will be available on day one with Game Pass. Start playing today by picking up the Avowed Premium Edition on the Xbox Store, Battle.net, and Steam. Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass members, and standard edition owners can purchase the Avowed Premium Upgrade Addon for early access.The Living Lands is ripe with adventure, excitement, and a significant amount of danger and were here to help. Weve been exploring Avowed for a while now and throughout our time with Obsidians next great RPG, weve come away with a few tips to share with new adventurers who are about to take their first steps into this new corner of Eora. These are not meant to be an all-encompassing guide to the Living Lands, but we think you might benefit from one or two of these to help you on your journey.Explore!Avowed is a deeply inviting game each of its open zones are truly dense, not just with the typical quests and side quests, but hidden treasure, buried lore, and points of interest. If something looks or sounds a little odd, theres almost always a reason for that.Did that NPC just say something interesting as you passed? They might not have a quest marker over their head, but that doesnt mean it wont kick off a cutscene when you talk to them. Does that out-of-the-way balcony look a little too conspicuous? Work out a parkour route to it and you might just find to take an example a room full of spirits and treasure.And its not just solid ground that is brimming with treats the waters of The Living Lands are also ripe with goods. Secrets are scattered across the bottoms of riverbeds, underground pools, and most importantly, nestled behind waterfalls, making it worth your while to take a dip wherever you can.If you can resist the urge to plough on with the main story, theres so much to discover here.Dont Neglect Upgrades to Your EquipmentUnlike a lot of RPGs, your ability to tackle tougher quests is tied to your gear more than your level which means you should be thinking about upgrades to your equipment often at the workshop in your Party Camp. Quests are clearly marked in your Journal with skull ratings. No skull showing? Youll be fine. One skull? It might be tough but be careful and youll make it through. Three skulls? Here be some ferocious enemies.While you can find better equipment as you travel, its often more efficient to simply upgrade what you have, using crafting materials youll find all over the world to incrementally improve your weapons and armor. Find your preferred items and keep levelling them when you can, and your progression will keep feeling smooth.Heres a tip to speed up the gather/trudge to camp/upgrade/return to what you were doing process: Once youve gathered what you need for an upgrade, you can fast travel to a previously established Party Camp to do your business from almost anywhere by popping open the map. Then when youre ready to get to exploring, select Exit to Previous Location at the Adra Stone or preferred fast travel point, to pick up exactly where you left off. Easy!And remember: You can easily send items directly to your Party Camp from your Inventory at any time by pressing the X button if you become over encumbered. And you can break down any unused weapons or items by holding down the X button from your inventory helpful if youre coming up short on crafting ingredients like wood and metal.Speak to Your CompanionsAt the Party Camp, youll always have a chance to catch up with your travelling companions and this can be more practical than you might think. Youll know when a party member wants to speak to you when you see their icon pop up with a speech bubble on the left of the screen. Once you head to Party Camp, aside from learning their backstories (and filling out your own), you may even stumble on some real benefits.For instance, early on, Kai may bring up that hes been studying your fighting style, and has some pointers. You can ask him to train you in his own style, leading to permanent stat buffs that would have taken multiple levels worth of upgrades to get. Its a huge bonus, simply for stopping for a chinwag.Pay Attention to Companion AbilitiesYoure not the only one levelling up in your party for every few of your levels, your companions will also open up the opportunity to learn or upgrade an ability, and some of these can be gamechangers. Every active ability they learn can be accessed easily in combat, and while your party members will use them on their own, we highly recommend working them into your combat loop.For example, if youre playing primarily as a magic user, it may mean you do a lot of damage but also take a lot of damage. Kais ability to leap onto an enemy can not only stun them but taunt them as well, meaning you can get out of a pinch by redirecting their ire onto him, letting you step back and drop ice knives out of a blizzard without fear. Its saved us more times than we can count already.Your Map is Your Guide and Your Shopping ListThe Living Lands are a colorful, visually dense world, filled not only with awe inspiring sights, but lots of stuff youre going to want to pick up. The best way to separate the signal from the (beautiful) noise? Your minimap.In the early game, the biggest limiter to your being able to upgrade is the Paradisan Ladder these handy plants are usually hidden away in crannies in and outside of settlements, just out of sight. And if youre having trouble locating them, make sure you check for an up or down icon on the marker. That will give you better insight on where to look.Back to that mini-map: it not only shows the location of harvestable plants, but theres a specific icon just for that Paridisan Ladder (and later, its more potent varieties like Hyleas Talon). It looks like this (left). Now you can spare the occasional glance at the map to get what you need, but keep your eyes focused where theyll already be drawn to: the danger and beauty of The Living Lands.Examine All of the AbilitiesBuilding out your character and assigning abilities is one of the highlights of customization in Avowed. And even though you may start approaching combat as a specific build type, like Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard, you should know that as a classless game, there are many complimentary abilities hiding within each of these trees that can help you become a well-rounded adventurer.For example, even though you may be going down the Fighter branch, one of the most helpful abilities that you can get early on is Parry, which is located under the Ranger branch as a passive ability. So, its worthwhile to take some time and look over all the abilities afforded to you which can be helpful in creating a balanced character as you set out on your adventure. And if you find that youd like to change your build later, you can reset everything by spending your skeyts.Utilize Combat TechniquesAs much fun as it could be to just swing wildly at your enemies, there is a strategic flow to battle in Avowed where being able to step aside from attacks, blocking them, or masterfully parrying them to run up the stun meter are key to your survival in the Living Lands.One of the key indicators you want to pay attention to in combat are the colored circles that will appear on enemies putting points into Perception can help here. For example, if you see a red circle on an enemy as theyre about to attack, thats unblockable so you should be nimble and dodge (A button) that attack. Or if you see a white diamond hovering over the location of an enemy while aiming with a rifle, pistol, or bow, thats a weak point you should focus your attack on.Weapon SwappingThis is for those of you who (like us) were so dang excited to jump into Avowed, that you somehow breezed through the section of the opening level that explained that you can hot-swap between two weapon builds by tapping Y on your controller or hitting U on your keyboard. Now that admission is out of the way, this is one of the more important aspects of combat for you to utilize and master, and it all comes down to how you like to play, giving you flexibility in how to approach a variety of enemies and combat situations.A few of our favorite combos include pairing an arquebus with a sword and shield, giving us a great option to use in wide open areas or while navigating narrow caverns. Another pairing we like is having a pistol and shield mixed with a grimoire and wand, providing a mix of magic-based and projectile-based attacks (with a shield to help guard attacks as you load your pistol). Or if you prefer a quieter approach, we were also partial to wielding a two-handed bow in one loadout setting and a combination of a wand and grimoire in the other, which helped for stealthily picking off enemies before launching into a flurry of aggressive magic after being discovered.Go Treasure HuntingA good way to get off the beaten path and to explore more of Eora is to pick up bounties or unearth treasure maps to not only line your pockets with new weapons and crafting materials, but to get a better sense of the world around you and you never know what youll stumble upon as you dive deeper into the Living Lands. Once acquired, treasure maps wont simply drop a marker on your map, oh no. They artistically illustrate an area maybe a cave, a path by a river, etc, with a classic X marking The Spot. Commit that vista to memory, because the only way youll find that treasure is by paying attention. And even then, dont expect a chest to just be sitting on the beach, but the map should get you close enough to hear the telltale twinkling of treasure. My precious!Use Your EnvironmentTheres a logic to the lay of the Living Lands if you take the time to assess whats in front of and around you. See some xaurips up ahead surrounded by tall grass? Perhaps a stealthy approach could work best. Notice that brick wall thats hanging on by a thread? A well-thrown grenade or, if youre lucky, a well-aimed shot at a nearby exploding barrel can give you a surprise advantage against a group of enemies. Mysterious ice looking plant located above a body of water? Shoot it down to create an ice platform for you to jump on.Another mantra that has been repeating for us as we explored pockets of the Living Lands was anything but the front door there is often an obvious, visible entrance to a building or area, but entering could cost you a fair few lockpicks. Instead of using up those precious picks in the early game, consider scouting around the location youre exploring perhaps theres a hidden window to crawl through or a weak wall that you can destroy. This often offers an alternate route in that saves your lockpicks and may even give you an upper hand on any nasties lurking inside.The point here is to not always rush into every situation (although that too can be fun) but recognize the way the land and world is presented to you for your adventure. Player freedom is at the heart of Avowed and all these unique ways to approach it is intentional. So have some fun experimenting on the ways to utilize the environment to your advantage.Dont Forget Your GrimoireEven if you find yourself focusing your abilities as more of a Fighter or Ranger, youll discover that always having access to a Grimoire of Elements (which you get for free at the start of the game) will come in handy more times than you can count.Yes, it can be effective in battle, but its also very useful at helping you solve many of the environmental puzzles. For example, being able to cast lighting spells to activate an electronic switch or being able to burn away a batch of cobwebs that could reveal a shortcut that wasnt available to you before.So even if youre not wielding it in your off-hand, make sure you give it a little spot in your inventory. Youll never know when youre going to need it (spoiler: youre going to need it).Avowed is launching February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, cloud, and will be available on day one with Game Pass. Avowed also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning when you buy the game through the store on Xbox or Windows, its yours to play on Xbox and Windows PC at no additional cost, and your game progress and achievements are saved across Xbox and Windows PC.When you purchase Avowed on Battle.net or Xbox, or have an Xbox Game Pass membership (PC or Ultimate only), and connect your Battle.net and Xbox accounts, its also yours to play on Battle.net, Xbox and Xbox App for Windows at no additional cost. Avowed lets you pick up where you left off, bringing all of your saves, game add-ons, and Xbox achievement progress with you.Avowed is currently available for pre-order on the Xbox Store, Battle.net, and Steam. The Premium Edition (or Premium Upgrade Addon for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members or standard edition) offers up to five days early access, two premium skin packs, and access to the Avowed Digital Artbook & Soundtrack.

The post Play Avowed Starting Today with the Premium Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Theres something for everyone to love this weekend with Free Play Days! Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash, NHL 25, Dying Light and For the King are available this weekend for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core members to play from Thursday, February 13 at 12:01am Pacific until Sunday, February 16 at 11:59 Pacific.How To Start PlayingFind and install the games on each of the individual game details page onXbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Standard and Core membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and navigate down to the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.Keep The Fun GoingPurchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and achievements earned during the event! Please note that discounts, percentages, and title availability may vary by title and region.Free Play Days (Xbox Game Pass Membership Required)Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash Ultimate EditionBandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.771$99.99Get it nowJujutsu Kaisen Cursed ClashMaster the Jujutsu of your favorite Sorcerers and Cursed Spirits! Bring a friend and dive into the world of Jujutsu Kaisen in this action-packed, 2-on-2 fighting game! Enjoy action-packed co-op as you utilize each characters unique Jujutsu, hone your skills in battle, and wield ever more powerful Jujutsu and Domain Expansions to take down your foes!The SurvivalistsTeam17153$24.99Get it nowNHL 25Optimized for Xbox Series X|SEA Sports NHL 25 is powered by ICE-Q, a new gameplay intelligence system that gives you the time and space to control every inch of the ice. Experience true hockey intelligence, with a revamped Franchise Mode experience, a brand-new WOC Live Events structure, HUT Wildcard Mode, and a simplified, single-path XP progression shared across HUT kicks Chels game modes. NHL 25 is next-gen hockey.Dying LightTechland1650$19.99Get it nowDying LightDying Light is a first-person, action survival game set in a vast open world. Roam a city devastated by a mysterious epidemic, scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to help defeat the hordes of flesh-hungry enemies the plague has created. At night, beware the Infected as they grow in strength and even more lethal nocturnal predators leave their nests to feed on their prey. Live to survive another day. Good Night, Good Luck.For The KingCurve Games295$24.99$6.24Get it nowFor The KingFor The King is a strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements in a challenging adventure that spans the realms. Set off on a single player experience or play cooperatively both online and locally. None before you have returned from their journey. Will you put an end to the Chaos?

With Atomfall coming to Xbox and Game Pass in just over a month (arriving on March 27), today we released the latest trailer for the game. Featuring brand new gameplay, the trailer highlights the main features that you will experience when you enter the quarantine zone.I thought now would be a good time to give you more information on some of the games key features and what you can expect when you play Atomfall. For those who havent had chance to see the trailer yet, take a look:The trailer starts at the very beginning of the game. You wake up in a dark and eerie bunker and are met by a wounded man in a hazmat suit who immediately asks who you are and asks for your help. The problem is you dont know who you are, or how you got there.He tells you that you are inside a quarantine zone, built around the Windscale Atom plant following a nuclear disaster.Set in the luscious British countryside in 1962, Atomfall is a fictionalised telling of what happened five years after true events in Northern England. It is a game about investigation and discovery as you try to uncover the mystery behind what really happened at Windscale, but also who you are and what youre doing there.There is plenty to explore beyond the rolling hills of Cumberland, including a picturesque village, bandit camps, caves, tunnels, and mysterious buildings and facilities left abandoned by the British Atomic Research Division. All of these will hold their own secrets for you to discover.You will find clues about what has happened and learn more about the colourful characters you meet along the way but there is no clear single truth, and different people interpret what happened in different ways. This feeds into the games Leads system, our new take on traditional gaming quests.Some information that you uncover will open a Lead in the game. You can choose to track this down to uncover further secrets and hopefully get closer to some form of the truth. All the Leads in the game are completely optional, and all connect in one way or another to the larger mystery. As a result, the path you take through the game and the storyline is entirely up to you.Another source of Leads is the cast of characters you will meet along the way. One of the first you may meet is Nat Buckshaw, who you find playing his guitar in the ruins of an old house. He is an extremely talkative chap and more than happy to give away everything he knows just to have someone to talk to.However, with Nat and indeed everyone you meet along the way, you can never be sure who to trust and whether they are trying to use you for their own means.Some characters also act as Traders, for example Molly the Tinker, who can be found in the Dale. In fact, one of the Leads that Nat provides, helps you to find Molly. Resources are scarce in Atomfall, and money is useless, so all trade is done by barter striking a good deal with a trader can be vitally important. Each of them will prize different sorts of assets. One may want food and bandages, while another needs weapons. Careful observation and making a balanced trade will enable you to get the resources you need to survive.One valuable tool you can trade for is the metal detector (you can either find one as you search the countryside or barter for one.) The metal detector is a vital asset as you scavenge for further resources. Atomfall is as much a game of survival as it is exploration the resources, weapons and ammo you find will be vital if you are to find out what happened at the Windscale nuclear plant.To aid you in the hunt for resources, youll be able to find metal detectors. Once you have one, you will hear it beep as you come within range of something to find. You then need to equip it and use it to find your treasure whether that be some scrap metal, medical supplies or ammunition.And youll need all the ammunition you can find supplies are tight! Gangs of bandits litter the countryside, and they will think nothing of attacking on sight. Whether you choose to engage or run for cover is your choice but there are likely to be times when you will have no choice but to fight.Raising a gun to someone who is only armed with a melee weapon may well be enough for them to be the one who retreats. Whether your gun is loaded or not, only you will knowNo matter what, you will need to be ready to adjust your strategy on the fly, using all the tools at your disposal to make it out alive. Melee combat, both armed and unarmed, will be vital. Sometimes, aiming a swift kick at an opponent in order to stagger them back is all the time you have to reload, and can be a life saver.You are going to have to find ways to adapt and make do with what you have as you track down leads in the search of the truth or at least one version of it.We have only scratched the surface of the challenges, mystery and intrigue you discover in the quarantine zone. We cannot wait for you to get your hands on Atomfall when it launches on Game Pass as well as on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on March 27.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.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.

SummaryPerks are exciting new abilities for Overwatch 2Lead gameplay designer for Overwatch, Alec Dawson, explains how Perks work.Overwatch 2 Season 15 launches February 18.Hey everyone! Alec here, ready to spill the tea on one of the most exciting new mechanics coming your way in Overwatch 2Perks! If youve been looking to switch things up with your favorite heroes and add even more strategy and adaptability to your matches, well sit tight, weve got something for you today! This is the story of how the Perks system came to life and why we think its going to completely change the way you play Overwatch 2. The Spark That Started It AllThe idea for Perks wasnt just something we pulled out of thin airit came from some important questions we kept asking ourselves in design meetings. Questions like, How can we bring more dynamic gameplay to Overwatch? and How do we heighten the hero fantasy and give you the opportunity to lean into different playstyles? We wanted to find new ways to challenge and delight our players, and giving you more in-game choice seemed like the perfect solution. Enter Perksa system that allows us to inject a layer of strategy into each match without completely reinventing the game you know and love.The Evolution of PerksOur idea of Perks has been kicking around since early last year, with the bulk of the project coming together in the last six months. Like any good project, Perks went through some stages of trial and error, and (spoiler alert) our first attempt showed promise but had numerous issues to work through. Initially, Perks were just a level-up system with pre-determined upgradesyoud hit level three in a match and automatically get some minor power boost. Simple? Yes. Really changing your Overwatch gameplay? Not so much. It became clear that while having something to work toward mid-match was exciting, we were missing the magic of choice. We wanted to amplify the notion that there was more than one way to switch things up for your hero from game to game.Our next iteration introduced a hybrid system with automatic perks for your first two levels and one big choice for level three. This added a glimmer of excitement, but it still felt clunky. Making that one singular, late game-changing choice during the heat of battle sometimes caught players off guard, since they werent doing it earlier in the match. It wasnt fully integrating into the flow of gameplay.So after some serious playtesting and more what if conversations than I can count, we landed on the version of Perks youll see in-game. You now unlock a choice between two Minor Perks at level 2 and a choice between two Major Perks at level 3 all tailored to your hero. Its enough flexibility to feel fresh and strategic while keeping the games fast-paced tempo intact. Major and Minor PerksWith this split of Minor and Major perks, we really wanted to give you an interesting decision at each level. This meant trying to split up which abilities your perks targeted and differentiating the type of power boost each would provide.For Minor Perks, we wanted to treat these as small upgrades, such as Lucios Bass Blowout perk that increases the knockback of his Soundwave. Minor Perks come early in the match and elevate your abilities, but dont completely change their behavior.Major Perks are more about shifting your core gameplay loop, and even adding new abilities to heroes. Reapers Dire Triggers perk gives him a Secondary Fire that does decent mid-range damage, great for getting that last shot on an escaping foe. Hitting your Major Perk on a hero is a big moment in the match and can totally change how you approach an engagement.Keeping Overwatch OverwatchOne of our most important goals with Perks was ensuring they felt true to Overwatch. Weve all enjoyed our wacky arcade April Fools moments, but the core gameplay of Overwatch is sacred territory. We didnt want Perks to completely throw off the balance or make you feel like you were suddenly playing too far away from the heroes you already know and love.Every decisionwhether it was deciding how powerful perks should be, crafting trade-offs, or ensuring balance across heroeswas made to keep the core Overwatch DNA intact. We spent a lot of time debating scenarios where less is more, striking the delicate balance of giving players fun perks without making things chaotic or unfair.Take Orisa, for example. One of her perks trades her Javelin Spin for a Protective Barrier. Thats a sizable change, but it allows Orisa to hold different positions, something that can be clutch on the right map. Since taking Protective Barrier is more of a kiss/curse decision, Orisas other perk Charged Javelin allows you to keep her typical playstyle intact (with a supercharged Javelin of course). When you choose a perk, your choice should reflect the situation at hand, our goal is to make these decisions meaningful without being overwhelming. Building Player Choice into GameplayWith the gameplay structure set, the next challenge was making perk selection easy. Overwatch is fastblink, and you might miss your front-line Winston jumping right into the fight. Asking players to make meaningful mid-match decisions had to be intuitive, not stressful.We designed two ways to pick Perks:Standard Selection: Hold down Alt (or up on the D-Pad for console), then use Left/Right click (or bumpers) to select.Quick Selection (for the dont slow me down squad): A one-button press to instantly pick your perks.Muscle memory and familiarity will build over time, but these options ensure you wont feel overwhelmed in those clutch, intense moments.Developer FavoritesTo get you started, here are some of our favorite Perks from playtesting:Winstons Chain Lightning lets him charge up Secondary Fire to zap multiple enemies near his target. Its not just useful, its pure chaotic fun.We brought back Hanzos Scatter Arrows, giving you clever shot opportunities. Watch out for some wild multi-killsyoull want to clip those plays for sure.Baptistes Shoulder Turret? Yes, its real. When you pop Amplification Matrix, the turret comes out to add (extra) Automated Healing. Its as cool as it sounds.And my favorite: Ramattras Vengeful Vortex, enabling you to explode Ravenous Vortex in the air and send down those pesky flying enemies. These are just a few examples of how Perks can take your hero and amplify the fantasy.Now Its Your TurnPerks are more than just a mechanictheyre a fresh way to flex your creativity, adapt your strategies, and rediscover the game you love. We cant wait to see the builds, plays, and clips you all come up with. This is Overwatch stepping into a new chapter, but still staying true to its heart with teamwork, adaptability, and buckets of fun.Hop into Overwatch 2, try out Perks, and tell us what you think. Who knowsthe next big Perk idea could come from you. See you in game! Season 15 of Overwatch 2 begins February 18. For more information about Overwatch 2, visit PlayOverwatch.com.Overwatch 2Blizzard Entertainment2002Get 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.

SummarySymphonia was released for Xbox Series X|S on December 5, 2024.Custom level design, precision platforming and special features great for speedruns.Deep dive into speedrunning with player perspectives and tips.From its inception, Symphonia was envisioned as a game that rewarded control and timing mastery. Initially designed as a game to bring classical music to the world, it quickly became apparent that its fluid mechanics and open-ended level design also made it a natural fit for the speedrunning community. After many hours spent perfecting the optimal character controls, our goal was clearly set on creating a game that would feel rewarding whether played casually or competitively, with extra layers of depth for those willing to explore them. This vision became the foundation for Symphonias mechanics and collectibles.There are a few things in Symphonia that we baked in, to up the ante of the challenge for those who enjoy it. The protagonist, Philemon, is a violinist who traverses the world of the quiet and sleeping Symphonia with one goal: to reunite the prodigies of all orchestral sections. His greatest tool in the game is his violin bow. As you play through the game, you unlock mechanics that allow you to bounce through levels in different ways. The bow can be used as a pogo stick, a catapult, or a grapple, and this feeling of moving through the air at just the right time is difficult to master but extremely satisfying once you do. Precision in the timing to make every pixel count is something that lends itself very well to the speedrunning mindset of pushing yourself frame by frame.Some of our team members have their own personal history with speedrunning, ranging from enjoying being a spectator, all the way to completing their own runs for Celeste and Katana Zero. Even in Symphonias earlier iteration as a student project back in 2020, our team would speedrun the game, compare times and some folks even hid glitches they found to use them as an advantage! This enthusiasm also reached members of the public. We released a free small demo online which received 500,000 downloads and saw some players submitting entries on speedrun.net. We knew that we were onto something special with this project so after university we decided to start a studio and pitch to work on the full vision of our game. It took us another four years to bring the game to full release.It wasnt just the precision platforming subgenre that attracted speed runners, we also deliberately wanted to keep the speedrunning spirit in mind when developing new features and even in the level design. Sometimes moving a block or a collider by just a few pixels can create an entirely new path with some creativity. Another game feature is the collectible music notes that are placed in hard-to-reach areas of the platforming challenge, rewarding you for risk, experimentation and unlocking different areas in the game. A close comparison would be the strawberries in Celeste. Once you complete a whole playthrough of the levels, you unlock a Shadow Philemon. This is a copy of your character who trails closely behind you with a small delay, waiting for you to slip up and be caught. The player is also able to tinker with unlockable abilities like double jumping, transforming all surfaces into cushions or game speed. These abilities were initially designed to be accessibility options, but some have proved useful in allowing players to experiment and create new challenges.When the game released in December, we were really thrilled to see a sustained level of interest with speed runners and made sure to facilitate discussions and brainstorming with a dedicated channel in our community Discord.In general, its amazing to see how speedrunning has grown from a niche hobby into a global phenomenon. Over the last two decades, we have watched speedruns of first-person shooters, platformers and even in genres where one would least expect it, such as roleplaying or strategy games. Thanks to the accessibility of platforms like Twitch and YouTube, speedrunning has been able to engage millions of players and raise millions of dollars for charity through Games Done Quick (GDQ). GDQ hosts two large charity events a year, and weekly Hotfix episodes to keep viewers engaged.Its clear to see the passion driving the creation of such experiences, when I asked Queuety, showrunner of GDQ, why speedrunning is meaningful to him, he answered,Speedrunning turns any game into both a puzzle and a competitive performance, something which fascinates me and keeps me coming back.Our publisher has been enthusiastic about the speedrunning elements of the game, with the CEO Dieter Schoeller coming from a speedrunning background himself with Quake 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog in the 1990s. Dieter says he loves speedrunning because the person to beat is no one but yourself. Due to this shared passion, and visible community engagement, our publishing partners reached out to GDQ for a collaboration. We are all super happy that the showrunners were drawn in by the visuals and premise of Symphonia. We then arranged to participate in a segment of the most recent GDQ Hotfix episode. This was really rewarding and a memory well never forget. I personally got to provide commentary, and the dedicated members of our community supported us by running the game live. You can check out the episode here.If this article has given you a speedrunning itch, the community is still relatively new so you can add a lot just by trying it out or by conversing with other runners and developers. We would delighted if you wanted to give Symphonia a run and check out our Discord speedrunning discussions.Speedrunner or not, we hope you will take a chance on us and enjoy the glorious world of Symphonia in your own way.Symphonia Headup3$19.99Get it nowIn the realm of Symphonia, music acts as a source of life and energy. But since the founders and their orchestra vanished the inhabitants are divided, and the world slowly falls into silence. What if there was a way to gather a new orchestra? That's the question Philemon, the mysterious musician in Symphonia, will have to answer. Embody a mysterious violinist, brought back to life in a declining world. Your violin and bow are both your instrument and a means of transport. Catapult yourself through the world, and complete levels by solving exciting platforming challenges while re-activating the machinery that brings life and energy back to this world. Discover a musical world, based on the symphonic orchestra, and filled with colourful characters. Each area in Symphonia has its own distinct feel and characters, and each room is hand-crafted. Meet prodigious musicians and try to convince them to join the orchestra. A unique soundtrack, based on the romantic musical period, crafted by composer Olivier Esman. Enjoy the performance of the Scoring Orchestra Paris, recorded specifically for Symphonia and written by composer Olivier Esman and his partners Alexandre Bucas-Franais and Lou Corroyer. Play engrossing concerts, each centred around one of the families of instruments Strings, Brass and Woodwinds.Explore, navigate, play the violin, gather musicians. Awaken Symphonia.Features Experience and overcome great platforming challenges with all of Philemon's abilities Discover various environments which combine music and machinery Play the violin to activate level elements and bring life to the realm -Gather musical Prodigies and play breathtaking concerts to bring music, joy, and glory, back to the land

SummaryLearn how Milestone has rebuilt the Monster Energy Supercross franchise in the last two years by leveraging key contributions from the community.Simulation is the word, with a new physics system that allows full air control and a true riding experience in the dirt. And for the first time, the current season will be available on day one.Monster Energy Supercross 25 The Official Video Game will launch on Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025, with early access from April 7.Two years after the last chapter, Monster Energy Supercross 25 The Official Video Game is about to be released for Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025, with early access starting on April 7. As Game Director of this franchise, it is both an honor and a challenge as this new installment marks a complete rebuild of the series from the ground up.This was made possible thanks to the valuable input from expert community members, whom we kept an open dialogue with throughout development to identify areas for improvement. Listening to their feedback was fundamental to crafting a gameplay experience that would truly meet the desires of our players, and importantly, the decision to adopt a biannual development plan also allowed us to step up the game technically with the adoption of Unreal Engine 5.The Most Accurate Supercross Tracks YetBefore diving into the gameplay facets, let me point out one of the biggest changes in terms of content, as Monster Energy Supercross 25 The Official Video Game will feature for the first time in the history of the franchise the current season with 2025 riders, tracks and liveries available on day one. This has never been done before due to the structure of Supercross. In fact, each track only exists for the few days of the event and then is gone forever.To make this happen, we had to adopt a different technique; while in the past we used photogrammetry technology, this time we were able to access the blueprints of the 2025 tracks in advance to recreate them in the game engine without the need for additional photo reference. This is a new and different method that allows you to discover the tracks even before the real events take place and real riders can also train with the game ahead of the championship final!Building with the CommunityAs we mentioned earlier, we have collaborated with some of the most important Supercross creators asking them to test the game at various development stages. Listening to their opinions we have learned and tweaked many elements such as the riders animations, which are now more fluid and realistic than ever. Another crucial feature that the community helped us with is bike handling. Thanks to them, we have implemented a new bike balance system that will allow newcomers to enjoy the adrenaline of Supercross and veterans to perform better.Most importantly, the community helped us rebuild the riding physics from scratch. On the ground, youll find many changes: the steering angle, traction and tire-to-ground contact have all been reworked to create a more immersive experience. The in-air physics, on the other hand, has been completely revolutionized. A renewed stick control system will give you full control of the in-air motion, which is something we never did in the past and will now allow you to decide how to manage both the rider and bikes weight after the jump. With the new physics, performing whips and scrubs will be much more rewarding and those who will be mastering these movements will get an even greater advantage.Upgrading to Unreal Engine 5From a technical standpoint, Unreal Engine 5 allowed us to create features that we once thought impossible thanks to Chaos, its physics engine. For the first time, the track will be alive, just as the community wanted, with a new system that will challenge you lap after lap. In a real Supercross race, the track is indeed modified by the passing of the riders, creating ruts on the ground. One of the pilots many talents is to interpret these ruts to find the best trajectory. The new ruts system simulates track evolution so that you will have to find the best path for each lap.With Unreal Engine 5 we were also able to implement for the first time a Neural AI system which will completely change the way rivals will behave during a race. In fact, the Neural AI is trained exactly like a real rider: we make them test the tracks hundreds and hundreds of times to learn how to approach corners and jumps.While working on this new feature we faced two of the biggest challenges of the project: first, we had to teach the AI how to handle the new ruts system. We achieved it by training what we call agents, namely the AI-controlled riders on the same track at different stages of ground degradation so that they could learn how to handle the various situations that a Supercross rider can encounter during a race. Secondly, we had to train the AI how to handle the air sections. Thanks to these technical achievements the AI can now race on user-generated tracks and we cant wait to see our community enjoy this impressive milestone.The new AI is also an important element of the fresh career mode we have developed. Here youll become an integral part of the Supercross universe, thanks to a dynamic system full of challenges and tests to become the most successful rider. I cant say too much here, so stay tuned to learn what we have in store for you.Thank you for your time and attention. Before I go I would like to reveal to the Xbox Wire readers a small surprise at the top of this post you can see for the first time the official key art of the game, depicting some of the main protagonists of the 2025 season. Monster Energy Supercross 25 The Official Video Game will launch on Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025, with early access starting from April 7. See you on the race track!