Category: Xbox News

I’m Shaz, the game designer of BFF or Die. As a lifelong gamer, I’ve grown up playing video games. My most memorable gaming moments come from when I used to meet up with a group of four friends and play local multiplayer games all weekend. I look back on those times fondly – they made me appreciate how gaming can be the social glue to build lasting friendships.

We’ve been developing BFF or Die for a long time. We started out with a demo and took it out to some local events where indie developers meetup to talk about games, make friends, and learn from each other. People really seemed to have fun playing together, even as a super early demo with no graphics. Those first playtest sessions made us want to make it into a proper console game.

That dream marked the beginning of a road that led us… here! Over four years we continued to take it around gaming events in the UK, seeing thousands of people play it throughout all stages of development. Their reactions shaped the game and helped us figure out which features to keep or change.

We took the demo out to some great events like EGX and Insomnia Gaming Festival. Encouragingly, it won a few awards like Best Multiplayer Game in GameOn 2.0! In those early days, BFF or Die was relatively unpolished. We were making it in our spare time which took a lot of perseverance as we didn’t have any financial backing. At the same time, we were all working “normal” day-jobs so that we could afford to make this game.

Further into our development journey, we received some amazing news – the UK Games Fund had selected BFF or Die to be one of the few games to receive funding that year! That kicked us into gear and we were able to spend more time on the project, re-work the code, improve the art style, and polish the gameplay. We also formed ASA Studio, our company name based on the first letters of our forenames.

Things seemed to be going well. We self-published on PC, gathered feedback, and made some much-needed updates! The excitement from streamers and players made all the effort worthwhile. After a few more changes to the game in collaboration with our new publishing friends over at 2Awesome Studio, BFF or Die is now available for you to play on Xbox One.

We really hope you have fun playing it, whether you try in single-player mode or in local co-op mode with a friend. Once you beat the story mode there’s an “infinite trials” mode. I can get about 8 challenges into the infinite trials before I die – see how far you can get!

BFF or Die

2Awesome Partners

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$7.99 $6.79

BFF or Die is a cozy and crazy cooperative puzzle game that you can play with up to four players! You’re a time traveling alien sent to Earth on a risky rescue mission. Utilize your gadgets to overcome danger and survive! As time traveling aliens, you must venture to a strange planet called “Earth” in order to rescue the Orbees, a mysterious species who help you build your crucial set of gadgets. Take charge of each gadget, combine your abilities and strategize to save your friends. Use your cunning wit and camaraderie to survive, but never forget the Academy motto: “BFF or Die!” If you love couch co-op’s with friends and family then BFF or Die is for you! BFF or Die in 2-4 local player mode is a completely new and amusing cooperative experience. A mix of puzzles and action gameplay will make you think carefully and sometimes – panic in excitement!

Available with Xbox Game Pass, Hotshot Racing is the blisteringly fast, arcade racing game from Curve Digital, Sumo Nottingham, and Lucky Mountain games released this past September that takes the iconic arcade racing formula of the 90s and updating it for the modern generation.

Now it’s time to make your gameplay explosive with the Big Boss Bundle! With even more content for all you drift-lovers out there, the new DLC includes four colorful new tracks, a new Grand Prix championship, and a new game mode: Barrel Barrage.

Barrel Barrage Mode

Take Hotshot Racing’s trademark breakneck speed and add explosive barrels to the mix. Launched from the rear of your vehicle, the barrels explode on contact with other racers’ cars, inflicting damage and making each dash for the checkered flag more perilous. 

Boss Level Grand Prix 

You can now expand the roster of championships in Hotshot Racing with the Boss Level Grand Prix including four new high-speed circuits – 8 Ball Highway, Cargo Chaos, Frozen Freeway, and Surf City – each with visually arresting vistas to zip past. All game modes, including Barrel Barrage, are available across all tracks introduced in the Boss Level Grand Prix  

Since launch, Sumo Digital Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games have pulled out all the stops, addressed your feedback and kept the game up to date with constant patches across all platforms. This includes increased car speed across Normal, Hard and Expert modes, improved multiplayer lobby functionality, controller detection fixes for the PC version of the game and more.

Featuring fast paced full-contact racing gameplay and visuals inspired by arcade hits of racing games past, Hotshot Racing is available now with Xbox Game Pass on Console and PC.

To keep up to date on Hotshot Racing news follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our YouTube channel!

It’s time to get back on the track!

Hotshot Racing

Curve Digital

☆☆☆☆☆ 53

★★★★★

$19.99 $13.39

Xbox Game Pass

Free new DLC! The Big Boss Bundle brings thrilling DLC to Hotshot Racing for free! New mode Barrel Barrage delivers the most incendiary action yet, while the Boss Level Grand Prix introduces an expanded selection of rapid racetracks. Hotshot Racing is a blisteringly fast arcade-style racing game fusing drift handling, razor-sharp retro visuals and an incredible sense of speed to create an exhilarating driving experience. Developed by racing game veterans SUMO Nottingham and Lucky Mountain Games, Hotshot Racing is an all-new driving experience which revives the classic arcade gameplay of the 90s and thrusts it into the modern era. 16 racing circuits provide the twists, turns and straights conducive to searingly quick racing. Take in coastal, jungle, alpine and Las Vegas desert environments, with each course modelled with the most vivid colours and blue skies for miles. Time Trial and Grand Prix modes cater to those who like to compete in classic racing formats, while ‘Cops and Robbers’ and ‘Drive or Explode’ modes offer exhilarating new ways to play. Each mode is available in single-player, four-player split-screen and eight-player online, while Time Trial is single-player only. Single-player modes run at a blistering 60FPS to deliver one of the fastest depictions of racing possible. Smash lap records to rise-up the global online leaderboards or download ghost laps to match your racing lines against the very best.

He’s back. All of us at EA Sports are excited to announce that David Beckham is returning to EA Sports FIFA, and you can pick him up for free in FIFA Ultimate Team and Volta Football just by playing FIFA 21 by January 15, 2021!

It’s time to get lively as DB7 becomes playable (or should that be unplayable?!) again. Anyone who plays FIFA 21 by January 15 – including anyone who’s played the game up to now – will get a free, untradeable, bespoke Beckham item to add to their dream squad in FIFA Ultimate Team starting December 15, as well as adding him to your team in Volta Football as our latest Groundbreaker.

Becks scooped a whopping 115 caps for England, landing third for his country’s most capped player with some heroic, unforgettable moments including that free kick against Greece. Corners? Free kicks? Crosses? Yep, got them covered.

Get ready to unleash that renowned dead-ball specialism as you whip a trademark free kick into the top bin in that crunch Division Rivals match, or bend a corner in for your mate to nod home in FUT Co-Op with Beckham’s bespoke, one-of-a-kind FUT item that celebrates his stint in the Spanish capital at Real Madrid – granted to you to add to your squad. Take advantage of this moment and build teams that fuse different parts of Beckham’s amazing career to get creative with your starting 11.

You can take Becks with you back into the streets of Paris or Los Angeles too – two cities he once called home. Only now, you’ll be under the lights of the cages in Volta Football as Beckham joins the lineup of Groundbreakers – huge names from the world of football, fashion, music and beyond that you can play as on the streets. Get ready to use Beckham’s finesse technique to whip the ball off the wall and invent angles for some typically stylish finishes and pinpoint assists.

He’ll also be joining the best players to ever play the beautiful game as the newest Icon in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team alongside many familiar faces and former team mates – Ronaldo, Zidane, Ronaldinho, Scholes, Keane, Giggs, Nesta, and more – when he drops as an Icon on December 4! More info on those DB7 Icon ratings is coming soon…

With the Xbox Series X|S out now too, we’re also excited to be offering you the chance to upgrade your copy of FIFA 21 for free once the next generation experience launches on December 4! That means if you play FIFA 21 on Xbox One, or play the backwards compatible version on Xbox Series X|S, you’ll get to download and play the next generation experience for free, and you’ll even get to carry over your progress in FUT and Volta Football – including Becks – when you make the switch!

Many know Beckham for his wide array of ventures: charity, fashion, design. But there are few players who ended their careers with as many trophies. 6 Premier League titles, 1 UEFA Champions League, 1 LaLiga, and a Ligue 1 trophy – that’s before the individual honours. The man for the big occasion, an icon who embodies the spirit of winning as one, has returned. To celebrate his incredible career at the top of the game, you can pick up the special FIFA 21 Beckham Edition now from the Xbox Store and get in game in time to pick Becks up in FUT and Volta.

Act fast. Don’t miss your chance to bend it like Becks!

We know you’re busy and might miss out on all the exciting things we’re talking about on Xbox Wire every week. If you’ve got a few minutes, we can help remedy that. We’ve pared down the past week’s news into one easy-to-digest article for all things Xbox! Or, if you’d rather watch than read, you can feast your eyes on our weekly video show above. Be sure to come back every Friday to find out what’s happening This Week on Xbox!

Xbox Black Friday Deals Offer a Gift for Everyone on Your List This Holiday
It has been a big year for gaming fans. From the launch of a new generation of Xbox consoles, to a creatively diverse lineup of games that look and play best on Xbox, and a library of high-quality games available with Xbox Game Pass, there’s never been… Read more

How to Buy a Digital Game as a Gift This Holiday
If you want to gift a game to a friend or family member this holiday season, gifting a digital game is a great and convenient option. With the Microsoft Store on Xbox and the great Microsoft Store online experience, it’s never been easier to send… Read more

Gears 5 Teams up with WWE for Survivor Series Cross-Over Event Featuring WWE Superstars The New Day
Whether it be to millions of subscribers on WWE’s UpUpDownDown YouTube channel channel or bringing friends and family together on Xbox Live, WWE Superstars The New Day are well-known for spreading the power of positivity through video games… Read more

The 2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC Races to Assetto Corsa Competizione This Winter
Assetto Corsa Competizione has been on quite the journey since launch earlier this year and rest assured, we’re far from done! The development team have been working behind the scenes to bring all new content to the sim racing world and I’m here today to tell you… Read more

Free Play Days – Tekken 7, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Overwatch Origins Edition
Raise your fists for the ultimate battle, tame your own dinosaur in a survival epic, and join the ultimate team-based shooter, all in this weekend’s Free Play Days. Tekken 7, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Overwatch Origins Edition are available for… Read more

Inside Xbox Series X|S Optimized: Ark: Survival Evolved
One of the biggest benefits of all that power is giving developers the ability to make games that are Xbox Series X|S Optimized. This means that they’ve taken full advantage of the unique capabilities of Xbox Series X|S, both for new titles built natively using… Read more

Get the Nuketown Weapon Bundle Free with Purchase of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
With a reimagined series favorite map primed for a return and Black Friday approaching, there’s no better time to jump into Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, especially with today’s launch of the Nuketown Weapon Bundle… Read more

Borderlands 3 Unleashes Next-Level Mayhem on Xbox Series X|S
Borderlands 3 has gone next-gen! Enjoy next-level mayhem on your new Xbox Series X|S and experience Borderlands 3 like never before, with fully optimized graphical and performance upgrades and couch co-op thanks to Smart Delivery… Read more

Bring on the Holiday Cheer with New Halo Toys
Attention Halo fans! The holidays are nearly upon us and it’s time to start shopping for friends, family, and maybe yourself while you’re at it. Well, you’re in luck, as we have a ton of brand-new Halo-themed products and toys in-store now, all of which will fill you… Read more

Fight Against Chaos on Xbox Series X|S with Warhammer: Chaosbane
We are very thrilled to take part in the Xbox Series X|S launch line-up with Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition, the definitive edition of Warhammer: Chaosbane. If you haven’t heard about Warhammer: Chaosbane, it is the first hack-and-slash set in the… Read more

Skater XL Brings Mod Maps and Gear to Xbox One
What is up Xbox fans?! We are very stoked to share our latest trailer and announce that Skater XL players around the world will be able to access a world of community created mod maps and gear on Xbox this December. Skater XL has always been driven by… Read more

Bless Unleashed’s Next Update The Spear of Salvation Update Launches Today
Bless Unleashed is launching its fourth major free update today with The Spear of Salvation! This update continues the main story, adding tons of new quests. In addition, lots of new features have just dropped, including new class experience levels, a brand new… Read more

Exclusive Interview with Yakuza: Like a Dragon’s Masayoshi Yokoyama and Hiroyuki Sakamoto
Our Xbox Wire France team was fortunate to speak with Hiroyuki Sakamoto, the writer of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, and Masayoshi Yokoyama, producer, screenwriter and sound director of the game, who has been working on the series since its debut 15 years ago... Read more

Mashing up Bridge Constructor and AMC’s The Walking Dead
Quick intro: I am Matthias, the creative lead behind the brand-new Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead game, the latest release in the well-known Bridge Constructor series. Some of you may have noticed that we already went a bit crazy with our… Read more

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition Anniversary Update Available Now, Featuring Battle Royale Mode
It’s time for an Anniversary! We’re celebrating a year of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition with the biggest update we’ve ever shipped, including a new Battle Royale game mode, new features to help welcome our growing community, balance changes… Read more

Lead Your Team to Glory in Football Manager 2021: Xbox Edition, Coming December 1
Football Manager 2021: Xbox Edition makes its debut next month and brings the depth, drama and detail of the world’s most popular football management simulation to Xbox. FM21 Xbox drops you into a living, breathing football world and gives you the opportunity… Read more

7 Tips to Help You Run Your Own Space Agency in Mars Horizon
Welcome to Mars Horizon and your mission to reach the Red Planet. Mars Horizon places you at the head of a space agency at the dawn of the space race. Your task is to guide your agency through time, and all its technological advances, until you successfully… Read more

Pack Your Bags for The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack
Strap on your snowboard and prepare to shred some powder in The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Pack, available now on Xbox One! Under all that mountain snow, there’s a new world of adventure waiting for you. As both a residential area and a mountainside… Read more

Serious Sam Collection Delivers Endless Fun and Explosions
Croteam has been around for almost three decades, and to be honest, we have dedicated much of that time to Serious Sam. What was once a childhood dream – developing video games for a living – became a reality because of a shooter game with an arguably… Read more

Human: Fall Flat – Free Levels Golf and City Available Today
Today, two new free levels are arriving to Human: Fall Flat – Golf and City – so get sporty with up to seven friends and take on golf, crossbows, bowling, and rooftop challenges for a laughter filled time! Designed by community creator… Read more

Continue the Great Journey with Halo 4 Launching on PC and The Master Chief Collection Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Today marks a huge milestone for Halo: The Master Chief Collection. After years of hard work by the team here at 343 Industries, we’re proud to announce that the final addition to Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Halo 4, has officially arrived on PC… Read more

Everything You Need to Know About Joining the Xbox Game Pass Community
There are a lot of people experiencing Xbox Game Pass for the first time and finding tons to love about it. Whether you joined because you want access to all the new titles from Xbox Game Studios the same day they launch, or you love playing Electronic Arts games with EA… Read more

Gears 5: Multiplayer Relaunches Today with Operation 5: Hollow Storm, Twice the Content Since Launch
Last week, Gears 5 released the Xbox Series X|S update, which relaunched the game with Next-Gen technical optimizations for new consoles and new campaign features. This week, the team is relaunching the multiplayer suite with our largest post-launch update… Read more

Beat Me! is Now available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Hi everyone! I’m Franciszek Batko, a game developer of Red Limb Studio. I’m pleased to announce we’ve finally launched Beat Me! on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Beat Me! is a physics-based multiplayer game for up to six players. That’s a lovely party brawler… Read more

Exit the Gungeon Reloads on Xbox One
Today, we’re super excited to announce that Exit the Gungeon, the newest adventure in what we like to call the Dodge Roll Semi-Automatic Gungeonverse is now available for Xbox One! Our team has been working hard alongside the hardcore… Read more

Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Star Kings Introduces a Bright Future in a Bleak Universe
Earlier this month, Paradox launched Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Star Kings, the latest expansion for the turn-based/4X strategy game, Age of Wonders: Planetfall. Star Kings introduces a new faction of Paladins, the Oathbound. The Oathbound inspires hope in a… Read more

Introducing the Xbox Community Game Club: Play, Share, and Discuss
In a year where connecting through games has proven to be more important than ever, we bring you the Xbox Community Game Club—a way  for the Xbox community around the world to come together around a shared loved of gaming… Read more

Next Week on Xbox: November 23 to 27
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox, where we cover all the new games coming soon to Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows 10 PC as well as upcoming Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC titles and soon-to-be released ID@Xbox games! Get more details… Read More

If you want to gift a game to a friend or family member this holiday season, gifting a digital game is a great and convenient option. With the Microsoft Store on Xbox and the great Microsoft Store online experience, it’s never been easier to send someone a near instantaneous gift on Xbox or PC.

Gifting Through Console

To send a digital game as a gift on your console just go to the Microsoft Store, find the game you`d like to gift, locate the gift wrap icon, and click on it.

This will open the “Buy as gift” options, where you can either choose someone from your friends list or type in an email. Note: Make sure the person receiving the gift is in the same country as you.

You can personalize your message, though characters are limited so be creative.

After writing your message, choose your payment option and buy as a gift.

Your friend will receive a message both on their Xbox console and the email associated with their Xbox Live account.

From there they only need to click on “Redeem code” and they are ready to play!

You can also send add-ons and subscriptions as gifts, such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate! With the Ultimate membership, you get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold, over 100 high-quality games you can play on console, PC, and Android devices with cloud gaming (Beta, where available), and access to EA Play at no extra cost. All together as one gift.

Gifting Through Web Browser

On the web your experience will be quite similar, though you will only have the email option. Visit the Microsoft Store Online, find the game, add-on, or subscription you wish to send as a gift and click on “Buy as a Gift,” right below the buy button, be it on your desktop or mobile device. After you log in to your Microsoft Account, choose your payment method, and you are ready to go.

If you need ideas of what to gift check out our Top Paid, Best Rated, or Under $20 games.

We hope you all stay safe and have very happy holidays.

Assetto Corsa Competizione has been on quite the journey since launch earlier this year and rest assured, we’re far from done! The development team have been working behind the scenes to bring all new content to the sim racing world and I’m here today to tell you more on what’s to come.

An Intro for Rookie Racers

If you’re new to the title, let me fill you in on some things to know. Assetto Corsa Competizione is the Official GT World Challenge game and features iconic tracks such as Silverstone, Monza, Hungaroring, and Spa-Francorchamps. To ensure each track offers the most realistic experience possible, each circuit has been carefully reproduced using Laser Scan technology, in GT cars that have been developed in close collaboration with manufacturers such as Ferrari, Mercedes, Porsche, Lamborghini and McLaren.

Alongside the base game, the team have been working on multiple DLC expansions, including the GT4 Pack DLC that launched last month. Now, attention has shifted to the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC, which we’re excited to announce is coming to Xbox One in January 2021.

2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC

The 2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC is absolutely crammed with new content, including one of the most historic circuits known to motorsport fans, fully reproduced using Laser scan technology. Here’s what you can expect:

• Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari – Imola 
• Ferrari 488 GT3 EVO (2020) 
• Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo (2020)
• 60+ new car liveries    
• All 2020 GT World Challenge Drivers and team entries
• New 2020 Pirelli “DHE” Tyre Model
• New 2020 GT WORLD CHALLENGE Season BoP

Season Pass Update

Not only can we announce that the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack DLC will be coming to Xbox One early next year, but today we can unveil that this content will not only be available as a standalone DLC, but also be included for all those who own the Assetto Corsa Competizione season pass, at no extra cost. If you’re already a season pass owner, then just sit back and wait for launch.

To be clear, this is in addition to the already released GT4 Pack DLC and our upcoming British GT Pack DLC, scheduled to launch this winter. (More info on that later) If you’re not a current season pass holder, don’t worry, we want to make sure everyone can take advantage of this offer. Pick up the season pass now to get the 2020 GT World Challenge DLC pack at launch at no extra cost.

There you have it, that’s everything for today! Let me wrap this up by once again saying a huge thank you to our passionate community of sim racers who have supported us since the beginning. Your thoughts and feedback have proved invaluable and we cannot wait for you to get hands on with our 2020 GT World Challenge DLC Pack. The reaction to our upcoming DLC on social media, particularly around the introduction of the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari – Imola circuit, has been truly overwhelming. Thank you so much. We share your excitement and enthusiasm and cannot wait until launch.

See you out on track!

Assetto Corsa Competizione

505 Games SpA

☆☆☆☆☆ 111

★★★★★

$39.99 $19.99

Born from KUNOS Simulazioni’s long-term experience in recreating top-grade driving simulations, Assetto Corsa Competizione allows you to feel the real atmosphere of the GT3 championship, competing against official drivers, teams, cars & circuits reproduced in-game with the highest level of accuracy ever achieved on console. Using sophisticated mathematical models, the engine carefully simulate tyre grip, aerodynamic impact, engine parameters, suspensions and electronics systems that determine vehicle balance, as well as the influence of mechanical damage on the car’s drivability. Sprint, Endurance and Spa 24 Hours races come to life with an incredible level of realism, in both single and multiplayer modes. Offering photorealistic weather conditions and graphics, night races, motion capture animations, it’s a new standard in terms of driving realism and immersion. There’s no better time than now to #beACC.

Quick intro: I am Matthias, the creative lead behind the brand-new Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead game, the latest release in the well-known Bridge Constructor series. Some of you may have noticed that we already went a bit crazy with our previous title Bridge Constructor Portal (available now with Xbox Game Pass), which was based on Valve’s beloved Portal. This time, we are taking it a step further.

By its roots, Bridge Constructor has always been a premium casual puzzle brand, focusing on the challenges of constructing bridge with a selection of materials at hand and testing them under different weight loads. If you build successfully, your cars, trucks or trains will make it across. However, on your way to that successful moment, the whole thing will collapse many times – and watching everything tumble down is actually a big part of the fun and probably one of the main reasons why the genre is so beloved by gamers and content creators alike.

Back in 2012, we started with Bridge Constructor being a traditional approach to the genre. Now with every following sequel we tried to give a new aspect to it: There was the sandboxy BC Playground with badges for different challenges, followed by BC Medieval placed in the Middle Ages offering new mission modes, and even an action-focused BC Stunts, where you have direct control of your vehicles, more along the lines of the Trials games.

Our question always was where to take the brand next and how to explore and cross boundaries. We already began broadening the concept of “bridges” with BC Stunts, where players mainly constructed jump ramps and loops to have the vehicles perform daredevil stunts. We liked the dynamic aspect of it, so Dieter from Headup ventured forth and asked: Could we combine the physics-based gameplay from Bridge Constructor with the equation of “Entrance velocity equals exit velocity” from the Portal games? Bingo! Bridge Constructor Portal came quite unexpected for the most but proved to be a big success. Now the following idea was: What if we create a game in the tradition of Lemmings and The Crazy Machines but use zombies instead of little rodents? With the guys at Headup being great fans of the Walking Dead brand, the idea was spontaneously pitched to AMC. And funnily enough, we were jointly able to secure a deal.

Which takes us directly to the subject of brains: The main challenge in the development was to keep the balance between a complex and resource-demanding physics system and the number of units we could simulate in a level. One of Lemmings’ big appeals was the sheer mass of little sprites on the screen but that was before ragdolls and real-time physics implementation. This posed quite a challenge for the game design. We decided to reduce the number of walkers a bit in favor of offering more diverse puzzles including the use of mobile environment objects to devise lethal traps for the zombies. Yet, the command element from Lemmings still seemed sexy to use, so we implemented it but in a reversed way: In our game you can give commands to the protagonists while enjoying the internally called “Lemmings Schadenfreude Effect” on the walkers.

Balancing all three things – physics system, characters from the show, and the puzzle designs – took its time so we extended the originally scheduled development period by a few months. Which lead to the fact that the game’s release date now coincides with the launch of the next generation of consoles, and we are especially proud that Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead will be one of the truly new games on these great platforms. This is a new area for us as Bridge Constructor has always been more of a mobile and PC brand, and we are excited to see how the first-mover console audience will react to the game.

Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead

Headup

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Xbox One X Enhanced

Experience the fun of KILLING WALKERS using the POWER of your BRAIN! Prepare for the ultimate mashup experience! Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead combines the legendary and challenging puzzle gameplay of Bridge Constructor™ with the post-apocalyptic zombie universe of AMC’s The Walking Dead. Join a group of survivors as they fight against hordes of undead walkers and a hostile human community. Build bridges and other constructions through bleak landscapes and ruined structures. Team up with fan-favorite characters like Daryl, Michonne and Eugene, and create safe passage for iconic vehicles from the series. Use movable level objects, explosives and baits to your advantage as you lure walkers into lethal traps and guide your survivors to safety. Enjoy the physics-based frenzy and ragdoll animations as walkers succumb to the forces of gravity.

Attention Halo fans! The holidays are nearly upon us and it’s time to start shopping for friends, family, and maybe yourself while you’re at it. Well, you’re in luck, as we have a ton of brand-new Halo-themed products and toys in-store now, all of which will fill you with the holiday spirit as you step into the boots of your favorite Spartan. Let’s take a tour through some of the amazing products that are out there, and available…right now!

Mega Construx

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Mega for some absolutely incredible new sets this year. You can now put the Master Chief right on your shelf with the new helmet set, complete with a buildable AI chip that slots right in. The 414-piece set may not be quite big enough to wear yourself, but you can look over and see the Master Chief’s gold visor watching over you anytime.

Mega has also created two of their best sets to date with the replica Energy Sword that’s going to look extra-intimidating on your mantle, as well as a massive new Pelican dropship. The Pelican features poseable wings, a cockpit hatch, working landing gear and comes with three micro-figures of the Master Chief, the Pilot and a Banished Hunter. At over 2000 pieces this set is massive, and the perfect gift for the builder in your life.

It’s some strong words, but my personal favorite set is the Forerunner Ring Installation. Now you can finally have a piece of a Halo ring right in your home, complete with mini trees, rivers, and mountains. But what makes this set so perfect is that each ring segment can snap together, and with five sets you can build a full-blown Halo Ring. You still can’t fire it without an Index though, so all sentient life in the galaxy should be safe… I think.

Wicked Cool Toys

If you or someone you love is a collector, or just really likes to play with toys, then we’ve got a great lineup of action figures for you to check out. Scaling from four inches all the way up to a full foot tall, there’s sure to be something perfect for you to recreate the massive battles Halo is known for. Available figures include Kat-B320, a Brute Chieftan with gravity hammer, a Banished Ghost, Elite Warlord, a Warthog and, of course, the Master Chief himself. I’m not saying I spend most of my afternoons recreating iconic moments from the game with action figures, but I’m not saying I’m not doing that either.

Nerf

Whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart, there are few things more fun than blasting your best friend with a Nerf dart. Now you can give your battles a little Halo flavor with then new MA40 and Mangler, both inspired by the weapons in Halo Infinite. The MA40 comes with a 10-dart clip and motorized blaster, while the Mangler boasts a 6-dart drum. Both toys also come with exclusive digital codes which will allow you to get a special in-game add on to use when Halo Infinite launches in 2021. The MA40 is available now, and the Mangler will be released on January 1.

Funko

Let’s not pretend we don’t need more Funko Pops in our lives, because of course we do! We’re scratching that itch with some new items featuring both the Master Chief and the Spartan MK VII, with some unique and exclusive variants. In addition to the three standard Funko Pops you can find we’re also offering a Master Chief Hydro Deco variant exclusively at Best Buy, a Master Chief Active Camo variant exclusively at Target, and a Spartan MK VII with shock rifle variant exclusively at GameStop. But why choose when you can just collect all six instead?

Dark Horse

Those who know me know I have one passion…I love statues. More specifically, I love this statue of the Master Chief on Zeta Halo – inspired by the beautiful key art for Halo Infinite. This 10.5-inch statue is rich with gorgeous details and is a must-have for any collector. Just look at the pose! The burns and scuffs on the armor! The quiet heroism! This work of art is a Best Buy exclusive in the U.S. (visit Halo Waypoint for international availability) and is available now!

2020 has been a year (to say the least), so hopefully you’re able to find some joy and fun with these great Halo products from our amazing partners. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and we’ll see you in 2021 with even more cool Halo gear!

For the latest all things Halo, be sure to stay tuned to Halo Waypoint and Xbox Wire and follow @Halo on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook, and @HaloGear on Twitter.

Welcome to Mars Horizon and your mission to reach the Red Planet. Mars Horizon places you at the head of a space agency at the dawn of the space race. Your task is to guide your agency through time, and all its technological advances, until you successfully step foot on Mars. There are many viable ways to manage your agency and achieve your goal. To help you work out your preferred method, here are some Mars Horizon tips that will get you started and steer your journey through space.

1. Choose the right experience for you

We have​ 3 different game modes​ available, each fully customisable and offering its own challenges.

• Explorer​ – a relaxed experience. Missions are less demanding, and there’s reduced competition from other space agencies.
• Pioneer​ – a balanced experience. Missions will test you, and other space agencies are competitive.
• Veteran​ – a demanding experience. Missions are tough, and other space agencies are extremely competitive.

2. Create your own agency with the traits you prefer

There are 5 playable agencies to choose from in Mars Horizon – ESA, USA, China, Japan, and Russia. Each has unique traits that offer advantages in the space race, such as diplomacy bonuses or flexible launches. You can choose to play as one of the preset agencies or create your own. Choose your name, the location of your base, your flag design, and then pick the traits that match your playstyle.

3. Plan out your base carefully

Pay attention when determining the layout of your base as there are benefits and costs to consider. You will likely need to clear space to fit new buildings in – and that comes at a cost. Some buildings provide extra buffs when situated next to each other, but others give you negative penalties, so plan carefully!

4. Be aware of what other agencies are doing

Keep an eye on the Recent Events button and the announcements pop-ups as you move through time. These will let you know when a competing agency is planning a mission so you can make sure they’re not about to beat you to it. Each Milestone mission also has its own Space Race screen which shows you where you place against the other agencies in the race to completion.

5. Work together to achieve your goals

You don’t always have to compete with other agencies. Keep an eye on the diplomacy menu and you’ll see that you can build relationships with other agencies, and propose joint missions with your allies. Share costs, science, and success!

6. Think about your launch date

Choosing the right time to launch your rockets is crucial. Risking an earlier launch with less reliability gives you the chance to achieve the milestone first. However, waiting for a later launch can increase your chance of a successful launch. Once you’ve unlocked training you’ll be able to reap higher rewards too. But this also means other agencies might beat you to the launch.

7. Complete bonus objectives and request missions

If you’ve achieved the goals for your mission you can keep playing to get bonus objectives. These exist above the initial mission requirements and will give you extra resources. The same goes for optional request missions, which grant you further benefits if you successfully take them on – this can be anything from money to upgrades for your vehicles, or science. 

Bonus tip: Become a real life space expert with Spacepedia

As you research and unlock content in Mars Horizon, you’ll also unlock entries in Spacepedia – our glossary of all things space. Read up on the history of events from the game, take a closer look at the rockets you’re building, and learn about all the wonders of the solar system.

Good Luck Commander and try the game today on Xbox One!

Mars Horizon

The Irregular Corporation

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99 $17.99

In Mars Horizon, you take control of a major space agency, leading it from the dawn of the space age through to landing astronauts on Mars. Guide your agency through the space race and write your alternate history of space travel – any of the agencies can be the first to land on The Moon if you make the right choices. Manage the numerous challenges faced then and now: You’re in charge of every element of the journey into space: success rides on your decisions. Will you push to stay ahead of the other agencies, or focus on testing and research? There are multiple ways to ensure the first person on Mars is under your command. Every choice matters: will you invest in the most advanced technology or take risks in the rush to the red planet? Using actual events and missions as inspiration, can you handle the challenges faced by real space agencies? Management is a vital aspect of Mars Horizon. You’ll need to design and build the right spacecraft, hire and train the crew, and make strategic decisions as mission control to survive the journey to Mars. Enter into diplomatic partnerships with other agencies to share the rewards of space exploration, or risk going it alone to gain greater prestige. Construct the ideal rocket from historically-inspired vehicle parts. Hire contractors to construct vehicles and use their unique benefits to gain a key edge over your competitors. Launching a payload into space is only the first step. In assuming the role of Flight Director of mission control, you’ll need to manage your spacecraft’s resources and solve strategic challenges in turn-based missions in order to succeed. But beware: space is a very unforgiving environment. These are the critical moment-to-moment decisions of mission control; do you spend power to fix a malfunctioning antenna or save it in case of an oxygen leak? Perhaps risking that extra three months of mission planning could have avoided this issue? Mars Horizon has been made with the input and support of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency. We’ve collaborated with numerous experts in space exploration from the ESA in creating Mars Horizon. From engineers developing the technology used in Mars programmes, to those designing the next generation of missions, bringing an unprecedented level of authenticity, realism and legitimacy to the gameplay and its scenarios.

Earlier this month, Paradox launched Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Star Kings, the latest expansion for the turn-based/4X strategy game, Age of Wonders: Planetfall. Star Kings introduces a new faction of Paladins, the Oathbound. The Oathbound inspires hope in a war-torn galaxy (and couldn’t we all use a bit of hope right now?). Take a behind-the-scenes journey of inspiration and resilience as I have an informative chat with Triumph Studios Lead Developer and Designer for Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Star Kings Tom Bird.

Paradox Interactive Community Manager Emma Kunjansuu: The Age of Wonders series has nearly two decades of history since the first game released in 1999. Now, we are on our third expansion for the latest game, Age of Wonders: Planetfall. What did it feel like to build on this expansive universe with the latest expansion?

Triumph Studios Lead Developer and Designer for Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Star Kings Tom Bird: It was mixed really! On the one hand, this is the first time I personally had full control to develop an expansion myself, which is very exciting. On the other hand, there’s already so much in the game already, it was intimidating trying to come up with something that could stand up on its own and feel both new and different from what we already have.

Kujansuu: How did you and the team come up with the Oathbound? What was the inspiration behind the creation of this faction?

Bird: We wanted to make an expansion that was a lot more positive than the previous ones, where there was a feeling of hope for the future rather than fear of alien invaders or repressive ancient cults. We settled on using Arthurian legends as the main inspiration, a group of noble knights, guided by mysterious wizards, on a righteous quest! This also gave us the idea for the “Grail Configurations”, which are another new feature.

Kujansuu: I really like the design of Champion. All the designs are very creative, really. The Paladin units look both alien and divine. Can you tell us a little more about how you came up with these designs for the units?

Bird: When designing for science fiction, it is helpful to think of some clearly identifiable shape that we can use as a motif. This is a shape or design element that we can repeat throughout our designs, unifying disparate units into a single race. For the noble, mighty paladins, we decided on circles as a motif, because of their connotations of perfection and associations with the divine. Wherever we could, we tried to implement golden rings and elegant single curves, giving a sense of flow and movement that makes the paladins feel fast and graceful. This is a design element that we also tried to include in the seers, and overall acts as the unifying design language of the entire race.

Because the Oathbound are meant to be the pinnacle of human development in Planetfall, we tried to make their technology look as futuristic as possible. This largely came from obscuring any obvious mechanical function. You won’t see any cog-like joints, mechanical pistons, or exposed cables on the paladins. Many elements of their machinery float without any obvious explanation. This suggests that paladin technology is so advanced that it is beyond our modern understanding and gives subtle allusions to divine beings or aliens.

As a general design principle, we also tried to make them as a unique as possible by avoiding the first and most obvious tropes. Take the Champion for example. Here, we knew that we needed a flying mech with a giant sword, so instead of jumping to the first and most obvious idea (a jetpack, rocket feet), we gave it flight through energy emitting ‘wings’, and removed it’s feet entirely. Take the Warden as another example. We knew that we needed a ranged unit, so an archer was the obvious choice for a race based off medieval warriors. However, instead of merely giving it a mechanised bow and arrow or crossbow, we gave it two massive ‘bows’, one on each arm, that function as energy cannons. The essence of it is to take your first, most obvious idea, and then give it a little twist.

Of course, the role of unit art, as well as looking cool, is to communicate to the player what that unit can do. The Protector is a melee unit with powerful defensive abilities, so it needs a melee weapon and a large, eye-catching shield. The Champion can fly and has a devastating melee attack, so it needs a propulsion system and a truly enormous sword. These decisions may seem obvious, but it’s of such paramount importance that it’s something we’re always thinking about. If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that we can always work to improve on how our designs communicate to the player.

Kujansuu: It’s part of the process of development that not every idea makes it in, even ones we love, for a variety of reasons, from deadlines, to costs, to testing out what is fun and what isn’t. What were some of the ideas in Star Kings we had to leave on the cutting room floor and which was your personal favorite?

Bird: One of the main things that Knights are famous for is fighting dragons. There was an idea of having super boss monsters that you would go on quests to slay, maybe they’d be so big that you’d actually have battles on top of or inside them! Sadly, with all the other big features we were committed to making, there was just no time for such a concept to be made.

Kujansuu: Tell us a little about the Seers. What kinds of powers or abilities do they have? Why did you give them these capabilities?

Bird: The Seers use a super-computer called Oracle; it collects vast amounts of information about the world and uses it to predict the future. The Seers use Oracle to understand and control the flow of battle, which in gameplay terms works by letting the player cheat at key moments and force the game’s dice to roll a particular number in their advantage. For example, the Augur can curse a target with Fatalism, which means you will never miss it if you shoot it. The Watcher can bless a unit with Providence, and that unit will always roll Critical Hit when it rolls to hit.

Kujansuu: Do you have a few tips or tricks you could share for those who are returning to the Age of Wonders: Planetfall so they can jump right in and play?

Bird: Your starting Paladins work well in tight formations, so keep them bunched up and try to get the Oath of Loyalty mod as soon as possible to make your formations stronger.

There is a doctrine called Pre-Battle Prediction which will hugely increase your units survivability by letting them ignore the first attack that hits them in each battle.

Don’t forget your Seers, the big robots will kill your enemies, but it’s the Seers who keep them alive in a universe where they literally brought a sword to a gunfight.

Kujansuu: Thank you for taking the time to write such thorough replies Tom! And thanks to everyone for reading our behind-the-scenes look at Star Kings, available now on Windows 10 PC and Xbox One!

Age of Wonders: Planetfall – Star Kings

Paradox Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99 $17.99

Suit up as the noble Paladins of the new Oathbound faction, piloting giant mechs with massive arc weapons who have taken up the sacred charge of unifying the galaxy and saving all of mankind. New Features New playable faction – The Oathbound: New Campaign
Grail Configurations
Battle New Wildlife