Category: Xbox News

We talk with Director of Operations at Ebb Software Miroslav Mićević to learn more about what to expect when we take our first steps in Scorn.

Starting today, Game Pass members on Xbox Series X|S and Windows can enter the surreal and nightmarish world of Scorn. From its unnerving surroundings, mysterious world, and frightening creations, Scorn has been one of our most anticipated games to experience as well as one of the most mysterious: What does it play like? Is it a shooter? Will I need a security blanket?

Before diving into its intriguing world — and to answer some of our most burning questions — we had a chance to talk with Director of Operations at Ebb Software Miroslav Mićević to learn more about what to expect when we first set foot in the game, some of the inspirations behind its incredible art design, and what was it like to create a soundtrack for something that’s so… slimy.

Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us to talk about your recently released game, Scorn. To kick things off, can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the creation of the game’s world?

Thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss Scorn with you. Scorn is inspired by art, philosophy, literature, and movies. We could say that the roots lie in existentialist philosophy, the artwork of H. R. Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, movies of Cronenberg, Lynch, and the like. All of these might be considered influential to the creative process of Scorn’s Game Director Ljubomir Peklar.

Scorn has been described as an “atmospheric first-person horror adventure.” Would you say that puts in the same vein as others in the genre like Dear Esther and Gone Home? Were those games, or others, inspirations behind the creation of Scorn?

Maybe a better description would be a “surreal nightmare adventure.” It’s hard to find direct references among video games, but it is like you are in a gallery observing a dark surrealist painting. Now, imagine yourself jumping straight into that painting making a live surrounding out of it. That’s basically what Scorn is.

Clearly the works of H.R. Giger (“Alien”) were inspired by the look of the game — and it looks incredible from everything we’ve seen. Did you collaborate with other artists related to his artform to bring the world of Scorn to life? What was the most challenging part of replicating that artform into the environment design?

Thank you very much. The biggest challenge was to create each asset in the game since every one of them is uniquely handcrafted. Most of the time you don’t use that method when creating video games. But Scorn, as you said, is a kind of replication of artform. The whole team of sculptors was engaged in a precise reconstruction of a truly horrible nightmare. Not a pleasant task at all.

When working with such muted colors, what is the trick to making key points of interest pop to the player?

Lighting. Sound. Music. Players should open their senses up and the game will mesmerize them and lead them to where they need to be. The lighting team really did a great job in enhancing the experience and giving guidance to poor souls stuck in the world of Scorn.

Aside from the H.R. Giger influence, are there other masters of body horror that the team is inspired by? Are there any fears from the development team that you brought to life in Scorn?

Mostly it is a fear of being a human. Let’s say Cronenberg’s “The Fly,” Lynch’s “Eraserhead,” or even Kafka’s “Metamorphosis.”

Beyond the visuals, which are incredibly striking, can you talk about the game’s audio design? What was it like to create sound for something that’s so… slimy? What were some objects you used as a reference point?

Our sound designers are a crazy bunch. The team did a lot of epic recording sessions which involved the destruction of all sorts of things. Vegetables, wood, bark, cardboard, chairs, pipes, meat, stones. You name it, they probably obliterated and recorded it.

Related to that, can you talk to us about the choice of music for the game? What went into the decision-making process to help find a soundtrack that hits on the mood of this world.

We were very lucky with that since Lustmord, a brilliant composer of dark ambient music, found out about the game and reached out to us. He knew Scorn was the perfect fit for his creation. And it just happened. Also, Aethek, another great composer, had similar feelings. Scorn lures people to itself, you can’t resist the inner urge.

What excites you the most about releasing your game on day one with Game Pass?

That fact itself is amazing! So many players with Game Pass on Xbox Series X|S and Windows will have the opportunity to play the game on day one. We couldn’t have imagined a better start than that. The whole team is super excited about that.

Thank you again, Miroslav, for taking the time to talk to us about this amazing game. Scorn is available now for Xbox Series X|S, Windows, as well as with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

Scorn

Kepler Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆ 223

★★★★★

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry. It is designed around the idea of “being thrown into the world”. Isolated and lost inside this dream-like world, you will explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion. The unsettling environment is a character itself. Every location contains its own theme (story), puzzles and characters that are integral in creating a cohesive world. Throughout the game you will open up new areas, acquire different skill sets, weapons, various items and try to comprehend the sights presented to you. GAMEPLAY FEATURES Cohesive “lived-in” world
Scorn takes place in an open-ended world with different interconnected regions. Each region is a maze-like structure with various rooms and paths to discover. All the storytelling happens in-game, with no cut-scenes to distract you from the grisly reality of the living, breathing world you’re in. But keep your eyes open – the game won’t show you any sympathy if you miss something important on your uneasy travels. Full body awareness
Players will experience better immersion being aware of the character’s body and movement. Interaction with the world is realistic – objects are picked up with your hands (instead of just floating in midair), machines and instruments are operated by grabbing the controls, etc. Inventory and ammo management
Your loadout is defined and limited. This plays a big role in keeping the player in an even greater state of awareness throughout the whole game. Players will have to think about when to fight and when to take cover and how their actions affect the world around them. Different play styles will be needed to advance.

Hello everybody! I’m Hernan Lopez from Epic Llama Games and I’m happy to share the great news about the release of our new adventure game Unusual Findings with you and all fans of the 1980s! Looking back at all the work done, I would like to give you some insight into the game’s background.

Making Unusual Findings took a lot of effort. I mean a lot! The game script alone is humongous and it is full of scripted stuff and unique events. Yet it was so much fun to make it!

In case you have no idea what the plot of the game is all about, I will sum it up for you. It’s Christmas Eve in a calm little town, where three kids are desperately trying to watch a pay per view adult TV-channel using an illegal signal decoder. In a sudden turn of events, they had stumbled upon a killer alien from outer space. So, they had to catch him, obviously! Rest assured nothing will go according to anyone’s plan… things are going to get wild and stakes are going to soar!

You see the bulk of our team was born in the mid-1980s, so we grew up surrounded by that vibe. Although we were too young to “truly” experience the 80s since we barely lived in that time, we grew up consuming the 80s pop culture. When we were kids/teenagers, we were obsessed with the popular TV shows like Viaje a lo inesperado, Cine de trasnoche disco, El mundo del espectáculo. I’m sure you have no idea what I’m talking about here, as those were extremely local TV shows (We are from Cordoba, Argentina). For all that I’m also quite certain, that you grew up (if you are over 30 years old) watching pretty similar stuff. Those shows used to be like this: a host talks a bit about the movie that was about to come next, and then… the movie!  It could be a horror or it could be an action (depending on time of the day), but usually it was some movie of 80s. Sometimes they showed a big blockbuster like The Goonies or Aliens, but you could also see more obscure ones like: Krull, Batteries Not Included’ or Explorers.

In Unusual Findings we wanted the players to feel like they are in one of those movies. Even more than that! Immerse them into a quintessential 80s movie that has the best elements of the narrative of that decade in it. Let them explore, visit, re-visit, play around, talk with interesting characters, experiment with stuff and try to solve the mystery behind the Unusual Findings. So to achieve this we had to do a lot of homework. In addition to all the 80s pop culture that we have already consumed back then, we made ourselves watch at least one 80s movie or TV show episode per day during the GDD (game design document) and script development phase!

Unusual Findings is not all about the 80s though. Of course, one of the main themes here is nostalgia, and I am not talking only about nostalgia for 80s. For instance, one of our main characters, Vinny, is a huge fan of the 1940s and black and white movies of that era.

Other big themes of Unusual Findings arefriendship andfacing the unknown. That is exactly what constantly happens during the game in very different ways. I am not going to spoil that for you, anyway.

To emphasize the “facing the unknown” point we had to add some unusual findings, I mean features, to the usual point and click game loop. So instead of having just one main character walking around and investigating everything, we came up with a group of three friends… walking around and investigating everything! While the player is still in control of just one character, Vinny, Nick and Tony tag him along, share their opinions or help Vinny directly if they can. It plays way better, since now the main character is not “monologuing” around, but is rather having an organic talk with the rest of the team.

We wanted Vinny, Nick and Tony to be real teen friends supporting each other during their adventure. They are constantly making jokes and sometimes arguing with each other.

As the player chooses between different dialogue options, the trio reacts accordingly. It is not just a nice narrative feature, but also a game gimmick, since the player truly influences how the things unfold, and a lot of puzzles change in the process, sometimes in radical ways! To give you an idea, the last chapter is essentially three different chapters which don’t share a single location or item (all the puzzles and dialogues are unique). So, this feature boosts the replayability significantly, even though the game is quite long anyway.

Location-wise these three friends are going to visit some places iconic for horror movies (woods in the night, the lovers’ lane, a junkyard, a secret lab, sewers) and some places full of nostalgia like an amusement arcade, a VHS store or a treehouse.

Another feature we are extremely proud of is the game art. Not only of the pixel art with particles, smokes and modern enhancements, but also of the music! We are so extremely proud of the sound in the game: we were able to get the #1 hit You Spin Me Round (like a record) from Dead or Alive – the real kings of synth pop! You would not believe how much effort is needed for a small studio like ours to get them into the OST! Not to mention how much it means for us to have a real piece of the 80s in the game, but apart from that mind blowing fact, we also have music from some new retro wave stars like Robert Parker and Midnight Fighters. The cherry on top of all this is our original OST composed by LATAM Grammy nominee Tomas Ferrero!

Unusual Findings pays tribute to all those iconic movies we watched, to all those toys we played with, to all that wonderful synthesizer oozing music we still listen to and, on the whole, to that wonderful era that shaped us… I hope players will enjoy the game as much as we enjoyed making it for them!

Unusual Findings

ESDigital Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 6

★★★★★

It’s the 80s and the Christmas is coming, Vinny, Nick and Tony are young and their new cable signal descrambler just arrived. That same night while trying to decrypt a pay per view adult channel, they pick up the distress signal of an alien spaceship crash-landing in the woods near their town… Things only get weirder as they realize that the towering alien is killing very specific members of their community! Explore the world oozing with nostalgia, check the Video Buster Store for clues, challenge other kids at the Laser Llamas Arcades, go learn a new trick at The Emerald Sword comic store, try to get along with the punk looking Lost Guys at their hideout or even dare to ask THE BULL, the quintessential 80s Action hero, for some help! Follow the story that pays tribute to 80s classics like The Goonies, The Explorers, Monster Squad, The Lost Boys, They Live, Terminator, and Aliens among others and a gameplay that combines mechanics of Point and Click masterpieces like Full Throttle with its own unique twist and more. Your decisions do matter, and the way you make these three friends interact with each other increasingly affects their friendship and the whole story, changing the way they solve the game puzzles, the locations they visit, the answers they find, the story, everything. Uncover the truth hidden behind the alien invasion… well sort of. Why here? Why is it killing locals? How can the boys stop it? Will they tune in the adult channel after all? The answers to these and other questions… in Unusual Findings.

The entire Dyson Sphere Program team is so happy that Dyson Sphere Program is now available with PC Game Pass! Here’s the right new place to begin with – from cutting trees to mining, you can build a galaxy-wide industrial empire and create your own Dyson Sphere!

Seriously, What is a Dyson Sphere?

The game was inspired by an idea for a gigantic cosmic structure proposed by physicist Freeman Dyson in the 1960s: Imagine harnessing the immense energy of a star using a sphere that envelopes it, creating enough power to power entire civilizations. Even though the idea of Dyson Sphere is considered a hypothetical and impossible to materialize, a five-member indie game company, Youthcat Studio, has reimagined it for the virtual world.

Featuring elements of adventure, exploration, and factory automation, Dyson Sphere Program offers unique gameplay experiences for sci-fi, space, management enthusiasts and all other kinds of players.

OK, So Why Do We  Need a Dyson Sphere Here, in the Game?

If this is your first time to Dyson Sphere Program, let me introduce you what’s going on in the universe: in a distant future, the survival of an advanced human civilization will depend entirely on virtual computing, but the supercomputer responsible for their existence – the “CentreBrain” – is not able to handle the demands placed upon it due to a lack of electricity. You, as a space engineer, must control a light industrial Mecha named Icarus and build a Dyson Sphere to save the CentreBrain and the civilization that depends on it. Starting from humble beginnings, you will cut trees, mine, build small factories, lay down production lines, plan interstellar logistics, build an industrial empire that spans the galaxy, and finally, build your own Dyson sphere.

I’m an Experienced Player, What Can I Expect?

You can try out some new modes from our recent patch if you’re not new to the Dyson Sphere Program. As well as the classic factory automation management mode, we’ve also added a Minimal Resource Mode for an additional challenge and a Sandbox Mode so you can experience the later stages of the game quickly and freely. You can also take a step back and admire the galaxy lit up by global players in Milky Way and find your own twinkling light within the cosmos.

The Dyson Sphere Program‘s DIY systems are a must-see if you like creative works. One of them is the Dyson Sphere design system. You’ll see it when you get very close to the ultimate destination of the game. Unlike its namesake, your Dyson Sphere doesn’t have to just be a round sphere, you can build it in any shape you want:

Another DIY system available now is Mecha Customization. This system allows you to unleash your inner fashionista and customise your Mecha to your heart’s content, the only question is what colors and shapes are you feeling today?

What is to Be Expected in Future Updates?

As of now, Dyson Sphere Program is regularly updated with new features and changes, and we will continue to do so. But Dyson Sphere Program won’t stop there: The combat system is scheduled to launch in 2023, taking the game in a brand new direction compared to its current form. Players will face a hostile force with the ability to rapidly expand across the universe at frightening speeds: the Black Fog. Aside from maintaining the CentreBrain, players must also build defenses and arm the Icarus Mecha against enemy attacks. We are looking forward to the release of this update that our entire team is hard at work on.

There’s so much more to Dyson Sphere Program that awaits you, and we can’t wait to see you join our team of Dyson Sphere engineers! For more advice or to meet likeminded players, feel free to join our Discord community and start exploring the universe.

Dyson Sphere Program (Game Preview)

Gamera Game

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

PC Game Pass

This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game. Dyson Sphere Program is a sci-fi simulation game with space, adventure, exploration and factory automation elements where you can build your own galactic industrial empire from scratch. In the distant future, the power of science and technology has ushered a new age to the human race. Space and time have become irrelevant thanks to virtual reality. A new kind of supercomputer has been developed – a machine whose superior artificial intelligence and computing capability will push humanity even further. There is only one problem: there isn’t enough energy in the whole planet to feed this machine. You are a space engineer in charge of a project launched by the space alliance COSMO, tasked with a massive undertaking: constructing Dyson Spheres (a megastructure that would orbit around a star, harnessing all its power and energy) to produce the energy that humanity needs. Only a few decades ago, Dyson Spheres were considered a hypothetical, impossible invention – but now it’s in your hands… Will you be able to turn a backwater space workshop into a galaxy-wide industrial production empire? Full details on the latest status of the game, how you can give feedback and report issues can be found at https://twitter.com/DysonProgram

Naruto continues to gain momentum, marking the anime’s 20th anniversary in October, and the 4th anniversary of “Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker” back in August. There has been lots of excitement around the series, but what can we look forward to in the future?

Read on to see the newest character DLC Konohamaru Sarutobi (Bortuo) in action for Naruto to Boruto Shinobi Striker, plus info on the renovated map Hidden Sand Village Training Field and insight on making the game!

A Look Back…

The project was born out of a desire to create a game that would allow players to experience themselves as “shinobi” through their avatars, even though various Naruto games have been sold to date. In the initial stages of development, the most difficult part was coming up with the rules of the game. The developers wanted to make it easier to win and more interesting for the four players to share roles and work in tandem. After repeated test-plays and revisions, they created the game we all know and love!

Additional Content

Thanks to user support, we’ve been able to celebrate four years of new content from the initial launch. Now, with the latest Konohamaru Sarutobi (Boruto), we mark the release of 31 types of DLC.

In these four years, there’s been a concerted effort to create weapons and costumes that can be obtained through in-game events, with a total of 1,000 types available. There are also original scientific ninja tools that can only be used in Shinobi Striker, so Naruto fans should take note of that.

Weapons and costumes used by the original characters are always popular, but colorful items such as Frog Costume and the Nine Tails tail accessory are also very popular, making it fun just to walk through the online lobby and see the unique avatars.

The lobby was created as a place where people who don’t know each other can interact with each other through emoticons, and we found out that there were so many more. And there were 150 different character emotions in the lobby, too!

Updates and Improvements

On top of cosmetic updates, the developers have been working to improve the playing environment. We have been aware of the problem that some people play unfairly, focusing on it last year and finally implemented a reporting function in the update on September 28, 2022.

The development team is also focusing on the map renovations that users have been requesting. The renovated map Hidden Sand Village Training Field was just recently released!

Now, the narrower size of the map is divided into upper and lower levels, which can be accessed through holes placed in several locations on the map, allowing you new ways to sneak up on the enemy team.

In addition, routes are narrowed down by fences and lids that appear at different times of the day and under different battle rules for the stages.

As a new gimmick, some of the fences that narrow down the route have movable gates that open when a sign is made, making it possible to take a shortcut, albeit a time-consuming one, to places that would normally require a detour. The player’s judgment is put to the test as they’re left unprotected while they open up these shortcuts.

What’s Next?

As previously announced, there are plans for Naruto (Baryon Mode) DLC and Isshiki Otsutsuki. You can look forward to playing as them in the future!

Now, read more about our newest character DLC!

Konohamaru Sarutobi (Boruto)

Who is Konohamaru Sarutobi (Boruto)? He is the grandson of the third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and nephew of the former jonin Asuma Sarutobi. When he was a young, he looked up to the seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, as his master, and received various teachings from him. Now he takes care of the next generation of shinobi, including Boruto Uzumaki, as a jonin in the Hidden Leaf Village. Konohamaru Sarutobi (Boruto) excels at attacking a large number of enemies in the title.

Let’s lead your team to victory with the three Ninjutsu as follows!

• “Fire Style: Burning Ash” – Blows hot ash over a wide area and causes an explosion to attack
• “Fire Style: Flaming Meteors” – Can simultaneously disrupt the enemy team’s formation by launching a clone and attacking with flame bombs
• “Summoning: Enra” – Disable multiple enemies simultaneously by summoning its partner, Enra, and activating a sealing Jutsu.

Ninjutsu 1: “Fire Style: Burning Ash”

User expels hot ash from their mouth. The ash persists as smoke, flinching targets it touches and inhibiting vision. Additional input or flames from a Fire Style attack will cause it to explode, inflicting continuous burn damage on enemies caught in the blast.

Ninjutsu 2 “Fire Style: Flaming Meteors”

A Jutsu that launches a clone into the air, continuously raining down flame bombs. Targets hit by the flame bombs take damage. Also forces enemies locked on to you to lock on to the clone instead.

Secrect Technique: Summoning Jutsu: Enra

Summons Enra to wrap around enemies within range. Inflicts continuous damage, reduces movement speed, and disables Substitutions. Additional input activates “Combined Sealing: Monkey-Sun Suppression”, knocking enemies out and increasing their respawn time.

Thank You

We wouldn’t be able to celebrate the game’s 4^th anniversary without everyone’s continued support, so thank you all shinobi! The quest, challenge, and mission of the developers is to make you feel the passion and joy of the game — and they promise to continue live by that attitude.

Though there are still things to work on in the game, the developers will do their best to make this title one that people look forward to and say, “I’m going to play Shinobi Striker today, too.”

We hope that you will continue to enjoy our game for a long time to come.

NTBSS Master Character Training Pack – Konohamaru Sarutobi (BORUTO)

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 11

★★★★★

Once you have downloaded this content, you can set a new master by going to Hidden Leaf Village in the online lobby followed by the Ninjutsu Library. A special training pack for your avatar! As you train with Konohamaru Sarutobi (BORUTO), you will acquire Training Points which can be used to unlock a wide variety of Ninjutsu and costumes for your avatar! Content includes:
• 2 Ninjutsu
– Fire Style: Burning Ash
– Fire Style: Flaming Meteors • 1 Secret Technique
– Summoning: Enra • 1 Costume
– Konohamaru Outfit 2 • 1 Avatar Part
– Hair: Konohamaru (Young Ver.) • 1 Weapon
– Adamantine Staff • Additional Content
– Honorary Title: Next Generation Jonin Leader

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Season Pass

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆ 153

★★★★★

Extend your experience with the NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER Season Pass! The Season Pass gives you access to 9 additional character packs. SEASON PASS INCLUDES:
• Master Character Training Pack #1 – Jiraiya
• Master Character Training Pack #2 – Hiruzen Sarutobi
• Master Character Training Pack #3 – Orochimaru
• Master Character Training Pack #4 – Tobirama Senju
• Master Character Training Pack #5 – Minato Namikaze
• Master Character Training Pack #6 – Hashirama Senju
• Master Character Training Pack #7 – Tsunade
• Master Character Training Pack #8 – Obito Uchiha
• Master Character Training Pack #9 – Madara Uchiha SEASON PASS BONUS:
Includes Jiraiya Costume with Shima & Fukasaku Replica.

NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆ 607

★★★★★

Free Trial

The Naruto franchise is back with a brand new experience in NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER! This new game lets gamers battle as a team of 4 to compete against other teams online! Graphically, SHINOBI STRIKER is also built from the ground up in a completely new graphic style. Lead your team and fight online to see who the best ninjas are!

At Xbox, it’s our mission to empower you to play the games you want, with the people you want, on the devices you want. We believe your Xbox games should be available to you across all your devices; from console, PC, mobile phones, and even more to come — just as your music and movie subscriptions move with you across devices. You should be able to begin Forza Horizon 5 on your console, move to your Windows 11 PC rig with a racing wheel and pedals, and finish up on a tablet. These experiences are only possible when your games live in the cloud, not locked to a single device.

Cloud gaming also invites more people to play because anyone can enjoy console games on the devices they already have. Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) launched two years ago and has since added support for many different operating systems and device form factors, including Windows PCs. Moving to these computers opened up new possibilities, letting you play console games on PCs never previously capable of running them. Whether it’s playing Halo Infinite on a years-old laptop, or Microsoft Flight Simulator on an entry-level desktop — everyone with a computer is invited to play. Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available in 28 countries across five continents, providing access to more than one billion people.

As we look to expand and make cloud gaming available to more people, we need to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming support to new devices. So now, with the updated Xbox App, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available on Windows PCs running ARM64 like the new Surface devices announced today.

You can now play hundreds of high-quality games from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate across a range of devices from the cloud, including Android phones and tablets, iOS devices, select smart TVs, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, new gaming handhelds like the Logitech G CLOUD, recently-added Google Chromebooks, and now multiple flavors of Windows PCs.

With cloud gaming, it’s as simple as logging into the Xbox App or going to xbox.com/play and you can nearly instantly stream big hits and indie favorites from our game creator partners such as The Gunk, PowerWash Simulator, and Tunic, and games from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda like Deathloop and Grounded. Additionally, with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) you can also play Fortnite for free without the need for a Game Pass membership.

Getting started with Xbox has never been easier 00 to learn more please visit xbox.com/cloudgaming.

Today we’re excited to introduce a new Special Edition controller to add to your personal collection. The Xbox Wireless Controller – Lunar Shift Special Edition, the second member of the Shift series after the Aqua Shift Special Edition controller, is inspired by fantastical gaming worlds and brings us to new heights beyond Earth’s orbit.

Be among the first to experience the all-new Lunar Shift Special Edition controller. Much like the awe-inspiring aura of the moon, this controller shifts from silver to gold when the light hits it just right, giving the controller a stylized, smokey atmosphere. Experience the rubberized gray and black swirl grips with a mesmerizing pattern that makes each one unique by design. The textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and back case makes sure you stay connected to the game no matter how intense things get. Make the controller your own by customizing button mapping with the Xbox Accessories app, allowing you to unleash your best game. As with all Xbox Wireless Controllers, you can wirelessly connect the Lunar Shift Special Edition controller to many devices including Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles with the built-in Xbox Wireless radio. You can also connect to Windows 10 PCs and mobile devices with Bluetooth Low Energy when playing on the go. The 3.5mm stereo headset jack lets you plug in your favorite headset, fully immersing yourself into the experience and allowing you communicate with friends.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Lunar Shift Special Edition is available today in select Xbox markets worldwide for $69.99 USD MSRP. Check your local retailer or Xbox.com for more information.

If you’re looking for the best way to keep your Xbox controller at prime power levels, then go for the perfect pairing with the new Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox – Lunar Shift. The charge stand uses the same durable material and shares the same shimmery colors as the Lunar Shift Special Edition Wireless Controller, making it a great choice to proudly display your new controller. The Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand for Xbox – Lunar Shift is available for purchase today from Microsoft Store for $49.99 USD MSRP. Visit Razer.com for more information.

Roller Champions Season 2, Dragon’s Way, is out now for all Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One players. Dragon’s Way is inspired by martial arts and age-old traditions from Asia, bringing new themed maps including the Bangkok Arena, Zen Temple, and Dragon Temple.

The new season is also introducing additional cross-platform features, allowing players to squad up with their friends regardless of platform. Other improvements include updates to the game’s matchmaking and stability, creating a better, smoother experience for players; and its live schedule, which includes, sponsor contracts progression, seasonal maps, and weekly limited-time game modes; in the past, these game modes have included 2v2, which switches up the pace of play by reducing the number of players, Hot Potato, where the ball becomes a literal time bomb that will explode if it’s not passed, and Arena 8, which changes the track shape into an infinity sign.

Roller Champions, free to play on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, is a 3v3 sports game on skates, where you and your team must pass the ball, dodge opponents, and throw the ball through a hoop to score — and the first team to five points wins. The more games you win, the more fans you earn, unlocking new stadiums and accessories in the process. Team up with two of your friends to roll up to glory in Dragon’s Way today!

Roller Champions™

UBISOFT

☆☆☆☆☆ 351

★★★★★

Skate, tackle, and roll your way up to glory in Roller Champions™. Discover a free-to-play, team PvP sports game like no other! Welcome to 2032. Arenas are built all over the world and fans rush to the stands to admire their modern-day heroes, the Roller Champions. They roll up to 100 miles an hour, tackle opponents, wall-skate, and dunk while thousands of fans scream their names. As a Roller Champion, compete in a team of three against three. The rules are simple: take the ball, make a lap while maintaining team possession, dodge opponents, and score. Go for more points by completing additional laps before attempting a goal. After each match, gain fans to compete in bigger arenas. Customize characters and create a unique destiny.

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!

Space Roguelike Adventure – October 10

Now, there’s another far, far galaxy from a parallel universe and a Rainbow planet suddenly appeared. It had such a strong magnetic field that it practically smashed the protective barrier of the prison planet Abakaz. Many dangerous galactic criminals have managed to escape and settled in some uninhabited lands. All these unfortunate events bring us to the point where the adventures of a young hunter from planet Earth will start. Which is you, of course!

Asterigos: Curse of the Stars – October 11 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Welcome to Aphes, a city-state full of magic and wonder inspired by ancient Rome and classical Greek designs. From the mist-covered bazaar streets to gloomy sewers, the enigmatic forests at the city’s outskirts to deep chasms full of glittering crystals, the landscapes of Aphes are full of beauty and dangers. Fight your way through 60 different monsters and encounter 22 unique bosses – each with its own unique battle mechanics.

Bloodwash – October 11 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery –

Sara is a pregnant college student living with her boyfriend in a run-down apartment complex. To make matters worse, a serial killer is terrorizing the city. One night, the washing machine in the basement breaks down. A helpful neighbor tells Sara about a 24-hour laundromat on the outskirts of town … but what she finds there might claim her life!

Eville – October 11 – Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass. Betray your friends – and lie your way to victory. In the multiplayer social deduction game Eville you find yourself in a village riddled by a series of murders. Some say it might have been you – or was it? Convince others you’re not a murderer to stay alive! Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC

Go All Out – October 12

Be the last man standing in this intense and action-packed platform fighter. Unique characters, tons of unlockables like skins, equipment or win poses. Different tactics, skills, and ways of fighting. It’s not for glory, it’s not for satisfaction, it’s not just to find the strongest warrior of all – true power lies in cooperation and being able to fight together.

Unusual Findings – October 12

Experience a game that pays tribute to ‘80s classics like “The Goonies,” “Monster Squad,” and “The Lost Boys” among others and gameplay that combines mechanics of point-and-click masterpieces like Full Throttle with its own unique twist. Your decisions will impact how these friends interact with each other, affecting their friendship and the outcome of the story.

The Witch’s House MV – October 12

The Witch’s House, originally released in 2012, falls within the tradition of Japanese horror RPGs with heavy emphasis on puzzle-solving and jump scares. Among other entries in the genre such as Ib and Ao Oni, The Witch’s House surprised fans with pixel-art that conceals truly frightening horror.

WW2: Bunker Simulator – October 12

You’re an American soldier who captures a German bunker in Normandy. You must defend it at all costs and survive. Complete missions, cook & shoot, search the bodies for medicines, ammo, and food to survive in this mix pf FPS and simulator.

The Darkest Tales – October 13

Join a stuffed bear named Teddy on this gloomy and sinister adventure to rescue his owner, Alicia, from the realm of dreams and distorted childhood fantasies. The Darkest Tales is a complex and compelling adventure, full of familiar characters and fairytale landscapes.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers – October 13

An online asymmetrical action game in which a team of seven ordinary citizens try to survive the Raider (a classic Dragon Ball rival such as Cell, Frieza, and Buu), who will hunt them down and evolve during the game into an unstoppable force. Escaping won’t be so easy! Cooperate with others while there is still time, but the Raider or other Survivors’ decisions might force you to go at it alone. What will be your playstyle?

Fueled Up – October 13 

A chaotic couch co-op spaceship recovery game for up to four players. You and your crewmates must fuel, fix, and rescue damaged spaceships before the evil space octopus gets its tentacles on them!

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway – October 13 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The next generation of Nickelodeon Kart Racers is here! Rebuilt and re-imagined from the ground up, Nickelodeon Kart Racers returns bigger and better than ever! Featuring a cast of over 40 iconic characters, drift, slide and boost your way to the finish line on tracks inspired by legendary Nickelodeon shows like “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” and more!

PGA Tour 2K23 – October 13 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Take your skills, and your swag, on the PGA Tour and become the next FedExCup Champion. Compete against other Tour pros with your MyPlayer and establish new rivalries. For the first time, play as male and female pros including Tiger Woods, in online and local play! PGA Tour 2K23 features multiple licensed courses, including East Lake Golf Club, St. George’s Golf and Country Club, TPC Scottsdale, and TPC Sawgrass to name a few. Or build your own fantasy fairway with the industry-leading Course Designer, featuring thousands of customizable objects. Pre-order the Tiger Woods Edition to start playing on October 10.

Paradise Marsh – October 13 – Optimize for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery  

Stars have vanished from the sky and scattered around in a perfect wetland crawling with wildlife… Catch bugs and chat with delightful characters while wandering through peaceful scenery. But don’t lose sight of the night sky — the constellations need help!

Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova – October 13 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

After the Protostar picks up strange readings from a dying star, Dal R’El and Gwyndala race against time to save their friends, their ship, new alien species and an entire planetary system before a supernova destroys them all! When the Protostar’s malfunctioning transporter scatters the crew across three alien planets, Dal and Gwyn must use their wits and skills to overcome ingenious puzzles, endure hostile environments and battle deadly robot armies to rescue Jankom Pog.

NHL 23 – October 14 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Get the best players in the world on one lineup with the introduction of mixed women’s and men’s teams in HUT. Add to your highlight reel with over 500 new Last Chance Puck Movement gameplay animations. Plus, overhauled strategy systems allow you to easily gameplan and finetune your playmaking skills. So, grab your friends and gear up for the most dynamic, connected, and visually rich version of NHL yet! Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with EA Play can jump in and start playing a few days early with a free trial.

Scorn – October 14 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Game Pass

Available day one with Game Pass. An atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry. Isolated and lost inside this dream-like world, you will explore different interconnected regions in a non-linear fashion. Every location contains its own theme, puzzles, and characters that are integral in creating a cohesive world as you open new areas, acquire different skills, weapons, and various items to try and comprehend the sights presented to you. Playable on Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Trifox – October 14 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A colorful and cartoonish action-adventure game featuring a phenomenal fox with a multitude of talents! Choose from a trio of classes — Warrior, Mage, Engineer — or mix-and-match abilities to create a tailor-made hero!

Xbox and Windows 10/11 PC players have been able to enjoy no fewer than three massive (and free) No Man’s Sky updates this year in the form of the Sentinel, Outlaws, and Endurance updates. Add to that the four sizable expeditions, including Leviathan, and it’s already been a busy year for our small team. But we’re not done yet! Our 4.0 update, Waypoint, launches today and represents a major milestone in No Man’s Sky’s development.

Waypoint is jam-packed with hundreds of improvements and additions which streamline and positively impact on the core gameplay for new, returning and core travelers alike.

Here are just a few of the many design improvements you will find in Waypoint on Xbox and Windows 10/11 PC starting today: 

• Relaxed Mode: New Players have a more approachable and welcoming experience with a focus on sandbox more than survival.
• Survival and Challenge: Existing players will find the survival challenge is more sustained even as they acquire knowledge, skills, and resources. 
• Customised Play Style: Players new and old can tweak hundreds of elements of their game to adjust to their preferred style of play.
• Saves: Game saving has been made easier and more frequent so players can now jump in and out more readily. 
• Cross Game Mode Play: We’ve changed the way people matchmake. You can now play with other gameplay mode players. So, you will see more players and more bases than ever before.

• Information Portal: Returning players who perhaps haven’t been back for an update or two, will find a useful recap informing them of exactly where they were making their re-entry smoother.
• Streamlining: 20 major updates and thousands of bullet points from hundreds of patch notes across are now more streamlined into a more cohesive experience.
• Inventories / Increased Level Caps: Inventories have been overhauled, effectively increasing the level cap for your ship, weapon, freighter, and suit

Whether you are a new, existing, or lapsed player, there’s never been a better time to explore the universe of No Man’s Sky – it’s available to play today on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows 10/11 PC and available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. We are looking forward to seeing how players, new and old alike, dive into Waypoint.

Our journey continues.

No Man’s Sky

Hello Games

☆☆☆☆☆ 775

★★★★★

$59.99 $47.99

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 21 major updates up to and including Waypoint, our 4.0 update. Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action. In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again. Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit. Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary. Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…