Marvel Rivals offers a vast selection of heroes and villains from the rich comic book universe, giving players plenty of strategic options. However, understanding which characters work as counters against others is one of the key factors to turning the tide of battle.

Characters in Marvel Rivals fall into three main categories: Duelist, Strategist, and Vanguard. Duelists excel at raw damage output, prioritizing offense above all else. Vanguards act as the frontline warriors, boasting higher health and damage reduction abilities while Strategists provide essential support, enhancing team performance through buffs or healing, and aiding in controlling the battlefield.

Here’s a guide to help you pick the best heroes for the job, as well as the counters to tackle them in Marvel Rivals.

NetEase Games

Best counters for all Marvel Rivals heroes

HeroCountersAdam WarlockVanguard: Doctor Strange, Magneto
Duelist: Squirrel Girl, Iron Fist
Strategist: Luna Snow, MantisBlack PantherVanguard: Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: The Punisher, Winter Soldier
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, MantisBlack WidowVanguard: Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Spider-Man, Magik
Strategist: Cloak and Dagger, Jeff the Land Shark, LokiCaptain AmericaVanguard: Doctor Strange, Peni Parker
Duelist: Black Widow, Hela
Strategist: LokiCloak and DaggerVanguard: Captain America, Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Iron Fist, Moon Knight
Strategist: Adam WarlockDoctor StrangeVanguard: Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Black Panther, Magik, Star-Lord, Wolverine
Strategist: Luna SnowGrootVanguard: Captain America, Doctor Strange, Magneto
Duelist: Hawkeye, Hela, The Punisher
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna SnowHawkeyeVanguard: Captain America, Doctor Strange, Magneto
Duelist: Black Panther, Magik, The Punisher
Strategist: Loki, Luna Snow, Rocket RaccoonHelaVanguard: Captain America, Doctor Strange, Magneto
Duelist: Hawkeye, The Punisher, Star-Lord
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, Luna SnowHulkVanguard: Doctor Strange
Duelist: Black Widow, Hawkeye, The Punisher
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, Luna SnowIron FistVanguard: Magneto, Peni Parker
Duelist: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Winter Soldier
Strategist: Cloak and Dagger, Loki, Luna SnowIron ManVanguard: Captain America, Doctor Strange, Peni Parker
Duelist: Hawkeye, Iron Fist, The Punisher, Spider-Man
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna SnowJeff the Land SharkVanguard: Groot, Hulk, Peni Parker, Venom
Duelist: Black Panther, Black Widow, Iron Fist, Wolverine
Strategist: NoneLokiVanguard: Groot, Hulk, Peni Parker, Venom
Duelist: Black Panther, Iron-Man, Iron Fist, Magik
Strategist: NoneLuna SnowVanguard: Groot, Hulk, Peni Parker, Venom
Duelist: Hela, Magik, Squirrel Girl, Star-Lord
Strategist: NoneMagikVanguard: Doctor Strange
Duelist: Hawkeye, Hela, Squirrel Girl, The Punisher
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna SnowMagnetoVanguard: Captain America, Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Iron Man, Spider-Man, Storm
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna Storm, MantisMantisVanguard: Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Hawkeye, The Punisher, Spider-Man
Strategist: NoneMoon KnightVanguard: Captain America, Doctor Strange
Duelist: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hela, The Punisher, Star-Lord
Strategist: Rocket RaccoonNamorVanguard: Doctor Strange
Duelist: Black Widow, Hela, Winter Soldier
Strategist: Loki, Luna Snow, Rocket RaccoonPeni ParkerVanguard: Captain America, Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Hela, Moon Knight, Spider-Man, Squirrel Girl, Winter Soldier
Strategist: Loki, Luna Snow, Rocket RaccoonPsylockeVanguard: Captain America, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Black Panther, Hawkeye, The Punisher, Spider-Man
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna Snow, MantisThe PunisherVanguard: Doctor Strange
Duelist: Hawkeye, Hela, Spider-Man
Strategist: Loki, Luna SnowRocket RaccoonVanguard: Captain America, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Black Panther, Iron Fist, Magik, The Punisher, Spider-Man
Strategist: NoneScarlet WitchVanguard: Captain America, Groot, Hulk, Venom
Duelist: Hawkeye, Hela, Moon Knight, The Punisher
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, MantisSquirrel GirlVanguard: Captain America, Groot, Doctor Strange, Peni Parker, Venom
Duelist: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Hela
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna Snow, MantisSpider-ManVanguard: Doctor Strange, Venom
Duelist: Black Widow, Namor, The Punisher, Scarlet Witch
Strategist: MantisStar LordVanguard: Doctor Strange, Magneto, Peni Parker
Duelist: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Squirrel Girl
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, Luna SnowStormVanguard: Doctor Strange, Magneto, Peni Parker
Duelist: Hawkeye, The Punisher, Star-Lord, Winter Soldier
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Luna Snow, MantisThorVanguard: Doctor Strange, Peni Parker, Magneto
Duelist: Hawkeye, Hela, The Punisher, Star-Lord
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, Loki, MantisVenomVanguard: Doctor Strange, Peni Parker, Magneto
Duelist: Hawkeye, Hela, The Punisher, Star-Lord
Strategist: Jeff the Land Shark, MantisWinter SoldierVanguard: Doctor Strange, Magneto
Duelist: Black Panther, Iron Fist, Spider-Man, Wolverine
Strategist: Adam WarlockWolverineVanguard: Doctor Strange. Magneto
Duelist: Black Widow, Hawkeye, Iron Man, The Punisher
Strategist: Adam Warlock, Loki, Mantis

All Marvel Rivals hero counters explained

Adam Warlock

NetEase Games

Defeating Adam Warlock requires shutting him down swiftly before he can gain momentum. Heroes with straightforward hitboxes, such as Squirrel Girl, are reliable options. Alternatively, characters who excel in defense and disruption, like Magneto, can effectively counter his abilities.

Black Panther

NetEase Games

Countering Black Panther provides a few strategic options depending on your preferred playstyle. You can either maintain distance to keep him at bay or engage him head-on using durable Vanguard heroes like Groot and Venom.

Black Widow

NetEase Games

For Black Widow, her effectiveness heavily relies on the player’s skill. Her strength lies in long-range damage, so selecting a fast and elusive character can significantly limit her impact. Spider-Man is an excellent choice due to his mobility, though other characters capable of repositioning or disappearing from sight can also work effectively.

Captain America

NetEase Games

Captain America, true to his comic and cinematic persona, thrives as a close-quarters brawler. However, his limited range and lack of fast gap-closing abilities leave him vulnerable to long-range attacks. His shield offers some defense, but it’s not enough to compensate for his lower health compared to other Vanguard heroes, making ranged characters particularly effective against him.

Related

Marvel Rivals character tier list – Best beta Vanguards, Duelists and Strategists

Marvel Rivals Closed Alpha Test characters: Roles, abilities, more

All Marvel Rivals characters – Full hero & villain roster

Cloak and Dagger

NetEase Games

Similar to Adam Warlock, Cloak and Dagger rely on space to maximize their abilities, which leaves them vulnerable to champions who can close the gap quickly or approach unpredictably.

Doctor Strange

NetEase Games

Doctor Strange is one of the most formidable characters in Marvel Rivals, making it tricky to counter him effectively. Your best strategy is to use tanky Vanguard heroes who can endure his powerful abilities or melee-focused characters who can disrupt his attacks up close.

Groot

NetEase Games

As expected from a tree-like hero, Groot is incredibly resilient and challenging to defeat. However, each role has viable counters. Duelists should opt for ranged characters to chip away at him, while Vanguards like Magneto can match Groot’s durability while outputting superior damage.

Hawkeye

NetEase Games

Hawkeye’s long-range prowess makes him difficult to approach without sustaining heavy damage. To counter him, use elusive characters like Loki, who are challenging to target, or durable Vanguards capable of breaking through to his position and neutralizing his impact on the battlefield.

Hela

NetEase Games

Hela is a formidable opponent and a strong counter to many top-tier champions, making it crucial to choose wisely against her. Ranged Duelists are a reliable option, while Strategists like the ever-persistent (and adorable) Jeff the Land Shark can effectively neutralize key parts of her abilities.

Hulk

NetEase Games

The Hulk may not have unexpected tricks up his sleeve, but his sheer toughness makes him a challenge to defeat. Your best strategy is to pick a character capable of delivering high damage, ideally from a distance. The Punisher remains a consistently excellent choice in this matchup.

Iron Fist

Charlie Intel

Iron Fist has impressed players with his exceptional abilities, but there are ways to counter his strengths. Strategists like Loki and Mantis are great for avoiding damage and crowd control, while Peni Parker stands out as a top pick for this matchup. Keep in mind, however, that Peni’s versatility might be limited against other characters.

Iron Man

NetEase Games

Iron Man’s ability to remain airborne throughout matches often renders close-range brawlers ineffective. Characters like Hawkeye, The Punisher, and Doctor Strange are currently the best counters to him, capable of dismantling Tony Stark with surprising efficiency.

Jeff the Land Shark

NetEase Games

Don’t let Jeff the Land Shark’s adorable appearance fool you; he’s one of the top picks in Marvel Rivals right now. Tanky characters tend to fare well against him, as Jeff lacks the firepower to deal significant damage quickly. On the other hand, melee-focused heroes like Wolverine can end the fight swiftly if they manage to close the gap and catch him.

Loki

NetEase Games

Loki, the Norse God of Mischief, is notoriously difficult to eliminate due to his unpredictable toolkit. The best way to counter him is with champions who can silence or suppress his abilities. Characters like Venom excel at finishing him off before he has the opportunity to react.

Luna Snow

NetEase Games

Luna Snow won’t be on the frontlines, but she poses a serious threat with her ability to sustain her entire team. To counter her effectively, use ranged heroes or those who can dive into the backline safely and quickly. With the right approach, you can neutralize Luna before she becomes a major problem.

Magik

NetEase Games

Like many melee-based heroes in Marvel Rivals, Magik is best dealt with from a distance. Characters such as The Punisher are excellent options to counter her, while easy-hit picks like Squirrel Girl can also dispatch her before she gets too close.

Magneto

NetEase Games

Despite being a powerhouse in his own right, Magneto is one of the easier champions to counter. Vanguard players can out-tank him, Duelists should opt for mobile heroes like Spider-Man, and crafty Strategists can also keep him in check. This variety leaves you with plenty of viable choices during drafts.

Mantis

NetEase Games

Mantis offers unique support abilities but lacks the traditional presence of damage dealers or tanks. Characters like Groot or Hulk are effective counters, allowing you to largely ignore Mantis during the match while focusing on higher-priority targets.

Moon Knight

NetEase Games

Moon Knight is somewhat underutilized in the current meta, partly due to the numerous counters available against him. Black Widow and Hela dominate in one-on-one situations, while Captain America can easily handle anything Moon Knight brings to the table.

Namor

NetEase Games

Namor is versatile and relatively strong, making him harder to counter directly. The best approach is to select heroes who can out-damage him, with Black Widow and Hela being excellent examples.

Peni Parker

NetEase Games

Peni Parker’s high health pool is her most significant advantage, but she doesn’t have any particularly unique mechanics requiring specialized counters. Any high-damage Duelist should handle her effectively.

Psylocke

NetEase Games

Psylocke faces a range of potential counters, making her easier to handle regardless of your preferred playstyle. Strategists can negate her core abilities, while top-tier Duelists can quickly bring her down with focused attacks.

The Punisher

NetEase Games

The Punisher stands out as the best long-range character in Marvel Rivals, making it challenging to close the gap and take him down. Tanky heroes are a reliable choice, while highly mobile characters can evade his shots unless controlled by an exceptionally skilled player.

Rocket Raccoon

NetEase Games

Rocket Raccoon‘s small stature is a major advantage, making him hard to target consistently, especially for precision-based ranged characters. To counter him effectively, use melee-focused champions like Black Panther to close the gap and take him down swiftly. That said, it’s hard not to feel bad about targeting such an adorable character.

Scarlet Witch

NetEase Games

Scarlet Witch, despite her immense power in the lore, hasn’t lived up to expectations in the current meta. She struggles against ranged attacks, and heroes like Jeff the Land Shark and Venom, who can close the distance without exposing themselves, are particularly effective at exploiting her vulnerabilities.

Spider-Man

NetEase Games

Spider-Man’s agility and unique movement mechanics make him a challenging opponent to deal with in the hands of a skilled player. To counter him, choose characters like Venom, Scarlet Witch, or The Punisher, aiming to lock him down and eliminate him quickly before he can leverage his mobility.

Squirrel Girl

NetEase Games

Squirrel Girl made waves early on in the game but has since become easier to counter due to her limited mobility. High-damage or long-range heroes typically have the upper hand, while tanky champions can withstand her attacks and push through to secure a win.

Star-Lord

NetEase Games

Star-Lord offers a mix of accessibility and depth but struggles against certain characters. Heroes like Doctor Strange, Peni Parker, Loki, Luna Snow, and Jeff the Land Shark can significantly reduce his effectiveness in combat, making him a less formidable foe.

Thor

NetEase Games

Thor is a powerhouse when left unchecked, but he’s relatively easy to counter early in the game. Doctor Strange is an excellent choice, offering a combination of durability, damage, flight, and utility to neutralize Thor’s strengths.

Venom

NetEase Games

Venom is arguably the strongest character in the current meta, with few direct counters available. Your best bets are ranged heroes, durable tanks, and tricky characters like Jeff the Land Shark to disrupt his momentum.

Winter Soldier

NetEase Games

Winter Soldier excels at wreaking havoc on the backline, but ranged heroes can usually deal with him effectively. If that doesn’t work, Adam Warlock is a great pick, providing healing and control to neutralize his more disruptive abilities.

Wolverine

NetEase Games

Wolverine relies heavily on closing the gap to unleash his devastating melee attacks. To counter him, focus on ranged heroes who can keep their distance and eliminate him before he gets close enough to cause problems.

Now that you know about the counters of all Heroes in Marvel Rivals, be sure to check the best controller and PC settings to gain an advantage in matches. If you’re looking to rename yourself in the game, here’s how to change your name in Marvel Rivals.

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The announcement of World of Warcraft: Forever sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, but for players actively playing a mode like The Burning Crusade Anniversary, one question lingered: How will this affect the game? World of Warcraft: Forever Podcast & Brewfest in This Week's WoW Weekly

With WoW Forever not set to launch until Nov. 4 and instant, guaranteed Beta access behind a $60 bundle, it might've been fair to assume TBC Anniversary would still have a strong raiding population through at least WoW Forever's November launch. However, after just one week of the WoW Forever Beta, we're already seeing massive chunks of the raiding player base dissipate.

Additional WoW: Forever Collector's Editions Available

According to Ironforge.pro, which pulls raid log data from Warcraft Logs, TBC Anniversary had a raiding player base of 212,821 the week of Sept. 8 through Sept. 14. The following week, from Sept. 15 to Sept. 21, that number plummeted to 124,487. That's a drop-off of 88,334 raiders. Right now, TBC Anniversary is in Phase 3: Black Temple and Mount Hyjal. Zul'Aman and Sunwell Plateau are still to come.

From there, it's unclear if there are plans to go into Wrath of the Lich King Anniversary. In addition to the TBC Anniversary players, the Mists of Pandaria Classic player base is also awaiting insight into what will happen to their characters, which have been with them since WoW Classic launched in August 2019. Speaking of Mists of Pandaria Classic, that raiding player base fell from 33,125 to 24,971 with the launch of the WoW Forever Beta. In MOP Classic, that version of the game has been in its final phase since June, with the launch of Siege of Orgrimmar.

With their futures uncertain and no clear progression path, this data suggests players are either playing the WoW Forever Beta or waiting to hear what Blizzard plans for both game modes.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or download here

Hey, y’all! Tim and Kristen are back this week to chat through news from the week and games we can’t stop playing. Plus, Gillen stops in to interview Ghost of Yōtei actor Erika Ishii to celebrate the release of the game’s Complete Edition and its one year anniversary.

Stuff We Talked About

• Next week’s release highlights:
  • Kingdom Hearts I-III | PS5 
    
    
  • Star Wars: Galactic Racer | PS5 
    
    
  • Deck of Haunts | PS5 
    
    
  
  
• Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition
  
  
• The Blood of Dawnwalker (Kristen gets its name right this time)
  
  
• Silent Hill: Townfall
  
  
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword
  
  
• God of War Laufey pre-orders available now, editions detailed – All the juicy details on pre-order bonuses, Digital Deluxe Edition, some peeks at Faye’s armor coming in those editions, and a highlight of Faye’s Serpent Bow combat.
  
  
• How Control Resonant’s art design and tech shaped its bosses, paranaturally-twisted Manhattan and more – Deep dive into Remedy’s inspirations, how they designed Dylan and his combat animations, the twisted version of Manhattan, liminal spaces, boss fights, and PS5 features
  
  
• PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for October: F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2
  
  
• Kena: Scars of Kosmora launches 2027– Ember Labs offers a development update, as well as a new look at Kena’s spirit companion
  
  

Summary

• How social deduction games function through clarity.
  
• Improved understanding by adding new languages.
  
• Customize your localization at a granular level.
  

• German
  
  
• French
  
  
• Spanish
  
  
• Brazilian Portuguese
  
  
• Simplified Chinese
  
  
• Italian
  
  

Last week, we asked you to share portraits of Logan from Marvel’s Wolverine using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. Here are this week’s highlights:



calisarah1998 shares Logan growling in front of some wreckage



Gib84G shares Logan surrounded by money from the casino



PurplePampano shares Logan with his hat tipped



lets_gaming.vp  shares a black and white portrait of Logan peering through his claws



PatmanGames shares Logan with a shredded shirt



abd23.gameframes shares Logan leaping into the night

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?



THEME: Marvel’s Wolverine – Allies & Villains
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on October 7, 2026

Next week, share moments fighting alongside Team X and Jean Grey, or against various villains in Marvel’s Wolverine using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

https://youtu.be/rFaWszKy5XI

A word association game and a personality quiz walk into a bar. MegaPals is what happens next.

The original concept for Jackbox Party Pack 12 pitched by Liz Anderson and Chase McClure drew from the classic game of Mind Meld – you get a word, then try to land on the same response as another player. In this game, making matches awards you points, but it’s voting on hot takes from the unmatched words that leads to your next starter, and see how far you take it. It’s an exciting riff on the Jackbox origin story: the blending of improv comedy with technical artistry. We wanted to reward group-think and individual creativity equally.



How to Become a MegaPal

MegaPals poses the question: who are the closest friends in this group? Who thinks the most alike? The two players who make the most unique matches with each other across the game become the MegaPals, or the ultimate duo who steals the crown. Yes, there are two winners! A first for us that felt very fitting to a party game environment.

The winners are not always who you think and frequently change throughout the game. The game provides many ways to collect match points (matching with others, having answers selected to riff on, etc.) so the best strategy is to just be yourself. Write what you think is fun and likely to get someone else in the room to laugh along. We’ll show you highlights of what’s on everyone’s mind as you play.



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Not interested in sharing your victory? We have bonus awards for individual performance at the end too!

Data for Fun or Strategy

Thanks to our controller engineer, Ryan McGill, your phone screen provides a lot of real-time information on what others are submitting as you enter your own words. This lets you stay in a stream-of-consciousness mode while you’re writing all the while clueing you into different players’ wavelengths that can score you the big points.

Courtesy of more great teamwork between engineering lead Ariana Miles and art lead Owen Watson, our dynamic “likes” screen is another game moment for players to chatter around ideas rising to the top as the group votes on favorite words.

The minimap between rounds is the players’ relationship chart, or the map of who you’re closest to at this point in time. In an eight-player game, there are 28 possible winning pairs. That’s a lot to show. A map surfaces group information in a way you couldn’t get from a conventional list or scoreboard. It pairs each player with their highest scoring friend, and gives a quick dramatic replay of the words that made or broke friendships.



By using the map to strategically inform your next rounds, you can look at your current connections for who’s currently thinking most like you. Then, you can continue to boost that friendship by trying to speak their language in the coming prompts. Or, notice another high scoring duo, and sneak in between. Many good opportunities for pandering.

Long Live the Kings

People often see our game hosts as wacky instruction givers but they also serve as vibe-setters. We’d love our players to get inspired by the endearing horror that is the King of Friendship and let their freak flag fly. If the question is, “What does this make you think of?”, you answer with your own personal shortlist of weirdness. Then, delight in eureka moments of matching with your bestie just before time runs out. Or, get a rush of ideas as fresh connections pile up in the next one.



After a round of MegaPals, we hope you’re moved to new heights by your bonds of friendship. If you play it right, your ultimate win might just be the new friends you make along the way.MegaPals is one of five new games coming to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One October 15. Learn more about this game at JackboxGames.com. For more Jackbox Party Pack 12 updates from our studio, follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X, Discord, and YouTube.







The Jackbox Party Pack 12

Jackbox Games, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Escape to a world of hilarity with The Jackbox Party Pack 12!

Our Chicago comedians and party wizards created five all-new games perfect for holiday gatherings, game nights, and happy hours. Only one person needs to own the game. Use your phones as controllers to jump right in!

We Forgot a Card: Craft ridiculous greeting cards for weird occasions. You can even purchase them IRL!

MegaPals: Celebrate friends old and new through impulsive wordsmithing and explosive match-ups. How well do your fellow players think alike?

Debate and Switch: Light-hearted topics meet lively debate in this town hall talk-'em-up tourney!

Idol Factions: Two teams race to sort answers into the right categories in this action-packed fact battle. Think fast and yell loudly!

Hyperface: Warp selfies and stock photos in wild ways to respond to bizarre prompts. Smudge, yank, squash, and draw to create masterpieces meant to be shared!

The post The Science Behind Best Friendship in The Jackbox Party Pack 12 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

Gears of War 3 - Player Data Editor v2.1.4.0

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[i]Welcome to Next Week on XBOX! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX on PC, 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![/i]







Gears of War: E-Day Pre-Order

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$69.99

Pre-order

Gears of War: E-Day – October 6
Game Pass / XBOX Play Anywhere

Experience the horror and brutality of Emergence Day. Fourteen years before the original Gears of War, join Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in a gripping origin-story campaign as the Locust Horde first erupt from below, igniting a desperate fight for survival. Rally your squad and fight on in multiplayer with a reimagination of Gears’ iconic PvE mode, Horde Siege, or go head-to-head with a refined Versus PvP.  Built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day delivers the most immersive Gears yet.





STAR WARS: Galactic Racer

Secret Mode

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$59.99

Pre-order

STAR WARS: Galactic Racer – October 6

A ​​runs-based​​, high-stakes reinvention of racing born in the lawless Outer Rim of the ​​STAR WARS​​ galaxy.​​​​ The Empire’s grip on the galaxy has finally broken, and with its fall comes a new obsession: speed. As the New Republic struggles to rebuild, gambling, entertainment, and glory fuel a booming underground. Out of this chaos, the Galactic League is born: an unsanctioned racing circuit where syndicates sponsor pilots, fortunes are won and lost in seconds, and only the bold survive. No Force. No prophecy. Just skill, strategy, and the will to rise.







KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I～III]

SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$74.99

Pre-order

KINGDOM HEARTS Collection [I～III] – October 6
XBOX Play Anywhere

A value‑packed bundle featuring three collections: KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX-, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and KINGDOM HEARTS III + Re Mind (DLC).







Echo Weaver

Akupara Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Pre-order

Echo Weaver – October 8
Game Pass / XBOX Play Anywhere

Master an unraveling time loop in this knowledge-based Metroidvania. As the last Weaver, exploit time-altering anomalies and use what you learn to break the cycle. Explore what remains. Uncover the mystery. Perfect the loop.





Hidden Dogs

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Hidden Dogs – October 7

Welcome to puppy village! Labby needs your help with a top-secret mission: creating a video game just for dogs (move over, cats!). Find 500+ hidden dogs and items scattered across 15 cozy, hand-drawn levels in the English countryside. Got stuck? Just blow the dog whistle! Keep finding pups to watch the map grow and come to life with moving planes, boats, and trains!







Titanic Escape Simulator

MagicProStudio

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Titanic Escape Simulator – October 7
XBOX Play Anywhere

You are a private investigator aboard the world’s most famous ocean liner. What begins as a routine voyage soon becomes something far darker: a suspicious death, hidden clues, locked rooms, restricted decks, and a mystery buried deep within the ship. Explore the Titanic before disaster strikes. Question passengers, search cabins, uncover secrets, and follow a trail that leads from the elegance of First Class to the shadowed lower decks below. But as the truth begins to surface, so does the danger.







Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire

JanduSoft

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

$15.99

Pre-order

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire – October 7
XBOX Play Anywhere

An action-farming-roguelite set in Transylvania, the homeland of Dracula and his rebellious lastborn son, Voltaire. An epiphany results in a change of heart for the young vampire: abandoning blood in favor of a plant-based diet out of spite to prove to his father that neck-biting is not the only way for vampires to thrive.





Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival

Saber Interactive Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
29

★★★★★

$39.99

Pre-order

Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival – October 8

Experience a new chapter in the legendary horror series like never before. Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival takes first-person action horror survival to the next level. Play the story of Aidan, who must use the power of a mysterious puzzle box – the Genesis Configuration – to help his girlfriend Sunny’s escape from the otherworldly hellscape of the Labyrinth. Wield the powers of the box to survive your bargain with the infamous Pinhead and do battle with the horrific cult devoted to the Cenobites.







Neon Abyss 2

Kepler Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Neon Abyss 2 – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

Dive deeper into the chaotic, beautifully pixelated Abyss with Neon Abyss 2! The action is faster, the stakes are higher, and the possibilities are endless in this cybermyth roguelike. With explosive run ‘n’ gun gameplay, diverse combat styles, and unlimited item synergies, Neon Abyss 2 delivers a dramatic, thrill-packed experience every time you enter.





Deck of Haunts

DANGEN Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

$17.99

Pre-order

Deck of Haunts – October 8

Deck of Haunts invites you to step into the eerie role of a malevolent Haunted House, where the walls whisper secrets and terror lurks around every corner. As the master of this cursed domain, your goal is to ensnare daring humans, play on their fears, and drain their very essence to expand your dark influence.







Forever Ago

Annapurna Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Forever Ago – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

Following a tragic stroke of fate, Alfred embarks on a journey north in search of redemption. In this single-player road trip adventure, you’ll travel to beautiful places, capture memories with your camera, meet interesting characters, and even make some new friends.







Gear.Club Unlimited 3

Nacon

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$49.99

Pre-order

Gear.Club Unlimited 3 – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

For the first time in the series, you can now explore the asphalt roads of Japan as well as the French Mediterranean coast. Drive over 40 prestigious cars from the biggest automotive brands and customize every detail: paint, bodywork, rims, mechanical performance… Create a car that reflects your individuality and show off your style on a wide range of spectacular racetracks.







myPOPGOES

Clickteam LLC USA

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

MyPOPGOES – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

A short and simple resource management game, with a bonus minigame collection, where you take care of an extremely needy weasel named Popgoes. Housed in an adorable plastic LCD toy, your new pixelated best friend will need pizza, fizzy drinks, and only the best entertainment provided by Freddy Fazbear himself.







Thunder Hoop Collection (QUByte Classics)

QUByte Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

QUByte Classics – Thunder Hoop Collection – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

Run, gun, and smash mutant hordes in the definitive Thunder Hoop Collection, featuring two classic platformers. Face the bio-organic nightmare created by the mad scientist Professor Genbreak. Climb ladders, leap across hazardous platforms, and unleash powerful strikes against dangerous mutated beasts. Control the young laboratory hero in the 1992 original, then witness his evolution into an adult warrior in the action-packed 1994 sequel, TH Strikes Back.







Silver Pines

Team17

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Silver Pines – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

Private investigator Red Walker finds himself in Silver Pines, a place half-abandoned, half-forgotten, in the middle of nowhere on a job to track down Eddie Velvet. A musician who has vanished. As the case begins to reveal a dark past, Walker soon slips into a strange and nightmarish descent beyond his control.







Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts

Samustai LTD

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts – October 8
XBOX Play Anywhere

A unique opportunity to design and build countless variations of realistic looking warships combined with an extremely in-depth combat model. Recreate famous ships such as the HMS Dreadnought and countless speculative designs. Experiment and enjoy naval battles utilizing endless combinations of ship designs in technology eras between the years 1890 and 1950 for ten different nations.







Cozy Meowmory

QubicGames S.A.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Cozy Meowmory – October 9
XBOX Play Anywhere

Step into a cozy world of colorful rooms, adorable cats, and little details waiting to fool your eyes. Compare rooms carefully and find everything that has changed. Objects may move, disappear, rotate, change color, or hide somewhere you least expect!





HORSE CLUB Ride West

Wild River Games GmbH

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-order

HORSE CLUB Ride West – October 9

Travel with your friends Hannah, Sofia, Sarah, and Lisa to the Wild West. Explore the vast landscape, help old and new friends, experience exciting adventures on horseback, learn Western riding, test your skills, and claim the crown at the big Western riding tournament!





PAPERHEAD

HypeTrain Digital

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

$15.99

Pre-order

PAPERHEAD – October 9

PAPERHEAD is a mix of a fast-paced movement boomer shooter and an adventure horror game, featuring a unique soundtrack.





Sesame Street: Friends & Fun

Outright Games Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$29.99

Pre-order

Sesame Street: Friends & Fun – October 9

Welcome to Sesame Street! A place to play, laugh and grow. From the moment you arrive, there’s so much to do. Join Elmo, Tango and the rest of your Sesame Street friends around the neighborhood!





Tiny Techie in Puzzle Land

Sweet Bread Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Tiny Techie in Puzzle Land – October 9

Help the crafty pink-haired gearhead complete a series of intricate puzzles in a beautiful pixel art world! Push, pull and trade places with objects to reach the end of each level! Create bridges by pushing minecarts or boxes into lakes, and navigate objects within complex railroad systems!





Whisker Mess (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Whisker Mess – October 9

Get ready for a feline adventure filled with adorable pieces, clever combinations, and toys scattered everywhere in Whisker Mess! In this fun tile-fitting puzzle, you must place cat-shaped pieces across the board, create lines, and clear the way while earning points and making room for new moves.

The post Next Week on XBOX: New Games for October 5 to 9 appeared first on XBOX Wire.

AppLovin have just announced a lawsuit against Unity as well as filing for a temporary restraining order. They are accusing Unity of harvesting data using their new Ad Quality SDK and using that data to train their own ad serving data models.

Details of the lawsuit:

Quote:AppLovin has asked the Superior Court of California in San Francisco to temporarily restrict rival Unity from collecting and using certain data generated through its mobile advertising business, escalating a dispute between two of the sector’s largest platforms that is also heading to arbitration.

In an application for a temporary restraining order, AppLovin alleges Unity’s Ad Quality SDK has improperly collected data relating to advertisements served by AppLovin, including information about creatives, users and devices, impression revenue and engagement.

AppLovin further alleges, “on information and belief,” that Unity has fed its data into models used to compete against AppLovin in mobile advertising auctions. The company claims Unity has used AppLovin’s “own output to train those models and to model AppLovin’s ad decisions.” Those claims are AppLovin’s allegations and have not been adjudicated.

Quote:“AppLovin’s legal filings against us are a classic case of a dominant incumbent resorting to litigation and intimidation to address increased competition and slowing growth,” said a Unity spokesperson in a provided statement.

“AppLovin has demanded that we shut down features of a small, free product we operate called Ad Quality. As its name suggests, Ad Quality helps prevent inappropriate and harmful ads from appearing in games. AppLovin clearly believes the data our customers choose to share with us through Ad Quality is driving our sharply improving performance. Despite that performance greatly benefiting our mutual customers, or rather because of it, they will do anything to slow it down,” said the Unity spoksperson.

“In reality, Ad Quality isn’t the driver of our improved performance, so they’ll be frustrated in that attempt regardless of how this suit is adjudicated,” the Unity statement continued.