Author: Game Infliction

Coming to Game Pass: Atlas Fallen, Core Keeper, and Star Trucker

Coming to Game Pass: Atlas Fallen, Core Keeper, and Star Trucker

  • Megan Spurr, Senior Community Lead, Xbox Game Pass

Welcome back, friends! We have more games for you, new Perks, and a limited time beta to talk about! Available to those who pre-order Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, as well as Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass members, the Early Access Open Beta will be downloadable for Black Ops 6 on Xbox consoles, the Xbox app on PC, or Battle.net starting August 28. Now let’s get to all the games!

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Early Access Open Beta Starting August 30

Get your first taste of the next-level action coming to Black Ops 6. You can start downloading the Beta on August 28, 2024, before the early access open beta kicks off on August 30, 2024. Feel Omnimovement for yourself, explore several brand-new core 6v6 maps, and try out new weapons and gadgets. Earn in-game rewards playable in the Beta and in Black Ops 6 once the full game launches on day one with PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate.

Coming Soon

Atlas Fallen (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – August 22
Unleash the storm in this open world action-RPG adventure, enriched by the recently released major free update, Reign of Sand! Enjoy new voice acting, a reworked campaign, and face even more formidable creatures armed with new Essence Stones. Challenge the gods with the long-awaited “New Game +” difficulty mode.

Core Keeper (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – August 27
Dive into Core Keeper, an underground adventure where you shape your journey. Craft, build, and explore in a dynamic world. Develop your character, uncover ancient secrets, and engage in thrilling co-op or competitive play. Embrace the challenge and unearth the mysteries that await!

Star Trucker (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 3
Available on day one with Game Pass! Hop into the driver’s seat of your rocket-powered big rig as you haul cargo, scavenge for salvage, and interact with an eclectic cast of star-hopping truckers in this Americana-infused journey on the ultimate open road – space!

More Games Coming to Game Pass Core on August 21

Game Pass Core members can look forward to three more games coming to the library on August 21!  Build the city of your dreams in Cities: Skylines, experience the award-winning third-person action-adventure in Control: Ultimate Edition, and jump into the driver seat to conquer extreme open environments in SnowRunner.

DLC / Game Updates

Vampire Survivors Darkasso Update – Available now
With this update, Vampire Survivors are getting Darkanas! Like Arcanas, but Dark. There’s five to unlock and just like Arcanas, these modifiers can change the outcome of your run significantly. This update also includes Room 1665, a new stage made of 16 rooms that will challenge players to fight their way through all the floors of this devilish room.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

New perks are being added every week! Check them out in the Game Pass section of your console, Xbox app for PC, or the Xbox Game Pass mobile app.

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm: Five Champions – Available now
Unlock 5 Champions, 80 Gold Champion Chests, a Familiar, and a Skin for Lae’zel to use in Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm, a strategy management game uniting characters from throughout the Dungeons & Dragons multiverse into a grand adventure.

XDefiant: Crimson Pack – Available now
This combo will have you seeing red! The Crimson Pack includes the Deep Red Samir Character Skin, Deep Red MP5 Weapon Skin, Ember M870 Weapon Skin, Pelagic ACR 6.8 Weapon Skin, and Amber M9 Weapon Skin.

The Elder Scrolls Online: 10-Year Anniversary Pack #3 – Available now
Celebrate 10 years of the Elder Scrolls Online with the 10-Year Anniversary Pack #3! This bundle includes 1x Attribute Respecification Scroll and 3x Gold Coast Experience Scrolls.

Leaving August 31

The following games will be leaving the Game Pass library soon, so don’t forget to jump back in before they go. Remember to save 20% on your purchase to keep them in your library if you want to keep the fun going!

  • Atomic Heart (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Guilty Gear -Strive- (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • NBA 2K24 (Cloud and Console)

We’ll be back with more games, but until then be sure to stay tuned to @XboxGamePass, @XboxGamePassPC, and @Xbox for updates when these games are available! Catch you next time.

The post Coming to Game Pass: Atlas Fallen, Core Keeper, and Star Trucker appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Sonic x Shadow Generations interview: Shadow the Hedgehog’s new Doom Powers detailed

The launch of Sonic x Shadow Generations is coming fast this October, and everyone is curious to know more about Shadow the Hedgehog’s new Doom Powers!


Sonic x Shadow Generations interview: Shadow the Hedgehog’s new Doom Powers detailed

The team just released a trailer all about the Doom Powers, highlighting each unique ability and how they provide new twists for Shadow’s platforming and combat. The trailer also showcased gameplay from new stages calling back to fan-favorites such as Chaos Island from Sonic Frontiers and Radical Highway from Sonic Adventure 2, as well as iconic boss challenges like Metal Overlord from Sonic Heroes. Eagle-eyed viewers might also catch a glimpse of the reimagined hub world, White Space, where players will get the opportunity to test out and master Shadow’s new moves while they explore, unlock stages, and uncover collectibles.

We got together with Sonic Team Creative Officer, Takashi Iizuka, to chat on why this game was the perfect opportunity to give Shadow new abilities, and how they offer new, action-packed ways of navigating different stages and boss battles.

Why are Shadow’s Doom Powers important to the story and gameplay?

Iizuka-san: In terms of gameplay, the team wanted to make Shadow Generations’ action more unique to differentiate it from what Sonic can do, so we added the Doom Powers. Shadow’s new powers are essential because they give him new ways to attack enemies and traverse the world, giving our team more to build upon in each stage’s level design. While we can’t share much about the story, the Doom Powers play an essential role in Shadow’s journey and development throughout his campaign, giving him more powers to save the world. Shadow receives these when he awakens to the power of darkness in the game, so players will see how closely they tie into the narrative when the game comes out later this year.

How did you choose the final selection of Doom Powers we see in the game? Why were these powers right for Shadow?

Iizuka-san: Shadow is a dark, anti-hero character, so the Doom Powers had to embody a sense of danger and mystery that can be seen in Shadow’s actions and movements. The level designers also incorporated many ways the Doom Powers can be used in this platform action game, so they are not just additional combat moves. Shadow can use Doom Powers to platform around the world.

How are these powers different from Shadow’s existing powers in previous games?

Iizuka-san: When designing the levels in Shadow Generations, we wanted to make the most of Shadow’s existing move, Chaos Control, which enables him to find new platforms to run through each stage and find new ways of attacking bosses. However, with only Chaos Control, the core of Shadow’s gameplay is very similar to what Sonic can do, so we introduced the Doom Powers to give the game more unique action. Not only does it increase the variety of things you can do in the platform action stages, but it also allows for great exploration and traversal abilities in the 3D White Space Hub World for Shadow.

What was the design process like when conceptualizing the idea and designing the look of each power?

Iizuka-san: The idea for the Doom Powers came up when we realized we needed to give Shadow new abilities and powers to create new gameplay formats. It was important to provide Shadow abilities that Sonic can’t do to make the action more enjoyable, while ensuring each power reflects his dark, anti-hero character. As the name suggests, the Doom Powers draw energy from Black Doom, so that was taken into consideration in the design of all the Doom Powers.

What Doom Powers are you most excited for fans to experience?

Iizuka-san: Doom Wing, the black wings that come out of Shadow in the Summer Game Fest trailer, was an impactful idea early in the design process, so we wanted to make it the coolest looking of all the Doom Powers. The wings that come out of Shadow make you think of a devil, which goes well with Shadow’s dark hero elements and allows us to present something cool and new, something we couldn’t do with Sonic.

Sonic fans – get ready to embrace Shadow’s dark side and use his new power to take on Black Doom and save the world! When the game launches this fall, be sure to try out all different kinds of paths and methods with each Doom Power to find new ways of completing each stage and battle.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is available for pre-order now starting at $49.99 on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. To learn more about various pre-order incentives, head to PlayStation Store or Sonic x Shadow Generations official website. Fans who buy the Digital Deluxe Edition can play the game three days early and receive additional content.

Backyard Sports Revival Officially Announced by Playground Productions

Sports game fans, rejoice! Backyard Sports, the iconic video game series known for making kid-friendly sports games, is back.

In a press release, Playground Productions, the company currently holding the rights to the Backyard Sports IP, confirmed it was reviving the series, noting that the franchise is “slated to return in the coming months.” Playground Productions also provided the first teaser trailer for Backyard Sports, featuring memorable characters like Pablo Sanchez and Stephanie Morgan.

You can check out the first trailer below.

Beyond the confirmation of new Backyard Sports video games, Playground Productions said the series’ return will expand its reach to multiple verticals beyond video games, such as film, TV, and merchandise. Playground Productions explained that the revival of Backyard Sports will use “cutting-edge technology and esteemed character IP” to aim to create stories and experiences that will resonate with those who grew up with the series along with the current generation of youth.

“We’re incredibly excited to reintroduce Backyard Sports to a new generation of players,” Playground Productions CEO Chris Waters wrote in the press release. “We’re taking great care to preserve the look and feel that made the original games so special while updating them with modern features and gameplay that today’s audience expects. I can’t wait for fans to see what we’re building on the Playground.”

The Backyard Sports series began in 1997 with the release of Backyard Baseball. The franchise would eventually include games in other sports, such as basketball, football, hockey, and even skateboarding. Since 2015, however, the series has been dormant.

While fans of the series have long awaited a new entry for nearly 10 years, chatter saw a spike when NFL star and former Eagles center Jason Kelce revealed on his podcast last January that he was interested in trying to make a new Backyard Baseball and Backyard Football game.

A Playground Productions spokesperson confirmed to IGN that Kelce is “isn’t directly involved in this relaunch,” but acknowledged that Kelce represents an “audience of people that, to this day, fondly remember Backyard Sports as a staple game with iconic characters beloved by many.”

Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

New Tomb Raider Statue Celebrates Lara Croft’s Modern Adventures

Dark Horse and Crystal Dynamics are joining forces for another impressive Tomb Raider collectible. Fresh off revealing the Tomb Raider: Lara Croft (Classic Era) PVC Statue, Dark Horse is back with a new piece inspired by the Tomb Raider reboot games.

Check out the slideshow gallery below for an exclusive first look at the Tomb Raider: Lara Croft PVC Statue:

Whereas the first statue was based on the original Tomb Raider games, this new piece takes its cues from the modern reboot series. It depicts Lara bravely making her way through ancient jungle ruins. The statue includes an interchangeable right hand piece, allowing collectors to display her holding either a pistol or a climbing axe.

The Tomb Raider: Lara Croft PVC Statue was sculpted by BigShot Toyworks, with prototyping and paint by Gentle Giant. The statue measures 9.2 inches high and 6.3 inches deep, with a base width of 9.4 inches.

This statue is priced at $89.99 and is slated for release between February and April 2025. You can preorder one through the IGN Store, on the Dark Horse Direct website or through various other retailers.

The Tomb Raider: Lara Croft (Classic Era) PVC Statue is also still available to preorder on the IGN Store.

A number of Tomb Raider projects are in development right now, including a new game, a Netflix anime series and a live-action series on Prime Video penned by Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.

Black Myth: Wukong’s record-setting launch popularity soured by co-publisher request to avoid “feminist propaganda” in streams

Our Black Myth: Wukong review hails the game as “a generous Soulsy adventure hybrid that works within its limitations and delivers a beautiful challenge to be unpicked with a magical toolbox”. Reviewer Edders went so far as to find the world more engaging than that of Elden Ring – proper defying-the-gods level rhetoric. Players seem to agree – the game launched last night, and has already accrued a concurrent player peak of 1.44 million – Steam’s fourth highest ever, exceeded only by Counter-Strike, Palworld and PUBG. By that metric, it’s the platform’s most popular strictly single player game of all the time.

All that goodwill has been spoiled, however, by a Steam code handout message to streamers and other “content creators” before launch which includes some reactionary, non-binding requests – no mention of “trigger words” like “Covid-19”, no talk of “politics” or “feminist propaganda”, and no mention of “China’s game industry policies, opinions, news, etc”.

Read more

Black Myth: Wukong Has Massive Launch, Overtakes Cyberpunk 2077 to Become Most-Played Single-Player Game Ever on Steam

Black Myth: Wukong has enjoyed an enormous launch on Steam, where it has overtaken Cyberpunk 2077 to become the most-played single-player game ever on Valve’s platform.

The action RPG, developed by Chinese studio Game Science, launched in the early hours of this morning and quickly shot to the top of Steam’s most-played games list with an incredible 1,443,570 peak concurrent players. That figure will surely grow as the working week heads into the weekend and more people buy the game.

Less than 24 hours after launch, Black Myth: Wukong has already seen the fourth-highest concurrent figure ever on Steam, and is only behind PUBG (3,257,248), Palworld (2,101,867), and Valve’s own Counter-Strike 2 (1,818,773). It is ahead of big hitters such as Dota 2, Elden Ring, and Baldur’s Gate 3. Already the game has nearly 30,000 user reviews on Steam, with a ‘very positive’ user review rating.

Black Myth: Wukong’s launch will be even bigger than Steam suggests. It also released on PlayStation 5 (Sony Interactive Entertainment does not make PlayStation player numbers publicly available), Tencent’s Chinese game portal WeGame, and the Epic Games Store. An Xbox Series X and S version is due out later (find out why here).

IGN’s Black Myth: Wukong review returned an 8/10. We said: “Despite some frustrating technical issues, Black Myth: Wukong is a great action game with fantastic combat, exciting bosses, tantalizing secrets, and a beautiful world.”

If you’re jumping into Black Myth: Wukong, be sure to check out our feature, 13 things Black Myth: Wukong doesn’t Tell You.

This week, IGN verified an email sent from the Black Myth: Wukong marketing team that told content creators who were granted a Steam key that they must not include “feminist propaganda” or use what are called “trigger words” such as COVID-19 in their coverage.

Game Science has yet to respond to IGN’s previous report compiling numerous sexist comments made by the studio’s founders and other developers spanning the last decade.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Video: Marvel vs. Capcom: Fighting Collection ‘Clash Of Super Heroes’ Trailer

Capcom’s seven-game collection launches in 2024.

Capcom is beginning to ramp up promotions for the Marvel vs. Capcom: Fighting Collection – Arcade Classics. As part of this, it’s now released a trailer for Clash of Super Heroes.

In the words of Capcom, this is Marvel and Capcom’s “third game effort” – featuring characters like Mega Man, Spider-Man, Venom, and various other all-star heroes and characters. Battles are described as being more intense than ever before in this epic clash. You’ll also be able to hone your skills in the training mode, and view & listen to materials in the museum.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Gallery: Here’s A Closer Look At The Nintendo Museum – Exhibits, Interactive Experiences & Much More

Everything on show during Nintendo’s ‘Museum Direct’.

The Nintendo Museum is finally opening this year and now that Nintendo has given us a preview in the latest Direct broadcast, we’ve put together this gallery capturing its retro history.

As previously revealed, the museum is built on the site of Nintendo’s original factory (the Nintendo Uji Ogura Plant) where it made Hanfuda and playing cards. Quality checks also happened at this location during the Famicom era.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Pokémon World Championships Boots Competitor From Semifinals Over Seemingly Lewd Gesture, Sparking Controversy

Pokémon World Championships competitor Ian Robb had seemingly defeated opponent Fernando Cifuentes in the quarterfinals of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, advancing to the penultimate round of the Pokémon’s most prestigious competitive event. But when the next round began, Cifuentes was in Robb’s place, sparking confusion among observers and throwing the bracket into chaos.

As it turned out, Robb had been issued a loss over what The Pokémon Company International Global Esports and Events Director Chris Brown called an “unsporting conduct penalty” in a follow-up interview with IGN.

“It was an unsporting conduct penalty,” Brown said. “We applied it to the match that had just occurred and the standard penalty for that’s a match loss.”

The unsporting conduct Brown was referring to was a motion that Robb performed after claiming victory that many took to be an offensive gesture. The result was that Robb was removed from the tournament, though he was allowed to keep his prize money for placing in the final eight. Quarterfinalists receive $15,000 while the winner receives $50,000.

The decision was criticized by some fans for altering the tournament, though others came forward to defend The Pokémon Company’s judgment.

“When I first heard about it I assumed Pokemon was being soft, but after seeing the clip I think they made the right call. He should know better. It can’t be emphasized enough how much Pokemon is geared towards children. I fully understand them wanting to discourage gestures like that,” one fan wrote on Reddit.

Robb, for his part, has been mostly silent, though he did post his support for Cifuentes on X/Twitter. “I’m cheering for him today. After meeting him and his dad I could tell how much making cut at worlds meant. He’s a deserving champion.”

Ultimately, Cifuentes won the tournament, defeating runner-up Seinosuke Shiokawa in the Masters division.

Asked for more detail on how the rules are enforced in such situations, Brown said it’s a “little tricky” in Pokémon due to the way the tournament is structured. “Generally the match is not considered to be over until you’ve actually signed your match slip…And so that’s sort of that key moment. There’s other kind of moments, and this is really fine detail and sort of the rules and policies, but in the [Swiss-system tournament] for example, when the information is actually put in the computer could be a factor, because then we have to pair the next round. Single elim is a little different. But ultimately we looked at it as that penalty basically was assessed for the match that was in progress.”

Pokémon World Tournament wrapped up on Sunday, crowning its overall winners while revealing info where the next tournament will take place. The Pokémon Company also shared the release date for Pokémon TCG Pocket and other info. You can find everything announced at the Pokémon World Championships right here.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.