Ahoy Draculads and ladies, V Rising is free this weekend

In V Rising, you’re a fledgling vampire on a mission to become absolute bossferatu of a Gothic open world. You get a Diablo-ish combat system, the ability to shapeshift into a spider, and a whole castle to prance around in, crooning at the moon. I like this premise almost as much as I dislike the fact that V Rising is also a survival game, in which you must fell trees and master a crafting system like a common turnip farmer.

What do we hope for when our interest in a game is almost perfectly balanced by our disinterest? We hope that the developers will treat us to a free-to-play weekend, in which our perhaps-unfounded reservations might be strategically offset by the endorphin rush of not having paid any goddamn money. This, V Rising creators Stunlock have now done. The game is free to download and play on Steam from right now until Monday, 16th September at 5pm UK or 10am PST.

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New TMNT: Mutants Unleashed Gameplay Trailer Is Packed With Bodacious Brawling

Shred it next month.

Despite being on our radar since its announcement last year, we have seen remarkably little of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed, the upcoming 3D platformer / brawler from developer A Heartful of Games and publisher Outright Games. That is until today! An all-new gameplay trailer has arrived to kick some shell and things are still looking pretty good.

Building on the first gameplay glimpse we got in July, today’s new footage starts to introduce us to the game’s story (as narrated by one April O’Neil). A bunch of baddie mutants are on the loose — in a Turtles game? What are the odds?? — and it’s up to the heroes in a half-shell to shut them down. We can see combat aplenty and some of the basic platforming challenges too, in what appears to be both single-player and co-op modes.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

How Ubisoft Built an Authentic New World for Star Wars Outlaws

How Ubisoft Built an Authentic New World for Star Wars Outlaws

Star Wars Outlaws is a game that invites you to meander. If you move through its various locations, orbits, cities and homesteads at a considerate pace, you’ll spot all kinds of thoughtful props, quirks and details that are meticulously placed to showcase a part of the Star Wars galaxy through Kay Vess’ scoundrel eyes. While some locations featured in the game are known favourites from the Star Wars galaxy, other spots are lesser known.

In fact, Toshara – the savanna moon serving as a bubbling crime hotspot that you’ll visit early in the game – was designed by Massive Entertainment, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, marking a new entry into the Star Wars galaxy. Adding a brand-new creation to this established world is no mean feat – and we had the chance to speak to two Massive Entertainment designers about how the team went about building Toshara, right down to its inhabitants, wildlife, and even plants, as well as bringing other popular locations to life through a new lens.

With countless pre-established locations on offer within the Star Wars galaxy, Massive Entertainment had to carefully consider which places felt fitting to tell Kay Vess and Nix’s story. The team wanted to showcase diversity in its settings, ranging from classic, recognizable areas like Tatooine, the desert home of Luke Skywalker, to lesser-shown planets like Kijimi, briefly seen in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” as a snow-coated haunt for the galaxy’s rogues. Akiva, meanwhile, is a jungle planet that has never been seen, only described in the Aftermath series of Star Wars tie-in novels.

Building Toshara

But Massive Entertainment crafted something entirely new in Toshara, the inhabited moon designed and purpose-built by the studio to act as a core component of the Star Wars Outlaws journey. After escaping her home city of Canto Bight, on Cantonica, Kay finds herself temporarily grounded on the moon, which is home to the Pyke Syndicate, as well as a host of other syndicates, ambiguous characters, hidden treasures and prosperous opportunities for a budding outlaw.

“We wanted to bring something entirely fresh to Star Wars that had never been seen before, and really embrace that as our playground for telling this exact story,” says Matthieu Delisle, Lead Systems Designer on Star Wars Outlaws. “This was the place where we could experiment the most and set a benchmark for the rest of the game.”

Toshara serves as a space where the different Syndicates in the underworld can come together, and, while it is controlled by the Pykes, it’s a location where The Empire is willing to let some things slide in exchange for some credits. Among its points of interest are Mirogana, a bustling major city that plays host to several Syndicate districts and Jaunta’s Hope, a smaller settlement. Off the beaten paths of Toshara, you’ll also uncover numerous points of interest –  flyer nests containing valuable items stolen from locals, fields full of grazing wildlife, or Pirate Camps with treats ripe for the taking.

“This is where we had the most freedom to define what feels good in terms of an open world experience,” Delisle says. “We considered the speeder distance between different activities, how we could create points that will catch your eye and lead to something interesting.

Star Wars Outlaws Screenshot

Not only is Toshara an entirely new experience for Star Wars fans, it’s also the first truly open world area that you can freely explore in a Star Wars game. As soon as you land here, it feels like an authentic Star Wars location you’ve seen in a classic movie, but what’s most impressive is that everything on Toshara, from its sweeping, dusty vistas to the flora and fauna that inhabit it, has been designed by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games.

“Since we designed Toshara from scratch, we could create its entire history, from when it formed, to when it was first settled on, and how that fits into the wider Star Wars timeline,” says Benedikt Podlesnigg, Art and World Director.

“We created all of the wildlife, the architecture, what Toshara’s inhabitants eat, what they wear, their relationship to the Empire, and how all of these things are connected to each other. If you look really close, you’ll find food that characters are eating growing out on a tree somewhere, for example.”

Star Wars Outlaws Screenshot

Massive Entertainment hasn’t just considered the visuals of Toshara, either. The team went as far as to define the planet’s gravitational forces and surrounding solar winds, so that pilots will struggle to navigate and land their ships without crashing unless they are very familiar with its orbit and layout. This in particular feels like an extremely cool detail that ties into Toshara’s presence as a hideaway for criminals with minimal Empire presence.

“It’s really in the DNA of Massive to create this logic of a world where things make sense,” Delisle adds. “There’s always a reason for something existing, and that’s really a trademark for us – to try and establish all of these locations and details to make them as believable and lived in as possible.”

An Overview of Kijimi

Later in the story, Star Wars Outlaws sees Kay Vess travel to Kijimi, a dark, frigid planet housing Crimson Dawn and the Ashiga Clan, another criminal syndicate, developed by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. Similar to Toshara, Kijimi is largely ruled by anarchy, but the Empire has a much greater presence here. Unlike Toshara, Kijimi has been seen in previous Star Wars media, which gave  Massive Entertainment a jumping off point in how to build the planet’s eponymous main city into an interactive space, with a unique spin, of course.

“We worked closely with Lucasfilm on Kijimi – we were given access to a big bank of concepts and behind the scenes footage, as well as the references they used for the location, these Japanese mountain towns that served as inspiration,” Podlesnigg tells us.

“We also got to see the 3D model of Kijimi that they used as an overview shot of Kijimi City in [Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker], to also get a sense of orientation – where buildings are placed, for example.”

Kijimi City is a densely packed area, a stark comparison to the open vistas of Toshara and Tatooine. The urban environments are comprised of small streets and alleys brimming with questionable figures – walking through the city breeds a real sense of unease, as though anything could jump out at you.

“There’s a struggle here between The Ashiga Clan and Crimson Dawn, and there’s this a mood of cloak and daggers going on throughout,” Delisle adds. “We’re telling some of the main story here, but what was interesting for us was the smaller stories we could tell about people that ended up on Kijimi. It felt like a nice palette cleanser compared to the other more open environments in Outlaws.”

Star Wars Outlaws Screenshot

The Secret Ingredient is the Underworld

While all of the locations shown in Star Wars Outlaws vary in terms of familiarity, they’re all chosen with one primary focus in mind – depicting the underworld. Each place acts as another flavor of the dodgy dealings that Kay and Nix (mostly) voluntarily take part in – from the very first moment. Kay herself hails from Canto Bight, an Outer Rim gambling destination famously shown in Star Wars: “The Last Jedi”.

The location is a hotbed for the wealthy to be frivolous with their earnings – a situation that Kay has learned to take full advantage of as a thief. The contrast between Canto Bight’s setting and Kay’s upbringing sets the immediate tone for Outlaws – this story wants to show you these locations not through the eyes of a known hero, but as a scoundrel, desperate and hopeful. In the sandy dunes of Tatooine, Kay is not looking at the home of Jedi Luke Skywalker, she’s focused on opportunities, skulking down alleys, surveying buildings, perpetually on the hunt for something to give her an edge.

Star Wars Outlaws Screenshot

“One of the big ambitions when we started [Outlaws] was to show what is behind the curtain,” Delisle says. “Our generation grew up watching those movies and wondering ‘what would it be like to go there? You see things in the movies, but you never really get off the rollercoaster to really look at the world, see the wildlife, talk to the people that live there, and it was really important to us all to let players be someone that can just live in this world.”

“Every time I step out of the Mos Eisley Cantina, jump on my speeder, I just have a big smile on my face,” Podlesnigg adds. “This is just a love letter to everything Star Wars.”

The post How Ubisoft Built an Authentic New World for Star Wars Outlaws appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Share of the Week: Astro Bot

Last week, we blasted off into a new adventure with Astro Bot, and asked you to share your favorite moments using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

Boargs shares Astro leading a pack of bots across the Crash Site.

i3ecci_ shares Astro riding down some colorful railing into a level.

​​

AutomotiveVP shares Astro in a gold costume cheering at the end of the casino level.

T0minator_ shares Astro kicking a soccer ball.

kunai_kirika shares small mouse Astro being observed by a cat bot.

HazzaniVP shares a full portrait of Astro facing forward.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Astro Bot – Abilities
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on September 18, 2024 

Next week, we’re showing off Astro Bot’s many abilities and power-up suits. Share action-packed moments utilizing his special abilities using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 Fans Have a Good Idea Which Enemy Faction They’ll Fight in Space Marine 3

With Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 now over a week old, players have completed its campaign and started to get to grips with the co-op Operations mode and the PvP mode, Eternal War. But already fans are speculating about which enemy faction they’ll go up against in the seemingly inevitable Space Marine 3 — and based on hints in the game, there can be only one pick.

Warning! Spoilers for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 follow.

Space Marine 2 sees Titus of the Ultramarines go up against the Tyranids and the Thousand Suns Traitor Legion in a campaign that ends up with a massive battle against a demon army and even a trip to the warp. With the aid of Ultramarines Chapter Master Marneus Calgar, Titus successfully fends off both enemy factions before he’s sent on a mysterious mission that teases the continuation of the story in another sequel.

This sequel — let’s go with Space Marine 3 given Space Marine 2’s breakout success suggests developer Saber Interactive will indeed make more games in the series — looks certain to feature the Necrons, Warhammer 40,000’s deathless skeletal robot xenos. Why do fans believe the Necrons are next, after Space Marine 1’s Orks and Space Marine 2’s Tyranids and Thousand Sons? There are clear hints that the Necrons are coming buried within Space Marine 2 itself.

To set the stage, one mission that takes Titus and co deep within the bowels of an alien planet shows ancient and mysterious wall markings that are a clear nod to the Necrons.

Posts from the spacemarine
community on Reddit

There’s even a dataslate (Space Marine 2’s audio logs) that reveals Necron constructs have been killing Techpriests. You can see these constructs lying about the place (the one below looks like a Canoptek Tomb Stalker to me).

This hint is part of the third act of the campaign, which sees Titus head to a Necron Tomb World packed with Necron buildings and technology. Some players even suspected the xenos would make a surprise appearance as a third enemy faction in the campaign, given the nature of the mission.

Indeed, it turns out that the Space Marine 2 story sort of revolves around the Necrons. The Techpriest who goes off the rails is trying to use an ancient Necron artifact to nullify the influence of Chaos by closing off the warp, the hell dimension from which Chaos spews forth. At least that’s what the Techpriest thinks the artifact does (it doesn’t, then it does).

Assuming the Necrons do turn up at some point, they’ll probably be very angry indeed. As a faction they have a collective ‘got up on the wrong side of the bed’ attitude, given they’re waking up from a 60 million year-long slumber beneath the Imperium’s feet. They’ll probably have something to say about the Adeptus Mechanicus banging on their door during the Space Marine 2 campaign, that’s for sure.

As for Ttitus, he’ll no doubt be drafted in to save the day once again, fighting Necrons as well as the forces of Chaos with the sort of enthusiasm we’ve come to know and love, but with Chaplain Leandros keeping a close eye on proceedings just in case there’s a whiff of corruption. Honestly, give poor Titus a break, won’t you? Perhaps we’ll get Ultramarines Primarch Robute Guilliman himself to have a word.

For Warhammer 40,000 fans, it’s all very exciting, but alas we’ll have to wait for a story expansion or Space Marine 3 to find out what happens next. Space Marine 2 has enjoyed over two million players, and according to its developers, has sold faster than any Doom game. It’s already the most-played Warhammer 40,000 game of all time by Steam concurrents, and could grow further when DLC finally kicks in.

We’ve got plenty more Space Marine 2 coverage, including details on its post-launch roadmap, the upcoming addition of class matching for co-op after players found themselves locked in a class standoff ahead of Operations mode missions, and a report on those creepy flying babies you keep seeing on the Battle Barge.

IGN’s Space Marine 2 review returned an 8/10. We said: “Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 may not break the third-person shooter mold, but it looks amazing, makes good use of its Warhammer lore, and has brutal combat that just feels great.”

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.

World of Warcraft Union Hits Out at ‘Heartless’ Microsoft Gaming Layoffs

The Communication Workers of America (CWA) has heavily criticized Microsoft’s announcement of a further 650 layoffs from its gaming business, with one union formed to represent Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft team calling the cuts “heartless.”

Yesterday, September 12, Xbox chief Phil Spencer sent a memo to staff, obtained by IGN, outlining plans to let 650 staff go, mostly from Activision Blizzard’s corporate and supporting functions, while confirming no games or devices were canceled and no studios were being closed.

However, two Activision Blizzard development teams were also hit: Activision’s Call of Duty Warzone Mobile team, and Blizzard’s Warcraft Rumble team.

These latest layoffs mean Microsoft has cut an eye-watering 2,550 staff from its gaming business since acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion in 2023. In his memo, Spencer made it clear that the cuts were related to the acquisition.

In response, the CWA issued a statement hitting out at Microsoft’s plans. “Microsoft’s decision to lay off 650 video game workers is an extremely disappointing move from one of the world’s largest and most profitable corporations,” the CWA said. “This news comes just after Sony Interactive Entertainment subsidiary Bungie announced 220 layoffs in late July. While none of those who are losing their jobs are represented by CWA, we understand how devastating layoffs are to the workers and their families.”

While we would hope that a company like Microsoft with $88 billion in profits last year could achieve ‘long term success’ without destroying the livelihoods of 650 of our colleagues, heartless layoffs like these have become all too common.

The CWA also included a statement from Samuel Cooper, senior producer at World of Warcraft and member of the World of Warcraft Game Makers Guild. WoWGG was formed as part of the CWA in July after the developers behind World of Warcraft, one of the world’s biggest and longest-running MMORPGs, officially unionized. It is Blizzard’s first ever “wall-to-wall” union, encompassing the entirety of a game development team instead of just one division, like QA. WoWGG is officially recognized under Microsoft’s labor neutrality agreement and certified by an independent arbitrator.

“Every worker deserves a voice on the job and a say over the impact of job cuts,” Cooper said. “While we would hope that a company like Microsoft with $88 billion in profits last year could achieve ‘long term success’ without destroying the livelihoods of 650 of our colleagues, heartless layoffs like these have become all too common. We stand in solidarity with everyone who lost their job today and encourage all video game workers to join with us and form unions so we can protect each other.”

Speaking in August, Spencer said the pressure is now on Xbox to deliver following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. “And we run a business,” Spencer said. “It’s definitely true inside of Microsoft the bar is high for us in terms of the delivery we have to give back to the company. Because we get a level of support from the company that’s just amazing and what we’re able to go do.”

The CWA also pointed to recent and controversial comments from former Sony Computer Entertainment Europe President Chris Deering, who said laid off game workers should “go to the beach for a year” or “drive an Uber.”

Those comments, the CWA said, “shows how insulated many executives are from the impact of their decisions on their workers.”

The past two years have seen over 20,000 video game industry layoffs as big companies including Microsoft, Sony, and the embattled Embracer Group have not just cut jobs but shut down entire studios.

Microsoft closed Redfall developer Arkane Austin alongside Hi-Fi Rush and Ghostwire Tokyo developer Tango Gameworks in May 2024 in a move met with shock and anger by industry peers and fans.

Meanwhile, Embracer Group shut down Saints Row developer Volition in 2023, among others. Chinese video game company NetEase also reportedly laid off most staff at Visions of Mana developer Ouka Studios with plans to shut it down altogether.

Amid these drastic cuts has been a corresponding emergence of unions representing the video game industry. In July, Skyrim and Fallout developer Bethesda Game Studios became the first Microsoft developer to fully unionize under CWA.

Photo credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images.

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.

Cosy Lord Of The Rings Game ‘Tales Of The Shire’ Delayed, Will Arrive Precisely When It Means To

More details to come on Hobbit Day.

Just a couple of days after Wētā Workshop, the studio behind Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, announced it would be showing more of the game on 22nd September, the team has announced that it’s been delayed to early 2025.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the New Zealand-based studio revealed that to ensure it delivers its vision, it’s pushing the game’s launch back to next year. Tales of the Shire didn’t have a concrete release date, but it was due to launch this Holiday season.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 16 to 20

Next Week on Xbox Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 16 to 20

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! This weekly feature highlights all the games arriving soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and Game Pass. Discover more about these upcoming titles below and visit their profiles for additional information (note that release dates are subject to change). Let’s dive in!


Paladin’s Passage

Bent Vector Studios, Inc.

Paladin’s Passage – September 17
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Embark on an epic journey in this challenging 2.5D precision platformer with over 100 hand-crafted dungeons filled with monsters. Become a master of block manipulation in your quest to restore harmony to the realm. The passage beckons; dare to answer the call!


The Plucky Squire

Devolver Digital

The Plucky Squire – September 17
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The Plucky Squire follows the magical adventures of Jot and his friends – storybook characters who discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book. When the malevolent Humgrump realizes he’s the villain of the book – destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity – he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever.


STAR WARS Jedi: Survivor™ Standard Edition Xbox One

Electronic Arts


6


$49.99

$44.99

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox One) – September 17

The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games – now available on Xbox One! This narrative-driven, single-player game picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness.


Train Sim World® 5: Standard Edition

Dovetail Games

$49.99

Train Sim World 5 – September 17
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Available on day one with Game Pass! The rails are yours in Train Sim World 5! Take on new challenges and new roles as you master the tracks and trains of iconic cities across three new routes. Immerse yourself in the ultimate rail hobby and embark on your next journey.


World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24

iRacing.com Motorsport Simulations, LLC

$49.99

World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24 – September 17
Smart Delivery

World of Outlaws: Dirt Racing 24 features 49 tracks, including all your favorites like Eldora Speedway, Knoxville Raceway, and Volusia Speedway Park, with new additions like Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway, and Millbridge Speedway.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Cozy Designer

Lucky Raccoon Games

Cozy Designer – September 18

Position furniture and objects however you prefer and decorate 60 incredibly cozy environments. Without right or wrong, the only limit is your imagination. Photograph the finished spaces and create your own design gallery.


Dark Elven Legacy

Old School Vibes

Dark Elven Legacy – September 18

You are Elynar, the strongest archer in the Kingdom, who must face terrible creatures in the Great Dark Forest. Shoot with your bow, use a special power, or obtain power-ups during the game to fight various types of enemies.


Elasto Mania II

Infinite Zone

Elasto Mania II – September 18

The long-awaited sequel is still a 2D enduro simulator with a nostalgic feel, but it’s also about giving you more bang for your buck than ever, with more challenges, extra collectibles, updated physics and new graphics.


Hidden Cats in Berlin

Silesia Games Sp. z o.o.

Hidden Cats in Berlin – September 18

Take a little pleasant trip through a big and lovely illustration! Start with monochrome scenery and fill it with color! Kick back, relax, and find all the cats to reveal the final, colorful landscape.


Keylocker

Serenity Forge LLC

$19.99

Keylocker – September 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A cyberpunk turn-based rhythm JRPG where you play as the singer and songwriter, B0B0. Fuel your moves with the electric power of music on this unforgiving planet by using real-time execution of moves in rhythm game style! Choose a unique class, battle the authorities, unlock the secrets of Saturn, play in your own bands’ concerts, and hack into the network to bring an end to this corrupt system, for better or worse.


The Last Shot (Xbox Series X|S)

Sometimes You


$9.99

$7.99
Free Trial

The Last Shot – September 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A platforming adventure game set in a war-ravaged, diesel-punk world. Militaristic cities fight endlessly with massive weaponry, all striving to be the last one standing. When your comfortable routine is interrupted and you are thrust into the outside world on a dangerous journey, you must uncover a terrible conspiracy and find a way to put an end to a nefarious plan.


A Night on the Farm

Eastasiasoft Limited

A Night on the Farm – September 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Following a sudden car crash, you’re stranded out in the country at night and all alone. A nearby farm might offer help or refuge, but there’s something very unsettling about the place, and exploration only leads to greater fears. A Night on the Farm is an atmospheric retro-inspired horror adventure with unpredictable plot twists and deep lore to discover.


Andromeda Survivors

Afil Games

Andromeda Survivors – September 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Prepare yourself for an epic journey in Andromeda Survivors, a casual game with rogue-lite elements that will challenge your skills and strategy! In a universe threatened by thousands of enemies, you are the last defender of Andromeda. Command your ship and destroy endless waves of adversaries while collecting skills and powerful upgrades to create the most incredible and invincible builds!


Atama

Indie Games Starter

Atama – September 19

Use psychic powers in Atama to see through the eyes of your pursuers to avoid detection as you investigate a cursed rural Japanese village. You can’t fight back; you must rely only on your abilities and your wits to avoid your enemies.


Between Horizons

Assemble Entertainment

Between Horizons – September 19

Between Horizons is a modern 2.5D pixel art adventure that brings a branching narrative into a semi-open world. Set aboard the Zephyr, humanity’s first-generation ship enroute to another star, you assume the role of Stella, born on the ship 24 years ago and recently inherited her father’s post as Chief of Security. Dive into a conspiracy behind the incident that threatens to disrupt Zephyr’s social order and foil its mission.


Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged

Revolution Software Ltd

Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged – September 19

Step out onto the streets of Paris in “Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged”, a substantially enhanced version of the multi-award winning, all-time classic adventure. Enjoy a globe-spanning story when intrepid American George Stobbart and fearless journalist Nico Collard are pitched into a gripping adventure, exploring exotic locations, solving ancient mysteries, and thwarting dark conspiracies to discover the arcane secrets of the Knights Templar.


Byte The Bullet

JanduSoft


$5.99

$5.39

Byte The Bullet – September 19

Get into an infected computer and restore every virus-ridden system by recovering game attributes like color or save functions. Enjoy this parody of multiple classic games from 80s & 90s.


Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster

CAPCOM CO., LTD.


2

$49.99

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster – September 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Dead Rising returns with modern graphics! More than just a remaster, this Deluxe Remaster is a full graphical overhaul of the first game in zombie-slaughtering action game series, fully voiced, auto-saves, and various quality-of-life features. Witness the unmatched mayhem and freedom for yourself.


DROS

©RedDeer.Games

DROS – September 19

DROS is a dark fantasy adventure where you’ll swap between a small gooey creature and her human bounty hunter shell. Explore freely through 40 unique diorama-like levels filled with strange characters, intricate puzzles, hidden rooms, and ancient collectibles.


Xbox Play Anywhere

The House of Da Vinci 3

Blue Brain Games

$24.99

The House of Da Vinci 3 – September 19

The grand finale to The House of Da Vinci trilogy is here! Solve numerous new puzzles and mind benders and explore new mystifying locations of ravishing beauty. Use your wits and observational skills to escape rooms and solve the mysterious story behind one of the world’s most prolific inventors in history. With sharp wits and an open mind, you will prevail.


Matchbox™ Driving Adventures

Outright Games Limited.

$39.99

Matchbox Driving Adventures – September 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Jump into an authentic Matchbox vehicle, show off those driving skills, and embark on larger-than-life quests as you explore six dynamic environments. Race against the clock to help citizens, complete deliveries, chase down runaway cars, and tackle exciting rescue missions.


Paper Plane Arena – Lost Places

EpiXR Games

$9.99
Xbox One X Enhanced

Paper Plane Arena – Lost Places – September 19
Xbox One X Enhanced

Paper Plane Arena is an interactive game experience that is designed to ease your mind and have fun popping innocent balloons. You jump into the role of a little paper plane that is supposed to rescue the world from evil balloon demons by dashing through them.


pureya

Mameshiba Games

pureya – September 19

Simple arcade games are great, but they can get boring quickly. What if they changed every 10 seconds? Pureya is a collection of arcade minigames that play with just 2 buttons. Every 10 seconds, the game will jump from one random minigame to another. Avoid obstacles and collect as many marbles as you can, then use them in the pachinko machine to unlock new mini games, music and skins. 


EA SPORTS FC™ 25 Ultimate Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S

Electronic Arts


282


$99.99

$89.99

EA Sports FC 25 Ultimate Edition (Early Access) — September 20

EA Sports FC 25 has the best players from the biggest clubs and competitions around the globe, with match data from the world’s top leagues powering how 19,000+ players move, play, and win in every match. New additions to Manager and Player Career let you live out the biggest storylines from the real-world with Live Start Points; rewrite the stories of past icons with today’s teams in Player Career; and for the first time, play an authentic Women’s Career experience, taking control of a club or player from the top five women’s leagues. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with EA Play can experience a 10-hour trial of EA Sports FC 25 starting on September 20.


Home Safety Hotline

Torture Star Video

$19.99

Home Safety Hotline – September 20

Hearing noises? Seeing things? Call Home Safety Hotline! Our operators are standing by, waiting to give you the answers you need to protect your home from all manner of pests and household hazards.


The Karate Kid: Street Rumble

GameMill Entertainment

$39.99

The Karate Kid: Street Rumble – September 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Sweeping across iconic locations of the first three classic The Karate Kid movies from the 1980s, you’ll step out of the dojo and into the streets of the West Valley and Okinawa as you battle waves of enemies in this pixel art, side-scrolling, beat ‘em up adventure.


MindSeize (Xbox Series X|S)

Sometimes You


$16.99

$13.59
Free Trial

MindSeize – September 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Fast-paced combat and extensive exploration await in this metroidvania-inspired game. Transfer your mind into a MAG (Mind Action Gear) and set out on an epic action-adventure to save your daughter from the leaders of the dangerous criminal organization called The Ascended.


Morkull Ragast’s Rage

Selecta Play

$17.99

Mordkull Ragast’s Rage – September 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A 2D video game that combines platforming and action with a touch of exploration. You control Morkull, the villain of the story, who not only knows he’s a character in a video game, but is also aware of the player who controls him (i.e., you) and the developers who created him.


Pneumata

PERP GAMES


4

Pneumata – September 20

Deep in the Missouri countryside, a small town is being ravaged by a series of murders at the old Clover Hill Apartments. After a traumatic brain injury and the passing of his late wife, homicide detective David Hernandez is determined to bury himself in his work and investigate the mysterious complex. Pneumata is a true Lovecraftian survival horror with disturbing and brutal gameplay, enveloped by the psychological horrors that exist somewhere between reality and the beyond.


They Came From the Sky 2

Ratalaika Games S.L.

They Came From the Sky 2 – September 20

Get ready for nostalgic arcade action inspired by 1980s vintage console classics, as terror from space throws world into panic once again! They Came From the Sky 2 is a fast paced arcade game wherein you take the role of one of the giant alien robot. The game offers infinite replayability, over 20 types of enemies, and 50 hidden artifacts to discover.


Welcome to Empyreum

Tapioca Games

Welcome to Empyreum – September 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Welcome to Empyreum, the video game that will transform your gaming experience into a fun-filled party for the whole family! This exciting cooperative party game for up to 4 players immerses you in the fascinating and wild universe of Hotel Empyreum.


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for September 16 to 20 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

IGN UK Podcast 765: PS5 Pros and Biscuit Pockets

Cardy, Matt, and Emma are here to discuss Sony’s unveiling of the PS5 Pro and whether it’s worth the high price that’s been set. Then they chat about their time with the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 multiplayer beta, as well as thoughts on new movies Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Rebel Ridge. There’s also plenty (probably too much) chat about biscuits and the best way to consume them.

Remember to send us your thoughts about all the new games, TV shows, and films you’re enjoying or looking forward to: ign_ukfeedback@ign.com.

IGN UK Podcast 765: PS5 Pros and Biscuit Pockets

Spray Paint Simulator announced, as PowerWash Simulator seethes

After PowerWash Simulator’s jet to success, it was inevitable, really. Whitethorn Games and North Star Video Games have only come out with a rival: Spray Paint Simulator. In it, you get out your spray painter and “shshshshshs” different colours of paint onto various surfaces. For whatever reason, the universe this takes place in doesn’t seem to value brushes or those rolly mops. “No”, it says, kicking your brush into the sun. “Spray or nay”.

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