Bus Simulator 27 Introduces Solaris and Debuts Coach Buses for the First Time

Bus Simulator 27 Introduces Solaris and Debuts Coach Buses for the First Time

Bus sim 27 key art

Dear Bus Drivers, it’s time to get back behind the wheel of officially licensed buses from globally renowned manufacturers, soak up the sun along your route and rebuild trust in public transportation. With Bus Simulator 27, we are delivering the most ambitious entry in the series to date. Together with developer Simteract, we are raising the bar in scope, authenticity and immersion. Bus Simulator 27 is coming later this year to Xbox Series X|S with Play Anywhere support.

For years, the Bus Simulator franchise has been all about putting you in the driver’s seat of the world’s most iconic and cutting-edge buses. Now, we are taking that promise even further. We are excited to confirm one of the most requested additions from our long-standing community: Solaris is joining the fleet. It arrives in style with the Solaris Urbino 18 hydrogen – winner of the prestigious Bus of the Year 2025 award. In total, you will be able to operate more than 45 officially licensed buses from 13 globally recognized brands, including Mercedes-Benz, MAN, Iveco Bus, Blue Bird, Scania, Volvo, and many more.

In addition to classic rigid, articulated, double-decker, and electric buses, you will be able to drive coach buses for the first time in the series’ history. Enjoy long-distance journeys, for instance, with the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo

Discover the beautiful fictional Southern European region of Felicia Bay, inspired by Spain and Portugal. Its lively twin cities Mequina and Alcaztelar welcome you to establish public transportation and serve both the residents and tourists. Around 20 distinct districts – ranging from residential to industrial and business – along with a host of exciting landmarks, make your shifts both pleasant and adventurous. You can collect iconic landmarks by passing them on your route or exploring the city on foot.

Bus Simulator 27 features dynamic weather and a full day and night cycle. The streets of Mequina and Alcaztelar are crowded, challenging you to keep to a tight schedule. Be prepared as accidents or roadworks can occur which force you to look for alternative ways to reach your next bus stop. A host of traffic and in-bus events will constantly keep you engaged and entertained.

You can play Bus Simulator 27 in three different ways: Story, Career and Sandbox. In Story Mode, you’ll meet several characters who guide you through building your bus company, offering new contracts and challenges.  The Career Mode on the other hand is powered by the economic and managerial systems of the game, allowing you to build your bus empire to your liking and create your very own routes to serve. Last but not least, the Sandbox Mode is the perfect playground to try things out without paying attention to money or rules: just driving around with your favorite bus or exploring Felicia Bay on foot in search of hidden collectibles.

However, driving isn’t all Bus Simulator 27 has to offer. Besides walking around the vibrant streets, you can also enjoy a ride as a passenger or an inspector and check tickets. But the biggest responsibility surely comes with the management part of your enterprise. Create routes considering peak times and passenger volume, purchase buses to expand your fleet and match different urban and interurban requirements, customize your buses by designing unique liveries or applying advertisements for additional income, and manage your staff by hiring bus drivers and assigning routes.

And you can do all this in multiplayer with up to three friends as well. Coordinate routes and collaborate to transport passengers safely and on time to their destinations, and grow your company together. In addition, Bus Simulator 27 features crossplay between Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox App on Windows, including Xbox Play Anywhere – buy the game on Xbox Series X|S and get the PC version at no additional cost.

Of course, Bus Simulator 27 supports popular steering wheels on Xbox Series X|S ensuring a smooth journey every time you start your shift in Felicia Bay.

We can’t wait to reveal more brands, features and surprises, as we move closer to the game’s launch. Stay tuned as Bus Simulator 27 is well on its way to becoming the most comprehensive and immersive entry in the series’ history.

Jump aboard and Ride the Sunshine!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Bus Simulator 27

astragon Entertainment

Look forward to the most comprehensive and advanced bus fleet in the history of the series so far. More than 45 officially licensed buses from 13 world-famous manufacturers, such as Solaris™, Mercedes-Benz, MAN, IVECO BUS, Scania, and Volvo, are waiting for you to drive. Whether you are interested in classic rigid, articulated, and double-decker buses or in new electric buses – Bus Simulator 27 has got you covered. And for the first time ever in the series, you can get behind the wheel of impressive coach buses and enjoy long-distance journeys!

Felicia Bay is the perfect place to work where others go on vacation – a sunny fictive region in Southern Europe inspired by Spain and Portugal. Explore the vibrant twin cities of Alcaztelar and Mequina, featuring 20 unique districts packed with exciting landmarks – all brought to life by dynamic weather, a full day and night cycle, and bustling, crowded streets powered by Unreal® Engine 5. Create and serve routes, manage timetables, hire bus drivers, assign lines, customize buses with wraps and advertisements, and restore faith in public transportation in the local residents and visiting tourists.

Discover three different game modes and play the way you prefer: Story, Career, and Sandbox. Enjoy your time on the bus interacting with passengers. Watch out for in-bus and traffic events that may occur during your journey. And if you need a bit of variety, play as an inspector or take a ride as a passenger. You can also just exit the bus and explore Felicia Bay on foot to search for stunning points of interest and hidden collectibles.

Play solo or with your friends across all platforms in 4-player cooperative multiplayer crossplay mode. Coordinate routes and manage your bus fleet together and grow your company. Bus Simulator 27 supports a host of popular steering wheels and gamepads to make your ride as enjoyable as possible.

Jump aboard and let’s Ride the Sunshine!

The post Bus Simulator 27 Introduces Solaris and Debuts Coach Buses for the First Time appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 2 to 6

Planet of Lana II

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 2 to 6

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!


Marathon Deluxe Edition

Bungie


51

$59.99

Marathon Standard Edition

Bungie


51

$39.99

Marathon – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Infil into the dark sci-fi world of Tau Ceti IV: A derelict colony rife with rival Runners, hostile UESC security forces, and hazardous environments. As you scavenge its zones for valuables with a crew or alone, tense moments of exploration break into fast-paced PvP combat where gunplay is responsive, time to kill is low, and preparation is rewarded. Exfil to advance your seasonal power, earn cosmetics for your achievements, and assemble stronger builds with your stolen loot. Then put your gear back on the line to seek even greater fortunes in your next run.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Planet of Lana II

Thunderful Publishing AB

Planet of Lana II – March 5
Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

On Lana and Mui’s home planet, new technology brings progress but also stirs greed and imbalance. As different tribes adopt it in their own ways, tensions grow and the world’s harmony begins to shift. When those seeking power push too far, Lana and her little companion are pulled into a journey that reveals long-buried truths about their planet and about themselves. Journey across frozen peaks, deep oceans, and forgotten ruins in a hand-painted world where nature meets technology. With no spoken dialogue, characters express themselves through an alien language, letting the world, music, and your choices carry the story and inviting you to find its meaning for yourself.


Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered – Deluxe Edition

Crystal Dynamics

$29.99

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered

Crystal Dynamics

$24.99

Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered – March 3

Return to the dark world of Nosgoth as you take control of both the vampire Kain and his betrayed lieutenant Raziel, two powerful entities bound by the conflict between free will and fate. Armed with legendary blades and supernatural abilities, battle through towering gothic spaces filled with enemies, puzzles, and long-buried secrets – where no victory comes without a cost. Experience a timeless dark fantasy reborn for a new generation.


Scott Pilgrim EX

Tribute Games Inc.

Scott Pilgrim EX – March 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Scott Pilgrim EX is an action-adventure game where players can fight as Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers and more as they battle through the fractured time and space of Toronto. The combat gameplay is driven by instinct and improvisation – a hectic ballet of fists and flair that rewards strategy, spontaneity, and a good bit of brawling chaos. String together stylish combos, experiment with wacky weapons and unleash over-the-top special attacks. Characters can be upgraded with special badges that enhance their stats and grant special bonuses. Players will explore a whole city of interconnected levels to meet old and new faces, complete quests, and discover hidden areas. Multiplayer co-op, local or online, lets up to four players join in on the action, making it a fun, dynamic experience.


Vampire Therapist

Ultimate Games S.A.

Vampire Therapist – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Guide vampires through centuries of emotional baggage, decades of delusions and the odd bout of self-loathing with real cognitive behavioral therapy concepts and become a Vampire Therapist! Even vampires need a shoulder to cry on when a neck to bite just won’t do.


Alex the Rabbit

Well Game Studio

Alex the Rabbit – March 2

Alex the Rabbit is a classic, fun, and challenging 2D platformer. Join Alex, a brave rabbit, on an action-packed adventure through colorful and dangerous worlds. Your goal is to collect all the carrots scattered across the map, overcome obstacles and enemies, and find the Golden Carrot, located at the end of each level. The game features 20 carefully crafted levels, increasing the challenge with each level, as well as 4 epic boss battles that will test your skills and reflexes. If you enjoy retro-style platformers with classic gameplay and engaging progression, Alex the Rabbit is the perfect choice!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Cryptical Path

Alchemy Games

$14.99

Cryptical Path – March 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Cryptical Path is an action-packed roguelite where you control the dungeon. Step into the role of the Architect, the creator of the mysterious Hexium, and shape your own path while battling the vengeful souls trapped within your creation. Here, the power is yours. Choose, combine, and build rooms to transform the labyrinth every run. Craft unique strategies, personalize your journey, and explore thousands of possibilities in this innovative roguelite-builder, where you don’t rely on luck—you create the challenge.


Meowgic Mix (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Meowgic Mix – March 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Welcome to Meowgic Mix, an adorable pixel art puzzle where a floating cat on a living book must mix potions and deliver them to the correct cauldrons. There are 30 stages inside a magical academy, with challenges that require strategy, logic, and a good dose of feline cleverness.


Teeny Tiny Town

Ocean Media

Teeny Tiny Town – March 3

Cozy and colorful city building puzzle where every move counts. By merging three matching tiles, you’ll gradually transform a humble settlement into a thriving metropolis—growing your world from adorable beginnings to awe-inspiring skylines. With no timers or pressure, you’re free to build, relax, and shape your town at your own pace.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Ultimate General: Civil War

Samustai LTD

$29.99

Ultimate General: Civil War – March 3
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Fight in the American Civil War campaign (1861-1865) – from small engagements to massive battles that can last several days over hundreds of square miles of terrain. Based on your successes and reputation you might get access to more corps, divisions and brigades. Keep your soldiers alive and they will learn to fight better, turning from green rookies to crack veterans. The Officers rank up based on their units’ performance, but it’s war and they can be wounded or even get killed in action. There is a huge variety of Civil War weaponry from mass-produced Enfield pattern rifles to rare Whitworths. Use every opportunity to overthrow your enemy and win the battle.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Avenue Escape

Eastasiasoft Limited

Avenue Escape – March 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Bring order to the urban chaos as you solve traffic jams in brainteasing puzzle action! Are you clever enough to clear the streets? Avenue Escape is a puzzle game that challenges you to direct traffic jams and safely move cars through busy cityscapes! Each of Avenue Escape’s 50 levels features a bustling scene packed with cars, pedestrians and traffic lights. It’s up to you to figure out the perfect sequence to move every vehicle to its destination.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Cubic Figures

DelustiGames

Cubic Figures – March 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Cubic Figures is a minimalistic puzzle game where you need to make up different figures from a number of given shaped blocks. Take the block, rotate if needed and put it into the outlined figure to fill it. Repeat until all the blocks will be revealed and the outline of the figure will be filled with shaped blocks. Take your time: there’s no need to hurry.


Discolored 2

Godbey Games LLC

$19.99

Discolored 2 – March 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

All the colors have gone missing from the world. While on a mission to bring them back you discover you are being hunted by those who would see the colors banished. Your only hope is a woman in red who may be holding the key to preventing the world from becoming discolored. Discolored 2 is a first-person puzzle horror filled with mystery and suspense. Taking place in a world where color is power, your task is to use your puzzle-solving skills to protect it from a sinister organization.


King Slime in Cashtle (Xbox Series X|S)

2dragontails

King Slime in Cashtle – March 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

King Slime in Cashtle is a precision 2D platformer where you play as the ruler of the slime kingdom on a very important mission: collect every last tax coin left behind in your own castle. Jump, dodge, and maneuver through dangerous castle biomes filled with traps, challenges, and tight platforming sequences.


Lantern Push (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Lantern Push – March 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Light the right path in Lantern Push, a charming puzzle game where you control a red panda pushing paper lanterns onto Magical Ember Seals scattered across the ground. When a lantern reaches a seal, magic happens: it lights up, floats gently, and marks another step toward the perfect solution.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Messy Up

E-Home Entertainment Development Company Ltd


$7.99

$6.39

Messy Up – March 4
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Take on the role of cats and dogs and go wild, wreaking havoc at home! Each pet possesses unique abilities and skills, with various types of pets waiting for you to explore. When other pet companions are caught, you can go to rescue them. Either cause mayhem alone or collaborate with friends to create trouble for the owner. Up to three players can cooperate in dismantling the house. Play as either the owner or a pet, deciding whether to demolish or defend the furniture and lock up the mischievous pets.


Pixel Into the Galaxy

Bits ‘n’ Bite Studios

Pixel Into the Galaxy – March 4

Come along on this adventure and help an explorer reach his destination. Run, jump, and dodge obstacles to reach your goal: Earth.


Aery – The King’s Messenger

EpiXR Games

$11.99

Aery – The King’s Messenger – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

You start in the middle of a colorful fantasy world right in front of a small village. You are a little bird that moves continuously forward and are free to fly wherever you want. After you have played around a little and enjoyed the sensation of flying you start to discover the nearby areas and hidden secrets. You fly towards a giant building with many decorations and lights on it. Once you come closer you see a bright shining memory shard right in front of you. The memory shards are hidden all over the different worlds and contain memories and information that the little bird requires to explore the world and rescue the king’s kingdom. You fly towards the shard and collect it. Once you have found a certain amount of memory shards you will be able to enter the next area and the story continues.


Beyond Words

PQube Ltd

Beyond Words – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

From the creators of GoldenEye & TimeSplitters comes Beyond Words the genre-defining fusion of roguelike strategy and word-crafting. Build powerful combos, unlock upgrades, and master a challenge where victory is spelled one letter at a time. Build powerful word combos, unlock game-changing upgrades and journey through a living puzzle shaped by your decisions. Every choice, every letter, every placement matters.


Docked

Saber Interactive Inc.


2

$29.99

Docked – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Docked is a realistic simulator where you operate heavy machinery, restore and develop the port’s infrastructure, and manage day-to-day operations to help your port expand and thrive. Pre-order Docked to unlock the Premium Reach Stacker vehicle, a sleek, modern upgrade you can switch to at any time. Enjoy a distinctive three-tone body color design, a boosted engine, quicker acceleration and braking, and a boom lift that’s 15% faster.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Extra Coin

CINIC Games

Extra Coin – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

They replaced the old world with a new one, a better one. As wars tore the globe apart and overpopulation pushed humanity to the brink, a lifeline emerged: The Arcade, a virtual world offering escape. In this digital utopia, everything is vibrant and shiny, everything runs smoothly… or so we’ve been led to believe. Mika never trusted The Arcade’s ads, but her parents did. Hoping for a better life, they left without an explanation. Now, she’s stepping into The Arcade to find them and uncover the truth behind its glossy facade.


Shrink Rooms

Happy Player

$4.99

Shrink Rooms – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Run! The room is collapsing! This is a box-pushing puzzle escape game set in a collapsing room. You’ll need to count your moves precisely, dodge bottomless pits and traps, use all kinds of mechanisms in the room, and push crates to solve puzzles—escape before the walls crush you into a puddle!


Slide Viking: Treasure’s Path (Xbox Series)

Afil Games

Slide Viking: Treasure’s Path – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In Slide Viking: Treasure’s Path, you step into a charming Viking village filled with clever puzzles and personality. Controlling a fearless Viking, your mission is to push axes onto treasure chests, marking each one before claiming the hidden riches. With 30 levels of increasing difficulty, the game blends logic and strategy across compact boards full of pixel art details. Every move matters, as the Viking moves tile by tile, requiring careful planning to position the axes correctly without getting trapped in dead ends.


Veggie Warfare – Feast of Fury

TB Games

$4.99

Veggie Warfare – Feast of Fury – March 5
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

The veggies have snapped! Blast through endless waves of enraged carrots, onions, and mutant tomatoes in this fast-paced rogue-like FPS. Collect upgrades, unlock new arenas, and survive the Feast of Fury — where dinner fights back!


Xbox Play Anywhere

A Winding Path

Flynn’s Arcade


$6.99

$5.59

A Winding Path – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

A Winding Path is a hand-drawn adventure game about finding the beauty of the world and enjoying the little things. Explore the atmosphere of ancient caverns, enchanting forests and busy settlements, help colorful characters, find the rain and unveil its magic. In a whimsical fantasy world, the rain has ceased to fall. The rivers are running low and the crops have withered. Seeking to uncover the elemental mystery, you find an enchanted lyre and set out on a magical journey to restore balance to the world.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Fortuna Magus

KEMCO

Fortuna Magnus – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Amane, Tia, and Lill lived peacefully with their father, Kalius, until his sudden disappearance shattered their lives. Ten years later, the siblings search for answers and the truth behind their father’s fate. Fortuna Magus features strategic turn-based battles built around revelations and TP (Technical Points). Learn new spells and tandem attacks by meeting combat conditions, manage TP to unleash devastating special skills, and strengthen characters through element levels using magestones. Deep customization and rewarding progression await long after the story ends.


Jurassic Differences

Jolly Lobster Interactive

Jurassic Differences – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Get ready to travel back in time with Jurassic Differences, a spot the difference adventure packed with prehistoric thrills and visual surprises! Each level drops you into a vibrant dinosaur filled scene with two nearly identical images, but don’t be fooled. A missing horn, a shifted tail, or a subtle change in the jungle landscape is waiting to be uncovered. Whether you’re racing the clock in Challenge Mode or exploring at your own pace in Casual Mode, every puzzle delivers that satisfying “aha!” moment. With colourful prehistoric visuals, easy-to-learn controls, and a compelling “just one more level” feel, Jurassic Differences is the perfect game for puzzle lovers who enjoy sharp observation, playful details, and uncovering every hidden difference in a world ruled by dinosaurs.


Mirage 7

Blowfish Studios

Mirage 7 – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Mirage 7 is a dark fairytale, a third-person adventure with a unique blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements. Deep in an arid desert, a reconnaissance drone crashes from the sky. The explosion rocks a secret underground military base, and a mysterious “hybrid” is awoken within. In another time or another world, the young Nadira and her pet lizard Jiji begin their journey through desert sands to find the mysterious oasis of Jala. According to the legend, this is where they will find Taishma, the Lost Princess, hidden in the Moon Palace – only she can fulfill Nadira’s deepest wish, and bring her little sister back to life. Follow Nadira’s tale, as she journeys to reveal a secret that goes beyond her comprehension.


Monster Ramp Racing

Gametry LLC

Monster Ramp Racing – March 6

Monster Ramp Racing is not just another racing game—it’s an adrenaline-fueled ride that pushes your driving skills to the limit. Take the wheel of massive, customizable monster trucks, conquer giant ramps, perform epic jumps, and master endless climbing roads in the most thrilling off-road experience!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Nekomimi Days ~365 Days with You~

moesoft

Nekomimi Days ~365 Days with You~ – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

On a rainy night, Yuto, a freelance illustrator, encounters a mysterious girl named Milk with cat ears in a back alley. After taking in the non-human girl, Yuto’s once-quiet daily life becomes lively and warm. Milk’s pure and innocent reactions to modern civilization gently heal Yuto’s heart. As they spend time together, the two gradually form a bond as if they were a true family. This is a heartwarming visual novel about the gentle connections that transcend species and background.


Xbox Play Anywhere

Order 13

JanduSoft


$10.49

$8.39

Order 13 – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

You’re all alone working at a remote fulfillment center. Your only companion is your cat, a comforting presence in the vast, dark warehouse you are stationed in. Start each shift by reviewing incoming orders, as the demands increase, unlock deeper sections of the warehouse and uncover its unsettling secrets. But it’s not just your survival, your cat depends on you.


Risky Roads

NOSTRA GAMES LTD

Risky Roads – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Running across the road is a very challenging task for a little chicken. Lots of very fast cars and unexpected obstacles. You need a good reaction to help this cute little guy. Don’t forget that he has friends and they also want to cross the road.


Sumerian Six

Crunching Koalas


$29.99

$25.49

Sumerian Six – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Lead an unlikely team of commando scientists behind enemy lines to fight Nazis, uncover arcane mysteries, and wield experimental technology to turn the tide of WWII in this real-time tactical stealth adventure. Sumerian Six follows the Enigma Squad, a team of commandos composed of the world’s greatest scientists who combine their skills to conduct secret missions in their fight against the Third Reich. Together, you seek to thwart ex-member Hans Kammler’s nefarious plans involving a powerful, mystical substance named Geiststoff.


Trigger Path (Xbox Series X|S)

2dragontails

Trigger Path – March 6
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Trigger Path is a charming sokoban-style puzzle game where you play as a clever little knight solving tactical challenges by dragging bouncy enemies onto trap tiles. Get them all in place, the trap activates, defeats the enemies, and you move on to the next puzzle! It’s all about smart movement and satisfying setups. With clean controls, unlimited undo, and instant restarts, every level invites you to try, rethink, and improve, without pressure.


Word Quest Pirates

Gametry LLC

Word Quest Pirates – March 6

Set sail on a thrilling puzzle adventure where the seas are filled with hidden words and untold treasures. In Word Quest: Pirates, you’ll solve exciting word searches to unlock treasure chests, outsmart rival pirates, and uncover legendary loot. With each level, the challenge grows as you chart your way across mysterious islands and ancient maps. Do you have what it takes to become the ultimate pirate word master?


The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 2 to 6 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

How Kiln’s Two-Week Prototype Became a Full-Fledged Journey

How Kiln’s Two-Week Prototype Became a Full-Fledged Journey

Summary

  • Learn how Double Fine’s newest creation came to life, from the inkling of an idea to a pottery party brawler.
  • Through iterations and experimentation – and real-life pottery classes – Double Fine has taken one of its most creative and technically ambitious leaps ever.
  • Kiln is launching Spring 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Play Anywhere, Handheld Optimized, PlayStation 5, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Sign up at DoubleFine.com for a chance to play in the closed beta taking place in March 2026.

I’ve always found the “ah ha!” moments of game development yield some of the most interesting stories, because that moment of inspiration can come in many forms — and when you least expect it. It could happen on a stroll in the park, in the middle of the grocery store, or in the case of Kiln, while looking at clay pots on the Internet.

“I had this idea of clay molding in the back of my head ever since I had come across some pictures of pots when I was online researching something else,” Project Lead Derek Brand tells me. “It immediately stood out to me that there’s a lot of variety in pots, and you could probably make that on a controller because it’s more of a 2D kind of representation. Then it all started snapping into place from there, and I had a pitch for the next Amnesia Fortnight. It kind of came together at the last minute.”

Amnesia Fortnights are semi-annual game jam events that Double Fine holds internally with members of its studio. Here they’re given a limited amount of time, a fortnight (two weeks), to turn the inkling of an idea into a playable game – this is when Derek pitched his idea to bring Kiln to life. “I played a lot of action games at the time, and I wanted to make my little clay characters fight someone else’s little clay characters. I was thinking that’d be fun — and so that was in the back of my mind — but didn’t know how to do that on a controller.”

One of the many fun details Derek revealed was that as development started to kick off in earnest, the team at Double Fine started to take pottery classes in real life, which contributed to understanding all the different elements involved in the making of pottery. That’s when the ideas really started to flow.

“There are a whole world of techniques and processes and so much raw material to pull into the game, that once we were like, ‘Okay, you can sculpt a character,’ there’s so much more you can do with clay. And all those ideas just piled on,” Brand explains. “We spent a long time talking about your basic shape, but now I want to dip it into glaze — to glaze a pot you take a pair of metal tongs and you dunk it into a bucket of glaze — and really trying to pull those pieces of real-life pot making into the game and introducing those ideas to players.”

From there, more ideas came about in terms of how a player could customize their pot beyond its basic shape. From sticking on handles, lids and spouts, and even getting a little sillier by adding stickers, there are countless different ways you can take a basic clay pot and really make it your own. “It all came down to research and ideas from people on the team and then having a pile of those ideas and whittling them all down to something that is coherent and well designed,” Brand says.

But how do you translate a difficult hobby like clay pot making into a competitive multiplayer game? Ensuring it’s as approachable as possible. “After the Amnesia Fortnight prototype, we got through that part and a lot of the initial ideas of, ‘I can make a character on the wheel like a pottery wheel’ — that initial thought was naive on my part. I had taken ceramics in college and learned a little bit about pot making, but it was more of a way to fit character creation onto a controller.”

By using a controller, you can move your little spirit hands up and down the shape of the clay as it rotates on a virtual turning wheel. In addition, you have access to several shaping tools that can bring another level of detail to the pot creation. As I touched on in my first look at the game, it didn’t take long for me to get the hang of it – it all felt very natural when given a few minutes of time with clay molding tools. I get the impression players will be able to engage with this creative aspect of Kiln just as easily.

When asking Derek if he had any tips for the budding clay pot maker in all of us, it was simple. “Don’t be scared. Don’t be precious with it,” he tells me. “Try a bunch of stuff and figure out what you like because there’s not a lot of limits put on you in terms of what you can shape and how many things you can try. So really experiment with the tools. If you like really straight lines, there’s tools for that. And if you like more curvy, wiggly things, just go with your gut or your heart.”

Another one of those iterative ideas to occur during this time was adjusting the player’s viewpoint. “We have this mantra on the team that the pots are the star of the game. When we started pulling the camera out, and the lens got longer, you could see all the weird creations that people were making together and see teams as units on the battlefield. And it just felt like a better choice for the way that we wanted to present these cool player creations.”

Having played a few rounds myself, I can see what Brand is talking about. Part of Kiln’s appeal, beyond being pick-up-and-play friendly, is seeing everyone’s creativity on full display – both on your team and on your opponents’. Also, seeing more of the pathways of the level layout above your character is vital to effectively navigating through both the battlefield and the fights that surround your pot.

If it wasn’t clear just by looking at the screenshots and gameplay, the pot making in Kiln is what really helps it stand out amongst other party brawlers – nowhere else can you have this level of deep character customization to bring into a multiplayer battler. The sheer variety of pots you’ll face off against in the game, when factoring in glazes, shapes, and stickers, is practically limitless. This helps give Kiln a singular, personal touch because these fighters really make you feel like you’re contributing to the game in real time. And that’s pretty special.

Having all these playable spirits create and discover clay bodies for each other is a key component to your time with Kiln. But don’t feel pressured to have to go to battle. As Derek tells me, if you want to really focus on the pot making, you can hang out in the lobby and just pull up a chair. “There’s no limit to how many times you can throw clay on the wheel, and you can just experiment and make all sorts of things and try out all sorts of combinations. We really want people to engage with the creation and destruction elements of the game. The theme of the game right now is you make and destroy, and it’s okay to get broken because you can just, you know, make a new thing.”

When you’re moving through The Wedge, the game’s social lobby, you’re also free to jump out of your pot and jump into someone else’s creation. And equally, someone could come along and take your shape as well and add it to their collection. “The name of the person who made it is always saved on that pot,” Brand explains. “So those pots can travel. They can go to different servers. There’s also a place in the lobby, these pedestals lined up around The Wedge, those are your favorite pots. And that will be displayed for everyone to try out and dive into. And if you see a pot that you really like, you can dive into it and save it to your collection.”

And this circles back to the mantra the team at Double Fine are bringing to Kiln in that the pots really are the star of the game – you will directly have a hand in shaping your journey within Kiln. “I’m excited for people to get excited for pottery,” Derek says when asked what he’s looking forward to now that Kiln has been revealed to be in development. “I think it’s an underrepresented art form. I just want to introduce more people to that craft. It’s super cool. It’s a super old, amazing art form. And there are very few games that leverage that cool activity.”

And with its day one arrival on Game Pass in Spring 2026, players who are curious about checking it out will have it right there at their fingertips. “My favorite part about Game Pass, I think it’s just the reach that you get. Anyone who’s just curious about this weird pottery game can load it up and try making a pot — then try smashing each other. I can’t wait for the game to be that accessible to such a wide variety of people. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Kiln is launching Spring 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Play Anywhere, Handheld Optimized, PlayStation 5, Steam, and with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Sign up at DoubleFine.com for a chance to play in the closed beta taking place in March 2026.

Xbox Play Anywhere

Kiln

Xbox Game Studios

Kiln is a pottery power-fantasy that celebrates both Creativity and Destruction: the pleasure that comes from both making beautiful things, and then smashing those things to smithereens. Create your pot, grab your friends, and join a team of colorful spirits who face off against one another in online arenas, where the ceramic creations you sculpt on a pottery wheel become the bodies you bring into battle.

The shape of your pots affect your attributes and your play-style. Will you be big, or small? Wide, or tall? Will you make a plate, a jug, a cup or a bowl?

There are a multitude of different sizes and combinations to discover, each with unique abilities and attacks, along with new and surprising ways to play. Work together to find the best combination of pots and play-styles to break through enemy lines, and collect enough water to douse the flames of the enemy’s kiln — Does your team have what it takes to shape and smash your way to victory? As the battlefield becomes strewn with the shattered fragments of friend and foes alike, your brawling skills and some great teamwork will be required to assure victory.

After the battle is won, head to The Wedge to practice your pottery prowess, decorate your pots to make them yours, then share your creations with others (and admire their handiwork, too).

Create and Destroy Together – Making pots and breaking pots are both better with friends. Hang out, experiment with clay and share what you make, or jump right into multiplayer battles and start swinging!

Become a Master Potter– Manipulate realistic clay to craft and decorate in an immersive pottery wheel experience featuring a variety of tools and techniques.

The post How Kiln’s Two-Week Prototype Became a Full-Fledged Journey appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Towerborne’s Full Game Update is Available Today

Towerborne’s Full Game Update is Available Today

Towerborne Key Art

Summary

  • Following its Xbox Game Preview release this past April, Towerborne is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Game Pass (Premium and Ultimate), is handheld verified and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.
  • Towerborne will be available as a premium game for $24.99 for the Standard Edition and $29.99 for the Deluxe Edition.

From the creators at Stoic, Towerborne is a cooperative, side‑scrolling action RPG brawler that blends fast, satisfying combat with deep customization and a hopeful, heroic tone. Venture across a crumbling world, uncover the mysteries of the City of Numbers, and fight back the corruption threatening humanity—solo or alongside friends.

The full game launch delivers:

  • A complete story‑driven campaign
  • New biomes, enemies, and bosses
  • Offline story play with optional online co‑op
  • Hundreds of missions, bounties, and side quests
  • A premium, one‑time purchase experience

Check out our last Xbox Wire post from Stoic’s CEO & President Trisha Stouffer for more information on what’s gone into this full game update.

As a thank you for their great support, Towerborne Founders will also get a special treat at launch with Day 1 access to unlock Brutal Mode — the ultimate endgame challenge, deadlier AI, elite Vanguard enemies, harsher encounters, and a less forgiving battlefield built to test true combat mastery.

  • High risk, high reward, unlock after completing the Campaign to earn increased loot and prove your build, skill, and execution against the game’s toughest fights.
  • Brutal from scratch is the ultimate proving ground! Start a new save, re-earn gear and skills, and fight through the full campaign under Brutal rules. Built for players chasing peak mastery, every victory reflects smart builds, sharp execution, and true command of the combat system.

Whether you’re returning from Early Access or stepping into the Belfry for the first time, now is the perfect time to become an Ace.

Towerborne is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Steam, PlayStation 5, Game Pass (Premium and Ultimate), is handheld verified and supports Xbox Play Anywhere.

Xbox Play Anywhere

Towerborne

Xbox Game Studios


221

PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass

Towerborne is an exciting side-scrolling Action RPG Brawler. Rise again as an Ace, an immortal warrior reborn to defend the Belfry against the darkness beyond its walls. Journey across a crumbling world, uncover the mystery of the fallen City of Numbers, and push back the corruption threatening humanity’s survival.

Master the Mayhem
Experience classic combo-based brawler combat combined with a modern RPG. Customize your Ace with powerful gear, experiment with diverse combat styles, and refine your skills through relentless battles. Every fight makes you stronger, every victory opens new strategies, and every weapon reshapes your journey.

Fight Your Way
Whether you want quick pick-up-and-play sessions or intricate systems to master, Towerborne lets you choose your play style. Its fast-paced, responsive combat rewards timing and creativity, making every encounter feel fresh and challenging as you grow stronger.

Grow Stronger Together
Join forces with up to three other Aces* or venture solo with Umbra lending unique abilities to your side. Teamwork amplifies the chaos and the thrill, where synergy and strategy make the difference between victory and defeat. Rally together to fight as one.

Take an Unforgettable Journey
Towerborne expands beyond combat with a compelling Story Campaign designed to spark excitement and fuel unstoppable action. For players who crave more than battles, Towerborne’s full story campaign brings to life the lore, characters, and stakes of the Belfry’s survival. Explore, progress, and uncover the world at your own pace and take your Ace’s journey offline then reconnect online to fight alongside friends without missing a beat.

The post Towerborne’s Full Game Update is Available Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

The Chicken’s Guide to Surviving Resident Evil Requiem

The Chicken’s Guide to Surviving Resident Evil Requiem

Resident Evil Requiem Key Art

You’ll never catch me watching a Saw movie. I don’t need even one night at Freddy’s to know it’s not for me. I wouldn’t even drive past Elm Street. And yet – I’ve played every single mainline Resident Evil game going back to the original in 1996 – including Resident Evil Requiem (available tonight for Xbox Series X|S). It’s easily one of my favorite series of all time.  

So gather ’round, my jump scare-averse friends. Allow me to put my 30 years of Resident experience (and my natural immunity to the T-virus) to work to help you conquer your fears and enjoy one of the biggest games of 2026.

Set the Scene 

Some fans will tell you that the way to play a horror game is late at night, lights out, headphones on. Do not listen to these masochists. Setting up a calming environment goes a long way to ensuring that the terrors on your TV stay there, safely confined to a little glowing box on the other side of the room. Resident Evil games are intense, so to minimize my feeling of dread, I typically play during daylight hours – and aren’t those days getting noticeably longer? 

Hell, turn on the lights for some added (lack of) ambience, if that helps. Turn the volume down a bit – you don’t need every creaking floorboard spiking your adrenaline in 7.1 surround. When things get overwhelming – and they will – you can pause, look upon your more serene surroundings, and return to the game when you’re ready to be horrified once more.   

Set the Settings 

Now we’re almost ready to start the game – after a quick stop in the Settings menu to tone down the fear factor. A game’s difficulty can certainly contribute to its scariness; if you know death is lurking around every corner, you’re going to play scared. Fortunately, Resident Evil Requiem allows for a Casual game mode, allowing one to “Relax while enjoying the story and its puzzles.” See, just like a cozy game! Having played through the game on Standard (Modern), I found the difficulty balanced, with reasonably plentiful ammo and healing items. 

Requiem also offers a series first: adjustable perspective settings. While the game will nudge you towards 1st person camera for Grace Ashcroft’s sections, the 3rd person option gives you a bit more situational awareness; essential when you’re trying to avoid detection… which you will want to do whenever possible.   

[Deep Breath] Here We Go 

OK, now we’re ready to start the game. While Requiem will see you alternate between playing as FBI Analyst Grace Ashcroft and Ageless Badass Leon S. Kennedy, early on you’ll spend much more time in Grace’s boots. While impressively brave, Grace is not nearly so battle-hardened as Leon, meaning you’ll spend a lot more of her time sneaking around, avoiding combat when possible, and running away from unkillable eldritch horrors.  

There’s a trope in horror movies that the monster is always scarier when you don’t fully know what it looks like, and Requiem‘s early scenes utilize this technique masterfully. In an early encounter, Grace encounters a large… thing… in the dark, and I don’t mind telling you that I panicked and ended up sprinting directly into a dead end. Instead of struggling to make my way out I decided to use this as a learning experience… and just stood there. The creature soon came fully into view: yes, it was horrific, but when it lunged at Grace it wasn’t fatal. It attacked again, and yet Grace was still standing. It wasn’t until the third attack that I received a gruesome Game Over.

When the game reloaded, I came into the scene knowing that I didn’t need to be perfect in order to survive – just do your best and know that will probably be good enough to help you survive. Also, try not to get chased into dead ends.  

Pattern Recognition: It’s Not Just for Soulslikes! 

New to the series, the living dead of Resident Evil Requiem aren’t all mindless shamblers. Perhaps due to the recency of being turned, many have retained a shred of their humanity, continuing to go about what they were doing before they became a zombified murder machine. Unless disturbed, orderlies keep mopping the floor, a cook chops rancid meat with a giant cleaver, another keeps the power bill low by turning off lights that you left on.  

As much as you may want to, there’s no need to kill them all (and Grace doesn’t really have enough firepower to do so). But as they follow the pathways that served them in life, you’ll find that most zombies roam predictably, and can be easily distracted or avoided by flicking on a light, throwing an empty bottle, or just staying out of their way. Once you know how dumb the undead are, they cause a lot less tension. 

You Can Do This! 

That said, not every abomination in the game is so easily avoided. Without question, Grace’s early scenes inspire the most dread in the game; if you can brave the opening couple of hours, know that you can handle anything the game will throw at you. Personally, I find myself most sensitive to jump scares when I first start playing a new Resident Evil game.

After a few hours, you’ll become more confident in Grace’s abilities, improve her survivability, and get better at anticipating when the scares might happen – and how to react when they inevitably do. Surviving The Worst Night Ever is why we play Resident Evil games – if I can have fun doing it, anyone can. 

Resident Evil Requiem is available tonight for Xbox Series X|S… but you’re excused if you wait ’til the sun comes up.

Resident Evil Requiem Deluxe Edition

CAPCOM CO., LTD.


224

$79.99

Pre-order bonus:
– Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse

– This content may be made available at a later date.
– This costume will change Grace’s appearance only.

Resident Evil Requiem Deluxe Edition. Includes the full game and the Deluxe Kit. A must have for true survivors.

The Deluxe Kit contains the following content:
– Grace’s Costume: Dimitrescu
– Grace’s Costume: Film Noir
– Leon’s Costume: RE4
– Leon’s Costume: Apocalypse
– Leon’s Costume: Film Noir
– Screen Filter: Apocalypse
– Screen Filter: Film Noir
– Four weapon skins including S&S M232 Weapon Skin: Apocalypse
– Mr. Raccoon Charm
– DSO Emblem Charm
– Audio Pack: Raccoon City Classic
– Files: Letters from 1998

A new era of survival horror arrives with Resident Evil Requiem, the latest and most immersive entry yet in the iconic Resident Evil series. Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Both of their journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill you to your core.

*The items in this set can be purchased individually. Please be careful not to purchase the same item twice.

Resident Evil Requiem

CAPCOM CO., LTD.


240

$69.99

Pre-order bonus:
– Grace’s Costume: Apocalypse

– This content may be made available at a later date.
– This costume will change Grace’s appearance only.

A new era of survival horror arrives with Resident Evil Requiem, the latest and most immersive entry yet in the iconic Resident Evil series. Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Both of their journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill you to your core.

*There are other bundles that include this product. Please be careful of duplicate purchases.

The post The Chicken’s Guide to Surviving Resident Evil Requiem appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Ghetto Zombies Graffiti Squad: a Mash-up of Urban Co-op Chaos, Music and Style

Ghetto Zombies Graffiti Squad: a Mash-up of Urban Co-op Chaos, Music and Style

Ghetto Zombies key art

Summary

  • Out today on Xbox Series X|S.
  • Fast-paced combat with multiple enemy types and outrageous weapons.
  • Original soundtrack and unique game design.

Set in a city overrun by the undead, Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad is a single-player, top-down action shooter that blends fast-paced combat, progression-driven gameplay, and a striking pixel art aesthetic inspired by Brazilian urban culture. Players take control of graffiti artists fighting to reclaim the city, not only by surviving waves of zombies, but by conquering territory through graffiti, which plays a central role in map progression and unlocks new paths, challenges, and encounters.

Today Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad officially launches exclusively on Xbox Series X|S, marking a major milestone for Brazilian indie development and for Nuntius Games’ expansion into the console space. Developed by Fogo Games, the title arrives on Xbox as part of the ID@Xbox program, with a launch built around close collaboration, long-term support, and a strong creative identity.

According to Fabio Cacho, Creative Director of Ghetto Zombies, the idea for the game came from a very personal place.

“We always had this idea of imagining how we, growing up in the outskirts, would deal with a zombie apocalypse. That’s where the inspiration started. We brought our neighborhoods, our music culture, characters that represent peripheral youth, and blended all of that with bizarre “Rick & Morty”-style zombies, crazy pixel art shooters like Atomicrops and Enter the Gungeon. We threw everything into a blender, and that’s how Ghetto Zombies came to life.”

The result is a game that feels both chaotic and intentional. Combat is designed to be addictive and challenging, with short, intense sessions and constant progression. The game is structured into four chapters, each featuring around ten stages and ending with a boss encounter. These bosses are not static fights, as the same zombie boss returns at the end of each chapter with new abilities and transformations, forcing players to adapt their strategies over time.

Weird and Wonderful Arsenal

One of the standout elements of Ghetto Zombies is its arsenal. You have access to over 60 weapons, expanding to more than 70 variations when special versions are included. These range from traditional firearms to absurd creations like a gum ball shooter, ketchup blaster, and explosive spray weapons, each with its own mechanics and combat rhythm. Enemy variety matches that creativity, with 22 different zombie types, featuring distinct attack patterns, mutations, and behaviors that keep encounters unpredictable.

Endless Training Mode

Outside of the main campaign, this mode is designed for mastery and experimentation. It features infinite rounds, randomized enemies, and escalating difficulty, making it ideal for testing builds, improving skills, and pushing high-score performance. Enhance your hero’s attributes and abilities with a robust upgrade system, built for experimentation and reinforcing the game’s replayability.

All of this is backed by an original soundtrack inspired by Brazilian music and urban rhythms, further strengthening the game’s identity and atmosphere.

Key Features

  • Single-player, top-down action with fast-paced combat
  • Four playable characters with distinct attributes and playstyles
  • Four campaign chapters with recurring boss battles and evolving challenges
  • Over 60 weapons, expanding to 70+ variations, including absurd and experimental designs
  • 22 enemy types with unique behaviors, mutations, and attacks
  • Graffiti-based progression system that unlocks new areas and challenges
  • Endless training mode with infinite waves and randomized encounters
  • Upgrade system for character abilities and attributes
  • Original soundtrack inspired by Brazilian culture
  • Exclusive to Xbox Series X|S, part of ID@Xbox

Launching Ghetto Zombies as an Xbox exclusive was a deliberate and meaningful decision for the team. As Fabio Cacho explains, the partnership went far beyond platform availability.

“Releasing exclusively on Xbox is a way of putting real care and dedication into a launch that’s very special to us. Xbox invested a significant amount into the project, and the ID@Xbox team supported us constantly through training and initiatives to promote the game. This level of attention matches the importance the platform has had in the game’s existence.”

At its core, Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad is about energy, curiosity, and style. When asked what he hopes players feel when they jump in, Fabio sums it up simply.

“A mix between the urge to blow up zombie heads and the curiosity of finding out what a gum ball gun can actually do.”

With its Xbox Series X|S launch, Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad arrives as a bold, culturally rooted, and creatively fearless action game, offering players a fast, stylish, and distinctly Brazilian take on the zombie genre.

Xbox Play Anywhere

Ghetto Zombies: Graffiti Squad

Nuntius Games

$9.99

A squad of mutant kids from the hood is humanity’s last hope in this colorful, humor-packed zombie apocalypse. Blast freaky zombies with ridiculous guns, spray wild graffiti across the city, and face a monstrous Zombie Boss at the end of every mission.

Each hero in the squad offers a unique playstyle: choose yours, dig the weirdest guns out of dumpsters, and enjoy the insane headshot animations.

THE SQUAD

Four young mutants, each with their own powers and playstyle, ready to blast some zombies! Pick your favorite (or the one with the collest look) and go wild!

FIND CRAZY GUNS

A Ketchup Blaster, a Gumball Shooter, a Shark-Head Shotgun, and even a Witch’s Broom, you’ll find all sorts of crazy guns to make zombies deeply regret their life (and death) choices.

KILL FREAK ZOMBIES

The writer definitely went off the rails here. Expect cute puppy zombies, tentacle-armed chonks, jacked-up cop zombies, and even an Frankenstein with underwear. It doesn’t make much sense, but hey, it’s hilarious.

GRAFFITI THE WALLS

Painting graffiti in a zombie apocalypse isn’t easy. Every time you try to tag a wall, you might just summon an entire horde of the undead. Art has never been so dangerous (or colorful)!

DEFEAT THE ZOMBIE BOSS

This zombie clearly had a different breakfast. It’s stronger, meaner, and keeps coming back stronger each time. Beat the Boss Zombie and show it who’s the real monster here!

The post Ghetto Zombies Graffiti Squad: a Mash-up of Urban Co-op Chaos, Music and Style appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Ninja Gaiden 4: The Two Masters DLC Arrives on March 4 – New Weapons, New Enemies, and New Challenges

Ninja Gaiden 4: The Two Masters DLC Arrives on March 4 – New Weapons, New Enemies, and New Challenges

Ninja Gaiden 4 Two Masters DLC Hero Image

We’re excited to announce that The Two Masters DLC for Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released to ninjas of all skill levels on March 4, 2026!

This story-driven expansion continues Yakumo and Ryu’s battle against fiends that once again threaten to take over the world. After completing the main story, players will unlock new story chapters that push both characters into battles against even deadlier enemies, challenging bosses, and new trials that will test the skills of even the most seasoned master ninja.

The Two Masters will also introduce two new weapons to expand Yakumo and Ryu’s combat styles. Yakumo will wield a new “Solitaire” scythe to cut down swathes of enemies and manage crowd control, while Ryu’s new “Jakotsumon” serpent gauntlets are perfect for fast, close-quarters combat and provide new ways to close the distance on opponents.

Alongside the new story content and weapons, players can look forward to Abyssal Road, a new endurance-style mode that challenges veterans with successive combat encounters and escalating intensity. This mode features 100 unique combat encounters, featuring enemies from both the base game and DLC, while debuting the new Special Blood Essence and Frenzied enemy mechanics that dynamically change battle conditions.

In addition to the new content, this update will deliver a wide range of quality-of-life improvements, balance adjustments, and bug fixes, including combat responsiveness improvements, new weapon set customization options, and fixes across multiple chapters to ensure a smoother experience throughout the campaign.

Players currently working their way through the game will be able to access Yakumo and Ryu’s new weapons mid-campaign. To access new Trials and unlock the Abyssal Road challenge mode, players must complete The Two Masters story campaign at any difficulty level.

Fire up Ninja Gaiden 4 today, finish the campaign, and prepare yourself for the trials ahead — The Two Masters is coming on March 4, 2026 and only true ninja masters will survive!

The Two Masters is included as a free update for those who purchased the Ninja Gaiden 4: Deluxe Edition ($89.99) or the Deluxe Upgrade ($20). It will also be available as a standalone offer for $14.99 USD on March 4, 2026.

Xbox Play Anywhere

NINJA GAIDEN 4 Deluxe Edition

Xbox Game Studios


250


$89.99

$58.49

The definitive ninja hack & slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.

Return of the Legend
Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.

Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved
NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.

An Ancient Enemy Returns
An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.

Experience a return to the intense, high-octane action of NINJA GAIDEN with the Deluxe Edition.

Includes:
• Base Game
• Future Gameplay Content*
• Traditional Dark Blue and Legendary Black Falcon Ryu Skins
• Blade of the Archfiend Ryu Weapon Skin
• Divine Chimera and Raven Master Yakumo Skins
• Divine Chimera Yakumo Weapon Set
• 50,000 Bonus NinjaCoin
• Additional In-Game Items

The post Ninja Gaiden 4: The Two Masters DLC Arrives on March 4 – New Weapons, New Enemies, and New Challenges appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Radical News – Alopex Enters the Fight in TMNT: Splintered Fate!

Radical News – Alopex Enters the Fight in TMNT: Splintered Fate!

TMNT Splintered Fate

Alopex joins the fight as our latest playable character in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate! She’s ready for action… and to get back at Shredder.

Our mutant arctic fox brings all her ninja assassin powers to the brawl. She swings her sickle-like kama around her, slicing foes with ease. She tosses kunai at close range to deal a major blast of damage. And the best part: she can briefly become invulnerable while targeting multiple enemies in rapid succession. Ninja powers that modify shuriken also affect her kunai, so try her out with the Ninja, Flame, and Water Powers for major impact.

Without further ado, here are some of the team’s highlights to watch out for:

Speed and power combos. Alopex is an agile and fast assassin – get in and out of combat to deal heavy damage then get back to safety. Play around with different Ninja Powers that modify her Kunai for extra elemental damage.

Power up with Artifacts. Alopex also comes with 5 new artifacts. The team’s particular favorite is Buddy the Wraith – the first ever companion in TMNT: Splintered Fate. Equip this artifact and Buddy joins you as an allied Utrom Wraith! Buddy levels up and evolves as you progress through your run – Buddy will pack a punch by the time you reach Shredder.

More Challenge. Alongside this update we have also introduced new 4-Pepper Challenges to the Arcade Mode. These will really ramp up the difficulty setting for experienced players. We have also added Ninja ranks, letting you showcase your victories with a new prestige system.

And to help you get the best out of Alopex and the new update, here are 5 top tips from the team:

Buff Alopex’s special. Alopex’s special hits several enemies. Elemental damage increases like Flame, Water and Utrom can add significant incremental damage to your special.

Use your special invulnerability. Alopex’s special also provides a brief window of invulnerability. Use it offensively and defensively! This can really help in causing an extra burst of damage while you’d be otherwise dodging and/or running away.

Beat the Mondo Metropoloso challenge (City 3). New Challenges require you to beat the Mondo Metropoloso challenge (City 3) before you can unlock them. Checking this box is a great way to start.

Max your Dragon Upgrades. These new challenges are harder than any other challenge that we’ve had in the game. Having fully levelled-up Dragon Upgrades is a great way to get ready for them.

Complete the campaign to help your ranking. The Ranking system updates with complete runs in the regular campaign and/or beating level-4 Challenges (new with this update). If you want to start with a higher ranking, completing the campaign is a great start.

With more heroes and challenges, now is a great time to jump into the portals of Splintered Fate. The Alopex Character DLC is available for purchase now, and the update with 4-Pepper challenges, ninja ranks, and more is free for all players. All content is available for Xbox Series X|S. Cowabunga!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate

Super Evil Megacorp


124


$29.99

$7.49

Unleash Turtle Power!
Grab your friends, pick your favorite Turtle and jump into an adventure to save Master Splinter from the Foot Clan! Master ninja skills, unite in bodacious online and local co-op gameplay, and conquer iconic NYC locales.

Looking for a more immediate, high-intensity challenge? Dive into the brand-new Arcade Mode packed with unpredictable runs, the Hex and Flex system, new biomes, fearsome Wraith enemies, and even more chaotic fun with friends.

Bodacious Co-Op Gameplay
Brace yourself for fast-paced, roguelike action where no two runs are the same. With randomized power-ups, room layouts, and boss modifiers, the excitement never ends. Take control of all four Turtles, each wielding unique powers, and team up with friends for bodacious co-op gameplay. Explore iconic NYC locations, upgrade your Turtle powers, and prepare to face off against formidable enemies.

Build Your Power
Master the powers of water and fire, utrom and ooze, light and darkness, robotics and -most importantly- Ninja to create unique and bodacious builds for your Turtles. Every run brings new challenges and opportunities – explore and perfect your favorite builds, and combine them with allies to conquer your enemies.

A Thrilling Story
When Splinter is kidnapped by Shredder, mysterious portals appear across NYC and the Turtles will battle to recover their father from the clutches of the Foot Clan. However, an even greater threat lingers in the shadows…

With additional settings, balance and tuning enhancements for PC, Splintered Fate promises to keep you engaged in the FIGHT, ADAPT, REPEAT portal loop. Be ready to restore peace to the city!

The post Radical News – Alopex Enters the Fight in TMNT: Splintered Fate! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

A Chance to Win A Super-charged Forza Horizon 6 Inspired Japanese Adventure Curated by Sung Kang

A Chance to Win A Super-charged Forza Horizon 6 Inspired Japanese Adventure Curated by Sung Kang

Summary

  • Xbox has teamed up with actor Sung Kang to celebrate the upcoming Forza Horizon 6 with the Horizon Passport Sweepstakes, an epic super-charged adventure in Japan.
  • The Horizon Passport Sweepstakes is curated by Sung Kang, with exclusive experiences inspired by Forza Horizon 6 and Japanese car culture.
  • Enter the limited-time sweepstakes for a chance to win a spot on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.

As a lifelong car enthusiast, storyteller, and someone who has spent countless hours working in garages and chasing that perfect drive, I’m beyond excited to share something truly special with the Forza and car community.

In Forza Horizon 6, you’re a tourist soaking in the sights of Japan, surrounded by Japanese culture, racing towards the goal of attending the Horizon Festival. We wanted to bring this to life for the fans, so I’ve teamed up with Xbox, Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios to create the Horizon Passport Sweepstakes, a once-in-a-lifetime experience curated by me, Sung Kang.

Forza Horizon is all about freedom, community, and the thrill of the drive. The Horizon Passport Sweepstakes takes winners on an epic super-charged adventure in Japan, packed with exclusive activities.

  • Cruise in a JDM car at night
  • Drifting Masterclass with Drift Icons
  • Tuning & Livery Design at Liberty Walk
  • Auto Retail & Museum Tour
  • Tokyo Drift Location Tour—in the Tokyo Drift cars
  • Walk & Snack Tour with Sung Kang
  • Go head-to-head with a Sumo
  • Exclusive advance screening of Sung Kang’s new film ‘Drifter.’

This trip was created for Forza Horizon and car fans, and is our way of saying thank you and celebrating the community.

Simply wishlist Forza Horizon 6 and submit an entry form at www.forzahorizonsweepstakes.com for your chance to win an epic trip to Japan with me. The sweepstakes runs from today through March 23, 2026. No Purchase Necessary. Age 21+. For official rules and eligibility details, visit here.

Japan Awaits.

The post A Chance to Win A Super-charged Forza Horizon 6 Inspired Japanese Adventure Curated by Sung Kang appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Hoomanz! Master the Art of Being a Cute Menace

Hoomanz! Master the Art of Being a Cute Menace

Hoomanz key art

Master the Art of Being a Menace: A Pro-Tips Guide to
Hoomanz!

  • Shadow Master: Use the Dark to Win
  • Smart Retreat: Learn from Every Hug
  • Trickster’s Kit: Turn the World Against Them
  • Ultimate Challenge: Master Your High Score
  • Pure Whimsy: Become One with Shoo

Hoomanz! has landed on Xbox Series X|S, and while it might look all hugs and whimsy, reclaiming Planet Erf from those pesky tourists requires a bit of tactical mischief.

Since you already know Shoo is the hero Erf deserves, we’ve put together a toolkit of advanced strategies to help you navigate the light, avoid the “dreaded” hugs, and maximize your scares. Here is how to master your inner menace.

Duality at Play: Ruling the Shadows

The difference between a successful spook and a forced cuddle session is often just a few inches of shadow. To keep Shoo at peak performance, remember:

  • The Lure: Use the Lure mechanic while standing at the edge of a light source to draw hoomanz into the dark. Never go to them; force them to play on your home turf. This is also the secret to setting up your most legendary scare combos!
  • The Ultimate Dash: If you’re caught in the light and a hooman spots you, your speed will drop as they move in for the hug. Pro-tip: You only have one shot at an escape dash before they catch you! If you don’t reach a bush or a rock in that single burst, you won’t have time to recharge. It’s all about the timing!
  • The Shadow-Chain: Don’t just look for stationary shadows. You can “chain” your movements by timing your dashes between the moving shadows of hoomanz. If a hooman is walking with a flashlight, their own shadow is your safest (and funniest) mobile base.

Hugs Instead of Defeat: Failing Forward

In Hoomanz!, “failure” is just a very cozy learning opportunity. If you find yourself trapped in a hug, use that retreat to the checkpoint to refine your strategy:

  • Patience is a Tool: If a specific hooman is particularly hard to reach, stop and observe. Every hooman has a “clumsy window”, a moment where they stop a little too close to the shadows to tune their banjo or scratch their head. That is your window to strike.
  • Don’t Trip Twice: Use your return to the checkpoint to better understand the terrain. The goal is to evolve. Avoid getting caught in the same spot twice by changing your approach angle!

Mischief and Tools: The Menace’s Toolkit

The environment is your best friend. Here’s how to exploit the tools at your disposal:

  • The Doll: If you’re lucky enough to find a doll, you’ve got a major tactical advantage. Place it strategically to create a diversion. It will buy you those precious seconds needed to slip past a guard or set up an elaborate prank elsewhere.
  • Bottled Panic: Don’t just lob objects at hoomanz randomly. By aiming at specific floor tiles or environmental props, you can literally dictate where a hooman will walk to investigate. You aren’t just playing the level; you’re setting the game!
  • The Yeti Bait: See an unfairly frozen Yeti? Don’t just admire it. Get close enough to be spotted by a hooman, then lead them toward the Yeti. At the last second, dash to the other side to avoid the trap yourself! Your “admirer” will fall right in, leaving them ripe for a final scare. If you’re fast enough, you can pull off this same maneuver with poison traps!

Replayable Chaos: Achievement Hunting

Every run through Erf is a chance to refine your craft and beat your personal best. Whether you’re aiming for a “Perfect Stealth” run with zero hugs or trying to maximize your points through creative scares, there’s always a reason to go back.

Only the most dedicated menaces will achieve the ultimate challenge: Scaring every single hooman in a level at the exact same time! But don’t worry if you’re a more relaxed adventurer; you can still earn plenty of badges for simpler feats, like the “Shoo Cena” for staying hidden in a bush for 30min. Every player saves Erf at their own pace!

Humor and Whimsy

At its heart, Hoomanz! is a labor of love created for you, by a team of gamers just like you. Take a moment to soak in the atmosphere of Erf, from the silly idle animations of the hoomanz to the hidden references tucked away in the scenery. You’ll find you are most effective when you stop worrying about the “mission” and truly become one with Shoo’s mischievous spirit!

Erf is in danger of being turned into a permanent tourist trap, but you have the power to save it.

Hoomanz! is available now on Xbox Series X|S. The hoomanz think they’re on vacation, but with these tips, you’re about to give them a holiday they’ll never forget. Restore peace to Erf—one spooked hooman at a time!

Xbox Play Anywhere

Hoomanz!

Koffeecup


4

$4.99

Hoomanz! is a stealth-adventure game packed with coziness and humour, featuring non-combat gameplay & family-friendly content. Play as Shoo, the mythical guardian of Planet Erf with a hidden dual nature, to scare away all the ignorant invading Hoomanz. Darkness is nature’s friend, light is its enemy.

Duality of Dark vs Light

On planet Erf, darkness is nature’s friend and light is its enemy. As Shoo you must navigate through the dark, otherwise you’ll get chased and squished with a hug!

Dark Shoo: Fierce, fast, scary and fully prepared to deal with the Hoomanz.

Light Shoo: Slow, vulnerable, cute and extremely huggable… and Shoo hates hugs.

Don’t let them catch you!

Scare them all away!

When you scare a Hooman, they’ll get yeeted off the planet – you’re just that scary (or they’re just that fragile). But it’s not as easy as it sounds – You must stress the Hooman first. You do that using the environment and its tools.

Your Arsenal of Stress

Lure them with a cute purrr, throw bottles, snap twigs, sabotage lights, frozen yeti jumpscares, dance around dangerous traps… Shoo’s toolkit is full of mischief. There’s no “right” way to scare off a Hooman, so get inventive!

Swift Movement!

Dash to get out of a sticky situation, or to simply explore the whimsical atmosphere of planet Erf’s nature. Champion through dash obstacle courses to save creatures and more.

Nature, Ice and Fire

As you progress through the story, your environment will get more harsh, puzzles harder and the need to save planet Erf even more dire!

Laugh Out loud

The game is packed with humour. From idle Hoomanz peeing, playing the banjo (if you can call it that), slipping on ice and generally making weird sounds, to cute underpants, their panicked waddling, hilarious screams (recorded by us Koffeecuppers) and much much more!

Disclaimer: Might induce slight cuteness aggression.

Are You Able To Save Planet Erf?!

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