Category: Xbox

Experience the magic of The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story today, out now on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story is a 2D pixel action RPG developed by Digital Sun, an indie studio best known for their monster-stomping RPG, Moonlighter. Riot Forge and Digital Sun joined forces to bring the revolutionary story of Sylas, the Unshackled, to life.

Sylas was just a boy when his ability to sense magic was discovered by the Demacian Mageseekers. The Mageseekers, looking to unearth and control dangerous hidden sorcery in the kingdom, quickly recruited young Sylas into their ranks. During his time with the Mageseekers, Sylas realized that magical abilities were far more prevalent than previously thought. Beginning to doubt the righteousness of his actions, he committed an act of rebellion to save the life of a fellow mage, only for it to end in disaster.

As a result, Sylas was sentenced to life in prison. Shackled in the darkest depths of the Mageseeker compound, Sylas’s desire for vengeance began to take root. Join Sylas on his journey for retribution as he breaks free from his shackles to bring Demacia to its reckoning.

In this 2D action RPG, combine both melee and magic to take down hordes of enemies as you grow your rebellion. Use your fists to bash down foes, or steal and throw their own magic back at them. Join forces with fellow mages to strengthen your forces and grow your base. The revolution has begun.

Riot Forge partners with talented developers from across the globe to craft awesome experiences in the League of Legends Universe. Digital Sun’s extraordinary ability to bring stories to life in a beautiful 2D pixel style made them an obvious choice for bringing to life the League of Legends universe and the champions within.

Check out the interview below with Javi Giménez, CEO and Co-Founder of developer Digital Sun, and Rowan Parker, Creative Director at Riot Forge to learn more about how this partnership came together.

What was it like being asked to take on a League of Legends game as an indie studio?

Giménez: It was very exciting. We are huge League fans at the studio so it felt like a great opportunity to add a little bit of ourselves to the world of Runeterra. And get to build a game with characters we love. Now that it’s almost finished, we can confirm that it’s been a blast to build the game!

What were some of the greatest challenges in recreating the world of League of Legends?

Giménez: We wanted to make sure that we got right the very popular League champs that appear in the game in terms of visuals, narrative and mechanics. That last one, mechanics, was very fun to do – translating what Jarvan or Garen, or even Sylas himself can do on the MOBA to an ARPG was very fun to do, but challenging to get right. We hope players will like it!

Why did you choose to partner with Digital Sun?

Parker: Honestly, we loved Digital Sun’s previous game Moonlighter! Their charming pixel art style drew us in, and we stayed for the action gameplay. While playing, it was exciting to think through ways they might experiment with the League of Legends characters, so we reached out to see if they’d be open to the possibility. Obviously it worked out, because here we are!

What did you enjoy about the collaboration with Digital Sun?

Parker: The team over at Digital Sun are real League of Legends fans. The core team had been playing for years long before we’d even met each other. They know these champions, have their own personal history with them from thousands of games, and bring that with them to The Mageseeker. I think it really shows that a group of fans have made this game, with the easter eggs they’ve hidden in there, their passion for the champions and the world of Runeterra. It made the collaboration with Forge really effortless.

What excites you most about seeing League of Legends champions in Riot Forge games?

Parker: Riot Forge games give us an opportunity to get up close and personal with our champions in a way that isn’t possible in our bigger live service games. We can create these character vignettes that explore the motivations and nuance of our champions as we’re storytelling. Players can also immerse themselves in the world of Runeterra, touching and interacting with our factions like only a video game can allow. We really enjoy these chances to showcase the true power level of our champions, while telling compelling stories at the same time.

Unshackle the magic in The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story, available today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story™

Riot Forge

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-Order the Standard Edition to receive a Lost Silverwing for your Hideout.

Developed by Digital Sun, creators of Moonlighter, The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story™ is an action RPG that takes place in the League of Legends universe. In the kingdom of Demacia, the Mageseekers hold the power to oppress magic-using citizens in the name of public order–by inducting and indoctrinating them, locking them away, or driving them into hiding.

Play as Sylas, a spell-stealing mage who has just broken free of his unjust captivity at the Mageseekers’ hands. Wielding the chains that once bound you, you must liberate your homeland from tyranny, one Mageseeker at a time.

It’s time to unshackle the magic.

Command the Magic
Magic is everywhere, including on the battlefield. From searing flames to deadly ice, master a variety of spells and customize your unique play style. Brandish your chains and use your enemies’ magic against them, or bash them with your fists–the choice is yours.

Raise a Rebellion
Demacia is ripe for a revolution, but can you rise to the challenge of leading it? It’s up to you to find mages across the land and recruit them to your cause. Harness the power of your growing army to upgrade your base and unlock unique abilities.

Forge Your Legacy
You see the Mageseekers for the criminals they are, but not everyone is ready for the truth. Battle formidable foes and align with unforgettable allies, both new and old. Only you can uncover the buried secrets of Demacia’s past, and use them to change the course of its future.

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Are you passionate about racing games with a combat twist? Are you a Disney and Pixar fan? If yes, then Disney Speedstorm will be right up your alley! It’s a thrilling arcade racing experience set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds, where you will be able to race solo or compete with other players both online and locally. If the sound of local splitscreen is catching your drift, then buckle up and read all about this feature in the article below.

It’s amazing to be able to play with others from all over the world, but there’s something special about being able to play games with your friends and loved ones right by your side.

Having the ability to race locally was a key feature for us to implement in Disney Speedstorm and the team has worked tirelessly to have this feature, which we call “Local Freeplay,” available on day one of early access starting on April 18 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC.

Local Freeplay is available for up to 4 players on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC and up to 2 players on Xbox One, so you can already start planning your game nights. You can also play on your own against AI Racers to hone your skills!

You will have access to an amazing collection of Racers and tracks in Local Freeplay from the moment you load up the game for the first time. A total of 18 Racers will be available immediately, including Mickey Mouse, Mulan, Sulley, and more!  

There will also be a total of 9 race tracks, each with at least 4 circuit variations, available in Local Freeplay on day one including Toon Village, The Silver Screen, The Castle, and others.

Being able to play your preferred way was also an important consideration for the team. Not only will playing Local Freeplay have access to the racers list above, they will also have access to all of their unlocked customization items. This includes racing suits, kart liveries, wheels, and wings.

But that’s not all! You’ll also be able to customize the race experience the way you want it. At Early Access launch on April 18, you will be able to select which race track and circuit you want to race on, the number of laps (up to 8), the number of AI opponents and their difficulty, and the upgrade level of all players.

That’s a wrap on Local Freeplay in Disney Speedstorm! We can’t wait to see everyone out on the track soon.

Disney Speedstorm Founder’s Packs – available in Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate tiers – are now available worldwide on the Microsoft Store for Xbox. The Founder’s Packs will grant you Early Access to Disney Speedstorm and, as a Founder, you will also receive exclusive bonus items to offer you a fresh and exciting experience geared specifically for racing.

Disney Speedstorm – Ultimate Founder’s Pack – Pre-order

Gameloft SE

☆☆☆☆☆
20

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-order now to get the following digital content:
• Toontech Early Bird – Donald Duck kart livery
• Early Bird – Donald Duck racing suit

Welcome to Disney Speedstorm’s Early Access! Go full throttle in style with the Ultimate Founder’s Pack that grants early access to the game and contains exclusive items!
This Founder’s Pack contains:
• Early Access to Disney Speedstorm
• Racer unlock: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mulan, Captain Jack Sparrow and Hercules
• Additional racer unlock of your choice*
• 12000 Tokens** (in-game currency)​
• 3 Golden Pass Credits***
• Exclusive Founding Member racing suit for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mulan, Captain Jack Sparrow, Hercules and the chosen racer
• Exclusive Founding Member kart livery for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mulan, Captain Jack Sparrow, Hercules and the chosen racer
• Exclusive Founder’s Motto and Avatar
• Kart wheels and wings for Donald Duck kart

*Players will be able to immediately unlock one of the following racers: Baloo, Belle, the Beast, Elizabeth Swann, Shang, or Mowgli.

**Tokens are an in-game currency in Disney Speedstorm that can be earned for free by achieving goals in the game or purchased by using real world money. They are not season based and can be accumulated. They can also be used to obtain items in the shop, buy the Golden Pass, skip Golden Pass tiers, and much more.

***Golden Pass Credits grant access to a premium tier of Seasonal rewards like liveries, suits, currencies, racers, and much more.

For more details on the Founder’s Pack and its contents, please visit disneyspeedstorm.com.

Disney Speedstorm is the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. It’s a thrilling arcade racing experience where players will need to master each character’s unique skills on the racetrack and claim victory.

Disney Speedstorm – Deluxe Founder’s Pack – Pre-order

Gameloft SE

☆☆☆☆☆
19

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-order now to get the following digital content:
• Toontech Early Bird – Donald Duck kart livery
• Early Bird – Donald Duck racing suit

Welcome to Disney Speedstorm’s Early Access! Take the track by storm with the Deluxe Founder’s Pack that grants early access to the game and contains exclusive items!
This Founder’s Pack contains:
• Early Access to Disney Speedstorm
• Racer unlock: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mulan
• Additional racer unlock of your choice*
• 7000 Tokens* (in-game currency)​
• 2 Golden Pass Credits***
• Exclusive Founding Member racing suit for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mulan and the chosen racer
• Exclusive Founding Member kart livery for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Mulan and the chosen racer
• Exclusive Founder’s Motto and Avatar

*Players will be able to immediately unlock one of the following racers: Baloo, Belle, the Beast, Elizabeth Swann, Shang, or Mowgli.

**Tokens are an in-game currency in Disney Speedstorm that can be earned for free by achieving goals in the game or purchased by using real world money. They are not season based and can be accumulated. They can also be used to obtain items in the shop, buy the Golden Pass, skip Golden Pass tiers, and much more.

***Golden Pass Credits grant access to a premium tier of Seasonal rewards like liveries, suits, currencies, racers, and much more.

For more details on the Founder’s Pack and its contents, please visit disneyspeedstorm.com.

Disney Speedstorm is the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. It’s a thrilling arcade racing experience where players will need to master each character’s unique skills on the racetrack and claim victory.

Disney Speedstorm – Standard Founder’s Pack – Pre-order

Gameloft SE

☆☆☆☆☆
19

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-order now to get the following digital content:
• Toontech Early Bird – Donald Duck kart livery
• Early Bird – Donald Duck racing suit

Welcome to Disney Speedstorm’s Early Access! Start your engines and hit the track with the Standard Founder’s Pack that grants early access to the game and contains exclusive items!
This Founder’s Pack contains:
• Early Access to Disney Speedstorm
• Racer unlock: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck
• Additional racer unlock of your choice*
• 4000 Tokens** (in-game currency)​
• 2 Golden Pass Credits***
• Exclusive Founding Member racing suit for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the chosen racer
• Exclusive Founding Member kart livery for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the chosen racer
• Exclusive Founder’s Motto and Avatar

*Players will be able to immediately unlock one of the following racers: Baloo, Belle, the Beast, Elizabeth Swann, Shang, or Mowgli.

**Tokens are an in-game currency in Disney Speedstorm that can be earned for free by achieving goals in the game or purchased by using real world money. They are not season based and can be accumulated. They can also be used to obtain items in the shop, buy the Golden Pass, skip Golden Pass tiers, and much more.

***Golden Pass Credits grant access to a premium tier of Seasonal rewards like liveries, suits, currencies, racers, and much more.

For more details on the Founder’s Pack and its contents, please visit disneyspeedstorm.com.

Disney Speedstorm is the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. It’s a thrilling arcade racing experience where players will need to master each character’s unique skills on the racetrack and claim victory.

DISNEY & PIXAR GO FULL BATTLE RACING
An incredible cast of characters including Mulan, Mickey Mouse, Sulley, Baloo, Captain Jack Sparrow, the Beast and more are suited and revving up for racing combat. Upgrade each racer’s stats and make the most of their unique skills that can impact the outcome of a single race and dramatically change the way you play the game!

ARCADE RACING REDEFINED
Anyone can pick up and play Disney Speedstorm, but mastering skills and techniques like timing your nitro boosts, precisely drifting around corners, and adapting to dynamic track environments are crucial to dominating each race.

RACING TOGETHER HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER
Pick your racer and speed through action-packed tracks solo, or challenge friends in local and remote multiplayer modes. You can even face off with players from around the globe to become an online legend.

DISNEY- & PIXAR-INSPIRED RACETRACKS
Start your engine in environments inspired by some of your favorite Disney and Pixar films. From the docks of Pirates of the Caribbean’s Pirates Island track to the wilds of The Jungle Book’s Jungle Ruins map or the Scare Floor from Monsters, Inc., you can experience these worlds from a fresh, exciting perspective geared specifically for racing!

CUSTOMIZE TO YOUR OWN STYLE
Choose your favorite racer’s suit, a flashy kart livery, and show off stylish wheels and wings — all of this and more is possible with the extensive customization features in the game!

NEW CONTENT RACING YOUR WAY
The action never slows down thanks to fresh seasonal content always around the corner. New Disney and Pixar racers will be added regularly, bringing special skills for you to master (or overcome), and unique tracks will be created often, to pump fresh strategy into the mix. Support characters, environments, customization options, and collectibles will also drop in regularly, so there’s always more to experience.

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It’s Good To Be Bad in First Disney Dreamlight Valley Update: Scar’s Kingdom

We have a fresh batch of games, including many coming your way on day one with Game Pass! Sharpen your stakes, get your coffee, and prep your favorite lo-fi beats while you pre-install your next favorite game.

Available Today

Minecraft Legends (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Available on day one with Game Pass: The piglins are threatening to consume the Overworld. Are you the hero this gentle land needs? Explore lush biomes to make alliances with new friends and familiar mobs, then face the piglins in epic battles. But be warned – they always fight back.

Coming Soon

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 20
Available on day one with Game Pass: It’s time to return as everyone’s favorite late-night coffee shop barista, ready to lend a sympathetic ear and create the perfect beverage for a host of fantastic customers. Turn on the chilled lo-fi beats, listen to their tales and influence their hearts with a warm drink or two.

Medieval Dynasty (Xbox One) – April 20
Available now on PC and Xbox Series X|S and coming soon to Xbox One! Take on the role of a young man who has fled from war and wants to take his fate into his own hands. From being alone, inexperienced, and poor, you will develop into a master of many skills, a leader of your community, and the founder of a prosperous dynasty which is meant to last and prosper for generations to come.

Homestead Arcana (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – April 21
Available on day one with Game Pass: Become a farming Witch and pioneer the range that has been mysteriously corrupted with Miasma. Discover the secret behind its appearance, grow plants to power up your spells, and use nature’s magic to heal the land.

Cassette Beasts (PC) – April 26
Available on day one with PC Game Pass: Bring your cassette player and get ready to press play! Collect awesome monsters to use during turn-based battles as you adventure into the open-world RPG, Cassette Beasts. Get ready to experience an incredible retro vibe with unique innovations to the genre.

BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle Special Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – April 27
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle lets you create your own cross-over dream team with the beloved characters from a total of 8 titles! Fight with your favorite characters from the popular titles BlazBlue, Persona 4 Arena, Under Night In-Birth, RWBY, and more. Get ready for a dream tag battle crossing series lines!

The Last Case of Benedict Fox (Console and PC) – April 27
Available on day one with Game Pass: Take on the last case of Benedict Fox and dive into a twisted world of secret organizations, forbidden rituals, and cold-blooded murders. Explore the memories of deceased victims as you search for clues and fight demons in this fantastical Lovecraftian Metroidvania.

Redfall (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – May 2
Available on day one with Game Pass: The town of Redfall is under siege by a legion of vampires who have cut the island off from the outside world. Trapped with a handful of survivors, slay alone or squad up in open-world FPS action.

DLC / Game Updates

Vampire Survivors: Tides of the Foscari DLC – Available now
Tides of the Foscari is the second DLC expansion for Vampire Survivors, introducing another huge stage as well as a slate of new characters, monsters and weapons to play with. And of course, secrets may be lurking in the shadowed canopies of the deep forest…

Microsoft Flight Simulator – World Update XIII: Oceania and Antarctica – April 25
Experience the vast islands of Oceania and the magnificence of Antarctica in Microsoft Flight Simulator’s upcoming free World Update. This update brings simmers 15 new countries and 24 non-sovereign territories, all with improved resolution that will allow pilots to experience stunning new vistas throughout these regions. The sky is calling!

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks

The Elder Scrolls Online: Dragon Slayer Bundle – Available now
Customize your character with the Ancient Dragon Hunter Arms Pack and receive an excellent pet in the Ancient Dragon Hunter Wolf Pet. This Perk content requires ESO base game to use.

MLB The Show 23: 10 The Show Packs – Available now
Kickstart your MLB The Show 23 Diamond Dynasty with 10 The Show Packs. Once acquired, items should be redeemed upon booting the game. Information on items redeemed should be listed in your Profile mail inbox.

Far Cry 5: Heart of Darkness DLC – Available now
Navigate a deadly jungle and wreak havoc behind enemy lines in war-torn Vietnam. This Perk content requires Far Cry 5 to use. All available now at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X|S for Far Cry 5’s 5th anniversary.

Leaving April 30

It might be a good time to reprioritize your playlist to jump back into the following games before they leave. As always, you’ll be able to save up to 20% off your purchase to keep these in your library.

• Bugsnax (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Destroy All Humans! (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Dragon Quest Builders 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Tetris Effect Connected (Console and PC)
• Unsouled (Cloud, Console, and PC)

As always, stay tuned here or @XboxGamePassPC and @XboxGamePass on Twitter for updates of games coming soon and when you can play your favorites! Cheers!

Related:
Xbox Celebrates Earth Day with a Sustainability Update, Special Edition Products, and Events
Xbox Insider Release Notes – Xbox App for Windows [2304.1001.12.0] 
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Just days ahead of Earth Day, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on some of the work that we are doing to protect our planet and share opportunities for our community to celebrate alongside us.

At Microsoft, we have set the commitments to operate as a carbon negative, water positive and zero waste company by 2030.  Microsoft strives to empower the world to do more, and driving positive, transformational change requires thinking beyond traditional boundaries. Gaming provides an incredible platform to drive cultural change on a global scale and encourage players to explore, experiment, and connect with the world and with each other in new ways. Sustainability is a team sport—and we are excited to see how far we can go when everyone plays together.

An Update on our Sustainability Efforts

Last year, we shared an update on our sustainability efforts. Here is what we have been up to since:

Reducing Waste:

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Remix Special Edition takes us one step further in our journey towards our zero-waste commitment, featuring recovered plastics with one-third of it made from regrind and reclaimed materials. By incorporating regrind materials, post-consumer recycled resins, and including the Xbox Rechargeable Battery Pack – Xbox is exploring ways to use less new plastic and reduce waste.  Check out the unboxing video below to learn more!

More things we are doing to reduce the waste we create and use as a business, and help Microsoft achieve our goal of operating as a zero-waste business by 2030:

• We are increasingly finding new opportunities to incorporate recovered plastics into our controllers.  We started with the Daystrike Camo and the Electric Volt controller and have been transitioning some of the controllers already in the market to contain more Post-Consumer Recycled resins (PCR), including our Shock Blue and Pulse Red controllers. Visit the Xbox Sustainability Hub to view a collection of controllers that contain 20% or more PCR content.
• Xbox Design Lab, our controller customization platform, launched with 15 new colors that contain Post-Consumer Recycled plastic. Since then, we have transitioned most of the color options offered on the platform to contain PCR.
• In the Nordic region (Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland), we partnered with retail partner Elkjøp to launch the Urban Miner campaign, where we invited all Nordic households to collect old electronics in their households and return them to an Elkjøp store for recycling. In return, the consumers received Minecoins for use on the Minecraft Marketplace. The campaign resulted in more than 11,000 items returned, representing approximately 17 tons of electronic waste.
• Microsoft has eliminated the usage of polystyrene on new point-of-sale activation (POSA) cards (like gift cards) transitioning to paperboard across our partners. We have also changed the plastic bags in which we used to bundle our POSA cards to paper bands in most of our markets, which we expect will avoid the equivalent of over 2 million plastic bags over the next two fiscal years.  

Carbon Reduction:

At Game Developer Conference (GDC) this year, we announced that Xbox is the first console to release dedicated energy and carbon emissions measurement tools designed for (and with) game creators. Using these tools, studios and game developers have found opportunities through game design to lower their carbon emissions without impacting the player experience. To learn more about the Xbox sustainability toolkit, watch the video below!

At Xbox, we hold ourselves accountable to the emissions created by our products in our players’ homes—here are some additional things we are doing to reduce those emissions.

• In January, we announced that Xbox is the first Carbon Aware console.  When your console is plugged in, connected to the Internet and regional carbon intensity data is available, Xbox will schedule game, app, and OS updates for your console at specific times during the nightly maintenance window that may result in lower carbon emissions because a higher proportion of electricity is coming from lower-carbon sources on the electric grid.
• At the same time, we began experimenting with automatically updating consoles to the Shutdown (energy saving) power mode and are bringing these updates to more consoles throughout the year.
• We also provided the “Active Hours” option for those that want to use the more energy intensive Sleep power option. This allows players to select the hours that they want to use Sleep mode features like remote wake. The console will fully shutdown outside of those hours (using up to 20x less power when turned off vs. Sleep). Players can select for their console to automatically schedule their active hours, to configure a manual schedule, or to keep their console always active.

Collective Action: 

We are always looking for opportunities to partner with players, industry partners and external organizations to make gaming a better industry for the environment. To learn more about these partnerships, watch the video below:

• Minecraft Education and BBC Earth teamed up to create an exciting Frozen Planet II experience, with five Minecraft worlds inspired by the iconic series. Minecraft players can play as eight different animals, experiencing Earth’s cold habitats and learning about the impacts of climate change. Students in more than 110 countries have played the Frozen Planet II Minecraft worlds, and the maps have been downloaded by millions of players and are available in 29 languages, accompanied by educational resources for teachers and families.
• Schools Reinventing Cities has been developed by Minecraft Education and C40 Cities to give students around the world the opportunity to design climate solutions for their city and present their ideas to city leaders. In city-wide challenges, students learn about climate action in cities. They then build their climate solutions in Minecraft Education, a game-based learning platform used by millions of teachers and students that inspires creative, inclusive learning through play.  
• Last year, Xbox had the opportunity to educate a wide range of audiences through learning events like the United Nation’s 50th anniversary congress on sustainability, and directly to valued partners in bespoke workshop events with external industry players.
• In May of 2022, for the first-ever time, we invited the public to experience a selection of the talks from Xfest 2022, one of which is ‘A Deeper Look at Gaming Sustainability and How Everyone Can Play Their Part’. This explores how game publishers can make an impact by integrating environmental themes in games, reducing emissions, and supporting the global environmental agenda in collaboration with Xbox.  
• Xbox has continued our work as a founding member of the Playing for the Planet alliance. Playing for the Planet recently released the 2022 Annual Impact Report which reveals strong progress on decarbonization efforts across the industry.

Engage  

Learn About Ocean Conservation on Twitch this Earth Day with Xbox Plays and the Seattle Aquarium

Please join Team Xbox on our Twitch livestream channel on April 22nd at 8:00am Pacific Time as the team shares a behind the scenes tour of the Seattle Aquarium, a conservation organization working to regenerate the health of our one ocean. You’ll meet special guests like Barney the harbor seal, get an inside look at the Aquarium’s work to save endangered species, and see a demonstration of a remotely operated vehicle steered via Xbox controller that is being used to research the depths of Puget Sound. Marine conservationists and experts will join us live to answer your questions about the species you’ll find in the Sound and beyond, as well as the steps you can take to help protect our world’s one ocean.

New Xbox Gear products features recycled content as well, check out the latest collection featuring colors and topographical lines pulled straight from the Xbox Wireless Controller — Remix Special Edition

Check out the latest Xbox Gear featuring colors and topographical lines pulled straight from the Xbox Wireless Controller – Remix Special Edition. This collection features a selection of premium, ECOLIFE cotton garments. The garments are made of 50% recycled yarn and 50% BCI (Better Cotton Initiative– the world’s leading sustainability initiative for cotton). The raw materials are cut & sewn in Los Angeles, garment dyed to match the special edition Xbox controllers, printed with eco-friendly inks and packaged with biodegradable poly bags. These ECOLIFE cotton garments are available as a t-shirt, pullover hoodie and sweat shorts.

Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards: World Wildlife Fund, Water.org, and The Nature Conservancy

Microsoft Rewards members in the United States can earn and donate points to support select environmental organizations with Xbox. The below organizations will be featured on console throughout April:

• The Nature Conservancy – The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Their mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.
  • Additionally, for every two dollars that Microsoft Rewards donates in April, The Nature Conservancy will plant a tree as part of their Plant A Billion Trees program. Learn more about this program here and plant your tree today!
• Water.org – Every living thing requires water to survive and thrive. Yet 771 million people around the world don’t have access to safe water. Water.org is working to change this by empowering people living in poverty with lasting safe water solutions for their homes. Water.org is dedicated to increasing access to this critical resource that matters to our planet and everyone that lives on it.
• World Wildlife Fund ​– As the world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in nearly 100 countries. At every level, they collaborate with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live. Their mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.  

Xbox players can earn Microsoft Rewards points in various ways, such as playing or purchasing games after downloading the Microsoft Rewards app on Xbox. Earn points and redeem them for real rewards. Join us today and donate through Xbox. 

To learn more about our continued Sustainability Efforts at Xbox, visit the Xbox Sustainability Hub.

To explore more ways Microsoft is celebrating Earth Day, visit aka.ms/EarthDay.

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows, 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!

Ayre and the Crystal Comet – April 17
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The open skies await as you take on the role of a wandering dragon rider in search of a lost civilization. Presented in a nostalgic low-poly art style and allowing total freedom of flight from the beginning of your journey, Ayre and the Crystal Comet is a chill experience designed for exploration and discovery, without the pressures of combat or complex stat management. Search a vast open world from atop your dragon, or land and investigate locales on foot.

God of Rock – April 17
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The mysterious God of Rock has revived the souls of the universe’s greatest musicians to clash for his entertainment. Blending rhythm-based gameplay with fighting game mechanics in tense 1v1 matches, choose from a dozen unique fighters, each with their own design, mechanics, and harmonic attacks. Soften up your opponent by executing normal moves and building meter by hitting notes to the beat of the song, then spend your meter to unleash EX and special moves do damage and add complexity to their tracks.

Disney Speedstorm (Early Access) – April 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Disney Speedstorm is the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. A thrilling arcade racing experience where players will need to master each character’s unique skills on the racetrack and claim victory. Available for pre-order across three Founder’s Packs: Standard, Deluxe, and Ultimate.

Minecraft Legends – April 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Game Pass

Available on day one with Game Pass: The piglins are threatening to consume the Overworld. Are you the hero this gentle land needs? Explore lush biomes to make alliances with new friends and familiar mobs, then face the piglins in epic battles. But be warned – they always fight back. Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story – April 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

In the kingdom of Demacia, the Mageseekers hold the power to oppress magic-using citizens in the name of public order — by inducting and indoctrinating them, locking them away, or driving them into hiding. As Sylas, a spell-stealing mage who has just broken free of his unjust captivity, you will wield the chains that once bound you and liberate your homeland from tyranny, one Mageseeker at a time, in this action RPG that takes place in the League of Legends universe.

Secret Agent: Cold War Espionage – April 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Get ready for a wild ride, spy-lovers! As a top-secret agent, you’ll embark on thrilling mini missions to stop an evil mastermind’s plan for global domination! With seven pulse-pounding missions to complete, you’ll jet-set to exotic locations all over the globe, from luxurious hotels to swanky casinos, all while hot on the trail of the infamous Royale Diamond.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly – April 19
Xbox Play Anywhere / Game Pass

It’s time to revisit your favorite late-night coffee shop and reconnect with your fantasy friends over a warm drink or two. You are a barista, and your customers aren’t always humans, listen to their stories and influence their hearts with a warm cup of coffee or two.

Tin Hearts – April 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Guide a troop of mischievous tin soldiers through a magical toy-filled world using a variety of whimsical and inventive contraptions to bounce, shoot and glide them to their goal. March through 40+ levels of time-bending, soldier-routing riddles, forge new paths for your toys to follow, and solve increasingly elaborate puzzles to unravel the emotional, thought-provoking story, of Albert J. Butterworth, a genius inventor of Victorian times. Try the demo here.

Dead Island 2 – April 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The much-loved zombie saga is back with a unique formula of horror, dark humor, and over the top zombie-slaying, spanning an epic pulp adventure. Dead Island 2 is a thrilling first-person action RPG that’s stylish, vibrant, and flooded with zombie infection. Explore iconic, gore-drenched Los Angeles. Meet larger-than-life characters. Slay countless foes in exquisitely bloody detail. And evolve to become the ultimate zombie slayer!

Homestead Arcana – April 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere

Become an all-powerful witch and wield nature’s magic to heal the world.  Tap into the strength of nature to craft spells and ready yourself for the mysterious challenges ahead as you work with your friendly cat familiar, Huckleberry, to beat back the deathly Miasma that’s corrupting the land.

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At Flashbulb Games we have built on the success of Trailmakers by making a DLC titled Trailmakers: Airborne — a mission-based campaign bringing the biggest map in the Trailmakers universe, new parts, NPCs and enemies, launching April 27th, 2023

Before jumping into the new and exciting Airborne world let us give a brief explanation of what Trailmakers is to those unfamiliar with the title.

Trailmakers is a block-based vehicle building game. Vehicles can be used in many ways: to complete the main campaign, ”Stranded in Space” – to fool around in sandbox-mode – to battle each other in PvP,  or just to be uploaded to the public workshop for everyone to download and use.

Trailmakers: Airborne

With Trailmakers: Airborne we are preserving the element of creativity and engineering that made the base game succeed, while at the same time introducing a full fledged single player campaign complete with friendly NPCs, enemies and a grand world to explore.

In Airborne you will be transported to the Chirpo homeworld that is undergoing a devastating invasion by Robot Pirates. It will be your job to fend off the invaders and restore peace.

Meet the Chirpos

NPCs named Chirpos occupy vast areas of the new Trailmakers map. They are friendly, they are fuzzy and ironically they are flightless.

They hold up in villages. Each village has a Mayor who will ask you to bring back the local Chirpos that have been kidnapped by Robot Pirates. By doing so, the Mayor will reward you with new parts you can use to make an even bigger, badder and more agile aircraft that you will need in your challenging endeavors.

From ground speeders to blimps, agile dogfighters and flak cannons — they will use anything at their disposal to ground you and maintain their iron grip on the Chirpo Homeworld.

In a Nutshell

Trailmakers: Airborne is a natural step for our most beloved title. Our community’s top engineers will have new parts to use for their increasingly impressive workshop builds and those who thirst for adventure are in for a treat.

Fight Robot Pirates

What’s more intimidating than Pirates? Robot Pirates, obviously. Unlike their human, wooden-legged predecessors, these guys have a vast range of technologically advanced and equally dangerous weapons. Get ready to save the Chirpos planet and live a unique adventure on April 27th!

Trailmakers Deluxe Edition

Flashbulb Games

☆☆☆☆☆
719

★★★★★

$37.99

$30.39

Get it now

Trailmakers Deluxe Edition includes:
– Trailmakers – The full Game
– Trailmakers Hat Pack
– Trailmakers Skin Pack
– Trailmakers Skin Pack 2

Build a car, a plane, a boat or maybe a… carplaneboat? With Trailmakers intuitive builder, it is as easy as snapping together real building blocks. Take your machines on dangerous exploration missions, breakneck rally races, or go to the sandbox and build that hovercraft you have always dreamt about.

Build intuitively with modular blocks – it is easy to get started, and the possibilities are almost infinite.
Explore a vast open world and escape the planet in the survival game mode “Stranded in Space”
Go on breakneck rally races with vehicles of your own making.
Create without constraints in two sandbox maps full of jumps, half pipes, an aircraft carrier, catapults and other crazy obstacles.
Compete on the global leaderboards in rally and race mode.
Four player drop in drop out multiplayer game modes.
An active and growing community with tons of premade vehicles ready to test.
There is always something to do: Join the Trailmakers Rally, take on challenges, play in the sandbox, race your friends or shoot each other to bits.

If you want to know more about our plans and what the current players are thinking then check out our discord server: http://discord.gg/trailmakers

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The moment you virtually step into the vibrant, mysterious world of Aveum, everything feels simultaneously new but extremely familiar. It looks like a landscape that you’ve stepped into, the characters talk to you in a way that feels commonplace, but this fantasy setting is nothing the worlds you’ve experienced before. In a recent preview, we got to take a first look at Immortals of Aveum, and chat to two of the game’s designers about the inspiration behind this magical new realm.

Immortals of Aveum is an upcoming single-player magic FPS set in the titular land of Aveum. You’ll assume the role of Jak, a Battlemage learning to harness the magic coursing through his world. As an Unforeseen, Jak discovers his abilities later in life, and Aveum’s most powerful kingdoms are at war. It’s up to Jak to unlock his power, and work alongside the Immortals to help save Aveum from destruction. 

What makes Immortals of Aveum feel unique at first glance is the combination of two things. First up is the studio’s backstory; Ascendant Studios is led by Bret Robbins, Creative Director of Dead Space, and former Creative Director at Sledgehammer Games on several Call of Duty titles. This best-in-class FPS design shines through Immortals of Aveum’s combat; it’s a first-person shooter but the weapon that you wield is magic. We’ll delve more into that in a bit.

The second component is that Immortals of Aveum is inspired by a seemingly endless smorgasbord of magical realms, but it’s this dense mixture of inspiration from countless places that makes it stand out. Dave Bogan, Art Director at Ascendant Studios, tells us that from the very get-go, the team set out to create a “new look” for fantasy.

Bogan cites a handful of the creative influences he grew up with, including Dungeons and Dragons, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and “cartoons with cool Japanese robots” to name a few. The team starts by selecting several references from their own preferences — visual inspiration that they would like to bring into the game, and examples of ideas that they don’t want to include.

“It’s really about subconsciously drawing inspiration and influence from all those things, and letting it come out in interesting shapes and languages, while keeping an eye on things that exist out there and trying not to replicate anything,” he says.

Julia Lichtblau, Associate Art Director at Ascendant Studios says that Immortals of Aveum’s unique feel comes from the juxtaposition of old and new. A lot of the structures in the world are inspired by oppressive, medieval forts of old, and the villages are brimming with rustic, pastoral charm often seen in old Europe. This design is mixed with the presence of magic, which allows the inhabitants of Aveum to combine antique settings with advanced crafting.

“Magic is essentially their technology,” Lichtblau explains. “They’re able to use it to bend the rules of architectural design, so you’re seeing big sweeping shapes and giant white skyscrapers that could have been built by advanced magic users of that time. That dichotomy makes it feel a bit unexpected.”

This combination of familiar and futuristic goes beyond the world design, seeping into character styling, dialogue and language, giving the inhabitants of Aveum a unique edge. Bogan points to Jak’s design, the cut of a motorcycle jacket giving sci-fi vibes with chainmail stitched to it for an medieval fantasy flavour.

“Aveum is always binding elements from different worlds and times that are helping it feel otherworldly,” he adds.

Ascendant Studios’ background in Call of Duty shines prevalently through Immortals of Aveum, but the team has opted to embrace those elements rather than shy away from it. Robbins asks a simple, but idea provoking question in the preview: “What if instead of a helicopter,  you’re fighting a dragon?”, and it’s that line of thinking that has allowed Immortals of Aveum to feel familiar to FPS players, but fresh and exciting to fantasy fans too.

The shooting mechanic in Immortals of Aveum consists of three main types of magic. Jak harnesses his powers through his Sigil, and can fire Force (blue), Chaos (red) and Life (green) magic. Each of these types have different ranges and fire rates, giving you the opportunity to mix it up depending on your playstyle. There’s over 25 spells and 80 Talents to unlock throughout the game, so combat can be deeply customised for every brawl and battle.

Bogan explains that there’s a lot of direct correlation between the Sigils and a regular FPS with guns. The Sigils all have crystals, which allow the spells themselves to act like projectiles with different properties, similar to traditional weapons.

“It was important for people that play first person shooters to feel the relation and to understand, ‘oh, this is the type of weapon I use for this or that’,” Bogan says. “But it’s a little bit more unhinged in visual design, which is cool.”

Lichtblau adds that this framework means anyone that loves first-person shooters will be able to jump into Immortals of Aveum, and says that the combat is “really easy to pick up and really satisfying to master.”

Immortals of Aveum promises a unique new magical world to explore and a robust combat system that allows for much more freedom than your standard shooter, but Lichtblau says that it’s the game’s story that sets it apart from games of its ilk.

“The way the characters are written, the way they interact with each other, it feels incredibly fresh,” Lichtblau says. “It’s hard for me to even pick a favourite because they all have such nuance, and that’s something I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Immortals of Aveum is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S July 20th. Preorders for the game will go live on EA’s website tomorrow, so stay tuned for details.

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It’s go time! Take up arms in Season 4 – Ballista, now available for Gundam Evolution! This newest season celebrates the half year anniversary of the game and includes a new mode, character, and map.

New Mobile Suit: Gundam Dynames

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 fans may recognize this notable mobile suit from Season 1 of the anime. Gundam Dynames, piloted by none other than Gundam Meister Lockon Stratos, is joining the Gundam Evolution roster! Just like in the anime, Gundam Dynames will utilize its excellent marksmanship skills using both the GN Sniper Rifle and GN Beam Pistol on the battlefield. You’ll be able to provide your team cover from a variety of ranges – perfect for a shifting battlefield!

Let’s go over the skills of the newest addition to the team:

• Weapon Swap – Swap between your GN Sniper Rifle and GN Beam Pistol – with the weapon in reserve reloading automatically!
• GN Missile – Fire a missile that explodes for damage and pulls nearby enemies towards the impact point – even pulling them out of cover!
• Recovery Gun – Inject repairs directly into your allies from a distance and ensure they don’t fall!
• G Maneuver: Trans Am – Activate your GN Drive’s hidden potential to hyper-charge your next few shots!

You’ll be able to unlock Gundam Dynames by purchasing Evo Coins or completing challenges to earn Capital in-game.

New Game Mode: Headquarters

A new game mode just dropped with Season 4 – Ballista. Headquarters is a fully dynamic, multi-stage game mode that truly tests your team’s coordination and abilities. Teams who can do this and keep up the momentum will be rewarded with sweet, sweet victory. Check it out!

New Map: Buried City

A new area to hone and show off your skills is here! This new map will be in rotation for both Casual and Ranked matches. Buried City has a variety of corridors and pathways for you to intercept your opponent and surprise them with an attack! It also has sections for your team to take advantage of the high ground and relentlessly assault the enemy with a barrage of projectiles.

We’re excited to see how you play on this new map!

Prepare for success!

With such a huge roster of Mobile suits you may be asking, what’s the best start? While we can’t give you the win, here are a few pointers to give you the edge on this new battlefield.

The first point has multiple routes.

To start, you can slip around or underneath the first objective to take your enemy from behind or hit them on an exposed flank. This is great for fast units who can quickly cause confusion, such as Zaku Ranged or Heavarms Custom. Maybe you’re more of a ranged player who wants to make the most of the distance. On one side of the first objective is a lift with a window that gives you the height advantage, which is perfect for preventing a capture or holding down the line. Sounds perfect for a unit like Gundam Dynames that just released as part of Season 4.

Use your full armaments.

When you eventually reach the core, take note of the multiple entry points to keep your enemy on their toes. Certain Mobile Suits like Asshimar have Active Skills with an area of effect that can also harm the core while keeping the enemy at bay. Guntank has a cannon that can be used to deal extra damage to the core. Make use of each Mobile Suits’ strengths to chip away and get yourself those extra points.

As always, support your team!

After dealing enough damage, a mobile suit will be in a broken state before it eventually destructs. The walk back to the objectives can mean the difference between getting that last percentage of damage, so do your best to provide your team with a quick pick-me-up so they can get back into the fight and win the round.

Time to Jump In, Pilots!

Gundam Evolution is an immersive, fast-paced 6v6 team shooter where you’re able to pilot iconic Mobile Suits from the smash hit “Mobile Suit Gundam” anime series. Jump into combat as Gundam Dynames, Heavyarms, and more from this expanding roster.

Gundam Evolution now has four different game modes that allow you to show off your teamwork and tactical skills: Point Capture, Domination, Destruction, and Headquarters. Coordinate with your team and align your G-Maneuvers to come out on top!

Season 4 is out now! Can’t wait to start piloting your own Mobile Suit? Download Gundam Evolution for free on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S now and experience these exciting Mobile Suit battles firsthand.

GUNDAM EVOLUTION

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
295

★★★★★

Get it now

GUNDAM EVOLUTION is an online FPS title in which players take control of mobile suits from the hit Gundam anime and fight other online players in six-versus-six battles. Features fast-paced action and immersive controls. Switch between mobile suits with their own unique characteristics and cooperate with teammates to win matches.

*This title features random in-game items in exchange for in-game currency.

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Hey there, I’m Rho Watson, the lead developer behind Farworld Pioneers. This 2D adventure galaxy sandbox is a hybrid of many genres. More than that, though, it’s the game I’ve always wanted to make. Let me tell you why!

As a teenager, I played Infiniminer and was one of the first people to try the online version of Minecraft. The online sandbox genre captured my imagination, but it never really achieved what I hoped it would. Once I finished building my grand projects, there was no real reason for them to exist. My gigantic bases sat there, dormant and unused, because there was no one besides me to use them. My friends would come, check it out momentarily, and inevitably go off to do their own thing.

After many years of playing these games and being part of developing some, I decided to bite the bullet and try to do what no one else had done: make an online sandbox game with the excitement of building and creating, but with AI residents to actually give a reason for those things to exist. I wanted to give players a reason to build besides simple curiosity and showing off to often-reluctant friends!

Farworld Pioneers represents two major parts of my life as a gamer: playing old MS-DOS (For those who don’t know, it’s how you played games before Windows!) classics as a kid and then the rise of the online sandbox genre as an adult. That’s how Farworld Pioneers was born! Like many games, this game is a cross-section of the journey my career in video games took and a tribute to the games that are responsible for it.

But Farworld Pioneers isn’t just an online sandbox game. It’s a 2D adventure sandbox with managerial elements. Imagine an RTS where you were one of the guys running around and could help out at any time. Your residents need to be kept happy, fed, and safe, which means it matters how your base is designed. Poor design will lead to your residents becoming unhappy and leaving the base, which further compromises its functioning. Accumulating wealth will make your base a target for raiders and pirates, making defenses and tactics a must when designing a colony. Confusing supply lines will disorient your residents and disrupt supply; power sources need fuel to run; residents need food, the list goes on.

The beauty of AI-controlled residents is that they provide a way to delegate tasks you don’t want to do. Instead of painstakingly building a giant house yourself, you can place the plans down and have your team of guys do it while you go adventuring. Tired of mining? You can drag out an area, and your guys will do it for you. What’s more, they’ll then haul off the materials to be processed so they’re ready for use. And at any time, you can join in and help them, and it won’t disrupt the process; the option’s there if you feel like it. Once you’ve achieved all the things you’d like to do on one planet, you can build a ship with your colonists and launch into space to explore and find new resources, biomes, and technology. There are bosses, secrets, a full tech tree to unlock, and many more features, including a huge multiplayer mode with up to 32 others that I don’t have time to explain here! I’m super excited for everyone to be able to play when it launches on Xbox and with Xbox Game Pass on May 30th!

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