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This Week on Xbox: Overwatch 2’s New Hero, Indie Game News, and BIG Updates

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 10 to 14

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!

Guardian of Lore – April 11
Xbox Play Anywhere

Play as Prince Sayri and save the memory of ancient civilizations from wicked magic that aims to destroy the stories that contain it. Become part of beautifully crafted 2.5D worlds from Native-American folktales, and battle against an evil invader army threatening their disappearance. How much of each story will you be able to preserve for future generations to come? Become a Guardian of Lore and find out!

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened - Box Art Asset

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened – April 11
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Experience a nerve-racking Lovecraftian adventure, rebuilt from the ground up with modern graphics and gameplay. Become Sherlock Holmes and find yourself at the heart of the terrifying Cthulhu Mythos as you investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Europe and the US.

Hyper-5 – April 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Deep space scout ship Hyper-5 has received a distress signal and heads into battle against an unknown threat. On your own and facing nearly impossible odds, you’ll need to survive more than 40 enemy types and massive boss encounters across the varied land, air, and underwater stages of planet 4GDT.

King of the Arcade – April 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Step into the neon-lit world of King of the Arcade, where the ‘80s never died. Take on the role of Mac McCormick, a former arcade champion who has fallen on hard times, as he fights to save Castle’s Arcade from a hostile takeover by the ruthless landlord Jimmy Joysticks and the seven members of his arcade gang. With over 40 games and multiple genres, you’ll have hours of nostalgic fun.

Murderous Muses – April 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

As a security guard, explore a gallery in the echoing hours to uncover clues about a recent crime. Solve puzzles and use the Eyes of Mordechai to bring the portraits to life, restoring the past to find the killer… From the creators of The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, The Shapeshifting Detective, and Dark Nights with Poe and Munro, Murderous Muses is a supernatural whodunit where choosing how to investigate is an art form.

Ghostwire: Tokyo – April 12
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Game Pass

Tokyo is overrun by deadly supernatural forces as a dangerous occultist causes the city’s population to vanish in an instant. Join forces with a powerful spectral entity on their quest for vengeance and master a powerful arsenal of abilities to unravel the dark truth behind the disappearance as you face the unknown in Ghostwire: Tokyo on April 12, including the new Spider’s Thread update. Playable on Console, Clould, and PC.

Cannon Dancer – Osman – April 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Set in the near future of the 21st century, the world is controlled by a single corrupt government and under the threat of an evil sorceress, Abdullah the Slaver. Luckily, a lone assassin and top-class agent named Kirin offers his skills as weapons for hire. Kirin must infiltrate the city to defeat several enemies, panic, and terror. But once inside the cult’s main temple, he gets attacked from the police force and left to die…

Dogfight - A Sausage Bomber Story - Box Art Asset

Dogfight – A Sausage Bomber Story – April 13
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Team up with the entire family for explosive action, signature humor, and thrilling adventure. Join the Sausage Bomber Corps for daring missions to defend the nations of Relishtonia and more against the world-conquering ambitions from the mysterious Vega Nation.

Sokolor – April 13

A puzzle game with innovative mechanics. Push the colored cubes into their correct positions; but first you need to paint yourself the same color to be able to push them.

Basketball Pinball – April 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Jump on the board and prepare to score points to win this match, score slam dunks and three-point shots. Discover all the secrets, complete all the missions, and prove that you’re the number one in the world or the best among your friends, posting your high score on the online leaderboard.

DE-Exit – Eternal Matters – April 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Embark on a surrealistic afterlife journey to discover the secrets of the broken and mysterious plane of memory in this atmospheric, light adventure with a hint of stealth. Explore a wonderful voxel world with an intense cinematic approach. Dive into this profound experience, meet the Plane’s inhabitants, and save the day.

Farm Slider – April 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

With colorful and minimalistic sliding puzzles, Farm Slider is easy to play, challenging to finish and impossible to put down! Challenge your brain and enjoy several hours of puzzling fun, suited for all ages. Slide your way through and rearrange the pictures until they match the original to complete the levels.

Split – Manipulate Time – April 14

A first-person puzzle game with the unique mechanics of creating copies of yourself and manipulating time. The gameplay combines many different types of puzzles and takes them to a whole new perspective. The control panel is riddled with numerous traps that will require both good reflexes and composure — you can try to destroy enemies or escape from them by using time manipulation and your own clones to distract them.

Ultra Pixel Survive – April 14

Command heroes with unique abilities, harvest natural resources to collect materials, then build and develop your military defenses. Each night the enemy hordes will attack the village and challenge your strategic and tactical prowess to survive. Explore dark underground dungeons and wage battle against gigantic bosses.

Free Play Days – PGA Tour 2K23, Black Desert, Bravery and Greed, and The Elder Scrolls Online

Tee it up on the golf course, get rich or die trying, adventure out into the world as the new Maega class, or explore Tamriel once more in this packed Free Play Days weekend. PGA Tour 2K23, Black Desert, and Bravery and Greed are available for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, April 6 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, April 9 at 11:59 p.m. PDT, and The Elder Scrolls Online will be available until April 17.

How to Start Playing

Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

Keep the Fun Going

Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.

Game Details

PGA Tour 2K23 (Xbox One & Series X|S)
- Standard Edition ($59.99 SRP)
- Cross-Gen Edition ($69.99 SRP) (Free Play Days)
- Tiger Woods Edition ($119.99 SRP)
Black Desert
- Standard Edition (Free Play Days)
- Travelers Edition ($~~29.99~~ SRP) at 80% off: $5.99
- Explorers Edition ($~~49.99~~ SRP) at 70% off: $14.99
- Conquerors Edition ($~~99.99~~ SRP) at 70% off: $29.99
Bravery and Greed
- Standard Edition ($~~19.99~~ SRP) at 20% off: $15.99 (Free Play Days)
The Elder Scrolls Online
- Tamriel Unlimited (Free Play Days)
- Standard Edition ($~~19.99~~ SRP) at 70% off: $5.99

PGA Tour 2K23 (Xbox One & Series X|S)

Challenge the greatest players on the PGA Tour and find your swagger in PGA Tour 2K23. Bolstered by a diverse cast of playable pros, featuring Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Brooke Henderson, Lydia Ko, and many more, you can swing on world-renowned, officially licensed courses. Enjoy a bevy of online competitive modes, ranging from competitive Online Societies to the always-fun Topgolf mode and adrenaline-inducing Divot Derby. More golf and more games await in the latest iteration of the PGA Tour 2K franchise.

Black Desert

Jump into Black Desert during the new season and experience Maegu – the newest class in an ever-growing cast. Enter a world created with state-of-the-art graphics, spectacular scenery, realistic environments, and sophisticated details. Experience an innovative combat system unlike any other MMORPG. Join formidable guilds as they fight head-to-head on the battlefield. Be victorious, become lords, seize control of resources, and more! Don’t like fighting? Countless other activities await! Farming, cooking, fishing, sailing, hunting, gathering… dive into diverse life skills! Experience an insane level of customization with a character creator like no other. Not feeling a specific outfit’s color? Dye it to suit your style and become your true self!

Bravery and Greed

Get rich or die trying with up to 4 friends via local or online co-op in Bravery and Greed. Get ready to battle against new fearsome bosses waiting for you in the jungle and ice caves. Grab that sweet loot to unlock new content and game changing augmentations. Discover thrilling dungeons in adventure mode or engage in robust combat with PvP and survival mode. Whether you play as the valiant Warrior, mighty Amazon, agile Rogue or spellcasting Wizard, greed is eternal.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Download and play The Elder Scrolls Online Standard Edition for free from April 6 to April 17 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. With access to the base game, you can explore 24 story zones, including iconic Morrowind, dive into the game’s Battlegrounds, Imperial City, and Cyrodiil PvP areas, and even get an opportunity to begin your Legacy of the Bretons year-long adventure via the High Isle Prologue. Explore the new Necrom Prologue quest starting April 12 in the base game.

Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.

Wild Hearts Is Adding New Monsters, New Tools, and More – and There’s a Free Trial

Spring is a time of awakenings and new opportunities. In celebration of the season, Wild Hearts is adding new content all month, from new Kemono and Karakuri, to new quest types. If you’ve yearned to join the hunt, Xbox players can now try Wild Hearts for 10 full hours. Explore the beautiful but dangerous land of Azuma right up to the gates of Minato for free now through April 13, 2023.

Plus, you can get up to 20%* off either the Standard or Karakuri Edition (which includes the base game and six exclusive items: the Karakuri Samurai and Karakuri Ninja armor sets, a decorative Tsukumo Lantern, and three Emotes) through April 20, 2023.

New Kemono

The falling cherry blossom petals that once delighted the people of Azuma now fill them with dread. For they are delicate harbingers of a deadly foe, the beautiful but destructive Murakumo. Don’t be beguiled by its loveliness, this massive fox-like Kemono dances through the air and unleashes a whirlwind attack that can bring a quick end to almost any battle.

How will you overcome the ferocious power of this beast and protect the people of Azuma? Mastery of a new Karakuri may be your only hope…

New Karakuri

The spinning top is a cunning and powerful addition to your Karakuri toolset. Though it may appear quite simple, it has the power to banish Murakumo’s savage winds. But it’s also important to know that the spinning top gains power each time it ricochets off any surface. The more objects (or Kemono) it hits, the stronger it becomes, so choose your hunting grounds wisely and you will be able to stagger almost any foe.

Other Updates

Wild Hearts is also introducing a new Limit Break system for weapons and armor that will allow you to enhance your equipment with core orbs you obtain after defeating Volatile Kemono. The addition of Marakumo also means new materials for your weapons and armor, both every bit as beautiful as the beast that inspired them.

And, of course, there will be bug fixes and overall game improvements coming as well. You can visit the Wild Hearts website for a look at the latest Patch Notes for more details.

More Coming April 20

The new content doesn’t end after this first update. Be sure to check back for more information on the new Deeply Volatile Kemono, the Deathhaze Gloombeak, as well as challenging Serial Hunts, and new Emotes and Chat Stamps.

Serial Hunts will push your skills to the limit as you pursue a succession of Kemono in time-limited hunts – and without the ability to draw upon the healing water from wells. These new quests will be risky indeed, but with great risk comes great reward. But only if you make it to the end of your quest.

Now is the time to hone your skills and prepare for everything April has in store for you in the world of Wild Hearts.

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See here for details.

WILD HEARTS™ Karakuri Edition

Electronic Arts

☆☆☆☆☆
596

★★★★★

$89.99

$80.99

Get it now

WILD HEARTS™ is a twist on the hunting genre where technology gives you a fighting chance against giant nature-infused beasts.
For a while, none could stand against the Kemono’s overwhelming might. But hope arrives in the form of a formidable hunter, armed with deadly weapons and ancient technology called Karakuri that could turn the tide of battle.

HUNT GIANT NATURE-INFUSED BEASTS
Survive their attacks, learn from their behaviors, and use your Karakuri and your weapons in combination to cut these creatures down to size.

CRAFT YOUR HUNTING GROUNDS
You are the only one in Azuma able to wield the Karakuri technology. This ancient tech enables you to adapt your environment into creative hunting grounds ideal for taking down the giant Kemono.

HUNT IN A PACK, OR BE A LONE WOLF
In WILD HEARTS you can face the Kemono alone or unite with up to two friends (or fellow players) to stalk and hunt your prey.

GEAR UP TO HUNT, HUNT TO GEAR UP
The more you hunt, the more you progress. Create your character, then gather materials from each hunt and build an array of armor and weapons to bring down even bigger beasts.

EXPLORE A FANTASY FEUDAL JAPAN
Experience four season-based hunting grounds – each region with its own beautiful landscapes and dangers.

Leave a lasting impression on your fellow hunters with the WILD HEARTS™ Karakuri Edition which includes the base game and six items: Karakuri Samurai and Karakuri Ninja cosmetic armor sets, a decorative Tsukumo Lantern, and three Emotes.

WILD HEARTS™ Karakuri Edition includes:
– 2 x full cosmetic armor sets (Karakuri Samurai + Karakuri Ninja)
– Decorative Tsukumo Lantern
– 3 x Emotes (Fighting Spirit, Grovel, Conch)

Developed for this generation of platforms by Omega Force, the Japanese studio behind the DYNASTY WARRIORS franchise, WILD HEARTS™ takes you on an epic adventure set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan.

*Conditions & restrictions apply. See ea.com/wild-hearts/wild-hearts/disclaimers for details.
©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved.

WILD HEARTS™ Standard Edition

Electronic Arts

☆☆☆☆☆
244

★★★★★

$69.99

$62.99

Get it now

Free Trial

WILD HEARTS™ is a unique twist on the hunting genre where technology gives you a fighting chance against fearsome beasts infused with the ferocious power of nature itself. Take on these creatures alone or hunt with friends in seamless co-op.
No one remembers why the Kemono began their rampage through a once prosperous Azuma. Fueled by desperation, they wield the power of primal nature at its most destructive. For a while, it seemed that none could stand against their overwhelming might. But hope arrives in the form of a formidable hunter, armed with deadly weapons and ancient technology called Karakuri that could turn the tide of battle.

HUNT GIANT NATURE-INFUSED BEASTS
Survive their attacks, learn from their behaviors, and use your Karakuri and your weapons in combination to cut these creatures down to size.

HUNT IN A PACK, OR BE A LONE WOLF
In WILD HEARTS™ you can face the Kemono alone or unite with up to two friends (or fellow players) to stalk and hunt your prey.

EXPLORE A FANTASY FEUDAL JAPAN
Experience four season-based hunting grounds – each region with its own beautiful landscapes and dangers.

Conditions & restrictions apply. See ea.com/wild-hearts/wild-hearts/disclaimers for details.
©KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. All rights reserved.

A Fun Hobby Turned into a Full-Fledged Game: the Journey of Shukuchi Ninja’s Solo Developer

I first began making Shukuchi Ninja as a bit of a fun hobby, just for something to do and pass the time. I was working as a self-employed sports trader, but then COVID happened and there were no sports to trade, so to keep myself occupied I decided to see if I could make a little game. It was always something I wanted to do, but never had the time nor money to do it — add this to the fact I can’t draw, I can’t compose music, and I can’t code to save my life, I knew it would be a challenge.

One day, I reminded myself about Construct 2, a game making software that I had previously looked at many years ago, and it sounded like the perfect starting place to look as I recall it being more of a visual/drag and drop style engine. Obviously C2 was made obsolete years prior, but C3 had superseded it. I found a couple of templates and started to learn how the engine worked. I then found the perfect template, a little physics-based throwing object that immediately called out “crazy ninja game”!

After about three months tinkering with it, adding the abilities that are in the game now, along with making the graphics look better with premade game assets etc., I had about 15 levels done, but no real aim for the game, sports were back on, so I stopped development.

Then again, another lockdown, sports were not like they used to be, so I opened up C3 again. Decided to get some actual character design done (remember, I said I couldn’t draw, or use any graphics software at the time), so I paid a designer to make some simple mockups. After this, it gave me the surge to go for it, and finish the game. I got the characters fully complete and found someone to animate them. I then invested in some nice backgrounds, tile maps and some custom music. I’d then made about 40 levels, but stopped development again due to family circumstances.

Development picked back up after a few months, adding more details to bring a bit more life to the game, until I finally had it ready. I mostly enjoyed the 18 months or so it took me to make the first deployable version: from some very mundane parts of making a game (like adding details manually, for example) to the discovery that there were far simpler ways to do things and having to redo them—it all contributed to the final product and part of an amazing learning process!

My main inspiration for Shukuchi Ninja was the ancient Japanese culture as a whole. I tried to work out a way I could incorporate the typical pop-culture aspects of the Ninja, (cool, quick and mysterious) with the honorable Samurai, and what a Samurai actually fought for. For instance, the little circle that appears around the ninja when you’re throwing him around is the symbol for the Seven Virtues of Bushido, the Samurai warrior code. By no means am I a game developer of any real talent, but I’m full of drive, determination and have the imagination of a child and I’m very pleased with what I’ve accomplished! If you’re looking at getting started with games development but don’t know where to start, pick up some game-making software and start learning. You’ll find you’ll pick up lots of other skills along the way including creating your own graphics (yes, I can make some myself now, but I still can’t draw!). Shikuchi Ninja is available today on Xbox!

Shukuchi Ninja

2Awesome Partners

☆☆☆☆☆
4

★★★★★

$4.99

$3.99

Get it now

Journey through ancient Japan as the Shukuchi Ninja, exiled from his former clan for wanting a more honorable way of life. Travel through vast areas defeating the Shukuchi Ninja’s newfound foe to bring peace and prosperity in a time of turmoil.

A full, action-packed adventure awaits with over 70 levels, 7 troublesome bosses, an inspiring storyline, and unique controls – there’s no other game like it!

Shukuchi literally translated means shrink earth method, to travel at great speed, an ability that our hero has perfected over years of training. Take control of the Shukuchi Ninja and fly through the air at astonishing speed, attack enemies with your ninjatō, throw shuriken (ninja stars) at hard to reach enemies, and instantly teleport to quickly counter enemy attacks. With the power of healing, you must also aid the Shukuchi Ninja to ensure he doesn’t die!

The Art of Boredom

The awkward silent moments that linger between conversations when meeting new people at restaurants or cafes, waiting for the food to arrive. Your mind looks for distractions. Your thoughts go wild.

Persona Theory Games wants you to not only experience that discomfort but also to understand its purpose through their latest game Kabaret, a dark fantasy folklore visual novel based on Southeast Asian culture and myths.

It may seem easy to just click your way through the entirety of Kabaret, but players must find patience in themselves as they go through the game. The game’s intentional slow pacing forces the player to ponder and soak in the experience, while allowing the mechanics of the game to inaugurate the story that’s being told.

Revelation Behind the Boredom of Making Tea

With Kabaret, the game’s main focus is the narrative. The gameplay mechanics and minigames found within the game exist to bring out the narrative behind the world through its characters, which is the essence of Kabaret. The tea ceremony is a representation of Southeast Asian culture and one of the many mechanics built in as design to give the player a subliminal lesson in patience.

Persona Theory Games believes that the slow pacing of Kabaret mimics the feeling of boredom with a specific purpose in mind.

In recent studies, social neuroscientists have found that boredom can foster creative ideas, refill dwindling reservoirs, replenish the energy for work and provide an incubation period for embryonic work ideas to hatch.

It is this exact feeling and purpose that Persona Theory Games want people to experience. Being bored is an essential part of being human and one of boredom’s purposes is to drive us to take action. This feeling is an essential part of slow cinema – a genre of film characterized by long takes and a minimalist aesthetic – and Kabaret draws inspiration from slow cinema to immerse you in its dark universe.

Slow cinema puts the viewer in a sensory-deprived situation that forces them to think. The lack of stimuli will either create internal chaos or allow the viewer to realize a sense of peace in the mundane. Without editing or splicing, it makes the viewer feel real time, an essential aspect of slow cinema that creative director of Persona Theory Games, Buddy Anwardi, admires.

Mindfulness in Kabaret

Persona Theory Games believes that this aspect of the game is able to create a sense of mindfulness and awareness that we all take for granted with the overload of information from social media forums like TikTok, Youtube and others.

As gamers of today seek the adrenaline hit from fast-paced gameplay, the goal of Kabaret is to encourage mindfulness while playing. Understand the story, think about the meaning and value of life, which explains the many life decisions the player must make in the game.

What It Means to Serve Tea

In the world of Kabaret, the dwellers are made up of ghosts and monsters who are either coping with regret or hoping to find their true selves. Are they still human? Is it so wrong to be a monster? What does it mean to continue suffering in the afterlife after all the hardship found in real life?

We understand that life can be full of suffering, but it is rewarding in its own way. Taking the time to understand the horrors and suffering that these characters have gone through is a big part of the narrative experience. Serving these Southeast Asian mythical creatures tea, waiting for it to brew while embracing the uncomfortable and still silence that we so often fear. Understand their pain and maybe you can find out who you really are.

The losses you feel when playing Guli with ghosts from old wars that taunt you. Understand the intricate game of Congkak with a trickster monster laughing at your horrible math skills. The lessons of strategizing, being prudent and accepting defeat. Realize that every calculative action you make has far reaching consequences.

People are searching for ways to escape the fast pace of the modern world. Why not find a sense of renewal and develop a sense of belonging by serving the dwellers at Kabaret. Let the music and experience of Kabaret give you a new perspective on what it means to save your humanity or be a monster.

Kabaret is available on Xbox Today! You may follow Persona Theory Games on Twitter to stay notified about the game’s release and updates.

Kabaret

Persona Theory Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Kabaret is a dark fantasy folklore adventure game. The story unfolds through the eyes of Jebat, a cursed boy who is uprooted from his small town to a mystical, violent, and unforgiving monster realm. Astray and lonely in a place of unfathomable cruelty, Jebat confronts monsters both supernatural and human in the Kabaret.

Start Your New Adventure With Black Desert’s New Class, Maegu

Greetings, Adventurers!

The Fox-summoning “Do” wielder of the Jwado School and newest addition to the roster, Maegu, is available now for Black Desert on Xbox! Maegu has similar, yet distinct characteristics and combat style from her twin sister, Woosa, who was released last December. We are very excited to introduce this new class as she has quite the (Fox) Charm; let’s take a look at her weapons and key skills.

Maegu’s Weapons: Fox Charm/Binyeo Knife

Signing a deal with a revered fox spirit, Maegu lures her enemies with the Fox Charm, then lands a fatal blow with the Binyeo Knife.

Maegu channels various spells through the Fox Spirit Charm. She can tackle enemies from long distances, and spread a dazzling display of Fox Spirit Charms.

Much like a fox, Maegu is cunning on the battlefield. Her swift movement enables her to instantly avoid enemies and dodge incoming attacks.

Maegu can also collaborate with the revered Fox Spirit on coordinated attacks that can confuse and devastate approaching enemies.

Maegu’s Key Skills

Maegu flows in with an array of combat moves and abilities that would make any enemy turn and run. Skills such as the Tethered Souls ability enable her to throw her Fox Charm and disrupt opponent movements, gaining the opportunity to then thrust her handy Binyeo Knife in their chest as shown below.

Maegu can also take a more stealthy and cunning approach by using the Foxspirit: Deceiver ability. With it, Maegu creates a doppelganger to freely switch between in the midst of battle in order to confuse enemies. Whatever skill you choose to utilize in combat, Maegu has you covered for every strategy in your arsenal.

New Class And a New Season

Along with the new class release, Black Desert is also launching a new season. If you are just starting out, this is a perfect time to create a new seasonal character and start your journey. The season servers are designed to focus on character growth, making it easier for Adventurers to get accustomed to the world of Black Desert.

Season servers are only accessible during certain periods, and only season characters can access these special servers. As you progress through the season server and gain valuable experience, season characters can graduate and enjoy the rest of the content available in Black Desert. Season servers not only have special equipment, but also a variety of benefits.

This season, new fishing benefits have been added so players can exchange Season server-exclusive fish for seasonal growth items. Fishing on the season servers will not only get you great items, but also Combat XP!

You can enjoy Black Desert on Xbox Game Pass today. Jump into the game this weekend during Black Desert’s Xbox Free Play Weekend — No Game Pass subscription necessary!

Black Desert

Pearl Abyss

☆☆☆☆☆
347

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Xbox Game Pass

Black Desert supports backward-compatibility on Xbox Series X|S.

Black Desert is a living-world MMORPG. Experience fast-paced, action-packed combat, hunt monsters and huge bosses, fight with friends in a guild to siege nodes and region castles, train your life skills such as fishing, trading, crafting, cooking, and much more!
Players will enjoy jaw-dropping graphics,
intuitive skill-based combat, and an immersive story encased in our expansive
world that’s just waiting to be explored. Accompanied by a Black Spirit, a
companion whose destiny is intertwined with their own, players will discover
the secret of the Black Stones and the history of their corrupting effects.

In a medieval fantasy setting, the game
chronicles a conflict between two rival nations, the Republic of Calpheon and
the Kingdom of Valencia. With a battle based on achievements and personal
qualifications, Black Desert gives full control to players that can directly
aim, escape and make numerous different skill combinations.

[Accolades]
– Join over 10 Million Registered Users in Black Desert
– The 10 Best MMOs of 2017 – MMORPG.com
– 2016 Best new MMORPG – MMORPG.com
– 2016 MMORPG OF THE YEAR – MASSIVLY OP

No Man’s Sky: Interceptor Offers the Largest New Update in Recent Memory

It’s been lovely to watch our Xbox and Game Pass players enjoying what Fractal (our first No Man’s Sky update of 2023) had to offer and it’s been thrilling to watch you all cruising around in your shiny new Utopia Speeders and filling up your Wonders Catalogues with your latest discoveries.

Barely 6 weeks later and we are delighted to launch another major update for No Man’s Sky, and it’s one of our largest in recent memory. We’re calling Interceptor, with a brand new class of incredibly varied Starship, a bunch of new gameplay features, new world variants and a ton of new content!

The ever-present tyrants of universe enforcement, the Sentinels, have become prey to a corruption that is spreading through their factions. Only the bravest Travellers will dare venture to forsaken Sentinel worlds to investigate.

Those that do, however, will find abandoned encampments to explore, intriguing crystals to harvest and, for the most persistent, the blueprints for a hitherto undiscovered Sentinel Interceptor starship which come in a huge variety of models.

Obtaining the Interceptor for your own fleet will not be easy. The mission to recover the secret Sentinel equipment and turn this stolen technology back against the horde is fraught with danger, not least because the Sentinels have been developing advanced defence and attack technologies which they are not shy of deploying against any puny threats to their dominance.

The rewards are substantial though. Aside from the Interceptor itself, there is the prospect of securing a brand new weapon – the “Hijacked Laser” – and a unique backpack – the “Aeron Turbojet”.

As you may expect, we anticipate a fair amount of heavy combat as Travellers go toe-to-toe with their long-time adversaries at closer quarters than ever before. That’s why Interceptor comes with a large number of quality of life combat improvements, not least the opportunity to see what happens when a Sentinel freighter explodes under your attack!

As is now customary, a No Man’s Sky update comes with a huge range of other additions and improvements to almost every other area of the game. Xbox and Game Pass players can discover what’s new by downloading Interceptor today. We are really excited to bring Interceptor to our Xbox and Game Pass players, but there’s plenty more to come from our tiny team in 2023.

Our journey continues.

No Man’s Sky

Hello Games

☆☆☆☆☆
546

★★★★★

$59.99

$29.99

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

No Man’s Sky comes complete with all 21 major updates up to and including Waypoint, our 4.0 update.

Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.

In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.

Embark on an epic voyage
At the centre of the galaxy lies a irresistible pulse which draws you on a journey towards it to learn the true nature of the cosmos. But, facing hostile creatures and fierce pirates, you’ll know that death comes at a cost, and survival will be down to the choices you make over how you upgrade your ship, your weapon and suit.

Find your own destiny
Your voyage through No Man’s Sky is up to you. Will you be a fighter, preying on the weak and taking their riches, or taking out pirates for their bounties? Power is yours if you upgrade your ship for speed and weaponry.
Or a trader? Find rich resources on forgotten worlds and exploit them for the highest prices. Invest in more cargo space and you’ll reap huge rewards.
Or perhaps an explorer? Go beyond the known frontier and discover places and things that no one has ever seen before. Upgrade your engines to jump ever farther, and strengthen your suit for survival in toxic environments that would kill the unwary.

Share your journey
The galaxy is a living, breathing place. Trade convoys travel between stars, factions vie for territory, pirates hunt the unwary, and the police are ever watching. Every other player lives in the same galaxy, and you can choose to share your discoveries with them on a map that spans known space. Perhaps you will see the results of their actions as well as your own…

Score a Hole-In-One in EA Sports PGA Tour Early with EA Play, Plus Even More Rewards

Attention Fans: April is a big gaming month for EA Play members!

EA Sports PGA Tour

Get ready to hit the golf course early with EA Sports PGA Tour. Starting today, EA Play members can jump into a 10-hour early access trial of the game – three days before its release!

The exclusive home of the Majors, EA Sports PGA Tour’s Pure Strike shot system – featuring ShotLink powered by CDW, PGA Tour’s proprietary real-time scoring system – gives players all the tools they need to realistically attack every hole on every course the same way the pros do. With unrivaled access to 30 of the world’s most exclusive golf courses, such as Augusta National Golf Club, Pebble Beach Golf Links and more, EA Sports PGA Tour’s features all four majors in men’s golf, including the Masters Tournament, the PGA Championship, the U.S. Open Championship and The Open Championship.

Alongside Early Access, EA Play members will also receive monthly drops of Pro Shop perks such as exclusive headcovers, shirts, hats and more, as well as 10% off pre-orders, PGA Tour Points and more.

EA Sports NHL 23

From the course to the rink, hockey fans are in for a treat this month with EA Sports NHL 23, the most authentic and immersive NHL game ever, coming to The Play List on April 13.

Powered by the Frostbite engine, the game brings fans new levels of authenticity with gameplay improvements that include over 500 new last chance playmaking animations, living arenas and atmosphere, as well as deep franchise-mode customizations – allowing the best women’s and men’s players in the world to compete on one lineup. Moreover, with cross-play, players can also play against each other on the same platform generation.

April Rewards

In addition to all the great offerings, here are even more member-only content and rewards available now in EA Play:

Battlefield 2042 Ravine Specialist Set for Paik – Now to May 1
Apex Legends Gilded Fortunes Weapon Charm – April 11 to May 15
Need for Speed Unbound Nissan Fairlady ZG 1971 Epic Custom – Now to June 6
PGA Tour Golf Hat – Now to May 8
NHL 23 WOC The Uprise Set – Now to April 30
FIFA 23 adidas Run for the Ocean White Tee and COINS – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 FUT Season 5 XP Boost – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 Pro Clubs 80s Skate Zig Zag Mask – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 Vol. 3 Stadium Set – Now to April 27
FIFA 23 FUT Hero Jürgen Kohler Tifo Set – Now to April 30
Madden NFL 23 MUT April Pack – Now to May 1

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play at no additional cost with their Game Pass subscription. Members enjoy great player benefits, including in-game challenges and rewards, special member-only content, trials of select brand-new titles, access to a collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, and 10% off purchases of Electronic Arts digital content.

Visit the EA Play page for more details, and to stay up to date on the latest from EA Play, follow EA Play on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Please see EA.com/EA-Play/Terms for terms and conditions.

Overwatch 2: Introducing the Origins of Lifeweaver, a New Support Hero

Summary

Lifeweaver is the newest Overwatch hero, a support class with abilities that help his team both with healing and movement.
We can exclusively reveal his Origin Trailer, and spoke to Lead Narrative Designer Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie to find out more about this new character’s story.
You’ll be able to play as Lifeweaver from April 11, and he’ll be free to use for a limited time.

Xbox can exclusively reveal the Origin Trailer for Lifeweaver, the newest hero coming to Overwatch 2. This new support hero will arrive as part of Season 4 on April 11, and offers some very new options to players looking to assist their team – and a brand new thread to the Overwatch storyline.

Niran ‘Bua’ PruksaManee is a Thai scientist who combines nature and technology to offer new ways to heal, move and damage, both for himself and his team. As with all of Overwatch’s heroes, he also comes with a rich backstory, which you can check out in the new trailer below:

All of Lifeweaver’s abilities stem from his background as a naturalist. Brought up wealthy in the sheltered world of Chiang Mai, Lifeweaver grew to love the natural world but, upon leaving home, he saw the devastation being wreaked on the environment outside of his home. He developed a new technology, bio-light, which uses the hard light wielded by the likes of fellow heroes Symmetra but fuses it with living plants. Refusing to let his parents or the Vishkar corporation use his technology for nefarious purposes, he fled home, determined to use his creation only for good.

To learn more about the creation of this unique new hero, we spoke to Overwatch 2’s Lead Narrative Designer Gavin Jurgens-Fyhrie. He explains that, as with all of Overwatch’s heroes, Lifeweaver began life as a series of gameplay ideas that needed a story created around them:

“He was design first and, from there, the story developed. What really struck the Narrative team is we knew we were going to do a plant hero, then we had to figure out how this person has plant powers. Then we saw the early prototypes and realized it doesn’t look like plants, but more like hard light, which led to his story being developed. It really highlights how the Overwatch team develops heroes, it’s very collaborative.”

The solution was to create the idea of bio-light, a new iteration of Overwatch’s existing hard light technology – already wielded by the likes of Symmetra and Lúcio. Lifeweaver created it to heal wounds and damaged plants, and wanted it to become free to use across the world – but his invention was claimed by the Vishkar corporation, a company most closely linked to Symmetra among the existing heroes.

It means that Lifeweaver’s story offers more to learn about Symmetra by association. “She was pretty much the one person at school who he understood and who understood him,” says Jurgens-Fyhrie, “and there is a lot there to explore. We can’t share too much about what is to come, but Vishkar is an important of the story, particularly for Symmetra and Lifeweaver.”

At the time of his introduction, Lifeweaver isn’t part of the in-universe Overwatch team, but Jurgens-Fyhrie says he’s known them while living as a fugitive, and is “loosely tied” to them in the same way Torbjörn is. Jurgens-Fyhrie won’t say if his story will become a part of the upcoming PvE story for the game, but we know that, “at the time of this announcement, Lifeweaver is living in the Atlantic Arcology, trying to find a way to cure diseases and heal the world.”

You’ll be able to play as Lifeweaver for free for a limited time from April 11, and an in-game event celebrating his addition to the roster will run until April 24. The event, also celebrating Thai New Year, will add an arcade mode, B.O.B. and Weave (which will allow players to play only as Lifeweaver), and by participating you can earn Lifeweaver’s Cassia skin (based on the national flower of Thailand, the Ratchaphruek).