Category: Xbox

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!

Great New Games Spotlight has officially kicked off and we’re excited to bring you a ton of games every week for the next six weeks — more than 100+ new games will launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One between February 28 and April 10 – and if you spend $50 on eligible games and movies, you can receive 2,500 Microsoft Rewards points! Get more details here.

Deceive Inc. – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Go undercover as the world’s greatest secret agents in this multiplayer game of social stealth and subterfuge. Disguise yourself as anyone to blend into the crowd, deploy high-tech gadgets to gain the upper hand, and extract the package before the competition takes it for themselves! No trick is too dirty when you work for Deceive Inc.

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom – The Prince’s Edition – March 21
Game Pass
Once upon a time, there was a world torn by endless war. But then came a great king who would change this world forever. Join the young king Evan to establish a new kingdom in the Prince’s Edition, which includes all DLCs. Available on Cloud, Console, and PC.

Superfidos – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A platforming game where you explore the vast world of Fluffington as a magical dog hero, traversing different levels in multiple interconnected areas, gathering power-ups, magic, and more. Put your best cape on and help these heroes show Lux they are not called Superfidos for nothing!

Island Farmer – March 22

Farms are set up on islands over calm and clear water in this tiny fantasy experience. Carefully observe the island, try to memorize it, then shuffle the blocks to reproduce the desired island and it will compose an archipelago.

The Settlers: New Allies – March 22

The Settlers: New Allies is a strategy game with an in-depth build-up experience and real-time strategic battles. Fully reimagined from the ground up, with stunning graphics and detailed animations. Choose among three factions: the Elari, the Maru, and the Jorn. Each has a unique look, playstyle, and background story.

Taurian Defense – March 22

Pilot the most advanced Taurian defense ships, each with their own special capabilities to help drive back the invading forces. Inspired by 1980s top-down arcade-style shooters, you must defend your bases from an enemy invasion.

Dragon Pinball – March 23
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Experience Dragon Pinball, surpass all the challenges, and defeat the dragon on this exciting pinball machine. Discover all the secrets, complete all the missions, and become number 1 in the world (or the best among your friends), posting your high score on online.

I dream of you and ice cream – March 23

A game about imperialism, the loss of identity, and personal sacrifice. I dream of you and ice cream is a point-and-click adventure game with an emphasis on puzzle solving — for every two puzzles solved, players are rewarded with a partial solution which can be used in another puzzle.

Not For Broadcast – March 23

A darkly comedic game of televised chaos that lets you pick what you want to see on TV, no matter what anybody else wants. Egotistical celebrities, dishonest politicians, and strange sponsors clash on the airwaves. You’re here to ensure that the show goes on uninterrupted.

Yello Adventures – March 23

Overcome challenging and dangerous platforms with a variety of different and challenging enemies and make sure you are prepared for the boss at the end of the level where you must demonstrate your expertise! Upgrade your weapon via the in-game store and become more effective in your fight against your enemies.

Lila’s Tale and the Hidden Forest – March 24

In this classical-inspired 2D game, players will explore challenging magical environments, team up with forest animals and defeat nasty enemies. Experience a wonderful adventure and save Solaria!

Overloop – March 24

A puzzle-platformer set in a dystopian world where the invention of a cloning device has messed things up, big time. Armed with a clone gun and a mighty fine mustache, the chore of saving the whole of civilization rests on your shoulders. Don’t blow it.

Resident Evil 4 – March 24
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect. Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics, Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut. Relive the nightmare that revolutionized survival horror.

Steel Defier – March 24

A malfunction in the defense system of a transport spaceship accidentally killed everyone aboard, except for one last survivor… You and your suspicious orange suit. Explore a maze-like environment, moving from room to room, collecting access cards and finding new upgrades for your suit. Use your skills to outmaneuver dozens of different hazard types, while also trying to find a way out.       

Witchcrafty – March 24

Witchcrafty is a platformer with small metroidvania elements that immerse you in a world of magic. Something strange is happening in the Kingdom — the forests are filled with predatory plants, their peace-loving peoples have taken up arms against each other, and goblins were noticed in the deep mines. The little witch must start her journey in search of truth and answers.

Now that Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is available with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Cloud, many of you may be diving into this grand strategy game for the first time, while others may be returning after some time away from their conquering days. Either way, we thought we’d lend a hand to give some starter tips to help get your civilizations established during your first 50 Turns or so.

Some Core Starting Tips

• Ocean Front Views: It’s helpful to establish your city near waterways or the coast. It opens more options (trade, food, etc.) for your civilization as you start out. For example, establishing a city on the coast immediately gives you a Sailing research bonus that can come in handy later as you embark upon the waves.
• Robots Are Your Friend: Use Automate Exploration on your Warriors/Scouts early on so you can concentrate on getting your core strategy in place. Their pathfinding ability is pretty good and can give you early insight into future desirable city state locations and Barbarian camps (more on that later).
• Set and Forget: Use the Queue system early and often in both research and unit creation. This too allows you to think about the rest of your layout and exploration while the Turns quickly roll by (and it will go by faster than you think!). Ideally, your first Units should be some combination of Scout, Warrior, Slinger/Archer, and Builder in whatever order you choose.

Pick a Route to Victory and Work Towards It

There are five Victory Conditions (Science, Culture, Religion, Domination, and Score – Diplomacy is available in the Gathering Storm DLC) and each Civilization Leader has a core strength that you should lean into and not away from. For example, Cleopatra (Egypt) gives you Gold and Food bonuses for trade routes, so look to establish those early to help your civilization grow to take advantage of this.

A lot of this information and strategy can be mapped out for you early on from the in-game Technology Tree. It will also give you a rough approximation of how many turns it will take for you to unlock some of these skills. You can even add numerous technologies to a build queue so you can “set and forget” as you work on other aspects of your world domination plan. Or, to make it even easier, if you have a victory condition in mind, simply scroll to the right and select that desired Technology and the game will map out the ideal tech to unlock to achieve it, automatically add it to your queue, and you’ll be on your way.

Seeing as how we’re trying to get up to speed in 50 turns today, we’d recommend you unlock the “Core 3” as soon as you can which are Pottery, Animal Husbandry, and Mining. In less than 30 turns, all of those should be unlocked which opens several other paths for you to start progressing towards and tiles for you to extract resources from. They’re key to you finding early success in the game since they feed into just about everything.

Scout Early, Find Your Neighbors, Discover Resources

Knowledge is key to success and that comes in revealing the “fog of war” on the world map in Civilization VI. Sending Scouts into the world can yield resource locations, other civilizations, villages, and those pesky Barbarian Camps (more on those in a minute). Scouts can also stumble upon National Wonders which can give a boost to Astrology.

And while a Scout is the obvious unit to use here, Warriors can also be used as an alternate early on. Your odds of another civilization invading your just-established settlement are relatively low early on and sending your Warrior out as a “cheap Scout” can yield early round benefits before you can build a dedicated Scout (which takes about 5 turns). Once you do have your Scout in place, you should pull your Warrior back close to home because the Barbarians can put a serious wrinkle in your plans for early expansion. Speaking of…

Clear Out Barbarians ASAP

Despite your best laid plans, all of it can come quickly crushing down by just a couple of unwelcome raids via the local Barbarian population. It’s advisable you don’t ignore this thorn in your side and look to counter their raids by building some Warriors and Slingers/Archers to seek out their camps and wipe them out entirely.

Before that happens, you should start to plan this offensive. Your Warriors can gain XP by taking out Barbarian Scouts, who are relatively weak. If you can level them up, it will tilt these one-on-one battles more in your favour. Personally, we’ve found that a good combo of 2 Slinger/Archer units with 1 Warrior unit is the best approach during the early game phase. Once you can upgrade Slingers to Archers (by researching Archery after Animal Husbandry), their line of sight allows you to start picking off the Barbarian raiders much further away, allowing you to weaken them for your Warriors to clean up.

Taking care of these Barbarian encampments are key for your success early on so you can start to build ideal units that can bring your expansion plans to fruition, like Settlers, Builders, and Traders that are free from raiders.

Build Builders

By about Turn 30 you should be close to unlocking Pottery, Animal Husbandry, and Mining which will allow you to take advantage of the resources near your starting location (located on adjacent tiles). Builders will be your key unit at this next early phase of the game as you want to get your local economy up and running as fast as you can, which can then open Trading, and feed into your expansion plans.

Builders can only be used three times before they’re expired, but they have the power to Build Improvements instantly – no waiting around for your Farm to take shape. So, if you happen to start out in a very feature rich area, it may be wise to queue two of them up during this phase of the game if you can afford it. They can also be used to repair damaged titles (for free!) that may get raided by Barbarians or other hostile civilizations.

The other unique thing about Builders in Civilization VI is that they can also Harvest Resources to yield a lump sum to the parent city if you’re in immediate need of resources, like food for example. Later, as you unlock bronze working, you can also use a Builder to remove features to help with further expansions, like placements of campuses. Just be mindful you’re not stripping something that you intend to build later. For example, a Wonder such as Stonehenge needs to be built next to Stone.

We hope these starter tips help you in your quest for domination in Civilization VI. As you’ll no doubt discover (or become reacquainted with), there are dozens upon dozens of different ways to approach the game and much more in-depth strategies to consider as you get into the deeper levels of the game around turns 100 though 200. For now, we hope you enjoy playing Sid Meier’s Civilization VI today with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Cloud. Happy conquering!

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

2K

☆☆☆☆☆
403

★★★★★

$29.99

$23.99

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

Xbox Game Pass

Originally created by legendary game designer Sid Meier, Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire to stand the test of time. Explore a new land, research technology, conquer your enemies, and go head-to-head with history’s most renowned leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.

Civilization VI for Xbox One includes the latest game updates and improvements and four pieces of additional content which adds four new civilizations, leaders, and scenarios:

•Vikings Scenario Pack
•Poland Civilization & Scenario Pack
•Australia Civilization & Scenario Pack
•Persia and Macedon Civilization & Scenario Pack

Features:

•PLAY YOUR WAY: The path to victory is the one you determine. Become the most scientifically advanced civilization, dominate through sheer military power, or become the foremost destination for the cultural arts.

•THE WORLD’S GREATEST LEADERS: Play as one of 24 different leaders from various countries around the world and throughout history. Build an empire of lucrative trade routes with Cleopatra of Egypt, flex the military might of your legions with Trajan of Rome, or develop a powerhouse of culture with Hojo Tokimune of Japan. Each of the leaders can be played any way you prefer, with unique abilities, units, and infrastructure in their quest for victory.

•EXPANSIVE EMPIRES: See the marvels of your empire spread across the map. Settle in uncharted lands, improve your surroundings, build new districts, and see your cities – and your civilization – prosper.

•ACTIVE RESEARCH: Unlock boosts that speed your civilization’s progress through history. To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures.

•DYNAMIC DIPLOMACY: Interactions with other civilizations change over the course of the game, from primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations.

•EXCITING AND UNIQUE SCENARIOS: Civilization VI on Xbox One includes four playable scenarios, each with a different setting and style of gameplay inspired by history. Be part of the colonization of Australia in “Outback Tycoon,” defend Poland from invaders in “Jadwiga’s Legacy,” choose a Viking leader to conquer Europe in “Vikings, Raiders, and Traders!”, or conquer the known world in the “Conquests of Alexander.”

•COOPERATIVE AND COMPETITIVE MULTIPLAYER: Up to 4 players can cooperate or compete for supremacy via online multiplayer.

Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI

2K

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Civilization VI offers new ways to engage with your world: cities now physically expand across the map, active research in technology and culture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue their own agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of five ways to achieve victory in the game.

Key Features:
EXPANSIVE EMPIRES
• See the marvels of your empire spread across the map like never before. Each district, wonder, and improvement is built on its own hex, allowing you to customize your city to your heart’s content.
• From the Commercial Hub to the Spaceport, every district provides unique and powerful bonuses. Pick and choose which districts to build to fit your needs!
• Build better than your opponents, place yourself strategically for your allies, and become the best civilization

ACTIVE RESEARCH
• Boost your civilization’s progress through history to unlock powerful bonuses before anyone else! To advance more quickly, use your units to actively explore, develop your environment, and discover new cultures.
• Research isn’t just limited to science. Explore the Civics tree to unlock powerful new governments and cultural policies
• Cultivate the civilization that fits your playstyle, or switch it up every time you play!

DYNAMIC DIPLOMACY
• As the game progresses, so do your diplomatic relationships. From primitive first interactions where conflict is a fact of life, to late game alliances and negotiations.
• Carry influence with nearby city states to gain its diplomatic allegiance and earn game-changing city-state bonuses
• Enlist spies to gather crucial intel on rival civilizations, steal precious resources, and even topple governments.

Related:
Free Play Days – Anno 1800, Session: Skate Sim, and Autonauts
Season Nine Arrives as Sea of Thieves Celebrates Five Years at Sea
March Updates for the Xbox App on PC: Better Game Discovery, Jump Back In, and More

Anno 1800 Console Edition is now available on Xbox Series X|S, and you can play the award-winning city-building strategy game for free from now until March 23. If you have an Xbox Live Gold subscription or an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, you can also access Anno 1800 Console Edition on your Xbox Series X|S through the Xbox Free Play Days event from now until March 24. During the Free Week, you can play all of Anno 1800’s main content, and if you want to continue building your empire after March 23, your progression will carry over if you buy the game.

Set during the Industrial Revolution, Anno 1800 lets you build large cities, establish logistical networks, charter expeditions around the world, and take on your opponents diplomatically, commercially, or militarily. Protect your cities, help your economy grow, and be ready to adapt to any situation that may occur. Explore the story in campaign mode; customize your opponents, victory conditions, and difficulty level in sandbox mode; and challenge friends or play co-op in online multiplayer.

Anno 1800 Console Edition is available in both Standard and Deluxe versions. The Standard version comes with the base game and all the free game updates released for the PC version, while the Deluxe version adds three cosmetic packs: the Amusements Pack lets you add amusement parks; the Pedestrian Zone Pack comes with a variety of ornamental trees and shrubs; and the Vibrant Cities Pack provides diversity among your common Old World city buildings. The PC version’s DLC and Season Passes are not planned for release on consoles, however nine Cosmetic Packs are already available for purchase and a few more are coming soon.

Take advantage of the Free Week in Anno 1800 from now until March 23 on Xbox Series X|S and get ready to build a new world and guide your cities to prosperity!

Anno 1800™ Console Edition – Deluxe

UBISOFT

☆☆☆☆☆
4

★★★★★

$49.99

Get it now

Beautify your cities with the Deluxe Edition! Includes three Cosmetic Packs: Amusements Pack, Pedestrian Zone, and Vibrant Cities to enjoy a wide variety of ornaments and skins.

A RICH EARLY ADOPTER OFFER: contains a digital art book, a digital game soundtrack*, the access to the Imperial Pack and the Console Founder Pack!
A complete package that will totally immerse you in the world of the Industrial Revolution of Anno 1800™.

Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age in this city-building real-time strategy game. Experience one of the most exciting and fast-changing periods of all time as you discover new technologies, regions, and societies, implement your own strategy, and build a new world to your design.

Play solo or use the online mode to play PvP or co-op modes: How the world remembers your name is up to you.

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA: Prove your skills as you create huge cities, plan logistic networks, settle lush new continents, send out expeditions around the globe, and dominate opponents by diplomacy, trade, or warfare.
BUILD YOUR OWN EMPIRE by constructing large metropolises, managing a thriving economy, and protecting your creations from others. To guide your cities to prosperity, you’ll need to learn to adapt to any situation that arises.
A UNIQUE CITY-BUILDER EXPERIENCE: Includes a story-based campaign, customizable sandbox mode, and a multiplayer experience.
NEW FEATURES FOR A NEW AGE, through expeditions across the globe to seek fame and fortune and a new workforce feature that will make the management of your factories more demanding and realistic.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLAY: You decide what you want your game to be! Challenge yourself with a variety of AI characters or focus on building and beautifying a huge empire.

*Access the digital artbook and soundtrack upon game release on the official Anno 1800 Console Page: https:\www.annogame.comconsole

Anno 1800™ Console Edition – Standard

UBISOFT

☆☆☆☆☆
19

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

A RICH EARLY ADOPTER OFFER: contains a digital art book, a digital game soundtrack*, the access to the Imperial Pack and the Console Founder Pack!
A complete package that will totally immerse you in the world of the Industrial Revolution of Anno 1800™!

Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age in this city-building real-time strategy game. Experience one of the most exciting and fast-changing periods of all time as you discover new technologies, regions, and societies, implement your own strategy, and build a new world to your design.

Play solo or use the online mode to play PvP or co-op modes: How the world remembers your name is up to you.

THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA: Prove your skills as you create huge cities, plan logistic networks, settle lush new continents, send out expeditions around the globe, and dominate opponents by diplomacy, trade, or warfare.
BUILD YOUR OWN EMPIRE by constructing large metropolises, managing a thriving economy, and protecting your creations from others. To guide your cities to prosperity, you’ll need to learn to adapt to any situation that arises.
A UNIQUE CITY-BUILDER EXPERIENCE: Includes a story-based campaign, customizable sandbox mode, and a multiplayer experience.
NEW FEATURES FOR A NEW AGE, through expeditions across the globe to seek fame and fortune and a new workforce feature that will make the management of your factories more demanding and realistic than ever.
DIFFERENT WAYS TO PLAY: You decide what you want your game to be! Challenge yourself with a variety of AI characters or focus on building and beautifying a huge empire.

*Access the digital artbook and soundtrack upon game release on the official Anno 1800 Console Page: https:\www.annogame.comconsole

Related:
Atlas Fallen: Brand New Details Emerge After the Action-RPG’s Gameplay Reveal
Ghostwire: Tokyo Is Coming to Xbox – Play the All-New Spider’s Thread Update April 12
Diablo IV: Talking the Open Beta With the Game’s Director

As the seasons begin to usher in change, so too does the latest mid-season drop for Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Today, Season 2: Reloaded is now available bringing with it a new 6v6 Multiplayer map (Himmelmatt Expo), a camo challenge event, and tons of additional content for both Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0. You can get a full breakdown here on the official Call of Duty Blog.

Also, tomorrow kicks off a limited time Free Trial for Modern Warfare II allowing players to jump in and experience one of our favorite multiplayer games on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S from March 16 through March 20, 2023. The Free Access period will feature a limited selection of Multiplayer and Special Ops encounters for non-game owners to experience with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II. Expect a wide variety of available Game Modes, from squad-based modes like Team Deathmatch and Domination, to a selection of modes that released with Season 02 and Season 02: Reloaded. You can get a full breakdown on the Free Access period here.

Also included with today’s update are three additional Party Modes with Drop Zone, All or Nothing, and One in the Chamber to compliment the already available Infected, Gun Game, and Grind. And now with so many players able to jump in this weekend, we thought it’d be great to offer a bit of a refresher on what these modes are like coupled with some tips to help give you a bit of an edge in your online showdowns.

Infected

If you wanted to get an idea on how well you’d fare during a zombie apocalypse, this one’s for you. Infected pits one player as the “infected” against the larger group of players in an attempt to infect all players on the map before the timer expires. If you’re taken out by an infected, you join horde and go after the remaining defenders. Here’s a few key tips to keep in mind while playing:

• If you’re on defense, find a good spot to defend from (high ground is ideal) and utilize lethal equipment like mines, claymores, and C4 at chokepoints and doorways.
• Watch. Each. Others. Backs. Pick a spot to be responsible for and glue yourself to it and communicate with your team if you need assistance.
• Speed kills if you’re one of the infected. Use that to your advantage by attacking as a unified group by sprinting in and overwhelming the defender’s location.

Gun Game

Get out of your comfort zone by rotating through a variety of different weapons after you secure an elimination. In any given match, you’ll be navigating through pistols, assault rifles, rocket launchers, and more – the first player to score a kill using each weapon is the winner. It can be great fun; especially how hectic it can be towards the end as you must end the match with a Throwing Knife to secure victory. Here’s a few tips that have helped us get on top:

• Lean in. Make sure you lean into the strengths of each weapon as fast as possible so you can quickly rotate through your arsenal. (e.g., don’t treat a sniper rifle like a shotgun).
• Dots! Keep an eye on that mini-map. When shots are fired, they will appear as red dots giving you some idea on where other players might be located. Go there!
• Stay on the move! You need to get out there and find some targets to take out to keep rotating through your guns; this is not the mode to think about pitching a tent.  

Grind

You get a dog tag, and you get a dog tag, and you get a dog tag! Dog tags for everyone! Like Kill Confirmed, this mode requires you to not only secure the dog tag after taking out a player for it to count, but you must take your collection and “cash it in” for a point for your team at a designated location. But be careful if you happen to get knocked out on your way to make bank – you’ll drop every dog tag you’re carrying! Here’s some tips to help you win:

• Don’t get too greedy. If you’ve managed to secure a few kills, go cash them in and then get back there to collect some more.
• Don’t leave your teammates hanging. Make it a habit of covering your squad mates and collecting their dog tags should they have been taken out by enemy fire.
• Anticipate where the enemy team might be heading to cash in their dog tags and bottle up those chokepoints to steal their loot.

Drop Zone

It’s raining Killstreaks! The goal with Drop Zone is to hold and secure the designated area to earn your team points towards their victory total. Keep in mind that things can get hectic quickly because every 15 seconds that a Drop Zone is occupied, Care Packages drop nearby allowing you to secure a Killstreak that can give you a huge edge in taking down the other team. Here’s some tips to consider:

• Perk up! Utilize equipment that works best in defending objectives, like claymores and proximity mines, smoke grenades to mask your team position, and Field Upgrades like Trophy System and Anti-Armor Rounds to counteract some enemy Killstreaks.
• Secure position! When working as a team, if someone is already securing the Care Package, take up a defensive position and help fend off attackers; this rule also applies to watch your teammates back as they are deploying a Killstreak which leaves them vulnerable to attack.
• Don’t forget to breathe! This mode can quickly get out of hand as repeated Killstreaks dunk on your team. Take breath and try to retain your focus back on the objective of securing these Care Packages with your teammates.

All or Nothing

It’s a sprint to 20 eliminations in this fast-moving game mode where each Operator must take out their opponent by only using Throwing Knives. Taking out other players can also earn you some additional Perks to give you a tactical advantage, like silent running. If you’re jumping into this mode, here’s some tips to help:

• Turn up those headsets! You’ll hear footsteps from most of your opponents, giving you an extra split-second you may need to turn around for a chance to stab your would-be attacker.
• Stay nimble! There’s no harm in looking silly while jumping around or sliding all over the place while trying to dodge a knife throw; make yourself as hard a target to hit as possible.
• Check your corners! Swing your knife when entering doorways and coming around blind corners. You just might be able secure a surprise kill.

One in the Chamber

Don’t miss! In this mode you’ll drop into the match with a pistol with one bullet and three lives. It’s free for all as each player fights for themselves, and a single shot to any part of the body earns the elimination, granting the attacker one more bullet to keep going. Check out these tips to help:

• I see more dots! When shots are fired (like in Gun Game), they will appear on the mini-map giving you an idea where other players might be hanging out. Find them!
• Live unconventionally. Climb on rooftops, fire through car windows, get nestled behind a fruit stand. The element of surprise can be a key to success in mode given your limited ammunition and lives.
• Don’t forget your knife! If you’re spent your round(s), lean into going after your attacker with a melee attack.

If you’re looking for the full rundown of Free Access content, be sure to check out the Call of Duty Blog here to know more about all of the maps and modes available during this period. We’ll have more Modern Warfare II and Warzone 2.0 details to share in the weeks and months ahead, so keep it tuned here to Xbox Wire.

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II – Vault Edition

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
3810

★★★★★

$99.99

Get it now

The Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II – Vault Edition includes the Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game.

Existing Modern Warfare® II Digital Cross-Gen Bundle owners can upgrade to the Vault Edition as part of a limited time offer.

Includes:

– Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II
— Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game
– Red Team 141 Operator Pack:
— 4 Operators: Ghost, Soap, Farah and Price
– FJX Cinder – First-Ever Weapon Vault*
– Battle Pass (1 Season) + 50 Tier Skips**
– 10 hours of 2XP and 10 hours of weapons 2XP

Welcome to the new era of Call of Duty®.

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II drops players into an unprecedented global conflict that features the return of the iconic Operators of Task Force 141.

Infinity Ward brings fans state-of-the-art gameplay, with all-new gun handling, advanced AI system, a new Gunsmith and a suite of other gameplay and graphical innovations that elevate the franchise to new heights.

Modern Warfare® II launches with a globe-trotting single-player campaign, immersive Multiplayer combat and an evolved Special Ops game mode featuring tactical co-op gameplay.

You also get access to Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, the all-new Battle Royale experience.

*Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch.

**Battle Pass redemption applies to one Season of Modern Warfare® II Battle Pass only.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

© 2022-2023 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY WARZONE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2023 Id Software, Inc.

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II – Cross-Gen Bundle

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
2565

★★★★★

$69.99

Get it now

Includes:

– Cross Gen Bundle of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II
— Includes Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game

Welcome to the new era of Call of Duty®.

Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II drops players into an unprecedented global conflict that features the return of the iconic Operators of Task Force 141.

Infinity Ward brings fans state-of-the-art gameplay, with all-new gun handling, advanced AI system, a new Gunsmith and a suite of other gameplay and graphical innovations that elevate the franchise to new heights.

Modern Warfare® II launches with a globe-trotting single-player campaign, immersive Multiplayer combat and an evolved Special Ops game mode featuring tactical co-op gameplay.

You also get access to Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0, the all-new Battle Royale experience.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

© 2022-2023 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY WARZONE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2023 Id Software, Inc.

Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0

Activision Publishing Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
2352

★★★★★

Get it now

Welcome to Warzone™ 2.0, the massive free-to-play combat arena which now features the brand-new map, Al Mazrah.

Turn the Heat Up
Join forces with your friends and jump into a sprawling battleground in the metropolitan area and rural outskirts within the Republic of Adal.

Loot For Rewards
Discover supply boxes and complete contracts to build your arsenal and gain a tactical advantage.

Battle Across Epic Modes
Drop into the all-new sandbox objective-based mode to choose your own experience within the warzone and collecting gear to keep in your Call of Duty®: Warzone™ 2.0 inventory.

Purchase the Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II Vault Edition and get the Red Team 141 Operator Pack, FJX Cinder Weapon Vault*, 10 hours of 2XP, 10 hours of Weapons 2XP, Battle Pass and 50 Tier Skips** – also usable in Warzone™ 2.0.

An Xbox Live Gold subscription is not required to play the Warzone™ 2.0 game mode. All other online modes still require Xbox Live Gold.

*Weapon Vault design limited to Weapon Vault contents at launch.

**Battle Pass redemption applies to one season of Modern Warfare® II Battle Pass only.

For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com.

© 2022-2023 Activision Publishing, Inc. ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY WARZONE are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners. This product contains software technology licensed from Id Software (‘Id Technology’). Id Technology © 1999-2023 Id Software, Inc.

Related:
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Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 Tactical Guide – New Features, DMZ, and More
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 14 to 18

Hello everyone, I’m Sabine Neuser, Narrative Designer at Deck13. Our game Atlas Fallen releases May 16, it’s a superpowered third-person action-RPG where you’ll play as a hero who rises against a tyrannical god! I’m here to introduce you to the oppressed society that awaits you to reclaim its freedom.

A Fallen World

You’ll find yourself in a timeless land named Atlas. The face of Atlas changed after a cataclysm that took place a long time ago, allowing a corrupted god to enforce a new order. This devastated, “fallen” world is now covered in sand and hosts the many ruins of time immemorial. The population was drastically diminished but a few settlements still exist.

It’s not an empty world but a desolate one, in which people desperately long for change… while others try to prevent it. With its vast landscape of dunes and scarce population, there’s a desert feel to Atlas, but your story will take you to many places where you will encounter various people and learn about their life and challenges.

Caste System

The Sun God, Thelos, reigns over the world of Atlas, having put a caste system in place for humanity. Under their order, priests worship them and act out their will. The priests can be seen as the highest caste of the system, and they assign workers their tasks and ensure that they’re performed. 

The order maintained by this system goes as far as denying the lowest class of workers their names, reducing them strictly to their function and referring to them simply as “the Unnamed”. Most of the population of Atlas belongs to this group. They pray to Thelos and obey them. Their workforce is essential for upholding the divine order, so they really are tools for the power in place.

The Unnamed have one main task: to mine sand imbued with Essence and transport it to the capital. The caravans used for transportation are under the surveillance of guards, accompanied by a few priests. Atlas’ society is a system that upholds itself, oppression is ordinary and power is closely guarded.

Against The Order

Of course, there is also opposition. By their place in society, the Unnamed have a very clear calling: to work following the will of Thelos, which they may be rewarded for in the afterlife. But it is not easy to stick to a role with no other meaning than being a pawn in the reign of a tyrannic god and never recognized as anything more than the work you do. While some of them adapt, others don’t.

The Unnamed are a homogeneous mass in the eyes of the rest of society, but they are very human and the mood within their group varies greatly. Some seem to have found the meaning of their life in service, some yearn for changes, some even try to organize themselves and resist, where they can. But their lives are disposable in the eyes of the system.

Outside of the caste system, a strong faction is in hiding: the Knights of Bastengar. Very little is known about them, their roots are far too ancient. Some even believe them dead, but they only use this to their advantage, waiting for their chance to challenge the status quo.

From Unnamed To Hero

Our hero’s journey takes him from being an Unnamed to becoming a hero with extraordinary powers that haven’t been seen on Atlas for decades. You will be interacting with many characters, talking and doing quests to gain rewards, or trading with different vendors. You will meet people from every rank in society, who will all show an interest in the powers of the hero’s artifact, for one purpose or another. Depending on how they stand towards the hero, they will act accordingly: some will stay truthful and offer their support on friendly terms, some will prove manipulative, and others will act downright hostile.

Over the course of the story, as your powers grow, you will gain access to new territories, and meet the inhabitants of the settlements scattered in the desert, as well as those who live in the capital. You will meet peasants, military, knights, priests and many more, whether they be a brief encounter or play a recurring role, trying to influence our hero’s quest one way or the other.

Atlas Fallen launches May 16 on Xbox Series X|S.

Atlas Fallen

Focus Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Rise from the dust and liberate mankind from the oppression of corrupted gods.

Glide the sands of a timeless land, filled with ancient dangers, mysteries and fragments of the past. Hunt legendary monsters, using powerful, shape-shifting weapons and devastating sand-powered abilities in spectacular, super-powered combat.

Target and gather the essence of your enemies to shape your own custom playstyle, forging a new era for humanity in a fully cooperative or solo story campaign.

Rise from the dust. Unleash the storm.

• Master the sands to explore a unique fantasy world teeming with secrets, locales and dangers
• Hunt legendary creatures alone or with a friend in heroic, super-powered combat
• Unleash your power to create deadly shape-shifting weapons
• Rise as the ultimate champion with unique custom skills and abilities

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Episode 3: Purge Brings Citizen Sleeper’s DLC Arc To A Close, But The Story Is Far From Over

In a flash, nearly every living human in Tokyo disappears as a menacing fog creeps in. As Akito, a lone survivor of this supernatural catastrophe, it’s up to you to team up with an unlikely ally: the spirit of a detective known only as “KK.” With the power to combat the otherworldly Visitors taking over the city, it’s up to just you two to save the world of the living in Ghostwire: Tokyo, coming soon to Xbox!

Available April 12 for Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass, and Windows 10/11 PC with PC Game Pass, Ghostwire: Tokyo will arrive with the free Spider’s Thread update, adding a multitude of enhancements to the single-player hit, including additional areas to explore, new story cutscenes, quality-of-life improvements, a bonus game mode and more!

Face The Unknown

As Tokyo is overrun by the hostile Visitors, it’s up to players to get to the bottom of the mysterious vanishing and stop Hannya, the elusive masked figure claiming responsibility for the incident. With a variety of skills and ability to hone their Ethereal Weaving, Akito & KK will have to work together and become a finely-tuned ghost hunter to save Tokyo from destruction.

Explore a Beautifully Haunted Tokyo

Lovingly rendered with next-gen technology by the team at Tango, Ghostwire: Tokyo features an authentic vision of modern-day Tokyo taken over by spirits. Walk, grapple and glide above the rainslicked streets and narrow alleys as you encounter paranormal creatures born out of Japanese folklore and urban myth.

Play the Spider’s Thread Update at Launch

Available as a free update, the Spider’s Thread update adds more to explore in haunted streets of Tokyo, including new content, improvements and an all-new game mode!

Take on the Spider’s Thread mode and test your skills as well as play new quests in the main game, capture a souvenir with an enhanced Photo Mode, explore the all-new Middle School area, pull out new combat moves like the Quick Dodge or Charge Rush attack, and so much more! With the Spider’s Thread update, players will get to have the definitive Ghostwire: Tokyo experience.

Prepare for a world of the supernatural when Ghostwire: Tokyo comes to Xbox Series X|S with Xbox Game Pass and Windows 10/11 PC with PC Game Pass on April 12. Learn more about Ghostwire: Tokyo on the official website.

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Diablo IV: Talking the Open Beta With the Game’s Director
Episode 3: Purge Brings Citizen Sleeper’s DLC Arc To A Close, But The Story Is Far From Over
Valheim (Game Preview) Journeys to Console for the First Time Today with Xbox Game Pass

Hey Xbox Wire readers! I’m Yared from Whitethorn Games, and I’m here to share a little info about our latest release, The Forest Cathedral, which launched today on Xbox Series S|X!

While you may know us from the many cozy, heartwarming titles we’ve published, such as Calico and Lake, The Forest Cathedral takes a slightly darker direction. The game, while still adhering to tranquil, low-stress gameplay, evokes a more unsettling, eerie feeling that approaches the realm of horror. Players will embark on a mysterious, atmospheric psychological thriller based on the real-world ecological disasters caused by the pesticide DDT, or as developer Brian Wilson more accurately describes the genre: an environmental thriller. The game is played from the point of view of environmental scientist Rachel Carson, though the real star of the show is the haunting setting itself.

Methods of Research

The Forest Cathedral’s fully voiced, rich narrative is told through a combination of two gameplay styles. One is its first-person 3D exploration in which the player navigates Science Island, conducting research on its wildlife. Taking notes and utilizing a special scanner, the player investigates the remote island in search of answers to the mystery.

Along the way you can interact with computer terminals where The Forest Cathedral’s second gameplay style appears in the form of 2D platforming puzzles. On these terminals, the player controls a 2D character “Little Man,” traversing through the puzzles in order to operate mechanisms back in the 3D space. Both the 2D and 3D worlds interact with each other, unlocking new areas or progressing the story.

Art Imitates Life

The Forest Cathedral’s story is a dramatic reimagining of real-world scientist Rachel Carson’s environmental science book, Silent Spring, which documented her discovery of the harmful effects of DDT. Developer Brian Wilson drew inspiration from the attempted silencing of Carson and her findings to build his own artistic interpretation of events.

As Wilson explains, “the story of Rachel Carson is a David vs. Goliath story.” Throughout the game, you’ll become immersed in situations that evoke a feeling of struggling against overwhelming resistance. In this way, Wilson emulates what he believes Carson must have felt as she battled to share what was ultimately life-saving information that giant chemical companies did not want the public to know. The Forest Cathedral imparts the same uncertainty, fear, and confinement, leaving the player anxious to discover how the malicious plot develops.

The environment players will explore in The Forest Cathedral is based on Cook Forest State Park’s own Forest Cathedral, located in western Pennsylvania – near where both Wilson and Carson grew up. The vibrantly rendered surroundings paired with the atmospheric soundtrack – including several original pieces composed by Wilson – create a peaceful yet eerie setting for the story to unfold. From the dramatic height of the towering indigenous trees to the tranquil lake that hugs the shores of the island, intrigue surrounds you as you comb the island and unravel its mysteries. Though locally inspired, the game’s themes of social consciousness and our duty to our environment apply globally.

Ease of Access

Whitethorn Games wants to ensure that as many players as possible get the chance to enjoy our titles, and The Forest Cathedral implements many accessibility features with that goal in mind. A few of the adjustable settings include:

• Full keyboard and mouse or gamepad controller support
• Input rebinding for most actions
• High-contrast sans-serif text/subtitles and Open Dyslexic typeface options
• Visual effects toggles
• Frequent checkpoints
• “Turn Off Spikes” toggle, removing platforming section hazards
• “Float Mode” toggle, reducing platforming section fall speed
• Even more options, all available from the settings menu at any time

With these settings, players can customize their experience to best suit their playstyle and ability at any point in their playthrough.

We hope that you enjoy unearthing the mysteries of Science Island in The Forest Cathedral, available now in the Xbox store!

The Forest Cathedral

Whitethorn Games, Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

Get it now

The Forest Cathedral is a first-person environmental thriller set on a remote island. Playing as scientist Rachel Carson, players will figure out why the island won’t let her leave. The game tells the reimagined story of the attempted silence of Rachel Carson leading up to her discoveries on the harmful pesticide known as DDT.

Slowly uncover the effects of DDT in this dramatic reimagining of the story of Rachel Carson. Use advanced environmental technology to solve 2D/3D connected puzzles.

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Today, Citizen Sleeper studio Jump Over The Age announced Purge, the third and final narrative expansion to be added to the game on March 30th. This update brings an end to what creator Gareth Damian Martin calls a ‘half-sequel’ to the original release, but, as we found out in a discussion about Purge, this doesn’t seem to be the end of Citizen Sleeper’s universe as a whole.

For the uninitiated, Citizen Sleeper is a narrative RPG set on Erlin’s Eye, a ruined space station home to a community of interstellar misfits and outcasts desperately trying to build a life. You can read more about the base game over here, but for now, let’s focus on Episode 3, the last in a series of free updates that seek to bring a close to this era of Citizen Sleeper.

The previous two episodes, Flux and Refuge, both explored complex new tales featuring fresh and returning faces – Flux revolves a refugee flotilla that has arrived on Erlin’s Eye, and Refuge follows on from the events of Flux, allowing you to explore the refugee flotilla and encounter new characters. Although Martin is extremely cagey about what exactly will unfold in Purge (the pleasure of Citizen Sleeper is the story, after all) we do know that the expansion will bring this arc to a conclusion.

While Citizen Sleeper is a fully realised game with several branching narratives, it was merely a dip into the ocean of the universe that Damian Martin is aiming to create, and this trio of DLC instalments represents just the first step. We sat down with Damian Martin ahead of the launch of Episode 3 to look back on Citizen Sleeper as a whole, the choice to expand on certain story beats in DLC, and what’s next for this dynamic and captivating sci-fi universe they’ve created.

“I love universes that are big enough to contain different types of media, and it’s really exciting to be in this moment where I have this thing that people actually like,” they tell us. “There’s all these dangling teases and threads that I can pick up later, and a wealth of places that I can take the story. I’d love to see people two or three years down line going ‘oh, wait, these things are connected’.”

The plan to evolve Citizen Sleeper was always in motion, but Damian Martin used the ‘complete’ base game to essentially test drive the concept, and see how players found it:

“I wanted to make the most lightweight form of the game that could sell the idea and make sure people understood what I was trying to do, while being efficient with my time in case it didn’t work out,” Damian Martin tells us. “I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many people got on with it, because I thought it was a very niche game.”

Damian Martin explains that the plan to create this series of expansions stemmed from two things. One was to limit the scope of Citizen Sleeper in order to get people on board with the idea, and the other came from a strong, personal love of stories and worlds – like those in Mass Effect and Destiny 2 – that build even after the original story seems complete.

“After launch, I immediately greenlit the DLC in my head for two reasons — one, I love ongoing stories and serial narratives that allow the world to live with you for a bit. I wanted to see if I could bring this feeling of a story that progresses over time,” Damian Martin says.

“The second is that I wanted to give an indication that Citizen Sleeper is a long-term project. Some indie games, you play them for six or eight hours and they’re great, but that’s it, you never go back there. So these episodes felt like the best to keep momentum going, and see where we can go with it.”

Damian Martin tells us that this design choice is heavily inspired by tabletop games, which often allow players to branch off and explore different paths and uncover plots that pertain to a bigger overarching story.

“If you want anything to happen in a video game, you have to make a system for it. In tabletop games, you can improvise, characters you’ve invented suddenly become main characters, and I wanted to find a way to bring that energy and structure into a video game,” they tell us.

“What I love about tabletop RPG is that players can go to any place they want, and the [game master] has to comply to give them a story. I wanted to put that feeling in the game, so like, having a drink at Tyler’s bar stems into you building a relationship with Tyler, but it all stems from just going there for a drink.”

Citizen Sleeper is driven by the characters you meet and the conversations that take place, but Damian Martin says that making game-altering decisions in dialogue feels unusual to them. This is reflected in their experiences with tabletop RPGs — conversations are not huge focal points for players, but where to go, what to do, and who to do it with matters greatly.

“I think dialogue options are great as expressive choices, but the decisions I make that affect my life are usually about what I do with my time, what I turn up to do, the people that I help or respond to,” they explain. “So I was really interested in a system where decisions were almost made unconsciously by the player. There are lots of things available to you, but you have a limited amount of time. Players automatically prioritize in their head and make choices that feel natural to them, as opposed to contrived choices. I try to encourage players to just go with their gut and see where it puts them.”

Damian Martin describes some of the more visceral, personal experiences that inspired the narrative of Citizen Sleeper, like feeling out of place or exposed, and how they wanted to incorporate that into the characters and stories. You can tell that it’s these kinds of stories that will form a part of their thinking for the future of this nascent series.

“I really wanted to make a game that was about a lot of the things that I’ve been thinking about for the past 10 years, things that were really important to me, and things that I kind of intuited on some level, where important to people of my generation and our experiences,” Damian Martin explains.

“The idea of [rolling dice to choose actions], and randomness, and risk, and then the risk of precarity and existing in society in a minoritized position and trying to struggle to survive, those things kind of slipped together.”

While you can end up in some dicey (excuse the pun) situations in Citizen Sleeper due to low number rolls, the story still continues. Damian Martin stresses the importance of keeping the narrative rolling (sorry, that’s another pun) and avoiding ‘game over.’

“Something I learned as a game master is that you should never offer the player a choice where the bad outcome won’t be interesting or progress the story,” they explain. “I tried to set that rule for myself in Citizen Sleeper too. I wanted to feel like failing was still moving things forward, and in some cases, was more interesting than succeeding.”

Purge is the third and final instalment of post-launch DLC content heading to Citizen Sleeper, and it’ll be free to download for existing players. Flux and Refuge are also available for free, so be sure to get them squared away before heading into Purge and uncovering whatever mysterious ‘ending’ that Citizen Sleeper has in store.

However, if our conversation with Damian Martin unsheathed anything, it’s that their universe has many, many more stories to tell, this trilogy serving as a mini-sequel is just one tale unravelling in this complex, dystopian setting, and you may even be oblivious to some of the celestial breadcrumbs that your mischievous Game Master has left for you.

Purge is set to land on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows March 30th. Citizen Sleeper is available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

Citizen Sleeper

Fellow Traveller

☆☆☆☆☆
186

★★★★★

$19.99

$15.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

ROLEPLAYING IN THE RUINS OF INTERPLANETARY CAPITALISM

From the developer of In Other Waters, and featuring the stunning character art of Guillaume Singelin, Citizen Sleeper is a narrative RPG set on Erlin’s Eye, a ruined space station that is home to thousands of people trying to survive on the edges of an interstellar capitalist society.

You are a sleeper, a digitised human consciousness in an artificial body, owned by a corporation that wants you back. Thrust amongst the unfamiliar and colourful inhabitants of the Eye, you need to build friendships, earn your keep, and navigate the factions of this strange metropolis, if you hope to survive to see the next cycle.

LIFE ON ERLIN’S EYE
An abandoned station on the edge of a system in crisis. Now it is held together by anarchic alliances, ramshackle factions and a shared desire to be free from corporate control.

DO THE WORK. GET PAID. SURVIVE.
Each cycle you choose what to do with your time. Make or break alliances, uncover truths and escape your hunters. Survive and ultimately thrive, one cycle at a time.

TURN UP FOR FRIENDS
The Eye plays host to characters from all walks of life. Salvagers, engineers, hackers and more – each has a history. You choose who to help, and together shape your future.

ACCESS THEIR SECRETS
Hack the station’s cloud to access data, new areas and secrets. This is your power, and it can change your future. Corporate secrets, rogue AIs and troves of lost data await.

YOU WERE MADE TO DIE
Essen-Arp: to them you are just another asset in their almost infinite portfolio. Escape your decaying body’s makers, and chart your own path in a richly imagined sci-fi world.

INSPIRED BY TABLETOP ROLEPLAYING GAMES
Citizen Sleeper uses dice, clocks and drives to create a player-led experience, where you choose your path in a rich and responsive world.

CITIZEN SLEEPER EPISODES
This free post-launch episodic content introduces new characters and locations in an expanded storyline. True to Citizen Sleeper’s TTRPG roots, these three episodes will offer an expansive campaign module that tells the longest and most complex story to be featured in the game to date.

In the first episode, FLUX, the first ships from a refugee flotilla arrive at Erlin’s Eye in response to pressures in the Helion system. Now, in REFUGE, a strange event sends ripples through the communities of the Eye. You will enter the flotilla to try to understand this new threat, and help the refugees stabilise their community.

The story of the flotilla, the FLUX event and your Sleeper will conclude in the third episode, arriving early 2023.

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WWE 2K23: How Showcase Mode Is an Unexpected Trip Down John Cena’s Memory Lane
How Bungie Created Strand, Destiny 2’s First New Subclass in 3 Years

John Cena is one of the WWE’s most beloved Superstars, and WWE 2K23’s Showcase mode is an endearing love letter to one of sports entertainment’s biggest stars.

In WWE 2K22, Visual Concepts took players back in time to relive and recreate some of Rey Mysterio’s greatest matches as the Master of the 619 himself. This year, WWE 2K23 flips the script by pitting players against Cena in the ring, rather than having them don his iconic jean shorts. With 14 Historical Matches to choose from, players will challenge Cena and many of his career-defining moments on some of the WWE’s biggest stages. Prior to 2K23’s launch, members of the Visual Concepts team answered a few questions about the mode and what it was like taking this trip down memory lane.

Q: John Cena’s accomplished a lot during his WWE career. What makes his legacy an excellent focal point of WWE 2K23’s Showcase mode?

John Cena is the face of an era. He is a historic figure, an easy member of WWE’s Mount Rushmore. From his debut in 2002 until today, he has done nearly everything you can imagine as a member of the WWE roster.

In his career, he’s competed against—and defeated—an absolute gauntlet of certified legends, and has earned the love and respect of his peers in the process.

His accomplishments are well-documented. We liked being able to take an essential part of John—”Never Give Up”—and to show how it’s not just something he says to everybody else, but that it’s something he uses daily himself.

Looking at John’s career in this manner also allows us to look back at 20 years of WWE history, including some of the biggest stars of the time. Showcase is where WWE’s Legends clash once more, and John Cena is the ultimate modern-day legend.

Q: What led to the decision to pit players against Cena in the ring, rather than playing as him?

For me, there were two things that led to the approach. First off, we definitely heard some of the feedback that playing as the same WWE Superstar for 10-15 matches, no matter who it was, started to feel a little repetitive. So we had been thinking of ideas that would allow for a more diverse roster for players to control for a while.

Then, with this being the second Showcase that’s had John as a focus, I wanted to cover his career in a different manner than past Showcases, too. Brainstorming ideas, we really liked playing into his “Never Give Up” mentality, and decided that by showing his losses, we could really emphasize that whole concept, certainly with more gravity compared to showing him winning these matches.

So, it became a question of “Do players play as Cena and just lose every match?” Even if it’s through a cutscene loss, that just seemed like too much. “Well, what if we just make it so they control Cena’s opponents? You have to beat John Cena every time, he’s like a recurring boss battle!” Then that led to “You Can’t Beat Me” and that’s when it all came together for us.

Q: With so many matches to choose from, how did the team decide which matches to include?

Once we’d decided on the “You Can’t Beat Me” idea, where the player would control Cena’s various opponents, we had a smaller pool of matches from which to choose. So, we looked through the various WWE Superstars that have defeated John Cena, and tried to choose who between them warranted a spot –the idea being that these are the very best among the group of people to own a win over John.

Some people have multiple wins over Cena, while some may only have one. You’ll see Edge and Randy Orton, two of Cena’s biggest rivals throughout his career, as well as Rob Van Dam, whose victory at ECW One Night Stand in 2006 remains one of the most memorable matches in the career of either man.

In the end, we hope each match either holds historical significance, represents a legendary rivalry, or brings you back to a forgotten classic.

Q: Will players experience the same era-specific filters and visuals that were in 2K22?

Yes, we always do our best to match the in-game presentation to the classic footage. This can be through the use of filters, as well as different uses of our lighting system to get the “old school” matches feeling right!

Q: Do players earn anything special for defeating Cena?

Players can expect to earn unlockable rewards throughout the Showcase mode! Similar to WWE 2K22, there are two types of rewards:

Match Rewards: These are earned by simply earning a win in the match, whether you complete 0 match objectives, or all of them! These are typically reserved for Arenas, Championship Belts, and unlocking the next match!

Objective Rewards: These are earned by completing 100% of the objectives in the match. These are typically reserved for Superstar models/attires.

Q: Is there a variation in match strategy?

Showcase tends to change the match strategy simply with the in-match objectives. One might tend to be a player who uses a lot of combos or running attacks. Showcase instead asks you to try things you may not do all the time – specific grapples, submissions, causing amounts of damage. It is possible to play your style of match and win without completing any objectives, but then you lose out on the bigger rewards. To truly “beat” Showcase, players have to be capable of completing the objectives while also fending off an opponent looking to win at all times.

On top of that, players will now be using a new Superstar in nearly every match, meaning the ability to memorize certain moves aren’t there. One minute you’re Kurt Angle, and the next you’re Batista, and then you’re Triple H. We try to cater the objectives to best mesh with the Superstar’s approach (as well as matching up to historical beats), so someone like RVD will probably see you attempting dives and extreme offense, while a Randy Orton is going to be more methodical with his grapples.

Throughout his career, Cena has frequently reminded and inspired fans to never give up, and that’ll be more important than ever if you hope to defeat him in WWE 2K23. You can finally relive some of Cena’s biggest battles and challenge the 16-time world champion on March 17. Pre-order your copy of the Deluxe or Icon Edition today to earn three-day early access and exclusive rewards!

WWE 2K23 Icon Edition

2K

☆☆☆☆☆
13

★★★★★

$119.99

Get it now

The WWE 2K23 Icon Edition, with cover art created by WWE artist-in-residence Rob Schamberger, gives you all of the bonus content from the Deluxe Edition PLUS throwback versions of some of WWE’s biggest Superstars from the Ruthless Aggression era!

The Icon Edition* includes:

• Pre-Order Bonus Pack
• Ruthless Aggression Pack: Includes throwback versions of John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, and Brock Lesnar, along with the WrestleMania 22 arena and the John Cena Legacy Championship
• Season Pass: Includes all 5 post-launch DLC character packs, the MyRISE Mega-Boost pack, with 200 additional Attribute Points, and the Supercharger pack which unlocks all base-game WWE Legends and throwback arenas. Release timing of the DLC contents will be revealed at a future date.
• Deluxe Edition Bonus Pack: Includes a John Cena EVO card, Emerald-tier Bianca Belair, and Gold-tier Asuka and Edge cards, plus 3 Basic Day 1 MyFACTION card packs
• Icon Edition Bonus Pack: Includes a Paul Heyman Emerald tier Manager MyFACTION Card and 3 Deluxe Premium Launch MyFACTION Packs.
• 3-Day Early Access

*Icon Edition not available in Belgium.

WWE 2K23 Deluxe Edition

2K

☆☆☆☆☆
6

★★★★★

$99.99

Get it now

The value of WWE 2K23 is Even Stronger with the Deluxe Edition*!

The Deluxe Edition includes:

• Pre-Order Bonus Pack
• Season Pass: Includes all 5 post-launch DLC character packs, the MyRISE Mega-Boost pack, with 200 additional Attribute Points, and the Supercharger pack which unlocks all base-game WWE Legends and throwback arenas. Release timing of the DLC contents will be revealed at a future date.
• Deluxe Edition Bonus Pack: Includes a John Cena EVO card, Emerald-tier Bianca Belair, and Gold-tier Asuka and Edge cards, plus 3 Basic Day 1 MyFACTION card packs
• 3-Day Early Access

*Deluxe Edition not available in Belgium.

WWE 2K23 for Xbox Series X|S

2K

☆☆☆☆☆
215

★★★★★

Get it now

Expanded features, gorgeous graphics, and the ultimate WWE experience. Hit the ring with a deep roster of WWE Superstars and Legends including Roman Reigns, “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, Ronda Rousey, Brock Lesnar, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and more!

2K SHOWCASE: INTERACTIVE SPORTS DOCUMENTARY
Play through the key moments and toughest opponents of John Cena’s storied 20-year WWE career. And in a franchise-first, take on the role of each marquee opponent – some of WWE’s greatest of all time – as you aim to take down Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect.

IT’S WARGAMES
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Late February saw the highly anticipated release of Destiny 2: Lightfall, the new expansion that signals “the beginning of the end” to the Destiny’s Light and Darkness saga. The campaign takes Guardians to the hidden city of Neomuna, nestled inside Neptune and undisturbed until the forces of the Shadow Legion arrive. It’s up to you and Neomuna’s protectors, the Cloud Striders, to defend the city.

Our Guardians also discover a brand-new power: Strand. They learn to wield this suspicious, stringy substance throughout the Lightfall campaign, and it manifests itself into a whole new subclass for Destiny 2 players, the first to be introduced since Stasis in 2020.

We wanted to learn more about this new subclass, how Bungie arrived at its design and how all of its elements weave together, and to dig deeper in, we spoke to Gameplay Features Lead Eric Smith to uncover how the new Darkness power came to be.

Like every subclass in Destiny 2, Strand gives each of the three player classes—Titan, Hunter and Warlock—different abilities and one powerful Super ability tailored to each class. Beefy Titans gain the Berserker ability, summoning two giant hand-blades to cut down enemies, the sleek Warlock sends wisps of Strand coursing through baddies that explode into fierce Threadling enemies, and slick Hunters can use the Silkstrike skill to summon a long rope dart and thwip through their foes.

A Helping Strand

Strand focuses on traversal in a way that has never been explored in Destiny 2. Every character gains a grapple, which allows you to latch onto a surface or area and swing through the air, perfect for getting around quickly or solving tricky jumping puzzles. Smith tells us that the grapple sits at the center of the Strand class, and that it was made possible by the team’s exploration of the skill.

“The theme of the Strand damage type is all ropes and strings, so it just felt like a natural fit to put a grappling hook in there,” Smith says. “We did a lot of exploration of how the grapple should work, did we want it to be a burst of acceleration, or zipping from point to point, and we ended up in this place where, as players learn Strand, it’ll read your mind a little bit.”

“You can zip to a certain point if you’re looking straight at it, but you can also swing under it, you can throttle left or right or swing around it. We ended up with a really dynamic grapple we’re all very proud of.”

The grapple ability replaces the grenade slot for players using Strand, so it also needed some sort of damage capability to make up for the loss of that slot. The result is, what if you are the grenade?

“As it takes that slot, we wanted to give it an offensive utility,” Smith explains. “One thing you can do is grapple punch, which does pretty big area-of-effect damage. You can use the grapple to get out of bad situations, but you can also use it like you would a grenade to clear multiple enemies. I think there’s a learning curve to Strand that I’m excited to see players master.”

Strand And Deliver

During combat, Strand users can create Tangles by defeating an enemy that has been debuffed by another Strand ability. For example, Hunters have the Ensnaring Slam ability, which allows them to suspend groups of enemies in the air by slamming the ground. Titans can also suspend enemies with the Drengr’s Lash skill.

This Tangle can then be shot to cause an explosion, picked up and thrown at another enemy, or into the air to be used as a grappling point. Smith tells us that the passive Tangle skill felt immediately at home in Strand’s roster.

“Once we got that system in there and we had different perks triggering the Tangles, it felt like we were doing something different than the other subclasses,” he says. “It happens passively, and once you create a Tangle, there’s a branching decision-making point where you can choose what to do with it.”

The Tangles are just one aspect of Strand that works to make it a more collaborative subclass for Guardians playing together. For example, because a Guardian’s grapple ability has no cooldown if it’s used on a grapple point, the Hunter can use their Widow’s Silk ability to create a grapple point that another teammate can use without expending their own grapple ability. Smith explains that as Strand develops, the team wants to create more opportunities for fireteam members to combine their unique skills.

“We wanted players to blaze a trail for their teammates, to help them with jumping puzzles, and that’s something we’re planning to double down on in the coming Seasons,” he says.

Release The Threadlings

The Strand subclasses introduce Threadlings—small creatures formed from Strand that will scurry off and attack whatever is in range. Smith tells us that this was one of the more difficult abilities to nail down, due to Destiny 2’s turbulent terrains and dynamic environments.

“The Threadlings are what we call ‘ground follows,’ because they’re restricted to crawling on the ground, and we have a lot of surfaces in Destiny 2 where it can be difficult for a player to use them effectively,” he explains. “They have a pretty long tracking range so they can follow an enemy and then stop and jump which gives them some verticality, but we’ll be tuning how they work as time goes on.”

The team also had to balance how much damage Threadlings can do and how often they’re active, not just in PvE modes like the campaign, but in online PvP, where the smallest amount of damage can dramatically change the game.

“Too many Threadlings in PvP would feel frustrating to play against, so it was a balancing act of letting players have maximum fun while not destabilizing PvP modes.”

This balancing act was also important during the design of the three main class Super abilities, and Smith details the level of work and the spread of disciplines that must be involved in the creation of one.

“Anytime we make a new Super, we come up with a list of possible designs, and we trim that down to what’s realistic,” he explains. “But there are a lot of decisions, it’s animation, it’s VFX, design, engineering, audio—so many things have to come together, and then you have to balance the Super itself across so many game modes.”

You can check out some of the unused Super ideas in the images below, but Smith did tell us that the Warlock Super ability almost ended up with tentacles that sprout up and lash out at enemies. The actual Warlock Super, Needlestorm, which lets players unleash a barrage of spikes onto enemies, is still equally as cool.

With Strand explored in detail, we were left with just one question: Why did the team choose green for the subclass color? Smith tells us that on the hunt for the perfect hex code, the team wanted to ensure every class is both immediately identifiable and aesthetically pleasing.

“We had a handful of options, but green felt the most distinct,” he tells us. “It just worked really well with the Strand theme. We kind of saw it as green ball of yarn, and wanted you to think of that every time you walk past yarn in a store.”

Lightfall players unlock Strand permanently at the end of the Lightfall campaign, and from there, can unlock Aspects and Fragments that allow them to really personalize the subclass to their playstyle, be it keeping distance or smashing straight into the action.

Last Friday also saw the release of Root of Nightmares, the brand-new raid packaged with Lightfall, so be sure to get swinging through Neomuna to unlock those Strand abilities and get equipped to confront the ancient threat growing at our doorstep.

Destiny 2: Lightfall is available now on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Destiny 2: Lightfall

Bungie

☆☆☆☆☆
39

★★★★★

Get it now

Pre-order to instantly unlock a new Exotic Ghost and Legendary emblem.

Includes Lightfall, the new raid, and a Season Pass for Season 20.

Campaign
In a Neptunian city under siege, find strength in your fellow Guardians as the end to all things approaches—the Witness is here. Arm yourself with new rewards and unlock new Dark powers to triumph in Lightfall’s unforgettable Legendary mode.

Strand
Harness Darkness and pluck at the threads of reality with this new subclass. Flow through the city with newfound speed as you grapple from building to building. Every class can tap into this new element, but it’s up to you to create the perfect build.

New Destination
Travel to Neptune and discover a neon metropolis unlike any you’ve explored in Destiny 2. Meet the Cloud Striders, join the fight against the Shadow Legion, and prevent devastation in the technologically advanced secret city of Neomuna.

105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase.

Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them.

Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla.

© 2023 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, the Destiny Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.

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