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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Many of us have used a search engine at some point in our lives to find ways to get an edge in our favorite games. From trying to smite the first boss in Elden Ring, to finding all the Agility Orbs in classic games like Crackdown, or what the best Perks are for Modern Warfare II. But we’ve never had something quite as special as the new AI-powered Bing as our gaming co-pilot and its wealth of tips, trivia, and technical know-how. With the new Bing you get better search, more complete answers to your gaming questions, a new chat experience to explore deeper, and the ability to create content.  

The new AI-powered Bing is designed to help you find the information you’re looking for by deciphering intricate questions, with clear answers, coupled with surprisingly in-depth responses. It also knows a hell of a lot about video games. So much so we wanted to really test its gaming knowledge with some hard-hitting questions to see what type of response we’d get. The results, as you can try out for yourself by signing up for the waitlist, were pretty dang impressive.

To help get you started interacting with this new and innovative tool, we’ve collected some effective ways for you to test out the new Bing to help you not only challenge its gaming credentials, but also find potential new ways for you to enjoy some of your favorite games. Remember to share your feedback so we can continue to improve the experience.

Useful Information to Get Started

• Don’t worry about trying to be hyper-specific with your question. The new Bing won’t hesitate to offer some follow-up questions to help home in on the answer you’re looking for.
• Related to that, don’t leave Bing hanging! It may have an ancillary topic related to the game you’re asking about.
• Bing will always show you where it’s getting its information from, so if you like some of the answers you’re getting and want more details, don’t forget to check out the sources that Bing is pulling from. Your next favorite website may be just a click away!
• See how creative you can get while talking about gaming with Bing — you may be surprised at some of the results!
• Sign up here on Bing to join the waitlist for access to the new Bing.

“Tell me about…”

There are so many unique games to experience on console and PC today. While there’s a lot of information available about which games are the best, sometimes our tastes and what we’re in the mood for might be a bit more specific. Bing can help you distill this down as well, either from the look of a game, who is featured in it, or how long it takes to finish. Here’s a few of the examples to try yourself:

• “Tell me about the best cyberpunk-style role-playing games on Xbox.”
• “Tell me about the best action games that are 10 hours or less to play.”
• “Tell me about the best games with a female protagonist on Xbox.”

“What’s the best ______ for me?”

Strategies come in all shapes and sizes for games, and it’s not hard to find opinions on what the best gear loadouts, characters, and skill tree selections are. But are they the best choices for you? You can start with a basic question, but it’s the follow up interaction which will allow Bing to guide you towards the best choices on how to spec out, or even which games to check out.

 Here’s what we asked:

• “What loadout should I use in Warzone 2.0 multiplayer?”
• “What is the best Overwatch character for me?
• “What are the best perks to use in Cyberpunk 2077?”
• “What Xbox Game Pass games might I enjoy?”

“Where can I find…?”

Bing can help you find a lot of things in your favorite games, like where every secret weapon location is in Fortnite, where the Tall Tales journals are in Sea of Thieves, and it can even help you find your car keys (sort of). But what if what you’re looking for isn’t immediately coming to mind. You know the type, like that one quest where there’s that guy who did that one thing with the fire sword that one time? To start drilling this down to help us find the right answer, we asked:

• “Where can I find the blue alien lady in Mass Effect 3?”
• “Where can I find a list of Fallout 3 quests that begin with the letter J?
• “Where can I find that one quest where there’s that guy who did that one thing with the fire sword that one time?” (your follow up responses will be crucial on something like this!)

“Give me a recap…”

On top of their incredible worlds, games can have complex and evolving storylines that may seem a little hard to follow while playing them. Not to mention that we must put that controller down at some point and return to the action another day. Sometimes that day turns into months, maybe even years. So, wouldn’t it be nice to get a recap of how far along you are in a game without having to start over? The new Bing is here to help. Here’s a few examples we pulled from:

• “Give me a recap of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch up to chapter 4.”
• “Give me a recap of Witcher 3 after 20 hours.”
• “Give me a recap of every campaign storyline in the Halo series.”

“How do I…?”

While Bing can certainly help us with learning how to defeat the baddest of bad guys in gaming (e.g. ‘How do I defeat Malenia in Elden Ring?’), we wanted to take this in a slightly different direction: What if it could help us learn how to create something tangible from our favorite games? Afterall, leaning how to do something new can be one of the most fun things to do in life, and if it comes from the world of our favorite games, even better! So, we took this to task with a few examples that you can try as well:

• “How do I make a cake like the one that appears in Portal?”
• “How do I make a toy sword based on a design found in Skyrim?”
• “How do I prepare a meal based on the ramen recipes found in Yakuza: Like a Dragon?”

We hope these broad examples help you kickstart your own questions and interactions with this amazing new tool for everyday use (especially gaming). Don’t be afraid to get weird: What games would Marcus Fenix enjoy? Bing has an answer. You can even ask for your own, personalized music festival-style 3-day lineup… but with games coming out this year in place of musical artists.

Just remember to click through to the source of the information so you can discover new and interesting websites that you may have never visited before. If you don’t already have access to the new Bing, join the waitlist here. Happy searching!

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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.

The Forest Cathedral – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

A first-person environmental thriller set on a remote island. Playing as scientist Rachel Carson, you must 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.

Valheim (Game Preview) – March 14
Xbox Game Pass

Now available on Xbox Series X|S! A brutal exploration and survival game for 1-10 players set in a procedurally generated world inspired by Norse mythology. Craft powerful weapons, construct longhouses, and slay mighty foes to prove yourself to Odin!

Vernal Edge – March 14

With the help of some abnormal martial prowess and an amnesiac automaton named Chervil, Vernal will need to make her way across a mysterious land if she wants to satisfy her need for revenge — and the truth – in this beautiful pixel art metroidvania.

The Wreck – March 14
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

At 36, Junon’s life is in pieces: her career has stalled, she’s emotionally numb, and her personal life is falling apart. Things come to a head when she’s called to the ER to find her estranged mother in a critical condition. This is the most important day of Junon’s life, and unless something changes, it might be her last. Relive the past, alter the present, and embrace the future in this 3D visual novel.

Anno 1800 Console Edition – March 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

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.

BigChick – March 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

The islands are sinking… Chickenfolk can’t swim and fox bandits won’t miss an opportunity to gobble up a bird or two even on the verge of apocalypse… What a disaster! Fortunately, Big Chick is here to save the day! Use poultry magic to summon new patches of land from the ocean depths and micromanagement skills to lead your people to the safety of the sacred Big Barn.

Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition – March 15

Get blown into another dimension as you experience the gut-busting fun with Kung Fury: Street Rage – Ultimate Edition. Beat up Nazis and stop the evil Kung Fuhrer and uphold the law the only way you know how: with your fists!

Tricky Thief – March 15
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Take the role of a slippery burglar as you hug the walls of each room and collect coins while outwitting the patrolling guards across dozens of top-down single-screen stages, presented in charmingly minimalistic 3D style as you navigate the brainteasing chambers of Tricky Thief!

Backbeat – March 16
Xbox Game Pass / Smart Delivery

Stephanie “Watts” Watson, an aspiring bassist, bounced from audition to audition, never finding music that really resonated with her, that is, until she discovered the magic of funk. Caught up in the groove, she recruits a group of hometown amateurs to take on art school darlings La Tormenta at the Battle of the Bands.

Defend the Rook – March 16

A roguelike tactics board combat combined with tower defense elements. Defeat the invading hordes to stay alive and save the land by deploying your heroes to outsmart the enemy. Enjoy more tactics than your average TD game, like being able to turn the tables on invaders with the aid of devastating spells. Can you overcome the odds and outsmart the enemy?

My Little Prince – A jigsaw puzzle tale – March 16

A jigsaw puzzle game to remember a beloved classic story. Contains illustrations created by Katia Numakura with inspiration from “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Peppa Pig: World Adventures – March 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

New York City is calling and so are Paris, Australia, London, and a world tour of other fun places! You and your friend Peppa can make pizza in Italy, walk down Hollywood Boulevard, sail on a cruise ship together, and more. There are new characters to meet, exciting quests to try, and countless accessories to dress up with!

WWE 2K23 – March 16
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

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!

Today, the Capcom Spotlight livestream shone a light on some titles and updates heading our way in 2023, as well as trailers for previously announced games. Here’s a wrap-up of the Xbox new that was revealed earlier today.

Suit Up with Exoprimal on July 14

Firstly, we learned that upcoming action title Exoprimal has a release date. Players will soon be able to suit up and take down ferocious dinosaurs when the game launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, Cloud, and day one with Xbox Game Pass on July 14.

A trailer shown gave us a new look at the ten exosuits featured in the game, as well as a glimpse at Exoprimal’s Season 1: Premium Tier. Players can access either the free or premium battle pass tier, which will unlock new character cosmetics, weapon skins, and more.

An open beta for Exoprimal is also on the way later this month, where you’ll be able to hop in and face off against the dino hordes ahead of launch. The beta will be available from March 16 to March 19. Pre-download will be available on the Xbox Store starting March 15 at 6pm PT. You can learn more about what’s in store with our latest Exoprimal preview here on Xbox Wire.

Try Resident Evil 4 Today with New Chainsaw Demo for Xbox Series X|S

Fans of Resident Evil, rejoice! The Chainsaw demo for the awaited remake of Resident Evil 4 launches today. Jump into the game’s opening moments as Leon S. Kennedy and get sucked into the horror ahead of the full release of the game.

Resident Evil 4 is heading to Xbox Series X|S on March 24. You can download the Resident Evil 4: Chainsaw Demo here on the Xbox Store.

Face Fearsome New Monsters Next Month in Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

A brand-new expansion is heading to Monster Hunter Rise. Gear up and get ready to head to Elgado Outpost in Sunbreak, heading to Xbox consoles next month.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak takes place after the events of the main game and will introduce fearsome new monsters to battle, including the western horror-inspired Three Lords. The expansion also introduces fresh new locales, new characters, and brand-new actions, such as the Switch Skill Swap which makes changing abilities a breeze.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak launches on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC on April 28. Monster Hunter Rise is available to play today with Game Pass.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective Revived for Xbox

A Nintendo DS classic is heading to Xbox consoles in the summer. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the supernatural puzzler from Ace Attorney director Shu Takumi, casts you as a ghost tasked with uncovering the mystery of your own death.

The game has been updated to include high-resolution graphics, an increased frame rate, language support and an upgraded user interface. It also includes new arrangements of all 37 music tracks featured in the original game, as well as a brand-new original soundtrack from original composer Masakazu Sugimori.

This shiny new version of a spooky classic will launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on June 30.

Final Street Fighter 6 Commentator Announced

Capcom revealed that Japanese actress Hikaru Takahashi is the final color commentator heading to Street Fighter 6’s Real Time Commentary feature.

The feature provides real-time narrative over your in-game fights, and Takahashi’s addition brings the roster of commentators up to eight, four play-by-play commentators and four color commentators.

Street Fighter 6 is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S on June 2.

And that’s all the Xbox news coming out of today’s Capcom Spotlight! Don’t forget to take advantage of some fantastic discounts on Capcom games right now on the Xbox Store during its publisher sale. Save big on titles like, Monster Hunter Rise, Capcom Fighting Bundle, Capcom Arcade 2^nd Stadium Bundle, and Resident Evil Raccoon City Edition, and more! Check out the Capcom Publisher Sale here on Xbox.com.

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The latest part in the Zombie Derby series, Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival, is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows!

This is our first release of the game for Xbox. We approached it with great responsibility and were able to achieve stable gameplay at 4k and 120 fps on Xbox Series X|S, as well as implement various achievements and convenient gamepad controls.

The game combines simple controls with fun gameplay. The player has the ability to press the gas, shoot zombies, turn nitro to the maximum, and adjust the flight angle.

The player is invited to get behind the wheel of one of the available vehicles and go on a track full of various obstacles and a huge number of walking dead. While driving, the player must overcome hilly sections of tracks and crush the infected. The available transport includes cars and trucks, an armored personnel carrier, a school bus, and even a combine harvester. The distance the car travels depends on the driver’s decisions. The player has a machine gun with a limited amount of ammo, so it is important to save ammo and shoot only the most dangerous obstacles. There is a similar situation with nitro – the roads often have precipices and mined areas that can only be passed by using acceleration, so it is always necessary to have a small supply of nitro. In addition, the characteristics of the car itself are important.

The garage opens up another side of the game. To overcome all obstacles and get to the finish line, it is not enough to have the maximum life indicator. The road is set with traps that can be overcome with various abilities of your car. It is necessary to wisely install upgrades or purchase more powerful vehicles.

In addition to the single-player campaign, Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival also features a multiplayer mode where players can compete against each other in real-time races. The multiplayer mode features leaderboards and rankings, allowing players to compete for the top spot.

 Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival appeals to anyone who wants to relax their brains for a while, and enjoy pleasant gameplay, and beautiful pixel graphics. But don’t relax until the end, because there are zombies everywhere!

Get in the driver’s seat and step on the pedal!

Zombie Derby: Pixel Survival

Brinemedia

☆☆☆☆☆
1

★★★★★

$4.99

$4.24

Get it now

Get into the driver’s seat and put the pedal to the metal! The next part in the legendary Zombie Derby series is already here!

Smash your way through hordes of zombies and countless obstacles in a rip-roaring racing arcade. Experience the zombie apocalypse like you’ve never seen it before. Eradicating zombies has never been so colorful, exciting, and engaging before.

Don’t let any zombies snack on your brain!

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Tiny Troopers: Global Ops Deploys Today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One
The Skull Merchant Comes to Dead by Daylight: A Beginner’s Guide

Attention Troopers! I am Morgan Lean of Epiphany Games and we’re thrilled to announce that our action-packed, twin-stick shooter, Tiny Troopers: Global Ops, launches today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Celebrating the return of the Tiny Troopers franchise, Global Ops is a modernizing sequel that has kept all of the elements which made the original games great, while introducing new features and upgrades for a modern audience. In an epic campaign with over 40 missions set across six theaters of war, we have prepared some important intel and mission objectives to aid your deployment. Get ready for some explosive action, where miniature warfare is seen on a global scale!

Mission Objective #1: Lock & Load

Starting off in Tiny Troopers: Global Ops, you will be armed with a pistol as your primary weapon, progressing throughout the story will soon allow you to unlock a lethal arsenal of weaponry from assault rifles to rocket launchers!

Completing a wide-range of objectives within each mission will help you to earn more XP and upgrade your troopers via the HQ. Be sure to frequently check back into the armoury to upgrade your weapons, rank and abilities. Some items are dependent on your trooper’s rank, so the more you rank up – the more items you can unlock!

Mission Objective #2: Adapt and Survive

In Tiny Troopers: Global Ops you will need to tackle lots of objectives such as VIP rescues, elimination missions, search & destroy and wave-based survival! Keep an eye out for hidden objectives throughout the battlefield, completing these will give you bonus XP and may even unlock new costumes from beach wear to chicken suits!

You can style your Trooper from head to toe in the barracks, with a wide range of clothing options from astronauts to clowns. Not sure where to start on unlocking new costumes? Try clicking on the arcade machine in the HQ for an “egg-citing” surprise.

Mission Objective #3: Join Forces in Co-Operative Multiplayer Action

Team-up in cooperative play with up to four players in online cross-pay or couch co-op. Compete in the global leaderboards where squads can combine specialist abilities such as airstrikes, drones, stim packs and reinforcements, making overwhelming the opposition that much easier!

Mission Objective #4: Disrupt Enemy Intel

Your supervillain enemies are causing chaos on a global level. They are well-equipped, organized and ready for a fight. Throughout your missions you will encounter the Troopers’ deadliest foes yet, but do not fear – if your teammates take too much damage on the battlefield, simply revive them. But be warned, if a Trooper is left behind during a mission – they will be gone for good!

Mission Objective #5: Most Importantly… Have Fun!

We are so proud to be releasing Tiny Troopers: Global Ops, a fast-paced, arcade twin stick shooter, taking players across the globe to take down hordes of unscrupulous enemies. Whether you are leading your elite squad of battle-hardened specialists through an epic campaign alone, or battling alongside a group of friends, we can’t wait to see you on the battlefield and ascending the leaderboards troopers!   

Tiny Troopers: Global Ops

Wired Productions, Kukouri Mobile Entertainment

☆☆☆☆☆
2

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Global Warfare!

Attention! The Tiny Troopers are BACK in Global Ops, a fast-paced arcade twin-stick shooter!

Your mission? Lead an elite squad of battle hardened specialists through an epic campaign of 40+ missions across 6 theatres of war!
Take your troopers into explosive battles through scorching deserts – dense, sweltering jungles and the coldest of frozen tundras!

Multiplayer Crossplay!

Join forces with up to four players online with full cross platform play! Whether you’re PC or console, you can battle solo or go online with 2 to 4 Unit Squads! Featuring global leaderboards, you’ll be able to combine your specialist abilities including airstrikes, drones, stim packs and reinforcements to overwhelm the opposition! If you’re not ready to deploy online, grab 2 to 4 friends in local co-op mode!

Lock & Load!

Gear up with a lethal arsenal of weaponry including rifles, rocket launchers, flamethrowers and assault shotguns, or get to the chopper and mount up on heavy machine guns to lay waste to your enemies!

Rank Up!

Complete objectives and earn XP to upgrade your troopers’ weapons, rank, and abilities in HQ. Customize their appearance with new uniforms, heads, skin tones and accessories, or increase their survivability and effectiveness in battle!

Enemy Intel

Your enemies are well equipped, organised and ready for a fight! Encounter the Troopers deadliest foes yet, with advanced AI controlling hordes of drones, insurgents and PMC’s – alongside intense boss battles!

Adapt and Survive

Troopers always answer the call of duty! Tackle a wide range of objectives including VIP rescues, elimination missions, search & destroy and wave based survival!

Adapt on the battlefield with additional side and hidden objectives to discover and complete!

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Some of my earliest memories include watching my dad play as Master Chief in Halo: Combat Evolved. My brother and I would hide behind the couch to sneak a peek at the super soldiers and aliens in battle, which my mother thought might be too much for our young eyes. But it left an impression on me.  When I was a little older, I dropped into battle with my customized Spartan, who had pink armor and a unicorn banner, right alongside my brother. 

Even though gaming is one of my passions, I struggled to find gamer friends at the all-girls school I attended. Aside from an occasional party game session, gaming just didn’t seem like a way I could connect with my friends. As a girl, I didn’t identify with the perceived competitive, macho culture that was associated with gamers at the time. Few games were marketed toward girls, and most of them involved pets or brand name dolls. While I enjoyed those games too, I also wanted to experience RPGs, first-person shooters, and action-adventure games where I could be the hero. One of my brothers, though, got to enjoy Halo LAN Parties with his friends. He got Xbox Live and played with online friends, too. I was envious that I couldn’t share that same experience with my friends.

I’m grateful, though, that the industry has changed to be more inviting and inclusive of all people. I’ve worked with Microsoft for five years and landed this amazing role with Xbox working as a Senior Product Manager with the Xbox Store. I’m proud to be part of an organization that continues to evolve to increase diverse representation in its game collection and among game creators. I also find fulfillment in teaching computer science to high school students as part of the Microsoft TEALS program, which pairs industry volunteers with teachers to impart curriculum to them in a sustainable way. It means so much to me to see women increasingly represented in those classes and serve as a role model to those interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) careers.    

Halo was the first game I experienced which allowed me to customize my character to represent me in some way. Even still when I play a game, whether it is Disney Dreamlight Valley, Fortnite, or Animal Crossing, I enjoy customizing my character’s appearance, gear, and skins. Having that representation creates an emotional connection for me that makes me want to turn on my console, grab a cozy blanket, and return to my favorite games over and over again.

In honor of women, and especially women who enjoy gaming, here are a few ways that Team Xbox is uplifting and supporting women this year.

Give

Gaming and Impact with Microsoft Rewards

Microsoft Rewards members can earn and donate points to organizations supporting women with Xbox. The organizations below will be featured on console throughout March:

• Girls Who Code: Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in tech by equipping students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the necessary computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. (Canada, UK, and US)
• Games & Online Harassment Hotline (via Feminist Frequency): The Games and Online Harassment Hotline is a free, text message-based, confidential emotional support hotline. This Hotline was created specifically for the gaming community. Whether you’re a player, a developer, a streamer, a competitor — any part of this community — they are here for you, whether that means offering emotional support or finding the referrals and resources that you need. (US)
• Women in Games International: Women in Games International works to cultivate resources such as advanced knowledge sharing, access to technology, and actionable mentorship programs to normalize diversity in the games industry through increased representation. (Global)
• National Center for Transgender Equality: NCTE advocates to change policies and society to increase understanding and acceptance of transgender people. In the nation’s capital and throughout the country, NCTE works to replace disrespect, discrimination, and violence with empathy, opportunity, and justice. (US)

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

Discover

Artist Tacha P Shares Her Vision of Womanhood and Gaming through her Xbox Logo Design

My work is focused on conceptualizing the realms of digital and physical experiences through immersive visuals, and I often take inspiration from the gaming community, especially in character development and world-building. It’s an honor to be part of Women’s History Month celebrations at Xbox and share a design concept inspired by growth, dreams, and stepping out one’s comfort zone without necessarily knowing the outcome.

The idea of womanhood fueled my creativity here, and specifically, choosing to see the beauty that exists everywhere in the world – even places you’ve never been, or within feelings not yet tapped into. This is personal to me as I know that the path lies ahead, yet the destination is unclear. Spiritually, I feel a distinct connection to my future that fuels my own growth. In the piece, golden rays highlight the controller, signifying the positivity brought into the world by the gaming community. Meanwhile, abstract shapes and larger-than-life objects invite us to dream big and know that we hold the power to shape our own destinies.

Check out more of Tacha’s work at HotSupply.

Xbox Sponsoring First-Ever All Women’s Valorant Team to Compete on a National Stage at the CECC

Xbox is partnering with EportsU and Paidia Gaming to provide women gamers with opportunities for competition, greater visibility and access to experts in the gaming field, as well as deliver content that celebrates high achievement, inclusivity, and positive play. This activation includes three gaming events and two content series, designed to spotlight collegiate women gamers as well as up and coming female shoutcasters. This groundbreaking partnership concludes with sending the first ever women’s team and two new female shoutcasters to the national Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) in Texas this May. 

Find out more about how you can follow and support the women on their ‘road to nationals’ journey in the following events and content series:

• Competitive national, collegiate Valorant qualifying tournament with colleges participating across the United States and Canada.
• Finals at the Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC) in Texas, which runs May 5 to May 7, 2023.
• Women’s Matchmaking Season, a separate national competition for women gamers, with top two teams competing at CECC Texas.
• “Road to CECC” will highlight participating teams as they prepare for competition in Texas.
• “Cast This” will focus on discovering and developing budding shoutcasting talent.

Xbox Women’s History Month Affirmation Deck

Regardless of where they are in their careers, the women that work across the entire organization of Microsoft are essential and integral to our mission, success, and culture. In support of the talented women who work at Xbox, we collected affirmations and quotes that inspire us and our personal journeys. We created this interactive Xbox Affirmations Deck for you to download or the Xbox Affirmations Deck for you to print. We encourage you to use these cards as part of your self-care routine, to meditate on these words, and to set a positive tone for your day.  

Women’s History Month 2023: Xbox Ambassadors Share Their Stories

The Xbox Ambassadors community is made up of diverse gamers from around the world and we love to amplify and highlight the voices of these players. In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked select Xbox Ambassador Community Champions what it means to them to be a woman in gaming.

Here’s a sneak peek from our Q&A with Xbox Ambassadors BlondiebutGeeky and oOGingerAleOo.

What is your favorite memory as a woman in gaming?

“I would have to say when a younger female gamer came to me and thanked me for helping them. While we look at each other as all gamers, it is nice to be some kind of a role model for younger women.” – oOGingerAleOo, Xbox Ambassador

From your perspective, what does the future look like for women in gaming?

“I think it looks very promising. Ever growing. With more women in the industry, from game developers to hundreds of other roles. Women will be a part of every avenue and making the gaming space bigger and brighter. I watch how the narrative of games has expanded, grabbing the attention of women, and turning them into gamers. Programs like STEM and Women in Games are encouraging women to explore fields they might not normally gravitate towards. Empowerment like this is making huge differences in the growth of women in gaming and technology. We need to raise the awareness and have more conversations about representation for women in gaming.” – BlondiebutGeeky, Xbox Ambassador

Visit the Xbox Ambassadors Community Blog to see the full story!

The Xbox Ambassador community is also celebrating Women’s History Month with a series of XA Missions that feature games with powerful women. Play, share, and discuss your favorite games by becoming an Xbox Ambassador today!

Play

Explore Games Featuring Powerful Women and Games Created by Women

Women have been a huge part of innovative technology since the beginning and the history of video games is no different. Not only have women been involved in the creation of games every step of the way, but studies are showing more and more that women play and enjoy games as much as men do. Since seeing ourselves represented is so important, we want to showcase that powerful can mean many things, from being able to take on a horde of enemies to being able to practice empathy for others.​

During March and beyond, we are highlighting games that bring focus to powerful women protagonists and games created by women. These collections are available on The Microsoft Stores on Xbox, Windows, and within the Game Pass mobile app year-round as part of our ongoing work to create more inclusive gaming ecosystems and elevate content that resonates with communities.

Featured titles within the collections on the Microsoft Stores on Xbox and Windows, Xbox Game Pass, and PC Game Pass include:

• Signalis (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Created by Yuri Stern and Barbara Wittman, this artistic take on survival horror follows the story of a humanoid android, Elster, on a quest to find her missing partner, Ariane. Discover terrifying secrets, challenging puzzles, and nightmarish creatures all while searching for lost love in a dystopian solar system. ​

• The Walking Dead: Michonne (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Haunted by her past, this game explores the trauma from the devastating loss and difficult decisions that the resilient character, Michonne, had to endure in order to survive the zombie apocalypse on her own. Nichole Martinez, Meghan Thornton, Erica Harrell, and Desirée Proctor were all contributing writers for this deeply emotional mini-series. ​

• A Plague Tale: Requiem (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – Take on the role of Amicia, the intelligent protector of her cursed younger brother, Hugo, in this heartrending sequel to A Plague Tale: Innocence. Embark on a journey to find a new home in a twisted world of supernatural forces and figure out just how far Amicia is willing to go in order to save her brother. ​

• Cities: Skylines Remastered (Available with Xbox Game Pass) – Originally brought to us from lead designer Karoliina Korppoo, this city building game has now released a remastered edition for console. The latest edition provides the opportunity for bigger and more beautiful cities. This game encourages creativity and self-expression by allowing players to design a city of their dreams while managing the ever-changing demands of thousands of citizens. ​

• Gears 5 (Available with Xbox Game Pass and Rated M) – As the first woman protagonist of this iconic franchise, Kait Diaz is on a mission to uncover the origins of the Locust Horde. Kait not only battles her way bravely through swarms of enemies, but also endures disturbing visions that inevitably help her get the answers she seeks. Experience Kait’s journey of self-discovery as she learns her family’s true history.​

New Gamerpics, Profile Theme, Wallpaper and Avatar Items to Celebrate Women’s History

In partnership with women communities at Xbox, we’re introducing a new gamerpic, profile theme, wallpapers and avatar items! The gamerpic and profile theme will be available on console and the Xbox PC app. Get your avatar items and wallpaper items here. Content is subject to availability by country.

Tune In

Xbox Plays Livestreaming

Every Monday during the month of March, the Xbox Plays team will be spotlighting some of our favorite women streamers and inviting them to take over the Xbox Twitch Channel in celebration of Women’s History Month! Tune in and catch all the action on Twitch.tv/Xbox!

March 6

• Atiyana playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (11am PT)
• Ashlinaa playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (3pm PT)

March 13

• Emme playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (11am PT)
• TacticalGramma playing Call of Duty Warzone 2 (3pm PT)

March 20

• Laelindra playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (11am PT)
• Bettynixx playing Disney Dreamlight Valley (3pm PT)

March 27

• Blushi playing Minecraft (11am PT)
• OathxX playing Halo Infinite (3pm PT)

Her reign is built on a mountain of bone. Dead by Daylight’s latest Killer is The Skull Merchant, a ruthless apex hunter driven to pursue prey worthy of her talents.

After years of experimentation, she has finally perfected her deadliest tool: Drones, designed to observe and track any Survivor in its vicinity. Meticulously handcrafted using the skulls of her many victims, these grotesque combinations of bone and metal cast an oppressive shadow.

To effectively master this Killer, you must be prepared to set traps, analyze key points of interest, and capitalize on emboldened Survivors. While The Skull Merchant comes with three Character Perks – Game Afoot, Thwack!,and Leverage – this guide is focused on her Power and how to use it.

The Drone Zone

The Skull Merchant’s Power, Eyes to the Sky, allows her to position multiple Drones in places of her choosing. Some potential places could be around Generators, Hex Totems, or areas that may see heavy travel. You will also have a Radar device, which will allow you to track the location of Survivors under certain circumstances.

Once a Drone has been placed, it enters Active Mode and detects Survivors within its surrounding radius. Note that will you be Undetectable while in this radius, and any Survivor that enters it will be revealed on your Radar. While inside the Active Zone, the Drone will gradually Lock-On to that Survivor, revealing their exact location through Killer Instinct. They will also become Exposed.

If several seconds pass and no Survivor enters the radius while the Drone is in Active Mode, the Drone will switch to Scouting Mode. While in Scouting Mode, the Drone will slowly rotate to catch Survivors in its line of sight. It’s far safer for a Survivor to approach during this time, provided they can avoid the Drone’s rotating sightlines. Should the Drone detect them however, it will immediately enter Active Mode.

Once you place your Drones, you’ll have the ability to recall them or manually set them to Active Mode, though you cannot force a Drone to return to Scouting Mode. Consider using this if you predict that a Survivor is attempting to approach and disable a Drone, though you’ll have to primarily trust your instinct on this one. Remember, the more Survivors actively stressing about Drones, the better.

Key Placements

One of The Skull Merchant’s biggest strengths is her ability to keep tabs of Survivor locations. When you first spawn into a Trial, remember that Survivors will generally spawn at a considerable distance. As the Skull Merchant does not have cross-Map mobility to effectively disrupt their early game plans, you should try to get into a mindset of predicting their future actions.

While you make your approach, you’ll notice several Generators that have yet to be touched – the closer together they are, the better. These are ideal areas to station a Drone, as Survivors will eventually make their way toward those Generators. From there, they will have to choose whether to ignore the Drone and commit to the Generator, build progress to become Exposed and revealed through Killer Instinct, or attempt to disable the Drone and receive a Claw Trap.

Claw Trap: Whenever a Survivor successfully hacks and disables one of your Drones, they will receive a Claw Trap. When a Survivor receives a Claw Trap, their location will be trackable on your Radar until the Trap’s battery dies.

Because Drones create such a perilous zone for Survivors, it’s effective to widen the scope of your web by placing multiple. That way, you maximize the possibility of a favourable outcome. You’ll either end up targeting an Exposed Survivor or gain the ability to track a Claw Trapped Survivor on your radar. It may happen that a Claw Trapped Survivor attempts to draw you away to an inconvenient location – in that case, it’s up to you to decide whether taking that chase is worth it.

At the end of the day, The Skull Merchant is a Killer who specializes in trap placement, so don’t be discouraged if you lose a few Generators in the early game.

Drones and Radar

Dealing with all these Drones can feel overwhelming – especially when your initial placements prove ineffective, and you’re left improvising on the fly. Drones can have significant value in a chase, especially when you’re pursuing a Survivor around a complex loop with limited line-of-sight.

Not only will their exact location eventually be revealed by Killer Instinct if they remain in the Drone’s Active Zone, but you’ll also get the immediate benefit of becoming Undetectable. That means you won’t have to worry about hiding your Red Stain, and Survivors will have a harder time gauging your location.

As for your Radar – remember, you have it for a reason, so use it to obtain crucial information on Survivor whereabouts. The leftmost light informs you where you can place a Drone, while the rightmost one informs you when a Survivor is inside a Drone’s Active Zone. The Radar will remain unlit when your Power is on Cooldown. Keep an eye on those visual signals!

The Skull Merchant is all about control, and you’ll soon find that an effective setup can lead to some truly merciless results. The Skull Merchant is now available in Dead by Daylight’s Tools of Torment Chapter on Xbox.

Dead by Daylight

Behaviour Interactive Inc.

☆☆☆☆☆
1332

★★★★★

$29.99

$14.99

Get it now

Xbox Game Pass

Ever wished to play as one of the characters from your favorite horror movies? Dead by Daylight is a 1v4 multiplayer game that draws from all corners of the horror world from a powerful slasher to a terrifying paranormal entity.

Choose between playing an unstoppable Killer and one of 4 Survivors trying to evade a gruesome death. Each character has their own deep progression system and plenty of unlockables that can be customized to fit your personal strategy. Work together to escape, or stalk and sacrifice every Survivor.

This Edition of Dead by Daylight gives you access to a roster of 7 Killers (The Trapper, The Hillbilly, The Wraith, The Nurse, The Hag, The Huntress and The Doctor) and 9 Survivors (Meg Thomas, Claudette Morel, Jake Park, Dwight Fairfield, Ace Visconti, Nea Karlsson, Bill Overbeck, Feng Min and David King). It also includes two cosmetic add-ons packed with outfits for various characters.

Related:
Creepy-Cute Indie Adventure Meg’s Monster Now Available on Xbox Series X and Xbox One
How Modding Passion Brought UGC-Focused Leap to Life – Available Now 
Battle your Way through the Void in Neo-Noir Love Story El Paso, Elsewhere

The latest entry in the Guilty Gear series, Guilty Gear -Strive-, is now available on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows!

Xbox is no stranger to fighting games and we are excited to rejoin this passionate community. Even better, Xbox Game Pass allows gamers to pick up new and exciting titles with incredible ease, and with Guilty Gear -Strive- coming to Xbox and Game Pass, this is a match made in heaven (or hell).

With revolutionary graphics, an intense story mode, online multiplayer pitting players from all over the world against each other, and more, Guilty Gear -Strive- provides the cutting edge of the fighting game experience. And now you can experience it for yourself on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows!

The Cutting Edge of Fighting Games

Guilty Gear -Strive- has received such awards as The Game Awards 2021 Best Fighting Game and 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Fighting Game of the Year for its balance of ease of entry and the deep game mechanics Guilty Gear is known for!

A Smooth Online Experience for Players Across the World

A balance between accessibility for players new to Guilty Gear and the gameplay that defines the series. Step onto the stage of intense battle, from the exciting stage wall break system, to the deep game mechanics designed to bring out the strategy unique to fighting games, to the rollback netcode allowing players far apart to enjoy smooth online matches!

The Story Comes to a Climax!

Guilty Gear -Strive- brings more than just matches with its next generation visuals, further evolved down to the smallest details and hardly distinguishable from hand-drawn anime. Don’t miss the hefty Story Mode delving into the deep world of Guilty Gear.

The in-depth story of Guilty Gear has been told across more than 20 years. Now, the many interconnected fates of the cast come to a conclusion! What shocking truth awaits them?

Guilty Gear -Strive- brings jaw-dropping visuals, incredibly fun head-to-head combat, and a blistering hard rock soundtrack to Xbox. The game has been optimized for the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows, bringing the performance you expect on the platform you love. We look forward to seeing the many Xbox gamers jumping online with some of the best netcode around and showing the world that they too are ready to ROCK!

Take this chance to play Guilty Gear -Strive- with your friends and family!

Guilty Gear -Strive-

ARC SYSTEM WORKS

☆☆☆☆☆
95

★★★★★

$39.99

Get it now

PC Game Pass

Xbox Game Pass

Amazing graphics and animations! New revolution in fighting games!

[Game Contents]
“Guilty Gear -Strive-“ is the latest entry in the critically acclaimed Guilty Gear fighting game franchise. Created by Daisuke Ishiwatari and developed by Arc System Works, “Guilty Gear -Strive-“ upholds the series’ reputation for groundbreaking hybrid 2D/3D cell-shaded graphics and intense, rewarding gameplay.

There is a fully voiced story mode diving deep into the Guilty Gear universe, new characters joining fan favorites, and robust rollback net code.

◆Amazing Graphics and Animations
The cutting-edge 2D/3D hybrid graphics pioneered in the Guilty Gear series have been raised to the next level in “Guilty Gear -Strive-“. The new artistic direction and improve character animations will go beyond anything you’ve seen before in a fighting game!

◆New Revolution in Fighting Games!
Guilty Gear -Strive- brings a number of new and innovative game play mechanics designed to allow players new to the series to quickly learn the fundamentals while maintaining the deep, creative gameplay Guilty Gear is praised for. New additions to the series such as a wall-breaking mechanic will allow for new and exciting approaches to battle.

◆The fate of the universe will be determined…
The story of Guilty Gear, spanning over 20 years, will finally come to a conclusion in “Guilty Gear -Strive-“. The trials and tribulations of the series’ heroes and villains will finally be resolved. Discover the astonishing truth awaiting at the end of all things.

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