Xbox Is Now the First Carbon Aware Console, Update Rolling Out to Everyone Soon

Xbox is working to reduce our environmental impact to help us reach Microsoft’s goal of being a carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste company by 2030 by rethinking how we design, build, distribute, and use our products.

Last March, we shared an update on our sustainability efforts across hardware, software, waste reduction, and collective action. We are constantly looking at the ways in which we can innovate, learn, and improve upon our measures, as well as continue collaborating with industry partners and game developers. We not only hold ourselves accountable to the carbon emissions in the production and distribution of our products, but to the emissions created with the use of our products in the homes of our fans as well. So, the way we design our hardware and software to be more efficient and optimized for renewable energy can have a big impact.

Today we are sharing updates that are rolling out to Xbox Insiders. The upcoming changes will create opportunities for our collective community of gamers to make choices to reduce environmental impact while gaming.

Xbox is now the first gaming console to offer carbon aware game downloads and updates

Being carbon aware means reducing carbon footprint by optimizing updates and downloads to run at a time when the console can use the most renewable energy. Windows Update became carbon aware last year for Windows 11 PCs, and now Xbox consoles are also becoming carbon aware.

When your console is plugged in, connected to the Internet and regional carbon intensity data is available, Xbox will schedule game, app, and OS updates for your console at specific times during the nightly maintenance window that may result in lower carbon emissions because a higher proportion of electricity is coming from lower-carbon sources on the electric grid. For example, instead of your Xbox waking up during the nightly maintenance window at a random time between 2:00 AM – 6:00 AM, your console will wake up at a time when it can use the most renewable energy in your local energy grid. This decreases fossil fuel dependency and CO2 emissions, and could potentially save you money.   While only available to Xbox Insiders that use Shutdown (energy saving) right now, all Xbox gamers will have the chance to update soon so that your Xbox console is carbon aware.

Energy settings that help your Xbox save energy

Starting today, Xbox Insiders will notice that their Xbox Series X|S consoles automatically update to the Shutdown (energy saving) power option. This one-time update to your power settings will reduce your power consumption while your console is off, and will not affect performance, gameplay, or your console’s ability to receive overnight updates to system, games or apps. Remote features are supported while the console is powered-on; however, remote wake is not supported while the console is shut down. You can adjust your settings at any time, choosing what works best for you. Shutdown (energy saving) cuts power use by up to 20X when it’s off compared to Sleep.

As we continue to explore options for all players to reduce their environmental impact, Xbox One consoles will begin to see new power mode options, including shutdown (energy saving) as early as today. Xbox One consoles will be testing multiple messaging options to determine the best way to inform players of the change. This effort is to provide Xbox One gamers an opportunity to provide feedback on their experience.

Xbox Carbon Aware image

Shutdown (energy saving) will allow Xbox One consoles to receive system, game or app downloads overnight, just like Xbox Series X|S. With Shutdown (energy saving) selected, Xbox One consoles will experience a slower boot time. Remote features are still supported while the console is powered on.

We encourage all players to learn more about the power setting options available to you. Every small step we take has larger collective impact – and choosing shutdown (energy saving) can have real, meaningful impact. For example, for every 2 consoles that switch to Shutdown (energy saving) for one year, we will save the equivalent amount of carbon removed by 1 tree planted and grown for a decade. This is based on an average of Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles on Shutdown (energy saving) for 20 hours per day for 1 year; actual energy savings and avoided emissions may vary by console and other factors. Using Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator | US EPA.

Xbox Carbon Aware image

Improved sustainability with “Active hours” and Sleep

Another energy setting update that will start to roll out to Xbox Insiders today is the new “Active hours” setting. For those that select the Sleep power option, you can now adjust your console’s active hours. Your Xbox will boot quickly and will be available for remote wake during your selected active hours. When your Xbox’s active hours are done for the day, it will fully shut down and will draw 0.5 W vs. 10-15 W while active.

  • Xbox Series X|S active hours will be automatically enabled and scheduled based on times when the console was previously used
  • Xbox One consoles will have the option to configure their active hours, which will default to “always active” unless changed
Xbox Carbon Aware image

How you can help

We can’t do this alone. We must work together with our players, developers, studios, and the industry if we’re going to help reduce gaming’s impact on the environment. We’re committed to collaborating with our developers, partnering with organizations, and empowering players to make more informed decisions.

Here are some specific ways you can help:

  • Choose the settings that help you and your Xbox save energy
    Choose shutdown (energy saving) as a power option on your Xbox.  If you are not part of Xbox Insiders and want to adjust your settings to get the best energy saving option prior to the automatic update go to Settings > General > Power options. It will help conserve power and enable carbon aware updates on your Xbox.
  • Get carbon aware – Choose automatic updates. When you have configured your Xbox to get automatic updates and you have selected shutdown (energy saving) as a power option, you’ll have a carbon aware Xbox.
  • Shutdown sooner when inactive – Choose a shorter duration for when your Xbox will turn off when inactive. This will help to reduce the amount of time that your console will remain on when inactive before turning itself off. By default, this is set to 1 hour, but you can choose a time that is less than an hour by going to Settings > General > Power options > Customize power options.

For more information on what we’re doing, check out: xbox.com/sustainability.

Related:
Xbox and Bethesda to Present Developer_Direct Livestream on January 25
Start Your One Piece Odyssey Adventure with the Free Demo Available Today
Power Your Adventure with the Xbox Series X and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition Bundle

Xbox and Bethesda to Present Developer_Direct Livestream on January 25

Xbox and Bethesda will present a Developer_Direct on Wednesday, January 25, providing fans with an inside look at some of the games coming to Xbox, PC and Game Pass over the next few months.  

Presented by the game creators themselves from studios including Arkane Austin, Mojang Studios, Turn 10 Studios, and ZeniMax Online Studios, the Developer_Direct will focus on big features, extended gameplay showcases, and the latest info for Xbox games launching in the next few months, including The Elder Scrolls Online, Forza Motorsport, Minecraft Legends, and Redfall 

To dedicate the proper amount of time for a deep dive into Bethesda Game Studios’ Starfield, a standalone show is in the works. 

Fans should tune in on Xbox channels (Twitch, YouTube) and Bethesda channels (Twitch, YouTube) at 12pm PT/3pm ET, January 25 to see all the latest on:  

  • The Elder Scrolls Online: Studio Director Matt Firor will unveil 2023’s major Chapter update, including the latest regions of Tamriel to become playable in ESO, as well as a major new feature coming in the game’s biggest update this year. The Developer_Direct will be immediately followed by the full, standalone ESO Chapter Reveal Event, hosted by Zenimax Online Studios, which will provide all the in-depth details ESO players will be keen to know. 
  • Forza Motorsport: The team at Turn 10 Studios have been hard at work, bringing fans the next generation of Forza Motorsport, built from the ground up to take advantage of Xbox Series X|S. Forza Motorsport is back, and we can’t wait to share more gameplay and exciting new details. 
  • Minecraft Legends: Mojang Studios will showcase an insider’s look into the PvP multiplayer experience in Minecraft Legends – the upcoming action-strategy game from the makers of Minecraft. Developed in partnership with Blackbird Interactive and launching this spring, don’t miss exclusive gameplay footage at the Developer_Direct
  • Redfall: The minds behind Dishonored and Prey, Arkane Austin, will showcase several minutes of gameplay from their upcoming FPS. The Developer_Direct will reveal single and multiplayer gameplay, showing more of how you and your friends will take down bloodthirsty Vampires on the picturesque island of Redfall, Massachusetts. Fans can expect to learn more about combat, customization, bosses, the open world, and more. 

Stay tuned to Xbox and Bethesda’s official social channels for more on the Developer_Direct, coming on Wednesday, January 25 at 12pm PT/3pm ET. 

Related:
Start Your One Piece Odyssey Adventure with the Free Demo Available Today
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Monster Hunter Rise, Persona 3 Portable, and Persona 4 Golden
Take High on Life, Forza Horizon 5, and More on the Go with Xbox Cloud Gaming for the New Razer Edge 

Start Your One Piece Odyssey Adventure with the Free Demo Available Today

One Piece Odyssey’s release is just around the corner and to give everyone a head start, a demo of this new turn-based RPG is available now on Xbox Series X|S.

When you begin, you’ll see our main cast, known as the Straw Hat Pirates, get sucked into a storm, thrown onto a mysterious island, and separated. They must find each other, meet the locals, and fight off the new enemies they meet along the way. That means we get to see our heroes in action and get hands-on experience with the turn-based combat.

Your favorite pirate crew is all here

  • Luffy – The captain who ate a Devil Fruit, which made him able to bend and stretch his body as if he was made of rubber.
  • Zoro – The master swordsman who uses a three-sword fighting style.
  • Nami – The ship’s navigator and skilled con artist who uses her “Clima-Tact” to fight by controlling the weather.
  • Usopp – A sharp shooting slingshot user, afraid of most conflict.
  • Sanji – A skilled cook who reserves his hands just for cooking and fights only with his feet.
  • Chopper – Part reindeer, part human, full-time doctor on the ship.
  • Robin – The ship’s archaeologist who ate a Devil Fruit which gave her the ability to create duplicate limbs from any surface.
  • Franky – The shipwright and cyborg with super-human strength and weapons built into his body.
  • Brook – Musician and skeleton whose soul can separate from his body… or what’s left of it.

Each Straw Hat has their own combat specialty, which are often their iconic moves from the One Piece series. You’ll get to utilize everyone’s unique abilities not only to fight, but to get around the map. During dungeon exploration, use Luffy and his stretchable limbs to pull yourself across the map with Gum Gum Slingshot, or take advantage of Chopper’s small size to crawl through tight spaces.

In each fight, your party members and enemies occupy different positions on the battlefield. This allows you to land close-range, long-range, and group attacks depending on your location, so you’ll have to make sure each Straw Hat is in the right spot to take advantage of their abilities. Thankfully, the game lets you swap party members positions throughout the fight. You can even pull party members into the fight who weren’t on the field. Usopp too close to a group of enemies? Switch him out with Sanji. No healing items available? Have Chopper tap in to take care of damaged friends. Later in the game, you can even harness the power of friendship with “Bond Arts,” a powerful ability that Straw Hats execute together, which you can unlock through side quests.

During battle there’s a chance you’ll trigger a “Dramatic Scene,” which is an extra task to complete in exchange for bonus experience and loot. In a “Dramatic Scene,” you might be tasked with defeating an enemy with a particular member or in a certain number of turns. Completing these gives you a huge boost in leveling and helps you quickly progress through the game. Another way to get ahead in big fights is to eat food items that give you a buff. While you can’t get Sanji’s ability-buffing food in the demo, you can still pick up ingredients that can help you during smaller fights and can be used for cooking better recipes once you transfer your demo save into the main game.

Fans of the series get the chance to jump into an adventure with their favorite crew and and fight iconic enemies from some of the team’s biggest battles. You also get to experience a new world with new characters, some designed by One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda himself! Even if you’ve never seen the One Piece anime or manga, the game will be a great first introduction as you get to discover what it means to be a Straw Hat Pirate and get a taste of life on the Grand Line.

If you’re curious to try out the first One Piece turn-based RPG, you can download the One Piece Odyssey demo today! Your progress in the demo transfers to the full game, but make sure to pre-order to secure even more bonuses for when it’s released on January 13.

Xbox Live

ONE PIECE ODYSSEY

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

$59.99

This set features useful items and the additional costume Traveling Outfit Set, all of which can be used in-game.

Includes:
• Energy Apple x 10
• Excite Apple x 10
• Golden Jelly x 3
• 100,000 Berries
• Traveling Outfit Set (Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami, Chopper, Robin)

*Full game is is required. Please update to the latest version before use.
*Please note that bonuses may be distributed at a later date.
*Contents and specifications are subject to change without notice.
*Some scenes and performances in the game may not reflect the costume changes.
*Bonuses can be obtained from the start of the game.

A new RPG from the hugely popular manga and anime series ONE PIECE, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the series!

The famed pirate, Monkey.D.Luffy, better known as Straw Hat Luffy, and his Straw Hat Crew, are sailing across the New World in search of the next island and the next adventure that awaits them.
But during their voyage they are caught in a storm and shipwrecked. They find themselves washed up on a lush tropical island surrounded by constantly raging storms…

Separated from his crew, Luffy sets off on a grand, new adventure to find his friends and escape the island!
Dangerous new enemies, terrifying forces of nature, and more await them!

Play as various members of the Straw Hat Crew in a classic RPG set in the world of the popular ONE PIECE anime!

*In addition to this product, ONE PIECE ODYSSEY Deluxe Edition and other digital content is also available. Take care to not make duplicate purchases.

Related:
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 9 to 13
Power Your Adventure with the Xbox Series X and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition Bundle
Xbox Podcast: Justin Roiland on Why High on Life Came to Game Pass (and How That Will Help Make Future Games)

Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Monster Hunter Rise, Persona 3 Portable, and Persona 4 Golden

Welcome to 2023, Game Pass friends! We’re starting off the year with some iconic franchises from beloved Japanese developers whose games will soon be landing with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. For now, let’s start juicing up our controllers and get our pre-install on; it’s time to get to the games!


Coming Soon


Persona 3 Portable (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 19
If I say there’s an hour “hidden” between one day and the next… would you believe me? Master the power of the heart, Persona, and uncover the tragic truth of the Dark Hour. Experience the iconic, critically acclaimed RPG that reinvented the Persona series!

Persona 3 Portable

Persona 4 Golden (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 19
Experience a coming-of-age story that sets the protagonist and his friends on a journey kickstarted by a chain of serial murders. The world-renowned Persona 4 Golden promises unforgettable adventures, meaningful bonds, and heartwarming experiences shared together with friends.

Persona 4 Golden

Monster Hunter Rise (Cloud, Console, and PC) – January 20
The critically acclaimed action-RPG series returns! Set in the Japanese folklore inspired land of Kamura, players will team up to battle fearsome monsters, craft a wide variety of gear, and prevent the world from falling into calamity. Rise to the challenge and join the hunt!

Monster Hunter Rise

In Case You Missed It


Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Making a return to the Game Pass library, Mortal Shell is a deep action RPG that tests your sanity and resilience in a shattered world. Your adversaries spare no mercy, with survival demanding superior awareness, precision, and instincts. Possess lost warriors, track down hidden sanctums of the devout, and face formidable foes.

Stranded Deep (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Take the role of a plane crash survivor stranded somewhere in the Pacific. Experience terrifying encounters both above and below an endless environment. Come face to face with some of the most life-threatening scenarios that will result in a unique experience each time you play.

Valheim: Mistlands Biome Update (PC) – Available now
It’s time to pick up your Viking shield once more and set sail for the Mistlands! Valheim’s latest biome update promises new ways of both building and fighting, but you’d better make sure to stay on your guard as there are many new dangers as well…


Leaving January 15


The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon, so be sure to use your membership discount to save up to 20% on any games you want to keep in your library!

  • Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Nobody Saves The World (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Pupperazzi (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • The Anacrusis (Game Preview) (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • We Happy Few (Cloud, Console, and PC)
  • Windjammers 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

We’re just getting warmed up and we’ll be back soon with more games, more Perks, and more news. If your new year’s resolution was to play more games, I highly recommend grabbing the Xbox Game Pass mobile app so you can download your games remotely and pick out what you plan to play next. Keep tuned here and at @XboxGamePass or @XboxGamePassPC on Twitter for more!

Related:
Take High on Life, Forza Horizon 5, and More on the Go with Xbox Cloud Gaming for the New Razer Edge 
CES 2023: The New Windows PC Gaming Devices Coming from Our Top Partners 
Free Play Days – Cricket 22, For the King, and Saints Row

Combining Trauma with Feelgood — The Story of Wavetale

“Happy lyrics should always be paired with a minor key, and vice versa!” – a guest teacher at my music school once proclaimed this with certainty, arguing that you needed that touch of melancholy to make things interesting.

Now, writing a video game script might not be the same as writing a hit song, but those words still come back to me from time to time, and definitely popped up while I was working on Wavetale. Because while it might not be a universal truth, combining the lighthearted and the heavy can create something special. More importantly, it helps us create something relatable.

I remember when my close friend’s dad died. It was sudden and unexpected, and he had to wait until the next day to take the train up north to the rest of his family. I kept him company for the night and we spent the evening altering between crying and remembering his dad, and laughing at overly intense knife infomercials on TV. Humans have always used humor to cope, and it felt natural for us to go down that route with Wavetale, too.

character shot

At its core, Wavetale deals with some weighty topics: the loss of a daughter and mother, a grandma who buries her grief with work, and a sunken city dealing with the aftermath of war. And amidst all this is Sigrid, a lonely teenage girl who has never known any other life than this—until an old enemy returns and changes everything. But rather than keeping a tight grip on the dark aspects of Sigrid’s experience, we often chose to put them on the sidelines in favor of Grandma making a pun about bananas or Sigrid remembering the time she kept an eel for a pet. Their fears and sorrows always exist in the periphery, but only rarely does it take over entirely.

There were different reasons to go down this path, one of them being gameplay. Wavetale is about movement. A lot of the dialogue in the game takes place as you surf the waves of Strandville, and a complicated conversation about your part in a war of the past just doesn’t come into its own when the player is happily flinging themselves into the air or making a daring dive below the water’s surface. We needed to find ways to convey these feelings and stories without them clashing with the player’s actions.

screenshot

But even outside the more technical reasons, I also find this method to be a helpful tool for making heavy topics approachable. We really wanted to tell a story that felt hopeful. Wavetale was created mostly during a raging pandemic, and maybe our own need for warmth and optimism influenced the work we did. A crisis can drive people apart, but also bring us together in unexpected ways, just like when Sigrid realizes that… well, I leave it to you to play the game and see how things pan out.

Xbox Live

Wavetale

Thunderful


6

$29.99

Explore the open sea and the decaying archipelago of Strandville in Wavetale, a story-driven action-adventure game introducing you to fed-up fishermen, secretive hermits—and maybe a pirate or two. Traverse calm waters and surging waves as Sigrid, a young girl who befriends a mysterious shadow that provides her with the power to walk on water.

Speed through the waves, swing yourself from housetops with your net, and defeat monstrous enemies to save the citizens of the islands. All with a little help from the shadows down below—and your cranky grandmother.

Related:
New Class, More Content, All Black Desert
Designing We Are The Caretakers, Available Now on Xbox
Shieldmaiden Is Available Now for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S

Taste Sweet Victory with Special Edition Xbox Oreo Cookies and Delicious Prizes

When it comes to making the most out of playtime, Xbox knows there’s more to the gaming experience than just what’s onscreen. That’s why we’ve teamed up with Oreo — the world’s number one cookie — to bring a new level of playfulness to Xbox. Featuring six embossed custom cookie designs and both exclusive in-game and real-world prizes, this partnership will let gamers taste victory in the form of Oreo’s beloved cookie-and-creme combo. 

For the first time ever in 22 countries, Oreo will be releasing special edition packs with multiple new cookie designs, bringing together the iconography of Xbox with the deliciousness of Oreo. These limited-edition cookies will bear the Xbox logo, as well as the iconic A, B, X, and Y controller buttons alongside a directional arrow. By scanning the Oreo Xbox Special Edition cookies and by cracking exclusive cookie combinations, inspired by the cheat codes hidden in games throughout history, fans can unlock a range of prizes. 

Entering the baked-in symbols in the correct sequence can unlock exciting, exclusive Oreo-themed in-game content, such as armor packs and vehicle skins for popular titles like Forza Horizon 5, Sea of Thieves, and Halo Infinite. Additionally, participants will be entered into the draw to win prizes ranging from custom Oreo hardware, Xbox consoles, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate memberships, and a holiday experience for the whole family, subject to regional availability.  

Oreo Xbox Special Edition cookies will be available from January 2023 at locations in participating countries, available whilst stocks last. Fans looking to participate in the fun can visit oreo.eu or join in on the conversation using #UnlockPlayfulness on your preferred social channels. 

Related:
Power Your Adventure with the Xbox Series X and Forza Horizon 5 Premium Edition Bundle
Unearth Past Secrets in ‘The Rogue’s Legacy’, Sea of Thieves’ Tenth Adventure, Live Until December 22!
Fight for Your Faction in Sea of Thieves Season Eight

Designing We Are The Caretakers, Out This Week on Xbox

Hey there — I’m Scott, Design Director at Heart Shaped Games, and I’ve been given the opportunity to share a bit about the unique design process behind our new sci-fi grand strategy RPG, We Are The Caretakers. A lot went into creating the game over its 4+ years in development, but I’d like to focus on how our design team discovered fun and novel new strategy gameplay mechanics from a very unlikely source: the poaching of endangered animals and real-world animal conservation work.

characters

Inspirations and Ideation

I’ve always wanted to make a grand strategy game with a large roster of characters to organize and upgrade, similar to games like Xcom, Darkest Dungeon, or my personal all-time favorite, the classic Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen. I had worked on concepts and prototypes in the grand strategy genre for many years prior, but finally found the right time to revisit those designs after our team was approached about making a game about the tracking and management of wildlife poachers.

character

At first this seemed like an odd topic to build a game around, but after spending time with actual researchers and rangers working in the field to protect endangered animals, we came away inspired. Their incredible work led us down a path of discovery about the realities of human-animal conflicts and animal conservation. Rangers work in small teams, with limited resources, tracking animals and poachers that move in unpredictable patterns across gigantic spaces. That unique management challenge translated into interesting gameplay decisions, and mapped perfectly to the squad-building and large roster management RPGs we loved. We quickly realized we had something innovative and special on our hands and got to work.

Bending Genres and Creating New Gameplay

Our solution to translating that research into a game was to blend a variety of game genres that each emulated an important aspect of protecting wildlife. We designed a Caretaker headquarters where you organize your hundreds of recruited characters into squads, deal with detained poachers, and upgrade your technology before heading out into the field. We created a real-time-with-pause map exploration system, where you deploy your squads to search for poacher activity. And we created a turn-based combat system to resolve meetings between your squads and poacher teams, giving you diplomatic options in addition to traditional JRPG-like abilities.

battlefield

By giving players actions to take at the macro and micro levels over the course of our 30+ mission campaign, they get to experience what it is like piecing together an organization and that can fight back.

Building a World

While the gameplay design was a long discovery process, we put an equal amount of effort into creating an exciting world and style that matched the gameplay. Art Director Anthony “robotpencil” Jones found inspiration in Afrofuturist works such as Black Panther for the environment and character designs; Composer Jon Parra infused a striking orchestral score with inspirations from rap beats; and Narrative designer Xalavier Nelson, Jr. heightened the real-world stories with the addition of alien close-encounters and a post-apocalyptic planetary redemption story.

landscape

Lessons Learned

The biggest lesson learned making We Are The Caretakers was that looking outside of traditional genres and gameplay tropes is the path to new and original ideas. By bringing in collaborators from outside of the games industry and building a diverse development team, we ensured we had a variety of perspectives that could find the right solution and create something exciting and fresh for our players. Working with the team at Heart Shaped Games on We Are The Caretakers has been one of my greatest professional joys, and I hope it shows in the final game you’ll get to play.

The team

We hope you enjoy We Are The Caretakers as much as we do. It’s available for pre-order today and launches on Friday, January 6th! Your purchase also supports the folks that inspired the game, with 10% of net revenue from the game being given to Wildlife Conservation Network’s Rhino Recovery Fund.

Xbox Live

We Are The Caretakers

Heart Shaped Games LLC


1


$19.99

$17.99

We Are The Caretakers is an afrofuturist squad management RPG. Assemble an arcane team of protectors in squad-building systems inspired by Darkest Dungeon, Ogre Battle, and XCOM. Defend the endangered animals your world relies on in strategic turn-based combat. Define your approach to a global resistance by balancing your reputation, funds, research, animals and alliances. We Are The Caretakers is a challenging strategy RPG fusion that asks you to protect a planet by fighting for the people, animals and ecosystems that inhabit it.

Related:
Shieldmaiden Is Available Now for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S
Hyper Gunsport, One of the Oldest ID@Xbox Games, is Finally Available!
Norway Reserve is Available Now in Call of the Wild: The Angler

Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 9 to 13

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!


Children of Silentown - January 11 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Children of Silentown – January 11 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A dark adventure game that tells the story of Lucy, a girl growing up in a village deep in a forest inhabited by monsters. People disappearing is nothing uncommon here, but this time, Lucy is old enough to investigate on her own. Or so she thinks…

Breakers Collection – January 12 - Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Breakers Collection – January 12 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Featuring both of the original games (Breakers and Breakers Revenge) and new content for the cult-classic that was first released in 1996 for the Neo Geo and arcades.  Featuring modes like the classic Versus mode either locally or online, Arcade mode, Ranked battles, art gallery, and more.

Chasing Static – January 12 - Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Chasing Static – January 12 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Inspired by ‘80s sci-fi horror and contemporary surrealist cinema, Chasing Static delivers a unique take on the narrative adventure genre through new audio driven gameplay mechanics and non-linear exploration.

NEScape! – January 13

NEScape! – January 13

It’s you against the clock in an intense race to escape the room before time runs out! Do you have the mental fortitude to assemble the clues and connect the dots so that you might overcome the challenges and see what lies on the other side of the door? NEScape! combines the look and feel of an 8-bit retro game with the modern-day elements of escape rooms.

One Piece Odyssey – January 13

One Piece Odyssey – January 13

A new RPG for Xbox Series X|S from the hugely popular manga and anime series. The famed pirate Monkey.D.Luffy and his Straw Hat Crew are sailing across the New World in search of the next island and the next adventure that awaits them. But during their voyage they are caught in a storm and shipwrecked. Washed up on a lush tropical island and surrounded by raging storms and separated from his crew, Luffy sets off on a grand, new adventure to find his friends and escape the island! Also available is the One Piece Odyssey Deluxe Edition.

UnderDungeon – January 13

UnderDungeon – January 13

Become the deadliest delivery… cat in the world. Intense fights, multiple weapons, and demanding boss fights. Join Kimuto on his hardest first day on the job in a fantasy world that lets you fight in a variety of ways — magical bubbles, a boomerang cannon, and a classic longsword can go a long way in this foreign land.


Related:
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 12 to 16
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 5 to 9
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for November 14 to 18

Take High on Life, Forza Horizon 5, and More on the Go with Xbox Cloud Gaming for the New Razer Edge 

Razer’s new handheld console will let you play Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games on the go, and you can pre-order today.

Launching on January 26, you’ll be able to play Forza Horizon 5, Vampire Survivors, and hundreds of other games on the go with Xbox Cloud Gaming on the all-new Razer Edge 5G Handheld Gaming Device, available for pre-order today. 

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate puts your games right on the devices most convenient to you. We’ve heard fantastic stories from the gaming community about playing Microsoft Flight Simulator directly through your Smart TV if you didn’t have a console, or joining your friends in Elder Scrolls Online on a tablet. As we look ahead to making more games available on even more devices, we’re excited to partner with Razer to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to its newest handheld console.  

As the first dedicated 5G handheld console, the Razer Edge lets you access Xbox on the go more seamlessly than ever.

As the first dedicated 5G handheld console, the Razer Edge lets you access Xbox on the go more seamlessly than ever. Whether you’re away from your console and want to keep your Grounded campaign going, or are diving into High on Life for the first time while at a coffee shop, the Razer Edge makes it possible to play what you want, when you want.  

With an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, you can play hundreds of games on a range of devices through Xbox Cloud Gaming, including titles from Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda the day they launch, as well as big hits and indie favorites from our partners. With Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can also play Fortnite via the cloud for free, no Xbox Game Pass membership required.  

For those at CES, you can get hands-on time with the Razer Edge at the Razer booth or Microsoft experience center. And those interested in purchasing a Razer Edge, you can do so here.  

To learn more about Xbox Cloud Gaming, please visit xbox.com/cloudgaming.  

Related:
CES 2023: The New Windows PC Gaming Devices Coming from Our Top Partners 
Free Play Days – Cricket 22, For the King, and Saints Row
New Games with Gold for January 2023