The wait is over! We’re thrilled to unveil the Cipher Series for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, with Xbox Design Lab. This collection taps into the nostalgia of classic tech designs with six stunning transparent top cases, letting you relive the magic of seeing the inner workings of your favorite gadgets—while adding a modern twist. Alongside the Cipher Series, we’re also introducing two vibrant chromatic D-pad and paddle designs in Sunset Chroma and Energy Chroma, bringing fresh style to the Elite Series 2 controller. And to elevate the retro-modern aesthetic, we’re excited to announce the Xbox Wireless Controller Special Edition – Ghost Cipher, a follow-up to the fan-favorite Sky Cipher.

With its transparent casing and metallic silver details, the Cipher Series lets you look inside the controller, capturing the spirit of those iconic see-through devices that tech enthusiasts still fondly remember—now making a bold comeback for a new generation of players.

Drawing inspiration from the iconic translucent tech of the ’90s and early 2000s, the Cipher Series brings six stunning transparent top case designs to Xbox Design Lab. These vibrant, candy-colored top cases encapsulate the controller’s metallic frame, showcasing both its external beauty and the advanced engineering within the Elite Series 2 controller.

Each color tells a unique story: Ghost Cipher strips away all color to reveal a fully transparent top case, offering a clear view of the controller’s inner workings; Velocity Cipher pays homage to the iconic Xbox green, made transparent to expose the energized world inside; Astral Cipher captures the mysteries of deep space with a rich, regal shade of purple; Surf Cipher channels the energy of ocean waves with its transparent blue; Candy Cipher offers a dreamy, sweet vision with a playful pink top case; and Pulse Cipher embodies passion and power with a striking transparent red.

In addition to the Cipher Series, two new chromatic D-pad and paddle designs—Energy Chroma and Sunset Chroma—introduce a dynamic spectrum of color. These metallic finishes blend hues to create a hypnotic gradient that shifts depending on the angle, adding a sci-fi, jewelry-like feel to your controller. Energy Chroma starts with the signature Xbox green and fades into blues, yellows, and magenta accents, while Sunset Chroma evokes a warm, summery glow with its transition from yellow to bright pink.

These new designs don’t just look great, they’re built around the most advanced controller Xbox has to offer. With rubberized diamond grips, adjustable-tension thumbsticks, and shorter hair trigger locks, the Elite Series 2 controller ensures performance tailored to your playstyle. And with Xbox Design Lab, you can add extra thumbsticks, D-pads, paddles, and complimentary 3D printable files to 3D print for adaptive thumbstick toppers to make your controller as personalized and comfortable as possible.

The Cipher Series for the Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Chromatic D-pad and paddle designs are available to purchase now in select Xbox markets. Visit Xbox Design Lab for additional information.

Alongside these new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 top cases, we’re also excited to announce the release of our latest special edition: Xbox Wireless Controller – Ghost Cipher. This controller features grey and bronze accents and a clear top case, revealing silver interior parts including a rumble pack in the side grips. Its rubberized back grips and bronze metallic D-pad and triggers offer both style and performance, perfect for players who appreciate a refined, sophisticated design.

The Ghost Cipher Special Edition controller comes with all your favorite features. Seamlessly connect to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, iOS, and Android devices via Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth technology (see xbox.com/controller-compatibility for more details) and enjoy up to 40 hours of battery life (varies with usage and other factors). Utilize the 3.5mm audio jack to plug in your favorite compatible headset, perfect for listening to your game or chatting with friends. Share your gaming moments effortlessly with the dedicated share button, and customize your experience with the Xbox Accessories app, giving you endless potential to elevate your play.

The Xbox Wireless Controller – Ghost Cipher Special Edition is available for pre-order today in select Xbox markets worldwide for $69.99 USD ERP. Visit Xbox.com or your local retailer, including Microsoft Store, for more information.

Hullo Hobbits! Exciting news: Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game will launch for Xbox Series X|S on March 25, 2025. In this coy life-sim, you create your very own Hobbit to experience the quiet life in the Shire. Based upon the legendary book series by J.R.R. Tolkien, Tales of the Shire ventures to take the path less travelled by providing a rich story with a focus on food, fellowship, and good neighbours.

In the world of Middle-earth, Hobbits are a kind, modest group. They are fond of cooking, comfort, and community. While there have been many tales of bold adventurers outside the confines of the Shire, our game takes a small step back to focus on the relaxing day-to-day activities of these hairy-footed people. Isn’t it time you took a moment to bask in the summer sun, settle by a babbling brook, and relax over a home-cooked meal with a couple good friends? We thought so, too.

To gather around the table, you must first create your own Hobbit, with a variety of very Hobbit-esque choices: face shape, personality, hair-foot style, etc. After character creation, your story begins in Bywater.

This small, growing community is home to a delightful cast of residents, who will request your aid in placing Bywater on the Shire’s map as an official village. A familiar grey bearded steward kindly drops you off at your new home, and, from here, you’ll complete tasks for the many townsfolk. As the name suggests, Tales of the Shire is full of many stories!

There are many Hobbit characters (and even a few non-Hobbits) to meet and help. Perhaps your neighbour needs help mending a fence. Or the elderly Hobbit down the lane asks you to satiate their appetite with a homemade pie. Pay attention as many of the characters come from well-known families such as “Brandybuck”, “Cotton” or “Took.” Completing a task for a character grows your friendship. A big part of just being a Hobbit is building bonds with your neighbours! Through these connections and conversations, you will learn the individual likes, quirks, and tastes of the characters of Bywater.  

This knowledge is very helpful when, inevitably, you host a dinner party. Perhaps you’re aware that Marigold, the chatty innkeeper of the Ivy Bush Inn, is fond of sweet, delicious dishes. And, over time, you’ve built a strong friendship with Orlo, the mail carrier of the town. You may discover he’s partial to some fragrant herbs in his dishes. To make a memorable evening for both your friends, you must balance their palates when creating dishes in your kitchen. Impress your guests and they might help you learn more skills or share secret locations only the locals would know.

To make all these delicious meals, you’ll need a bunch of produce. Forage the fields and forests with Delphi, Bywater’s passionate herbalist, and learn where to find mushrooms, berries, and wild grown herbs. Learn how to harvest wild honey or raise chickens with the help of the Cotton family, all providing marvellous ingredients to fill your colourful pantry. Plant a wild country garden with seasonal vegetables and fruits, and customize it with trinkets, decorations, and furniture. You carry out these relaxing activities, and more, at your own pace.

If you’ve perhaps forgotten to plant enough carrots or beans, don’t worry – down in the market, Farmer Cotton and Young Tom Cotton sell an overflow of produce and meats, Sandyman the Miller can be coaxed into making another order of flour, and cantankerous Old Noakes (who has a secret heart of gold) will show you the best spots to find fish. Traders who visit far off lands can offer interesting spices and unusual items not often found in the Shire – only for the experienced home cook looking to expand their repertoire!

Surprise your fellow Hobbits with their favourite dishes, and they’ll likely give you something in return – or expand their available wares for their special customers! Trading is a huge part of the community culture, and a well thought out meal will always invite a gift in return. Hobbits love gifts, and as you embed yourself further in the community, you’ll find yourself overflowing with beautiful items to decorate your home and garden with.

If you’d prefer some shopping, the Burrows’ General Store is always stocked with the finest of Hobbit garments for you to customise your look. Willow, the local builder, is always happy to help you renovate and expand the home – with the help of her precocious daughter, Daisy!

After a peaceful day pottering about the Shire, cosy up in your Hobbit-sized bed for a good night’s sleep. Life moves slowly, but there’s always much to do and see tomorrow!

In the end, there are so many bonds to build in Tales of the Shire and so much to do. While we touch on a few aspects here, stay tuned for more news, details on other game features, and more. We hope you join us for your own Hobbit adventure in Bywater on March 25, 2025. See you then!

Tomorrow’s launch of Beyond Galaxyland marks the end of a personal journey that’s far older than the six years it’s taken me to develop the game itself. In fact, my fascination and love for the turn-based RPG genre started way back in the late 1990s, with one game in particular: Square’s iconic Chrono Trigger.

I have very fond memories of growing up and watching my cousins play the game on their consoles; it helped break new ground and – alongside a small number of its contemporaries – set the foundations for the genre for years to come. So I knew when I was developing Beyond Galaxyland that it was important I understood what made that game so special to me 20 years previously.

Firstly, it has a great story… who doesn’t want to experience a fantasy time-travelling adventure to stop the end of the world? And secondly, it has impeccable pacing – despite being a turn-based RPG, a genre typically known for extended campaign lengths, Chrono Trigger is just 15 hours long. It also has a depth behind its apparent simplicity and shows that more doesn’t always equal a better experience for players.

These two pillars were critical and inspiring to me. I knew I wanted to tell a grand and epic story, while also ensuring Beyond Galaxyland had a pacing similar to my favourite game, while perhaps making the runtime closer to that of a movie (or limited TV series).

It’s why the story of Beyond Galaxyland is arranged into two distinct parts: the story that occurs before our hero – high schooler Doug – and his newly formed party of pals return to [redacted] and battle [more redaction], and after, when the story sees them take the fight to [even more redaction] in a valiant attempt to save Earth. (You didn’t think I’d spoil some of the key story elements of the game in this post, did you?)

Turn-based RPGs lend themselves so perfectly to stories of this nature. In addition to the RPG classics of the mid-to-late-1990s, I was influenced by some classic TV shows and movies: Alien, Aliens, Star Wars, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy… Actually, this list could go on and on. While I wanted it to feel epic and cinematic, mixing light-hearted humour with serious moments and themes, I simultaneously wanted to ensure Beyond Galaxyland was pacey: as such, it’s a game with no filler, level grinding, or artificially extended storylines.

Another childhood favourite that went on to inspire me is the original Final Fantasy VII, which I think gets its battle pacing so, so right: the combat in the game is quick, snappy, and rewarding. It’s something I’ve tried to pay homage to in Beyond Galaxyland, all the while adding my own spin on things. Beyond Galaxyland has an active battle system that requires players to press the attack button with every strike against enemies, as well as the need to time their defence when under attack themselves. It’s also why players have the ability to capture and then unleash any of the creatures collected during the adventure (including some of the 25 bosses strewn across the zoo-like collection of planets that make up Galaxyland itself) against their opponents.

Most of all, I hope Beyond Galaxyland doesn’t just feel like a nostalgic experience for players. When I set out to make it, I wanted to push the boundaries of this genre in ways it might have developed if more people had seen in Chrono Trigger what I saw, back at my cousins’ house over 25 years ago: Beyond Galaxyland is fast-paced and compact (for the genre), and avoids grinding gameplay. It also combines gameplay from other genres, including puzzles and platforming, photography, and even retro-style racing!

Don’t get me wrong, I do want this game to also feel nostalgic for those who fell in love with those classic games just as I did. It’s a bit of a contradiction, but I hope Beyond Galaxyland feels both familiar and also new, innovating within the confines of this classic genre. Most of all, I just hope it transports players to another world as all those games did for me.

Beyond Galaxyland

United Label

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$17.99

$14.39

Pre-order

Inspired by classic sci-fi movies, Beyond Galaxyland is an intergalactic, 2.5D adventure-RPG set among the stars. Step into the sneakers of high-schooler Doug, as he’s whisked away to ‘Galaxyland’ – a zoo-like solar system of planets – on an epic quest to save Earth itself.

An all-new take on the beloved RPG adventures of old, prepare for a journey like no other, skyrocketing through teeming jungles, neon-lit cities, and cybernetic casinos, with each new planet brimming with intriguing characters, fiendish adversaries, and many other surprises.

Accompanied by Doug’s pet guinea pig – the pistol-wielding Boom Boom – and a sentient robot called MartyBot, together you must defend the world against an all-powerful entity known only as ‘The End’, before it conquers the Universe itself…

No pressure.

A Bold New Take on the Classic Sci-Fi Caper!
Experience firsthand all the thrills and spills of a retro sci-fi adventure, in an all-new take on the fish-out-of-water tale that sticks you right in the centre of the action! Laughter, loss, peril and friendship, Beyond Galaxyland has it all and then some, dipped in a dazzling layer of neon-tastic pixels.

Explore a Solar System of Extraordinary Worlds
From the blizzard-swept planes of Arcos to the tropical jungle ravines of Erros, the neon-buzzing cities of Neo to the arid sand dunes of Xalm, explore a cosmic cluster of unique worlds, each with its own quests, environmental puzzles, and out-of-this-world characters.

Overcome Cosmic Foes in Tactical Turn-Based Combat
Engage in strategic turn-based battles against a vast range of galactic nemeses, with time-responsive defensive gameplay to minimise damage. Each party member has a range of unique abilities at their disposal, but for an additional tactical advantage, sneakily scan your enemy pre-battle to discover their strengths and weaknesses.

Experience Epic Boss Battles
Each planet boasts its own distinct perils, but none more so than the epic bosses you’ll encounter throughout your extraterrestrial travels, including colossal space dragons, flesh eating flowers, and the all-knowing bionic behemoth that is Mother Brain.

Capture Enemies to Use in Battle
Successfully capture the many weird and wonderful creatures you encounter, to later unleash them in battle, with each possessing a number of exclusive abilities. Will you acquire every last one?

In the corridors of 11 Bit Studios, there’s an old saying: the hardest challenge for a band is recording a second album that surpasses the debut. This sentiment echoed through our minds when thinking about a sequel to Frostpunk. The first game was designed not necessarily to be followed by a direct sequel but to establish a world that could host different kinds of games. And yet, here we are, more than six years later, on the eve of Frostpunk 2’s launch on Windows PC and PC Game Pass.

Creating something new always comes from a desire to say something fresh—whether it’s a new idea, a new story, or an innovative gameplay experience. The challenge for us was to ensure we had something meaningful to say about life in a post-apocalyptic city that would resonate just as deeply as the first game, but on a much larger and more evolved scale. We wanted to explore new aspects of human survival that felt both familiar and entirely new, delivering a true and creatively necessary sequel.

It didn’t feel right to simply have players survive a harsher winter or a more violent storm. That wouldn’t push the boundaries or fulfil our ambitions. By late 2019, the vision for Frostpunk 2 had begun to take shape, taking a significant step beyond basic survival. A 30-year leap forward, in fact—because that’s how much time has passed between the first and second games. While the original Frostpunk was all about keeping a single city alive and holding onto hope in an all-freezing world of despair, the sequel treats society itself like a fluid. Humanity has tamed the frost, and now it’s time to grapple with ideologies and visions of the future.

As the newly elected Steward, replacing the deceased Captain, it’s the player’s role to manage this fluid society—a society that can flow, boil, or even ignite. Players must navigate the needs of factions, knowing when to push for votes, even if it means becoming entangled in a web of conflicting promises. Sometimes, it’s better to step back, letting the whims of delegates play out, and observe the consequences. Frostpunk 2 is not about authoritarian rule, but about political and ideological conflict.

The “society survival” aspect of the first game is elevated in Frostpunk 2. To truly feel the weight of long-term decisions, we’ve scaled up the game. Instead of days, weeks and months pass. Instead of constructing individual buildings, you’ll be building entire districts. The societal impact is also more profound in Utopia Builder mode, which is similar to the Endless mode from the original game. Here, players can freely develop their cities and societies, unhindered by the narrative constraints of the campaign.

And for those eager to take their creativity further, we’re introducing mod support with our Frostkit tool. Starting in beta, it will eventually allow players to modify nearly every aspect of the game—from maps and models to entire scenarios. With all of this, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome players back to the frozen world of Frostpunk 2, launching today for Windows PC, with Game Pass.

Frostpunk 2

11 bit studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Frostpunk 2 elevates the city-survival genre to a new level. Take the role of a Steward and lead your city through a cascade of calamities taking place in a postapocalyptic, snowy setting. Build large city districts with their string of endless needs and demands. Navigate through conflicting interests of factions that populate your metropolis. As the needs of the city grow and factional power at its core rises, only you can steer the society towards an uncertain future.

The city grows
The world is overtaken by an ever present winter, which makes expansion of the city the only way for the survival of mankind. In order to grow, the metropolis needs resources like coal and oil, just like its citizens require food and warmth. In Frostpunk 2, it’s your job to tackle this never ending circle of supply and demand.

City districts
Your city is divided into zones serving different purposes, such as housing or extraction. It’s up to you to build new ones and make sure that those already existing work in perfect unison.

Special buildings
In time, you will have to build places like City Hall or Research Institute. Inside these buildings, you will put forth laws and projects to ensure that your city develops in the proper direction.

Colonies
To ensure that your city growth will not falter, you have to venture into the frostland. There, you can build extensive colonies that will provide all the necessary resources.

Perlis of human nature
The number of your citizens steadily grows, making the task of governing them and satisfying their demands all the more challenging. As the Steward you will have to maneuver carefully across the interests of many groups inhabiting the city.

New Londoners
Your citizens can form communities and factions, each with different ideas for the city’s future. In the Council Hall you’ll put forth laws and negotiate them with the faction’s delegates.

Council Hall
Support of every faction inside the Council Hall costs dearly, as one’s faction ascension breeds discontent among others. That means you have to carefully think through every alliance.

Towards progress
The Research Institute is where you forge the city’s future. Each new project must be entrusted to a faction, forcing you to maneuver and form strategic alliances.

Factions
People of your city want to have a voice in how you run things. Each faction has its own ideology and ideas for the future, yet they also have one thing in common – insatiable thirst for power. Choose your allies in the Council Hall wisely.

Story Mode and Utopia Builder
The story of Frostpunk 2 introduces a multi-chapter saga set in the frozen wastes. Spanning across the life of the Steward this campaign lets you feel the burden of leadership as you take the responsibility for thousands of lives. At the same time, the sandbox mode called Utopia Builder with infinite play time leaves you room for boundless social and infrastructural experiments.

EA Sports FC 25

Get ready for nail-biting championship moments with EA Sports FC 25. EA Play* members can kick off a 10-hour trial of the game today – seven days ahead of the game’s launch – and experience more ways to win for their club in the most authentic EA SPORTS football game ever.

EA Sports FC 25 brings an unrivaled level of authenticity, brought to life through a roster of players from the biggest clubs and leagues from around the world. Members can team up with friends in their favorite modes with the new 5v5 Rush, and manage their club to victory as FC IQ delivers more tactical control than ever before.  In addition, the game’s new formats of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League will all feature in the game’s Career and Tournament modes, bringing a fresh game experience to players.

Alongside early access, EA Play members can also secure special in-game EA Sports FC 25 rewards, including the EA Play Welcome Pack (available until October 31) where members can find their new star player, Football Ultimate Team Draft Tokens and seasonal club rewards like the Clubs Teamwork Protective Glasses.

EA Sports NHL 25

The benefits continue for EA Play members as they move from the pitch to the ice! Starting September 27, EA Play members will be able to control every inch of the ice in EA Sports NHL 25 with a 10-hour trial, days ahead of the game’s launch.

September Rewards

In addition to early access to EA Sports FC 25 and EA Sports NHL 25, EA Play has something for every type of gamer. A full list of all the great content to EA Play this month can be found below:

• Apex Legends Bright Idea Weapon Charm – Now to September 30
• Battlefield 2042 Cobalt Protector – Now to September 24
• EA Sports F1 24 5000 XP Boost – Now to September 30
• EA Sports College Football 25 Loyalist Ultimate Team September Pack – Now to September 30
• Madden NFL 24 MUT September Pack – Now to September 30
• EA Sports FC 25 Clubs Teamwork Protective Glasses – Now to October 31
• EA Sports FC 25 EA Play Welcome Pack– Now to October 31
• EA Sports FC 25 Ultimate Team Draft Token – Now to October 14

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass PC members receive EA Play with their Game Pass subscription. Members can experience the world of EA with unlimited access to a collection of top titles, trials of select new games, in-game member rewards and more.

Members can unlock the thrill of their next favorite game with up to 10-hour trials of EA’s latest titles such as EA Sports Madden NFL 25, EA Sports College Football 25, F1 24, EA Sports WRC and the upcoming EA Sports FC 25 and EA Sports NHL 25, in addition to access to an unrivalled collection of EA’s best-loved series and top titles, including Madden NFL 24, EA Sports FC 24 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

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

*Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See https://tos.ea.com/legalapp/eaplay/US/en/PC/ for details