Category: Xbox
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 16 to 20
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!
An enthralling adventure told inside memories. Navigate through the recollections of a quirky cast of characters and mold their destiny.
Wings of Bluestar – January 18
As mankind faces the remnants of a mysterious artificial intelligence, it’s up to trainee pilot Aya and veteran ace Zarak to investigate the resurgent threat against free space. Along the way, these defenders of peace will need to confront their past and learn more about themselves before they can uncover the truth of their enemies.
Graze Counter GM – January 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A refreshing and highly re-playable bullet hell style shooter that pushes you to play dangerously. “Graze” past enemy bullets to charge your Graze Counter, then unleash it upon your enemies as a highly deadly attack! Ride the razor’s edge of life and death in this high-risk high-reward danger-oriented arcade style shooting game.
Persona 3 Portable – January 19
Smart Delivery / Game Pass
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! Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.
Persona 4 Golden – January 19
Smart Delivery / Game Pass
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. Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.
A Space for the Unbound – January 19
A slice-of-life adventure game with beautiful pixel art set in the late ‘90s rural Indonesia that tells a story about overcoming anxiety, depression, and the relationship between a boy and a girl with supernatural powers. When a mysterious supernatural power is suddenly unleashed threatening their existence, they must explore and investigate their town to uncover hidden secrets, face the end of the world, and perhaps learn more about each other.
Tortuga – A Pirate’s Tale – January 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Raid and voyage in the Caribbean; engage in tactical naval battles; parley with pirate legends, and more in Tortuga – A Pirate’s Tale. Being a pirate is not your fault, but it is your responsibility! Take action to relieve the Spanish, Dutch, French, and English colonies from their burden of drowning in riches. But be wary! Unless you are sure you are the biggest fish in the sea, don’t venture out too early or too far from your trusted hometown port.
Monster Hunter Rise – January 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Game Pass
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! Playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.
As the OmegaBot, dodge metallic dangers, acquire powerful weapons, and blast your way through a ravaged world full of deadly machines. Avoid various traps and deadly obstacles by using your weapons and abilities. Make your way through metallic forests, ruins of futuristic cities, and other environments. Step away from the beaten path to find hidden secrets and maybe even new friends who will help you vanquish the curse that has stricken the land.
Related:
Coming to Xbox Game Pass: Monster Hunter Rise, Persona 3 Portable, and Persona 4 Golden
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for January 9 to 13
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for December 12 to 16
Gifts Galore: Celebrating 12 Years of DC Universe Online
Welcome to 2023! Thank you for another bustling year of DC Universe Online on Xbox. Together we fought off Perpetua’s Dark Knights, stormed Neron’s Underworld with Black Adam, and Saved the Universe (literally, again).
Doesn’t ring a bell? Don’t worry. All our storyline content is delivered in free episodes, and you can still jump in right now.
Free Player and Member Gifts
By the way, right now is a very good time to head back to Gotham City and Metropolis because January 11 is the 12th anniversary of DC Universe Online.
To celebrate, all Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players can claim an anniversary gift pack with over $75 worth of items through the end of January. You’ll get the new Batman Ally and CR333 Character Advance which will put your character at the right level to play our 42nd episode, Legion of Doom.
Even better, all our members will receive another gift with over $75 of additional rewards. The member gift includes the Teal Textured Polymer Chroma Pack, a box full of Artifact XP, Catalysts, and Seals, and 12 Stabilizers – one for every year of DC Universe Online.
Not yet a member? Become one today and claim these items by January 31, 2023.
Anniversary Event Returns
The Attack of the Anti-Monitor event returns this year with new items. We particularly recommend checking out the updated Fate’s Faith gear suit and the Source Wall-inspired base items and boss statues. Head over to Anti-Matter Metropolis to test your skills in the Speed Force Flux raid alongside The Flash and Professor Zoom. Will you be able to send the Anti-Monitor forward another year into the future?
We hope so, because 2023 is shaping up to bring in three new episodes, plus all-new allies, artifacts, an emotes system, and that’s just what we can share right now. Make sure to follow our social channels to stay up to date with everything headed your way.
Download and Play Free Today
DC Universe Online is free to play for all Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S players. All episodes are free to access for everyone, so you can play alongside your friends no matter the content. Once you start the game, choose your morality, mentor, and powers to use in battle. Then create and customize your unique character to begin your adventures in the iconic DC universe!
For additional content details and guides to get started in DCUO, please visit us at DCUniverseOnline.com.
DC Universe Online
Daybreak Game Company, LLC
Jump in and explore the DC Universe; walk the darkened streets of Gotham City, investigate the mysteries of the futuristic cityscape of Metropolis, and travel to legendary locations such as Arkham Asylum and the Watchtower.
The Xbox One version of DC Universe Online includes the following:
– Xbox One Exclusive items: Powered-Up Character Emblem + Powered-Up Cape + Vapor Aura!
Become a part of our thriving community at DCUniverseOnline.com!
Please note the download is around 35GB and could take several hours, but it’s worth the wait!
Bandwidth requirements may exceed 192 Kb.
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Free Play Days – I Am Fish
Dive into a physics-based fishy adventure this weekend during Free Play Days. I am Fish is available this weekend for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play from Thursday, January 12 at 12:01 a.m. PDT until Sunday, January 15 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
How to Start Playing
Find and install the games on each of the individual game details page on Xbox.com. Clicking through will send you to the Microsoft Store, where you must be signed in to see the option to install with your Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership. To download on console, click on the Subscriptions tab in the Xbox Store and enter the Gold member area to locate the Free Play Days collection on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Keep the Fun Going
Purchase the game and other editions at a limited time discount and continue playing while keeping your Gamerscore and earned achievements during the event! Please note that discounts and percentages may vary by title and region.
Game Details
- I am Fish
- Standard Edition
($19.99 SRP)at 65% off: $6.99 (Free Play Days)
- Standard Edition
I am Fish
I am Fish is a charming, physics-based adventure starring four intrepid fish friends, forcibly separated from their home in a pet shop fish tank. Over the course of the game, you join them as they swim, fly, roll, and chomp their way to the open ocean from the far-flung corners of Barnardshire (the smallest county in England) in their bid for freedom and to re-unite once again.
Don’t miss out on this exciting Free Play Days for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member! Learn more about Free Play Days here and stay tuned to Xbox Wire to find out about future Free Play Days and all the latest Xbox gaming news.
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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.
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.
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
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.
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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.
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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.
ONE PIECE ODYSSEY
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
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.
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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 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.
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!
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!
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Summary
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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.
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.
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.
Wavetale
Thunderful
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.
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