Avowed Arrives February 18 – Pre-order the Premium Edition to Start Your Adventure Early 

Avowed Arrives February 18 – Pre-order the Premium Edition to Start Your Adventure Early 

Avowed Pre-Order Hero Image

Summary

  • Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming fantasy RPG, launches on February 18, 2025, with pre-orders beginning today for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows, Battle.net, and Steam, or play it on day one with Game Pass.
  • The Premium Edition offers up to five days early access, two premium skin packs, and access to the Avowed Digital Artbook & Soundtrack.
  • Customize your experience with various accessibility options, including a third-person view, remappable controls, and adjustable text sizes.

We’re just a few months away from the launch of Obsidian Entertainment’s first-person fantasy RPG, Avowed, and everyone at the studio couldn’t be more thrilled to invite players to experience the mystery and allure of the Living Lands.

Arriving on February 18, 2025, Avowed brings you to a previously unseen region from the unforgettable world of Eora, first introduced in the award-winning Pillars of Eternity. In your role as envoy, alongside your companions, you’ll uncover hidden truths and navigate delicate situations, where every choice shapes the fate of the land and the people living here.

Avowed Screenshot

Eager to start your adventure early? Great news—pre-order the Avowed Premium Edition on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows, Battle.net, or Steam, and you’ll get up to five days early access starting on February 13. To explore and try new ways to meet players where they are, Avowed will also be made available for pre-order and purchase on Battle.net, Blizzard’s PC platform.

In addition, players with a Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass membership will be able to play Avowed on Battle.net by linking their Xbox and Battle.net accounts. Whether you’re playing on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows, Battle.net, Steam, cloud, or on day one with Xbox Game Pass, get ready to dive into a world where you play your way.

Choose Your Edition

Avowed offers two digital editions and one physical edition:

  • Avowed Digital Standard Edition – $69.99 (or play it on day one with Xbox Game Pass)
    • Base Game
Avowed Digital Premium Edition Screenshot
  • Avowed Digital Premium Edition – $89.99
    • Base Game
    • Up to five days Early Access
    • Two Premium Skin Packs
    • Access to Digital Artbook & Soundtrack
Avowed Premium Edition SteelBook Screenshot
  • Avowed Premium Edition SteelBook – $94.99
    • Base Game Digital Code
    • Up to five days Early Access
    • Two Premium Skin Packs
    • Access to Digital Artbook & Soundtrack
    • Avowed SteelBook
    • Map of the Living Lands

If you purchase the Standard Edition or are playing with Xbox Game Pass and then later decide you want the Premium Edition, you can upgrade at any time for $24.99. You’ll receive all the digital extra content, including up to five days early access and digital bonuses.

Behind-the-Scenes with the Digital Artbook & Soundtrack

One of the highlights of the Premium Edition is the Avowed Digital Artbook & Soundtrack, where you’ll be able to dive deeper into the world of Avowed with behind-the-scenes artwork from the team and music by composer Venus Theory. These extras are perfect for fans of the Pillars of Eternity franchise and newcomers looking to fully immerse themselves in the lore and soundscapes of the Living Lands.

Exclusive Skins for You and Your Companions

The Premium Edition includes two cosmetic skin packs: the Eora Collection Set and the Obsidian Collection Set. Each pack includes five skins—one for each of the game’s four companions and one for your player character.

  • Eora Collection Set: Inspired by beloved characters and regions from Pillars of Eternity, a perfect throwback to the original games.
  • Obsidian Collection Set: Sleek, black outfits that bring a stylish look to your companions, inspired by our very own studio.

Accessibility Features for All Players

Avowed Screenshot

Avowed offers a variety of accessibility features to make the game enjoyable for all players. In addition, a third-person mode option is available through the accessibility menu, which helps those who may need it to enjoy the game from a different perspective, enhancing both comfort and gameplay. Some key accessibility options include:

  • UI & Camera: Customize field of view, disable camera shake, toggle head bobbing, adjust camera sway.
  • Text & Subtitles: Adjust UI text size, subtitle text size, and subtitle background opacity for optimal readability.
  • Controls: Fully remappable controls with adjustable sensitivity for all analog inputs, enhancing gameplay comfort.
  • Languages: While all voice acting will be in English, at launch Avowed will be localized in 12 languages, including French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain and Mexico), Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese.

Minimum PC Specs

To play Avowed on PC, make sure your setup meets the following minimum requirements:

  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel i5-8400
  • GPU: AMD RX 5700 / Nvidia GTX 1070 / Intel Arc A580
  • Memory:16GB
  • Storage: SSD required (75GB install size)
  • DirectX: Version 12

Pre-order Now and Secure Your Early Access

Avowed Screenshot

Pre-orders for Avowed are open from today on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows, Battle.net, and Steam. Embark on a thrilling adventure filled with memorable companions, dangerous enemies and situations, and choices that shape the world around you. By pre-ordering the Premium Edition, you’ll be among the first to explore the Living Lands with up to five days early access, starting on February 13.

The countdown to February is on—are you ready to uncover the secrets of Eora? We can’t wait to see where your journey takes you!

Avowed launches February 18, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app on Windows, Battle.net, Steam, and cloud, or play it on day one with Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Play Anywhere

Avowed

Xbox Game Studios

Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.
Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands – an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?

The Weird and Wonderful Living Lands
The Living Lands is a place that feels foreign yet somewhat intrinsic to you as it feels the island itself is calling out to you for help. Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.

Visceral Combat to Play Your Way
Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way. Dig into your grimoire for spells to trap, freeze or burn enemies, bash them with your shield, or use range bows to attack from a distance.

Companions as part of your journey
Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities. From a former mercenary to an eccentric wizard, they will be part of your journey with your choices shaping them as you help them with their quests.

The post Avowed Arrives February 18 – Pre-order the Premium Edition to Start Your Adventure Early  appeared first on Xbox Wire.

This Is an Xbox

This Is an Xbox

This Is an Xbox Hero Image

At Xbox, we’re building a future defined by player choice—where people can play their favorite games, discover new adventures, and connect with friends, wherever and however they love to play.   

We also believe that gaming should be easy to access and available for everyone, so whether you have an Xbox console, play on PC, with Samsung Smart TVs, handhelds, mobile phones, Amazon Fire TV, or a Meta Quest headset with Game Pass Ultimate, you can play with Xbox.  

In fact, you’re probably reading this on an Xbox-enabled device, that can be powered on with the help of Cloud Gaming or the Xbox App for PC.  

And that’s the inspiration for our new ‘This is an Xbox’ campaign. 

This Is an Xbox invites people to play with Xbox across multiple devices and screens. It showcases the evolution of Xbox as a platform that extends across devices, with bold, iconic, fun visuals and a light-hearted tone.  Launching today, the campaign will come to life in a variety of ways.  

This Is an Immersive Takeover  

To truly understand what an Xbox is, it’s equally important to understand what is not an Xbox. To bring this to life, we’ve had some fun and labeled “This is Not an Xbox” on non-Xboxes in unexpected places, while also featuring our “This is an Xbox” campaign visuals across San Francisco, Atlanta, Chicago, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, London, New York, and Berlin to highlight all the devices that are part of Xbox.  

  • This Is an Xbox Image
  • This Is an Xbox Image
  • This Is an Xbox Image

This Is a Video About This Is an Xbox  

Our live action trailer takes you through a player’s journey of experiencing their favorite games across different devices and locations, whether it’s at home or on-the-go. Set to the beat of Black Sheep’s classic, ‘The Choice Is Yours’, it reinforces the idea that whatever device you choose, you’re likely able to play with an Xbox. 

This Is a Partnership  

To further extend This Is an Xbox, we’ve partnered with several brands including Samsung, Crocs™, Porsche, and The Happy Egg Co. (UK) to help bring the campaign to life in unexpected and entertaining ways.   

The Samsung Smart TV experience continues to be an exciting way to play with Xbox, giving Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members easy and instant access to hundreds of high-quality games through the Xbox app from the Samsung Gaming Hub.  Through this campaign, players can not only immerse themselves in their favorite games on Samsung’s platform but also see ‘This is an Xbox’ creative directly on their home screens – and on an even grander scale, coming soon to Times Square. 

This Is an Xbox Time Square Image

This Is an Xbox Gear Shop Collection  

In celebration of this campaign launch, we have a collection of This Is an Xbox merchandise now available in the Xbox Gear Shop – from T-shirts and hoodies to iPhone and Samsung phone cases, and even a sticker sheet so you can proudly label your Xbox(es). 

This Is an Xbox Gear Shop Image

This Is an Invitation 

With a showstopping library of iconic franchises and upcoming games, including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed, and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, the Xbox gaming experience is widely available across a breadth of devices, providing people with the power to choose more ways to play than ever before.   

Take our official This Is an Xbox quiz to find out more about what is (and is not) an Xbox, and how you can boot up your gaming experience from the device of your choice this holiday. 

The post This Is an Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.

What You Need to Know About Final Fantasy XIV Online Patch 7.1: Crossroads – Out Now!

What You Need to Know About Final Fantasy XIV Online Patch 7.1: Crossroads – Out Now!

FFXIV Crossroads Patch Hero Image

Summary

  • The first major patch since the release of Dawntrail.
  • New story, battles, events and more.
  • The first part of highly anticipated Final Fantasy XI crossover raid.

It’s been a few months since we welcomed the Xbox family into the world of Eorzea in the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV Online, and we’ve since seen the fifth expansion, Dawntrail launch to players around the world.

But Eorzea is always growing. This week, we launched the first major patch for Dawntrail, titled Crossroads, which brings with it an awesome number of additions and changes, including the first installment of the hotly anticipated crossover raid with Final Fantasy XI (the original Final Fantasy MMORPG).

Let’s take a look at some of the things included in Patch 7.1 and why this is a great time to head into the world of Eorzea as the Warrior of Light!

FFXIV Screenshot

Main Scenario Quests

If you’ve yet to dive into the land of Tural and experienced Dawntrail, firstly – what are you waiting for? The story of Dawntrail takes twists and turns in fantastic locales and offers the start of a brand-new story arc for FFXIV.

For those of you who have been waiting to discover what is next following the dramatic story of Dawntrail, Patch 7.1 continues this journey. The Warrior of Light and their companions seek to help the people of two worlds move forward, and find that some secrets of the past must be unearthed…

But what if you’re a newer player, keen to experience the game for the first time? Well have no fear, all previous expansion stories are available to you and set the scene for the epic Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga spanning the first 10 years of FFXIV. When you join us in Tural, you’ll be perfectly primed and ready for the next epic saga, which is only just starting to unfold!

Final Fantasy XI Crossover Alliance Raid – Echoes of Vana’diel

After being revealed at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival 2023, the worlds of Hydaelyn and Vana’diel collide in the first installment of the crossover alliance raid series with Final Fantasy XI, the first MMORPG from Square Enix.

FFXIV Screenshot

Even if you’ve never played FFXI before, the raid offers incredible scenery, boss battles and an incredible story to match! Echoes of Vana’diel is the latest Alliance Raid to join FFXIV and will continue to be updated throughout the Dawntrail patch cycle with new story, battles and scenery to explore!

“What is an Alliance Raid?”, I hear you ask. These epic 24-player adventures are multi-part, multi-boss encounters where 3 parties of players band together to take on a variety of foes in different settings, each series having its own story to follow as you face the challenges ahead.

Much, Much More

The world of FFXIV is never short of things to see, stories to tell and places to explore, and Patch 7.1 is no exception, are you a Housing afficionado? How about a dedicated PvP’er or even an intrepid inspector? Well, we have you covered:

  • Housing – Patch 7.1 includes changes to player housing, including the ability to further customize the interior décor with new designs and the ability to choose city state interiors regardless of location
  • Player versus Player – A rework of multiple Crystalline Conflict maps, PvP action changes, and more
  • New Hildibrand Quests – The Hildibrand quests are a long-running side-story in FFXIV, featuring the inimitable Inspector Hildibrand and his entourage. The upcoming Patch 7.15, set for release on Tuesday, December 17 arrives with the latest adventures of our favorite inspector, in a new story sure to intrigue and inspire in equal measure!
FFXIV Screenshot

The release of Patch 7.1, Crossroads, this week is only the start of the Dawntrail journey, with numerous smaller updates scheduled across the end of 2024 and into the new year, each bringing changes and updates that ensures there’s always something to look forward to in FFXIV. For more information and the latest news, please visit the Dawntrail website.

This has been just a small handful of the new things that have arrived with Patch 7.1 this week and we hope you’ll join us as we take the next steps in the journey of the Warrior of Light and Final Fantasy XIV!

FINAL FANTASY XIV Online – Complete Edition

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$59.99

For newcomers to FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, this edition includes the base game (A Realm Reborn) and all expansions through Dawntrail, plus a 30-day free play period*

Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn
Create your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.

Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward
Take your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.

Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood
Journey to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.

Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers
Travel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.

Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker
A great calamity has been building – a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope’s last bastion.

Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail
Blue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope’s light dawns once more.

IMPORTANT:
• *The 30-day free play period included with purchase can only be applied once to each platform on a single service account.
•All editions of the game require user registration. All editions of the game other than the Free Trial require an active paid subscription to play.
•Age restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the User Agreement (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_agreement) and Square Enix Account Terms of Use (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_terms) for the terms and conditions of registration and service. Please visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV website at https://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/ for additional information.
• An active Xbox Game Pass Core or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan is required to play this product.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Online – Free Trial

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Play FINAL FANTASY XIV Online for FREE!

The FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Free Trial includes three award-winning titles – FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn the base game, and the first and second expansions: FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward and FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood.

Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience all the hallmarks of the best-selling franchise – an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of diverse and captivating environments to explore.

Party up with friends or play solo! Experience all the main story dungeons on your own by calling upon NPC allies to fight by your side.

Your journey takes you ever higher in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward:
• Take your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.
• Three additional jobs: channel celestial magicks to heal your allies as the mystical Astrologian. Attack from afar using firearms and mechanical weaponry as the daring Machinist. Wield a mighty greatsword and the power of darkness as the valiant Dark Knight.

Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood:
• Journey to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.
• Two additional jobs: master the balance of martial and arcane arts as the rapier-wielding Red Mage. Draw your katana and let steel sing as the noble Samurai.

IMPORTANT:
• Requires game purchase and on-going subscription to continue playing after the Free Trial.
• All editions of the game require user registration.
• Age restrictions and other terms and conditions apply. Please refer to the User Agreement (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_agreement) and Square Enix Account Terms of Use (https://sqex.to/ffxiv_terms) for the terms and conditions of registration and service. Please visit the FINAL FANTASY XIV website at https://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/ for additional information.

The post What You Need to Know About Final Fantasy XIV Online Patch 7.1: Crossroads – Out Now! appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Indulge in Farm Life With Farming Simulator 25, Out Today

Indulge in Farm Life With Farming Simulator 25, Out Today

Looking at social media comments, many seem confused, irritated, maybe a little scared by the fact that people indulge in virtual agriculture. How could they! And who are they, anyway? If the mere concept has you questioning the appeal of rural busywork, let us enlighten you.

Pour yourself a cup of tea. Add a dash of your favorite energy drink, if you have to. We’ll explain who plays Farming Simulator – and why they love it. Plus, with Farming Simulator 25 launching on Xbox Series X|S today, promising plenty of new updates and improvements – it’s the perfect time to give a virtual farming career a try.

Farming Simulator 25 screenshot

Why Should You Start A Farm?

Take your pick, there are many reasons: relaxation, escapism, self-determination, and generally wholesome entertainment are just the overarching buzzwords – but here’s a few more reasons to kick off your virtual farming career.

  • Adapting to Challenges – From yield improvement and timely management of fields to withstanding seasons and weather events like twisters. You’ll be kept on your feet.
  • Growing the Business – Expand and grow your farm into an agricultural empire with construction projects, production chains, and the logistics to make it efficient.
  • Mastering Agriculture – Farmer’s never stop learning. There’s much for you to explore and experience. You will see tractors driving around with different eyes and maybe even appreciate the food in your fridge a bit more.

Farming Simulator 25 offers plenty of possibilities to live out a farmer’s dream. For aspiring farmers as well as returning agriculturists who find new crops, animals, machine categories and depth of gameplay – from the feeling of sinking into the mud of deformed soil, GPS-based steering for increased automation and efficiency, extended baling-mechanics based on consumable foil types (expert farmers really love it) up to new challenges like weather events, as twisters and hail prompt land owners to prepare.

Farming Simulator 25 screenshot

“Who Even Plays This Stuff?”

Without flexing numbers, we can assure you that a lot of people play Farming Simulator. And we don’t mean those with a knack for ironic entertainment, because “lol, tractors”. Sure, one fan told us he was given the game as a joke. He and his family now own a real farm because he got a bit hooked on the idea and is probably the last one laughing. While you may not be rushing out to purchase your own fertile land just yet, you could find yourself fitting into some of the below archetypes.

  • Kids notoriously like tractors and learn how to potato with Farming Simulator. There is some educational value for everyone. Do you know the difference between a plow, a cultivator, and a subsoiler?
  • Parents can relax and play it with tiny observers present. It might be a nice first bonding-experience over gaming, and appropriate for all ages.
  • Gamers who are into cooperative multiplayer. Building a multi-faceted empire of field operations, production chains, and logistics. Everyone plays a role.
  • Stressed-out people too empty after work to engage in competitive online games where verbal shootouts sadly mock the honor of their female guardians.
  • Everyone looking for satisfaction paired with relaxation. Harvesting a crop that grows in straight rows with an Alien-looking machine just scratches this very particular itch.
  • Farmers. The real ones. The ones harvesting the produce you buy at the supermarket and who are basically feeding the world. We know your next question…
Farming Simulator 25 screenshot

“Why Would Real Farmers Play It After Work?”

Hard to imagine for people who haven’t plowed before, but listen: playing Farming Simulator is not work!

  • Farmers play it because of passion for agriculture. It’s not “just a job” where you feel the need to numb yourself with social media doomscrolling.
  • Farmers love machines, fine-mechanics, and impressive technology. Others enjoy that, too, and might get hooked on the 400+ machines – all authentic and detailed.
  • Farmers can experiment – and so can you. 25 field crops, plus greenhouse crops, various tree species, and an ensemble of animals, now with goats & water buffalos.

The reason is passion. It’s as simple as that. For nature. For plants. For trees. Animals. Machines. And rewarding results. The game allows them to experiment with crops and machinery that they could never grow and operate on their own fields.

It’s hard to grow cotton in small fields somewhere in England, for example. Or buying cattle just so you can have natural, sustainable lawn mowers when you really have a sweet sugar beet farm. With three environments to choose from, North-America, Europe and East Asia, Farming Simulator 25 offers an agricultural variety not only farmers find exciting.

Farming Simulator 25 screenshot

Farming Simulator 25 Out Today

Farming Simulator 25 also features overall enhanced graphics, physics and effects – making this entry of the family-friendly series the most atmospheric and immersive yet.

If that’s not enough for you, we have one of the most active modding communities with user-creations hands-on tested by our developers themselves – available directly in the game.

If you need help starting out, you can visit our Farming Simulator Academy, a series of official tutorials.

Farming Simulator 25 is available today on Xbox Series X|S.

Farming Simulator 25

GIANTS Software GmbH


11

PRE-ORDER NOW TO GET THE MacDon Pack FOR FREE!!!

Farming Simulator 25 invites you to join the rewarding farm life. Whether you build your legacy single-handedly or cooperatively in multiplayer – you decide: This Farm is Your Farm!

New features include:

* Three maps in North America, East Asia & Central Europe
* Crops: Rice, spinach, peas & green beans
* Animals: Goats, water buffalo & baby animals
* 400+ machines from 150+ agricultural brands
* Weather events (Twister & Hail) and improved effects
* Ground deformation & GPS-assisted steering
* New production chains & farm shops & constructions
* Many quality-of-farming improvements

The post Indulge in Farm Life With Farming Simulator 25, Out Today appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox: A Yearlong Journey in Refinement

Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox: A Yearlong Journey in Refinement

Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox Key Art

Summary

  • Dawn of Equinox introduces local co-op for up to three players, new combat mechanics, and numerous quality-of-life improvements.
  • This update reflects nearly a year of post-launch development, driven by player feedback and the studio’s desire to further enhance the creative impulse that inspired the game’s creation.
  • The Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox free content update is available today for Xbox and Windows PC. Sea of Stars is also currently available with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

We’re delighted to talk about our journey since launching Sea of Stars and share more about how we chose to work full time for the better part of a year on a major free update called Dawn of Equinox. Today, I’d like to share more about Sabotage’s business realities and studio life, along with a summary of the update’s new mechanics, namely the addition of a co-op mode.

Given the means

Like many other projects, Sea of Stars started with an impulse — an idea that we all gathered around as a team, something we got excited over, and agreed was a worthwhile creative pursuit. A unique flavor of a feeling, which, given proper treatment in the form of a video game, should compel players to participate in this impulse, experiencing and expressing in their own way what we found unique and worthwhile about Sea of Stars.

Like any other career, game development comes with curve balls and decisions. Short of a magic wand to make everything happen instantly, we become intimate with the notion that production is a team’s one shot at capturing that initial impulse, and that some things inevitably won’t go down as planned. And so, like any other form of art, there is an angle where a game is never finished, but rather surrendered.

After four years of production, we were fortunate enough to feel genuinely happy and content with what we had managed to capture, and within the first hours of its release, it became clear that the reception to Sea of Stars would far exceed our predictions. While the joy and gratefulness we felt can never be overstated, we also gathered around a sense of responsibility in response to this critical mass of players giving us the means to support ourselves.

Putting together this newfound freedom along with hindsight, player feedback, and the countless little tweaks and things we would have so loved to add to the game, we scoped out a major free update, giving our fans an entire year of full time work from the team to refine Sea of Stars into something that resonates even more strongly with the aforementioned impulse, which we now knew a lot of people did (and cared to) engage with.

Wanting to leave no stones unturned, we filed each item under three pillars: polishing, combat 2.0, and couch co-op.

Polishing, Combat 2.0, and Couch co-op

The list goes on here, but the gist of it is that we revisited all areas of the game where we had to make some sacrifices or hard decisions on the road to the game’s initial launch. Setting aside the countless bug fixing and micro adjustments, the bulk of the work was simply to fully realize what was originally envisioned.

You’ll find things like a completely new cinematic cutscene to support a major story beat, a revamped first hour flow in which we’re finally able to do away with the flashback structure by implementing combat animation sets for the kid versions of our heroes, allowing us to go into the intro right away without sacrificing action. There are also a bunch of new Relics, including one for speedrunning, and difficulty presets for those looking for more (or less) grit to combat.

We also updated combat to make it what was originally planned. This one wasn’t for lack of time or conflicting priorities; we simply ended up opting for a lighter and more simple experience. Hindsight and player feedback are the MVPs here; there was indeed an appetite for combat to be deeper and more involved. The first main addition here is “Sticky Combo Points”, which now remain after battle, offering varied ways of opening in combat, as well as maintaining a more abundant resource pool for playing around with the 40+ unique skills and spells at the party’s disposal.

Another notable addition is the concept of “Mystery Locks”. Simply put, any new enemy casting a spell will display Mystery Locks instead of specific damage types directly, creating this gameplay loop around trying different moves to see what breaks each new spell, along with a new “Reveal” function added to some of the characters’ skills. Revealing locks permanently maps them on a per-enemy/per-spell basis, something which playtests quickly validated in terms of adjusting difficulty without relying solely on damage done/received, as well as ensuring more of the bosses special moves get to fly.

Regarding three player couch co-op, we followed a simple rule: player One isn’t special, everyone can do everything. While it was by far the most challenging to implement given the thousands of use-cases to manually implement or fix, this one simply speaks for itself with controllers in hand.

Looking ahead

We couldn’t be happier with the Dawn of Equinox update. Now it’s time to fully shift focus on the upcoming free DLC Throes of the Watchmaker, which is on track to be released in the Spring of 2025.

In the meantime, we hope that you enjoyed this behind the scenes look into what Sabotage has been up to, and we thank you all once again for the overwhelming support. Whether you’ll be playing for the first time, or going for another run, we hope you will enjoy Sea of Stars in its full expression.

Safe travels!

Xbox Play Anywhere

Sea of Stars

Sabotage Studio


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$34.99

$27.99
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass

Promising the Sabotage touch in every system, Sea of Stars aims to modernize the classic RPG in terms of turn-based combat, storytelling, exploration and interactions with the environment, while still offering a hearty slice of nostalgia and good old, simple fun.

The post Sea of Stars: Dawn of Equinox: A Yearlong Journey in Refinement appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Rise of the Golden Idol Is a Fitting Sequel to One of the Best Puzzle Games of Recent Years

Rise of the Golden Idol Is a Fitting Sequel to One of the Best Puzzle Games of Recent Years

Rise of the Golden Idol Hero Image

Let’s get this out of the way – if you haven’t played Case of the Golden Idol yet, you really should do that (hint: it’s on Game Pass). Developer Color Gray’s debut game is one of the most smartly conceived, intriguingly told puzzle games of recent years. Spinning the story of a seemingly magical artifact through a series of murder-mystery tableaus, you amass clues in each scene, then literally piece the story together yourself, word-by-word – revealing an incredible fantasy-history tale of national conspiracy, political wrongdoing, and dangerous technology in the process. There was simply nothing quite like it – until now.

The sequel, Rise of the Golden Idol (which arrives on Xbox Series X|S tomorrow) is left in a pretty unique position as a result.

How do you follow up a beloved one-off – retaining what made it special, but expanding its world and ideas meaningfully? Color Gray has managed a truly deft balance here – this is effectively the game you know, but a setting you really, really don’t. Far from continuing where we left off, Rise picks up whole centuries after the events of the first game, in this world’s equivalent of the 1970s. For fans of Case, it means that, even if you have all the backstory, you’re just as lost in the context of this world, giving you the thrill of putting all the pieces back together once again.

This is a world where the very real Idol of the first game has not only become a myth, but been physically broken into pieces – and we discover what happens when people begin putting them back together again. To give away any more would spoil the surprises, but it’s safe to say that while it deals in similar themes to the first game, this is a very different story.

On first glance, you might assume that this is a very similar game, however. The basic formula remains – each level gives you a look at a very specific (almost always violent) moment in time, and offers the option to click on the people and objects in that moment, picking up clues.

These could be names, objects, or associated verbs. In each scene, you’re given distinct puzzles – figuring out who each character is, what their jobs might be in that moment and, almost always, a final conclusion as to what’s happened in the run-up to the scene. Almost every one of the dozens of interactive elements will be relevant to that final conclusion, and you’ll need to use the bulk of the words you’ve amassed to put that together.

Despite an upgraded art style – retaining the Hogarthian caricatures of characters, but placing them in a grubbier urban context – it’s very familiar. Until you reach the end of a chapter.

This is Rise of the Golden Idol’s key new feature – every chapter contains multiple scenes but, once you’ve completed them all, you’re given an overarching meta-puzzle. Using all the information you collected from each scene, you then need to work out the story of what was going on around the full chapter itself – often revealing twists you’d never have expected.

You’ll likely need to revisit each scene to do so, jumping from moment to moment (and perhaps even the cutscenes and clues presented between those moments) to re-establish whether, say, that particular item – which felt like a red herring at the time – was actually a major clue you didn’t know you needed.

It’s a truly smart piece of extra design – nothing that you loved about the first game has been changed, there’s just way more of it all of a sudden. That’s also a summation of the game as a whole, and perhaps the greatest recommendation I can give for Rise of the Golden Idol. It’s a brilliant sequel to a brilliant game – when something was this good already, who wouldn’t want more of it?

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