Some people say old legends never die. We fully agree with them, as we’re willing to give a helping hand to those that wish to rise again.
X-Out Resurfaced is a full-blown, high-definition remake of the old Commodore 64 classic X-Out. Featuring gorgeous visuals and a reworked control scheme, this new version is the perfect way to experience this incredible shoot’em up in all its glory.
The game starts with a unique loadout screen, revolutionary for its time, allowing you to choose your craft, weaponry and option types, before submersing yourself in frantic, underwater shmup action.
The challenge will be tough and the enemies numerous, but Captain Granger and his faithful craft Trilobite are definitely up to the task. He is after all the last line of defense against the alien horrors that are trying to invade Earth through the ocean depths.
These cosmic horrors sound like they might be too much for you to handle alone? Nothing to worry about, as X-Out Resurfaced features a brand new two-player mode. Sharing the underwater terror is caring after all.
Last but not least, the banger of a soundtrack got a complete makeover by the original composer himself, the great Chris Huelsbeck. Worth a good listen or two if you’re an enjoyer of fantastic retro tunes.
X-Out Resurfaced is still currently available for pre-order, with a full release on February 20, 2025.
You thought they’d come from space? Wrong!
It’s up to you alone to stop an alien invasion from the depths of the ocean in this legendary, home computer era shoot ‘em up, dredged up and faithfully rebuilt for modern platforms – X-Out: Resurfaced!
Resurfaced:
In 1990, the year of X-Out’s initial release on Amiga, it stood out as a breath of fresh seaside air in the stale shoot ’em-up space.
It didn’t take place in “space” as so many games of its genre did (and still do) but instead went for a dive through underwater worlds.
But what really pushed it further than its side-scrolling competitors was its shop system, allowing players to mix and match from a wide variety of ships, weapons, and other accessories to build their fleet. This made every playthrough (attempt) feel different and unique.
In 2024 the highly challenging underwater shoot ‘em up from the game development legends at Rainbow Arts is finally returning.
ININ and Ziggurat have collaborated to bring you a faithful remake completely rebuilt from the ground up and greatly improved.
Redrawn:
The impressive sprite work of yesteryear has not only been remade into even more impressive modern high-resolution sprites but also greatly expanded upon with particle and lighting effects. 8 varied stages, the enemies, the bosses, the ships, the projectiles—everything shines in a brand-new light!
Remixed:
Apart from the visual journey of each playthrough, you’ll embark on a musical one as well: epic synth soundscapes that drive you forward by the magnificent Chris Hülsbeck. In addition to him remastering his original works, we have created three entirely new tracks as well.
Remembered:
And it’s not just Chris Hülsbeck who has returned for this remake: Ogan Kandemiroglu, the brother and co-artist of Celal Kandemiroglu who created the original iconic key art of X-Out, took on that task for the remake as a tribute.
Re-equipped:
The shop system is back and thoroughly improved as well: new preconfigured load-outs allow you to jump straight into the action, added item descriptions help new cadets configure and build their fleet, and we’ve FINALLY marked the available slots for your weaponry.
Reinforced:
Should you still feel overwhelmed by X-Out’s challenge, then maybe it’s time for a co-captain. Enlist a friend and face the terrors from the ocean deep together in the local 2-player co-op mode!
Reversed:
If you think you’ve seen everything there is to the game already, then prepare to have your bearing changed and your gyro twisted in the Mirror Mode with its reverse-scrolling levels!
Recapped:
• Experience a fresh but faithful take on a real shoot-’em-up classic!
• Get dazzled by the new and beautiful sprite work mixed with shiny particle and lighting effects!
• Take a journey through new and old synth soundscapes courtesy of composer legend Chris Hülsbeck!
• Choose one of three load-outs or build your own fleet in the improved shop system!
• Grab a trusty ally and face the depths together in a 2-player couch co-op dive!
• Get your world flipped, turned upside down in the Mirror Mode!
• Too challenging? Don’t fret we got some cheats for you to breeze through the game with ease!
Fahmi’s Swan Song: Afterlove EP – Life, Love, and Music in Jakarta
Sasha Ariana, Lead Narrative Designer
Summary
Afterlove EP is a new slice-of-life adventure from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
Pikselnesia shares how the team navigated its own grief alongside the game’s emotional beats after its founder unexpectedly passed away. Afterlove EP is out today on Xbox Series X|S.
When we, Pikselnesia, first heard the pitch for Afterlove EP from one of Indonesia’s greatest narrative minds, Fahmi Hasni, we knew it would be something special. But we never expected everything to unfold the way it did.
I first met Fahmi, funnily enough, through a dating app. After a very brief entangling, it quickly became clear that we were meant to create something far greater than just a fleeting companionship. Even before What Comes After took shape, he was already dreaming about what at that time was called Project Heartbreak. Back then, he didn’t even have a story – just a feeling he wanted to capture. The ache of trying to move on while the voice of lost love still lingers in your head.
Then, just as we were stepping into full production, Fahmi passed away. I remember spending a lot of horrible months in my grief wondering what went wrong – if anything could have gone differently. Fahmi’s passing was sudden, tragic, and utterly shocking.
When our team and publisher eventually chose me to be the Narrative Lead, I knew exactly what to do. Our protagonist would feel what I felt.
I was going to put him through hell.
As the team hurled itself into continuing production in the dark, I knew each of us struggled to fill the giant hole Fahmi had left. Our producer, Ivor, had known Fahmi since before his days as a gaming journalist. Now, he had to shoulder the impossible – leading a studio without its heart. He managed Pikselnesia, coordinated with our publisher Fellow Traveler, and kept Fahmi’s family updated. I knew he was skilled – his years in the AAA mobile game industry proved that – but guiding a grieving team while mourning a friend must have been gut-wrenching.
Our other co-lead, Damas, was a pillar of the Indonesian gaming industry. His Bandung-based studio – Rolling Glory Jam – had been our backbone when we released What Comes After years before. Then there was Giri, who I had worked with on What Comes After. Seeing him again as Lead Programmer for Afterlove EP felt like reuniting with an old ally. Our other programmer, Dany, took on even more – stepping into the role of Creative Director while still managing the back-end of our PC and Nintendo Switch builds. I had seen all these men stand beside Fahmi before. Though I perhaps would never fully grasp the depth of their grief, I could feel their determination to complete Fahmi’s final masterpiece, the swan song of his dying breath.
Even when Afterlove EP was just a conversation I had with Fahmi over coffee, Fahmi already knew he wanted Soyatu to lead the art direction. I remember being in awe – Soyatu’s unmistakable style, in an artful game about death? It would surely be a head-turner. I was relieved when Fahmi also found Pinga to create background arts that perfectly complement Soyatu’s lively characters. Together, their work felt seamless. And when Maxi joined the team, everything clicked into place. Watching Soyatu’s characters come to life – actually walking, actually talking – was surreal. It made sense, though. Maxi had worked with Giri before at Thinker Studio, and I never doubted his talent for a second.
This all-star team was exactly what Fahmi’s vision needed – anything less simply wouldn’t have sufficed. His love for Jakarta ran deep. The chaotic sprawl of the streets, the hidden gems tucked away in hole-in-the-wall eateries, the city’s thriving music and art culture – all of it shaped him, and his hopeless romantic tendencies. That was why he brought L’Alphalpha into the project so early. The shoegaze band has a unique, distinctive sound that is somewhat cinematic, exceptional lyrics written in Bahasa Indonesia that are melancholic without being maudlin, the type of songs that recognized pain but never let it consume you. It was everything Fahmi wanted Afterlove EP to express.
In Afterlove EP, you step into the life of Rama, a deadpan young musician grieving the loss of his girlfriend, Cinta, who died from a fatal heart disease. Coping with the weight of her absence is already overwhelming – sorrow, trauma, and guilt twist together in a relentless storm. But what makes it even harder is that Cinta’s voice never truly leaves him. She lingers in his mind, speaking to him, questioning him, making moving on feel impossible.
As Rama stumbles toward a new chapter in his life, he faces choices that shape his future – including three potential love interests: Mira, Regina, and Satria. Yet, Cinta remains. She watches. She comments on his decisions. She even occasionally disagrees with how he tries to move forward, a presence that refuses to fade into memory. Meanwhile, his band, Sigmund Feud, is barely holding together. His absence during his deepest grief took its toll, and when he finally returns, he somehow manages to make things worse. Anyone who has tried to start a band with friends in a garage will understand – sometimes it’s tangled in personal drama, other times it’s clashing ambitions. But in every indie band, there’s always that moment when everything feels like it could fall apart.
As you navigate Rama’s life in the most eventful month of his new life, you’ll be immersed in Soyatu’s signature art style – not just in character sprites you’re controlling and interacting with, but also in beautifully crafted comics woven throughout the game.
You’ll also be able to control how well Rama plays with the band in both practice sessions and live performances, as you jam out to L’Alphalpha’s incredible shoegaze post-rock soundtrack.
Jakarta itself plays a crucial role in Afterlove EP, with real-life locations that meant the world to Fahmi and our team. Who knows? Maybe one day, you’ll find yourself wandering these same streets, seeing the city through his eyes, and understanding why he fell in love with it.
There’s so much more to discover, but I don’t want to spoil the wonder of experiencing Afterlove EP for yourself. So, I’ll end here – with my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us on this journey. We’re finally at the finish line, and it’s because of you that we were able to bring Fahmi’s final masterpiece to life. Until later when we meet again, friends.
Taking place in the vibrant city of Jakarta, capital of Indonesia, Afterlove EP is a blend of visual novel, narrative adventure and rhythm game from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
Step into the shoes of Rama, a young musician struggling to move on with life after the death of their girlfriend, Cinta.
Whilst his close friends and bandmates are all determined to help him move on, Rama has been stuck for more than a year. He’s neglecting his music, his mental health and his relationships.
Making things harder, he’s hearing Cinta’s voice inside his head, unsure if she is a spirit or part of his imagination.
Now he has just one month to get it together!
Rama’s band has a critical gig in one month’s time. Either he gets serious about his music and delivers the new songs he has been promising or the band will move on without him.
KEY FEATURES
• An emotional new story from the creator of Coffee Talk and What Comes After.
• Set in a vibrant and authentic recreation of modern day Jakarta, Indonesia
• A blend of narrative adventure, visual novel and rhythm game elements – explore, talk, jam out!
• Multiple endings and story paths – over 28 days and nights, it will be your choices that determine the path Rama takes.
• Featuring the distinctive art of renowned Indonesian indie-manga artist, Soyatu.
• Featuring an original soundtrack from popular Indonesian band, L’alphalpha.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for February 17 to 21
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, 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!
Avowed – February 18 Game Pass / Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere
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 RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment. Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members can purchase the Avowed Premium Upgrade Addon to receive access up to 5 days early, two sets of premium skins, and access to the Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack.
Blow it up is a physics destruction game with light-puzzle elements where you shoot bombs to destroy enemies hidden behind tower-like structures. Master seven unique bombs in a realistic physics simulation and explore over 70 levels of mayhem.
Upgrade and manage zoos to become a top tycoon in Idle Zoo Park! Revive old zoos and construct new ones, add various animals to boost appeal and income, build income-generating spots, and attract more visitors to grow your zoo empire and achieve tycoon status!
Rewind back to the 90s and live the defining summer of four high school girls as they forge bonds through their growing friendship, their punk band, and an unexplained event that will forever change their lives.
Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Bee Flowers, a delightful puzzle game where you guide busy bees through hexagonal grids to pollinate vibrant fields of flowers. With its relaxing mechanics and progressively challenging puzzles, the game offers the perfect blend of strategy and serenity.
Engage in block-building activities by reconstructing three sets of islands in the Build Lands mode, or by building and sharing your own creations in the Land Editor. With a wide selection of blocks, you can create various structures such as mountain cabins, castles, forests, or other designs.
Harmony Chronicles: Demon Of The Void Collector’s Edition
Mona is about to travel through dimensions again! After her adventures, she meets her divine protector before a magic portal sends her to a collapsing world, finding herself at the decayed Interdimensional University of Magic. Now she must navigate awe-inspiring worlds with unique challenges, creatures, and allies in this hidden object adventure game.
A beautifully crafted 2D platformer designed to provide a relaxing yet engaging experience. With mesmerizing hand-drawn landscapes and a soothing soundtrack, players are invited to explore a serene world filled with light challenges and immersive gameplay.
A first-person found footage psychological horror survival game where it tells the story of a young teen after accidentally falling into the depths of The Backrooms in 1998.
A 2D narrative RPG set in a 19th century Eastern European inspired world, with a modern twist. Guide Liza, a young vampire struggling with her morality and the supernatural world she has been pulled into. Will you retain your humanity or descend further into the horror you have become?
Goro Majima, a notorious ex-yakuza suddenly finds himself shipwrecked on a remote island in the Pacific. Unable to remember even his own name, he sets sail in search of clues to his lost memories, accompanied by a boy named Noah who saved his life. Before long, they’re caught up in a conflict between cutthroat criminals, modern-day pirates, and other scoundrels over a legendary treasure.
An evil curse that transforms the dead into living corpses was cast upon the land. The only way to stop the entire nation from crumbling to the undead is defeating the Kind of Undead, but entire armies of soldiers were annihilated and transformed into zombies. Only the master of steath, Ninja Master Toru, can infiltrate into the enemy territory and claim the leader’s head!
Dodge, roll, block incoming cats! Use power-ups to turn the scores. If you’ve always wanted to catch your friends with a giant laser pointer or shoot’em with a cheese cannon you can do it all! Just watch out for those flying yarn balls.
You thought they’d come from space? Wrong! It’s up to you alone to stop an alien invasion from the depths of the ocean in this legendary, home computer era shoot ‘em up, dredged up and faithfully rebuilt for modern platforms – X-Out: Resurfaced!
Bay Breaker is a game that involves navigating across serene seascapes and using a boat to launch balls that break rocks. Players can collect jewels and coins hidden within the levels. The game includes challenges where players destroy all the blocks and earn enchantments to improve their abilities.
An arcade game for all ages. With 40 levels, your goal is to use skill and quick reflexes to destroy all the blocks on the screen. The blocks get tougher as you progress, requiring clever strategies, keeping you engaged and provides a sense of achievement with every level.
Dr. Cavor is trapped inside the Moon, held captive by the mysterious Selenites. He endeavors to escape to the surface and from there to Earth, but first he must match wits with the dwellers of the lunar underworld, whose catacombs are complex and deadly!
An electrifying twin-stick shooter that propels you into a whirlwind of action and intensity. Dive into an immersive experience with lightning-fast gameplay that will keep your adrenaline pumping and your reflexes sharp.
After many years of battles, a group of Vikings decided it was time to conquer new lands. With the protection of the god Njord, a new clan specialized in navigation sets off in search of glory! Arrange the Viking villages in the islands to expand their domains, in this logic puzzle game!
Lulu’s Temple challenges you to venture inside a deep horrifying pyramid, filled with dangerous foes, traps and mysteries. Play as a curious archaeologist who foolishly traps himself inside a temple after stumbling his way in. Use your powerful gun to blast the undead and your torch to light your path ahead.
The master of golf sims is back! Tee off with the world’s top golfers on the most storied courses on golf’s biggest stages. Pre-order PGA Tour 2K25 Legend or Deluxe Edition for up to 7 days of Advanced Access starting on February 21. Get the Legend Edition to upgrade your play, and your look, with a staggering six extra content packs full of powerful upgrades, chic cosmetics, and a new playable character as well as the Clubhouse Pass Premium (Seasons 1-5).
A comfy, slice-of-life visual novel set in a fictional version of Wellington, New Zealand. Born as a fox in the forest of Korea, Miho carries with her the memory of a traveler who showed her kindness and spoke of home. Now more human than fox, Miho has spent a long, long time searching for her person.
The ultimate race is here, and you are one of Earth’s chosen drivers. Compete in an extraordinary tournament beyond time and space, hosted by the galaxy’s gods. Each planet sends one driver to race through 27 stunning tracks filled with giant titans. The stakes are high: losing planets face elimination.
Avowed Survival Guide: Starting Tips to Help You on Your Adventure in the Living Lands
Summary
The Living Lands are full of exciting adventure, hidden treasure, captivating secrets… and danger!
We’ve compiled some of our favorite tips and strategies to help you on your first steps into the world of Avowed.
Avowedis launching February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, cloud, and will be available on day one with Game Pass. Start playing today by picking up the Avowed Premium Edition on the Xbox Store, Battle.net, and Steam. Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass members, and standard edition owners can purchase the Avowed Premium Upgrade Addon for early access.
The Living Lands is ripe with adventure, excitement, and a significant amount of danger – and we’re here to help. We’ve been exploring Avowedfor a while now and throughout our time with Obsidian’s next great RPG, we’ve come away with a few tips to share with new adventurers who are about to take their first steps into this new corner of Eora. These are not meant to be an all-encompassing guide to the Living Lands, but we think you might benefit from one or two of these to help you on your journey.
Explore!
Avowed is a deeply inviting game – each of its open zones are truly dense, not just with the typical quests and side quests, but hidden treasure, buried lore, and points of interest. If something looks or sounds a little odd, there’s almost always a reason for that.
Did that NPC just say something interesting as you passed? They might not have a quest marker over their head, but that doesn’t mean it won’t kick off a cutscene when you talk to them. Does that out-of-the-way balcony look a little too conspicuous? Work out a parkour route to it and you might just find – to take an example – a room full of spirits and treasure.
And it’s not just solid ground that is brimming with treats – the waters of The Living Lands are also ripe with goods. Secrets are scattered across the bottoms of riverbeds, underground pools, and most importantly, nestled behind waterfalls, making it worth your while to take a dip wherever you can.
If you can resist the urge to plough on with the main story, there’s so much to discover here.
Don’t Neglect Upgrades to Your Equipment
Unlike a lot of RPGs, your ability to tackle tougher quests is tied to your gear more than your level – which means you should be thinking about upgrades to your equipment often at the workshop in your Party Camp. Quests are clearly marked in your Journal with skull ratings. No skull showing? You’ll be fine. One skull? It might be tough but be careful and you’ll make it through. Three skulls? Here be some ferocious enemies.
While you can find better equipment as you travel, it’s often more efficient to simply upgrade what you have, using crafting materials you’ll find all over the world to incrementally improve your weapons and armor. Find your preferred items and keep levelling them when you can, and your progression will keep feeling smooth.
Here’s a tip to speed up the gather/trudge to camp/upgrade/return to what you were doing process: Once you’ve gathered what you need for an upgrade, you can fast travel to a previously established Party Camp to do your business from almost anywhere by popping open the map. Then when you’re ready to get to exploring, select Exit to Previous Location at the Adra Stone or preferred fast travel point, to pick up exactly where you left off. Easy!
And remember: You can easily send items directly to your Party Camp from your Inventory at any time by pressing the X button if you become over encumbered. And you can break down any unused weapons or items by holding down the X button from your inventory – helpful if you’re coming up short on crafting ingredients like wood and metal.
Speak to Your Companions
At the Party Camp, you’ll always have a chance to catch up with your travelling companions – and this can be more practical than you might think. You’ll know when a party member wants to speak to you when you see their icon pop up with a speech bubble on the left of the screen. Once you head to Party Camp, aside from learning their backstories (and filling out your own), you may even stumble on some real benefits.
For instance, early on, Kai may bring up that he’s been studying your fighting style, and has some pointers. You can ask him to train you in his own style, leading to permanent stat buffs that would have taken multiple levels’ worth of upgrades to get. It’s a huge bonus, simply for stopping for a chinwag.
Pay Attention to Companion Abilities
You’re not the only one levelling up in your party – for every few of your levels, your companions will also open up the opportunity to learn or upgrade an ability, and some of these can be gamechangers. Every active ability they learn can be accessed easily in combat, and while your party members will use them on their own, we highly recommend working them into your combat loop.
For example, if you’re playing primarily as a magic user, it may mean you do a lot of damage but also take a lot of damage. Kai’s ability to leap onto an enemy can not only stun them but taunt them as well, meaning you can get out of a pinch by redirecting their ire onto him, letting you step back and drop ice knives out of a blizzard without fear. It’s saved us more times than we can count already.
Your Map is Your Guide… and Your Shopping List
The Living Lands are a colorful, visually dense world, filled not only with awe inspiring sights, but lots of stuff you’re going to want to pick up. The best way to separate the signal from the (beautiful) noise? Your minimap.
In the early game, the biggest limiter to your being able to upgrade is the ‘Paradisan Ladder’ – these handy plants are usually hidden away in crannies in and outside of settlements, just out of sight. And if you’re having trouble locating them, make sure you check for an up or down icon on the marker. That will give you better insight on where to look.
Back to that mini-map: it not only shows the location of harvestable plants, but there’s a specific icon just for that Paridisan Ladder (and later, its more potent varieties like Hylea’s Talon). It looks like this (left). Now you can spare the occasional glance at the map to get what you need, but keep your eyes focused where they’ll already be drawn to: the danger and beauty of The Living Lands.
Examine All of the Abilities
Building out your character and assigning abilities is one of the highlights of customization in Avowed. And even though you may start approaching combat as a specific build type, like Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard, you should know that as a classless game, there are many complimentary abilities hiding within each of these trees that can help you become a well-rounded adventurer.
For example, even though you may be going down the Fighter branch, one of the most helpful abilities that you can get early on is Parry, which is located under the Ranger branch as a passive ability. So, it’s worthwhile to take some time and look over all the abilities afforded to you which can be helpful in creating a balanced character as you set out on your adventure. And if you find that you’d like to change your build later, you can reset everything by spending your skeyts.
Utilize Combat Techniques
As much fun as it could be to just swing wildly at your enemies, there is a strategic flow to battle in Avowed where being able to step aside from attacks, blocking them, or masterfully parrying them to run up the stun meter are key to your survival in the Living Lands.
One of the key indicators you want to pay attention to in combat are the colored circles that will appear on enemies – putting points into Perception can help here. For example, if you see a red circle on an enemy as they’re about to attack, that’s unblockable so you should be nimble and dodge (A button) that attack. Or if you see a white diamond hovering over the location of an enemy while aiming with a rifle, pistol, or bow, that’s a weak point you should focus your attack on.
Weapon Swapping
This is for those of you who (like us) were so dang excited to jump into Avowed, that you somehow breezed through the section of the opening level that explained that you can hot-swap between two weapon builds by tapping Y on your controller or hitting U on your keyboard. Now that admission is out of the way, this is one of the more important aspects of combat for you to utilize and master, and it all comes down to how you like to play, giving you flexibility in how to approach a variety of enemies and combat situations.
A few of our favorite combos include pairing an arquebus with a sword and shield, giving us a great option to use in wide open areas or while navigating narrow caverns. Another pairing we like is having a pistol and shield mixed with a grimoire and wand, providing a mix of magic-based and projectile-based attacks (with a shield to help guard attacks as you load your pistol). Or if you prefer a quieter approach, we were also partial to wielding a two-handed bow in one loadout setting and a combination of a wand and grimoire in the other, which helped for stealthily picking off enemies before launching into a flurry of aggressive magic after being discovered.
Go Treasure Hunting
A good way to get off the beaten path and to explore more of Eora is to pick up bounties or unearth treasure maps to not only line your pockets with new weapons and crafting materials, but to get a better sense of the world around you – and you never know what you’ll stumble upon as you dive deeper into the Living Lands. Once acquired, treasure maps won’t simply drop a marker on your map, oh no. They artistically illustrate an area – maybe a cave, a path by a river, etc, with a classic X marking The Spot. Commit that vista to memory, because the only way you’ll find that treasure is by paying attention. And even then, don’t expect a chest to just be sitting on the beach, but the map should get you close enough to hear the telltale twinkling of treasure. My precious!
Use Your Environment
There’s a logic to the lay of the Living Lands if you take the time to assess what’s in front of and around you. See some xaurips up ahead surrounded by tall grass? Perhaps a stealthy approach could work best. Notice that brick wall that’s hanging on by a thread? A well-thrown grenade — or, if you’re lucky, a well-aimed shot at a nearby exploding barrel — can give you a surprise advantage against a group of enemies. Mysterious ice looking plant located above a body of water? Shoot it down to create an ice platform for you to jump on.
Another mantra that has been repeating for us as we explored pockets of the Living Lands was ‘anything but the front door’ – there is often an obvious, visible entrance to a building or area, but entering could cost you a fair few lockpicks. Instead of using up those precious picks in the early game, consider scouting around the location you’re exploring – perhaps there’s a hidden window to crawl through or a weak wall that you can destroy. This often offers an alternate route in that saves your lockpicks and may even give you an upper hand on any nasties lurking inside.
The point here is to not always rush into every situation (although that too can be fun) but recognize the way the land and world is presented to you for your adventure. Player freedom is at the heart of Avowed and all these unique ways to approach it is intentional. So have some fun experimenting on the ways to utilize the environment to your advantage.
Don’t Forget Your Grimoire
Even if you find yourself focusing your abilities as more of a Fighter or Ranger, you’ll discover that always having access to a Grimoire of Elements (which you get for free at the start of the game) will come in handy more times than you can count.
Yes, it can be effective in battle, but it’s also very useful at helping you solve many of the environmental puzzles. For example, being able to cast lighting spells to activate an electronic switch or being able to burn away a batch of cobwebs that could reveal a shortcut that wasn’t available to you before.
So even if you’re not wielding it in your off-hand, make sure you give it a little spot in your inventory. You’ll never know when you’re going to need it (spoiler: you’re going to need it).
Avowed is launching February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox app for Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, cloud, and will be available on day one with Game Pass. Avowed also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, meaning when you buy the game through the store on Xbox or Windows, it’s yours to play on Xbox and Windows PC at no additional cost, and your game progress and achievements are saved across Xbox and Windows PC.
When you purchase Avowed on Battle.net or Xbox, or have an Xbox Game Pass membership (PC or Ultimate only), and connect your Battle.net and Xbox accounts, it’s also yours to play on Battle.net, Xbox and Xbox App for Windows at no additional cost. Avowed lets you pick up where you left off, bringing all of your saves, game add-ons, and Xbox achievement progress with you.
Avowed is currently available for pre-order on the Xbox Store, Battle.net, and Steam. The Premium Edition (or Premium Upgrade Addon for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass members or standard edition) offers up to five days early access, two premium skin packs, and access to the Avowed Digital Artbook & Soundtrack.
Premium Edition includes:
– Avowed base game
– Up to 5 days early access
– Two Premium Skin Packs
– Access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
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.
Upgrade* from Standard Edition and receive the following content:
– Up to 5 days early access
– Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for your companions
– Access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
*Requires base game or Xbox Game Pass membership (PC or Ultimate only), all sold separately.
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.
With Atomfallcoming to Xbox and Game Pass in just over a month (arriving on March 27), today we released the latest trailer for the game. Featuring brand new gameplay, the trailer highlights the main features that you will experience when you enter the quarantine zone.
I thought now would be a good time to give you more information on some of the game’s key features and what you can expect when you play Atomfall. For those who haven’t had chance to see the trailer yet, take a look:
The trailer starts at the very beginning of the game. You wake up in a dark and eerie bunker and are met by a wounded man in a hazmat suit who immediately asks who you are and asks for your help. The problem is you don’t know who you are, or how you got there.
He tells you that you are inside a quarantine zone, built around the Windscale Atom plant following a nuclear disaster.
Set in the luscious British countryside in 1962, Atomfall is a fictionalised telling of what happened five years after true events in Northern England. It is a game about investigation and discovery – as you try to uncover the mystery behind what really happened at Windscale, but also who you are and what you’re doing there.
There is plenty to explore beyond the rolling hills of Cumberland, including a picturesque village, bandit camps, caves, tunnels, and mysterious buildings and facilities left abandoned by the British Atomic Research Division. All of these will hold their own secrets for you to discover.
You will find clues about what has happened and learn more about the colourful characters you meet along the way – but there is no clear single “truth”, and different people interpret what happened in different ways. This feeds into the game’s ‘Leads’ system, our new take on traditional gaming quests.
Some information that you uncover will open a Lead in the game. You can choose to track this down to uncover further secrets and hopefully get closer to some form of the truth. All the Leads in the game are completely optional, and all connect in one way or another to the larger mystery. As a result, the path you take through the game and the storyline is entirely up to you.
Another source of Leads is the cast of characters you will meet along the way. One of the first you may meet is Nat Buckshaw, who you find playing his guitar in the ruins of an old house. He is an extremely talkative chap and more than happy to give away everything he knows just to have someone to talk to.
However, with Nat and indeed everyone you meet along the way, you can never be sure who to trust and whether they are trying to use you for their own means.
Some characters also act as Traders, for example Molly the Tinker, who can be found in the Dale. In fact, one of the Leads that Nat provides, helps you to find Molly. Resources are scarce in Atomfall, and money is useless, so all trade is done by barter – striking a good deal with a trader can be vitally important. Each of them will prize different sorts of assets. One may want food and bandages, while another needs weapons. Careful observation and making a balanced trade will enable you to get the resources you need to survive.
One valuable tool you can trade for is the metal detector (you can either find one as you search the countryside or barter for one.) The metal detector is a vital asset as you scavenge for further resources. Atomfall is as much a game of survival as it is exploration – the resources, weapons and ammo you find will be vital if you are to find out what happened at the Windscale nuclear plant.
To aid you in the hunt for resources, you’ll be able to find metal detectors. Once you have one, you will hear it beep as you come within range of something to find. You then need to equip it and use it to find your treasure – whether that be some scrap metal, medical supplies or ammunition.
And you’ll need all the ammunition you can find – supplies are tight! Gangs of bandits litter the countryside, and they will think nothing of attacking on sight. Whether you choose to engage or run for cover is your choice but there are likely to be times when you will have no choice but to fight.
Raising a gun to someone who is only armed with a melee weapon may well be enough for them to be the one who retreats. Whether your gun is loaded or not, only you will know…
No matter what, you will need to be ready to adjust your strategy on the fly, using all the tools at your disposal to make it out alive. Melee combat, both armed and unarmed, will be vital. Sometimes, aiming a swift kick at an opponent in order to stagger them back is all the time you have to reload, and can be a life saver.
You are going to have to find ways to adapt and make do with what you have as you track down leads in the search of the truth… or at least one version of it.
We have only scratched the surface of the challenges, mystery and intrigue you discover in the quarantine zone. We cannot wait for you to get your hands on Atomfallwhen it launches on Game Pass as well as on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC on March 27.
A survival-action game inspired by real-life events, Atomfall is set five years after the Windscale nuclear disaster in Northern England.
Explore the fictional quarantine zone, scavenge, craft, barter, fight and talk your way through a British countryside setting filled with bizarre characters, mysticism, cults, and rogue government agencies.
From Rebellion, the studio behind Sniper Elite and Zombie Army, Atomfall will challenge you to solve the dark mystery of what really happened.
Player Driven Mystery: Unravel a tapestry of interwoven narratives through exploration, conversation, investigation, and combat, where every choice you make has consequences.
Search, Scavage, Survive: You’ll need to scavenge for supplies, craft weapons and items, and fight desperately to make it out alive!
Desperate Combat: With weapons and ammunition scarce, each frenetic engagement will see you blend marksmanship with vicious hand-to-hand combat. Manage your heart rate to hold a steady aim and ensure you have the energy you need to reach for your cricket bat and land the killer blow.
Green and Unpleasant Land: The picturesque British countryside, with rolling green hills, lush valleys, and rural villages belie the dangers that await you. Navigate cult-controlled ruins, natural caves, nuclear bunkers and more as you explore this dense, foreboding world.
Reimagining Windscale: A fictional reimagining of a real-world event, Atomfall draws from science fiction, folk horror, and Cold War influences to create a world that is eerily familiar yet completely alien.
Symphonia was released for Xbox Series X|S on December 5, 2024.
Custom level design, precision platforming and special features great for speedruns.
Deep dive into speedrunning with player perspectives and tips.
From its inception, Symphoniawas envisioned as a game that rewarded control and timing mastery. Initially designed as a game to bring classical music to the world, it quickly became apparent that its fluid mechanics and open-ended level design also made it a natural fit for the speedrunning community. After many hours spent perfecting the optimal character controls, our goal was clearly set on creating a game that would feel rewarding whether played casually or competitively, with extra layers of depth for those willing to explore them. This vision became the foundation for Symphonia’s mechanics and collectibles.
There are a few things in Symphonia that we baked in, to up the ante of the challenge for those who enjoy it. The protagonist, Philemon, is a violinist who traverses the world of the quiet and sleeping Symphonia with one goal: to reunite the prodigies of all orchestral sections. His greatest tool in the game is his violin bow. As you play through the game, you unlock mechanics that allow you to bounce through levels in different ways. The bow can be used as a pogo stick, a catapult, or a grapple, and this feeling of moving through the air at just the right time is difficult to master but extremely satisfying once you do. Precision in the timing to make every pixel count is something that lends itself very well to the speedrunning mindset of pushing yourself frame by frame.
Some of our team members have their own personal history with speedrunning, ranging from enjoying being a spectator, all the way to completing their own runs for Celeste and Katana Zero. Even in Symphonia’s earlier iteration as a student project back in 2020, our team would speedrun the game, compare times and some folks even hid glitches they found to use them as an advantage! This enthusiasm also reached members of the public. We released a free small demo online which received 500,000 downloads and saw some players submitting entries on speedrun.net. We knew that we were onto something special with this project so after university we decided to start a studio and pitch to work on the full vision of our game. It took us another four years to bring the game to full release.
It wasn’t just the precision platforming subgenre that attracted speed runners, we also deliberately wanted to keep the speedrunning spirit in mind when developing new features and even in the level design. Sometimes moving a block or a collider by just a few pixels can create an entirely new path with some creativity. Another game feature is the collectible music notes that are placed in hard-to-reach areas of the platforming challenge, rewarding you for risk, experimentation and unlocking different areas in the game. A close comparison would be the strawberries in Celeste. Once you complete a whole playthrough of the levels, you unlock a Shadow Philemon. This is a copy of your character who trails closely behind you with a small delay, waiting for you to slip up and be caught. The player is also able to tinker with unlockable abilities like double jumping, transforming all surfaces into cushions or game speed. These abilities were initially designed to be accessibility options, but some have proved useful in allowing players to experiment and create new challenges.
When the game released in December, we were really thrilled to see a sustained level of interest with speed runners and made sure to facilitate discussions and brainstorming with a dedicated channel in our community Discord.
In general, it’s amazing to see how speedrunning has grown from a niche hobby into a global phenomenon. Over the last two decades, we have watched speedruns of first-person shooters, platformers and even in genres where one would least expect it, such as roleplaying or strategy games. Thanks to the accessibility of platforms like Twitch and YouTube, speedrunning has been able to engage millions of players and raise millions of dollars for charity through Games Done Quick (GDQ). GDQ hosts two large charity events a year, and weekly Hotfix episodes to keep viewers engaged.
It’s clear to see the passion driving the creation of such experiences, when I asked Queuety, showrunner of GDQ, why speedrunning is meaningful to him, he answered,
“Speedrunning turns any game into both a puzzle and a competitive performance, something which fascinates me and keeps me coming back.”
Our publisher has been enthusiastic about the speedrunning elements of the game, with the CEO Dieter Schoeller coming from a speedrunning background himself with Quake 3 and Sonic the Hedgehog in the 1990s. Dieter says he loves speedrunning because “the person to beat is no one but yourself.” Due to this shared passion, and visible community engagement, our publishing partners reached out to GDQ for a collaboration. We are all super happy that the showrunners were drawn in by the visuals and premise of Symphonia. We then arranged to participate in a segment of the most recent GDQ Hotfix episode. This was really rewarding and a memory we’ll never forget. I personally got to provide commentary, and the dedicated members of our community supported us by running the game live. You can check out the episode here.
If this article has given you a speedrunning itch, the community is still relatively new so you can add a lot just by trying it out or by conversing with other runners and developers. We would delighted if you wanted to give Symphonia a run and check out our Discord speedrunning discussions.
Speedrunner or not, we hope you will take a chance on us and enjoy the glorious world of Symphoniain your own way.
In the realm of Symphonia, music acts as a source of life and energy. But since the founders and their orchestra vanished the inhabitants are divided, and the world slowly falls into silence. What if there was a way to gather a new orchestra? That’s the question Philemon, the mysterious musician in Symphonia, will have to answer.
Embody a mysterious violinist, brought back to life in a declining world. Your violin and bow are both your instrument and a means of transport. Catapult yourself through the world, and complete levels by solving exciting platforming challenges while re-activating the machinery that brings life and energy back to this world.
Discover a musical world, based on the symphonic orchestra, and filled with colourful characters. Each area in Symphonia has its own distinct feel and characters, and each room is hand-crafted. Meet prodigious musicians and try to convince them to join the orchestra.
A unique soundtrack, based on the romantic musical period, crafted by composer Olivier Esman. Enjoy the performance of the Scoring Orchestra Paris, recorded specifically for Symphonia and written by composer Olivier Esman and his partners Alexandre Bucas-Français and Lou Corroyer. Play engrossing concerts, each centred around one of the families of instruments – Strings, Brass and Woodwinds.
Explore, navigate, play the violin, gather musicians. Awaken Symphonia.
Features
– Experience and overcome great platforming challenges with all of Philemon’s abilities
– Discover various environments which combine music and machinery
– Play the violin to activate level elements and bring life to the realm
-Gather musical Prodigies and play breathtaking concerts to bring music, joy, and glory, back to the land
How Monster Energy Supercross 25 Was Rebuilt From the Ground Up with You in Mind
Sebastiano Stefanetto, Game Director, Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game
Summary
Learn how Milestone has rebuilt the Monster Energy Supercross franchise in the last two years by leveraging key contributions from the community.
Simulation is the word, with a new physics system that allows full air control and a true riding experience in the dirt. And for the first time, the current season will be available on day one.
Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game will launch on Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025, with early access from April 7.
Two years after the last chapter, Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game is about to be released for Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025, with early access starting on April 7. As Game Director of this franchise, it is both an honor and a challenge as this new installment marks a complete rebuild of the series from the ground up.
This was made possible thanks to the valuable input from expert community members, whom we kept an open dialogue with throughout development to identify areas for improvement. Listening to their feedback was fundamental to crafting a gameplay experience that would truly meet the desires of our players, and importantly, the decision to adopt a biannual development plan also allowed us to step up the game technically with the adoption of Unreal Engine 5.
The Most Accurate Supercross Tracks Yet
Before diving into the gameplay facets, let me point out one of the biggest changes in terms of content, as Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game will feature for the first time in the history of the franchise the current season with 2025 riders, tracks and liveries available on day one. This has never been done before due to the structure of Supercross. In fact, each track only exists for the few days of the event and then is gone forever.
To make this happen, we had to adopt a different technique; while in the past we used photogrammetry technology, this time we were able to access the blueprints of the 2025 tracks in advance to recreate them in the game engine without the need for additional photo reference. This is a new and different method that allows you to discover the tracks even before the real events take place — and real riders can also train with the game ahead of the championship final!
Building with the Community
As we mentioned earlier, we have collaborated with some of the most important Supercross creators asking them to test the game at various development stages. Listening to their opinions we have learned and tweaked many elements such as the riders’ animations, which are now more fluid and realistic than ever. Another crucial feature that the community helped us with is bike handling. Thanks to them, we have implemented a new bike balance system that will allow newcomers to enjoy the adrenaline of Supercross and veterans to perform better.
Most importantly, the community helped us rebuild the riding physics from scratch. On the ground, you’ll find many changes: the steering angle, traction and tire-to-ground contact have all been reworked to create a more immersive experience. The in-air physics, on the other hand, has been completely revolutionized. A renewed stick control system will give you full control of the in-air motion, which is something we never did in the past and will now allow you to decide how to manage both the rider and bike’s weight after the jump. With the new physics, performing whips and scrubs will be much more rewarding and those who will be mastering these movements will get an even greater advantage.
Upgrading to Unreal Engine 5
From a technical standpoint, Unreal Engine 5 allowed us to create features that we once thought impossible thanks to Chaos, its physics engine. For the first time, the track will be alive, just as the community wanted, with a new system that will challenge you lap after lap. In a real Supercross race, the track is indeed modified by the passing of the riders, creating ruts on the ground. One of the pilots’ many talents is to interpret these ruts to find the best trajectory. The new ruts system simulates track evolution so that you will have to find the best path for each lap.
With Unreal Engine 5 we were also able to implement for the first time a Neural AI system which will completely change the way rivals will behave during a race. In fact, the Neural AI is trained exactly like a real rider: we make them test the tracks hundreds and hundreds of times to learn how to approach corners and jumps.
While working on this new feature we faced two of the biggest challenges of the project: first, we had to teach the AI how to handle the new ruts system. We achieved it by training what we call “agents”, namely the AI-controlled riders on the same track at different stages of ground degradation so that they could learn how to handle the various situations that a Supercross rider can encounter during a race. Secondly, we had to train the AI how to handle the air sections. Thanks to these technical achievements the AI can now race on user-generated tracks and we can’t wait to see our community enjoy this impressive milestone.
The new AI is also an important element of the fresh career mode we have developed. Here you’ll become an integral part of the Supercross universe, thanks to a dynamic system full of challenges and tests to become the most successful rider. I can’t say too much here, so stay tuned to learn what we have in store for you.
Thank you for your time and attention. Before I go I would like to reveal to the Xbox Wire readers a small surprise — at the top of this post you can see for the first time the official key art of the game, depicting some of the main protagonists of the 2025 season. Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game will launch on Xbox Series X|S on April 10, 2025, with early access starting from April 7. See you on the race track!
Elden Ring Nightreign: Answering 20 Burning Questions
Will Tuttle, Editor in Chief, Microsoft Game Dev
When it was announced a few months ago at The Video Game Awards, FromSoftware’s Elden Ring Nightreignimmediately set the internet aflame with burning questions about what sort of experience it would offer. The trailer showed off plenty of Elden Ring-style action that we know and love, as well as some surprising cameos from bosses featured in other FromSoftware titles. Still, a lot of fans still had plenty of questions. Now, I’m able to help answer some of them.
Ahead of this weekend’s Closed Network Test on Xbox Series X|S, I had a chance to spend a couple of hours playing Elden Ring Nightreign and I can safely say that this is a wholly unique experience, one that seamlessly blends a surprising variety of gameplay mechanics, while remaining true to the core FromSoftware style. Directed by Junya Ishizaki, Battle Director on Elden Ring, Nightreign is sure to delight new and old fans alike when it releases on May 30, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S.
So, without further ado, let’s dive in and start answering some of the questions that I (and many other fans) had going in.
Is Elden Ring Nightreign a sequel to Elden Ring, an expansion, or something completely different?
It’s something completely different! While there’s clearly plenty of overlap with the beloved 2021 action/RPG hybrid (I mean, Elden Ring is right there in the name), Nightreign does not continue Elden Ring’s story and won’t feature any of the same characters or locations. The best way to describe it is that it’s a parallel experience, simultaneously feeling familiar and completely new.
What sort of game is Nightreign?
Hooooo boy, here’s where things get interesting. Officially, Nightreign is a “session-based RPG” that will be different every time you play it. But it’s not an RPG in the traditional sense of the term. You won’t create a character and build up that character’s stats, there aren’t dialogue trees or anything, and there really isn’t much of a narrative outside some general character and world lore. It’s truly a unique animal that borrows gameplay mechanics from a wide variety of genres, including hero shooters, battle royales, and, yes, RPGs.
OK, so it’s an RPG but it’s not an RPG? I’m already confused.
That’s alright, it’s a lot to take in! I’ll admit that it took me a little time to wrap my head around it. Here’s the gist of the core gameplay loop: You and two other players (it’s always a three-person game and you can’t play solo) are dropped onto a map called Limveld, where you’ll need to survive for three days against the forces of night, leveling up your character and finding better and better loot. Your ultimate goal is to be powerful enough to take on bosses that you encounter.
FromSoftware bosses? Now we’re talking!
Exactly. At the end of every day, you’ll battle a boss that will reward you with loot that will (presumably) make it easier to survive. At the end of the third night, you’ll face off against a Nightlord. Beat that boss to earn semi-permanent character boosts (more on those later). One of the coolest things about Nightreign is that it features bosses from several FromSoftware’s games, including Elden Ring (including Margit and Demi-Human Queen) and the Dark Souls series (hello, Nameless King!). If you’re a fan of From’s boss fights, you’ll be in heaven.
Are there bosses from any of FromSoftware’s other game?
Unfortunately, From has only confirmed bosses from the Dark Souls games and Elden Ring, but I think we’re all really hoping to see some bosses from Sekiro and maybe another game that isn’t on Xbox (I think you know which one). I will say that I feel confident that we won’t see any bosses from the Armored Core series.
So, if you’re not making your own character, who are you playing as?
Before each session, players will choose a Nightfarer, each of which has their own abilities and own set of skills. Each Nightfarer also has an ultimate power that could be categorized as damage, defense, or utility. Figuring out how ultimates work together and timing them is one of the most rewarding parts of the game. What’s more, players can choose to be three different Nightfarers or go with two or even three of the same ones. As you might imagine, there are benefits and drawbacks to each, so it pays to work together and communicate.
What sort of character types did you play with?
While there will be eight different Nightfarers in the final game when it releases in May, the network test will feature three:
Wylder, whose well-balanced abilities and straightforward playstyle make him the most accessible Nightfarer for new players.
Guardian, an eagle-headed warrior that’s a defensive specialist and can knock enemies back and deploy a barrier.
Recluse, a highly skilled magic user that is the most challenging to use but by far the most rewarding once you get good.
Wylder and Guardian will feel familiar to Elden Ring and Souls fan, especially because they use weapons and shields. Recluse on the other hand, breaks the mold set by magic-wielding characters in those games.
So, Recluse can’t just cast spells and refill her FP whenever it gets low?
See, that’s where things get interesting. While Recluse can indeed cast spells and launch magic attacks, refilling your FP isn’t that easy. Rather than simply popping a potion, you’ll need to collect attribute marks from enemies that appear whenever they are hit with magic, fire, lightning, or holy attacks. Once you collect four marks, you can unleash a powerful attack that’s different depending on the types of marks. She can also use the “Song of the Blood Soul” ultimate to mark enemies, allowing her squad mates to recover HP and FP by attacking. I can see high-level Recluse players being a hot commodity since she can make the whole team better.
So how does an average match start?
Before you even dive into a session, you’ll find yourself hanging out in the Roundtable Hold, which has gotten some renovations since last we saw it. The biggest addition is a sparring area featuring dummies you can practice on. You’ll be able to change a variety of parameters like your character level, amount of stamina, damage dealt, etc. It’s a nice way to practice outside of a session. Anyway, once you’re ready to dive in, you’ll launch an expedition and be placed into matchmaking. After the game has found you two other players, you’ll each be given 10 seconds to choose your Nightfarer. From there, you’ll be deployed into Limveld.
Deployed? What does that even mean?
Here’s where some of those borrowed gameplay mechanics I mentioned above come into play: as you might recognize from games like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and PUBG, the beginning of every Nightreign session sees the player swooping and gliding over the map while holding onto the talons of a giant Spectral Hawk. While in air, you and your teammates can drop pins to decide where to go. It’s not required but trust me when I say that you should stick together.
Alright, so once you’re on the ground, what’s next?
After you and the squad have landed, it’s time to start what From is calling the “field exploration” phase, in which you’ll run around the map killing enemies, looting chests, and smashing every box in sight. Not only can you find gear that will give you a better chance of survival, but defeating enemies will give you and your team runes that can be used to level up.
Wait, level up? I thought you said this wasn’t an RPG?
No, I said it’s not a traditional RPG. Yes, as you make your way around the map, you’ll gain experience that can then be used at a Site of Grace to level your character up. You won’t put points into strength or intelligence or any of that, you’ll simple move from level 1 to 2 to 3 and so on. This will, among other things, dictate how much damage you do and how much damage you can take. It always pays to level up whenever you are able, since it seems like there’s a pretty noticeable difference between levels. For instance, fighting the first night’s boss at level 1 is close to impossible, but fighting it at level 6 is fairly easy.
So why can’t you just level up a bunch of times to make it trivial?
See, that is where the real fun comes in. As you’re exploring the map, leveling up and finding new gear, there’s a Circle of Flame closing around you (yes, like Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends). If you’re outside of the circle, you’re constantly taking damage, so it’s always pays to be aware of where it is. As the day progresses and the circle becomes smaller, you’ll be able to tell where the center of it is. At that center is the night’s boss that you need to defeat to move on to the next day. You’ll need to move around the map quite quickly if you want to stay safe.
Just how large is the map and how hard is it to get around? Can you just call your trusty steed like in Elden Ring?
The map is big, but not nearly as big as Elden Ring’s full map. My gut feeling is that it’s probably close to the same size as two of Elden Ring’s regions combined. Sadly, Torrent does not make an appearance in Nightreign, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of options when it comes to navigating the environment. First off, you can now break into a full sprint by clicking the analog stick while dashing, and I was surprised at just how fast you can move. There are also some new parkour-like traversal options, including mantling and wall jumps, allowing you to make your way up cliffsides (bonus: no fall damage!) relatively quickly. There are also some spots where you can launch yourself up into the air with a Spiritspring and glide down on your Spectral Hawk. The speed at which I was able to traverse the world was a surprising amount of fun.
What is there to do in the world beside sprinting around and killing enemies?
A lot! You’ll want to take the time (but not too much time) to explore, as you can increase the number of health flask charges at churches, take part in battles in which you need to take out every enemy in a camp for a good reward, and even deal with dynamic events that guarantee no two matches will be the same. In one of my sessions, I had to deal with a dozen large ants erupting from the ground during the middle of a mini boss fight which, as you might imagine, did not go well.
Will you run into tougher enemies out in the field or is that reserved for the boss fight?
Oh yes, you’ll definitely come into contact with plenty of mini bosses. During my runs, I saw Godskin Nobles, Golems, Depraved Perfumers, and many more. In addition to providing a bunch of runes to level up with, these mini bosses also drop better gear than regular enemies. The one catch here is that you’ll be forced to choose between a couple of options, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
Why wouldn’t you just take the most powerful weapon?
While the amount of damage you can output is certainly something you want to consider, it’s the passive bonuses that often make more of a difference. You see, when you equip a weapon, you gain a passive bonus regardless of whether you’re using it. So, for example, that low level greatsword might not do much damage, but it’ll add lightning to the attacks you perform with your higher-level broadsword. There’s a bit of give and take you’ll need to contend with, but that’s part of the experience. Also part of the experience: dying.
Ah yes, the good old “You Died” screen. Do you leave the game when you die as in Elden Ring multiplayer?
Not only do you not leave the game, but the method of reviving also adds a fun little twist to combat. You see, if you fall in battle, you won’t die but will enter a critical state in which you can still crawl around while begging your teammates for help. If they’re able to get to you before you die, they’ll be able to revive you by… attacking you! Yes, you read that correctly. When you rush to a downed ally, just spam the attack button to bring them back to life. The one wrinkle to all of this is that it’ll take longer to revive them if your attacks are weaker, and it’ll take longer to revive them if they’ve been felled before. This led to some wonderfully hectic moments during boss fights, as you’ll be attacking the boss and reviving your teammate at the same time. Madness!
OK, so let’s say I make it to the end of the night and take down the boss. What’s my reward?
Remember when I mentioned above that there are semi-permanent character boosts? This is where those come into play. When defeating bosses each night and the Night Lord at the end of the three-night cycle, you’ll get a relic which you can apply to your character before heading into battle. Relics come in red, yellow, and green, and each character has a certain number of slots corresponding with those color. One might have two reds and a green or one of each color. Each of these relics provides a power-up that you’ll have for the entire session and all future sessions, and you can swap them out as you see fit. It’s a neat system and it feels like it will lead to some powerful combinations once people get their hands on Nightreign.
Alright, I’m sold. When can I start playing Elden Ring Nightreign?
Pre-order now and get the following bonus content:
– Bonus Gesture
This is a Gesture that can be used in-game.
*The player can also obtain this later in the game.
The Deluxe Edition Includes:
• ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN
• Additional DLC
– Additional playable characters and bosses
• Digital Artbook & Mini Soundtrack
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.
RISE TOGETHER
Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
BECOME A HERO
Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair. While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.
TAKE ON THE NIGHT
Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!
*There is also a Standard Edition product available. Please be careful not to purchase the same content twice.
*Additional DLC will be available by Q4 2025.
Pre-order now and get the following bonus content:
– Bonus Gesture
This is a Gesture that can be used in-game.
*The player can also obtain this later in the game.
ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN is a standalone adventure within the ELDEN RING universe, crafted to offer players a new gaming experience by reimagining the game’s core design.
RISE TOGETHER
Join forces with other players to take on the creeping night and the dangers within featuring 3-player co-op.
BECOME A HERO
Take command of uniquely skilled heroes, each possessing their own abilities and distinct flair. While individually formidable, their skills create powerful synergies when they unite as a team.
TAKE ON THE NIGHT
Overcome a relentless environmental threat that sweeps through a land that changes between each game session and defeat the magnificent boss of that night!
*There is also a Deluxe Edition product available. Please be careful not to purchase the same content twice.
