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Category: Xbox
SteamWorld Heist II: Upgrading Greatness
It’s rare to see a new idea nailed on the first try, but 2015’s SteamWorld Heist very much managed it. In an age where squad-based tactical games like XCOM were hugely popular, Heist asked a bold design question – how do you do that, but in 2D? The result was an experiment gone very, very right – a tight-knit strategy experience that saw turn-based tactics given a freeform twist, where you controlled the precise angle of every gunshot, performing outrageous ricochet trickshots, striving to achieve perfectly executed spaceship heists, and desperately grabbing loads of collectible hats.
Sadly, the original Heist never made it to Xbox consoles, but I’m very happy to say that its sequel will arrive on your console or PC tomorrow, August 8. SteamWorld Heist II returns with a new design question – how do you make a sequel to something that felt so complete? The answer is to keep the core of the action intact, and make everything around it bigger and better. Relocating the action from outer space to the sea, SteamWorld Heist II offers a more explorable world, more player choice, and new ways to tinker with your squad, all set amid a new robot-pirate aesthetic.
Returning players will immediately notice how much more expansive this seems – where the first game saw you travelling down a broadly linear map of missions, you now control a dinky submarine, physically guiding your vessel across the seas, taking down enemy ships in miniature real-time battles, and choosing where you want to head next. Missions are plentiful, and come in many forms – some will see a whole squad having to survive for a set number of turns, others will have you pitting a single character against a gauntlet of challenges.
Each mission still offers reputation (a currency that effectively unlocks your progress through the game), but also offers bounty points, which can be spent on a series of rewards. In a single in-game day, each squad member can only take part in a single mission – and you quickly realise there’s an art to making sure you squeeze in every mission possible, before sailing to a local bar for a rest, and a chance to claim all your bounties.
It’s a small mechanical decision with major ramifications – as you build your ragtag group of robots (hiring new ones along the way), you don’t just need to think about which set of weapons and abilities will go best together, but also which smaller groups can complement one another to allow you to take on as many missions as possible.
This leads us to another of Heist II’s big changes – any robot can take on any class by simply equipping them with the requisite weapon, but they can also transfer abilities from classes they’ve already levelled up. It allows you to tinker with your strategies to a minute degree – aided by the fact that every new character comes with personal abilities that only they can use.
Once you begin digging into the possibilities at your metallic fingertips, you’ll realize there’s an enormous flexibility here. Personally, I’ve been a huge fan of turning a crew member with the ability to fire a giant laser that pierces multiple enemies into a Flanker, offering them bonus damage for hitting enemies from behind – there’s nothing better than travelling across the map to line up a perfect shot and taking out three enemies at once.
It’s another bold move from a bold series – SteamWorld games have come in many different forms in the decade and more they’ve been around – and its latest incarnation shows no lack of that same ambition. This is bigger, longer, and more open to your interpretation than any SteamWorld game before, but still shows the same spark of genius that powered the original Heist. If you didn’t play the original, now’s the time to take a dive into SteamWorld Heist II’s perfect blue seas.
SteamWorld Heist II comes to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC on August 8.
The post SteamWorld Heist II: Upgrading Greatness appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II’s PvE Operations Mode Feels Like a Whole Separate Game
For a few moments, me and my two teammates stood on the edge of a building in sheer awe as we watched a horde of Tyranids besiege a stronghold. Hundreds of monsters stream across a long bridge – darting past the flaming debris of destroyed Astra Militarum tanks. Red lasers from positioned snipers glaze across waves of Termagants, futile in their numbers.
While this sounds like some sort of epic endgame cinematic, it’s not – this is just one of the many epic set pieces presented during one of the Operations Mission in Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II. On the surface, these additional three-player PvE missions could feel like ‘extra’ content to indulge in outside of the main story campaign – but what you’ll actually find here is a series of compelling standalone challenges, class choices, and an impressive progression system that makes Operations Mode feel like an entirely different game grafted onto the campaign we expected.
The team at Xbox Wire are all big Warhammer 40,000 fans, and what better way to test our mettle as a trio than getting stuck into one of these missions?
In Operations Missions, you’ll be able to play as your own custom Space Marine, and choose from one of six classes: Tactical, Assault, Vanguard, Bulwark, Sniper, and Heavy, each offering unique loadouts, perks and an ultimate ability. The Vanguard, for example, comes with the Grapnel Launcher ability that lets you propel through the air towards an enemy and kick them, which feels just as cool as it sounds every time you do it. My teammates chose the Sniper and Heavy classes – the former’s ultimate ability is a Camo Cloak to allow powerful shots from afar, while the Heavy provides a powerful barrier that can shield the team from ranged damage.
Before you enter an Operation, the Battle Barge serves as a base for you to prepare for the mission ahead. The Armouring Hall offers a robust suite of customization options for your Space Marines. Here, you can make tweaks to your loadouts for each class and up to three weapon slots within them, comprising a main weapon, a sidearm and a melee option. Completing Operations will earn XP, which you can then use to unlock cooler weapons, add perks to customize your playstyle, and access new skills that’ll aid you in the more difficult battles to come.
Another wonderful detail is that even in an area that is essentially just a place for you to look through menus, the attention to detail in the design is incredible. The authenticity of the models, the idle animations of NPCs – units wandering about, repairing equipment, a Skiitari unit quietly blessing a pair of massive rockets in a corner. Everything feels built with attention and care, to create a believable and immersive Warhammer 40,000 setting.
You can also unlock and create new cosmetic designs for each of your Marines across each class. Fans of the series will get to unlock and choose from multiple canon Chapters of Space Marines – but customization goes far deeper. Each individual section of armour can be tweaked to your heart’s desire. So, if like me, your IRL Space Marine army is painted purple, you’ll have all the tools to (re)create your dream units.
Organizing your loadout is key as, once you enter an Operation, you’ll find that these missions offer a serious challenge even on their easiest difficulty. The Tyranid swarms are relentless, frankly, so running classes and loadouts that complement one another will make for a much easier time on the battlefield. As you’d expect, there’s a lot of different enemy types to consider – you’ll blitz through squishy enemies with ease, but some of the bigger foes require a bigger beating and may favor different classes taking them on.
Stomping through the mission as a chunky Marine feels extremely satisfying, and the weapons on offer – from standard issue Bolt Rifles to numerous melee options, connect with all the brutality you’d expect and deserve from Space Marine II. That said, the gallery of finisher animations is where the combat really shines, offering intense, gory and downright awesome views of your Marine decapitating a horrible creature, vehemently beating it to a pulp with its own severed claw, among other ends that are almost too gruesome to describe.
The Operations themselves are far more varied than you might go in expecting – with multiple objectives in each one. At one stage, my team is ordered to stand our ground through waves of ferocious enemies before a Hive Tyrant emerges. Rather than gunning it down, we’re told to do something less expected – lay an explosive trap, and watch on in awe as a giant stone statue topples and crushes it. Once again, another epic spectacle that you’d expect as some sort of climax, but in Space Marine II, this eruptive scene is just the benchmark for spectacle.
The statue tactic is only part of the solution – the creature survives, and the mission culminates in a boss fight against the Tyrant. The fight feels exhausting in the best possible way, sprinting and dodging around waves of unrelenting attacks as you desperately chip away at its health bar in a multi-stage fight. Space Marine II does everything is possibly can to make you feel like a badass, but you’re also not invincible – these big bosses will make you struggle.
The sheer level of effort put into Operations is kind of a wonder to behold – you could feasibly expect this to be a whole other game, or a DLC expansion, but instead we’re being blessed by the Machine God with a second strand to Space Marine II that feels just as vital as its bombastic Campaign. And we haven’t even played the PvP multiplayer mode yet…
Assemble your squad and prepare to take on the horde in Space Marine II, launching September 9 for Xbox Series X|S.
The post Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II’s PvE Operations Mode Feels Like a Whole Separate Game appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Why the Relentless Challenge of Volgarr the Viking II Means I Love You
To all the brave souls who have ventured into the world of Volgarr the Viking: I swear, I don’t hate you! In fact, I love you! I know the game is challenging, and I understand the frustration that comes with each defeat.
However, there’s a method to this madness. I want to take you through some of the design choices that make Volgarr the Viking II not just a game, but a learning experience that hones skills that I hope will be applicable in your real life.
Embracing the Challenge
From the outset, our goal with Volgarr the Viking II was to create an experience reminiscent of classic arcade and platform games – titles that demanded precision, timing, and perseverance. Growing up in a military family and serving in the military myself, I believe in the value of a hard-earned victory – the kind that leaves you with a sense of accomplishment.
Learning Through Failure
One of the core design philosophies behind the Volgarr the Viking series is that failure is a stepping stone to success. Each death is a lesson, each obstacle an opportunity to refine your skills. The game’s difficulty is not meant to punish, but to teach.
By facing tough, pattern-based enemies combined with static handcrafted level designs, players develop a deeper understanding of game mechanics, learn to strategize, and improve their reflexes. This is an actual exercise that trains mental acuity and connection to real-world motor skills. There is a certain amount of pride that comes from overcoming challenges, feeling good and knowing you can take whatever is thrown at you.
Deliberate Design Choices
I really wanted players to not just see this philosophy in the design of Volgarr the Viking II, but understand it by playing it. At first glance, some of the challenges in the game might feel like they’re difficult for difficulty’s sake, but every aspect has been meticulously crafted to challenge players while fostering their growth. Let me drill down on some examples:
Controls: I wanted to make the controls simple to understand, but they also had to feel tight, responsive, and predictable. That’s the key to giving players the ability to execute actions with precision. Mastering these controls is rewarding in its own right, but also helps develop skills that players can apply to other action games as well.
Pattern Recognition: Enemies and traps follow set patterns. Recognizing and memorizing these patterns hones your observational skills and enhances your ability to anticipate and react. That’s not just a good skill for gaming – that’s a great skill for life.
Limited Resources: Health and lives are limited; weapons, armor, and power-ups can be lost. By encouraging careful planning and resource management, I want to teach players to be strategic, weighing risks and benefits before acting.
No Hand-holding: There are no excessive tutorials or hints in Volgarr the Viking II. That’s so players will learn by doing – exploring and experimenting, fostering a sense of curiosity and independence. It’s about trusting the player’s intelligence and ability to learn through experience. Everything a player needs to know about how to beat the game is accomplished before they encounter their very first enemy. As they play, they will learn how to use these skills at the right times – and that’s incredibly rewarding.
Punishing but Fair: I freely acknowledge that Volgarr the Viking II is tough, but I also believe that it’s fair. Every challenge can be overcome with the right approach; different players may take a different amount of time to discover it, but they will get there. I always want success to feel deserved and motivating; failures are inevitable, but I never want the player to feel that the game is cheating them.
You’ve spotted the common thread by now: Volgarr the Viking II aims to build a more resilient and determined gamer, but also give them skills that can help them when there’s not a controller in their hands. The perseverance required to tackle our game can translate to a greater sense of confidence in facing challenges both in gaming and in life. The repeated cycle of trying, failing, and eventually succeeding builds a mindset geared towards continuous improvement and resilience – and that can be applied to anything. I have found this to be true in my life and, through my games, I hope to inspire others to discover that in themselves, too.
A Community of Warriors
Lastly, we designed Volgarr the Viking II with the hope of fostering a community of players who support and inspire each other. Sharing strategies, triumphs, and even frustrations can create a bond among players, making the journey less lonely and more rewarding. Together, you form a tribe of modern-day Vikings, conquering not just the game, but the barriers to your own potential.
So, to all our players: At the end of the day, video games are supposed to be fun, and I greatly hope you find enjoyment in Volgarr the Viking II. But also know that the challenge is intentional and crafted with care. I do not hate you; on the contrary, I believe in you. Embrace the difficulty, learn from it, and let Volgarr the Viking II be the forge in which your gaming skills are sharpened to perfection. Skål!
Kristofor Durrschmidt is the CEO and co-founder of Crazy Viking Studios, as well as the former creative director of Digital Eclipse’s Bothell studio. In addition to the original Volgarr the Viking, which is celebrating ten years as an indie hit, Kris has worked on over 30games in his career for nearly every major publisher such as Activision-Blizzard , Sega, Nintendo, THQ, Disney, Konami, Capcom, SNK, and more.
Volgarr the Viking II is available for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. Get both games in the franchise with the Volgarr the Viking I & II Bundle. For more information on the game, check out the official website.
Volgarr the Viking II
Digital Eclipse
$19.99
$15.99
The Return of the (Vi)king
More than a decade after Volgarr the Viking’s chaotic, challenging debut, the barbarian king’s story continues in an uncompromising new form.
Volgarr the Viking II is a hardcore, 2D action-platformer where precision is everything and one false move can spell a brutal death. Players of the original game will feel right at home on this relentless voyage, even with the addition of new power-ups, new forms of magic, new enemy types, and a chest-thumping new soundtrack.
While the sequel delivers the same unforgiving 1980s-arcade level of difficulty as the original, Volgarr the Viking II also (mercifully, begrudgingly) offers modern quality-of-life options such as checkpoints, save states, and an undead mode. You decide how punishing your quest should be – but now anyone can be a viking!
With new and larger worlds inspired by Norse mythology, multiple endings, and a variety of ruthless bosses to conquer, Volgarr the Viking II expands and improves on the original in every way. Draw your sword, don your helmet, and chop your way through this violent viking adventure!
The post Why the Relentless Challenge of Volgarr the Viking II Means I Love You appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies: Requiem for a Lost Soul – Meet the Terminus Team
The post Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies: Requiem for a Lost Soul – Meet the Terminus Team appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Coming to Game Pass: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Creatures of Ava, and Mafia: Definitive Edition
I’m back with more games to populate your download queue! Day one titles, fan favorites, and some reminders on some announcements you might have missed (I see you there Valorant!). Let’s get to the games!
Coming Soon
Creatures of Ava (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – August 7
Available on day one with Game Pass! Let your empathy guide you as you play an exciting action-adventure, creature-saver game. Understand and tame the creatures of Ava and let them lead you through a variety of ecosystems – all in the hopes of saving the planet from a life-consuming infection.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 8
Your favorite marsupial, Crash Bandicoot, is coming to Game Pass! He’s enhanced, entranced and ready-to-dance with the N. Sane Trilogy collection. Spin, jump, wump and repeat as you take on the epic challenges and adventures through the three games that started it all, Crash Bandicoot, Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped. Relive all your favorite Crash moments in their fully remastered graphical glory and get ready to put some umph in your wump!
Mafia: Definitive Edition (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 13
Mafia: Definitive Edition is a cinematic third-person shooter that tells the story of Tommy Angelo, a hardworking cab driver who becomes embedded in the brutal world of organized crime in 1930s America.
In Case You Missed It
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Console and PC) – Available now
In the direct sequel to the record-breaking Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Captain Price and Task Force 141 face off against the ultimate threat. Game Pass members can also experience an all-out brawl in Season 5 with new core 6v6 maps, new weapons, cosmetic rewards and more! Learn more about Season 5 over at the Call of Duty blog.
Unlock Valorant Benefits for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Game Pass
Valorant is a 5v5 round-based tactical shooter where you outwit, outplay, and outshine your competition using dynamic abilities and ultra-stylish Agents. Game Pass members can link their Riot Account to unlock all current agents, day-one access to new agents as they’re released, and a 20% match XP boost to Battle Pass and Event content. Learn more on Xbox Wire.
Xbox Cloud Gaming on Amazon Fire TV Devices
Game Pass Ultimate members in over 25 countries are now able to play games directly from the Xbox app on select Amazon Fire TV devices through Xbox Cloud Gaming (beta), bringing more ways to play Xbox on more devices and enjoy your favorite games.
DLC / Game Updates
No Man’s Sky: Worlds Part I – Available now
The latest free update to No Man’s Sky, Worlds Part I (version 5.0), ushers in an entire universe refresh, bringing huge leaps in water and cloud quality, as well as increased planetary variety, new gameplay features, and more! Learn more about this refresh on Xbox Wire.
Dead by Daylight: 2v8 Game Mode – Available until August 8
Double the trouble, for the first time ever eight survivors face two killers in this new extreme game mode. Survivors can choose from four new classes, each with their own predefined loadouts. Maps have three exits, and three hatches will appear when only two Survivors are left standing in the trial. But beware, hooks have been replaced with a frightening new sacrificial device: the Cage of Corruption.
Sea of Thieves: Season 13 – Available now
Seize Flameheart’s flagship, the Burning Blade, in the latest boss fight to sail the Sea of Thieves! Rain fire on your foes with a skeleton crew at your command, gathering tribute in Flameheart’s name – or raid his new Skeleton Camps and take the treasures for yourself…
Sea of Thieves: Mayhem Ship Bundle – Available now
The Mayhem Ship Bundle returns to the Sea of Thieves via the Pirate Emporium! Crew up and cause chaos with this sunny symbol of anarchy – or simply sail about and share whatever claptrap is on your mind knowing you’re looking good while doing it.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Every month new content is available for Game Pass Ultimate members. Find new Perks in the Game Pass section of your Xbox console, Xbox Game Pass mobile app, or Xbox app for Windows PC.
Stampede Racing Royale: Game Pass Starter Kit – Available now
Join the herd in style! Kit out your kart with the Xbox KartCore 3000 Wrap, update your avatar with the Xbox Pic and get a head start with 25,000 coins!
Sea of Thieves: Ebon Rapier Pack – Available now
Cut a dashing figure with this collection of highly prized items! The Ebon Rapier, Obsidian Pocket Watch and Obsidian Figurehead are sure to set you apart from the crowd.
Naraka Bladepoint:Aeon Bundle – Available now
Grab free bonus cosmetics and boosts to help you in this fast-paced melee fighting game. Claim Xbox headgear, new season treasures, legendary skin trial bundle and more in the new Perks Bundle. Get a boost start in new season with the help of experience boost cards!
Leaving August 15
There’s still some time left to jump into the following games leaving soon! If you’re not ready to say goodbye quite yet, you can save up to 20% on your purchase and keep them in your library.
- Airborne Kingdoms (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- Offworld Trading Company (PC)
- Shadow Warrior 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
- The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Cloud, Console, and PC)
We’re not done for August, so keep an eye here and on social @XboxGamePass, @XboxGamePassPC, and @Xbox for updates and when these games are ready for you to pick up in cloud gaming or start downloading. Talk soon!
The post Coming to Game Pass: Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Creatures of Ava, and Mafia: Definitive Edition appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Support Dallas Pets Alive! at QuakeCon with These Paw-some Bethesda T-Shirts
The post Support Dallas Pets Alive! at QuakeCon with These Paw-some Bethesda T-Shirts appeared first on Xbox Wire.
THQ Nordic 2024 Digital Showcase – Check Out All the Reveals Coming to Xbox
At THQ Nordic, we think of ourselves as a true variety publisher. No matter what kind of gamer you are, there’s a home for you in one of our digital worlds.
For our 2024 Digital Showcase we wanted to demonstrate exactly that, with games including a remake of a beloved Disney classic, a new IP from a team of horror legends, an adrenaline-fuelled wreck racer, and much more. Here’s what is coming to Xbox.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
This year’s stream opened with a new 2D adventure platformer from Weappy Studio, developers behind This Is the Police.
Navigate a mysterious archipelago as Goldman, realized in expertly-crafted 2D animation, every frame bursting with the passion injected by devs creating the game they have always wanted to make.
Weappy have put player freedom and a sense of wonder at the core of their design philosophy, rewarding players for exploring the archipelago’s many hidden nooks and crannies. Platforming sections pose a challenge, but a fair one – focused on helping you find the solution that works for you through experimentation.
We’ll have more news on The Eternal Life of Goldman to share before the year is out – until then, make sure to wishlist the game on Xbox to be among the first to receive updates.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
The time has almost come to pick up your brush and decide the fate of Wasteland! When Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed releases on September 24, the power to shape the world will be in your hands.
Use paint and thinner to restore harmony to a mysterious world and uncover its secrets in classic 3D platformer action, spending time with beloved characters and exploring side-scrolling levels inspired by Mickey Mouse’s history.
Whether you first journeyed to Wasteland fourteen years ago or it’s your first time taking up the brush, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is unmissable for any Disney fan. We can’t wait for you to join us on this adventure later in the year.
Wreckfest 2
Customize your ride and take your own personal wrecking machine online in a range of events designed for maximum vehicular mayhem! With never-before-seen damage modelling fidelity thanks to the power of Xbox Series consoles, you’ll leave every event with your car’s bodywork telling its own story.
The team at Bugbear Entertainment are devoting themselves to giving you the freedom to wreck how you want – whether it’s trading paint with other speed demons in a traditional race, bombing through obstacle courses, or settling scores in a classic destruction derby grudge match.
Keep the engine running, we’ll be back with more on Wreckfest 2 soon.
Titan Quest II
When we announced Titan Quest II a year ago, the support we received from the community was incredible, with the reveal trailer quickly becoming one of our most watched ever. We want to thank all of you who have expressed your excitement for the long-awaited sequel to the original mythological ARPG by taking you on the next step in Titan Quest II’s journey to release – our debut gameplay trailer.
In today’s broadcast, we gave ARPG fans their first glimpse of what awaits in the gorgeous Ancient Greek landscapes of Titan Quest II, and the legendary powers you’ll use to fight your way through Nemesis’ vengeful hordes. The team at Grimlore Games are hard at work crafting a world that feels rewarding to explore, with adversaries waiting around every corner, ready to drop meaningful loot that can completely alter your playstyle.
Your hero in Titan Quest II should feel personal to you, with deep customization at the heart of the experience – from how your hero looks, through to their own unique choice from thousands of different skill and equipment combinations. Whether you’re a solo adventurer or you team up with friends online to weave your legend together, Titan Quest II will take you on an odyssey unlike any other, offering a fresh experience for ARPG veterans and newcomers alike.
Gothic 1 Remake
Since our reveal back in 2020, the support for Alkimia Interactive’s Gothic 1 Remake has been nothing short of amazing. Seeing that not just die-hard Gothic fans, but also RPG players as a whole are excited for Gothic’s return has been the best motivation for the team.
Today, we showed you how Alkimia are crafting a world that feels like it extends far beyond the player, with a fully realized ecosystem and influential groups warring for control of the land.
Gothic 1 Remake will feel familiar to longtime fans, but some crucial updates have been made to harness the power of new gen consoles. Gameplay and visuals have been overhauled, with deeper progression and crafting systems, as well as varied NPC routines and interactions.
No matter which camp you lend your allegiance to – the ore-rich Old Camp, the plotting New Camp, or the Brotherhood of the Sleeper, who swear fealty to a strange new deity – the mysterious, unforgiving world of Gothic 1 Remake will soon be ready to explore.
Way of the Hunter: Lintukoto Reserve
As with last year, the THQ Nordic Showcase marks release day for the latest DLC for Way of the Hunter, this time taking the hunt to the Scandinavian wilderness.
Venture to Lintukoto Reserve, a fictionalized vision of tranquil forests glowing with magical moonlight, vast meadows bustling with wildlife, and snow-dusted hills. A range of new endemic wildlife populates the beautiful scenery – lynxes, arctic foxes, and many others each with their own range of unique behaviors.
The team at Nine Rocks have spent months meticulously sculpting every inch of this new DLC – we can’t wait to welcome you to Lintukoto Reserve, out now!
A New Tale From Tarsier Studios
They’re coming.
A new vision of horror from the team behind Little Nightmares I & II.
Want to know more? Tune in to Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tuesday August 20, 11am PT/8pm CEST.
It wouldn’t be our yearly showcase without one last tantalizing reveal…
The Future of Darksiders
The foreboding rumble of caverns eons old. Embers swirl through the air, cast up from pools of bubbling lava.
Three enormous heads, hewn from otherworldly stone suddenly burst into life with mystical flame. The Charred Council roar a single word in unison: HORSEMAN.
It won’t be long until we reveal more about where the Darksiders series is going next, but for now, know this… the Four Horsemen will ride again.
That concludes our wrap-up for the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2024! From the whole team at THQ Nordic and our dev partners – thank you all so much for your passionate support over the last year. We hope to see you soon in one of our digital worlds!
The post THQ Nordic 2024 Digital Showcase – Check Out All the Reveals Coming to Xbox appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Valorant Console Out Now – and We’re Just Getting Started
Valorant Console Out Now – and We’re Just Getting Started
Summary
- Valorant is live now and free-to-play for everyone on Xbox Series X|S.
- Regular balance patches are essential to creating a highly competitive landscape – especially for tactical shooters.
- Valorant on Console receives the same regular balance updates that PC players experience – patches every two weeks.
Valorant is now live on Xbox Series X|S– with some serious benefits for Game Pass members. So grab four of your friends and hop into our 5v5 tactical shooter where you’ll need creative strategy, effective communication, and clutch aim to climb up the ranks.
But launch is only the beginning for Valorant on console – here’s how we’ll be supporting the game going forward.
Our Philosophy
Riot Games was founded with the idea that competition should be enjoyable at any level – whether it’s your first Valorant Competitive game after hitting level 20 or you’re grinding to Radiant, competing in our games should feel fair. Competitive integrity is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s one element that sets Valorant apart from other shooters on console.
One thing we’ve learned after 4+ years of Valorant on PC is that y’all are pretty cracked. The Valorant playerbase constantly innovates around the meta and comes up with new strats that surprise even us. Players consistently find new ability synergy between Agents, new line-ups, new flank watches, new ways to use a weapon, better smoke placements – you get the picture. Honestly, we love to see it. And now we’re so excited to welcome the console community into that space and see what you’ll come up with next.
Because of the ever-changing landscape, we’re constantly monitoring how our maps, Agents, weapons, and abilities are performing across different skill levels.
Sometimes an Agent might skew too powerful as players learn and master their abilities. Or maybe a map becomes one-sided as teams figure out how to optimize Agent utility. Or maybe a certain weapon becomes too strong as players hone their aim and learn how to better synergize with Agent abilities.
Over time, seemingly small imbalances can make a game start to feel stale and predictable. And that’s just not Valorant.
What That Means for Players
So, what does all this mean for the game long term? For our devs, it means their work is never done. For our players who aren’t familiar, it means live service and live balance.
We put out patches every two weeks across all platforms to address things like game balance, bug fixes, or QoL improvements. And a few times per year, we release larger updates to an Agent’s entire kit when there’s an opportunity to bolster or tamp down their strength. These kinds of updates typically aren’t needed very often and will only be implemented at a time that won’t affect active Pro play schedules.
So far, since Limited Beta started on console two months ago, Valorant has already seen four patch updates. We’re updating the game frequently, but paying attention to the unique needs of each platform. Balance parity between PC and console isn’t necessarily guaranteed.
Why? While the level of competition and skill-expression is the same for Valorant on PC and console, the game needs to be balanced independently between platforms. With different input methods (controller vs. mouse and keyboard) comes different playstyles. Some Agents shine on console but aren’t as effective on PC and vice versa. So our game developers have to test each extensively and adjust only when it makes sense.
Beyond game balance, Valorant features a rotating map pool for Competitive queue to ensure players get more variety while ranking up, and even occasionally to make changes to a map when it’s out of the competitive rotation.
Ultimately, it’s up to you – our passionate community – to let us know how we’re doing and show us how you’d level up the game. We’re so grateful to those of you who helped us prepare for this day by participating in our Limited and Open Beta periods, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next. So hop on, queue up, and frag out.
GL HF.
The post Valorant Console Out Now – and We’re Just Getting Started appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 5 to 9
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 5 to 9
Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! This weekly feature highlights all the games arriving soon on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, and with Game Pass. Discover more about these forthcoming titles below and explore their profiles for additional information (note that release dates are subject to change). Let’s dive in!
Pepper Grinder
Devolver Digital
Pepper Grinder – August 6 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
An action-packed pirate adventure starring the titular Pepper, a seafaring soul with a passion for prospecting, and Grinder, her super-powered drilling device. Cruise through a colorfully animated world with precise movements, fluid drilling, and thrilling leaps. Chew through the world with Grinder and find new drill bits to ramp up the chaos and solve clever puzzles.
Seed of Life
GS2 Games Inc
$39.99
Seed of Life – August 6 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
An action-adventure puzzle game that will take you to a beautiful yet toxic world where almost all life has disappeared. There’s only one way to survive: help Cora find The Seed, an alien device capable of generating the essence of life and save your planet from annihilation. Find your way through a labyrinth like world full of mysteries, dangers, and beauty. Search for capsules and learn special abilities. Face off against alien creatures and solve challenging puzzles.
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing
Konami Digital Entertainment
$29.99
$26.99
Cygni: All Guns Blazing – August 6 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
An exhilarating space shooter elevating the genre to a truly next-generation experience. An unrelenting onslaught of eye-popping visuals, ear bursting soundscapes and mind-melting action makes Cygni the vanguard for the next generation of shoot ‘em ups. Choose to route power between weapons or shield systems and go up against unrelenting waves of ground and aerial enemies. Upgrade your ship by picking up new tech and take down colossal alien bosses in visceral combat; do whatever it takes to survive.
Volgarr the Viking II
Digital Eclipse
$19.99
$15.99
Volgarr the Viking II – August 6 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
More than a decade after Volgarr the Viking’s chaotic, challenging debut, the barbarian king’s story continues in an uncompromising new form. Volgarr the Viking II is a hardcore, 2D action-platformer where precision is everything and one false move can spell a brutal death. While the sequel delivers the same unforgiving 1980s-arcade level of difficulty as the original, Volgarr the Viking II also (mercifully, begrudgingly) offers modern quality-of-life options such as checkpoints, save states, and an undead mode. You decide how punishing your quest should be – but now anyone can be a viking!
Eden Genesis
Aeternum Game Studios
$24.99
$22.49
Eden Genesis – August 6– Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A platform game focused on fast-paced trials, quick reflexes, and a rich story by the same dev team responsible for Aeterna Noctis and Summum Aeterna. Take control of Leah, a young cyborg lady, and overcome challenging trials to liberate her corrupted mind!
Bleak Faith
PERP GAMES
Bleak Faith: Forsaken – August 6 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
Explore the last remnants of civilization in this vast, unforgiving, and interconnected world. Learn what is left of its history. Discover pockets of civilization in the perpetually expanding Omnistructure. Lose yourself in a journey unlike any other. Choose a class and progress into your perfect playstyle. But remember, not every choice is reversible, so decide wisely what direction you take your character in.
Creatures of Ava
11 bit studios
$24.99
A unique creature saver game inviting you to explore a world brimming with wild beings. Instilling joy and wonder, they provide a unique bond that enables you to utilize their skills for traversing the planet and solving environmental challenges. Once peaceful creatures, they now succumb to an unknown infection driving them to behave aggressively, which makes your mission to save them an urgent necessity.
I Want To Go To Mars (Xbox Series X|S)
Sometimes You
$4.99
$3.99
I Want To Go To Mars – August 7 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A fun and exciting point & click story book adventure to Mars for kids and parents. Suitable for the young and the young at heart! Robyn & Teddy want to go to a place that never rains, that’s always sunny, that never runs out of sand. They want to go… to Mars! Embark on an award-winning imaginative adventure that’s perfect for the whole family. Build your rocket, pass Moon customs, dodge asteroids and collect star fuel in this short and heartwarming tale of adventure and growth.
Cattie
Eastasiasoft Limited
Cattie – August 7 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Pounce with precision in feisty feline style as you journey through an old-school action platforming adventure! Get ready for platforming action of the retro kind as you take the role of a nimble kitten named Cattie! Run, jump, hop from wall to wall, crouch, pounce and swipe at enemies as you make your way through side-scrolling pixel art pixel art stages with feline precision.
The Lullaby of Life
Midwest Games
The Lullaby of Life – August 7 – Optimized for Xbox Series X| S / Smart Delivery
A puzzle adventure where you encounter puzzles solved through timing-based music notes. Solve these challenges using sound waves matched in sequences of different colors and symbols. Challenge the way you think with each level featuring unique puzzles, mechanics and ambience. Awaken new companions, bring life to inert beings, and solve your way in this abstract universe!
Cat Quest III
Kepler Interactive
$19.99
Cat Quest III – August 8 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Get whiskered away on a hearty catventure in the third installment in the award-winning Cat Quest series! Play as a swashbuckling purrivateer in this 2.5D open-world action RPG set in a fantastical pirate-themed world – the Purribean – an archipelago swarming with Pi-rats searching for the Northern Star – a long-lost mythical treasure. Alongside your trusty spirit companion, set sail through the Purribean in your very own ship! But beware, the seas are dangerous, and a meow-tiny is nigh as the hordes of Pi-rats under the order of the Pirate King hunt you down…
SteamWorld Heist II
Thunderful Publishing
$29.99
$26.99
SteamWorld Heist II – August 8 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Join Captain Leeway and his ragtag crew as they uncover the enigmatic menace threatening the Great Sea. Equip and upgrade your crew for turn-based gunfights packed with ricochet action and engage in real-time naval combat. Get ready to aim, plot, and plunder in this uproarious Steambot adventure!
Cultist Simulator: Initiate Edition
Klabater
Cultist Simulator: Initiate Edition – August 8 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A game of apocalypse and yearning. Play as a seeker after unholy mysteries, in a 1920s-themed setting of hidden gods and secret histories. In this roguelike narrative card game, what you find may transform you forever. Every choice you make, from moment to moment, doesn’t just advance the narrative – it also shapes it.
Deathbound
Tate Multimedia Sp. z o.o.
Deathbound – August 8 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S
A one-of-a-kind party-based soulslike set in a callous world where Faith and Science clash. The forbidden city of Akratya is an unforgiving land that cannot be conquered alone. Bind with fallen warriors found throughout your crusade and dynamically transform between characters seamlessly in mid-combat with the unique 4-hero party system.
HoneyLand
Afil Games
HoneyLand – August 8 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
A charming puzzle with a turn-based strategy. Help Mr. Fluff to drink all the honey from HoneyLand! A paradise where the greatest honey worshipers seek to feel satisfied and happy. Who else could show up here? Yes, Mr. Fluff, a naive bear with a monstrous appetite. Help Mr.Fluff to drink all the honey, and of course, reach the fabulous honey volcano!
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles
Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime – Isekai Chronicles – August 8 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Spin a new tale of the Jura Tempest Federation together with all your favorite characters from the animated series! Relive the original story from the encounter with the Kijin to the battle against the Kingdom of Falmuth fully voiced! In addition, there are two brand new adventures from the original author for fans to enjoy!
Gravitators
Eastasiasoft Limited
Gravitators – August 9 – Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery
Repel a relentless alien force, travel the galaxy and deliver payloads to secure the future of mankind! Old-school challenge and style collide with modern advancements and mission design in Gravitators, a twin-stick shooter that puts you in control of 4 different ships as you defend mankind against invasion!
The post Next Week on Xbox: New Games for August 5 to 9 appeared first on Xbox Wire.