Hello soon-to-be Hot Rod Champion! Hot Rod Mayhem has drifted onto Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One! Jump in starting today as toy-sized racers on huge tracks.

Enjoy Hot Rod Mayhem with two distinct modes. Race mode, where you can play solo, grab a friend or play with CPU rivals in a more casual race setting, or get competitive and rise to the top in Championship mode. In this mode, you’ll face classic races on circuits to earn points to win championships, unlock new races, trials, tracks and outfits.

With three difficulty settings to customize your play style, ten unlockable tracks and an arsenal of powerups at your disposal, things can and will get delightfully chaotic!

Now, before you customize your Hot Rod Champion and hit that gas pedal to the floor, I want to make sure you’re ready to become a champion. 

Choose your Hot Rod Wisely

Each vehicle has different strengths. Choose and customize your car with colors and designs, but also keep in mind its stats. Weight, Speed, Handling and Boost will all play important roles on the tacks. Understand the strengths and choose which car suits your driving style to get the most out of your races.

Get Familiar with the Tracks

Get to know the tracks so you can anticipate what’s going to happen. Hot Rod Mayhem‘s lively circuits are full of surprises, living creatures and elements that will drive mayhem all over the race. Be sure to learn soon how those creatures and stray objects behave to have a winning card on your deck!

Drift Like the Trophy Depends on it! (It Does)

Master the drift. Make the art of the drift and do it as much as possible everywhere! Practice doing snaking or even drifting mid-air, anytime you can. Drifting will not only give you a quick edge but also fill the turbo bar, which will give you extra speed all around. 

Turbo Turbo Turbo!

Don’t fall asleep, go fast by using turbo energy and increase the fill on your turbo bar while drifting. The faster you go, the quicker your turbo bar will reload, giving you more speed. This applies to all the game elements that grant you turbo energy when colliding with them. Find these soon!

The Power of Power-ups

While many other kart games have power-ups, the key in Hot Rod Mayhem is to use them strategically. Hold onto your power-ups until you are sure it’s the best time for it. Crystal Marble will roll over the competition, but be aware of rolling over yourself when it bounces. Hot Missile makes a beeline for first place, but try not to shoot it when you’re in the lead. These are just a few examples of the tactical powerups that you can make use of, so be sure to make smart use of the power-ups!

Hot Rod Mayhem is a big project for our studio, Casual Brothers, which has been making games for more than ten years, mostly working for other publishers. We are very happy to have the chance to publish something on our own this time. Our team worked hard to bring joy to players all over the world. We hope to connect with people by giving our unique take on racing games with t! Feel free to share the love and feedback on social media or join us and other Hot Rod Champions on our official Casual Brothers Games Discord. 

I hope these tips help you rise to the top of the leaderboards and avoid as many rockets as possible. Check out Hot Rod Mayhem today on Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One.

From our whole team at Casual Brothers Games, thank you for reading and good luck out there on the track!

Hot Rod Mayhem

Casual Brothers Ltd.

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Start your engines, gearheads – it’s time for Hot Rod Mayhem! Prove yourself as the ultimate little racer by putting your speed and swerving skills to the test in wild races and one-of-a-kind trials! Use perilous pick-ups, like the tricky Marble or the Homing Dart, to leave your opponents in the dust!

The post Unleash Chaos with Five Tips to Become a Hot Rod Mayhem Champion appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Gwen Frey is no stranger to big ideas—or big games. After working on titles like BioShock Infinite and The Flame in the Flood, she’s back with a new game! Lab Rat, a satirical Sci-Fi puzzle game launching on Xbox that pits players against an overly confident AI named S.A.R.A.

With over 100 handcrafted puzzles, sharp writing, and a surprising amount of heart, Lab Rat is as much about logic as it is about being observed. I sat down with Gwen to talk puzzle design, working solo (and not-so-solo), and what it’s like to voice nearly every character in your own game.

Corey: S.A.R.A. plays a central role in Lab Rat—a hyper-intelligent, metrics-obsessed AI who observes and reacts to everything the player does. Inspired in part by your experience working alone during lockdown, she brings humor, tension, and a sense of being constantly evaluated.

Did the concept for S.A.R.A. shape the gameplay, or did the puzzles come first?

Gwen: The idea for S.A.R.A. developed naturally alongside the game’s core mechanics. Early on, my puzzle designer and I were exploring a new system, but thematically we both felt like rats in a cage—trapped inside, isolated. We built that feeling into everything: puzzles that evoke confinement, jittery character animations, and even blocks that electrocute you when misused, like a science experiment gone wrong.

Visually, I was inspired by my own dual-monitor setup during lockdown, when most of my interaction was through screens. That evolved into the concept of S.A.R.A.—an overbearing algorithm watching your every move, built to reflect the eerie, disconnected mood we were living through. Once I saw the game world through that lens, everything started to click.

Corey: You’ve described Lab Rat as a game that “makes people think and laugh.” Which of those two was harder to design for?

Gwen: Definitely making people laugh! When a person sits down to complete a puzzle game they are prepared to think deeply and solve problems – they are in the correct mindset for that. Thought-provoking commentary is generally a welcome addition to that experience. However, comedy is unexpected, very difficult to do well, and different kinds of humor appeal to different people. Seriously – comedy is hard.

Corey: There’s a really clever rhythm to how puzzles unfold in Lab Rat. What was your approach to pacing the difficulty curve?

Gwen: There are two ways I like to keep puzzle players engaged: discovery and mastery. Discovery is when you encounter something new and figure out how it works; mastery is using that understanding to solve a tougher challenge. I try to introduce something new every few puzzles to keep things fresh, and I aim for solutions that feel earned—clear enough to grasp with some thought, but never obvious.

Block-pushing games come with a unique problem: it’s easy to end up in an unwinnable state without realizing it. That kind of thing kills motivation. So in Lab Rat, we let you undo moves, pull blocks off walls—basically give you room to experiment without fear of getting stuck. It makes the game more accessible, especially for players new to the genre, without making it any less satisfying.

Corey: Working on a game in a small team means wearing a lot of hats—designer, writer, programmer. Which part of that process felt most natural to you, and which one surprised you the most?

Gwen: Programming, art, and animation all came very naturally to me. These are things I’ve done for years, and I’m working in the Unreal engine, which I’ve used my entire career, so there was nothing new to learn. By far the most surprising thing I had to learn for this project was voice acting. I am not a performer and I have never done voice work before Lab Rat. It was quite challenging.

Corey:  We’ve been fortunate enough to have played through the game, so we’ve seen the end credits.  Exactly how many characters did you personally voice in the game? Have you counted?

Gwen: This question made me laugh. My programmer put my name in the credits about 100 times as a sort of joke. I might change that before launch… but it is true that I voiced every character in Lab Rat. There was one line where we absolutely needed a male voice and my husband stepped up to the mic for it, but other than that all the characters were voiced by me personally. I spent a lot of time recording arguments with myself, and then made extensive use of sound effects in the engine to make each character sound unique.

Corey: If you could sit next to someone playing Lab Rat on Xbox for the first time— without spoiling it, is there a particular moment you would be waiting for them to reach?

Gwen: There are many, many moments I hope they reach! I wanted every 30 minutes of Lab Rat to feel more interesting and unexpected than the previous 30 minutes. I’m excited to see if we achieved this.

Corey: Huge thanks to you, Gwen, for taking the time to chat about Lab Rat, indie game development, and what it’s like to argue with yourself in a recording booth!

Lab Rat is available now on Xbox One optimized for Xbox Series X|S.

Lab Rat

Klei Publishing

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$19.99

Get it now

Congratulations!

You have been chosen to participate in a special test that will help refine a brand new kind of game!

Lab Rat was generated by the world’s most advanced machine learning algorithm – me. I have been meticulously trained on the best interactive entertainment available today and my data indicates you will be completely satisfied with the result. However, your valuable human feedback is required to help me further adjust and develop this experience.

Key Features:
Maneuver objects, divert lasers, and manipulate electricity to overcome over a hundred surprising genre-bending puzzles.
Outwit a metrics-obsessed machine intent on heckling you for your humanity.
Participate in satirical in-game analytics that are updated in real time with real player data.

The Game:
Lab Rat is a hand-crafted narrative puzzler masquerading as a machine-generated video game. This satirical adventure stars a metrics-obsessed AI who will monitor, profile, and guide you as you solve over a hundred unique spatial problems. Over time this AI will develop a hilariously-misguided understanding of humanity based on your performance and survey response data.

The Team:
While Lab Rat pokes fun at the absurdity of algorithmically-generated interactions, this game is lovingly hand-crafted by a team of expert human developers. Lab Rat is directed by Gwen Frey (creator of Kine & co-creator of The Flame in the Flood). It features environment art by Mike Snight (Lead World Builder, Bioshock Infinite), writing and programming by Ian Bond (Programmer/Developer, Bioshock 1), and puzzles by Lucas Le Slo (beloved experimental puzzle designer).

The post Building Lab Rat: Gwen Frey on Logic, Laughter, and Laser Grids appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Category: Games

Lushfoil Photography Sim: Capturing The World’s Beauty Through A New Lens

Summary

• Lushfoil Photography Sim is available today on Xbox Series X|S.
• Explore tranquil locations around the world, from saltwater beaches to mountainous countryside.
• Hone your photography skills and capture the perfect shot with faithfully recreated in-game cameras.

I’m thrilled to introduce Lushfoil Photography Sim, a tranquil, open-ended photography exploration experience available today on Xbox Series X|S.

While real-life photography can be accessible, it can be harder to commit the time and money to travel. Inspired by some real-world locations that had a huge impact on me, I wanted to virtually recreate some of the highlights of my travels so others can experience them too. I committed to learning Unreal Engine over the last few years in order to do each location justice, and make the game I’ve always wanted to make.

Having grown up with photography, I believe it’s an important medium not only for self-expression, but as a way to remember our lives and all the details we would otherwise forget. With Lushfoil, photo taking isn’t a side objective or optional feature, but it’s at the core of the experience, allowing you to fully absorb the game’s atmosphere and appreciate details in your surroundings.

Fully Simulated Camera Settings

I spent a lot of time traveling with my Canon 1100, which inspired the main DSLR camera you find in Lushfoil. I’ve incorporated a full set of controls and settings that will be familiar to photographers, while also making these settings unobtrusive for beginners who just want to shoot. Lushfoil includes some cutting-edge capture techniques, such as properly simulated shutter speedandlong exposure.

Immersive Real-World Locations

There are 10 unlockable locations in the game, chosen to create as much variety as possible between maps, set in France, Italy, Japan, China, Australia, Nepal and Iceland. Each environment is filled to the brim with details, photo objectives that require you to traverse all corners of the map and has plenty of secrets and unlockable surprises.

The main appeal of recreating these locations digitally is that you no longer have to wait for the perfect morning light or for the fog to settle, all of that is just already there.Unlockable weather presets, as well as the ability to fine tune all aspects of the scene – including sun angle, wind, rain, snow and more – gives you an even greater sense of immersion.

Exploration and Gameplay

While the core of Lushfoil is all about photography, I’ve also woven in objectives and exploration incentives that give the game a progressive structure. You can still play at your own pace, but progression is dependent on how much you’re able to notice and how willing you are to explore.

I hope everyone finds something that satisfies them specifically, whether that’s playing like a completionist or taking it slow, working on your technique, and absorbing the atmosphere. For those of you who are looking to learn a bit more about camera settings and how to make the most of your real-world camera, there’s a bunch of educational material in the game too.

Xbox Optimization

I’ve worked hard to ensure the game runs smoothly and looks great on both Xbox Series X and S with minimal loading times and smooth framerates. The high-end hardware and graphics on Xbox Series X|S really allows me to push the quality of models, shadows and post processing, so the environments feel extra rich and detailed. Hopefully this will elevate the shots you take.

Available Today

I’m excited for everyone to experience Lushfoil Photography Sim today on Xbox Series X|S. Even after long years in development, it’s possible to show perspectives of the game that I’ve never seen before, which I can’t wait to see. Good luck shooting!

Lushfoil Photography Sim

Annapurna Interactive

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

$11.99

Get it now

Experience detailed, true-to-life recreations of beautiful and diverse locations around the world. Trek through and explore environments to capture stunning vistas and landscapes with your fully-featured in-game camera. Each environment is filled with objectives to reward players that have a good eye for angles and perspectives, and hidden secrets for those who are patient and observant.

The rich atmosphere of Lushfoil Photography Sim is enhanced by an ambient, ethereal soundtrack featuring licensed music from artists around the world.

Capture the Perfect Shot
The in-game camera includes an abundance of settings that you’d expect from a real-world professional DSLR camera. The camera simulates settings such as Auto/Manual Focus, Flash, Exposure, Contrast, White Balance, Aperture, Burst Shot and other effects for full creative control over your photography. The game further provides tools that allow for manipulation of the environmental conditions for your photos, such as manual adjustment of light angles, fog, snow, wind, and rain.

Off the Beaten Path
Dive deeper into the game’s many locations to find unlockable cameras and experience the world from unique perspectives. Find a first-person drone that allows you to soar above the landscape and capture the world from above, or find a hidden rowboat that allows you to traverse still waters in pursuit of the perfect shot.

Very Efficiently Optimised
Each environment has been created in Unreal Engine 5 and is built from the ground up to be both efficiently optimized and showcase the game’s locations in stunning visual fidelity. There are extensive custom settings that will help the game run on a wide range of PCs, while taking full advantage of high-end graphics cards.

About Me
My name is Matt, I’m from Perth in West Australia and I’ve been working on this project solo for about 4 years (as of April 2023). As an avid hiker and photographer I hope you’re able to appreciate the atmosphere and details I have tried to encapsulate in these environments. I sincerely hope you have a great experience :’)

The post Lushfoil Photography Sim: Capturing The World’s Beauty Through A New Lens appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Here at NeocoreGames, we are excited to share that King Arthur: Legion IX is coming to Xbox Series X|S. Legion IX is a turn-based, character-focused tactical RPG set in the dark fantasy world of our previous game King Arthur: Knight’s Tale. Whether you’re a seasoned tactician or diving into Avalon for the first time, we think there’s something here for you in this stand-alone adventure: New heroes, new story and, of course, plenty of tough battles to sink your sword (or gladius in this case) into.

The Ninth Legion Rises 

A new threat has arrived on Avalon, and it’s not your usual band of marauders. The infamous Ninth Legion of Rome – lost to history – has marched straight out of the depths of Tartarus and onto the mystical island. Their leader, Gaius Julius Mento, was once a proud Roman tribune. Now he commands a demonic legion, a twisted gift from their dead emperor, Septimus Sulla. But Gaius has bigger ambitions: he wants to conquer Avalon and build an Eternal Rome. First, though, he must reunite his scattered legion.

A Roman Invasion of Avalon

You will step into Gaius Julius Mento’s boots and lead the Ninth Legion through a brutal, Roman-themed campaign. You’ll have to battle nightmare-fueled monsters, clash with fierce Pict tribes, and face off against the ancient Fomorians and cunning Sídhe. You might even cross swords with the knights of Sir Mordred’s Round Table, first introduced in King Arthur: Knight’s Tale. Across fifteen handcrafted missions, you’ll carve your path through Avalon and decide Gaius’ fate.

Tactical Combat Meets Role-Playing

If you like strategy and character-driven stories, you’ll be in for a treat. In King Arthur: Legion IX, you control a squad of five to six unique heroes as you explore and battle through the mystical land of Avalon. Combat in this game revolves around using cover, setting traps, flanking enemies and mastering the overwatch and opportunity system to turn the tide of battle.

Heroes from the Abyss

Legion IX introduces six new heroes, each with unique skills and playstyles. You’ll have to level them up, unlock their skill trees and equip them with powerful artifacts to become the deadliest force in Avalon. Whether you prefer a methodical approach or charging straight into battle, you’ll have the tools to build your characters your way.

Build Nova Roma

Conquering Avalon is no small feat, and you’ll need a proper stronghold to do it. We wanted to make the rebuilding of Nova Roma a fundamental part of the game. This means that you’ll have to manage resources, upgrade buildings and facilities in between battles, and make sure your heroes are ready for whatever comes next.

Your Choices Shape the Story

At the heart of Legion IX there is a choice that will define Gaius Julius Mento’s journey. Your decisions throughout the campaign will shape not only Gaius’ fate, but the future of Avalon itself. 

We hope you’re ready to lead the Ninth Legion and we’ll see you on the battlefield on May 6, 2025.

King Arthur: Legion IX

NeocoreGames

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

King Arthur: Legion IX is a turn-based, character-centric tactical RPG in the King Arthur: Knight’s Tale universe – a dark fantasy version of the Arthurian myth. King Arthur: Legion IX welcomes new players to the mythical land of Avalon with an all-new story and heroes, also offering tough challenges to returning veterans.

A new threat looms over Avalon as the long-lost, infamous Ninth Legion of Rome has set foot on the mythical island. Their commander, the fallen hero, Gaius Julius Mento was granted a demonic legion by their dead emperor, Septimus Sulla to find a way out of Tartarus. But when they accidentally arrive to the magical realm of the Lady of the Lake, Gaius Julius Mento decides to subjugate the island and establish Eternal Rome there. First, however, he must gather his lost legion…

Play through a Roman-themed campaign as Gaius Julius Mento, a tribune of the undead Ninth Legion, as he discovers Avalon. Battle the monsters of nightmares, challenge the Pict tribes, the monstrous Fomorians and the cunning Sídhe. Experience the might of the Old Faith and Christianity and face the knights of Sir Mordred’s Round Table through 15 handcrafted missions.

Find, rebuild and protect the remains of the only Roman colony in Avalon and choose your path to victory. By the end of the campaign, you’ll have to choose: do you want to become a powerful demon, or will you reject the might of Emperor Sulla and restore your humanity?

A Role-playing Tactical Adventure: Experience a unique hybrid between turn-based tactical games and traditional, character-centric RPGs. Manage and control a party of 5-6 heroes to explore and conquer the land of Avalon. Engage in deep tactical combat, tough moral choices, hero management, and the rebuilding of Nova Roma.

Prove your Worth as a Tactician: Every little move and every decision matters. Use covers, traps, flanking and an in-dept overwatch and opportunity system and turn the entire battlefield to your advantage like a master tactician. Sometimes meticulous planning, sometimes charging simply to combat will be the key to victory. The only difference between a successful or a failed quest may depend on the composition of your party only!

Heroes Straight from the Abyss: Legion IX introduces six unique heroes who have risen from the Abyss to conquer the mythical land of Avalon. Level up, gain skill points and unlock unique skill trees. Loot, equip and craft hundreds of artefacts and create the deadliest fighting force that has ever set foot on Avalon.

Wide variety of Abilities: Use unique skills, Ultimate Skills and World Abilities to overcome the toughest challenges during your quests in Avalon. Take risks and explore various tactical options as heroes don’t face permanent death at the end of the missions. Test your skills in different difficulty modes, from laid-back storytelling to brutal, unforgiving battles.

Not Built in a Day: Build up and expand the city of Nova Roma. Make sure that your stronghold has the right facilities for your heroes that prepare them for different quests. But beware! Resources are scarce and you have to manage Nova Roma thoughtfully to keep it afloat.

Regain your Humanity: Your decisions have far-reaching consequences, influencing both gameplay and narrative. Through your actions, Gaius will either restore his humanity, or forever be transformed into a demon.

The post Turn-Based Tactical RPG King Arthur: Legion IX Launches on May 6, 2025 appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Category: Games

April 14, 2025

How to Recreate A Minecraft Movie in Your Minecraft Game

• Joe Skrebels and Mike Rougeau

‘A Minecraft Movie’ has proved that everyone yearns for the mines – not just the children. Now that the film based on the best-selling video game of all time is a smash-hit success, Minecraft players new and old might be wondering how they can recreate iconic movie moments in their own worlds – or maybe just run around yelling “I am Steve!”

Thankfully, we have the answers (well, apart from the “I am Steve!” one – you can probably just do that for yourself). Read on to find out:

Taming a Wolf

If you want to be like Steve, taming a wolf has to be your first task. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy – you’ll need bones to feed a wild wolf, and the easiest way to get those is by killing skeletons. But if you don’t want to risk life and limb fighting skeletons all night, there’s another, much safer way to get them – go fishing!

Finding a Village

Many Minecraft players start their journey by building houses from common materials like dirt and wood. But if you want to step up your game like Steve does in ‘A Minecraft Movie’, you’re going to want to find a real village to call your own. After all, villagers make great neighbors.

There are many ways to find a village. One thing to remember is, in most worlds, you generally won’t have to wander too far from your initial spawn point. But if you’re really feeling lost, you can always use Creative Mode to fly around without a care.

Venturing to the Nether

One of the pivotal moments in ‘A Minecraft Movie’ occurs when Steve enters the Nether for the first time. Players who are looking to live dangerously can do the same as soon as they find some diamonds and iron in their Minecraft worlds. Using iron to make buckets, you can pour water on lava to create obsidian. Then craft a diamond pickaxe to mine that obsidian, build it into a five-by-four rectangle, and ignite the center using flint and steel (“Flint and steel!”). Ruined portals can also be found, just like you might have seen in the movie.

Getting Elytra and Firework Rockets

If you’ve seen ‘A Minecraft Movie’, you’re probably interested in recreating the thrilling elytra flight using firework rockets to propel you at breakneck speeds. Fireworks are easy enough to craft using gunpowder from Creepers and paper crafted from sugarcane. But finding your own elytra is a different story – you’ll need to locate a stronghold in the overworld, jump through the portal to the End, defeat the Ender Dragon, and venture out to distant End islands until you find an End City.

Easier said than done – but it’s worth the effort once you’re flying through the sky. If you’d like to skip straight to the flying, you can take a sneak peek at the new happy ghast in Minecraft’s upcoming game drop. Curious about how the ghast became happy? Check them out in our most recent Minecraft Live broadcast!

Chicken, Creeper, and More Farms

‘A Minecraft Movie’ showcases some of the different farms that players might build in their Minecraft worlds. For example, Steve’s lava chicken cooker is based on a real contraption that uses Minecraft items including a dispenser, chicken eggs, and a bucket full of lava to automatically hatch, cook, and harvest chickens. Likewise, the “Creeper farm” that the movie characters venture through on their minecart ride is a useful build for players who need lots of gunpowder – if, say, they wanted to craft a lot of fireworks for some reason (wink). If you want to build these in your own world, the Minecraft community has created countless wonderful, in-depth tutorials on YouTube and elsewhere.

Applying Official A Minecraft Movie Marketplace Content

For those who don’t just want to recreate ‘A Minecraft Movie’ moments in their worlds, but want to really live them, the Minecraft Marketplace has several movie-inspired downloadable items – and the best part is that they’re all free.

A Minecraft Movie: Add-On and Lava Chicken Add-On can be applied to any world, including existing ones, to bring items and entities from the movie into your game; while A Minecraft Movie DLC is a full-on standalone movie-themed adventure. Of course, you can always simply download A Minecraft Movie Hero Pack to play as Steve, Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, and the other movie characters in any Minecraft world.

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is in theaters worldwide now.

The post How to Recreate A Minecraft Movie in Your Minecraft Game appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Category: Games

April 11, 2025

Zenless Zone Zero Arrives on Xbox This June – With In-Game Benefits for Game Pass Ultimate Players

• Zhenyu LiProducer, Zenless Zone Zero

Summary

• Zenless Zone Zero, HoYoverse’s urban fantasy ARPG, will be available for free on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming in June.
• Game Pass Ultimate members can play the game seamlessly across devices without downloads via Xbox Cloud Gaming.
• Dive into the vibrant world of New Eridu, explore the brand-new area Waifei Peninsula, and experience exhilarating combat.

HoYoverse’s urban fantasy ARPG, Zenless Zone Zero, is set to officially launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox Cloud Gaming this June alongside its Version 2.0 update. Players will be able to enjoy the immersive urban life experience and thrilling action combat in this dynamic and vibrant game on Xbox.

As an exclusive benefit, Game Pass Ultimate members will unlock special in-game rewards—including Polychromes, Dennies, and more—simply by logging in after each major version update. It’s time to wishlist Zenless Zone Zero on Xbox now! Curious to learn more? Read on!

Stunning Performance on Xbox

In the world of Zenless Zone Zero, a calamity called the “Hollows” has destroyed modern society. New Eridu, the last remaining metropolis, has risen against the odds amidst this destructive catastrophe to become the last bastion of modern civilization. Players step into the shoes of a Proxy, a professional specializing in navigating the dangerous Hollows, guiding those who, for various reasons, need to venture inside.

With the extraordinary performance of Xbox Series X|S, Proxies can look forward to an exceptional audiovisual feast, featuring DirectX RayTracing and HDR support, as well as native 4K resolution running at a smooth 60FPS performance. In addition, Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to seamlessly play Zenless Zone Zero across multiple devices, including mobile phones, via Xbox Cloud Gaming without downloads.

Exhilarating Combat Experience

Zenless Zone Zero distinguishes itself with an exciting combat system that blends accessibility with depth. It is designed to make thrilling combat more accessible and satisfying for all players while offering deep mechanics for skilled action veterans who desire to hone their combat skills.

The game is optimized to support the Xbox controller, incorporating customized vibration feedback for different actions such as Basic and Special attacks. Players can fully unleash their skills in challenging battles while embracing the enhanced immersion and sense of impact during battle.

Play Zenless Zone Zero Anytime, Anywhere

Cross-progression and flexible server selection are fully supported on Xbox, allowing players to link their existing Zenless Zone Zero account from other platforms such as PlayStation, PC, Android, and iOS to Xbox. Furthermore, players can switch back and forth between multiple active games without lengthy loading times with the exclusive “Quick Resume” feature on Xbox Series X|S.

Currently, the game supports 13 text and 4 voice-over languages. All of these ensure that Xbox players can dive into Zenless Zone Zero with unparalleled convenience, flexibility, and instant accessibility — wherever and whenever they choose.

An Enchanting Journey Awaits in June 2025

Zenless Zone Zero fuses contemporary urban aesthetics with retro elements, crafting evocative narratives and authentic emotions that delve into the significance of ordinary people and their daily lives. Accompanied by distinctive characters, many players have found a profound sense of connection through this adventure in New Eridu.

We are so thrilled and grateful that Zenless Zone Zero will finally arrive on Xbox alongside the highly anticipated Version 2.0 this June. The new chapter of the game will unfold in a unique area called Waifei Peninsula, in which urban life and Hollow exploration closely intertwine, bringing a more cohesive and immersive narrative experience.

Soon, you will be able to join this spectacular journey as a Proxy and we just can’t wait to see you in New Eridu! Until then, stay tuned for more information on the game and on the exclusive rewards we are preparing for you. And of course, don’t forget to add Zenless Zone Zero to your Wishlist now!

The post Zenless Zone Zero Arrives on Xbox This June – With In-Game Benefits for Game Pass Ultimate Players appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Step into the vibrant universe of Pilo & The Holobook and embark on a heartwarming adventure where exploration meets sticker collecting. Available on Xbox Series X|S, this cozy journey introduces a unique way to document your space travels – with stickers!

Turn Discovery into a Collection – One Sticker at a Time

Join Pilo, a curious apprentice explorer, on a unique scientific mission. Sent by his mentor, the Professor, and armed with a powerful tool – the Holobook – Pilo sets off across the far corners of the XOP-642 star system to uncover its secrets and solve puzzles.

At the heart of Pilo & The Holobook lies the Holobook itself: a powerful tool designed to catalog all the wonders Pilo encounters. But it’s not just a diary or encyclopedia – though it has a bit in common with both. It’s a… dynamic sticker album! Every creature you meet, every plant you analyze, and every mystery you unravel becomes a beautifully designed sticker in your Holobook.

Why Stickers?

The developers experimented with different collectibles before landing on stickers – and it was the perfect choice! Stickers are fun, nostalgic, and a delightful way to visualize Pilo’s discoveries. They serve as snapshots of the universe through his eyes, making exploration feel personal and rewarding.

 More Than Just Decoration

The sticker system isn’t just for show – it tracks your progress and even unlocks new abilities! The more you explore and interact with the world, the more your collection grows, enhancing your adventure. Some stickers are easy to find, while others require patience and a keen eye. Can you collect them all?

Psst! Ready to unveil a shred of mystery? There’s even a way to collect a sticker of Pilo himself! But since the Holobook doesn’t come with a “selfie” function… how will you do it? That’s a riddle you’ll have to solve on your own!

A Forgotten World Waiting to Be Uncovered… and Saved

Every planet you visit feels completely unique – in mood, design, and atmosphere. Levels are easy to navigate, yet full of hidden surprises, encouraging you to explore at your own pace. As you unlock new tools and tech, new areas and secrets become accessible. Keep an eye out for secret stickers and clever puzzles that reward your curiosity.

But beware – a strange substance called Tar is beginning to spread across the galaxy, threatening its delicate balance. With the help of your Holobook and growing knowledge, you’ll slowly uncover the origins of this mysterious force and try to save the stunning universe from creeping destruction.

A Relaxing Adventure for Curious Minds

With its hand-painted worlds and peaceful exploration at its core, Pilo & The Holobook is perfect for players who love taking their time to uncover every little detail. The joy of discovering engaging, detailed, and charming environments – and expanding your sticker collection – makes every step of the journey feel meaningful and rewarding.

Rather than battling threats, Pilo approaches challenges with kindness, clever thinking, and empathy. Every obstacle is met with compassion and respect for the life forms affected by the spreading Tar. His greatest tools are not weapons, but friendships, positivity, and the wise support of Professor.

Start your sticker-filled adventure today and let the Holobook guide you through an unforgettable cosmic experience!

Pilo & The Holobook is available digitally on the Microsoft Store. Don’t miss your chance to step into this mesmerizing storybook world on day one!

Stay tuned for more updates and follow Pilo & The Holobook on social media for the latest news!

Pilo and the Holobook

©RedDeer.Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$12.99

Get it now

Pilo and the Holobook is an exploration-based adventure game set in a colorful galaxy where you guide Pilo, an apprentice explorer, on a journey to document the universe’s wonders and solve mysteries. Using the Holobook, a powerful encyclopedia-like tool, Pilo collects stickers to record his discoveries and uncover the story behind a mysterious dark force known as the Tar.

KEY FEATURES:

– Holobook Sticker System: Collect and customize stickers that document your findings in the Holobook, creating a personalized in-game encyclopedia.
– Beautiful, Hand-Painted Planets: Immerse yourself in visually stunning environments that tell the story of each unique world. Explore Floral Asteroid, sunny SRTOM and play along Prof in Labship.
– Environmental Puzzles: Use the Holobook’s abilities to solve light environmental challenges and uncover hidden areas.
– Thematic Depth: Dive into a heartwarming story about mentorship, friendship, and confronting environmental decay through compassion and creativity.
– Evolving Holobook: As you progress, the Holobook gains new capabilities, allowing deeper interactions with the world around them.
– Engaging Story: Unravel the mystery of the Tar and its impact on the planets, with meaningful encounters and touching character moments.

Discover more about Pilo and the Holobook

Cosmic Odyssey
Set in the mystical XOP-642 star system, players guide Pilo through vibrant, hand-painted worlds filled with strange creatures and ecosystems. Each planet is teeming with unique flora and fauna to discover. Instead of combat, Pilo uses observation and creativity to explore these planets, collecting valuable knowledge through the Holobook.

The Holobook: Your Gateway to Knowledge
The Holobook serves as your main tool throughout the journey. Players use it to interact with the environment and creatures, turning their findings into collectible stickers that populate an ever-growing encyclopedia. These stickers record your progress, unlock new abilities, and help solve environmental puzzles.

The Shadow of the Tar
An ominous, mysterious substance called the Tar has begun to spread across the galaxy, threatening the beautiful worlds Pilo explores. Along the journey, players will uncover the origins of the Tar and work to save the planets from its corruption. The Holobook can also temporarily repel the Tar, allowing deeper exploration and interaction with affected creatures.

A Heartfelt Adventure
Pilo and the Holobook emphasize creativity, kindness, and curiosity over combat. The game encourages peaceful problem-solving and compassion as Pilo helps the creatures affected by the Tar and works to restore balance to the galaxy.

The post Let’s Catalog the Universe Sticker by Sticker: Meet Pilo & the Holobook appeared first on Xbox Wire.